Milwaukee M18 6 ½” Circular Saw Review: A Comprehensive Look at the 2730-20 Model

It's a beautiful day in Pittsburgh, and we're excited to take a closer look at Milwaukee's M18 6 ½" circular saw. This tool is part of the M18 lineup, which is designed for professionals and serious DIYers who require reliable performance and versatility. The model number, 2730-20, indicates that this is a specific configuration that can only be purchased with this model.

As we open up the box, we find the directions, saw blade, and the saw itself. Let's take a closer look at what's inside. The saw blade size for this tool is 6 ½", and the arbor diameter is 5/8". The total cut in depth at 90° is 2 3/16", while the total depth of cut at 45° is 1 5/8". This provides a range of options for various cutting tasks. Additionally, the no-load RPM on this saw is an impressive 5,000.

The M18 battery, whether it's 2.0 or 5.0Ah, can be used with this tool. There's also the option to use high-demand batteries, which provide extra power and runtime. The lock-off button needs to be pressed down in order to activate the trigger. One of the standout features of this saw is the beefy rafter hook, which allows you to hang the saw on any rafter or 2x4 with ease.

Another notable feature is the rubberized grip on the front of the tool, providing a comfortable and secure hold during extended use. The big, lower guard handle is also a welcome addition, allowing for easy pull-up action to see where you're cutting into the material. The rip fence slot is present but needs to be purchased separately, as it goes into the shoe at this point. The sight lines are clear and well-defined, made from metal and also incorporated into the shoe.

The bevel adjustment knob allows for counter-clockwise adjustments, with a scale ranging from 0 to 50 in increments of 5°. To tighten it down, simply turn the knob clockwise. The depth adjustment lever is located on the front of the saw and can be pulled up to adjust your depth. As with most circular saws, you can check the depth on the back of the guard here.

The spindle lock button is situated on the front of the saw, requiring a press-down action followed by a clockwise turn of the bolt to loosen it. To swap out the blade, take the top flange off and line up the arrow on the blade with the arrow on the tool. Slide in the blade and put your flange on before tightening down with an Allen wrench.

The total length of this saw is 13 ½" and weighs approximately 6 ½ lbs without the battery. With a battery installed, it's likely to add a few extra pounds. Despite its compact size, this saw packs a punch, making it suitable for various tasks.

Before we proceed with the review, let's take a closer look at some of the features that make this saw stand out from the competition. The electronic break feature is a welcome addition, as the blade immediately stops when your finger is removed from the trigger, providing an added layer of safety. There's also an LED light integrated into the design, which turns on and off with every trigger press.

One of the standout features of this saw is its power, particularly when using the 5.0 Ah battery. It can easily cut through various materials, including pressurized treated lumber like a 2x12. The saw also includes an affordable RapidCharge charger that charges batteries 40% faster than traditional M18 chargers.

In terms of pricing, the saw itself is available for $199 without the battery. If you opt to purchase a battery, be prepared to spend upwards of $100 or more, depending on the type and compatibility.

For those already part of the Milwaukee universe or using their tools, this circular saw is definitely worth considering. However, it's essential to note that the handle is located on the right-hand side due to the blade's position on the left. While this may be a minor inconvenience for some users, it poses no issue at all for left-handed individuals.

In conclusion, Milwaukee's M18 6 ½" circular saw has garnered our attention with its impressive range of features and capabilities. Whether you're a professional or an enthusiastic DIYer, this tool is sure to provide reliable performance and versatility in your workshop or on-site applications.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enHey, guys. It’s a beautiful day in Pittsburgh.We’re going to be taking a look at Milwaukee’sM18 6 ½” circular saw.The model number is 2730-20, and you onlyget the tool with this model. All right, let’sopen this up and see what’s inside the box.You get your directions. You get a saw blade.Here’s the saw.The blade size for this saw is 6 ½” andthe arbor is 5/8”. The total cut in depthin 90° is 2 3/16”. The total depth of cutat 45° is 1 5/8”. The no-load rpm on thisis 5,000. You put the M18 battery in the backlike so until you hear the click. It usesany M18 battery, whether it’s 2.0 or 5.0Ah battery. You can also use the high demandbattery. The lock-off button needs to be presseddown in order to activate the trigger. Thereis a nice beefy rafter hook right here. Thisis pretty cool; you can hang the saw on anyrafter or 2x4. There is also a rubberizedgrip on the front of the tool. I like thisbig, lower guard handle right here; it’snice and beefy, so you can pull up on theguard and see where you’re cutting intothe material.This is the rip fence slot, but you need tobuy that separately. But it goes into theshoe right at this point. These sight linesare very clear to see; that’s a good thing.They’re made out of metal as is the shoe.This is the bevel adjustment knob; you turnit counter-clockwise to adjust your bevel,and the scale goes from 0 to 50 in incrementsof 5°. To tighten it down you just turn itclockwise.This is the depth adjustment lever; pull upon it to adjust your depth. Like on most circularsaws, you can look at the depth on the backof the guard here.They put an Allen wrench on the side of thesaw, which you use to swap out the blade.The spindle lock button is in the front here.So you just press down on this, then you turnthe bolt clockwise to loosen it. Take thistop flange off. Line up the arrow on the bladewith the arrow on the tool. Slide in the blade.Put your flange on and then your bolt. Turnthe bolt counter-clockwise to tighten downon it, and just tighten it down with yourAllen wrench.The total length of this saw is 13 ½” andthe weight is 6 ½ lbs without the battery.When you put the battery in, it’s probablya few extra pounds. But overall, it’s avery compact saw. And let’s give it a shot;let’s try it out.So remember, the total depth of cut at 90°is 2 3/16”. The total depth of cut at 45°is 1 5/8”. So you can see I’, trying tocut through this 2x material here, and becausethe depth of cut at 45° is only 1 5/8”,it didn’t go all the way through.I like the fact that the saw has an electronicbreak. The blade immediately stops when youtake your finger off the trigger, which isa great safety feature. It’s a little bithard to see, but there’s an LED light righthere, and this turns on and off whenever youhit the trigger.All right, so what is the price of this saw?It’s $199 without the battery. If you doget a battery, you’re going to have to spendprobably $100, $150 for the battery and thecharger. Now, I want to show you something.If you don’t already have a Milwaukee charger,I would recommend that you get the RapidChargecharger because it charges batteries 40% fasterthan their traditional M18 charger. The costfor this is about $79. If you throw in a battery,it’s going to be upwards of over $100.This saw has plenty of power. I was usingthe 5.0 Ah battery. It charged right throughthe 2x material. That first 2x material thatI was cutting was pressurized treated lumber,and that was a 2x12. The 2x4 is not pressurizedtreated lumber, so it definitely went throughthat with no problem. If you’re cuttingsheet goods, this is definitely a great saw.The LED light will light up the work spacefor you, and you won’t run out of powerwith it.Now, all that being said, I would recommendthat you check this out if you need a newcircular saw and you’re in the Milwaukeeuniverse or you’re using Milwaukee tools.I do want to tell you though that the handleon this is on the right-hand side becausethe blade is on the left. I didn’t necessarilylike the fact that I had to reach over theblade and hold it with my left hand. But ifyou’re left-handed, no problem; you cando that all day long.All right. Thanks so much for watching thisvideo, and we’ll see you in the next one.\n"