Milwaukee Mini Chainsaw Review [2023]

Milwaukee Mini Chainsaw Review

This is the big-picture overview of the mini chainsaw’s features and design.

Opening the Milwaukee M18

When you open the box, you can expect a couple of things:

• The Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hatchet
• Scrench (on the machine)
• User manual 

That’s it.

No battery and charger included.

I haven’t seen any kit versions of the chainsaw, so if you need a battery, you’ll need to buy one separately. 

On top of that, there’s no chain oil. This is standard - most brands don’t provide too much oil, if any, with their tools. 

Let’s dive into the tool itself. 

First Impressions

Off the rip, I like this way better than most mini electric chainsaws.

To be completely fair, it’s almost in a class above the usual mini electric chainsaw, like the Saker. 

It doesn’t have the weird and clunky single handed design. It doesn’t have the weird rubber guard over the blade that no one is sure does anything.

Some people might say it lacks a compact design.

The motor is just above the handle so the chainsaw is more symmetrical.

It doesn’t have the classic motor on the side of the mini chainsaw which can get in the way sometimes. 

On top of all that, it has an 8-inch bar. Most mini chainsaws push the limit with a 6-inch bar.

The blade itself comes with a durable but plastic scabbard so you can sheath it when you are done.

When you put the battery into the saw, you’ll notice that it’s pretty well-balanced even at over 6 pounds. It’s not lopsided either way when you hold it.

Pretty cool.

Safety Features

Like we said above, the blade does come with a plastic guard or scabbard.

Usually these things fall right off but this one is designed to catch on the bolts of the chainsaw so it’s a bit safer. 

Like most chainsaws, there is a chain brake that you need to pull to activate the trigger.

The variable speed trigger allows the power range to go from relatively slow to up to 2600 RPM.

What makes the M18 Fuel better than other mini electric chainsaws, is that it’s ambidextrous.

Doesn’t matter if you are lefty or right, you can start the blade with ease.

That’s definitely a great feature because it can be dangerous starting a chainsaw with your off hand. 

Battery

There is no battery included in the kit… so what do you use?

I just used an M18 RedLithium High Output XC6.0. It's a lithium-ion 18V battery at 6 Ah.

It will last for a full day of cutting.

What Can You Cut

According to the user manual, you shouldn’t cut anything over 4 inches with this chainsaw.

That being said, the mini chainsaw can be used for:

• Small carpentry repairs in your home
• Pruning small branches
• Garden pruning
• Simple landscaping or yard maintenance

Make sure you don’t apply too much pressure on the blade. It should cut itself. 

Funny thing about this bar is that it boasts 4 inches, but if you measure it out, it comes in at just under 4 inches.

So yeah, you really don’t want to cut anything too big with it. 

Chain Oil & Priming

One of the best features about this mini electric chainsaw is that it has an oil reservoir and it’s self-oiling.

Unlike other mini chainsaws where you may need to carry oil around with you, and constantly apply it directly to the chain, you can just fill up the reservoir, prime the blade, and get to work. 

The oil reservoir itself is transparent so you can see when your levels are getting low. The cap itself twists off easily… almost too easily… so make sure it doesn’t leak. 

You know how I felt when the Dewalt 20V Chainsaw leaked. Nothing worse than a chainsaw without proper chain lubrication.

Priming the chainsaw is pretty easy. In fact, the instructions are right there on the oil reservoir.

You fill it up with bar and house chain oil before you use it, and then when it’s filled, you hold the trigger for 30 seconds before you cut anything.

Tensioning

Tensioning isn’t too difficult with this chainsaw. It’s just like every chainsaw ever.

You use the scrench to loosen the bar nut and then the flat head to tighten the chain tensioner.

Ideally, you want to be able to pull the chain down enough so that the top of the bottom tooth is in line with the bottom of the bar.

With smaller bar lengths, you can definitely go a little bit tighter but not much more than that. 

Also, if you need to remove the faceplate to remove any debris, or remove the bar, just completely loosen the bar nut, and the plate pulls right off.

From there, you can get better access to the chain tensioner, and you can easily remove the bar. 

