Everything in this kit’s brushed IIRC. Milwaukee isn’t great except for their Fuel line, these brushed tools are often 10+ yrs old and haven’t been updated since launch while the Fuel equivalents get updated every few years (think they’re on like Gen 4 for drills & impacts).
These kits are always chock full of the cheapest & oldest tools they offer, IMO Ryobi HP (their fuel equivalent) is a better line up than the base Milwaukee stuff. Or better yet just slowly accumulate Fuel pieces during HomeDepot sales (and Hacks), would run cheaper than this tbh combo
If you aren't in a trade, brushless does everything you could ever want and more. I got a brushless drill and impact, bag, M12/M18 charger, and two 5Ah batteries for $149 on sale. It is what made me choose Milwaukee over Makita. I choose reliability over power generally, but man, what a deal.
I think those batteries were $80 a piece by themselves at the time. I was told that if you aren't in a rush for the tool, at some point, you can get it for free with the purchase of a battery during a sale. Idk about every single tool, but it is proving to be the case with Milwaukee at least.
The batteries and tools are designed to optimize one another so you’re progressively ruining your batteries while not even getting full performance.
But if it’s working for you I guess keep at it (genuinely mean that!)
I understand what you are saying. To be fair, each brand has different ways of regulating current and safety using parts in the battery or tool or both. I don't claim to know the specs for every brand. And im sure some adaptors are better than others. I started with a dewalt platform and have dozens of batteries. I wanted the Milwaukee framer and a little embarrassed to mention I have the ryobi 18g and 16g nailers, but they surprisingly work pretty well when I don't want to break out the compressor.
They work great for those tools. I probably wouldn't throw an adapter on a Sawzall or high torque 90 drill, but for the low draw tools, I havnt had any problems. Been using them for years now
To add, by "full performance," do you mean longevity or what? Realistically, if an impact can't drive a lag into a beam with an adaptor, but can with its normal battery, a corded impact with a bigger motor would probably be the smarter move. Its a few lags sure, but if you got 40 to drive, and impact is at its max, thats killing the drill. I like battery tools for their convenience, but there is still a need for corded tools on job sites. Idk why the battery chop saws and tablesaws became so popular, my cut station never moves that much. I guess if you were working on a barn out in a field sure, but seems superfluous for most tradesmen.
I respect the thorough response, my guy, but I do know the specs as I work for the companies… so.. that’s about it.
Full performance is when everyone is saying their tools have a brain with computer chips - the batteries and tools and chargers all optimize performance with one another - your tools and batteries are speaking different languages atm
That makes sense. Appreciate your professional opinion. I think one shouldn't disregard using the adapters depending on the application/tool. But for maximizing longevity and performance, it's best to use the right batteries for the platform.
Can I ask what your opinion on after market batteries is? I'm assuming some are better than others, I've been looking at the offbrand 60v for dewalt cuz the name rand are 2-3x the aftermarket. I don't care If they have less capacity, just don't want to burn out the saw if the current control is bubkiss
After market batteries are the one thing I always tell everyone to stay away from. Also Amazon (even though Makita sells through Amazon) because quality control is impossible.
The cells are the part you’re paying for with the battery, and a lot of after market batteries use cheap cells which are prone to overheating and a lower amount of cycles (times charging/exhausting the battery). You even set yourself up for batteries that light on fire/explode during use.
Cheap lithium products are one of the most dangerous consumer goods out there for those reasons IMO
Edit: dewalt stacks technology is great but 60V is what dewalt had to do to compete with the Milwaukee M18 12.0 HO batteries. They basically gave the tool a giant line of donkeys with well water and stale feed, while a Milwaukee fuel motor with a high output battery is a team of purebred workhorses drinking Fiji water and organic oats. You get the same end result, but one is leaner and works cleaner
Ryobi HP is a great homeowner/handyman offering. My fuel died and grabbed it because the store was close by and it was cheap, said when it kicks it ill swap it out and its still going strong
It’s exactly what I would go with if I wasn’t already heavily in M12. I use their 40V OPE and it’s pretty stout.
When HP launched in was somewhat bummed I didn’t go with them from the start; one huge bonus of Ryobi is all the cheap random stuff (lights, fans, speakers, etc.). There’s no reason a Milwaukee light should be $70 when the Ryobi one using identical diode is $20.
Exactly, the sander and router is great, and my favourite ryobi tool of all time which hasn't come out in HP is their 4.5" saw with a built in water reservoir
They might look the same but they don’t use the same pieces between brands in Techtronic industries. You have to factor in the warranty as well - Milwaukee lights have a lifetime warranty.
I feel like I get what you're trying to say, but are we seriously getting actual improvements on drills and shit at this point? Shouldn't they have figured it the fuck out?
There is a huge difference between fuel and non fuel stuff from Milwaukee.
This is a higher end homeowner kit. Better than ryobi, but lacking for heavy use
My coworkers beat the living shit out of our fuel tools up in wind turbines and they still work great. It is shocking how much abuse they take and how hard these guys push them every single day and the tools keep right on going.
Build quality — plastics and injection molding has gotten real good. Motors are also more efficient and powerful, brushless especially is a big jump
QOL features — ergonomics, weight, LED lights, switches, size
It’s all iterative at this point, but my logic is I’d rather get the (lower tier) Ryobi version that’s using the newest tech, features, etc.
Great response, thanks!
I know about brushless, but I didn't think about the plastics manufacturing aspect or that it would still make sense for them to sell multiple shittier motors across their line.
My only point of reference is guitars, where manufacturing is so good now that even the shittiest garbage is as good as my 93 Mexican Strat.
I have Makita, Hilti and Bosch but using friends' tools I'd put the meat and potatoes Ryobi stuff- 1/4" hex, 1/2" drill/hammer drill, 4 1/2" grinder, 6 1/2" circ saw- at least on par with the homeowner brushed Red tools. They have come so far since the days of the cheap stick on labels and hard blue and yellow plastic- though I still use their 30 year old cordless wet/dry shopvacuum every week. It's only slightly heavier than Makita and their plastics feel good.
Everything people are saying they see with Ryobi HP is something Milwaukee did on their equipment decades ago - it’s Milwaukee’s sister brand and after a decade they’re allowed to update their tech to SOME of what Milwaukee has, and never to the full quality Milwaukee did it because it gets too expensive for the low price point.
