Milwaukee M18 Hatchet 8” Pruning Saw Review

Tool Box Buzz rating:

Milwaukee M18 FUEL HATCHET 8″ Pruning Saw 3004-20

Milwaukee M18 FUEL HATCHET 8" Pruning Saw 3004-20

4/5
Manufacturer: Milwaukee Tool
Model number: 3004-20
Price: 279.00
Power source: 18 Volt
Weight: 4.9
We’ve had the Milwaukee M18 Hatchet 8” Pruning Saw for a few months now and have used it to prune trees, cut hardwood, 4×4’s and some PT timbers.

Milwaukee M18 Hatchet 8” Pruning Saw | First Impression

The saw is light, under 5 lbs., and is well balanced. I was immediately impressed at its cutting speed and power.
The Hatchets brushless motor cuts and 8” blade cut fast without bogging down, completing cuts faster than a 25cc gas saw. It can reach full throttle in under 1 second and has a variable speed trigger for controlled cutting.

Milwaukee designed this pruning saw to meet the ergonomic, performance, and durability needs of the professional arborist, landscape maintenance professional, and power utility linemen. Its compact design lends itself to a maneuverable, tight access pruning or bucket saw.

 

Additional features on this saw are a full house chain, easy access chain tensioner, automatic oiler, metal bucking spikes, onboard scrench storage, lanyard loop, and a climbing scabbard that snaps on and stays on.

 

Features and Specifications

  •  Brushless Motor
  • Full house chain
  • Flip up metal lanyard loop for tie-off points in aerial applications
  • Easy access chain tensioner
  • Metal bucking spikes
  • Translucent oil reservoir
  • Variable speed trigger
  • Automatic oiler
  • Climbing scabbard covers bucking spikes, locks onto the saw, and has tie-off points in aerial applications
  • Onboard storage for scrench
  • Weight (w/o Battery): 4.9 lb
  • Width: 4 in
  • Length: 19.8 in
  • Height: 9.9 in

Cutting Power

I used the M18 Hatchet to raise the canopy and cut out dead wood in a Hemlock row on my property line. It had plenty of power and was the perfect saw for this pruning task. It’s lightweight and fast cutting.

Blade Tension and Automatic Oiler

Tensioning the Milwaukee M18 Hatchet 8” Pruning Saw blade is easily accomplished with an onboard Scrunch and tensioning screw. The translucent oiler does its job and needs to be refilled at about the same time as a battery swap out.

Metal Bucking Spikes

The Hatchet features small, but sharp, metal bucking spikes. Bucking spikes are used to help stabilize a chainsaw against a branch, and are a safety feature, that can reduce fatigue.
The Hatchet spikes grab securely and worked well.

Milwaukee M18 Hatchet 8” Pruning Saw Cost

The Milwaukee M18 Hatchet 8” Pruning Saw sells as a kit at ACME Tools for $ 578.00 and as a bare tool for $ 279. The kit includes:

  • (1) M18 FUEL™ HATCHET™ 8″ Pruning Saw (3004-20)
  • Oregon 8″ Bar & Chain
  • Scabbard
  • Scrench
  • High Output HD 12.0 battery pack
  • Rapid Charger
Milwaukee M18 FUEL HATCHET 8" Pruning Saw 3004-20
279.00

Overall Impression

I was impressed with the Milwaukee M18 Hatchet, it’s clearly powerful enough to tackle demanding pruning applications. It’s powerful enough for pro users in landscaping, tree, and utility work.

As a DIY chainsaw user and landscaper, I appreciate its compact design which offers me easy control and maneuverability. The ability to have a small chainsaw that works off my existing tool battery platform makes this an easy choice for Pro-trade users like me who DIY their own landscaping.

Milwaukee M18 FUEL Hatchet Pruning Saw Video Review

About the author

Rob Robillard

Robert Robillard is a remodeler, general contractor, and principal of a carpentry and renovation business located in Concord, Massachusetts, and serves as the Editor of Tool Box Buzz and founding editor of A Concord Carpenter . Rob is in charge of our Tool and Product Review - Tool and Product Review - Video Channel, , where we post all of our tool reviews and video tutorials. Rob enjoys using his knowledge and experience to help and educate building professionals as well as DIYers on best practices in the remodeling industry. The Concord Carpenter's motto: "Well done is better than well said!" : Read more about Rob

http://www.aconcordcarpenter.com/@https://twitter.com/robertrobillardRob Robillard

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