I recently purchased this tool and am very pleased with the performance that it offers. Blade changes are very easy and fast due to the Milwaukee's patented chuck design (just turn the knob and pull out the blade), but be careful, if you have been cutting for a while that chuck will get very hot and it WILL burn your finger tips. I used this tool to cut through 1" diameter solid steel railings and it cut through like a hot knife through butter. This tool is far better engineered than it's competitors and the Milwaukee blades seem to hold up better also. Spend a few extra bucks on the Milwaukee and you won't regret it.

I recently purchased this tool and am very pleased with the performance that it offers. Blade changes are very easy and fast due to the Milwaukee's patented chuck design (just turn the knob and pull out the blade), but be careful, if you have been cutting for a while that chuck will get very hot and it WILL burn your finger tips. I used this tool to cut through 1" diameter solid steel railings and it cut through like a hot knife through butter. This tool is far better engineered than it's competitors and the Milwaukee blades seem to hold up better also. Spend a few extra bucks on the Milwaukee and you won't regret it.

I bought the Milwaukee 6521-21 Sawzall for a home improvement project, and after using it wished I'd bought it years earlier. This tool cuts at 3200 strokes per minute and has orbital action. The motor is 11 amps. This tool came with a rugged plastic case which has steel clasps. The case appears to be very durable and won't rust, scratch or dent like a steel case. It also has a flip up storage compartment inside for extra blades. This is a nice touch because your extra saw blades won't rattle around and damage the quick lock power cord or scratch the tool. The tool itself was vey well built. The seams of the plastic and metal parts lined up perfectly, and the fit and finish were perfect. The appearance was flawless. Being 11 amp and having orbital action makes this saw a little heavy. It has a solid "heft" to it. Does it vibrate when turned on? No. I would describe the feeling as being more like a gentle pulsing sensation. Your hands won't go numb or tingle when using this saw. Milwaukee calls this saw "the smoothest in the world" and they are not lying. Blade changes are a snap. Just twist the collar, insert the blade, and release the collar. It takes about one second to change a blade. How does it cut? If you choose the right blade it will cut any material that exists. I used it to cut a duct vent hole in my roof with the supplied "axe" blade. After first drilling the four marked corners of my vent duct opening form inside the attic, so that once I got onto the roof I'd know where to make my cut, I cut through the shingles, tar paper, and 3/4" wood in about 7 seconds. The Sawzall cut so quickly and efficiently that I didn't have to apply any pressure to the saw. The weight of the tool itself created enough pressure to effortlessly slice through the roof. I was on and off that roof in less than 90 seconds. Boy, that part of the job was easy! I've also used the saw to cut steel tubing, cut up several ratty old chairs; which then fit in my dumpster, and trim a few dead branches off an evergreen tree. Like I mentioned earlier, with the right blade selection, this saw will efficiently and smoothly cut through any material. Remember to turn off the orbital action when cutting steel - otherwise you'll trash your blade rather quickly. My only complaint about this tool is that the orbital action slide lever on top of the tool housing is very stiff to operate. But that probably prevents it from moving around while you're cutting. I highly recommend this tool to anyone who does home improvements, works with steel, or who is a contractor. With a Sawzall, circular saw, drill, and jig saw you can create anything. This is one of the "core" tools to own. Milwaukee's legendary reputation for building solid, high quality tools that work well is demonstrated in this recently purchased tool. I wouldn't consider any other brand of reciprocating saw.

