Anyone use a lot of Milwaukee tools?

Anyone use a lot of Milwaukee tools?

Author
Discussion

Andrew[MG]

Original Poster:

3,323 posts

199 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
Apparently these used to be very popular, got crap and are now really good again?

laam999

538 posts

170 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
I have a 10.8v percussion drill, impact driver and impact wrench, all massively over powered for their size and really feel like they're built to last, for the small size they weigh a fair amount.

harrisp

200 posts

148 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
I've got 18v fuel brushless impact driver and combi drill and non fuel 18v grinder, sds,reciprocating saw and radio, all excellent so far, heavier than the equivalent makita stuff though.

stuart313

740 posts

114 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
Got several milwaukee tools, in some respects they are excellent but have bad points too. They seem to eat brushes on the combi drills, even the impact driver, and new brushes have to be soldered onto the trigger, however the newer versions are brushless.

The first combi drill we had the gearbox broke on it, the heavy duty replacement has lasted well though. One of the battery chargers decided to go pop the other week, so down to one charger with 4 batteries to top up now but a replacement is only cheap.

Good points, the batteries, 2 of which are about 5 years old are still as good as new and even if we need new ones they are sensibly priced so it doesn't warrant binning the lot and getting a complete new kit. The 18 volt SDS is excellent, its light and seems as powerful as any 24V one I have borrowed, it has worked faultlessly for 3 years.

I will add these drills are hammered every day in a dirty/dusty environment so all in all they have been brilliant, I have had Makita/bosch before that have worn out clutches and batteries in 6 months.

justanother5tar

1,314 posts

126 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
At our place, most trades are quite brand reliant tbh.

Joiners use all Makita gear.

Sparks, plumbers and gas lads all use Milwaukee.

Stu R

21,410 posts

216 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
Most of our gear is Milwaukee and DeWalt now, same for our subs.

Same story, was horrible for a time, but is back to being very good again. Makita seems to be going the opposite way - we've had 2 replaced under warranty. Could be coincidence I suppose but they lived easy lives.

Andrew[MG]

Original Poster:

3,323 posts

199 months

xstian

1,973 posts

147 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
quotequote all
I have a M12 Fuel percussion drill. Its about 1 1/5 years old and it lives loose in the bottom of my tool bag. Its a little bulky but very powerful for the size.

I also have a M28 SDS and M28 percussion drills. These are coming up to 3 years old and still work great. The contractor bag they came in has fallen to pieces thought. The warrantee runs out in a few weeks, so I have just contacted them to see what they can do about it. I'll report back when I hear anything.

The M28 torch is crap though. It looks like quite an old design. Although it hasn't failed there are a number of annoying bits about it.

Teddy Lop

8,301 posts

68 months

Sunday 25th October 2020
quotequote all
How's the kit bearing up after a few years of abuse?

Looking to invest in a load of new kit as new batteries for the panasonic are mega silly $ and I want a decent angle drill, only Milwaukee seem to tick that box.

Prices don't seem to vary much although the £599 4 piece kit screwfix have seems rather keen so a good place to start.. Any tips as I need a fair bit? (Combi/sds/impact/circ/jig/multi/angle/5x batts at least..) Annoying thing is just about every "kit" includes an angle grinder which I'm not too bothered about.

jackthelad1984

838 posts

182 months

Sunday 25th October 2020
quotequote all
We use alot of it in work and it generally get abused and not looked after properly at all as its all hired in, but it all seems to be very hard wearing and reliable (we use a lot of drills, jigsaws, recip saws, grinders, lights, all 18v cordless). Im impressed with it so have started buying my own stuff for home. sgs engineering is a good place to order from, often having deals on etc.

mgtony

4,022 posts

191 months

Sunday 25th October 2020
quotequote all
Screwfix have some Milwaukee stuff reduced in their 'Autumn Deals' :

https://www.screwfix.com/search?search=screwfixdea...

guards red

667 posts

201 months

Sunday 25th October 2020
quotequote all
Keep broadening their range to new stuff, more specialist use stuff.

Mostly good, don't buy the soldering iron though, it melts it's own body...

Batteries are good, though expensive. They have little vent holes low in the casing which means you have to be careful using them outdoors - any little pools of water or moisture corode the internal contacts or short the cells.