If I could replace my eyes with thermal imagers I would!  It is absolutely amazing what this new sense of perception allows you to accomplish.  It makes you feel super human.  A thermal imager can diagnose problems before they happen and find things you would never see with the naked eye.  Later in this article I will show you some of the cool things I found with the M12 Imager.

As you know Milwaukee is always expanding the M12 line with new tools.  Milwaukee wants to dominate the contractors tool bag and lately has been doing a really good job of doing so.  The 2260-21 M12™ 160 x120 Thermal Imager is part of their Test and Measurement line up which has produced some impressive tools like the innovative fluorescent light tester.  We had a sneak peak at the imager last year at the 2011 New Product Symposium and instantly fell in love with it.  It was made to diagnose and report, one pull of the trigger not only saves a thermal image to the the included 2gb SD card but it also takes a regular picture for reference.  Temperature Range is: 14 to 662 Degrees F with a refresh rate of 60 times per second.  You can change between iron, rainbow, gray color palettes, I found rainbow to be the best overall and gray was awesome at night vision.  The 3.5″ screen was big and easy to read, it is especially good when you need multiple people to look at the problem.

I am going to keep this review relatively simple and try not to overcomplicate the tool because it really is extremely easy to use.  It literally takes less that 5 minutes to become familiar with the 2260-21, the interface is simple and intuitive.   5 buttons and a directional pad allow you to navigate the menu options.  Check out the video for screen menus.  The pistol style grip has rubber over molding for a tight grip.  The imager is power hungry and we were surprised that it only included 1 Redlithium battery.  An XC pack would have been a lot better here for longer runtime and better tool balance as the head of the tool felt heavy.  To protect the imager lens it has a camera style flip lid that locks in both the open and closed position. It also focuses like a camera, just twist the lens ring.  On the right side is a protective rubber cover that houses the SD card and USB port.  Overall it is well built, rugged, has a IP54 rating and an awesome 5 year warranty.

For dark locations the imager has two bright white LED lights on the front.  When in grayscale mode it works great as a night vision camera.  I actually could see animals in the woods at night with this tool.  I dropped my iPhone in the lawn and could not find it with the naked eye, but found it within seconds with the imager.  It can even spot airplanes.  I found the tool awesome at checking electrical panels for overworked circuits and looking for thermal leaks.  The only downsides we noticed was that every minute or so the unit calibrates itself which causes the screen to freeze for a second or 2 and when you pull the trigger to take an image it freezes the unit for about 15 seconds, hopefully they can speed up the picture saving process in future firmware updates.

There were so many cool things we could do with a thermal imager, here are some things we did:

Server Room A/C

Cat

Clouds

Reciprocating Saw

Light and Smoke Detector

Neon Sign

Fire Pit

Hot Water Pipes

Electrical Panel with Hotspot

3 Deer

Lost iPhone in grass

Dog

Airplane flying over

Recently driven Van

Weird glass door reflection

Cats have cold noses

Cat leaving warm paw prints

Light bulb out

Cats laying out

I do not own a Windows PC, so I had to pass the article on to Eric who wrote the following:

Milwaukee M12 Thermal Image Software

Well you may have one of the cooliest tools around, but if you can’t show your clients or boss your thermal finds, what good is it really.  Not only did Milwaukee make the tool easy to use and navigate, they even made the software very easy.  Now you don’t have to install any software to use the tool, but if you want to run reports and keep a history, the software is a must.  What is that, your a Mac lover.  Well bad news, the current software that comes with this tool doesn’t support Mac.  The kit includes everything else you need to get started such as a 2 gig SD card, thumb drive, a install CD and a cord to hook up from the imager to your computer.

Before you get started, you have to install the software.  Just insert the CD and the software will guide you through the process, very easy.   Once you have it installed, just open the icon and your set to make yourself look like a pro.

The above picture is the screen you get when you open the program.  As you can see it is designed to be used by anyone, even a dummy like me can easily navigate this.  Do you want to load the pictures from a thumb drive or right from the camera?

Once you click the location, it asks for a customer name and job. This is the information that will be used in the report and if you ever need to go back and look at the history.

Now it will show you what images will be loaded.

Once the images are loaded, you can go through each one.  Here is where it gets pretty cool.  You can now see a side by side comparison from the thermal image to a standard picture.  On the bottom you can name your picture and include other important information that will show up on the report.   But this is what is really cool.  You can move your mouse all around the thermal picture and it will show you the exact temperature reading.  Click on your mouse and it takes a reading.  It puts an icon on the picture and logs the reading on the bottom right pane.  Plus this shows up on the report.  So in this example you can see how the temperature changes when hot water runs through a cast iron heater.