There are a lot of reciprocating saws on the market today; unfortunately some masquerade as a 'Sawzall', but Milwaukee invented the genre decades ago and, quite frankly, nothing is even in the same league as a genuine 'Sawzall'. DeWalt, Makita, Ryobi, Hitachi, Porter Cable all make reciprocating saws; some are professional grade, some say they are and some are just consumer models. When you decide either through using lesser tools or simply want to own the very best, Milwaukee stands head and shoulders above the competition in the reciprocating saw market.pConsider some of the features found on this model Milwaukee:p11 amps of power and it feels like more. This is one big, robust saw, period. pDetachable cord. Only Milwaukee figured out the ways people use a reciprocating saw--constant, demanding ROUGH use. These saws are most typically used in demolition work. In this environment you run the saw relentlessly and go through some blades. When you want to change one, in a hurry, nothing on earth is handier than being able to simply unclick the power cord and do a blade change. Believe me, you wouldn't want to change a blade on this beast without it being unplugged.pOrbital action. When you're rough cutting lumber, nothing assists you like an orbital action. This allows the blade to more aggressively cut through the material with less binding and less discomfort to the operator. pAnti-vibration. I don't know the technical nuances of how Milwaukee cancels out the vibration, but this saw is the smoothest (from an operator's standpoint) saw I've ever used. Any recip saw can truly rattle your fillings when it binds, but fortunately this Milwaukee has anti-vibration and a clutch, that genuinely minimizes feedback to the operator.pEasy blade change chuck. This has got to be the simplest blade change known to man. Rotate the collet about 1/4 turn and you're in business. NOTHING could be easier.pVariable speed dial. What a nice touch! Instead of relying solely on trigger pressure for speed control, Milwaukee thoughtfully provides a speed dial. Set it to half and you can pull the trigger back all the way and run at half speed. Demo work doesn't usually involve feathering the trigger, so this is a godsend.pTypical Milwaukee construction. Want to find out how good Milwaukee's reputation is in the building trades? Go to a jobsite. ANY jobsite. Residential, commercial, plumbing, electrical, it doesn't matter. First, stop by and ask any professional what they think of Milwaukee. Second, look for the RED tools (Milwaukee's trademark). Every jobsite has Milwaukee. The pros respect them because they don't break. pI brought this tool home on a Sunday and had to cut up 15 pallets to downsize them for garbage disposal. If you've EVER had the fun task of cutting up pallets, you can appreciate that the wood is FULL of nails (everywhere) and it's genuinely very hard, dense wood. Has to be to support the loads that pallets carry. I chucked in a new Milwaukee blade and 30 minutes later there was over 10 pounds (yes I weighed it!!) of sawdust and a BUNCH of small boards left. Saying the Milwaukee cut the boards like a hot knife through butter, in my mind, does a disservice to the hot knife! I ran the saw until it became so hot I couldn't hold it anymore, which is being overly severe to any tool; I just wanted to see if Milwaukee's vaunted reputation was as deserved as people say. It is. The saw NEVER stopped running; I honestly believe I could have put on gloves and kept going, but did allow the saw to cool down and resumed cutting. If a nail was hit, it bucked a little and just went on through it. It's a beast, plain and simple.pIt's a very specific product, but one with a ton of uses. If you've never used a recip saw before, I would caution you to always make sure your item being cut is safely secured; a recip saw of this size has enough strength to easily move anything that is loosely held. Always be sure of what's under or behind the blade; if it's a concrete driveway or asphalt, you can damage the tool, but REALLY damage the driveway! Wear boots and safety goggles, this thing takes NO prisoners. And for heaven's sake, if you're demo'ing a wall, make absolutely certain that there are no live electrical wires present. pThis saw isn't for everyone; it's pricey for single, consumer use. But, if you want the very best made reciprocating saw made, look no further than the Milwaukee Super Sawzall. It's the class leader by a BIG margin.

As a carpenter/contractor/construction nut--- there is nothing made that beats this piece of serious-minded equipment or its fast quick-change of one blade to another--- nothing ! I've been in this business 35 yrs. so I challenge anyone to present me with an overall better "SAWZALL".

I needed a recip saw for some remodeling/demolition work I am doing at home. I checked all of the other saws, read all the reviews and finally settled on the Milwaukee 6521. Why? Well, let's look at it.pFirst off, it has a no BS lifetime warranty. This means that if some little gear cracks inside, they will replace it. Of cours, if that same gear is just worn out, I pay. But since it's a Milwaukee gear replacement, now that new gear has the same warranty. Can't beat that.pNext, this has all the features you will ever, and I mean ever, need. The orbital action (more on that later), quick change blades, and quick change cord make this simply user friendly even if like me, you've never held a recip saw before in your life. The counterweight/kickback protection is a plus, you won't find that on other saws for this price. And Milwaukee includes an Ax blade and a metal cutting blade with the saw.pA word on the orbital action, which I didn't find out until I went to the www.heavydutytools.com website, is that you just won't see it in operation. According to the website, this orbital action is happening at 53 times each way per second, and that only when the blade is in contact with the material to be cut. So it's there, it's working, you just can't see it.pThe plastic case has a blade storage compartment that seems to want to keep opening, but this is EXTREMELY minor. In fact, if it wasn't for that I would have titled this review "6 Stars or better".pIn short, if you're thinking about a recip saw, don't drive yourself crazy with all kinds of research. Just go to the guys who invented the whole thing, and still do it better than anyone else and buy the saw. The first time you use it, you'll say what I did. "Geez (insert favorite exclamation there), I should've bought one of these years ago."pI wholeheartedly and without reservation reccomend this tool. Go ahead and buy it, you will not be sorry.

My income is earned from attending construction sites. I've noticed more plumbers are replacing their Milwaukee Sawzall 6509-21 with the Super Sawzall. It's also one of the tools high on the list of thieves.pI purchased the Super Sawzall last week. It came with a plastic carrying case, one 6" wood cutting blade, one 6" metal cutting blade up to 1/4" thick metal, and one complimentary 6" tungsten carbide blade which was part of the deal with the dealer.p3/8" wide masonry veneer mortar joints? Easily slices through without any vibrations. Other cheaper brand saws will vibrate which could throw the blade off course inadvertenly causing the operator to cut into the brick.p1-1/2" thick lumber? A breeze.pCopper, ABS and PVC piping? No problems.pWith the counter balance, gear protection mechanism, variable speed dial, variable speed trigger, tooless adustable shoe and chuck, this saw will cut through almost anything in many tight-squeeze situations. The lifetime warranty certainly helps.pThe only negative would be the slightly difficult to open blade storage bin inside the case.pMaintaining a strict regime on cleaning and scheduled maintenance will provide a long service life. pWay to go Milwaukee!

