The Milwaukee Hackzall is is an odd-duck looking tool with an off-set motor and out-of-balancy looking look. But it works. Here’s what we found out on the job site.
Note: We partnered with The Home Depot to produce this blog. The information, how-to and tool advice are 100% MyFixitUpLife. To learn more about or buy the Milwaukee Hackzall or Wrecker blades tested here smash either link. Now, on with the review.
The reason for the “off-balance-y” look is that the Hackzall is designed to be operated one-handed.
While you may not do that on every cut it’s nice to know you can. The PVC vent dangling from the ceiling in this bathroom reno (not shown because I’m not that smart), for example, is one of those times when you’d need one hand on the pipe to keep it still and the other on the saw. To make this cut with a regular recip a third hand or a second person would come in handy.
Either way, the 7/8-inch straight (no orbit) reciprocating action was awesome for PVC. Not sure why a plumber wouldn’t eventually get a tool like this.
Despite being a niche-esque kind of design, the Milwaukee Hackzall (Model #2719-20) is right at home doing just about all the stuff we typically do with our in-line saws. Loaded with Milwaukee’s Wrecker blade (nice design: it blasted nails and plastic and OSB without complaining) we cut nails and wood for removing a door jamb, cut framing nails for moving a stud wall and through a whole bunch of OSB to relocate a bathtub.
Big Red says the unit cuts up to 50% faster than competitors. We couldn’t really test this, but it seems close with it’s bigger brother in-line tools, so we’re not going to argue. It also ran smoothly under duress—like ripping 3-feet of 2×6 blocking (see video). There was minimal vibration—nice for a small tool. And there was a small tool: Wicked nice for a job like a bathroom renovation where everything is on top of everything else.
Other things like balance, blade change, and battery power (I like to group things by letter, clearly) were up to the snuff we typically expect from Milwaukee. In other words, all good.
The bare tool is about $150. As a one-hander, this isn’t designed as a replacement for a full-sized Sawzall. But if you’re upgrading or have another pair of hands to keep busy or simply keep getting trapped in those situations it requires 3-hands to get out of, the Milwaukee Hackzall is a worthy contender for real estate on your truck or in your shop.
Also, not to belittle this tool at all, but if I needed to cut branches—say to install siding or a bay window or clear shrubs for a new deck, I’d 100% reach for this first. It’d be extra perfect.
Fantastic information in an entertaining way!