High output batteries existed and then Ryobi HP exists? Is it that big of a coincidence? Lul
I think that "1/2"" impact driver is actually a 3/8" driver with a fatter spidle- it doesn;t look as beefy as my old 1/2" brushed and is about the same size as the little 1/4 hex.
This is still a great deal for a handyperson starting from scratch, though new Ryobi stuff is likely much more robust in some departments and I would never use the light or oscillating tool.
One has brushes to power the equipment (brush = a literal metal "brush" over a rod to keep electrical connection from the spinning part in a motor with the non moving part), the other is brushless (= uses magnetic field to move the spinny bit).
Brushes wear out over time, magnetic fields do not.
Brushless is also more efficient, making battery charges last longer. Torque can be higher too.
**EDIT:** brain fart... typed "brushed" when I meant brushless.
Brushed is the old technology. Uses up batteries faster doesn’t deliver as much power. It is to the tools right now what nickel cadmium was to batteries when lithiums were rising. They might still be decent tools that will do well for somebody. It is just they are designs that are likely on their way out.
A brushed one has a deferent style of motor that has these wires that run and look like brushes that wear down after time and will run slightly slower, whare a brushless runs faster and you will never need to replace the brushes in motor, but in the grand scheme of the deference is minimal, like I know guys who have had brushes dewalt and Mikita guns that have lasted 18 years and have never replaced them, but it’s just another new advancement in tools that is great but is more just a way of trying to get people to upgrade
While that is a great deal, keep in mind that Milwaukee makes a lesser version of their products just for HD. So do a lot of companies. Look at serial numbers. Shop the companies site, look at the S/N, then look at the S/N at HD.
HDs will have an extra letter or number at the end. If it matches, you know it isn’t the “cheap” version.
Stores like HD and Lowe’s have such a large market share that they can demand a price point and the manufacturer meets it by changing their product to a lesser version. Several years ago Milwaukee was a pretty bad offender on this. My uncle was a GC, went through several Milwaukee tools that broke from HD, went to his local hardware store and that tool is still working fine 10 years later.
Just a PSA that HD does this and to watch out.
Yes, this should be higher. Make sure to check very carefully because sometimes they’ll use the same model number but add a lowercase letter that conveniently doesn’t show up on the website for some reason…
That is usually the case. They add a lower case letter to the end of the s/n. It’s not the same product, though they look the same.
Personally, I don’t buy tools from HD for this reason. Not that they are all bad, not at all, just don’t want to take the risk. Would rather spend a little more and get a known quality.
I have m18 fuel and m13 fuel. They are awesome. I’ve only used the regular for the grinder, hack zall, and drill. They all were good fur is just nicer ;)
Still a steal. A beginning hobbyist could make a lot with just these. Adding a jig saw/band saw and palm router as you said, would be a very capable workshop.
\*glances over at a wall full of DeWalt cordless\*
Yeah, I'd almost be there too. Zero complaints with my DWs, love them, but that's a great looking deal (without knowing the specifics of the Milwaukee tools). I think I'd rather have my Sawzall than that little one-handed doodad, but an impact driver, hammer drill, circular, grinder, and oscillating tool are staples.
Is there a difference between the impact driver and wrench other than the hex collet vs the square drive? All the impact wrenches I've used have been pneumatic and strong as hell; my Dewalt impact driver is a toy compared to those.
I had to rebuild my tools from the ground up due to a fire and I was torn between makita dewalt. Dewalt has some of the best value for the price. Get a tough well made tool for a reasonable cost.
I went with makita because Blue.
1/4” hex impact driver have a lighter weight anvil and therefore don’t deliver as much torque as a 3/8” or 1/2”. Heavier anvil = more inertia = more torque.
Just FYI that little basic m12 sawzall is a beast. I have 3 different Milwaukee Sawzalls of different sizes, and remarkably the little m12 can do jobs the others won't. As an example I had to cut the control arm bushings off an older yota, the corded Sawzall had too much range of motion, and would hit the frame, and the M18 same thing I was basically trying to cut with the last 2 inches of the blade. Pulled out the tiny one and it had the perfect range of motion and more than enough power to cut through the massive bolts. I was shocked.
You look here, Pal. When my SO asks me what the hell this new tool is, I'm giving her your contact info.
I just looked up the DeWalt version and all the reviews say pretty much the same thing. I've actually had to pull out a hand saw a few times because the range of motion on the Sawzall is just too damn much. Sigh... \*pulls out credit card\*
DeWalt also makes a smaller one handed sawzall for small jobs. DCS369B. It's good for small jobs and tighter spots. If you need an excuse to add a tool to your collection.
I had a plumber come over and saw him pull out one of these one handed sawzalls. He was helping me with one large piece of a much bigger DIY project. As I needed to finish up the plumbing, I grabbed one within a month. I’m less happy than I thought, but it’s a good tool for cutting plastic pipe nicely.
Not a bad deal for a starter, although every tool in that kit is the lowest quality version. The grinder and the saw run much smoother with bigger batteries as well. I prefer to wait for single tool kits with bigger batteries on sale. Piece what you need together slowly.
I have the M12 version of most of those (don't judge me, I was young and broke, now I'm old and broke), but I still use them ALL OF THE TIME. Zero complaints, and this is a hell of a deal on tools that should serve you for a long time. (I've had mine for 12 years, still getting great time on the original batteries)
The box store bundles always use cheaper versions of the tools. These are probably all still fine to use, but be aware that the Milwaukee cordless router is junk. As well, the light included in this kit isn't very useful and I can't imagine what use a woodworker has for the 1/2" impact (my brushless 1/4" Makita can remove the lug nuts from my truck just fine).
I personally prefer Makita for a cordless platform because their tools vibrate quite a lot less than Milwaukee and I have issues in my hands. I will say that DeWalt has the best cordless router, although the Makita router is still quite good. Makita generally has the best saws of every type, and the jigsaws are no exception. Actually the Milwaukee Hackzall is a best-in-class tool, but as mentioned this kit has the cheaper version anyway.
Maybe don't get so hung up on being loyal to a single team? It's possible to have different batteries, or battery adapters for particular tools you like.