My income is earned from attending construction sites. I've noticed more plumbers are replacing their Milwaukee Sawzall 6509-21 with the Super Sawzall. It's also one of the tools high on the list of thieves.I purchased the Super Sawzall last week. It came with a plastic carrying case, one 6" wood cutting blade, one 6" metal cutting blade up to 1/4" thick metal, and one complimentary 6" tungsten carbide blade which was part of the deal with the dealer.3/8" wide masonry veneer mortar joints? Easily slices through without any vibrations. Other cheaper brand saws will vibrate which could throw the blade off course inadvertenly causing the operator to cut into the brick.1-1/2" thick lumber? A breeze.Copper, ABS and PVC piping? No problems.With the counter balance, gear protection mechanism, variable speed dial, variable speed trigger, tooless adustable shoe and chuck, this saw will cut through almost anything in many tight-squeeze situations. The lifetime warranty certainly helps.The only negative would be the slightly difficult to open blade storage bin inside the case.Maintaining a strict regime on cleaning and scheduled maintenance will provide a long service life. Way to go Milwaukee!

I just got this beast two days ago and promptly put it to work removing a drop ceiling in my house followed by cutting down some tree limbs. It saved me hours of work over doing these tasks manually. The ease at which this tool goes through material is stunning. If you've never used this model before you are guaranteed after doing your first cut to pause for a moment and let out various joyous or amazed exclamations under your breath. I've used a Dewalt cordless before in demolition and that jiggered all over the place while cutting. The Milwaukee is so smooth you're tempted to think it isn't very powerful, no matter what the amps say, until you stand stunned after effortlessly slicing through your first mangled wood cut. pThe quick-lok cord and the tool free blade change are so nice. Dialing in the amount of orbital action you want is wonderfully easy and extremely useful. So is the the variable speed. It definately helps to set the speed to the recommended setting according to what material you're going through.pAs for durability, well it's a Milwaukee. Enough said there. Best warantee out there too.

I just got this beast two days ago and promptly put it to work removing a drop ceiling in my house followed by cutting down some tree limbs. It saved me hours of work over doing these tasks manually. The ease at which this tool goes through material is stunning. If you've never used this model before you are guaranteed after doing your first cut to pause for a moment and let out various joyous or amazed exclamations under your breath. I've used a Dewalt cordless before in demolition and that jiggered all over the place while cutting. The Milwaukee is so smooth you're tempted to think it isn't very powerful, no matter what the amps say, until you stand stunned after effortlessly slicing through your first mangled wood cut. The quick-lok cord and the tool free blade change are so nice. Dialing in the amount of orbital action you want is wonderfully easy and extremely useful. So is the the variable speed. It definately helps to set the speed to the recommended setting according to what material you're going through.As for durability, well it's a Milwaukee. Enough said there. Best warantee out there too.

WOW!pI have used other reciprocating saws in the past but none has impressed me as much as the Super Sawzall.pI first used it to demolish a kitchen that I am remodeling. Wood, nails, formica and drain pipes never slowed the blade on the this Sawzall. I used a metal cutting blade for the drain pipes but everything else was cut with the blade that was recommended for nail embedded wood. Since then I have used the Sawzall for several other small projects around the house and it has performed flawlessly.pI did purchase the Milwaukee 11-piece blade set but haven't opened it as the two included blades are still sharp and still effortlessly slice through everything that gets in front of them.pMaybe this saw was overkill for my small home improvement projects but the ease of cutting and lack of kickback and vibration are worth the extra money.

This saw, besides having all the latest features (orbital, replaceable cord lock, keyless blade change, etc) this kit ALSO includes the Milwaukee Job Saw. It is a hand tool that accepts the same blades. No need to purchase this separately. It only has 2 blades included so its best to buy a blade kit (I prefer the 11 blade kit).pPlastic case holds accessories, blades, etc.pIt is tricky, when you buy a blade kit, to fit it into the case. Individual blades fit fine. But if you throw the blade case away, you no longer know what blade does what.

What can be said that hasn't already been written. This is a SUPER tool! I put up with a yellow one for awhile and also a PC. PC was the better of those two, but both would rattle your teeth. Then based on advice of some folks I trust, I bought the Milwaukee. What a change for the better. The orbital action is awesome! The saw cuts through anything without complaining, and without punishing the operator. The lack of vibration makes up for a little extra weight. The tooless blade change system is a pleasure to use - simple and effective. The shoe adjustable shoe is easy to adjust and hholds its position. You should always use it. The shaft is significantly larger in cross section than other saws. This saw is tough (!), but gentle on the operator. Get the best tools you can afford - even if it seems like a stretch at the time. This Sawzall is the best there is. This is the one to have!

This is THE recip saw, from the inventors of the tool, look at all the reviews on here. So why have I burnt 2 up in a year, and I'm just a weekend warrior? While it was working, it was sweet: cuts well (a comment about orbital action, I was told by support that it only takes effect with the pressure of being pushed into the cut, but I didn't notice any difference in cutting speed), toolless blade change, toolless shoe adjustment, anti-vibrating thingy, detachable power cord (by the way, this is standard Milwaukee, I have a right angle drill and a grinder from them, makes it easy to replace if you ever cut through it, I wish more tool makers would do this) and it just feels nice in your hands. What I've got now is the blade doesn't move at all and it makes a loud whirrr sound, I think it's the clutch (someone, somewhere told me that it has this to protect the gears, frankly I don't think you could possibly hurt the gears, but on my dime to ship is a clutch cheaper for their service dept. to replace?). Another possible cuplrit is the orbital action, for this reason you might consider the 10amp from Milwaukee which doesn't have this 'feature', one less thing to break. Since this has happened to me twice (the first time it was right out of the box, so I figured I got a lemon) I came here to shop for a new saw and decided to see if this has happened to anybody else, but I guess not (how could this be? I was only making plunge cuts into solid logs...) Well I'm off to shop for a new saw.

