Milwaukee M18 Hatchet vs M12 Hatchet Review 

I think you're the first person to actually have a side by side comparison! Thanks! I'm curious how the 12" M18 top handle saw will compare when it comes out, as far as speed and ease of use

your problem using the M12 safety release is because it was not intended to be used as a one handed saw. The safety would be held in by your second hand holding UNDER the safty strap and not on it would puts the switch at the tip of your second hand. Thanks for doing the compare for sure. Also agree that the m12 is no slouch.

What I hear is... as a garden tool, (really how much shrub trimming and lower branch trimming does the average 1/2 acre property owner do), the M12 will suffice. But if you have a cabin on acres in the mountains, M18 is a much better choice. I too am grateful you shared 3 of their products, especially the M12 & M18. Thanks

Very good review and comparison on these two units. Thank you for sharing and demonstrating the improvements that were made on the M18. The thumb button pushing down vs pushing in was the deal breaker for me. The M18 will be the model that I will purchase. Am still pondering the 8.0 vs 12.0 amp hour battery, but will probably go with the larger one. Thanks for your review.

The reason for the scabbard being tight on the M18 hatchet, is for arborists, who need to carry the saw up into the trees, its to protect the blade and them.

Great review! Thanks Brad!

Great review. I'm glad to hear someone other than me complain about the difficulty of removing the M12 batteries.

Killer in depth informative video!! Thank youuu!

Thank you Sir just made up my mind on what to get

M12 is solid, I just got one a week ago. I’m not competing so I don’t care how fast or slow it is.

Thanks for the comparison. I picked up the M18 today. I haven't used it yet but I was thinking of returning it and getting the M12 version just because of the size but I'm going to stay with the M18.

Thanks for the review

I have the m18 and its awesome for small stuff. Fun fact you can let go of the safety switch when the saw is running and it keeps running

I’m searching for a maintenance video and upgrading the bar to something longer. I use the pruning shears to its limit then I break out the hatchet. The chain fell off because the oil went dry hope the bar is ok.

I own both of these saws and you're absolutely right, all the little nuances with the M12 were fixed with the M18, I may post a side-by-side review video myself soon. The M12 is still no slouch, I had that stihl GTA piece of crap and made a review on it, that thing was absolute garbage. This M12 runs circles around it, and the M18 is just a little bit better, just depends on what batteries you have, etc. can't go wrong with either one!

Nice comparison. But as a side note, when handling/touching the blade, the battery should be removed even though there is a safety trigger.

Good info, thanks

I dislike the M12 batteries. You have to break them in. Way too stiff. I have a light. I don't dare put a new battery in because it's so hard to get it out.

Great review you put together man. Looking to buy the m18 version and not much comparison between these two. Love the comparison of these two saws and how you get straight to the point with fast transitions on each of the pros and cons between them. Then you show how well its cuts in the end. 👏 Keep doing RU-vid reviews because you do very well at it.

I like the M12 cause is a Prunning saw and lighter, the M18 over 5 pounds is a pain to handle it...

Ice up those thumbs! 😉. Nice review, liked.

I love my M12 saw, I upgraded the bar/chain to the M18 8” setup and love it even more! The M12 works better with the 5ah high output battery and for some reason the release tabs are much easier to take the battery out. If I eventually get the M18 hatchet it will be getting a 10” bar/chain upgrade! Lol

Great comparison but having the batteries in while having your hand close to the blade is like showing someone a loaded gun.....lol

Not sure why milwaukee designed the battery to go upward from underneath defying gravity and an issue if the catches are not locked. On the m18 hackzall it inserts downward which is a similarly designed tool and shape. It also inserts downward on the sawzall, planer and most other tools they make.

I would literally just use it for pruning, so maybe the M12 would be best for me. I have two petrol chainsaws for bigger stuff! To be honest, I'd really like them both, but they are rather expensive in the UK!

Great information👍 For larger chainsaw, dewalt seems much better than milwaukee. I've actually taken down 3,000 cherry trees with dewalt electrics.