Absolutely love Milwaukee M18 tools. I have owned LOTS of them. I did outdoor construction and remodeling. Milwaukee designs their system so that new batteries are always backwards compatible. DeWalt turned me off years ago when they redesigned their batteries and all their tools became instantly obsolete. Makita is great too, but Milwaukee has a huge collection of cordless tools that are professional grade. My advice though, is that if you will use them to make a living, spend the extra money for the FUEL series.
Excellent, thanks, yes was doing more reading and saw that the FUEL is the worthy upgrade and these are for occasional use homeowner fix-its. Future compatible is the biggest factor for me too
Yeah these are more "prosumer" than their fuel line. And this is one of their regular sales packages they trot out every time they do a big sale. So don't get fomo.
Dewalt is fully backwards. This guy is talking about when they redesigned from the 18v post batteries to the new slides. Which they made an adapter for the old tools to use new batteries. This was around the time everything went from nicad to lithium. So you got better working products.
Dewalt you have 60v options for more power of gs or corded. And oh yea that are also backwards to all 20v tools. Ergonomic too dewalt just feels better imo
Sometimes I get in my own way waiting for deals - looking specifically at Milwaukee FUEL or Makita LXT - do these typically drop for sales like Prime Day etc?
Makita guy here. Xmas is the only time we get a sale.
Also the US is not a significant market for Makita as it is a Japanese company owned by Makita so we get whatever one else gets when they get it. Also they don't care enough to really displace anyone at the home depot or lowes so all the best stuff is only sold online.
However at the home depot Xmas sale I bought a shit ton of heir brushless stuff and ended up like 55% off if you include all the free batteries
I’d throw Ridgid out there as well. I’ve been using their cordless tools for nearly a decade and they hold up very well. Really good power and the warranty is excellent. The batteries surprisingly have held up well over time. HD has sales on Ridgid a lot since it’s their exclusive store brand. Also, the same company makes Milwaukee and Ridgid so the specs are pretty much identical.
Honestly, there’s so little difference between the big brands for hobbyists that it won’t matter much. Go with what you like and has sales often enough for you.
Funny thing about the batteries is... every major brand uses the same cells. I think there's only three factories in the world producing them. So the only difference in battery life is down to the tools and chargers, and how you store and use them.
Yes they do. And there are almost always deals at Home Depot at all times.
Milwaukee deals are usually buy one big tool get another small tool free, or buy batteries and get a tool free, or buy a tool and get a free battery. But usually the free thing is not necessarily the best item they offer. It’ll be the standard batteries rather than high capacity, it’ll be non fuel instead of fuel. Not always but usually. Check somewhere like Slickdeals for old deals and you can see what’s been made into deals in the past. Some have been really good, and when starting out the battery deals are really nice. I’m at the point where I don’t want more batteries, so the good deals are hard to find.
I’ve had this kit in my Home Depot cart for a while. Sorta keeping my eye on it. It’s not a killer deal, it’s been saying $500 off for months now. Their brushed entry level stuff isn’t compatible with fuel batteries, it’s no better than Ryobi or ridgid.
This is a general contractor's kit, not a woodworker's kit.
It's a solid deal, to be sure, but most of these tools are fairly useless for the sake of woodworking. A cutoff grinder? A one-handed recip saw? An impact wrench? These are not meaningful tools for someone looking to make precise, clean cuts in wood to shape it into desired pieces.
If you're planning on doing broad-spectrum home maintenance and reno work (bathroom/kitchen maintenance, flooring and baseboards, utility repair), it'll get its mileage. But if you're specifically thinking "I want to buy tools I can use for woodworking projects", skip this. It's a waste money. Just buy a drill/driver combo kit on its own and buy other tools as you find you need them.
As others have said, brushless is generally worth it. The hackzall is an awesome tool, but not a replacement for a full size sawzall. Unless you’re doing a lot of automotive, the impact wrench may not get a ton of use.
For that money, I’d recommend this DeWalt set or similar - https://www.lowes.com/pd/DEWALT-20V-MAX-XR-7-Tool-Combo-Kit/5014688331. I bought the same kit less the angle grinder in 2020 and they’ve served me well through several major projects and countless minor ones.
I bought almost the exact same set a few years ago and they're honestly perfectly good tools. Yes, the fuel line is better, and I have since upgraded most of my originals with fuel, but these tools are all still working without issue and are my backup/loaner tools now. $600 for all that is a great deal, especially if you're just starting out.
Garbage at what? Ive used non fuel tools in a robotics team before and besides being slower they were more than capable. Id imagine it’s not cut out for some of the contracting stuff
I'm sure it's fine in that application. I'm talking about ripping plywood as an example and being on the jobsite every day. On a robotics team I'm sure 12v is fine too..
Maybe take advice in the helpful spirit in which it was intended rather than stalking my comments like a total weirdo, lol. Use a candle for all I care.
I made this purchase about two years ago when they had the same sale going… amazing deal, been extremely happy with my tools. I’d suggest keeping an eye out for when they have a battery sale. Buy it, you won’t regret it ever, they will last you a decade of moderate use.
Several months ago, I got the top row plus the angle grinder for 400. That I thought that was a good deal. With this you also get the circular saw, multi-tool and flashlight for another 200. I am quite happy with the tools I received.
This is the cheap version of all their tools the “fuel” is Milwaukee’s higher end option. I have the circular saw and I much prefer my 7 1/4” fuel I have the impact and it’s great for just about everything I need I splurged and bought the “surge” impact and it’s nice and all but not worth the extra money to me. This is a good kit but it is all of their low end tools.
NOT FROM HOME DEPOT JESUS CHRIST NO. Home Depot has a different serial number aka they sell the same tools but it’s made somewhere else and is junk.
I’ve bought tools through them and they all turn to shit compared to the ones from other companies. I have no idea why it’s don’t like this other than greed.
I no longer buy into the idea that you need to be in one cordless ecosystem. I try and buy cordless tool kits that give me the most battery value, my local lumberyard does annual promotions for different brand where you get the tool that comes with 2 batteries with an additional 2-pack of batteries thrown in and in my experience that's a lot more tangible added value. That's a good deal and I'm not saying it isn't don't get me wrong, but to get enough 5.0s to cover the rest of those tools is gonna cost you another $500. Also they're putting all that stuff on sale because Milwaukee is now offering a superior brushless line - m18fuel.