Now that you have described all your pictures, listed any problems with solutions, you can build a nice looking report.  Milwaukee lets you choose different templates and font.  Plus you can include your own logo.

The last item is running and viewing the report.  Here is where you can double check everything.  If you like, you can now export it to a PDF or print the report.

Below is an example of a PDF you can create.  As you can see it has a very nice layout.  Picture quality could be better, but you can easily see the pictures.  Again this is just an example so we didn’t put much into the report.  The reports are great because they help tell a story.  As you can see with the first cast iron, the heat is great, 127 coming in and 119 leaving.  However the second heater is showing 119 coming in and 94 leaving which is awful.  Here is where you can pinpoint problems and tell your story.  In this case it there are no problems, the heater just wasn’t running long enough to get up to temperature.

Boiler – Tools in Action  – PDF Report Example.

WOW that was a long article.  So to wrap it all up, we are happy to see a thermal imager added to the M12 line, but the $2500 price tag make it out of reach for most users.  We would like have to seen 2 XC batteries included instead of the included single red lithium.  However it is feature packed, rugged and invaluable to some contractors.  The ability to run professional reports with your logo can save you time and make you money.  The 5 year warranty is awesome.  DeWalt recently announced a 12V Max imager for $999, it will be interesting to compare the two.

Check out Milwaukee Tool

Almost every manufacturer has a 12V line, but none are as big as the Milwaukee M12 line.  With that said, they brought another cool tool to their already vast line of tools, the M12 Band Saw.  Yes you are reading that right, a 12V Band Saw.  If you’re like us, we did a double take when we heard the news.  How powerful or even useful can a 12V band saw really be?  We thought the idea was very cool, but how much work can a small saw really do?  Now Milwaukee already surprised us with the M12 Jig Saw as we thought a 12V jig saw was more of a joke.  That was until we tried the saw and found out we were more of a joke because the M12 Jig saw outperformed all of our expectations.  So how does the M12 Band Saw hold up?  Is it even worth the money?

Manufacturer - Milwaukee Tools

Model - 2429-21XC

Average Purchase Price - $199

Overview

How cool is the idea of having a 12V compact Band Saw?  To us, very cool.  This would allow a user to do so much such as cut conduit, black pipe, rebar and so much more.  But a 12V, come on.  How many cuts will it really make?  These were our exact thoughts.  Let me tell you from the minute we picked it up, we were sold and that was before even pulling the trigger.  The first thing we noticed was the balance of the tool.  This saw is extremely light, weighing only 6.75lbs, making it an ideal tool for one handed cuts, especially making overhead cuts.  The length of the saw is only 12″ which means you can get into tight spots to make these cuts.  Overall with the size and weight, this saw is extremely easy to control.

Okay fine it is well balanced and easy to control, but who cares if it doesn’t cut, right?  According to Milwaukee you can make 150 cuts into 3/4″ EMT before you deplete the XC high capacity battery.  Now we never tested this claim primarily because we can’t count that high and didn’t have enough material around to make that many cuts.  However we did cut through a lot of rebar, EMT, PVC and ground stakes.  We probably made about 50 cuts and the tool showed half power left for the battery.  Considering we were cutting heavier material than the 3/4″ EMT, we are going to take Milwaukee’s word of 150.  Get this, the saw cuts through 3/4″ EMT in 3 seconds.  Another item to mention is this saw has a 1-5/8″ x 1-5/8″ cut capacity and uses a variable speed trigger.

Making the cuts were very easy.  We experienced little vibration and we had complete control over the saw.  In fact we even tried to jam the saw by cutting through EMT to get the saw to stop and to our surprise, it just ran through with out even a hiccup.  When you make cuts like you are supposed to and not jam the saw through the work, the saw does a fantastic job and the line of site is great.  Milwaukee has an LED light placed above the blade, so it casts a shadow of the exact location you will be cutting which is helpful.

Unlike the Bosch 18V band saw which you need to remove 2 phillips screws, opening the M12 Band Saw is a snap.  There are two small clips that a user just slides to open the door.  If you need to change a blade, the tension release is on the outside and very easy to access.  Changing a blade is a piece of cake.  If the saw is out of alignment and you need to align the blade, there is a small screw on the outside you can use to get the blade running true.  Ours was accurate and never needed adjustment.  There is a small fixed brush that cleans the debris off one of the wheels and this brush can be replaced.  There is also a small magnet where the blade passes over to catch metal shavings and help protect the longevity of the tool.

We had a hard time finding something we didn’t like about this saw and while it does come with one XC battery, we would have liked to seen two batteries.  However I am sure this would have raised the price point.  Considering the battery charges in 30 minutes, it is not a huge deal to us.