If you've ever had to cut off a pipe in a tight place, like down in a hole you cut in the concrete floor, where any conventional pipe cutter wouldn't clear, you need a Sawzall. If you are trying to cut in a new door in an existing wall without having to patch the plaster or paint on either side, you need a Sawzall. Whenever you have a tight or "impossible" cutting job that you must accomplish and nothing else in your toolbox will come even close, you need a Sawzall. It will cut darn near anything in any position you can get your hand to. The new model with "orbital" action keeps you from having to rock the saw to get the best cutting action. It's a definite improvement. pSawzall is the choice of professionals who need to cut virtually anything in an unhandy position. I bought my first Sawzall in 1978 to use on the job as a home builder. One time I bought one of those Chinese import imitations at that Harbor store and the cover broke the first time it was used for a difficult cut. Not so with Sawzall. Like all Milwaukee tools its so tough you couldn't break it if you wanted to. I'm going to use my current Sawzall today cutting a rusty underground pipe in one of my apartments. Sawzall is tough, lasts a really long time, and is the choice of the best professionals. It's wroth the extra price compared to those off brands and Chinese imports. Buy the tools you can depend on and they will last years and years.

I purchased a DeWalt reciprocating saw in December to do some cutting. It was the DW309K model. The first time I used it, I noticed it had a lot of vibration. I checked with some friends that have used reciprocating saws in the past, and they all said to get the Milwaukee 6521-21. I took my DeWalt back to Home Depot and bought the Milwaukee. What a difference! It is extremely smooth running, and the cutting action is great. My first project was cutting some steel I had laying around, and it really went through it rapidly. I then used a pruning blade to cut some branches out of my tree, and it really excelled. I love DeWalt tools, but this Milwaukee sure beats their saws. I recommend it highly.

I've had this sawzall for over 2 years. I've used it to cut metal, wood, trees, plastic, etc, etc.brYou name it, I've used this to cut it! Although I'm fairly new to the whole Amazon review thing, this is my first 5 star review (hopefully not last). Orbital speed makes short work when ripping through wood (or trees). The key to cutting thick metal is using the proper blade (obviously) and using cutting oil. This saw never gave me any issues when cutting 1/4" thick stock.brThe variable speed can be used by either finessing the trigger or by the dial. That feature is really nice.brEven better is the blade switch. It's the BEST out there.brEven the metal case is hands down the best case I have of any of my tools.brMy only gripe is, when I purchased this a while back, it cost substantially more than what I see it adverstised here on Amazon.

Recently I ordered a Milwaukee sawzall to replace my Porter Cable sawzall that had died after ten years of daily use as a remodeling contractor. I was perfectly happy with the Porter Cable, so I don't know why I didn't stick with that brand. The tool arrived last Friday and was put to work Monday morning cutting up a roof that needed to be rebuilt. Within five minutes, the amount of smoke coming from that saw was such that my coworker went and grabbed a fire extinguisher. By the time he got back, the tool had died. One minute, shiny new saw, five minutes later, a smoking mass of melted sawzall. I got on the phone with Milwaukee. Their response: Take it to an authorized repair center and have it fixed under warranty. #1- This is a brand new saw! I don't want it fixed, I want it replaced. #2- I need a saw now, not after it's repaired. So, I called Amazon. They were great. Need a new saw? We'll send it out immediately with two day shipping. Just send the old (new) saw back within 30 days, we'll pay the postage. Great. Got the new saw, two days later, I thought I was back in business. Thought I'd run this saw for a minute before climbing on the roof with it. Didn't even take the twist tie off the cord. Trigger on this saw is no good. Runs intermittently. My next task is to call Amazon again and beg them to take this peice of junk back and send me a Porter Cable. I am disgusted.

My wife bought me one of these as a birthday present this year. Can you believe that? It doesn't get much better in my book. The thing works great! I've cut wood, angle iron, rebar, nail embeded wood, flashing nailed to wood and all of it was a breeze to cut through. About the only thing I haven't tried - concrete... I'll have to see if I can find the right blade! pIn the past I've used Dewalt, Makita and PC reciprocating saws extensively and most others on the market and none of them have performed like this. I think the best part of this saw is the lack of vibration while cutting, it far outperfroms the others. That said, there are also easy blade changes (watch out they're hot if you've just been using them) the detachable cord (love those things, got a couple of other Milwaukee tools with that and it couldn't be better), adjustable shoe, orbital action, and speed control dial. I can't think of anything else they should put on the saw except for maybe someplace to rest a 12 ounce can of something cold. I recommend this without reservation over every other saw on the market today.

milwaukee sawzalls can be repaired and often for free! if your sawzall breaks send it to a milwaukee service center, not just any tool repair place, even if they are milwaukee cerified. often, milwaukee will repair it for free. milwaukee now has a 5 year warranty and that should cover damage under normal use repairs. repairs can be 80.00 to 100.00 dollars per repair. it's worth the shipping costs. sometimes there is a tool recall, see milwaukee's website or just email them. if this is the case, you'll get a new saw for free. milwaukke does stand behind their reputation. so don't just toss a dead tool; send it away to get it repaired.

