The Milwaukee M18 FUEL HATCHET 8” Pruning Saw, model 3004-20, weighs 4.9 lb without a battery according to Milwaukee’s release, and the company says it cuts faster than 25cc gas pruning saws. Milwaukee has not listed a price or a ship date on the release or product pages we reviewed.
What is new compared with the M12 HATCHET?
This saw is the M18 follow-up to the M12 FUEL HATCHET 6” Pruning Saw. The bar grows to 8”, and Milwaukee’s product page gives a maximum cut capacity of 7.5”.
A POWERSTATE brushless motor and REDLINK PLUS communication between tool and battery keep the chain speed up under load. Milwaukee says the saw reaches full throttle in under 1 second from one trigger pull, and the trigger is variable speed. These are the maker’s claims, and no independent test results have been published yet.
What are the specs?
| Item | Milwaukee’s figure |
|---|---|
| Model | 3004-20 (tool only) |
| Weight without battery | 4.9 lb on the release, under 5 lb on the product page |
| Length, width, height | 19.8 in, 4 in, 9.9 in |
| Bar and chain | OREGON, 8” (a 6” guide bar 49-16-2733 and 6” chain 49-16-2732 also fit) |
| Warranty | 3-year limited |
The tool includes the bar and chain and a Scrench, with onboard storage for the Scrench. Other features listed are an automatic oiler with a translucent reservoir, an easy access chain tensioner, metal bucking spikes, a lanyard loop and a climbing scabbard with tie-off points. A round file for the chain, 11/64” (4.5mm) model 49-16-2885, is sold separately.
HBS Dealer, a trade outlet, repeats Milwaukee’s description of a saw that gives better access and control in tight spaces than a full size chainsaw.
Does it work with my batteries?
It runs on the M18 system, which Milwaukee says offers more than 250 power tool solutions. The 3004-20 is a bare tool, so you need an M18 battery and charger if you do not own them already. Amazon.ca lists both the bare tool and a kit with a 6Ah High Output battery and charger.
How much does it cost in Canada and the US?
Neither the US release page nor the product pages we checked show a price. The Where To Buy link on the product page is the only buying route listed, and Canadian availability has not been stated.
Who it suits
- Professional arborists and landscapers: Milwaukee says the saw is built for that work, and the climbing scabbard and lanyard loop point the same way. Check how long a battery lasts on your own cuts, since no runtime figure is published.
- Crews already on M18: a bare tool costs less than a kit and shares your batteries, but you still need chain oil and a file.
- Homeowners with a few trees: a pruning saw of this size suits branches under 7.5”, but a lighter M12 saw may be enough for small jobs.
- First time buyers: compare it with the M12 version and with a gas saw before choosing a platform.
Open the product page for the 3004-20 on milwaukeetool.ca and use Where To Buy to see which Canadian retailers carry it and at what price.