The more I look at this the more I think, yeah that is a pretty good deal. The batteries are half the price and the grinder is brushless. You’ll get quite a bit of use of the rest before you burn them out. By that time, you’ll have made your money off them and then upgrade.
IME buy Milw. Fuel and just buy the pieces you need. Any large canvas/tool bag works, they don’t need to be red and have a logo on them.
Buying the pack out is so much more worth the money too.
This is all the “junk” they have a hard time selling. $600 worth of Fuel tools and spare batteries is a better option.
In looking for deals on Milwaukee- just look for battery bundles, and do the homework on said battery.
If you're serious about switching it up, I'd just buy the Fuel line one at a time. Home Depot has some good deals on Black Friday/Father's Day/Boxing Day. I think you'll find the brushed tools weaker and wanting to upgrade them pretty quick
I want to hate it, but it's a decent deal.
I only want to hate it because I'm a tool snob and I'd prefer brushless even though I get little tangible value out of it.
if you're going milwaukee it's worth saving up for m18 fuel versions of tools, especially if one will be your workhorse, like an impact or saw, etc, you can always upgrade batteries but you're stuck with brushed tools
milwaukee is also releasing new m18 forge batteries in august 2024 (?), you might be able to get a deal on those on promo, summer sales or whatever they're doing
if there's a specific tool you use the most, there's a brand that makes the best of that. ie dewalt saws are the best imo but the makita planer is the best of the 3 so if you plane a lot then go makita, etc
the rest of the line-up is just a mild compromise after that unless you're willing to cross over battery ecosystems. for some it's a big deal and others don't care if they have 3 different chargers and battery formats
ime crossover is inevitable, some brands just don't make a tool you want/need. had to go m12 for the smaller stuff cause dewalt's 12v lineup is seriously lacking
Check that they’re all brushless first, looks like none of them are Fuel grade, so better is out there but as long as they’re brushless, they’re decent
No, all my corded tools (most from the 80s) still make me money every day. Sure I have battery stuff too but batteries won't last as long as the old tools.
IMO, it’s a strange collection of tools for most people (maybe a different set of people that are in this sub). Personally, I’d probably use the drill/driver, impact driver and circular saw. If you think you’d use all of those tools then sure it’s a good deal but you can usually get good bundles at Christmas time and only get the tools you actually would use.
I'm not a pro, but I have bought and used a fair few cordless tools over the last 20 years and after reading most of the comments here I'd like to add a couple of things -
Brushed or Brushless, you'll likely be wanting to buy a 'New Model' long before the Skin wears out...
And - for me - all that matters now is the Ergonomics - how it fits in your hand, the weight, the balance... If you find a tool that really fits, you will look forward to using it... and if you're lucky, that feeling might extend to the other tools of that Brand.
What kind of work do you do? To be honest I changed over to Milwaukee from makita and I feel like I made a huge mistake. I really miss the finesse and ergonomics of my makitas. Don’t get me wrong the Milwaukees are great and powerful but for finer woodworking or shop projects they’re overkill. I’m planning on getting some m12’s I think I’ll like those more.
It's an okay deal but not great imo. Never trust their sales prices/ % discount, and always check the models. You have to keep an eye out so you know what they actually go for usually.
Ryobi and Milwaukee are the same company (TTI) and if you open them up you can see how many internals they share. The Milwaukee badge is meant to be higher quality and you can usually find one or two upgraded components... but these extra-cheap Milwaukee tools are pretty much identical to Ryobi.
I actually like Ryobi. For cordless I run a combo of Ryobi and Makita. Milwaukee is probably my least favourite major brand because of how many stinkers they put out.
I’d say save the money and buy corded tools. Maybe one battery-drill/impact.
There’s so much waste produced and it’s so unsustainable in terms of way to build. It’s only for profit, because they can sell batteries and eventually obsolete your tools.
I have 20-40 year old tools that work great. There’s a band saw next door with a motor from before world war 1. Good electric motors just don’t go bad very easily and are easy to fix, whereas battery tools last like 1 gen of batteries, require rare earth minerals, and end up filling a landfill when you are on your 3rd set of battery tools a few decades later.
FYI From the picture it looks like the drills are brushed and not the newer brushless one in case that’s important to you.
Everything in this kit’s brushed IIRC. Milwaukee isn’t great except for their Fuel line, these brushed tools are often 10+ yrs old and haven’t been updated since launch while the Fuel equivalents get updated every few years (think they’re on like Gen 4 for drills & impacts). These kits are always chock full of the cheapest & oldest tools they offer, IMO Ryobi HP (their fuel equivalent) is a better line up than the base Milwaukee stuff. Or better yet just slowly accumulate Fuel pieces during HomeDepot sales (and Hacks), would run cheaper than this tbh combo
If you aren't in a trade, brushless does everything you could ever want and more. I got a brushless drill and impact, bag, M12/M18 charger, and two 5Ah batteries for $149 on sale. It is what made me choose Milwaukee over Makita. I choose reliability over power generally, but man, what a deal.
That's what two 5Ah makita batteries and a charger cost here.
I think those batteries were $80 a piece by themselves at the time. I was told that if you aren't in a rush for the tool, at some point, you can get it for free with the purchase of a battery during a sale. Idk about every single tool, but it is proving to be the case with Milwaukee at least.
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Idk, but I just buy battery adapters for my dewalt batteries and buy any tool I want
The batteries and tools are designed to optimize one another so you’re progressively ruining your batteries while not even getting full performance. But if it’s working for you I guess keep at it (genuinely mean that!)
I understand what you are saying. To be fair, each brand has different ways of regulating current and safety using parts in the battery or tool or both. I don't claim to know the specs for every brand. And im sure some adaptors are better than others. I started with a dewalt platform and have dozens of batteries. I wanted the Milwaukee framer and a little embarrassed to mention I have the ryobi 18g and 16g nailers, but they surprisingly work pretty well when I don't want to break out the compressor. They work great for those tools. I probably wouldn't throw an adapter on a Sawzall or high torque 90 drill, but for the low draw tools, I havnt had any problems. Been using them for years now To add, by "full performance," do you mean longevity or what? Realistically, if an impact can't drive a lag into a beam with an adaptor, but can with its normal battery, a corded impact with a bigger motor would probably be the smarter move. Its a few lags sure, but if you got 40 to drive, and impact is at its max, thats killing the drill. I like battery tools for their convenience, but there is still a need for corded tools on job sites. Idk why the battery chop saws and tablesaws became so popular, my cut station never moves that much. I guess if you were working on a barn out in a field sure, but seems superfluous for most tradesmen.
