Customer Reviews for Milwaukee M18 FUEL 16 in. 18V Lithium-Ion Brushless Battery Hedge Trimmer Chainsaw Combo Kit (2-Tool)

Great chainsaw for those who may need to store a chainsaw for more than a few weeks at a time and want decent power immediately without the headache and frustration of a pull start to get the saw going. Fits my needs great so far, and value was decent with the promo of an extra 12.0HD battery. I'm assuming the 16" bar length was/is driven by maintaining a power/demand balance with the battery platform - which it balances well in my opinion! Got it about 3 weeks ago and I've cut oak, pine, cedar, and palm trees up to around 20in diameter max and it's been great. Keeping a sharp chain, this saw provides the drive needed to work through all the cuts I've done. Like the manual says, let the saw do the work and don't strain the motor by having a dull blade or trying to jam the saw through cuts. Would be nice to have a longer bar, but the shorter bar does make for more compact storage and transport. For me, 16" bar will cover 98% of my annual needs. Really like the hanging hole on the underside of the handle for wall storage. No bar/chain oil leaks (so far) when I've stored it hanging, which makes sense when I opened the cover to find the port hole where the oil is fed from. However, I do have some bar/chain oil leak when I've stored it sitting flat, which was a disappointment - especially since I'm transporting in my vehicle (anther reason for electric over gas for me) a majority of the time. Milwaukee says in their manual to empty the bar/chain oil reservoir every time it's being stored but I'm not going through that hassle every single time I'm transporting it, especially if I'm using it on different properties all within the same day or for a few days at a time. Since mine does leak - it would be nice if Milwaukee had provided a case with the saw; would have eliminated any chance of the oil drips I now have in the back of my vehicle :-/ All-in-all, a good saw that fit my needs well.

I have a stihl chainsaw and while I know stihl has a loyal customer base, I am not one of them. I can honestly say my Stihl chainsaw is the only power tool I've ever owned that I hate. Think about that for a second. I hate a power tool. This Milwaukee chainsaw on the other hand, I love. As a landowner, I was skeptical. I thought it was just going to be something for some light duty subdivision homeowner trimming crepe myrtles but in the 2 months, I've used this saw, it has not had an easy life. I've cleared several acres with it and have gone through about 8 chains, 2 bars and 2 quarts of oil. I've knocked down trees that were wider in caliper than the bar without any issues. Battery absolutely makes more sense than 2 stroke engines when it comes to chainsaws. Especially in my case of having to hike a ways to get there and working on the side of a mountain. No choking on fumes, no having to lug along a gas can, it's also very quiet. The battery life is decent. I have spares but I am working with this saw for hours a day. On a full charge, by the first battery change, you will be ready for a break anyway. I was also skeptical because it looks like Milwaukee is going more into the battery business and will this saw perform. Yes. Yes it does. See my pictures if you think I'm joshing you. My only complaint is that the chain tension adjustment requires, not only a screwdriver, but also opening up the compartment with a socket wrench before it will turn. A tool-less tension without having to open anything would be better.

I trimmed for years with a gas-powered trimmer never thought I would go to Electric, bought this for my wife to trim shrubs around the house, what an amazing machine, powerful, cuts through the shrubs half inch branches like butter it's lightweight and runs a long time on a battery great product.

Works great

So far so good!

This Milwaukee M18 FUEL 16 in. 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Battery Brushless Cordless Chainsaw Kit seemed to hold it's own with my son's top-end Stihl 16" gas saw. Cutting some oak and cypress 6" branches and 10" logs (dry and wet), the M18's power and quickness had no trouble keeping up! At 6,600 RPM's, the Milwaukee's chain speed of 385ft per second does cut very fast and clean! It has a very nice anti-kickback chain that is as sharp as any I've ever used! After an afternoon of making sawdust, the kit's included M18 12.0Ah Lith-Ion battery still had 1\2 it's charge. It took the included M18 charger only a 1\2 hour to bring it back up to full charge. The oiling systems works well and kept the chain and bar cool running and the chips flying. The rated 13.9# is the saw+installed M18 battery weight...the bare saw being just 11#. Balance with or without the battery is excellent and overall ergonomics and handling were also superb...much better than other battery chainsaws I've used before. The stout Brushless motor undoubtedly greatly contributes to the smooth and quick cut-ability and long lasting power of this venerable cordless! The kicker was the No fumes, Low noise and the Ease of operation. But, give this well designed and built chainsaw a lot of respect...it does mean business!!

Great battery operated chainsaw with plenty of power to compete with a two-cycle chainsaw, but the price is high and I struggle where/when I would use this over a gas powered chainsaw. Pro - Lots of power - Battery recharge is fast - Functions just like a gas powered chainsaw (chain brake, chain, bar bolts, etc) - No gas to change, but still requires chain oil - If you don't want a gas powered chainsaw, this is an amazing option When would this be useful or who should get this? This would be perfect for someone who does not own any 2 cycle tools, but who needs to cut down an occasional limb.

