Maker & DIY News Digest - June 22, 2026
Milwaukee launched the M18 FUEL 10-1/4" Rear Handle Circular Saw (Model 3026) in June 2026 — the lightest 10-1/4" cordless circular saw on the market at 10.3 lbs, with AUTOSTOP kickback protection and a 250-cut-per-charge capacity in 4×4 lumber using the FORGE 12Ah battery.
Milwaukee launched the M18 FUEL 10-1/4" Rear Handle Circular Saw (3026-20) in June 2026 — at 10.3 lbs, Milwaukee claims it as the lightest 10-1/4" cordless on the market. It cuts 3-13/16" at 90° (single-pass 4× lumber capability), delivers 250 cuts per FORGE 12Ah charge, and includes AUTOSTOP advance kickback detection. Available bare (3026-20) or in kit (3026-21HD) with FORGE 12Ah battery. Verify price at milwaukeetool.com or authorized retailers. Checked June 22, 2026.
Story briefMilwaukee Tool / milwaukeetool.com
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 10-1/4" Rear Handle Circular Saw Launches June 2026 — Lightest 10-1/4" Cordless at 10.3 lbs, AUTOSTOP, 250 Cuts per Charge
Checked June 22, 2026. Milwaukee Tool launched the M18 FUEL 10-1/4" Rear Handle Circular Saw (Model 3026-20, bare tool) in June 2026. Per Milwaukee Tool's official product documentation, the saw weighs 10.3 lbs — Milwaukee positions it as the lightest 10-1/4" cordless circular saw on the market. Key specs: 10-1/4" blade, rear handle design, 3-13/16" depth of cut at 90° enabling single-pass cuts through 4× dimensional lumber, 250 cuts per charge in 4×4 material using the FORGE HD 12Ah battery. Safety feature: AUTOSTOP advance kickback protection shuts the tool down if a severe kickback event is detected. Available in two configurations: 3026-20 (bare tool) and 3026-21HD (kit including Rapid Charger, FORGE HD 12Ah battery, and tool bag). Pricing: verify at milwaukeetool.com and authorized Milwaukee retailers — retail pricing not disclosed in official launch materials. The FORGE HD 12Ah battery uses tabless lithium-ion cell technology for faster charging and sustained power. Source: Milwaukee Tool official product page, milwaukeetool.com.
The 10-1/4" cordless rear handle segment has been dominated by Skilsaw and Dewalt corded options for framing crews — Milwaukee entering with a weight claim of 10.3 lbs (lighter than most corded 10-1/4" saws) and 250 framing cuts per charge shifts the argument from 'can cordless keep up?' to 'does corded still offer an advantage?' For shop makers, the 3-13/16" depth at 90° delivering true 4× lumber single-pass capacity means this is the first M18 saw suited to rough framing cuts without repositioning — relevant for basement and renovation builds.
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Bench notes
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 10-1/4" Rear Handle Circular Saw (June 2026 launch): Model: 3026-20 (bare) / 3026-21HD (kit). Blade: 10-1/4". Handle: rear handle. Weight: 10.3 lbs (bare). Depth of cut at 90°: 3-13/16" (single-pass 4× dimensional lumber). Runtime: 250 cuts in 4×4 per FORGE HD 12Ah battery. Battery: FORGE HD 12Ah (tabless Li-ion). Safety: AUTOSTOP advance kickback protection (shutdown on severe kickback detection). Kit configuration (3026-21HD): Rapid Charger + FORGE HD 12Ah battery + tool bag. Platform: M18 FUEL. Price: verify at milwaukeetool.com authorized dealers — not disclosed in launch materials. Companion launch: M18/M12 Four-Bay Simultaneous Super Charger (June 29, 2026); 10-1/4" 28T Thick Kerf Framing Blade (also June 2026).
