Apart from the different blade sizes between 7-1/4 & 6-1/2 in Milwaukee FUEL circular saws. There is a significant difference that you should consider before purchasing. Know the difference between the Milwaukee Fuel & Non-FUEL products?
NOTE: Milwaukee M12 system has no FUEL circular saws in 7-1/4 or 6-1/2 in. Only the Milwaukee M18 system is considered in this blog post.
Major Difference between 7-1/4″ & 6-1/2″ Milwaukee FUEL Circular Saw
Here is a quick technical comparison of these Milwaukee FUEL circular saws.
| Feature/Spec | 7-1/4 in. Top Handle | 7-1/4 in. Rear Handle | 6-1/2 in. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions (inches) | 13.75 x 11.5 x 8 | 18.9 x 7.875 x 8.0 | 12.97 x 6.5 x 7.5 |
| Weight (Without Battery) | 10.75 lbs | 9.87 lbs | 6.80 lbs |
| Max; Bevel Angle | 50° | 53° | 50° |
| Max; Cut depth at 90° | 2-1/2″ | 2-1/2″ | 2-3/16″ |
| Max; Cut depth at 45° | 1-7/8″ | 1-7/8″ | 1-5/8″ |
| Shoe & Guard Material | Magnesium | Magnesium | Magnesium |
| Recommended Battery for Optimal Performance | 12.0 Ah | 12.0 Ah | 5.0 Ah |
| No. of cuts per charge | 750 | 570 | 650 |
| Dust Port Attachment | YES | YES | NO |
| No Load RPM | 5800 | 5800 | 5000 |
| Rating on Amazon | 4.8/5 (556 ratings) | 4.6/5 (50 ratings) | 4.6/5 (812 ratings) |
| Date First Available | February 7, 2018 | June 20, 2020 | March 25, 2012 |
There are considerable differences between the Milwaukee FUEL 7-1/4 and 6-1/2 in. circular saws, but I will list the important ones here.
1. Left-Blade and Right-Blade Orientation of Milwaukee 7-1/4 vs 6-1/2
One major difference between them is that the 7-1/4″ Milwaukee FUEL circular saw is available only in right-side blade orientation (Top Handle), While the 6-1/2″ Milwaukee FUEL circular saw is available only in left-side blade orientation.
| Model | Blade Side Orientation |
|---|---|
| 7-1/4 Top Handle (2732) | Right-Blade |
| 7-1/4 Rear Handle (2830) | Left-Blade |
| 6-1/2 Top Handle (2730) | Side-Blade |
I am not going to tell you which one is best for you it’s a never-ending debate, LOL! but I can tell you I am a right-hand guy, so I feel easier to grab the front handle with my right hand.
The choice, in this case, is entirely up to you which side you prefer.
2. Cut Depth Difference at 90° of Milwaukee 7-1/4 vs 6-1/2
The Milwaukee FUEL 7-1/4″ circular saw (Rear & Top Handle) at 90° has a maximum of 2-1/2″ depth of cut, While 6-1/2″ Milwaukee FUEL circular saw has a maximum of 2-3/16″ depth of cut.
| Model | Cut Depth in Inches |
|---|---|
| 7-1/4 Top Handle (2732) | 2-1/2 |
| 7-1/4 Rear Handle (2830) | 2-1/2 |
| 6-1/2 Top Handle (2730) | 2-3/16 |
After using both, my instincts would be to tell you only to buy the 7-1/4″ because it can cut through 2×4 while the 6-1/4″ can’t.
3. Bevel Cut Depth Difference at 45° of Milwaukee 7-1/4 vs 6-1/2
The Milwaukee FUEL 7-1/4″ circular saw (Rear & Top Handle) at 45° has a maximum of 1-7/8″ depth of cut, While 6-1/2″ Milwaukee FUEL circular saw has a maximum of 1-5/8″ depth of cut.
| Model | Bevel Cut Depth in Inches |
|---|---|
| 7-1/4 Top Handle (2732) | 1-7/8 |
| 7-1/4 Rear Handle (2830) | 1-7/8 |
| 6-1/2 Top Handle (2730) | 1-5/8 |
4. Max Bevel Angle of Milwaukee 7-1/4 vs 6-1/2
The Milwaukee Top Handle design 7-1/4″ & 6-1/2″ FUEL circular saw has a maximum bevel angle of 50°, But the Milwaukee Rear Handle design 7-1/4″ FUEL circular saw has a maximum bevel angle of 53° with an increment of 5°. None of them have a positive stop at any bevel angle.
| Model | Maximum Bevel Angle |
|---|---|
| 7-1/4 Top Handle (2732) | 50° |
| 7-1/4 Rear Handle (2830) | 53° |
| 6-1/2 Top Handle (2730) | 50° |
In this case, if you require a bevel cut of more than 50° (up to 53°) or a deeper cut at the bevel, I recommend going for Milwaukee FUEL 7-1/4″ Rear Handle design.
