mike_dave Posted March 20, 2016 Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 Hey Gang, I am planning on buying a cordless circ saw for my kit and am debating between the 6-1/2" fuel saw, and the standard Milwaukee brushed circular saw. aside from the increased performance from the fuel, the rafter hook is quite appealing.. I'm not sure if that's going to be overkill for my needs, plus here in Canada I believe the price difference is about 100 bucks, and well for that much I could go buy myself another tool for those of you who have each of these saws what are your thoughts? do you regret your purchase and wish you went the other way? Mike 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboS1ice Posted March 20, 2016 Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 The fuel will give you longer runtime as well and you can get a full sized 7 1/4" which the blades are more common and priced a little better Jimbo Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike_dave Posted March 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 the blade is on the wrong side for me. It must be on the left hand side, which is too bad because the 7-1/4" would be a great tool to have Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboS1ice Posted March 20, 2016 Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 I would say go fuel if you can, the longevity of the tool is greater than the brushed versions. Most of the Milwaukee brushed versions are just average ordinary where the fuels tend to stand out as a really great tool. Jimbo Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Glassey Posted March 20, 2016 Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 I agree with Jimbo, the brushed models are ok, but the fuel models will make a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dano123 Posted March 20, 2016 Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 I have been debating this also. The big factor is how often you will use it. The prices I found seem to be around 99 for brushed and 199 for fuel. I don't use a circular saw all that often so I can't justify paying twice the money Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwain Posted March 20, 2016 Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 that is a fair price difference. the fuel is not needed for occasional use, especially just occasional cuts in framing timber. if you want it for much more, go the FUEL, you won't regret it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike_dave Posted March 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 I am a carpenter apprentice. while this wont be used all day everyday, it wont be spending all of its time sitting on a shelf waiting to be used by a weekend warrior a couple times in the summer either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dano123 Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 Then go with the fuel. If this is going to make you money get the better saw. I use my tools in my garage mostly so I would just grab my corded saw for extended use. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comp56 Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 I went with the 6 1/2 fuel and happy I did, I may not be a contractor but I am restoring my home room by room from the studs out and after about the 3rd room it has paid for itself already as far as I'm concerned.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiltiWpg Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 Brushless is great, but the benefits of a brushless motor don't apply to all tools equally. A saw needs a good blade more than a brushless motor. The battery life will be better, but only marginally. Heavy load tools will see much more of a benefit from a brushless motor. A circular saw will be great with or without a brushless motor. Brushed motors are less susceptible to dirt and debris as well. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comp56 Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 1 minute ago, HiltiWpg said: Brushless is great, but the benefits of a brushless motor don't apply to all tools equally. A saw needs a good blade more than a brushless motor. The battery life will be better, but only marginally. Heavy load tools will see much more of a benefit from a brushless motor. A circular saw will be great with or without a brushless motor. Brushed motors are less susceptible to dirt and debris as well. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk well then it came in handy while I was taper cutting wet fresh 2x4 end for end......2 stories up while leveling ceiling joists before sheet rock.....I could tell how wet the wood was one from another just by the sound of the motor while cutting........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwain Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 for a carpenter, don't even consider the brushed model. The FUEL is just so powerful... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiltiWpg Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 for a carpenter, don't even consider the brushed model. The FUEL is just so powerful... Higher rpm or do you mean it has more torque? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwain Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 I'm not sure about the RPM. It has significantly more power/torque than any cordless brushed saw that I know of. This link is informative if you're interested:http://www.aconcordcarpenter.com/18-volt-cordless-circular-saw-head-to-head.html 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiltiWpg Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 I'm not sure about the RPM. It has significantly more power/torque than any brushed saw that I know of. The brushless motor delivers higher rpms, that's one of the disadvantages of a brushed motor, high friction means lower rpm. I am not sure that torque really applies to a circular saw. If you are pushing the tool into the wood that hard, you are doing it wrong! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiltiWpg Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 M18 3500 rpm, M18 Fuel 5000 rpm. No torque ratings, which makes sense. There ya go, thanks google! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboS1ice Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 59 minutes ago, HiltiWpg said: M18 3500 rpm, M18 Fuel 5000 rpm. No torque ratings, which makes sense. There ya go, thanks google! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk torque comes into play at a certain point though, otherwise once you hit OSB the blade will just stop, i know thats extreme example... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bremon Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 Fuel easily. Great saw that is well worth the premium price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffmcmillan Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 Think of that extra hundred dollars as what you save from not needing a second corded saw for when the brushed goes dead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmitry Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 I had Milwaukee brushed circular 2630 and I used it a month. I replaced it to Fuel. And I would say it's so cool and powerfull. Build quality is also much better in Fuel model. Important to say that if you have time - look for special offers, you can buy saw much lower then RRP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwain Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 8 hours ago, HiltiWpg said: The brushless motor delivers higher rpms, that's one of the disadvantages of a brushed motor, high friction means lower rpm. I am not sure that torque really applies to a circular saw. If you are pushing the tool into the wood that hard, you are doing it wrong! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Whilst it's true that the term 'torque' is not readily used for circular saws, it absolutely applies. torque is simply how much force is applied at a given distance/radius. you can find electric saws with far more power but little extra RPM, because the no-load RPM is meaningless without the grunt to back it up. the FUEL grinder is another good example. It has only 9000RPM, compared to many brushed 18v grinders with 10,000RPM. But the FUEL smashes them because when you apply load, the RPM doesn't drop nearly as much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwain Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 8 hours ago, HiltiWpg said: I am not sure that torque really applies to a circular saw. If you are pushing the tool into the wood that hard, you are doing it wrong! If you want to cut fast, you need the power to do it. Ask a carpenter to cut OSB or LVLs all day on a cheap cordless saw and see what he/she thinks... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comp56 Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 12 hours ago, HiltiWpg said: The brushless motor delivers higher rpms, that's one of the disadvantages of a brushed motor, high friction means lower rpm. I am not sure that torque really applies to a circular saw. If you are pushing the tool into the wood that hard, you are doing it wrong! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk hmm back in the day (I'm talking the 60's) my father used to say worm drive circular saws were best on the job site because they had more torque. If more torque was important then why would having a cordless saw be any different I realize these cordless brushless saw's are not worm drive but the more torque you have the better it is going to cut no? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiltiWpg Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 hmm back in the day (I'm talking the 60's) my father used to say worm drive circular saws were best on the job site because they had more torque. If more torque was important then why would having a cordless saw be any different I realize these cordless brushless saw's are not worm drive but the more torque you have the better it is going to cut no? Oh for sure. Torque in any motor is important. For circular saws, you aren't running them under constant and varying loads like an impact or drill. They spin. Sometimes they bog a little and a beefier motor is great to have. With a good blade and proper use of the tool, the torque requirements aren't that crazy. As for the worm drive, they don't bind up like a direct drive because they are geared. Direct drive can stop the blade much easier when it binds. Worm drives by design, are very hard to stop. Not because of brushless or brushed motors, but the gearing. The are beasts! Just wait for an M18 Fuel Wormdrive! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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