One huge note is this saw is the only band saw on the market with a fully integrated lower guard that covers the blade outside the active cutting area.  This saw also meets OSHA requirements for one handed cutting.

This is another cool tool from Milwaukee.  It allows you to make your cuts quickly and accurate.  Couple this with Milwaukee’s other M12 tools and you can’t go wrong.

Specifications

SPECIFICATIONS

Milwaukee M12 Band Saw Includes

• 2429-20 M12 Sub-Compact Band Saw Tool
• 30-Minute Charger
• (1) M12™ XC High Capacity REDLITHIUM™ Battery
• (1) 48-39-0572 18TPI Sub-Compact Portable Band Saw Blade
• Carrying Case

Warranty

Tool - 5 Year

Battery -2 Years on M12 XC

Pictures - Video

[gallery link="file"]

Rating

[easyreview title="Milwaukee M12 Band Saw 2429-21XC" cat1title="Balance" cat1detail="The balance of the tool is great.  The ability to clearly see the cut is a must and the Milwaukee is dead on accurate. " cat1rating="4.5" cat2title="Features" cat2detail="The blade change system is easy and Milwaukee made this a tool-less blade change system that allows the user to easily change the blade.  The roller system is very nice, accurate and true.  Milwaukee even has a brush and magnet to help clean and protect the tool.  This does meet OSHA requirements for one handed cutting." cat2rating="4.0" cat3title="Number of cuts" cat3detail="We were suprised how many cuts you can get with this saw.  We didn't expect much from a 12V, but we were wrong.  Of course the harder the material, the less cuts you get." cat3rating="4.5" summary="If you are like most where you need a band saw, but not for everyday heavy use, this is the saw for you.  You don't have to worry about carrying an 18V around for small jobs, plus the M12 line is huge."]

Deals

As we find deals we will be updating this page.

Notes

All of our long term notes or other information we find after this is released will be presented here.

Like it, love it, hate it, the brushless is here and it is here to stay.  What is so special about a brushless motor you may be asking?  Bottom line it can be a better solution for motors.  The reason being is yes, there are no brushes, which means less friction, which means less heat built, which means more power, longer running time between charges and a longer life.  Wow my 4th grade teacher would have been mad at that last sentence.

Manufacturer - Milwaukee Tools

Model - 2603-22

Average Purchase Price - $279

Overview

Milwaukee is not the first to market a brushless motor, but I do have to say it is one of my favorites.  Well you may be asking what makes the Milwaukee Brushless so interesting.  There are three things, the motor, the battery and the Redlink system.

First, is the Powerstate brushless motor.   As we already discussed a brushless motor can transfer more energy to the tool.  In fact this drill produces 725 lbs of torque, one of the best in the 18V class.  Now if you are just using this drill to fasten plywood to studs, you might not notice.  However we did notice when sinking the screws.  Normally if you didn’t get the screw sunk the right way you would have to back the screw up a little and then run it into the wood again.  We did find that most of the time we could just drive it home without having to back it up.  Another place we notice the difference is when we hit knots in the wood.  We did hear the difference when we hit a knot, but the drill or screw kept on going.  One place we really noticed the difference was when we were using a hawg hole bit and an auger bit to drill through the floor to run pipe throughout the house.  It did an awesome job completing this chore, but you do have to make sure you hold onto the drill as you can really feel the torque and power of the drill.  Okay we also mixed up some Ardex with the tool.  Now we wouldn’t suggest using a cordless tool for this task, we would suggest using a corded mixer, but what the heck, we figured we would give it a try.  We had to lay down a self leveling compound on the front walk and this required us to mix the Ardex with water.  We put everything in a 5 gallon bucket and gave it a shot.  The first thing we noticed was that we had to use the side handle as this really pushed the drill to its limit.  Another thing we noticed was the overload protection didn’t kick in which was awesome.  Again we wouldn’t suggest it, but we know a lot of people do this as it is more convenient sometimes to grab the closest drill.

The second item on this drill is the battery, the Red Lithium.  The Red Lithium is a great battery and I have had a lot of good luck with these batteries compared to others we have used over the years.  We get some pretty cold winters in Chicago and I am one who just leaves the tools in the truck over night.  With these batteries they will operate at 0 degrees F.  This means you don’t have to wait for the batteries to warm up, you can start working right away.  Actually it was always a great excuse to have an extra cup of coffee in the morning when we had to wait for the batteries.

The third item is the RedLink system.  Now we would be lying if we said we fully understood how this system works, because we don’t.  We do know it is a way for the tool, battery and charger to all talk to each other to provide more efficiency.  The Redlink uses a circuitry system to be able to monitor the tool and battery.  So basically what it does is provide a better fail safe system between the tool, battery and charger.  In return because of less heat build up under loads, you get a longer running drill and longer life from the drill.