5. Dust Port in Milwaukee Fuel 7-1/4 vs 6-1/2
Both Milwaukee FUEL circular saws in 7-1/4″ have a dust port attachment, But the 6-1/2″ Milwaukee FUEL circular saw has no dust port attachment. You can also connect the dust collector to these ports.
The dust attachment port can make a difference if you work in closed environments. You would need it in that case. I would strongly recommend going for Milwaukee FUEL 7-1/4″ saw.
6. Weight of Milwaukee 7-1/4 vs 6-1/4
Milwaukee FUEL 7-1/4″ circular saw Top Handle weighs 10.75 lbs, Rear Handle has 9.87 lbs, whereas 6-1/2″ weighs 6.80 lbs. all these weights are without the battery.
| Model | Weight in Pounds (Tool Only) |
|---|---|
| 7-1/4″ Top Handle (2732) | 10.75 lb |
| 7-1/4″ Rear Handle (2830) | 9.87 lb |
| 6-1/2″ Top Handle (2730) | 6.8 lb |
If your nature of the project requires a lot of moving, then Milwaukee FUEL 6-1/2″ is a go-to option because of its lightweight.
7. Dimensions of Milwaukee 7-1/4 vs 6-1/4
The rear handle, 7-1/4″, has the largest length because of the handle. 6-1/2″ is a very compact saw. Dimensions are given below in the table.
| Model | Dimensions (L x H x W) in inches |
|---|---|
| 7-1/4″ Top Handle (2732) | 13.8 x 11.5 x 8.0 |
| 7-1/4″ Rear Handle (2830) | 18.9 x 7.9 x 8.0 |
| 6-1/2″ Top Handle (2730) | 12.97 x 6.5 x 7.5 |
The Milwaukee FUEL 6-1/2″ is a go-to option if you’re looking for compact and portable options.
8. Battery of Milwaukee 7-1/4 vs 6-1/4
Milwaukee Fuel 7-1/4″ circular saw (Rear & Top handle) can deliver top performance by plugging in a 12.0 Ah (18.0 v) battery. It can also work on a 9.0 Ah (18.0v) battery, but its performance can be significantly dropped.
| Model | Battery with -21/22 Model Number |
|---|---|
| 7-1/4″ Top Handle (2732) | 12 AH |
| 7-1/4″ Rear Handle (2830) | 12 AH |
| 6-1/2″ Top Handle (2730) | 5 AH |
On the other hand, Milwaukee Fuel 6-1/2″ circular saw can give its optimal performance on a 5.0 Ah (18.0 v) battery.
9. No Load RPM Between Milwaukee 7-1/4 & 6-1/4
| Model | RPM |
|---|---|
| 7-1/4″ Top Handle (2732) | 5800 |
| 7-1/4″ Rear Handle (2830) | 5800 |
| 6-1/2″ Top Handle (2730) | 5000 |
Milwaukee Fuel 7-1/4″ circular saw (Rear & Top handle) has a No load RPM of 5800 with a 12.0 Ah (18.0 v) battery. Milwaukee Fuel 6-1/2″ circular saw has 5000 rpm with 5.0 Ah (18.0 v) battery.
Difference between Milwaukee FUEL 7-1/4″ Rear & Top Handle Circular Saws.
The Milwaukee rear handle FUEL circular saw is only available in left-side blade orientation. In contrast, the Milwaukee top handle FUEL circular saw is available only in right-side blade orientation.
The 6-1/2″ Milwaukee FUEL circular saw comes in only one design: the top handle left-side blade orientation design. No rear handle saw is available in this size till now. But they are introducing a FUEL Plunge Track Saw in this size.
Milwaukee FUEL Circular Saw 7-1/4 vs 6-1/2 in. Pros & Cons.
- Top-cutting power and performance
- Excellent sightline to the blade
- Very low shoe friction
- Perfect tracking
- Outstanding guard action
- Expensive
- Performance decrease with lower-rated batteries
- No positive stops for bevel cut
- Heavy
- Dust Port Attachment
- Upto 53°
- Cuts faster than 15 Amp corded Saw
- No gear oiling required
- Outstanding guard action
- Expensive
- Performance decrease with lower-rated batteries
- No positive stops for bevel cut
- Heavy but less heavy than 7-1/4" Top Handle Saw.
- Light Weight & compact size
- It can give top performance even with smaller batteries (From 2.o Ah to 5.0 Ah).
- Less Expensive
- No Dust Port Attachment
- No positive stops for bevel cut
Conclusion
All these three saws are great performance-wise compared to their competitor of the same size. All you need is to consider different factors according to your project scope. I would recommend going for the Milwaukee FUEL 6-1/2″ Circular Saw because of its lightweight and price.
Milwaukee FUEL 7-1/4″ Circular Saw is recommended for heavy-duty use. Because it has got excellent runtime, cutting speed, and power compared to its competitors of this size.