Put the 2" smaller bar on the M18 hatchet for a more compact more powerful solution.

The only M12 I own is Milwaukee’s Rotary tool. Everything else is M18. For the extra couple bucks buy M18. M12 rotary tool is awesome, but Milwaukee’s ecosystem is primarily built around M18. Not only a huge performance difference between M12 & M18 hatchets, but also every other tool as well.

Thanks ❤

Wish Makita would release a competitor like that. Especially in XGT.

Instructions on the M18 hatchet says to drain bar oil after use, Does this make sense?

If there was ever a tool not to get in the 12volt version it would be a chain saw. For most people loppers would be more useful than a 12 volt chain.saw.

It makes me nervous to watch your dog moving around with a chainsaw blade spinning close by. Our dogs were always obedient, but if something spooked a dog (backfiring motorcycle, etc.) it could make a dog jump sideways unexpectedly - either injuring the dog, or the person using the saw. Also, I would hesitate before having my hand that close to the spinning saw in use. There is a reason why most chainsaws are designed to be held with two hands (other than arborist saws) - with that much rotating energy, things happen fast. Please be safe, and think twice, cut once. Thank you for your honest and thorough review of the pros and cons of both the M12 and the M18 Hatchets.

Already had the M12 and just bought the m18 full size chainsaw. Don't think i need another one 🤣

Milwaukee needs to change the M12 to slider like Dewalt and Makita Milwaukee Ridgid and Bosch still use the neck style

Could you recommend a saw for a woman with a small garden? I'd like to make a present to my wife. Though I understand both M12 and M18 are very good for a man, I'm in doubt about a woman. I also consider Stihl GTA-26. Could you comment on it, if possible?

They sell regular, rapid and super chargers that charge 1 m18 and 1 m12 battery together. (1 at a time but together in one charger I mean). You should have mentioned that for viewers who might not know. And the regular m18 charger is cheaper than your double rapid charger making it more of an ideal and common purchase. So I have to disagree with your comparison of positive/negative reason being the chargers.also, I have both rapid and super chargers. The rapid charger which chargers 1 m18 and 1m12 also rapid charges m12 batteries I’ve noticed (which I though was not supposed to, I thought it was just for HO batteries but I’ll take it lol) however the super charger doesn’t super charge the m12 batteries, only m18 batteries. I think the m18 hatchet and m12 hatchet both have their place. I think the m12 hatchet and soon to be released m12 pruners will have their place for small clean ups around tree stands, or gardens, or anything if the sort. Perfect for that. Lightweight and efficient. The m18 hatchet would be perfect for cutting logs for a fire place or bonfire, etc. with enough power while still being relatively light enough and easier to use one handed to do this job. I think they’re both great for their respective uses. Imo, when it comes to cutting an actual tree and that whole process, it’s time for a regular chainsaw (and I’m no Professional but I’m going to make a fairly obvious assumption and say especially gas powered chainsaws for commercial use lol)

Nice tools but the prices on these are insane in europe.

Take the bar and chain OFF, "Make" a small, fitted cardboard box for it, put the "Box" and saw and battery in the backpack and go with it. Reassemble at the work area, use, disassemble, repack, go on with it. M18 all the way.

damn i love it hahaha!

Well, the charger for the M12 system is garbage. So, M18 all the way.

I don't think this is a fair comparison when you're using a brand new fresh chain on the M18 & that M12 looks like old chain

Dude, stay behind the saw when demonstrating!

Sir, maybe your hands are getting hold, I have no difficulties at all removing the tools and the batteries, sorry to have to mentioned that but maybe your fingers are not as strong as they use to be. And also, don't forget why they were made, PRUNING ..... PRUNING, not cutting 5 or 6 inch trees, they were invented to cut branches on tree not the tree itself

Did you swallow kurmit the frog

You might consider putting your left hand into the handle - if you are above it and slip, your hand is right on the moving chain.