We really like this drill/driver.  Lots of power and a solid tool.  However what got us equally excited was the multi volt charger.  No more having two chargers taking up space.  Milwaukee has a single charger that will charge both the M12 and the M18, pretty cool.  As a note, it will not charge both batteries at the same time.  The system will charge the battery that was inserted first.  Once that is done charging, it will start charging the second battery.

One downside to brushless motors can be the expense.  With a brush version, you can change out the brushes and be on your way as these tend to go first on the tool.  If a brushless motor breaks, you have to replace the motor or buy a new tool.  You should get a lot more use and a great life out of this brushless version.  We have seen some stats say 10 times the life.

 Is it worth it to upgrade to the brushless?

If you already have a tough drill, then the upgrade probably isn’t worth it.  Unless you can dump your old drill and get good money towards the brushless.  If you are looking to get a new drill, the brushless is the way to go.  Look at it this way.  Say you have a truck that can tow 8,500 lbs and has a payload of 1,650 lbs.  Then the manufacturer comes out with a new truck and now it can tow 10,000 lbs and has a payload of 1,850 lbs.  Is there a difference?  Yes.  Is it worth the upgrade?  The truck still does what you need it to do.  Well that probably wasn’t the best example since a truck is around $30K and a drill is around $300, but I think you get our point.  If so let us know because we weren’t sure what we were trying to say.

Specifications

SPECIFICATIONS

Milwaukee Brushless Drill/Driver Includes

• 2603 M18 Fuel 1/2 Drill/Driver
• 2 M18 High Capacity Batteries
• Multi Volt Charger

Warranty

Tool - 5 Year

Battery – 3 Year

Pictures - Video

[gallery link="file"]

Rating

[easyreview title="Milwaukee M18 Fuel Drill/Driver - 2603-22" cat1title="Power" cat1detail="One of the most powerful 18V drills on the market.  This drill is hard to beat. " cat1rating="5.0" cat2title="Balance to Weight" cat2detail="There is a difference between the brushed version and brushless version of this drill, but it is hard to tell.  The drill feels good in the hands and doesn't bog down the user. " cat2rating="4.5" cat3title="Value" cat3detail="You get a better drill that lasts longer and does more work. Milwaukee has a huge line up so you can use your batteries to the fullest." cat3rating="5.0" summary="Tool companies are moving towards brushless for a reason.  They run longer and do more work.  The Milwaukee is a great drill/driver."]

Deals

As we find deals we will be updating this page.

Notes

All of our long term notes or other information we find after this is released will be presented here.

Before we get started there is a lot more to true comparisons than what we did.  There are other factors like how long the batteries last per charge, what is the longevity of the tool and other items to consider.  We are just doing this to have some fun and show a speed comparison.  What we did was take two 2.5″ lag screws and run them through a piece of 2×4 to see who was faster.  As you can see by the chart below, the Dewalt does have better stats than the Milwaukee.

Dewalt vs Milwaukee Video

Dewalt vs Milwaukee Comparison Table

	Dewalt	Milwaukee
Average Price	$159 Kit (DCF813S2)	$159 Kit (2451-22)
Volt	12V	12V
Anvil Size	3/8"	3/8"
Anvil Type	Hog Ring	Friction Ring Retention
Torque	1150 in-lbs.	1000 in-lbs.
RPM	0-2,450	0-2,200
IPM	0-3,400	0-3,000
Length	6.25"	6.5"
Weight	2.3 lbs.	2.3 lbs.
LED Light	3	1
Battery Fuel Gauge
Warranty	3 Yrs. on Tool	5 Yrs. on Tool
Battery	Standard Pancake	Included Torpedo Style - Pancake style sold separately
Tools in Action Review

Conclusion

In terms of speed the Dewalt spanked the Milwaukee.  I had a couple tears in my eyes.  As you can see by the table above, the Dewalt is more powerful with a smaller frame and the same weight as the Milwaukee.  Does this mean you should by the Dewalt?  Well, that really depends.  If this is going to be your only tool in the 12V category, then yes.  If this is going to be your primary tool in the 12V line up, then yes.  The Dewalt has a very nice feel and great power.  However, if you will be building up a nice 12V line of tools, there is still no one that compares to Milwaukee.  They have some great contractor tools in the M12 line up that no one can match.  This is only one tool comparison in the 12V line.  Even though I lost , I challenged Dan to a fight with the 12V Hammer Drills.  That’s when Dan had to forfeit because Dewalt doesn’t make one yet.