I've always been a Porter Cable snob when it comes to power hand tools. Their merger with DW/BD made me consider other brands, however. This isn't to bash PC or DeWalt, who still haven't disappointed me, but it opened the door to my considering a Milwaukee. There's not a good reason for that, mind you, but it's how things played out...
br /
br /I was building a deck, and there was serious demolition in my future. Took a long hard look at the PC recip saws. They looked good... they felt good... take a look at how much I love my PC sidewinder in another review here.
br /
br /And yet - was there room in my shop for something that wasn't gray (or blue, for floor-tools)? Only one way to find out: I had to try the Big Red "Sawz Everything."
br /
br /No regrets. Not one. I'm a bit concerned at some of the issues or reliability that are raised here, but I haven't had any problems and I've used the saw quite a bit.
br /
br /Blade change is a cinch. Can be done with one hand, no tools, in about 3 seconds (with your other hand holding the unplugged saw, obviously). I routinely use the blade "mounted backwards" whenever I need different clearance - a great feature. Adjustable shoe is awesome, and could not be easier to set. Variable speed via trigger, with top speed set by dial. Again, as intuitive as possible.
br /
br /Comfortable to hold, and the replaceable power cable is a great idea. Not that I've sawed through mine, but I can see how it could happen - and it's nice knowing that a replacement is just a twist/pull away, if the need ever arises.
br /
br /I've cut through 1.25" EMT conduit, hardwoods, softwoods, nails, screws, and combinations thereof. The saw never bogs down.
br /
br /I'm not sure what else you could put into a saw like this. Adjustable stroke, adjustable shoe, quick-change blade, reversible blade, variable speed, comfortable design, and all changes are intuitive and easy.
br /
br /Assuming that the reliability issues mentioned here are a fluke, this is the ultimate recip-saw.
br /

I have always been a fan of Milwaukee products.I own several, so when this sawzall came out I just had to buy it.I dont use them everyday or for heavy construction mostly cutting thru 2x4's I went thru 2 of these in a year. The first one lasted a few months and I used it about 20 times I thought I must just have gotten a bad one.I purchased another and it lasted 5 cutsand burned out.I now own the new 13 amp Bosch and couldn't be more pleased. It vibrates but gets the job done and in the end thats what matters most because in my business time is money.

Sawzall. Nails, studs, fence posts, rails, tree limbs all cut like butter. I recommend this tool for everyone from beginner to professional. The weight is not excessive. The blades are easy to insert and remove. Vibration is nominal. The only draw back is the lack of a saftey to prevent my four year old helper from accidentally starting the saw, but fortunately the quick disconnect power cord compensates.

This is a great tool to have. It makes quick work of wood, havent tried it on metal though. When put in orbital mode it makes quicker work of the wood. The vibration isnt that bad, but does increase a little bit when put in orbital mode. The quick-lok system is great. The only complaint is that the quick-lok gets hot after a good period of use. But not that big of a deal if you work in gloves. Defiantly a great tool to buy.

I am just a weekend warrior, I just bought this tool used on ebay for $55 and cant believe the power it has. I have used a few other brand saws but none come even close to this one. It cuts through wall studs like their not even there.

Well, sad to report that these are not made like my grandads old metal case models at all. I bought a "newer model after wanting more power and a rotating handle. Upon running the tool for less than 5 minutes, smoke appeared and the tool got very hot. So hot in fact that the collet that holds the blade could not be touched. The handle / grip area was also very hot. Apparently, theres a mechanical issue (friction) with the tool and as a result, generating lots of heat. The other things that I do not care for are the vibration under no load was (to me) excessive. My old one is smoother than this part Chinese made tool. This may be due to this issue in mine.
br / THe switch also does not feel good to me. it feels tight and non ergonomic. The Orbital adjuster on mine was so hard to move. I had the tool runnning and had to use excessive force to move the slider.
br /I do like the rotating handle. This seems very ergonomic for horizontal cuts.
br /
br /Despite the label stating that it is made in USA, that is only partially true. To my knowledge and, after talking to Milwaukee folks, it is only assembled here. All the sub-assemblies and components are made in China. I think some of the plastics are made here and that is about it. This is the norm these days. I always have to buy in threes to get one that works.
br /
br /I'm not stating the tool is bad, only there seems to be a lack of process / quality control on these things.
br /I have not even had a chance to use it yet. I really do not want to even get another after this, but, they are trying to get a repair ticket going. I think I am going to go with another brand that has higher quality controls in place. I think that I am going to have to TRY some different ones out in real world tests and then make a decision of which one is for me. Meanwhile it is back to "Old Faithfull with a mere 4 amps of power and no orbital or rotating handle features but, every time I use it, it works time after time just like stuff used to back in the day.

I have owned mine since 2002 and it has allways treated me fine......judging by the bad reviews, they may have had a glitch in manufacturing since mine. I have cut fence posts off, landscape timbers, pipe, rough openings, and even hacked down a 10' bush that was in the way. The recip action really works nice when cutting through 6x6, wet,pressure treated fir. I tried both ways and it really made things quick. Thing makes quick work of ripping old pre-hung doors out also. The only thing that I do not like is taking the cord off so the thing fits in the case.....and I guess I can live with that.

Ok, I,m cheap. I thought "This tool better perform for this kind of money." It has.... This tool was not a waste of money!