The moment I pulled the trigger to give this saw its recommended 30-second warmup to oil the chain, I knew it was something different. It has a very proportional response, providing a great feel of control depending on how far you pull the trigger (yes, you'll probably pull it all the way most times, buy you don't have to). And the RPM on this saw is just incredible. It just rips! Don't be fooled by its "18V" rating versus competitors using 40V batteries; there's so much more to brushless power than voltage. This saw clearly has a very fast motor in it. Milwaukee claims it has the power of a 40cc gas saw (but is much faster), and I believe it. Now, looking at price, you may start to wonder if it's worth it. Yes, it's more expensive than the equivalent gas model, but that's because the 18V 12Ah battery alone is half the cost of this package. The convenience of electric is worth it in my opinion - no fumes, much lighter weight, no fuel to deal with. It's awesome. And compared to my 14" 40V electric model, this 16" 18V is just so much more powerful that I wouldn't bother going with cheaper competitors if you have serious cutting to do (as in something more than tree limbs). Look for the standard metric of cuts in 6" cedar - this one is rated at 150 cuts. That's a lot of cuts!! That being said, I had a potentially very serious problem with the chainsaw: after two minutes of use, the chain fell off the bar! This has to be a problem with tuning at the factory. Sure, the manual says "New chains could stretch and loosen during initial use.... check chain tension frequently during the first two hours of use." But seriously, the chain fell off! I removed the cover (which requires the removal of two 1/2" nuts) and reset the chain, but my confidence in the saw is somewhat shaken, as I really don't know if the chain had improper tension from the factory or some other defect caused it to fall off. My advice to anyone buying this is not to assume the chain tension is correct out of the box. Unfortunately, Milwaukee doesn't make this particularly convenient, as it's not tool-less: a screwdriver is required to adjust the tension. A couple of other issues I have with the saw: (1) for a saw with this much power, I think the right-hand grip is too small. I'd like something much thicker for a better feel. (2) the chain spins fast enough to spray quite a lot of oil. My clothes was covered with chain oil after using the saw for a short while. Overall, this chain saw definitely gets the job done, but my experience with the chain falling off after just a few minutes means I can't give it a perfect score. One last tip: don't forget to pick up some chain oil if you don't already have some - you'll be using a lot to fill the big tank on this saw!

I may be close to retirement age, but that doesn't mean I have any intention of confining my outdoor tasks to pruning petunias. I've had lots of experience using cordless pole saws, but their shorter bar & chain limited their use to smaller branches. I needed a "grown-up" chainsaw, and preferably a cordless. Enter this Milwaukee M18 FUEL 16 in. cordless chainsaw. It's a beast, and it's making quick work of all the beefier branches that need cutting on my 60-year-old oaks, birch, and evergreens. This saw has a lot of great points, so I'll start with the obvious-- it's cordless. No electrical cords to get tangled, no gas fumes, no sequence of priming, cord-pulling to get it started-- none of the hassles of old-scool chainsaws. Just charge up that REDLITHIUM High Output HD12.0 Battery Pack, pop it in the saw, and go. And this is not your father's cordless-- you'll run out of energy before this cordless tool & battery. It's surprisingly powerful, but not unmanageable, even for an older woman like me. This chainsaw isn't as heavy as traditional gas-powered models, and the centralized location of the battery pack gives the saw great balance and handling. (Though, as a lefty, I wish you had the option to hold and operate it left-handed.) Back to the power-- the motor was built for this 16-in chainsaw to make it perform like a 40cc gas engine saw-- and it does. Cuts through 8" and up limbs in well under a minute. Doesn't jam or bind. And the 150-cut per charge claim is true. Noisy? Not really. This Milwaukee cordless runs smooth, minimal vibration, and way quieter than gas models-- you can hear people talking while it's running. Inclusion of an on-board scrench (screw-wrench) for chain & bar adjustment. Thank you. Really. Five-year tool and three-year battery warranties. Those alone speak to the quality of the components in each. There's just a few of the saw's high points. Now for a few points to note: Automatic oiler-- handy feature. But if you're cutting really big limbs, make sure you check the reservoir often, as it goes through oil pretty quickly. I was really pushing the M18 FUEL when cutting up a trunk, lots of continuous cutting from both sides, and had to add oil pretty regularly. I have no problem stopping to add oil, I just want remind owners to check the oil level OFTEN when under heavy use. Same with the REDLITHIUM battery packs-- regardless of whether they're the standard or High Output, these can overheat under heavy use, so if the saw suddenly stops working, it's likely the built-in REDLINK PLUS Intelligence overiding your lack of intelligence and protecting the saw & battery from overload. All in all, the Milwaukee M18 FUEL cordless chainsaw met or exceeded my expections. I highly recommend this tool-- it's a great addition to anyone's cordless line-up!