Manufacturer - Milwaukee

Model - 2451-22

Average Purchase Price - $170

Overview

Milwaukee is the power house for 12V power tools.  No one comes close to them.  They have everything from a simple drill to jackets, radios, grease guns and more.  Come on you can stay warm with your M12 Jacket, while you are greasing some gears with your M12 greaser and jamming some tunes with your M12 radio.  What is cool about their M12 line is there are no gimmick tools.  They are all cool tools that contractors can actually use.  They have power and are well designed.  Speaking of power and a well designed tool, let’s jump into the Milwaukee M12 impact wrench.  Let’s hit the design first.  The balance of this tool is great.  The pistol grip with the Red Lithium battery make this very easy to work with.  While the standard Red Lithium battery is very useful, we would recommend buying the Milwaukee XC High Capacity battery.  The tool only weighs 2.3 lbs. and spans 6.5″.  All right next is the power.  Seeing that this tool is very light and very compact you wouldn’t think it puts out much power.  However 1,000 in-lbs of torque is some serious power for a tool this size and will move the 3/8″ drive at 0-2,200 rpm with a 0-3,000 IPM.  The 3/8″ anvil uses a friction retention ring.  Other notable features are a built in fuel gauge and an LED light for those darker work areas.

There are a lot of professionals who would love this tool and get a lot of use from this tool. But those who would benefit the most would be people who deal with fasteners that are exposed to the environment such as mechanics and HVAC contractors.  Weather and fasteners just don’t mix well.  Bolts that are exposed to the weather usually don’t get exercised.  They are put in place and don’t come off until there is a problem, so they tend to get fused together with rust.  How nice is it to take this impact wrench on a roof to take a cover off an A/C unit and be able to loosen or tighten bolts in the unit.  You don’t have to worry about carrying the heavy 18V up the ladders any more.

Specifications

SPECIFICATIONS

Milwaukee M12 Impact Wrench 2451-22 Includes

• 2451 M12™ Cordless LITHIUM-ION 3/8” Square Drive Impact Wrench
• (2) M12™ RED LITHIUM™ Batteries
• Charger
• Carrying Case

Warranty

Tool - 5 years

Included M12 Red Lithium Battery - 2 Years

Optional M12 XC High Capacity Battery - 3 Years

Pictures - Video

[gallery link="file"]

Rating

[easyreview title="Milwaukee M12 Impact Wrench" cat1title="Balance" cat1detail="The balance of this tool is very nice.  The weight is right above the hand and easy to manage." cat1rating="4.5" cat2title="Power" cat2detail="With 1,000 in-lbs of torque, this small little tool sure puts out a lot of power." cat2rating="4.5" summary="You will not be removing tires all day long with this wrench, but for those jobs where an air or 18V is too much, the M12 is a great alternative."]

Deals

As we find deals we will be updating this page

Notes

All of our long term notes or other information we find after this is released will be presented here.

Manufacturer - Milwaukee

Model - 2605-22

Average Purchase Price - $450

Overview

We use it to build, we drive on it, we walk on it, we even use it to stop water and protect our cities.  It is one of the most commonly used building supplies, concrete.  You want to build something that will last?  Use concrete.  Just about anywhere you look, you will see concrete.  Concrete is in our foundations of our homes and buildings, it is used for parking lots, sidewalks and more.  We use concrete because it is strong and inexpensive.  Concrete has a high compressive strength, but a very low tensile strength (Rebar is used to help improve tensile strength, but a new technology ECC should push concrete to the next level where it can bend).  One of the pros to concrete besides strength and cost is the ability to work with it before it sets and gets hard.  However once the concrete cures and hardens, it is very solid and very hard to work with.  So if you need to work with concrete after it has set, you will need to use a quality tool.  One that will last the abuse of consistent pounding, hitting rebar, dropping and more.  So let us introduce the Milwaukee M18 SDS Plus Rotary Hammer.

This Milwaukee is a 7/8″ SDS hammer, so you can drill some serious holes, plus some light chiseling.  There are three modes on this hammer:

• Rotation
• Rotating Hammer
• Hammer

This hammer is very cool, but the two things that stand out to us is the Anti-vibration system and the motor design.  First is the anti-vibration.  When you look at the top of the D-handle, you can see what looks like a small shock system that absorbs the impacts.  We have to say this is one of the smoothest cordless rotary hammers we have used.  We won’t go as far as saying we can’t feel any vibrations, but we will say this system cuts down a majority of the vibrations.  If you are not familiar with this tool, you use it different than a hammer drill.  You always want the tool to do the work, but with a hammer drill it is not a huge deal if you use force when making holes.  However with a rotary hammer, the more pressure you put on the tool, the less efficient it is.  The reason being are these tools are run by a piston moving back and forth, so you want to maximize this process.  Which brings us to the next cool thing with this hammer.