King of England be. No kidding, I felt like King Arthur wielding Excalibur when I pulled this beauty out of her case and fired her up. The saw is built like every other Milwaukee tool, that is to say it's built like a tank, and as someone who used to command an M-1 Abrams and M60A3 I can say this with authority. There are two features on this saw that are brilliant, one is the Quik-Lok blade clamp, which makes swapping out blades brincredibly quick and easy, no searching for that 3/16" inch allen key to unlock blades any more, just twist and pull. The other feature that I like is that the power cord is detachable and connects to the saw with a twist lock connector. This makes stowing the saw in the very nice red metal case very clean and easy and also means that if the cord gets munged on a jobsite that you can replace it without taking the tool apart. Sure, you could buy a cheaper reciprocating saw than this one, but doing so would be about as smart as deciding to save money by doing your own dental work at home with a can of spackle and a power drill. King Arthur had Excalibur, Roland had Durendal and you can have the Milwaukee Super Sawzall.

I've owned my saw for about 4 yrs or so. I mostly cut metal daily with my Sawzall - The blades and saw get all sorts of severe abuse. I even use the orbital action on some of the metal cuts ( It clears out the chips ) I have not had any problems with it - the only thing I'd say would be nice to have is a variable stroke control. The milwaukee metal cutting "Torch" blades are worth the money because they last and are pretty tall allowing for straighter cuts. I've also cut out numerous not so small tree stumps( I'd call this a serious abuse of the saw), pruned and cut down trees with it and even used it to cut up a big piano and some oil burners.

this saw will tackle any job you throw at it- I have used it on plumbing projects to cut pipe, general household demolition, teaing through plaster and lath, cutting conduit, demolishing and old shed, cutting up an old refridgerator to fit in my trash can, breaking up a steel tub for a bath remodel, and most recently, cutting up the support rails on a chainlink fence removal. The saw may get hot at times of extreme use but thats why I wear work gloves! The variable speed dial is a great feature, as is the steel case with plenty of room for spare blades, saftey glasses and work gloves.

This is the first time I've been moved to write a review. We have had three of these saws go bad in the past two weeks, and I'm just disgusted. I don't know if it is just the orbital model, or all the new Milwaukee sawzalls, but these things drop like flies on our site. We do remodelling projects with a small crew, and the Sawzalls and Skilsaws get the most use. At least the Skilsaws are still as good as they used to be (though I switched to the Bosch version). I'm thinking I need a Porter Cable or Bosch reciprocating saw to replace my burned out Milwaukee.

Out of the box, everything worked except I couldn't see any difference between orbital and standard cutting. I contacted customer service through their web site and asked how to tell if this feature is working. The site said they would respond in 24 hrs, but there was no reply after a week.
br /
br /On my own, I figured out how to check orbital action: Take a new white blade and put a black dot on it with a permanent marker. When you run the saw, the dot appears as a straight line when standard cutting and should appear as an oval when set to orbital cutting. On this saw it was always straight no matter the position of the orbital control. So orbital cutting was defective.
br /
br /The manual says that if you put the blade in upside down, it turns off orbital cutting. I tried the blade both ways, no difference. To sense the orientation of the blade and affect the heavy duty drive train must have been a pretty sensitive mechanism to design. It looks like they didn't get it right, but maybe they will redesign it some day.
br /
br /Other than that, I really liked the saw. I took it back and got the 10 amp version w/o orbital action. It is 2 pounds lighter and has less to go wrong with it. I really would have liked orbital and the extra power, but I figure if they couldn't make it rugged enough to work right out of the box, it wasn't worth trying again with the same model. And the lighter weight is nice.
br /
br /The other difference I noticed between this and the 10 amp model is this one has a little dial on the handle that adjusts the maximum speed. That is, if you set the dial to less than 5 (the max), when you pull the trigger all the way the saw will go to less than the max speed. This seemed like a good idea, but I noticed that sometimes it would get knocked to a different setting, and I didn't have any trouble controlling the speed with the trigger when the dial was set to 5, so I just tried to leave it there. It seems like it is just one more thing to get broken.
br /
br /Neither saw cut like a chain saw. Not even close, and I had gotten special wood cutting blades for it with very large, very sharp teeth. My 16" gas chain saw with a dull chain goes through wood between 5 and 10 times faster. But this saw will do things a chain saw won't, like cut metal, and it is probably quite a bit safer to operate. Changing the blades is also cheaper and faster so cutting through tree roots in dirt makes more sense with this than using a chain saw.
br /
br /Both saws came in a plastic case with metal clasps, and both had a 5 year limited warrantee.
br /

I've owned this saw for 3 years, during which it has seen occasional use for countless projects. Most recently, I used it during the demolition phase of a deck remodeling project, and it was indispensable. I particularly appreciate the fact that all controls are easy to operate while wearing heavy work gloves. Beyond that, I don't have much to add to the many other positive reviews on this site. Highly recommended. So, why only 4 stars? On my unit, the shoe release lever plate broke after about a year of relatively light use. This is the metal piece that turns the retainer bar when you adjust the shoe. It still works if I am really careful when I move the adjustment lever, but if not, the lever slips and fails to lock and/or release the shoe. Looking at the broken piece, it seems like it's a little on the flimsy side for a tool that is otherwise built so well. Hopefully, Milwaukee will take notice and improve this part. I'll update this review when I eventually get around to ordering a replacement.
br /
br /With this minor quibble aside, I'd buy this saw again in a heartbeat.

