Archived from the Tools In Action forum (Power Tools). This thread is read-only.
So basically I’m married to the milwaukee 18v system, I have probably over 20 m18 tools, which close to half are fuel and 10 batteries. Sometimes I find myself looking over the fence at the greener grass. Just curious if there is anyone else who would possibly change brands if they had to start over?
Not how I thought that post was going to turn out haha.
I was raised on milwaukee so it’s hard for me to see past it. But I do have Dewalt and makita tools as well. For me I am not dedicated to one lineup, mainly cause they change battery platforms with the rising and setting of the sun and it’s hard for me to keep up.
I go back and forth DarynH. I like to try tools from different lines all the time but I have a small wood shop and am not a pro so my tools tiding normally have to get hauled all over Gods creation. Therefore multiple battery lines aren’t an issue.
Sometimes you just have to pull the trigger and go with something new if you need to. Gives you an excuse to buy a new toy.
I started out with the 20v Dewalt and don’t get me wrong at the time it seemed to be the latest and greatest but there line up kind of fell flat, this is why I made the jump to the m12 line and really like them and know ping what I know now I might pick the m18 line.
Extra battery platforms don’t bother me, I have 18v Milwaukee and Makita and 12v Milwaukee. I’m thinking I may get into the Bosch 12v line, and there’s an outside possibility I could get into the IR IQ20v line.
I’m in the same boat as Chris, I have a shop that I work in at my own pace as a hobby more than anything, I like nice tools and I do have an extensive line of Milwaukee but when it comes to some specialty tools I’m not afraid to buy other brands especially if they offer what I need.
as for cordless tools drill/impact/sawzall/circular/multi/grinder there is no need for me to have different brands. I’m quite happy with my m12 and m18 line up…
I started with Dewalt 18v then jumped on the new 20v/18v which I still own and love today but I did jump into the Milwaukee team to for there mechanics tools and plus there m12 line is awesome, I do find myself lookin more n more into the m18 line cus Dewalt has been lagging lately….
Only if I could have got Festool tools for what a paid for Dewalt setup.lol
i use my tools daily, and they get a lot of abuse. I have been impressed with the batteries and the impacts the most.
i have been using dewalts 20v max tools for the past few years. although i often find myself wishing i went with Milwaukee. At the time when i bought my first 20v tool, the tools felt better and performed well. I am envious of all the m18 tools available, but when i look at what else i would buy if i went to m18 there isnt anything and they all cost more then i pay for my dewalt stuff. The warranty and repair service is better with milwaulkee from what i have seen with some of my employees.
i have
8- batteries- (4-4AH, 2-3AH, 2-1.5AH my original 3ah are still good almost 3yrs later
2-brushless impacts (my go to is the one with the push button to remove the tip) this is the most comfortable impact i have ever used.
1-brushless hammer drill/driver
2- AC/DC vacuums
1-6 1/2″ circ
1-sawzall
1-flash light
1-jobsite radio/charger
issues i have had
1-vacuum motor died – repaired for free
1-chuck broke on original non brushless hammer drill/driver– would nt replace or fix (in my tool graveyard)
1- charger died – replaced for free
1- radio voliume knob broke- repaired for free
when tools do need repaired, i have to pay to ship them, and it oftens takes weeks to recieve repaired tools.
Milwaukee pays to ship them back, and has them back to you in a week.
I would still have my M18 and M12 gear. Although one of my heated sweaters has crapped the bed after 6 months and a friend/coworkers Bluetooth M18 radio died after 3-4 months. Hmm…
It does seem that Milwaukee has some quality issues on certain things. I do think they might be a tad aggressive on releasing new tools before they can properly test them in all situations.
Daryn, Its funny you say that.. I have felt the exact same way in the past…
I have Makita 18v and am just like you around 30 tools and 14 batteries.. if you asked me about 6 months ago i would have said that i really wanted to switch to m18. at the time makita had not come out with a decent new tool in a long time.. i was getting pretty tired of what i had and the grass definitely looked greener on the other side. because i was so invested i stayed and now im really glad i did..
Makita has really stepped up their game in the last few months with some amazing new tool releases and there are more to come. i have been picking them up one bare tool at a time as they come out.
no one brand is always going to be able to have the latest and greatest of everything you want. I think your in a pretty good line with Milwaukee
what are your issues with your current line and what are you wanting to switch to?
I’ve been really looking at makita lately, my problem with big red is that they haven’t gotten into the carpentry side of things much. Seems like everyone else has wider offerings. I’d like to see Milwaukee step up and get into nailers, update the jigsaw and Multi tool. But on the other hand if it’s not their forte then I don’t want a sub par tool that they would push out just to compete.
Also with the good possibility makita is finally adding status gauges to their batteries they corrected to one big issue I had making them even more appealing.
