Milwaukee M12 Tool Line

[George2615]

I haven't tried the M12 series but I did buy an M18 7 tool kit earlier this month. The kit replaced a couple of Dewalt tools. can't comment on their longevity yet but are great tools to use.

 

[dodge man]

I needed a drill at my daughter’s house and bought her a nice Milwaukee M18 drill. It was probably a waste of money as I’ll be the only one who uses it. I bought a nice drill set and a nice bit set also.

 

[TMGT]

I dont have any Milwaukee battery equipment, but we used a lot of the M18 tools at work, was very impressed by them holding up in a fab shop environment.

Couple guys had personal M12 stuff and I was impressed by how much I power they had for their size.

Sent from my SM-S921U using TractorByNet mobile app

 

[Shawn T. W.]

I went with the M12 line ... I have a few ... A Greasegun, oscillating multi-tool, 1/2" impact, 1/2" hammer drill, 3/8" drill, and jigsaw ... They are more than fine for me, and my occasional home owner use.

 

[airbiscuit]

I love my Milwaukee M18s

 

[EdwardL]

I have both M12 and M18 tools. they complement each other. Sometimes I need the smaller tool and the M12s fill the need an M18 cannot. Power and battery life on the M12 is less, but that is why you have extra batteries.

 

[txbonds]

I have a ton of both M12 and M18. Use M12 mostly around my house and M18 around our farm, but have some cross over at both places. You'd be surprised how much work the M12 drill and impact driver can do. Have built fence and deck using them and they are great. Way less weight but a good amount of power and longevity per charge. They are also great in a woodshop setting over the M18 due to size and weight. However, for heavier work like farm equipment, or the F250, the M18 line wins. Like any tool system, once you amas a collection of batteries, you are married to the tools due to the batteries.

My prior tools were Makita. Happened into HD one day that the Milwaukee rep was there and they just made me killer deals to switch systems. I think I bought 1 tool/battery set with the hammer drill and impact driver with battery and charger. Then I bought another 4 or 5 bare tools. Walked out with around 6 or 7 free batteries that the rep kept throwing in. Long story short, they knew what they were doing because I'm married to the tool line now. LOL

 

[svobronco]

Commercial electrician here. My company supplies all the cordless tools to the jobs, most of them Milwaukee with some DeWalt thrown in here and there. While the 18v tools and batteries are decent, the 12v batteries are not very rugged. The small tabs that hold them in break very easily and no longer stay in the tool, we have more junk batteries than good ones. In the compact band saw the 12v is way underpowered. In tools like lasers and ratchets the 12v is fine.
I personally prefer Makita. I'm still using all the tools I bought in 2011 including the 1/4 impact that gets used hard every day.

 

[Spanner]

Makita for me.

 

[EscapedSuburbia]

I have a pretty wide selection of both M12 and M18 tools. The only ones I'm unhappy with are the M12 hacksaw (mini sawzall) and the M18 string trimmer. The hacksaw will only cut for a few seconds before it quits like it overheated or something. Even with light pressure. The string trimmer has a really annoying trigger that has to be fully depressed. If I'm not holding down the trigger with significant pressure it will stop. Also, the string head doesn't feed well and jams frequently. I'm happy with all my other M12 and M18 tools. The power of the M12 stubby impact surprises me - it has no trouble with lugnuts. I use the M18 impact when I need to be more persuasive but the M12 usually gets the job done and it's nice and light.

 

[CliffordK]

I had an Milwaukee M18 angle grinder. I found it to be an absolutely miserable tool. It would go for a few seconds then turn off. I ended upgrading batteries which helped some, but ultimately didn't solve the problem. I got very quick at restarting it, but ultimately overheated and smoked the tool.

Since then I have jumped to Harbor Freight Hercules tools. And I've been mighty impressed with most of them. The Angle grinder in particular seems to have plenty of power and the only times I've stopped the grinder is when I twisted and bound the disc.

My corded DeWalt 1/2" impact is mysteriously underpowered, and I've moved to either Hercules or Earthquake cordless impacts.

 

[camshawn]

I have mostly M18 tools but have ended up with a few M12 tools for those lighter jobs. The M12 are great for tight spaces. The stubby impact will even break free the lug nuts on our pickup.
I have used Bosch, Panasonic, Hitachi, Hilti, Dewalt, and Mikita battery drills and impacts. They all have had pluses and minuses and it comes down to what feels right to the operator.

 

[garry1p]

Wish I had gone with Milwaukee. All my battery operated tools are Kobalt from Lowe's,
I found out they will discontinue Kobalt and go with Craftsman as their store brand..