Milwaukee designed this tool to be 2 times more durable than the competition.  Now we can’t verify this, but Milwaukee claims it has to do with the way they designed the motor and maximized the component size.  The tool is not only supposed to be more durable, but also gives it a harder hit to increase productivity from the user.  The motor puts out 1.8 ft-lbs of impact energy, 0-1,400 RPM and 0-4,800 BPM.

A couple other things to note is that this tool has a variable position chisel stop.  This is a great feature to have as it allows the user to adjust the chisel to the position of their choice.  There is also a mechanical clutch system that helps protect the tool when the bit binds up such as if you hit rebar.

When we first started using this hammer was when we were doing our basement project.  We were able to use all three functions.  We mostly used it for installing Tapcon screws, so we did get a lot of use out of the rotation and rotation and hammer modes.  We also used it to install a couple of sleeve anchors and strike anchors.  We did try the chisel function on the floor.  Not that we chipped up a lot, but it was more or less to try it out.  We ended up using the Milwaukee Grinder with a diamond cup wheel as that was more practical for the application.  We have to say this rotary hammer is very impressive.  Lots of power, very easy to work with and just about everything you could ask for in a tool like this.

Specifications

SPECIFICATIONS

Milwaukee SDS 2605-22 Includes:

• 2605-20 M18™ 7/8″ Rotary Hammer
• (2) M18™ XC High Capacity RED LITHIUM™ Battery Packs
• Charger
• Side Handle
• Depth Rod
• Carrying Case

Warranty

Tool – 5 years

Battery – 3 Years

Pictures - Video

[gallery link="file"]

Rating

[easyreview title="Milwaukee M18 Rotary Hammer" cat1title="Balance" cat1detail="This hammer has great balance and is distributed evenly across the tool, which makes it easy to use, even overhead." cat1rating="5.0" cat2title="Power" cat2detail="We still are amazed at battery operated rotary hammers.  This is one of the most powerful ones on the market." cat2rating="5.0" cat3title="Value" cat3detail="These tools are not cheap, but for the power and usefulness of this tool, it is hard to beat." cat3rating="4.5" cat4title="Vibration" cat4detail="The AVS system works great.  It doesn't stop vibrations, but seriously reduces them." cat4rating="4.0" summary="If you are looking for a cordless rotary hammer, the Milwaukee is hard to beat.  Great power and very well balanced."]

Deals

As we find deals we will be updating this page

Notes

All of our long term notes or other information we find after this is released will be presented here.

]]> http://professional-power-tool-guide.com/2012/03/milwaukee-sds-plus-rotary-hammer-2605-22/feed/ 2 http://professional-power-tool-guide.com/2012/02/milwaukee-m12-hammer-drill-2411-22/ http://professional-power-tool-guide.com/2012/02/milwaukee-m12-hammer-drill-2411-22/#comments Mon, 27 Feb 2012 12:00:48 +0000 Eric Jopp http://professional-power-tool-guide.com/?p=14298

Read More…]]> Okay, I was wrong, I admit it.  According to my wife, that wasn’t the first time or last time.  Apparently I am wrong a lot, but that is another story.  I know you are wondering what the heck am I talking about.  How can this guy actually be wrong.  I know I was thinking the same thing.  Okay, sorry back to reality.

Manufacturer - Milwaukee

Model - 2411-22

Average Purchase Price - $160

Overview

Okay, is the suspense killing you?  Probably not, but I am still going to tell you why I was wrong.  In my opinion Milwaukee has the best line of 12V tools and no one comes close.  However, I thought Dewalt had the best 12V, not based on power, but based on the feel and balance.  I was never a huge fan of the Milwaukee torpedo batteries.  I just preferred the flat pancake style batteries that Dewalt offered.  As time went on I really began to appreciate the torpedo system batteries.  As I found myself trying to get into tighter spots, the torpedo style batteries just offered much more flexibility and I was able to get into tighter spots, that I just couldn’t get the Dewalt in.   So that was the first thing I was wrong about.  I actually really like the Milwaukee style batteries.  Okay, here is the huge thing I was wrong about, the Dewalt drill.  I can no longer say that the Dewalt is the best 12V drill.   After using the Milwaukee M12 Hammer drill with the optional XC high capacity battery, nothing comes close.  If I could only own one 12V drill, it would be the Milwaukee 2411-22.  In fact I don’t even know why Milwaukee is making the M12 Driver, M12 Screwdriver and the M12 Drill/driver.  Actually I know why Milwaukee is making these as they are very useful for different applications, but I hope you get my point.

