Milwaukee M12 Tool Line

[matt1roh]

Are you using at minimum a 5ah battery preferably bigger? I have a Dewalt and Milwaukee grinder and they work well. They probably wouldn’t be my go to for a whole day of grinding but they run long enough on a charge that I can sharpen my lawnmower blades. They also work great for cutting rebar. I can cut at least 50 pieces on one battery.

I would guess it is a non-Fuel grinder where he says that he "smoked" it.

Matt

 

[chim]

There are still times that the corded tools are simply better. Just this week a B&D corded angle grinder was brought out of mothballs because there was a need for something that would be leaned on hard for 1/2 hour. There's a current project where and old Milwaukee Die Grinder will be used. Most of the time there's a cordless tool being used here.

The only M18 tools I have are a hammerdrill and a large boxy work light that were gifted to me at work. They were given to the company and the COO didn't want to contaminate the DeWalt pool. I'm a big DeWalt fan, but that Milwaukee drill has better speed regulation than my DeWalts. 90% of the guys I know probably don't even realize tools have variable speeds - they just mash the trigger

I started out with DeWalt 18V tools, but when the 20V tools came along we had opportunities to trade them with a vendor. The extra run time made it a no-brainer. In 20V I currently have (3) ¼” Impacts, ½” Impact, Drywall Screwgun, ½” Hammerdrill, (2) 4-1/2” Grinders, (2) DCL050 Lights, DCL040 Light, Compressor, 7-1/4” Circular Saw, Jig Saw, Recip Saw, String Trimmer, Hedge Trimmer, Chain Saw, Pole Saw, Band Saw, Grease Gun, Pressure Washer and probably something I forgot.

The only 18V DeWalt tools still here are 18V Vacuum, ¼” Impact, Doublecut Shear and a drywall cutout tool. I modified the vacuum to take a 20V battery and have a 20V to 18V adapter for the others.

I have a few of the 20V battery adapters with wire leads that are used for different stuff. One was used to make a work light from two leftover Maxxima work lights and an old tripod (below) and another powers a yellow magnet mounted strobe light.

I have no experience with Rigid cordless tools and don't know anything about them. If I were starting out from zero I'd check them out purely due to their lifetime battery replacement policy. Admittedly, with a box full of DeWalt 20V batteries that I've been accumulating since their introduction only one has failed. It was a 4AH battery that came with a Christmas Special from a box store.

 

[BlueKnife]

I have no experience with Rigid cordless tools and don't know anything about them. If I were starting out from zero I'd check them out purely due to their lifetime battery replacement policy.

I worked for another contractor for a short time who had all Ridgid tools. There's no comparison to Dewalt or Milwaukee (or Metabo or Makita for that matter). The tolerances aren't as good. Bearings give out sooner, motors aren't as strong and the batteries don't last as long. They are less expensive and have a nice warranty though, which I think is what keeps them selling.

 

[CliffordK]

Are you using at minimum a 5ah battery preferably bigger? I have a Dewalt and Milwaukee grinder and they work well. They probably wouldn’t be my go to for a whole day of grinding but they run long enough on a charge that I can sharpen my lawnmower blades. They also work great for cutting rebar. I can cut at least 50 pieces on one battery.

I would guess it is a non-Fuel grinder where he says that he "smoked" it.

Matt

I did upgrade the battery. It helped with the power, but not the stalling problem

As mentioned, I think this was the winter of 2019/2020. I had bought the grinder new from the local hardware store, but I think it came without packaging, so either open box or refurb. Or perhaps I inadvertently got old stock.

I think it was just slightly before Milwaukee started marking their tools with "Fuel". I don't know if it has brushes.

 

[MechanicalGuy]

A half inch drive Milwaukee 12v impact will take off 250ft-lb lug nuts all day long. I use 12v at home and work. Dewalt lost my business back in the 2000's when nearly every Lithium battery they made went bad just sitting on the charger.

I have many battery sets now, for many brands, Dewalt is NOT one of them.

 

[MechanicalGuy]

I'm a big fan of the 12v Milwaukee grease gun too.

I have just begun buying Hercules stuff for the battery and accessory prices. I don't think they'll hold up to Milwaukee, but they have a 5 year warranty so I'm happy to buy them.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I have a toolbox drawer with several barely used DeWalt drill motors, impacts, and batteries that have tried to give away...and failed.

 

[chim]

I have a toolbox drawer with several barely used DeWalt drill motors, impacts, and batteries that have tried to give away...and failed.

If they're 18V it's understandable. almost everything I had in 18V went away. The 18V batteries stink. I have one 1/4" impact that escaped the purge but I don't use it. I do use 18V drywall cutout tool and doublecut with a 20V adapter and a vacuum I've converted to take 20V batteries.