Milwaukee Debuts Their Lightest and Strongest Rear-Handle Circular Saw Ever
Milwaukee has once again raised the bar with their latest rear-handle circular saw—the M18 Fuel 2930. Designed with Pros in mind, this saw delivers noticeable upgrades over its predecessor. Today, we’re taking a closer look at its performance capabilities and improved design elements to see if it truly lives up to Milwaukee’s high standards.
Pros
- Improved cutting power and speed
- Lightweight design
- Excellent cut depth
- Rotating dust port
- Fast electric brake
- Capable of cutting 3x material in one pass
- Positive bevel and depth detents
Cons
- No significant drawbacks
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Rear Handle Circular Saw Performance
- No-Load Speed: 6,000 RPM
- Max Cut Depth: 2 5/8 in.
- Runtime: 700 cuts per charger (with 12.0Ah Forge battery)
- Max Bevel: 53°
Cutting Power
The Milwaukee M18 Fuel rear-handle circular saw is definitely geared towards the Pro market. It’s Powerstate brushless motor churns out 6,000 RPMs with a max cut depth of 2 5/8 inches at 90° and 2 inches at 45°. Those ratings offer a noticeable improvement over the previous model (2830), which topped out at 5,800 RPMs and a max cut depth of 2 1/2 inches. This allows you to make full passes with 3x materials as well as triple-stacked 3/4-inch sheet goods.
For our hands-on testing, I started with a series of cross, miter, bevel, and compound miter cuts in 2×10 PT pine. Overall, this saw performed well, resulting in clean, efficient cuts.
Kicking things up a notch, I stacked three sheets of 3/4-inch OSB and made a series of 8-foot rip cuts. To put it plainly, I was able to push this saw as fast as I reasonably (and safely) could, and still managed to maintain RPMs without any noticeable drop.
For comparison, I ran the older 2830 through the same test to see if I could feel or hear any differences. While the older saw completed the cut without issue, there was an audible difference during the cut as the RPMs dropped, and I could feel the motor working a little harder.
Granted, this is a big ask for any saw, but it’s nice to see that Milwaukee made genuine performance gains on an already successful tool!
Depth and Bevel Adjustment
The depth and bevel adjustments on this saw are pretty standard. You get a max bevel of 53 degrees with detents at 22.5 degrees and 45 degrees, and depth detents at the 1/2-inch, 3/4-inch, and 1 1/2-inch marks. There are also clearly identifiable markings stamped into the depth guide, so you aren’t left second-guessing yourself.
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Rear Handle Circular Saw Design Notes
- Model: Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2930
- Power Source: Milwaukee M18 battery
- Weight: 8.75 lbs (bare tool), 12.1 lbs (with 12.0Ah Forge battery)
- Length: 18 in.
Size and Weight
If you’re used to working with rear-handle worm drive saws, you know that they usually clock in a little higher on the scale. However, Milwaukee has really knocked it out of the park with the 2930, which only weighs 8.8 pounds as a bare tool and 12.1 pounds with the kitted 12Ah Forge battery.
What’s truly remarkable is that the rear-handle 2930 is only about 4 ounces heavier than its 7 1/4-inch sidewinder counterpart (2834), which weighs 11.8 pounds with the same 12.0Ah Forge battery. This is a huge achievement in the world of cordless rear-handle circular saws, so we have to give props to Milwaukee’s design team on this one!
Ergonomics
As far as the actual feel of this saw, Milwaukee didn’t stray too far from the norm, but there are a few small changes.
The grip is draped in a generous amount of rubber overmold, and you still have a secondary handle for added stability.
Just like our comment on the previous model, we wish they had beefed up the forward handle a little bit, but we’re willing to let it slide for lower weight.
The other two main changes are that they moved the dust port to the front of the saw and traded the thumb safety in for a manual trigger lock switch.
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Rear Handle Circular Saw Comparison
| M18 Fuel 2830 (old) | M18 Fuel 2930 (new) | |
|---|---|---|
| No-Load Speed | 5,800 RPM | 6,000 RPM |
| Cut Capacity at 90° | 2-1/2 in. | 2-5/8 in. |
| Cut Capacity at 45° | 1-7/8 in. | 2 in. |
| Bevel Capacity | 53 degrees | 53 degrees |
| Bare Weight | 10 lbs. | 8.75 lbs. |
| Working Weight | 13.5 lbs (with 12.0Ah High Output battery) | 12.1 lbs (with 12.0Ah Forge battery) |
Additional Features
- LED light
- Integrated dust blower
- Folding rafter hook
- Compatible with all M18 batteries
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Rear Handle Circular Saw Price
The Milwaukee 2930 retails for $279 as a bare tool and $449 as a kit that includes a 12.0Ah Forge battery and charger. Milwaukee backs this saw with a 5-year tool warranty and a 3-year battery warranty.
What’s cool is that the 2930’s kit price is the same as its predecessor’s and comes with the advanced Forge battery!
The Bottom Line
The Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2930 rear-handle circular saw stands out as a solid upgrade, combining increased power, faster cutting speed, and a lighter build without compromising performance. It handles demanding cuts with ease, offers practical design improvements, and remains comfortable to use throughout the day. For Pros who need reliability and efficiency on the jobsite, this saw is a strong contender—and a clear step forward from the previous model.
Now the real question—should you buy it? And the answer is…maybe. If you’re shopping for a new cordless rear-handle circular saw, then the Milwaukee 2930 is an absolute no-brainer. However, if you’re thinking about upgrading from the M18 Fuel 2830, then there are a few factors to consider. On one hand, this new model is dramatically lighter and comes with a higher top speed and a 12.0Ah Forge battery. However, the performance is similar enough that you might not see a significant difference, so upgrading to the Gen 2 model may not be worth the cost.