I wouldn’t want to steer you away from Makita, I think they make some of the best tools out there, but they really dont have much in the way of nail guns for their 18v line and their multitool, while it gets the job done, is nothing to write home about.. the new BL jigsaw on the other hand…. now thats one hell of a saw 🙂
I did just have a Milwaukee rep hint to me that they are working on bringing m18 nail guns to market. dont quote me on it, thats how i interpenetrated his hints (they were pretty clear) i’ve got no idea on timeline or what guns it will be first
DarynH wrote:
Also with the good possibility makita is finally adding status gauges to their batteries they corrected to one big issue I had making them even more appealing.
amen to that!! that has been an annoyance of mine for a long time now. i have long lusted over the illusive makita battery fuel gauge! haha
its nice that they have been putting a gauge on most of their new tools but it would be great to have them on the battery itself.
i wouldnt expect to see those for a year or more though.. like Kornomaniac said, they are going to want to run through their old stock of non fuel gauge batteries first
for someone like me with so many batteries already, even if those did come to the states i wouldn’t have a need for them except as my current batteries died, which is not very often at all.. a few of my batteries are 5-6 years old and still going strong!
Yeah i’m still checking my new tool deliveries daily for the first batteries with gauges on them 😀 No luck so far.
But it’ll be months most likely 🙂 I’ve got it conformed they are in production but like Ner said… they’ll sell out the old stock before adding the batteries with gauges.
As for the multitool: Ner, have you ever tried the makita next to other brands, I compared it with the BL bosch and the Fein ( that was a 14 volt tho. Last year Fein didnt have an 18 volt. not sure if they do now ) and the Makita wins by a margin. The only thing bosch had more interesting was the system to lock the tool.
But for power / vibration and even runtime the makita won actually. ( quite strange since the Bosch was a BL motor )
Lol yeah the battery gauge is a big win for team makita.
The Milwaukee Multi tool isn’t much to talk about either, it does what it needs to but lacks power and the build quality seems low.
I just hope with the milwaukee event coming up they can pull me back off the fence haha
kornomaniac wrote:
Yeah i’m still checking my new tool deliveries daily for the first batteries with gauges on them 😀 No luck so far.
But it’ll be months most likely 🙂 I’ve got it conformed they are in production but like Ner said… they’ll sell out the old stock before adding the batteries with gauges.
As for the multitool: Ner, have you ever tried the makita next to other brands, I compared it with the BL bosch and the Fein ( that was a 14 volt tho. Last year Fein didnt have an 18 volt. not sure if they do now ) and the Makita wins by a margin. The only thing bosch had more interesting was the system to lock the tool.
But for power / vibration and even runtime the makita won actually. ( quite strange since the Bosch was a BL motor )
wow, i would not have expected that, it doesn’t seem likely. i have the bosch, but not really used the Makita. Makita do have the tool-less blade changed on their more recent model.
the BL motor is handy though, multi-tools chew through the juice…
kornomaniac wrote:
As for the multitool: Ner, have you ever tried the makita next to other brands, I compared it with the BL bosch and the Fein ( that was a 14 volt tho. Last year Fein didnt have an 18 volt. not sure if they do now ) and the Makita wins by a margin. The only thing bosch had more interesting was the system to lock the tool.
But for power / vibration and even runtime the makita won actually. ( quite strange since the Bosch was a BL motor )
to be honest i havent really.. i only have the older model without the quick change and at one point was having some trouble with the blades fitting the adapter well.. at that point i sort of wrote it off and haven’t used it much since, ill have to give it another try.. im assuming when they made the update to quick change they didnt change the internals of the tool at all so they should perform the same?
Yup !
Completly thesame tool on the inside. Just added the quick change a la fein 🙂
kornomaniac wrote:
Yup !
Completly thesame tool on the inside. Just added the quick change a la fein 🙂
Alright.. I’ll give it another try!
I hate to admit this on account that I have the Bosch and it rocks….but I read an article on (I think) This is Carpentry and they rated the Makita as the best multi tool.
I have the Milwaukee m18 multi tool and for little as I use it it it works fine. How often do you guys use a multi tool and for what.
ChrisK1970 wrote:
I hate to admit this on account that I have the Bosch and it rocks….but I read an article on (I think) This is Carpentry and they rated the Makita as the best multi tool.
oh wow, there you go. Its a pity TIA couldn’t include it in their (reasonably) recent comparison.
regopit wrote:
I have the Milwaukee m18 multi tool and for little as I use it it it works fine. How often do you guys use a multi tool and for what.
I use mine on trim jobs, and floor installation. It’s amazing at cutting the bottom of a door jamb and casing for floors. I have also used it to mortise a door or two to accept different locksets.