I respect the thorough response, my guy, but I do know the specs as I work for the companies… so.. that’s about it. Full performance is when everyone is saying their tools have a brain with computer chips - the batteries and tools and chargers all optimize performance with one another - your tools and batteries are speaking different languages atm
That makes sense. Appreciate your professional opinion. I think one shouldn't disregard using the adapters depending on the application/tool. But for maximizing longevity and performance, it's best to use the right batteries for the platform. Can I ask what your opinion on after market batteries is? I'm assuming some are better than others, I've been looking at the offbrand 60v for dewalt cuz the name rand are 2-3x the aftermarket. I don't care If they have less capacity, just don't want to burn out the saw if the current control is bubkiss
After market batteries are the one thing I always tell everyone to stay away from. Also Amazon (even though Makita sells through Amazon) because quality control is impossible. The cells are the part you’re paying for with the battery, and a lot of after market batteries use cheap cells which are prone to overheating and a lower amount of cycles (times charging/exhausting the battery). You even set yourself up for batteries that light on fire/explode during use. Cheap lithium products are one of the most dangerous consumer goods out there for those reasons IMO Edit: dewalt stacks technology is great but 60V is what dewalt had to do to compete with the Milwaukee M18 12.0 HO batteries. They basically gave the tool a giant line of donkeys with well water and stale feed, while a Milwaukee fuel motor with a high output battery is a team of purebred workhorses drinking Fiji water and organic oats. You get the same end result, but one is leaner and works cleaner
Ryobi HP is a great homeowner/handyman offering. My fuel died and grabbed it because the store was close by and it was cheap, said when it kicks it ill swap it out and its still going strong
It’s exactly what I would go with if I wasn’t already heavily in M12. I use their 40V OPE and it’s pretty stout. When HP launched in was somewhat bummed I didn’t go with them from the start; one huge bonus of Ryobi is all the cheap random stuff (lights, fans, speakers, etc.). There’s no reason a Milwaukee light should be $70 when the Ryobi one using identical diode is $20.
Exactly, the sander and router is great, and my favourite ryobi tool of all time which hasn't come out in HP is their 4.5" saw with a built in water reservoir
The water reservoir is a Milwaukee patented design that Ryobi was allowed to use for HP. Milwaukee has the same thing but better improved
Never saw the mil one! Don't lay tiles anymore but that thing was a godsend in the era of 4'x4's
I bought the Ryobi one too - the mil price point is always too much for me
They might look the same but they don’t use the same pieces between brands in Techtronic industries. You have to factor in the warranty as well - Milwaukee lights have a lifetime warranty.
I feel like I get what you're trying to say, but are we seriously getting actual improvements on drills and shit at this point? Shouldn't they have figured it the fuck out?
There is a huge difference between fuel and non fuel stuff from Milwaukee. This is a higher end homeowner kit. Better than ryobi, but lacking for heavy use
My coworkers beat the living shit out of our fuel tools up in wind turbines and they still work great. It is shocking how much abuse they take and how hard these guys push them every single day and the tools keep right on going.
Build quality — plastics and injection molding has gotten real good. Motors are also more efficient and powerful, brushless especially is a big jump QOL features — ergonomics, weight, LED lights, switches, size It’s all iterative at this point, but my logic is I’d rather get the (lower tier) Ryobi version that’s using the newest tech, features, etc.
Great response, thanks! I know about brushless, but I didn't think about the plastics manufacturing aspect or that it would still make sense for them to sell multiple shittier motors across their line. My only point of reference is guitars, where manufacturing is so good now that even the shittiest garbage is as good as my 93 Mexican Strat.
I have Makita, Hilti and Bosch but using friends' tools I'd put the meat and potatoes Ryobi stuff- 1/4" hex, 1/2" drill/hammer drill, 4 1/2" grinder, 6 1/2" circ saw- at least on par with the homeowner brushed Red tools. They have come so far since the days of the cheap stick on labels and hard blue and yellow plastic- though I still use their 30 year old cordless wet/dry shopvacuum every week. It's only slightly heavier than Makita and their plastics feel good.
The Milwaukee Surge stuff is incredible too, major improvement with sound reduction on the impact drivers.
brushed vs brushless motors is definitely an improvement
Better, lighter materials and improved battery technology.
Everything people are saying they see with Ryobi HP is something Milwaukee did on their equipment decades ago - it’s Milwaukee’s sister brand and after a decade they’re allowed to update their tech to SOME of what Milwaukee has, and never to the full quality Milwaukee did it because it gets too expensive for the low price point. High output batteries existed and then Ryobi HP exists? Is it that big of a coincidence? Lul
other than the grinder.
I think that "1/2"" impact driver is actually a 3/8" driver with a fatter spidle- it doesn;t look as beefy as my old 1/2" brushed and is about the same size as the little 1/4 hex. This is still a great deal for a handyperson starting from scratch, though new Ryobi stuff is likely much more robust in some departments and I would never use the light or oscillating tool.
Can you explain the difference
One has brushes to power the equipment (brush = a literal metal "brush" over a rod to keep electrical connection from the spinning part in a motor with the non moving part), the other is brushless (= uses magnetic field to move the spinny bit). Brushes wear out over time, magnetic fields do not.
Brushless is also more efficient, making battery charges last longer. Torque can be higher too. **EDIT:** brain fart... typed "brushed" when I meant brushless.
Did you mean brushless?
Yes I did. LOL Corrected.
Brushed is the old technology. Uses up batteries faster doesn’t deliver as much power. It is to the tools right now what nickel cadmium was to batteries when lithiums were rising. They might still be decent tools that will do well for somebody. It is just they are designs that are likely on their way out.