I am sure you want to hear more about the specs and what makes this hammer drill so good.  All right here it is, this drill only weighs 2.8 lbs and is 7-5/8″ long making this the right tool for those tight spaces.  The motor puts out an incredible 275 in-lbs of torque making this tool the right tool for almost any job.  Believe it or not this drill even has an all metal 3/8″ ratcheting chuck that spins at 0-400/01,500 rpm using one of two speeds. The drill has a whopping 22,500 bpm, that is 375 per sec.  The last two items are an on board fuel gauge and an LED light.

Okay, we have already determined this drill has some serious power for a 12V and is my favorite 12V drill.  But you are probably wondering how we came up with this conclusion.  First this hammer drill only costs $160.   To have this type of power in your hands is worth the cost.  You are now able to have a small 12V for small concrete applications and more.  This means you can lighten up your tool bag.   We are not saying this will replace your 18V hammer drill, but it sure will allow you to do more without having to bring out the 18V for every little application.  Second is the ability to have your preferred type of battery.  If you are getting in tighter spots or don’t need the extra capacity, the torpedo style battery that comes with this kit is perfect.  But if you want a little more juice and a little different feel, the optional XC high capacity battery is worth every penny which does cost around $60.

We are going to make a bold prediction on this drill, but we feel this is going to be one of those workhorses that just works.  It will be one of those tools that a majority of people own and love.  We don’t think there is much room for improvement on this tool.

Specifications

SPECIFICATIONS

Milwaukee M12 Hammer Drill 2411-22 Includes

• M12™ Cordless LITHIUM-ION 3/8″ Hammer Drill Driver 2411
• (2) M12™ RED LITHIUM™ Batteries
• 30-Minute Charger
• Carrying Case

Warranty

Tool - 5 years

Included M12 Red Lithium Battery - 2 Years

Optional M12 XC High Capacity Battery - 3 Years

Pictures - Video

[gallery link="file"]

Rating

[easyreview title="Milwaukee M12 Hammer Drill" cat1title="Balance" cat1detail="This is one of the best balanced 12V drills we have tested.  With the XC high capacity battery, it just feels that much better in your hand" cat1rating="5.0" cat2title="Power" cat2detail="This little 12V packs a powerful punch that will allow you to get most tasks done without having to bring out the big boys for smaller jobs." cat2rating="5.0" cat3title="Value" cat3detail="How can you beat having a hammer drill with two red lithiums and one xc battery, plus a hammer drill for $220.  (XC battery sold separately for average price of $60)." cat3rating="4.5"  summary="If you are looking for a 12V that has some serious power and just feels right in your hand, the Milwaukee is the way to go.  Even if you have other manufacturers 12V tools, it is worth it to invest in this tool."]

Deals

As we find deals we will be updating this page.

Notes

All of our long term notes or other information we find after this is released will be presented here.

]]> http://professional-power-tool-guide.com/2012/02/milwaukee-m12-hammer-drill-2411-22/feed/ 8 http://professional-power-tool-guide.com/2012/02/milwaukee-m18-fuel-impacts-awesome/ http://professional-power-tool-guide.com/2012/02/milwaukee-m18-fuel-impacts-awesome/#comments Sun, 19 Feb 2012 03:48:20 +0000 Dan Maxey http://professional-power-tool-guide.com/?p=15523

Read More…]]> MIlwaukee has a teaser about the new M18 Fuel impacts on their website.  It is going to be very interesting to see how these compare to the new DeWALT 3 speed Brushless Impact DCF895C2.  Hopefully they perform as good as they look.  Check out MilwaukeeTool.com for more info on the 2653-22CT Impact Driver, 2654-22CT Impact Wrench and the 2655-22 Impact Wrench.

According to Milwaukee these tools integrate three ground-breaking cordless technologies to deliver up to 10X longer life, 25% more power and 50% more run-time for the professional tradesman.  Sounds like a winner to us.  Milwaukee has combined their exclusive POWERSTATE™ brushless motor, REDLITHIUM™ battery pack, and REDLINK PLUS™ intelligence to deliver drills that will outperform all other 18V drills on the market, while being over 1” shorter and lighter than leading competition.

Here is what impresses us.  Both the drill/driver and the hammer drill have a whooping 725 in-lbs. of torque.  That is a huge jump over existing 18V platforms.  The new POWERSTATE™ brushless motor works harder, lives longer, and converts energy into power and torque more efficiently than leading competitors. The POWERSTATE™ motors also reduce noise and cools more rapidly, delivering years of maintenance-free performance.