I purchased this saw to replace a craftsman professional that I was not too happy with. Let me just tell you the orbital action on this saw makes it cuts through material like its butter. I am overwhelmingly impressed and would reccommend this to anyone who wants to have the best most durable reciprocating saw on the market. Some people have complained about the quick loc clamp for the cord but its not worth giving this saw anything less then 5 stars. Way to go milwaukee

I purchased this saw to replace a craftsman professional that I was not too happy with. Let me just tell you the orbital action on this saw makes it cuts through material like its butter. I am overwhelmingly impressed and would reccommend this to anyone who wants to have the best most durable reciprocating saw on the market. Some people have complained about the quick loc clamp for the cord but its not worth giving this saw anything less then 5 stars. Way to go milwaukee

This is a "go to" tool. I almost always use it instead of a hacksaw, and keep it handy for rough cutting wood - anything from hacking up junk to haul off, to roots, to whatever. My last use was cutting stainless rod - no problem at all. The saw is smooth-running, much more so than saws without a balancing mechanism. Build quality is superb, the case is tough, and the detachable cord is handy. I actually haven't used the orbital action much, as I use the saw more for metal than wood, but I love having the speed control. After all, smooth as it is, it's still a sawzall, and having a speed limiter allows you to concentrate on the cut, not trigger speed control.

Milwaukee is still making the Sawzall they invented! It lasts and gets the job done. Completely satisfied. Will add more later. Oh let me just add that if your considering a Dewalt please hold both in your hands at the store prior to purchasing. Don't get me wrong I own plenty of Dewalt products but in this category and in my opinion Dewalt does not compare.

Excellent reciprocating saw. Easy to adjust with gloves on. Has all the adjustments available to make it very versatile and the power to be a serious professional-level power tool. Mine came in a heavy-duty red plastic case, not the metal case that all other reviews I found mentioned.
br /However, the molded plastic case will probably hold up well, has metal latches, holds the saw with a blade inserted, holds the cord easily, and has a compartment for extra blades.
br /
br /Adjustable items: blade guide - adjustable for blade depth and angle; degree of straight or reciprocating saw action - a slide control on the top of the saw; dial with easily readable numerals for saw speed; trigger adjusts the saw speed from zero to the max allowed by the dial setting (this is a great and easily used combination of speed controls).
br /
br /Blades can be inserted edge down or up (upside down) with an easily used twist lock mechanism. The cord also has a twist lock mechanism, so it can easily be replaced if ever damaged, even though it is a heavy-duty cord. Cord removal also helps (but is not necessary) when storing the saw in the case.
br /
br /Overall, this is a well-thought-out and wonderfully designed tool from the originators of the reciprocating saw. (I have no connection to or financial interest in Milwaukee Tools)

i bought this tool when it first came out and it has broken 3 times under light-to-medium use. i could have purchased a whole new tool by now. each time it has been the same problem, the clutch mechanism breaks. the clutch mechanism is linked to the piston that moves the blade back and forth. the clutch stalls the blade, in the event that the blade is pinched, like when cutting a stud at the bottom plate and the the weight of the stud soon shifts onto the blade, sending all that vibration into your arms. the clutch also prevents over torquing the motor. when it works, it's awesome. now i use my dad's old 4 amp milwaukee. this tool was built to last. i'm not sure why the new milwaukee isn't built like their older tools. my "super" sawzall broke, the last time, while i was cutting 3" out of a 8x12 lintel/header (in a single story) to accept a new door at the proper door height. the constant pounding of the blade against the pine lintel broke the clutch. i finished up the cut with my dad's 4 amp.
br /
br /after my milwaukee failed me, i considered switching to a different tool, instead of repairing my not-so-super sawzall, for the third time. i've looked at the new boschRS20 13 amp, but it doesn't have anti-vibration, like their older models. it's a beast to use and it cuts only medium fast, at 2,800 SPM (strokes per minute). i've never used the hitachi CR13A 11amp "swing-action" sawzall, but it's supposed to be twice as fast an orbital saw. it's cuts faster than the bosch. it's an older tool, with no gadgets, but is still a great tool. a great value too. the porter-cable angle-adjust TIGER CLAW 9747 is a great saw for cutting in tight spaces, where no other saw can get to, and an overall great tool. it cuts at medium speed, at 2,900 SPM. the HILTI WSR 1400PE, with "smart power," is by far the best recip saw out there, but it's a bit heavycosts almost 300.00(with side handle), but you can't put a price on quality. you can get a carbide blade for it, the first ever that i know of, so it will cut cinder block and clay pipe and cut out a window in stuccometal lath with ease. the smart power lets the motor run at consistent speed, instead of "bogging-down" during the cut, like every other tool. technically, it has a faster SPM than other saws; it just cuts faster. new in 2005, is the MAKITA JR3070CT 15 amp saw. i know previously that makita recip saws have really sucked, but this one has been re-engineered and is now the MOST POWERFUL RECIP SAW EVER! (besides the HILTI). it has all the features you need, counter-balance (anti-vibration), clutch (different than milwaukee's), 4-speed orbital, etc. it cuts very fast. dewalt recip saws are just ok. if you must buy a dewalt recip saw, like if you need it to match your yellow truck or other dewalt tools, buy the DW309k 11.8 amp. dewalt makes other great tools, their recip saws just aren't as good as HILTI, MAKITA, HITACHI, BOSCH and PORTER-CABLE.
br /
br /so many companies are forgoing quality and adding gadgets to their tools to get people to buy them. i just want quality. now that home depot/rigid owns milwaukee, i hope their quality doesn't drop any further.
br /
br /SEPT 2005: i'd like to add, that the new MILWAUKEE 6523-21 13 amp, 3,000 SPM SAWZALL has partially restored my faith in milwaukee. it is comparable in power and speed with the MAKITA JR30CT, according to stats. i just wonder if it will hold up under pressure.