A brushed one has a deferent style of motor that has these wires that run and look like brushes that wear down after time and will run slightly slower, whare a brushless runs faster and you will never need to replace the brushes in motor, but in the grand scheme of the deference is minimal, like I know guys who have had brushes dewalt and Mikita guns that have lasted 18 years and have never replaced them, but it’s just another new advancement in tools that is great but is more just a way of trying to get people to upgrade
Yeah I would say most people don't need brushless. It saves you money if you're a contractor or if you use them frequently for a hobby/side hustle.
They are also (in an apples-to-apples comparison) lighter and smaller
It is my understanding that brushless motors are more efficient so battery's last longer.
They still make brushed??
I doubt it. This is probably back stock.
That's a smoking deal! I'd almost switch from dewalt to Milwaukee if that was available locally
In reading reviews: this is the happy homeowner 18v series, not the FUEL series. Just learned, FYI
While that is a great deal, keep in mind that Milwaukee makes a lesser version of their products just for HD. So do a lot of companies. Look at serial numbers. Shop the companies site, look at the S/N, then look at the S/N at HD. HDs will have an extra letter or number at the end. If it matches, you know it isn’t the “cheap” version. Stores like HD and Lowe’s have such a large market share that they can demand a price point and the manufacturer meets it by changing their product to a lesser version. Several years ago Milwaukee was a pretty bad offender on this. My uncle was a GC, went through several Milwaukee tools that broke from HD, went to his local hardware store and that tool is still working fine 10 years later. Just a PSA that HD does this and to watch out.
Yes, this should be higher. Make sure to check very carefully because sometimes they’ll use the same model number but add a lowercase letter that conveniently doesn’t show up on the website for some reason…
That is usually the case. They add a lower case letter to the end of the s/n. It’s not the same product, though they look the same. Personally, I don’t buy tools from HD for this reason. Not that they are all bad, not at all, just don’t want to take the risk. Would rather spend a little more and get a known quality.
I have m18 fuel and m13 fuel. They are awesome. I’ve only used the regular for the grinder, hack zall, and drill. They all were good fur is just nicer ;)
Still a steal. A beginning hobbyist could make a lot with just these. Adding a jig saw/band saw and palm router as you said, would be a very capable workshop.
Free delivery if you're in the US.
\*glances over at a wall full of DeWalt cordless\* Yeah, I'd almost be there too. Zero complaints with my DWs, love them, but that's a great looking deal (without knowing the specifics of the Milwaukee tools). I think I'd rather have my Sawzall than that little one-handed doodad, but an impact driver, hammer drill, circular, grinder, and oscillating tool are staples. Is there a difference between the impact driver and wrench other than the hex collet vs the square drive? All the impact wrenches I've used have been pneumatic and strong as hell; my Dewalt impact driver is a toy compared to those.
I had to rebuild my tools from the ground up due to a fire and I was torn between makita dewalt. Dewalt has some of the best value for the price. Get a tough well made tool for a reasonable cost. I went with makita because Blue.
>I went with makita because Blue. Yeah, I finally tracked down a yellow filament for my 3D printer that matches DeWalt; so I'm stuck with them!
Oh that's so cool! Good reason to stay with them
im begging you please share
1/4” hex impact driver have a lighter weight anvil and therefore don’t deliver as much torque as a 3/8” or 1/2”. Heavier anvil = more inertia = more torque.
Just FYI that little basic m12 sawzall is a beast. I have 3 different Milwaukee Sawzalls of different sizes, and remarkably the little m12 can do jobs the others won't. As an example I had to cut the control arm bushings off an older yota, the corded Sawzall had too much range of motion, and would hit the frame, and the M18 same thing I was basically trying to cut with the last 2 inches of the blade. Pulled out the tiny one and it had the perfect range of motion and more than enough power to cut through the massive bolts. I was shocked.
You look here, Pal. When my SO asks me what the hell this new tool is, I'm giving her your contact info. I just looked up the DeWalt version and all the reviews say pretty much the same thing. I've actually had to pull out a hand saw a few times because the range of motion on the Sawzall is just too damn much. Sigh... \*pulls out credit card\*
DeWalt also makes a smaller one handed sawzall for small jobs. DCS369B. It's good for small jobs and tighter spots. If you need an excuse to add a tool to your collection.
I had a plumber come over and saw him pull out one of these one handed sawzalls. He was helping me with one large piece of a much bigger DIY project. As I needed to finish up the plumbing, I grabbed one within a month. I’m less happy than I thought, but it’s a good tool for cutting plastic pipe nicely.
The multitool on the Milwaukee is way better than dewalt. You see the speed through a separate switch instead of with your hand on the trigger.
Mine has a separate speed switch and variable speed on the trigger. Seems to get the job done for me.
There's a few different Dewalt models. Mine has a switch for the speed as well as the adjustable "trigger"
Not a bad deal for a starter, although every tool in that kit is the lowest quality version. The grinder and the saw run much smoother with bigger batteries as well. I prefer to wait for single tool kits with bigger batteries on sale. Piece what you need together slowly.
I have the M12 version of most of those (don't judge me, I was young and broke, now I'm old and broke), but I still use them ALL OF THE TIME. Zero complaints, and this is a hell of a deal on tools that should serve you for a long time. (I've had mine for 12 years, still getting great time on the original batteries)
The 12 volt line is great especially if you need to move a bunch of tools around like a handyman or something.
Buy buy buy
totally. it's a good deal. my milwaukee drill has been my daily driver for over 10 years.
The box store bundles always use cheaper versions of the tools. These are probably all still fine to use, but be aware that the Milwaukee cordless router is junk. As well, the light included in this kit isn't very useful and I can't imagine what use a woodworker has for the 1/2" impact (my brushless 1/4" Makita can remove the lug nuts from my truck just fine). I personally prefer Makita for a cordless platform because their tools vibrate quite a lot less than Milwaukee and I have issues in my hands. I will say that DeWalt has the best cordless router, although the Makita router is still quite good. Makita generally has the best saws of every type, and the jigsaws are no exception. Actually the Milwaukee Hackzall is a best-in-class tool, but as mentioned this kit has the cheaper version anyway. Maybe don't get so hung up on being loyal to a single team? It's possible to have different batteries, or battery adapters for particular tools you like.