Milwaukee REDLITHIUM™ batteries provide significantly more run-time, power and recharges than any other Lithium product on the market. REDLITHIUM™ also delivers best-in-class performance in extreme job-site conditions. With Milwaukee® durability built into each pack, the REDLITHIUM™ battery operates cooler and performs in climates as low as 0°F/-18°C with fade free power.
REDLINK PLUS™ Intelligence hardware and software is the world’s most advanced system of cordless power tool electronics that will maximize performance and protect the user’s investment. REDLINK PLUS™ Intelligence is a best-in-class system that integrates full-circle communication between tool, battery and charger, and constantly monitors this internal network to maintain ideal conditions.

In addition, all M18™ FUEL products will include the new multi-voltage charger to allow users to charge all M12™ and M18™ batteries with one charger. The new drills also come with an all metal ratcheting locking chuck for maximum grip, bit retention and durability, as well as a new contoured soft grip that gives users the ultimate comfort during prolonged use.
OK here is the bad news.  This system is not available until March of 2012.  We know it is only a month away, but we are excited and want to see this in action now.  Check out more about Milwaukee’s fuel system and other Milwaukee tools at milwaukeetool.com/fuel.

M18 Fuel Specifications

M18 FUEL™ 1/2″ Drill/Driver Kit (2603-22)

• Volts: 18V
• Torque: 725 in-lbs
• Speed: 2 Speed
• RPM: 0-550 / 0-1,850 RPM
• Chuck Type: 1/2″ Metal Single Sleeve – Ratcheting Lock
• Tool Length: 7.9”
• Tool Weight (w/ XC battery):4.9 lbs

2603 M18™ FUEL 1/2″ Drill/Driver, (2) M18™ HIGH CAPACITY REDLITHIUM™ Battery Packs and Multi-Voltage Charger

M18 FUEL™ 1/2″ Drill/Driver Bare Tool (2603-22CT)

• Volts: 18V
• Torque: 650 in-lbs
• Speed: 2 Speed
• RPM: 0-550 / 0-1,850 RPM
• Chuck Type: 1/2″ Metal Single Sleeve – Ratcheting Lock
• Tool Length: 7.9”
• Tool Weight (w/ compact battery):4.4 lbs

2603 M18™ FUEL 1/2″ Drill/Driver, (2) M18™ COMPACT REDLITHIUM™ Battery Packs and Multi-Voltage Charger

M18 FUEL™ 1/2″ Hammer Drill/Driver Kit (2604-22)

• Volts: 18V
• Torque: 725 in-lbs
• Speed: 2 Speed
• RPM: 0-550 / 0-1,850 RPM
• BPM: 31,450 BPM
• Chuck Type: 1/2″ Metal Single Sleeve – Ratcheting Lock
• Tool Length: 8.1”
• Tool Weight (w/ XC battery): 5.0 lbs

Includes 2604 M18™ FUEL 1/2″ Drill/Driver, (2) M18™ HIGH CAPACITY REDLITHIUM™ Battery Packs and Multi-Voltage Charger

M18 FUEL™ 1/2″ Hammer Drill/Driver Bare Tool (2604-22CT)

• Volts: 18V
• Torque: 650 in-lbs
• Speed: 2 Speed
• RPM: 0-550 / 0-1,850 RPM
• BPM: 31,450 BPM
• Chuck Type: 1/2″ Metal Single Sleeve – Ratcheting Lock
• Tool Length: 8.1”
• Tool Weight (w/ compact battery): 4.5 lbs

Includes 2604 M18™ FUEL 1/2″ Drill/Driver, (2) M18™ COMPACT REDLITHIUM™ Battery Packs and Multi-Voltage Charger

For me and I am sure most people, my drill is the power tool I use the most.  So it’s important to me that I have something not only powerful, but something that has a good feel and balance to the tool, which the Milwaukee has.  The drill is powered by either the 18V high capacity battery or the M18 compact battery.  The 4 pole motor puts out 550 in-lbs of torque.  One thing I really like about this drill is Milwaukee didn’t cheap out, they went with an all metal gear case.

The drill has two speeds that move the 1/2″ chuck with the ranges of 0-450 for low and 0-1700 for high.  Move the setting over to hammer mode and you get 0-29,000 bpm.  The drill is not too heavy as it only weighs 3.5 lbs.  I used to own a Makita, but sold it because there was too much walk and don’t really care for that.  I noticed with the Milwaukee, there was absolutely no walk, so I was a happy camper.  Another thing I noticed was the DPM or the Digital Power Management.  If you know me, you know I am not a big fan of the overload protection feature manufacturers put on these tools.  However I drilled  through some pretty heavy stuff and the drill didn’t shut off.  I tend to see these overload protection problems coming into place with reciprocating saws and grinders, but not much with drills.

I could go on and on about the drill, but this is just my drill of choice.  The balance and feel is what first attracted me to it, well maybe the Milwaukee name.  But after using the drill, I have to say the power is what I like best.  I think this is the best Hammer Drill on the market.