Tree Pruning

This freakin’ thing cuts. The chain moves at 2600 RPM and Milwaukee says it cuts at 5 m/s.

That reflects quite accurately when actually cutting a load. 

I did some cordless pruning on branches that were:

• 2-inches
• 4-inches
• 6-inches 

And it cuts through each of them with ease. If the branch you are cutting starts to shake around, the tool has metal bucking spikes that you can drive into the branch to stabilize the cut.

You really don’t need these bucking spikes to add leverage to the cut but rather just to hold the branch in place so you can cut smooth. They are perfect for increased control.

Bar Length & Dexterity

Even at 6 inches the M18 Fuel cut clean through. With an 8 inch bar, you really only get about 7 inches of cutting length so at 6 inches you are almost pushing the limits of the chainsaw. Even then, it didn’t falter. 

The dexterity of the chainsaw is a great feature. Even with the larger battery adding some weight in the back, it’s not unbalanced either way.

Unlike the other mini electric chainsaws on the market, you can use two hands on the M18 Fuel which gives you far better control. 

Pricing

The part most people won’t like about this chainsaw, especially compared to other mini electric chainsaws, is that it’s a bit pricey.

This model currently comes in at $205.99 (be sure to check the latest price), and that is without a battery. If you need to buy a battery, you could push $250 or even $300. 

That is the price we pay sometimes with Milwaukee. But at least we know we are buying from a reputable brand that makes high-quality products.

The M18 Fuel is definitely one of them. 

The M18 Fuel 8-inch: Things I Like

Dexterity: The best part about this chainsaw is the amount of dexterity you can maintain when using it.

It’s a symmetrical chainsaw that you use two hands to make cuts. This is great for unmatched control and increased productivity.

On top of that, it’s ambidextrous, so both lefties and righties can use it. The well-balanced design makes it perfect for anyone to use. 

Automatic Oiler: I love that this miniature chainsaw has an automatic oiler that takes just seconds to prime.

I don’t enjoy having to apply oil directly to a blade before making cuts, and the fact that it has an oil reservoir really wins me over. 

Metal Bucking Spikes: Nothing worse than plastic bucking spikes that do nothing to help cut branches.

The M18 Fuel has metal ones that easily drive into logs and can help cut hardwoods and other demanding materials.

Smooth cuts: The M18 Fuel really is as advertised. That’s probably why it’s a bit pricier.

But you are going to be cutting through up to 7 inches of wood with no problem.

If the blade gets stuck, all you need to do is release the trigger, pull it from the log, and start again. Again, unmatched control.

It’s so easy to use. It cuts fast. It cuts clean.

The M18 Fuel 8-inch: Things I Didn’t Like

No battery and charger: We had to really dig deep to something wrong with this saw so we went with the lack of battery being the only negative here.

That’s really it. The only negative here is that it doesn’t come in a kit, you only get the bare tool.

Price: Okay, we’ll go with price too. This is an expensive chainsaw for something that has an 8 inch bar, and no battery included.

The Oregen CS1500 is only $115 and is a much larger electric chainsaw. 

The Bottom Line

The Milwaukee M18 Fuel 8-inch Mini Chainsaw is one of the best electric chainsaws on the market.

Of course, it’s a much smaller brushless motor, so you are limited to what you can do with it, but it does nearly perfectly for what you can do.

To be fair, we are comparing this against single-handed miniature chainsaws like the Saker Mini Electric chainsaw, so it might not be a fair comparison.

But for an 8-inch bar, and an 18V battery, you can’t go wrong with this one for cutting through demanding materials around the house.

If you are looking for something bigger with unmatched power levels, you may need to buy a gas engine or a much bigger electric chainsaw. 

Conclusion

And that’s it!

Do you have an M18 Fuel? Do you like the advanced electronic package or brushless motor?

What do you like about the saw? Any complaints?



Let us know by sending us an email. 

Before you go...

If you are unsure on gas or electric chainsaws, check out our other guide on the Best Chainsaws of 2023. We go over every type of hand saw you can imagine.

• Gas vs Electric Chainsaws

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