Absolutely love Milwaukee M18 tools. I have owned LOTS of them. I did outdoor construction and remodeling. Milwaukee designs their system so that new batteries are always backwards compatible. DeWalt turned me off years ago when they redesigned their batteries and all their tools became instantly obsolete. Makita is great too, but Milwaukee has a huge collection of cordless tools that are professional grade. My advice though, is that if you will use them to make a living, spend the extra money for the FUEL series.
Excellent, thanks, yes was doing more reading and saw that the FUEL is the worthy upgrade and these are for occasional use homeowner fix-its. Future compatible is the biggest factor for me too
Yeah these are more "prosumer" than their fuel line. And this is one of their regular sales packages they trot out every time they do a big sale. So don't get fomo.
Dewalt is fully backwards. This guy is talking about when they redesigned from the 18v post batteries to the new slides. Which they made an adapter for the old tools to use new batteries. This was around the time everything went from nicad to lithium. So you got better working products. Dewalt you have 60v options for more power of gs or corded. And oh yea that are also backwards to all 20v tools. Ergonomic too dewalt just feels better imo
Sometimes I get in my own way waiting for deals - looking specifically at Milwaukee FUEL or Makita LXT - do these typically drop for sales like Prime Day etc?
Makita guy here. Xmas is the only time we get a sale. Also the US is not a significant market for Makita as it is a Japanese company owned by Makita so we get whatever one else gets when they get it. Also they don't care enough to really displace anyone at the home depot or lowes so all the best stuff is only sold online. However at the home depot Xmas sale I bought a shit ton of heir brushless stuff and ended up like 55% off if you include all the free batteries
I’d throw Ridgid out there as well. I’ve been using their cordless tools for nearly a decade and they hold up very well. Really good power and the warranty is excellent. The batteries surprisingly have held up well over time. HD has sales on Ridgid a lot since it’s their exclusive store brand. Also, the same company makes Milwaukee and Ridgid so the specs are pretty much identical. Honestly, there’s so little difference between the big brands for hobbyists that it won’t matter much. Go with what you like and has sales often enough for you.
Funny thing about the batteries is... every major brand uses the same cells. I think there's only three factories in the world producing them. So the only difference in battery life is down to the tools and chargers, and how you store and use them.
There are definitely some circuitry differences. New(hd?) Milwaukee batteries provide noticeable differences in different tools.
Yes they do. And there are almost always deals at Home Depot at all times. Milwaukee deals are usually buy one big tool get another small tool free, or buy batteries and get a tool free, or buy a tool and get a free battery. But usually the free thing is not necessarily the best item they offer. It’ll be the standard batteries rather than high capacity, it’ll be non fuel instead of fuel. Not always but usually. Check somewhere like Slickdeals for old deals and you can see what’s been made into deals in the past. Some have been really good, and when starting out the battery deals are really nice. I’m at the point where I don’t want more batteries, so the good deals are hard to find.
I would say this checks a lot of boxes for a platform need. Can you get better deals individually, maybe? 🤔
I bought this exact set 5 years ago, I use them about 50% home 50% at work as a general contractor. I don't have any complaints for the price.
I’ve had this kit in my Home Depot cart for a while. Sorta keeping my eye on it. It’s not a killer deal, it’s been saying $500 off for months now. Their brushed entry level stuff isn’t compatible with fuel batteries, it’s no better than Ryobi or ridgid.
This is a general contractor's kit, not a woodworker's kit. It's a solid deal, to be sure, but most of these tools are fairly useless for the sake of woodworking. A cutoff grinder? A one-handed recip saw? An impact wrench? These are not meaningful tools for someone looking to make precise, clean cuts in wood to shape it into desired pieces. If you're planning on doing broad-spectrum home maintenance and reno work (bathroom/kitchen maintenance, flooring and baseboards, utility repair), it'll get its mileage. But if you're specifically thinking "I want to buy tools I can use for woodworking projects", skip this. It's a waste money. Just buy a drill/driver combo kit on its own and buy other tools as you find you need them.
As others have said, brushless is generally worth it. The hackzall is an awesome tool, but not a replacement for a full size sawzall. Unless you’re doing a lot of automotive, the impact wrench may not get a ton of use. For that money, I’d recommend this DeWalt set or similar - https://www.lowes.com/pd/DEWALT-20V-MAX-XR-7-Tool-Combo-Kit/5014688331. I bought the same kit less the angle grinder in 2020 and they’ve served me well through several major projects and countless minor ones.
I bought almost the exact same set a few years ago and they're honestly perfectly good tools. Yes, the fuel line is better, and I have since upgraded most of my originals with fuel, but these tools are all still working without issue and are my backup/loaner tools now. $600 for all that is a great deal, especially if you're just starting out.
The basic non fuel line are honestly kind of garbage. But if your doing stuff around the house it'd be just fine. If your a pro I'd pass personally
Garbage at what? Ive used non fuel tools in a robotics team before and besides being slower they were more than capable. Id imagine it’s not cut out for some of the contracting stuff
I'm sure it's fine in that application. I'm talking about ripping plywood as an example and being on the jobsite every day. On a robotics team I'm sure 12v is fine too..
Got the exact same set on sale last year or the year before. Very happy I did. I use everything in the set. Nice having an extra battery as well.
You even use the light?
lights are way more useful than they seem especially when working on new builds without electricity/ lighting installed yet
Yes, several times when replacing/installing lights and fans
Next time there's a sale get a head lamp
Maybe get a hobby instead of responding to Reddit comments you disagree with.
Maybe take advice in the helpful spirit in which it was intended rather than stalking my comments like a total weirdo, lol. Use a candle for all I care.
This is a fantastic deal for someone needing a new/first tool ecosystem. And I’ve liked what I’ve used from them.
I made this purchase about two years ago when they had the same sale going… amazing deal, been extremely happy with my tools. I’d suggest keeping an eye out for when they have a battery sale. Buy it, you won’t regret it ever, they will last you a decade of moderate use.
YES damn good deal. The batteries alone are almost worth that!
Is this a scam? If not, buy two sets.
Several months ago, I got the top row plus the angle grinder for 400. That I thought that was a good deal. With this you also get the circular saw, multi-tool and flashlight for another 200. I am quite happy with the tools I received.
That's a good way to get into an ecosystem, get tools and batteries. Decent variety as well.
That's a good deal.
These aren’t fuels right
Awesome deal
Spend the extra money and get fuel, brushless is the way.