Well I’m not complaining Dwain! I used it a couple of weeks ago to tear into 65 year old knotty board walls and hardwood floors and the thing was a champ and the blade change is slick as snot. It’s a pretty large tool but the dreams of Vecturo have been dashed. The Bosch is doing me just fine!
All of my cordless gear is from Milwaukee. I’m quite happy with all of them and wouldn’t switch even if someone offered to swap every tool for a different brand.
My multi-tool is the only cucko in the nest. After my Dewalt NiCd drill’s transmission (is that even what the torque selector ring is called?) bit the dust, I went yellow with the Dewalt 20v Multi-Tool. I use it occasionally and I always enjoy using it when I get it out. The only real problem that I’ve got with it is that I’ve only got the one 1.5 AH battery that came in the kit. All of my other battery powered tools ended up being red and I just don’t use the Dewalt enough to invest in a 2nd battery for it.
So, if I started over would I get the Milwaukee multi-tool? Perhaps. Batteries would be a lot more convenient but then again I do like the blade change mechanism of the Dewalt and it’s brushless, so runtime is quite good. Maybe if Milwaukee comes out with a Fuel version of their M18 or even M12 multi-tool, I’ll consider switching.
Yea, the M18 Multi tool was a bit of a letdown not you figured it would have been brushless plus they were one of the last 18v multi tools. Yea TIA doesn’t get much from Makita to review. I think the burning of the drill video didn’t help
Hahaha yeah bad marketing video if ever 😀
But all manufacturers / tools have had their factory problems of course. thats what warranty is for =)
I’m like Mike Z. I started with Dewalt 18V. I am looking real hard at the Dewalt 20V. I have a ton of m12 and for the record I use the poop out of my m12 multitool.
If I could start again, I wouldnt so much change brands. I wish I would have waited for the m12 fuel stuff to come out instead of jumping on the m18 brushed deal I found. Smaller tools with pretty much just as much power. I dont do heavy drilling etc, so the m12 fuel would have been perfect. That said, Im still extremely happy with my brushed m18 stuff and I would have stuck with Milwaukee. So far im very happy with their products. Dewalt was another choice when I was in the market. Went team red because I grew up as a kid around with construction, plumbing, heating, etc in my family and thats the majority of what I saw being used. Plus you cant beat what they have available in their lineup.
Damian, I agree with you, I might have bought less 20V tools and more m12 fuels, these are my Goto when I am doing work and only break out the 20V when I need the extra power (which so far haven’t found the need other than my recip and circular saw) I started with the 20V because of my old school habits, I was always disappointed in the 7.2v and 12v lines and bought 18v back in the day because of the power…bigger is better after all, but these m12 (and all the other pistol style 12v’s) are extremely compact, I have a 12v drill from back in the day that dwarfs my 20v line and my 20v line dwarfs my m12 line.
DarynH wrote:
So basically I’m married to the milwaukee 18v system, I have probably over 20 m18 tools, which close to half are fuel and 10 batteries. Sometimes I find myself looking over the fence at the greener grass. Just curious if there is anyone else who would possibly change brands if they had to start over?
Grass is never “greener,” it’s just a different color green.
Id buy hilti or metabo for my 18v core tools and cover everything else with milwaukee 12v. Every contractor I’ve worked for (6 yrs) are still using nicad dewalt and even ryobi. Nothing against my bosch 18v, but it’d be nice to own a Rolls Royce over a BMW
I think what Daryn started was something I came to years ago. If you look in my shop pretty much everything I have is small and mobile. I moved the shop to a larger area but it’s still a smaller space with limited ceiling height. I’ve got two Dewalt bench tools (contractor saw and planer) and for cordless 20v…hammer, circular and framer. Now a Makita 18v brushless jig, Milwaukee M12 Fuel impact and hackzall plus the rotary tool. Bosch 12v vacuum and work light, Ryobi 118v brad nailer. Bosch 18v wireless brushless impact and brushless multi tool and a Bosch router in a table and sander then my mainstay…Festool Kapex and a ton of Festools (Routers, Domino, sanders,drill, tables etc). I like what I have. I’m a very fortunate and blessed person in many things. As far as having multiples in one line? It’s easy for me, I am a DiY guy and hobbyist woodworker. I don’t have to bring my tools out too often but.,,lol,if one of these companies made every tool I listed maybe I’d be married to a tool line. For cordless it would be easier all around. My charger wall would be simple. But, few companies that I know of have the versatility to allow for a complete shop. If Dewalt would get of their yellow butt and step it up on nailers, maybe I’d have a single line but heck I’m looking at a Bosch finish nailer which means three different nailers! But hey wile I’m wishing…maybe Milwaukee could start introducing some more woodworking tools and nailers too. I know they are coming out with one but that’s why I’m all over the place like pacman eating those stupid dots.
Interesting topic!