 

[walhondingMF]

I have mostly M18 tools but have ended up with a few M12 tools for those lighter jobs. The M12 are great for tight spaces. The stubby impact will even break free the lug nuts on our pickup.
I have used Bosch, Panasonic, Hitachi, Hilti, Dewalt, and Mikita battery drills and impacts. They all have had pluses and minuses and it comes down to what feels right to the operator.

The stubby impact is high on my list of next tools but the price even took only is up there.
Not sure I’m sold on the wrenches yet. I’m sure if I used one I would want one right away but can’t seem to justify yet.
The shop vac and ports air compressor are other options I’m interested in.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I have a mix of Milwaukee and DeWalt cordless tools. I particularly like the Milwaukee M12 line for their compact size.

I also use the M12 batteries with this adapter to power other 12V devices, like this hand held fuel transfer pump:

2 Packs Power Wheel Adapter for Milwaukee M12 Battery Adapter 12V Battery Conversion Kit with Switch, Fuse & Wire Terminals, 12AWG Wire, Power Connector for DIY Rc Car Toys and Robotics - Amazon.com

2 Packs Power Wheel Adapter for Milwaukee M12 Battery Adapter 12V Battery Conversion Kit with Switch, Fuse & Wire Terminals, 12AWG Wire, Power Connector for DIY Rc Car Toys and Robotics - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

 

[dadohead]

They all have had pluses and minuses and it comes down to what feels right to the operator.

I was in the trades in the 70's and 80's. That is exactly how you pick the 'right' tools. My kids will inherit the 110v Rockwell, Milwaukee, Stanley drills, sanders, saws, routers i got from my dad. They won't die!

I've worn out a few cordless driil/drivers over the last 40 years. Had Festool for the last 10 years. It's used alot. Its the only cordless drill that has an 'inline' design. Can't stand T-handle drills!

 

[walhondingMF]

I have a mix of Milwaukee and DeWalt cordless tools. I particularly like the Milwaukee M12 line for their compact size.

I also use the M12 batteries with this adapter to power other 12V devices, like this hand held fuel transfer pump:

View attachment 4327171 View attachment 4327172

2 Packs Power Wheel Adapter for Milwaukee M12 Battery Adapter 12V Battery Conversion Kit with Switch, Fuse & Wire Terminals, 12AWG Wire, Power Connector for DIY Rc Car Toys and Robotics - Amazon.com

2 Packs Power Wheel Adapter for Milwaukee M12 Battery Adapter 12V Battery Conversion Kit with Switch, Fuse & Wire Terminals, 12AWG Wire, Power Connector for DIY Rc Car Toys and Robotics - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

That’s a pretty genius idea

 

[kf4uda]

My larger battery tools are the older Dewalt 18v xrp. I wanted some smaller, lighter tools and got into the M12 series. I have been very satisfied with them. Probably the most used is the tire inflator and the 1/4 impact driver. I also use the M12 vacuum a lot. Very handy tool.

 

[kenmbz]

I have a pretty wide selection of both M12 and M18 tools. The only ones I'm unhappy with are the M12 hacksaw (mini sawzall) and the M18 string trimmer. The hacksaw will only cut for a few seconds before it quits like it overheated or something. Even with light pressure. The string trimmer has a really annoying trigger that has to be fully depressed. If I'm not holding down the trigger with significant pressure it will stop. Also, the string head doesn't feed well and jams frequently. I'm happy with all my other M12 and M18 tools. The power of the M12 stubby impact surprises me - it has no trouble with lugnuts. I use the M18 impact when I need to be more persuasive but the M12 usually gets the job done and it's nice and light.

Try the newer Milwaukee autofeed head. I have puts hundreds of feet of line through it and it jams much less than the regular heads I had on my Stihl etc.
I have the M18 power head, pole saw and trimmer and have put hundreds of hours on them over the last 5 years, doing 1200 feet of driveway and probably another 1200 feet of trench and beds, Stiltgrass is a pain.

I also have the M18 air pump and use that a lot of topping off tires on tractor, cars. It works well and fast even on truck tires.

 

[dfkrug]

I have the M18 power head, pole saw and trimmer and have put hundreds of hours on them over the last 5 years,

I am considering upgrading to an expensive better-made pole saw. The M18 Milwaukee is one I am considering. That, and the Makita LXT 18V, a Husky, and an Echo. No M12 pole saws made, which makes sense. Stihl, just too expensive.

I am on my 2nd 40V Greenworks pole saw, after blowing up the first one. 40V power is just too much for it. I also used an 18V B&D NiCad for years before that.

Is yours the single-battery pole saw, or the dual (36V)?