At the heart of this saw is a rip-roaring 13-amp motor that does not hesitate no matter what you’re cutting, whether it’s studs or large diameter pipe. Despite the awesome power, it handles beautifully, with so little vibration it’s remarkable, and the weight of the tool is balanced perfectly for minimal user fatigue. And in the interest of ergonomics, probably the best innovation on this saw is the handle. It rotates a full 360 degrees and locks in at 45-degree intervals, so you can adjust the angle to whatever odd situation you might find yourself in, and it saves tremendous strain on your body.

The speed control dial lets you set a range, and the trigger pressure gives you variable speeds within that range for absolute control. At full speed, you’ve got 3,000 strokes per minute with a 1-1/4-inch stroke length, and you can choose between orbital action, which gives you fast, aggressive cuts, or straight blade movement, which delivers a surprisingly fine cut.

We like Milwaukee’s Quik-Lok™ blade clamp for fast, easy blade changes. And we love the flexibility of installing the blades with the teeth facing up or down, making your job even easier. Just twist the collar and insert the blade all the way in; release the collar and a spring-loaded mechanism locks the blade in place.

And talk about flexibility: Even the shoe adjusts, and without a tool. You can move it effortlessly both forward and backward into six positions, letting you use untouched parts of the blade for longer blade life, and it’s great, too, in awkward positions.

--Kris Jensen-Van Heste