I have to say, there are times when I wish I would have switched lineups when I see something cool/new come out. However, the same could be said for the current lineup that I own. Milwaukee has come out with some pretty neat tools and I don’t have many complaints about their lineup as a whole.
FB82
I’m so deep into the Milwaukee lines it isn’t funny. I don’t regret my decision, but I would strongly consider Dewalt or Bosch if buying again today.
20V Max was too limited when I was buying last time, but I like the USA assembly initiative. I believe Bosch is probably the best build quality among the Big 4
kornomaniac wrote:
Yup !
Completly thesame tool on the inside. Just added the quick change a la fein 🙂
I’m a little late for this reply but…
It’s not the exact same tool on the inside. The older LXMT02Z had a plastic wishbone in the head, it has been replaced by a much stronger metal wishbone in the XMT03Z. 90% of the repairs we have had to do on the LXMT02Z Multi-Tool was because of a broken wishbone. They have fixed this problem now, I haven’t had a single XMT03Z come back for repairs yet.
I did start again, and went with Milwaukee again. I bought the old 18v NiCad 4 tool pack(sawzall, circ, hammer drill and flashlight) many years ago, I used it part-time for many years in property maintenance/rehab. I recently started to gather some tools for doing some sub work, after reading many reviews I went with M12/M18. M12/Fuel line for drill/ driver/ multitool/ right angle/ ratchet/ jigsaw etc. Fuel m18 line for circ/ sawzall/ impact wrench. Thanks to Tools in Action for the reviews.
Bishoptools wrote:
I’m a little late for this reply but…
It’s not the exact same tool on the inside. The older LXMT02Z had a plastic wishbone in the head, it has been replaced by a much stronger metal wishbone in the XMT03Z. 90% of the repairs we have had to do on the LXMT02Z Multi-Tool was because of a broken wishbone. They have fixed this problem now, I haven’t had a single XMT03Z come back for repairs yet.
Funny you say that… within about the first hour of use on my lXMT02 I heard a weird noise and it lost all oscillation. Brought it to the local shop and they said that they had already seen it ( this was just after it was originally released) fixed it up under warranty and no problems since then… I wonder if I got the metal part as a replacement
Awesome ! Didnt know that 🙂 its good they fix those things !
NERemodeling wrote:
Funny you say that… within about the first hour of use on my lXMT02 I heard a weird noise and it lost all oscillation. Brought it to the local shop and they said that they had already seen it ( this was just after it was originally released) fixed it up under warranty and no problems since then… I wonder if I got the metal part as a replacement
The metal wishbone part became available as a factory fix about 1 year ago.
I have owned Bosch 18v and Milwaukee M18 Fuels, I have used the 20v dewalts (brushed) and the Makita 18v (brushed) there are pros and cons to all of them but the Milwaukee are the ones I use for all my jobs, I enjoyed the Makita line up, great feel to them, I would like to try the M12 line up and see if they are worth their weight for the money, I do home renovations and the small size may just be the ticket to some of the places I need a screw or a hole drilled. the Bosch drills were slow, I think only 1300 RPM whereas the Fuels are at around 1850? the dewalts are at 2000 which is nice. the dewalt impact I find to be not-so-variable speed and I ended up stripping a lot of screws because I just couldn’t get used to the way it reacted. if I had to start over all again, I don’t think id switch brands but I know that I would stick to Milwaukee and Makita from now on for drill/drivers. and im really liking the looks of the bosch glide mitre saw, so that might be a new purchase to come?
The M12 fuel impact is nice as you have 2 speed options you can have full power or lower torque and rpm for delicate tasks. The only thing is the M12 fuel drill isn’t the most compact 12V drill. The impact isn’t bad but the drill it has some length to it. I’m pretty happy with Milwaukee but their are tools I wish they had or did a better job like the Multitool overall I’m pretty happy. The M18 fuel circular saw and Sawzall are awesome!!
i love having two lines, so I can avoid the weaker tools in one brand. For instance, I have:
Dewalt 20V: BL Drills, BL Impact, Circ Saw, Recip Saw but
Bosch 18V: Multi-tool, jigsaw, grinder, SDS, Planer
If I started again though, one of my lines would be Milwaukee. Then the choice between Makita/Metabo/Bosch/Dewalt would be super tricky….
I love my Dewalts and milwaukees but if I had another choice for another line… I’d go makita also, there new stuff is really nice.
ChrisK1970 wrote:
I go back and forth DarynH. I like to try tools from different lines all the time but I have a small wood shop and am not a pro so my tools tiding normally have to get hauled all over Gods creation. Therefore multiple battery lines aren’t an issue.
I’m with chrisk1970 I try all the tools and I don’t worry about wish is going to last longer. I do a lot of different task as you know apartment maintenance is one with different challenges and I need tools that can perform high cuality work. So I’m doing good so far no need to start yet. I do cord and cordless Tools.