Market Position: The 10-1/4" cordless framing lane is thin — most cordless framing saws are 7-1/4" or 7-1/2"; 10-1/4" has stayed largely corded because of battery capacity demands. Milwaukee's 250-cuts-per-FORGE-12Ah claim positions this as the first cordless 10-1/4" with genuine half-day framing runtime. For comparison: Skilsaw SPT70WM-22 (corded 10-1/4", 6.6 lbs bare) and DeWalt DCS577 (7-1/4" FLEXVOLT) are the nearest segment benchmarks. Milwaukee claims lightest 10-1/4" cordless on market — no competing cordless 10-1/4" rear handle saw has been announced as of June 22. Watch: when does the companion 10-1/4" 28T Thick Kerf Framing Blade ship to complete the cutting system.
- What is the retail price of the 3026-20 (bare tool) and 3026-21HD (kit) at Milwaukee authorized dealers — and does the kit land competitively against FLEXVOLT 7-1/4" alternatives?
- Does the AUTOSTOP kickback detection work reliably in real framing conditions — or does it trigger false positives when the blade binds in green or wet lumber?
- Does Milwaukee release a 10-1/4" 28T Thick Kerf Framing Blade on the same June timeline as the saw, or does the blade ship separately on a different schedule?
Wait if: You do not need 4× lumber single-pass capacity — the M18 FUEL 7-1/4" (2834-20) handles most shop cuts at less weight and likely lower price; the 10-1/4" segment targets framing work specifically
Buy if: You frame in 4× dimensional lumber and want to cut corded power out of your workflow — 250 cuts per FORGE 12Ah, 10.3 lbs bare, and AUTOSTOP make the 3026 the first cordless 10-1/4" that can serve a half-day framing session on a single charge
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 10-1/4" Circular Saw (3026) — and what makes it different from the standard 7-1/4" M18 FUEL circular saw?▼
The Milwaukee M18 FUEL 10-1/4" Rear Handle Circular Saw (Model 3026) is a framing-class cordless circular saw launched in June 2026. The primary difference from the 7-1/4" M18 FUEL is blade size and cutting depth: the 3026 cuts 3-13/16" at 90°, enabling single-pass cuts through 4× dimensional lumber — the standard M18 FUEL 7-1/4" typically maxes out at 2-1/2". It weighs 10.3 lbs bare, which Milwaukee claims is the lightest 10-1/4" cordless on the market. The AUTOSTOP kickback detection and FORGE HD 12Ah battery are also additions not on the standard M18 FUEL 7-1/4".
What is AUTOSTOP on the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 3026 — and how does it help with safety?▼
AUTOSTOP is Milwaukee's advance kickback protection system on the M18 FUEL 3026 circular saw. When the system detects a severe kickback event — typically when the blade catches in the material and the saw lurches back toward the operator — AUTOSTOP shuts down the tool before the kickback reaches full force. The system monitors blade resistance in real time and responds faster than a human reaction would allow. AUTOSTOP is designed specifically for the higher-force risk profile of 10-1/4" blades in framing applications, where kickback events are more dangerous than with smaller-diameter blades.
How many cuts does the Milwaukee 3026 get per battery charge — and what battery does it require?▼
Milwaukee's official specs state the M18 FUEL 3026 delivers 250 cuts in 4×4 material per charge using the FORGE HD 12Ah battery. The FORGE HD 12Ah uses tabless lithium-ion cell technology for sustained power output under heavy load and faster charge cycles. The saw is available in two configurations: the 3026-20 bare tool (battery and charger sold separately) or the 3026-21HD kit which includes the FORGE HD 12Ah battery and Rapid Charger. Verify whether your existing M18 FORGE 12Ah batteries (if any) are compatible with the 3026 before ordering the bare tool to avoid a battery mismatch.
How does the Milwaukee 3026 compare to the DeWalt FLEXVOLT circular saw for a framing shop?▼
The Milwaukee 3026 (10-1/4", 10.3 lbs, 250 cuts per FORGE 12Ah) and DeWalt's FLEXVOLT DCS577 (7-1/4", ~8.8 lbs, FLEXVOLT 60V) target different cuts: the 3026 is built for 4× lumber single-pass in a rear-handle framing profile; the DCS577 handles most 2× framing faster and lighter. If your framing work is primarily 2× stud framing, a 7-1/4" saw at lower weight is the better fit. If you regularly rip or cross-cut 4× dimensional lumber (deck posts, headers, beams), the 3026's depth capacity eliminates the need for multiple passes or repositioning — that's the decision point.