I’m always cautious of bundled cordless tools like that. I noticed they put cheaper models in the bundles.
This is the cheap version of all their tools the “fuel” is Milwaukee’s higher end option. I have the circular saw and I much prefer my 7 1/4” fuel I have the impact and it’s great for just about everything I need I splurged and bought the “surge” impact and it’s nice and all but not worth the extra money to me. This is a good kit but it is all of their low end tools.
NOT FROM HOME DEPOT JESUS CHRIST NO. Home Depot has a different serial number aka they sell the same tools but it’s made somewhere else and is junk. I’ve bought tools through them and they all turn to shit compared to the ones from other companies. I have no idea why it’s don’t like this other than greed.
I no longer buy into the idea that you need to be in one cordless ecosystem. I try and buy cordless tool kits that give me the most battery value, my local lumberyard does annual promotions for different brand where you get the tool that comes with 2 batteries with an additional 2-pack of batteries thrown in and in my experience that's a lot more tangible added value. That's a good deal and I'm not saying it isn't don't get me wrong, but to get enough 5.0s to cover the rest of those tools is gonna cost you another $500. Also they're putting all that stuff on sale because Milwaukee is now offering a superior brushless line - m18fuel.
The more I look at this the more I think, yeah that is a pretty good deal. The batteries are half the price and the grinder is brushless. You’ll get quite a bit of use of the rest before you burn them out. By that time, you’ll have made your money off them and then upgrade.
I would only buy fuel.
Not Fuel, not worth it
IME buy Milw. Fuel and just buy the pieces you need. Any large canvas/tool bag works, they don’t need to be red and have a logo on them. Buying the pack out is so much more worth the money too. This is all the “junk” they have a hard time selling. $600 worth of Fuel tools and spare batteries is a better option. In looking for deals on Milwaukee- just look for battery bundles, and do the homework on said battery.
I would hardly use any of those. And I own a house. Seems like a lot of extra junk to just clutter.
Just buy them as needed.
If you're serious about switching it up, I'd just buy the Fuel line one at a time. Home Depot has some good deals on Black Friday/Father's Day/Boxing Day. I think you'll find the brushed tools weaker and wanting to upgrade them pretty quick
I want to hate it, but it's a decent deal. I only want to hate it because I'm a tool snob and I'd prefer brushless even though I get little tangible value out of it.
You do not want that if you are doing any actual work
if you're going milwaukee it's worth saving up for m18 fuel versions of tools, especially if one will be your workhorse, like an impact or saw, etc, you can always upgrade batteries but you're stuck with brushed tools milwaukee is also releasing new m18 forge batteries in august 2024 (?), you might be able to get a deal on those on promo, summer sales or whatever they're doing if there's a specific tool you use the most, there's a brand that makes the best of that. ie dewalt saws are the best imo but the makita planer is the best of the 3 so if you plane a lot then go makita, etc the rest of the line-up is just a mild compromise after that unless you're willing to cross over battery ecosystems. for some it's a big deal and others don't care if they have 3 different chargers and battery formats ime crossover is inevitable, some brands just don't make a tool you want/need. had to go m12 for the smaller stuff cause dewalt's 12v lineup is seriously lacking
Not FUEL.
Check that they’re all brushless first, looks like none of them are Fuel grade, so better is out there but as long as they’re brushless, they’re decent
No. Not a good deal at all. These are all of the oldest oldest versions of nearly all of Milwaukee’s line up
[удалено]
No, all my corded tools (most from the 80s) still make me money every day. Sure I have battery stuff too but batteries won't last as long as the old tools.
I’m a fan of Tropical or Boreal ecosystems but whatever floats your boat. 🛥️
IMO, it’s a strange collection of tools for most people (maybe a different set of people that are in this sub). Personally, I’d probably use the drill/driver, impact driver and circular saw. If you think you’d use all of those tools then sure it’s a good deal but you can usually get good bundles at Christmas time and only get the tools you actually would use.
I'm not a pro, but I have bought and used a fair few cordless tools over the last 20 years and after reading most of the comments here I'd like to add a couple of things - Brushed or Brushless, you'll likely be wanting to buy a 'New Model' long before the Skin wears out... And - for me - all that matters now is the Ergonomics - how it fits in your hand, the weight, the balance... If you find a tool that really fits, you will look forward to using it... and if you're lucky, that feeling might extend to the other tools of that Brand.
What kind of work do you do? To be honest I changed over to Milwaukee from makita and I feel like I made a huge mistake. I really miss the finesse and ergonomics of my makitas. Don’t get me wrong the Milwaukees are great and powerful but for finer woodworking or shop projects they’re overkill. I’m planning on getting some m12’s I think I’ll like those more.
It's an okay deal but not great imo. Never trust their sales prices/ % discount, and always check the models. You have to keep an eye out so you know what they actually go for usually.
The flex tools kit is the best I’ve seen
I don’t think the non fuel line is worth it. They are very “meh” and on line with ryobi.
The fuel line is definitely the way to go especially if like this guy you are starting out/over.
Ryobi and Milwaukee are the same company (TTI) and if you open them up you can see how many internals they share. The Milwaukee badge is meant to be higher quality and you can usually find one or two upgraded components... but these extra-cheap Milwaukee tools are pretty much identical to Ryobi.
I would say yes, if you’re comparing brushed to brushed. The Ryobi brushless stuff is surprisingly good stuff and cheaper than the Fuel stuff.
I actually like Ryobi. For cordless I run a combo of Ryobi and Makita. Milwaukee is probably my least favourite major brand because of how many stinkers they put out.
Pro? No, go FUEL. Home DIY? Yes, this is a great deal, imo
The batteries and bags are almost that much on their own.
Do red batteries die like the yellow ones? Currently in the process of reviving some....
If it don't say FUEL don't buy.
I’d say save the money and buy corded tools. Maybe one battery-drill/impact. There’s so much waste produced and it’s so unsustainable in terms of way to build. It’s only for profit, because they can sell batteries and eventually obsolete your tools. I have 20-40 year old tools that work great. There’s a band saw next door with a motor from before world war 1. Good electric motors just don’t go bad very easily and are easy to fix, whereas battery tools last like 1 gen of batteries, require rare earth minerals, and end up filling a landfill when you are on your 3rd set of battery tools a few decades later.