By far, this Milwaukee M18 “Fuel” chainsaw is the best out of the three battery-powered electric chainsaws I have used in the past! This comes with a huge 14 Amp 18 Volt battery (see picture) and a charger. Both the battery and charger can be used with other Milwaukee M18 series tools, so this is very versatile in addition to its great cutting capabilities. I was also very impressed with the design – the adjustment controls on the right side (see picture) are easy to use. Even the chain oil filler had a retention strap (see picture) so the filler cap does not get lost in the leaves or yard debris. The tag on the oil filler does state you should run the chain for 30 seconds before cutting to allow the distribution of the chain oil. Once I did that, this chainsaw can really slice through hardwood! The manual explains the design of the chain to reduce kickback, so this chainsaw is very safe. The 48-page operator’s manual is very helpful for new chainsaw users! It even gives good tips with diagrams for cutting techniques. Milwaukee really made a very solid chainsaw that really is far more convenient than a gas powered saw. It starts up every time and runs well. I highly recommend it!

I'll start off by saying I worked at a tree service for several years in college. I have used most of the major professional gas saws on the market. If you use it every day for heavy cutting I wouldn't expect to replace it with this. Right out of the box using my 9ah battery I made 3 full cuts through a 14inch bone dry Madrone. it went through smooth as I've ever seen a 40cc saw do it. Next up was some 6-8inch wet apple. This saw had no problem ripping a sharp chain through with enough torque to cut nice big "curly's". You know the pretty curly chunks of saw dust they spit out when there tuned up just right! Those 6 cuts drained 1 bar of battery. Keeping in mind that was a stout dry slab of Madrone and a 9ah battery, I think You could easily de-limb and piece down most trees on a 12ah charge. For a contractor using it on posts I'm sure it would cut all day. This seems well built but only time will tell. Its a little long to climb with but if you weren't doing it everyday it would work. The Kickback seems well designed. The on-board tool is secure but tough to get with gloved hands. The bar is way more sturdy than single stud electrics I've handled. It's impressively quiet and has a comfortable safety and trigger. The safety is on the left side of the handle though so if you had to make a cut left handed you would be palming it or awkwardly using your thumb. Last but not least the Auto Oiler actually puts out an appropriate amount of oil! I did see the review before mine had an issue with too much oil but mine is good so I'm not sure if he got a lemon or what. The best part for me, I could let this sit all year and it will still cut like a beast when I pull the trigger. Good luck doing that with a gas saw.

I used Milwaukee Fuel Tools for some time now and expected the performance I got when I used the hedge trimmer. A little heavy at first for someone my age (66) with the 9.0 battery but did get used to the weight. The trimmer performed as good as the corded one, without the cord it is a better tool.

Outstanding product: I use my M18 5.0 batteries from my M18 FUEL™ 1/2" Mid-Torque Impact Wrench & M18 Blower. They last longer than I expected. The hedge trimmer is designed for safety & efficiency.

Great product I was able to work with it on and off all day on one battery it does a great job. I will recommend it to any one

Cutting the cord means no more cutting the cord. It is so nice to not have to lug a cord around. I think this 72 year old did his 60 ft hedge in half the time it took last time. Last time I told myself it was probably my last time doing this job, but Milwaukee came to the rescue. I love my 18V Milwaukee tools! I cleaned up the left over litter with my 18V compact blower http://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M18-Compact-Blower-0884-20/204834633

Great saw thats perfect for the few odd jobs throughout the year. You wont take down an entire forest, but it will get the job done for the spring and fall clean-ups

So much easier than gas or electric cord operated unit!

A few years old and always disappointed. You may get one or two cuts with a 5aH battery. Milwaukee looked at mine after weeks warranty debate, and they said it had a bad circuit board. I was told to only use a heavy duty, 12ah battery. This stopped working before its warranty expired. I’ve never got more than a few cuts with this saw. It makes question Milwaukee tools. I’ll buy another gas chainsaw next time.

Saw cuts great, and the battery seams to last pretty long

My fuel chainsaw works better than I thought it would , cuts very good. It has a lot of power for its size. Could be a pound or so lighter but it’s not bad , would buy another someday !

I had mine about two years now. Got it at Home Depot never had a problem. It does some serious cutting I own about nine batteries. My biggest is 12. My smallest is three. I cannot say nothing bad about it. It does exactly what it’s supposed to do and I’m surprised how many cuts I get from 1 battery

Works really good for cutting firewood to smaller lengths and cutting down small trees around the yard. Haven’t used it to cut down 12” thick green trees because that’s not what I bought it for. Battery lasts a really long time for how much cutting I’ve done.

Exceeded my expectations!

Too heavy, nit balanced, and nit strong enough.

The trimmer is great but didn’t not realize that the battery or charger wasn’t included in the box…..

For a battery saw it really surprised me on how well it cuts.