This is the ultimate sawzall! Buy this one and you'll never regret it. Milwaukee has the best toolless blade change system of all the reciprocating saws on the market. I haven't found anything that this saw won't cut through. The detachable cord is also a bonus in case you accidentally cut through it, however I am concerned that the locking mechanism on the cord will wear out and then the cord will have to be replaced because it won't stay plugged into the sawzall. I've had other people tell me that this is what happens to these cords. It's not a big enough problem to rate it at anything other than 5 stars. Milwaukee has this market sewed up and no other tool company can compete as of yet.

This saw has gotten me out of more jams than any other tool I own--and I own a few. I can't believe the power and flexibility of this saw. The only trouble I have had is that the shoe adjustment lock/lever broke the first time I tried to adjust it. I got a new one from the local "tool shop" where I bought the saw, and now it's fine--probably a defect in the first one. I have cut galv. pipe, notched 2-2X door headers, and plunge cut laminate countertop. I am always finding something that I wouldn't have been able to do without it. Thanks Milwaukee!!

Metaphorically speaking, of course. But no joke, this thing will tear into whatever you set in front of it. I've also got the 10 amp with trigger-controlled speed and no orbital. It's a great saw, but the orbital action combined with the dial-in speed control is a super-nice feature. If it gets bogged down, the clutch feature keeps you from burning it up. I've used this thing to take a kitchen down as well as cut the roof off a Honda. Heck, I've even pruned trees with it, cut up old gutters, and been tempted to carve the Thanksgiving turkey with it. It's just a danged ol good saw. A Hawg if there ever was one.

I am a master electrician, and everyone on a professional job site knows that milwaukee is the tool that the "big boys" use. the only problem for me is that i cut mostly metal pipe, so the orbital action is not very usefull for me. I could have gotten by with a model w/o orbital action. but for anyone considering reciprocating saws: there is a reason everyone on the job refers to all reciprocating saws as a "sawzall." that is the name of only milwaukee reciprocating saws. kinda like someone refering to all soft drinks as "cokes." Milwaukee is the is the original and the best.
br /
br /also, i seriously doubt the validity of a milwaukee not working after a short time as described by some reviews. I have never heard of or seen any milwaukee fail. my one caution is that nowadays china is exporting exact knock offs of power tools including bosch and milwaukee. if you bought this sawzall for less than about 180, then there is something wrong. the imitators will look exactly like the real thing, but the internals are much inferior. so beware. if you get the genuine milwaukee, it will be a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for.

The Energizer Bunny of saws - it keeps cutting and cutting and cutting. I used it to cut a few plastic lawn chairs headed to the trash-easy stuff. I used it to cut PVC pipe for a plumbing project-nice, clean straight cuts. I cut up a rusty BBQ grill-well because I wanted to-very easy. No binding, no stalling. The assorted blade package is a nice add-on, a blade for every job. You won't want any other saw.

The sawzall was more than I expected it arrived in fine shape and cuts like a jewl.

Milwaukee invented the Sawzall and they still make the best. Far smoother than the Tiger Saw, imho. Makes a real difference at the end of a long day of demo work.

This fellow is heavy, and the pressure required on the trigger switch is tiring to the index finger in long cuts. The adjustable foot is a good idea when using a long blade where a short one would be better, but it is hard to use, and I broke the plastic lever right away. It gets hot and makes funny sounds like a mouse skweaking. The quick-change blade holder is excellent.I use it most for cutting small trees and brush, plus tearing down of old lumber construction. No problems other than mentioned, and after many hours of use, it is as new.Get a smaller one if you need light duty, but for heavy duty work, this one is excellent.

My wife bought this for me as a fathers day gift about 4 years ago. It's the best tool made. I've been in so many situations that the only tool that could do the job was my sawsall. If you don't have one, do yourself a favor....buy one, or get your wife or girl friend to buy it for you. It's the best gift I ever got!!

This is an excellant tool for most situations in construction that other regular and circular saws cannot achieve.br With exchangable blades that will cut virtually any material, this saw can accomplish whatever you can throw at it.

This is an excellant tool for most situations in construction that other regular and circular saws cannot achieve. With exchangable blades that will cut virtually any material, this saw can accomplish whatever you can throw at it.

Horrible saw. Burnt out motor on first cut. Had to use older milwaukee w/4.0 amp motor to finish cut......which cut better and faster with the same blade. Very dissapointed. The older saws were (and still are) way better.
br /
br /No difference between orbital and recip settings. Purely a gimick.
br /
br /DO NOT BUY.