OldDominionDIYer

Here's an unbiased solid review that picks the Milwaukee as the top jobsite radio https://toolguyd.com/best-jobsite-radio-bluetooth-speaker-dewalt-tstak-milwaukee-packout-012020/

You seem so convinced and I am not questioning your experience but if there is a difference, it's not significant. Their table saw is fantastic, and offers some real benefits, and every test by unbiased groups indicate a marginal difference at best. The new M18 Framing nailer will out perform the Dewalt versions, preliminary testing supports this. It is disingenuous to make ridiculous claims about tools because your biased. The fact is there is no significant difference at all and it really boils down to a decision on which battery platform you want to invest in. The three within Dewalt or the one M18 from Milwaukee. I admit both Dewalt and Milwaukee excel in different areas and in particular tools but in reality its a back and forth occurrence as each MFR updates and improves on previous generations to meet or exceed the current best option. I hope3 you enjoy the new year!

No, I haven't heard of a replacement but there's 11 available on Amazon...

Hitachi has an excellent 18 volt framing nailer that has treated me well, though I would love to get my hands on the Milwaukee when it arrives. Part of the issue with Milwaukee was that I think they wanted to make sure it performed very well, and not just get one to market just to say they have one, I respect that.

I don't think "Spamming" the trigger is remotely the same as feathering, just my opinion, I was tending to think this meant zero to full speed repeatedly, though for the life of me I am not sure why you would ever need to do that. I believe this term is derived from video games having done a quick google search but how it would ever relate to real world equipment is beyond me and a sure indicator of lack of knowledge likely on the part of the operator, though I mean no harm, everyone doesn't know everything...secondly I suppose there are some that tend to grip the trigger very hard even after achieving full speed and they are plastic it could be use of excessive force that's contributing to the failures only he seems to be having.

Gotta admit that these tools are in a class way above the average ones company's are producing today. Way more substantial power and tool design/uses. Not for your average contractor small business and I'm fine with that, Milwaukee is obviously tapping into market share absent of this type of cordless innovation. Others will follow but they will likely have the advantage for quite some time and I doubt they did this on a whim. Market research probably identified this gap and the desire so they pursued it and I give them credit for that.

Acme Tools is showing a shipping date of March 30, 2020

"Spam the trigger?" not familiar with that term? I own the Gen 3 hammer drill, have used it extensively as well as my Gen 2 and have never had any issue with the triggers on either of them.

Milwaukee has a solid set of Circular saws that will cut and perform well all day. Best to find out his preference for the sidewinder (2732) or the worm drive style (2830). I use and love the sidewinder but I'm a lefty so blade right suits me perfectly. I would be uncomfortable with the blade left worm style myself, no matter how well it performs.

I own no less than 5 Milwaukee drills and none exhibit any wobble, sounds like you got a bad one. Call Milwaukee and work an exchange or repair, they're good for it.

Milwaukee no doubt started in the plumbing and demo trades but they now have nearly everything you could want or need for woodworking in their cordless lines. The new M18 Router, 7-1/4, 10 and 12" miter saws, table saw, 18, 16, 15 gauge and framing nailers, Their new installation tool for cabinet installs and tight areas is excellent. Their new line of framing squares, speed squares and solid tape measure line up are no slouch either. They also have cordless planer, jig saws, orbital sander, staple guns, oscillating tools and not to mention their awesome circular saw line. Of course their Super Sawzall is bad to the bone. Seems to me they pretty much got woodworkers covered as well as any other cordless brand and blow away the others in plumbing, linemen support, lighting solutions by a long way. Their one shortfall, which I believe they're quickly remedying, are their OPE, they need a lawn mower but already have a great chainsaw, trimmer, edger, blower and their latest quick connect line ups the game again. Funny how Milwaukee beats all the main cordless companies warranty of 5 years, doesn't seem like they're making anything not intended to last. They do have a fast generational timeline which most think is a positive. Who wants to wait 5-10 years for a update to a particular tool? I don't. Just sayin'!

Milwaukee no doubt started in the plumbing and demo trades but they now have nearly everything you could want or need for woodworking in their cordless lines. The new M18 Router, 7-1/4, 10 and 12" miter saws, table saw, 18, 16, 15 gauge and framing nailers, Their new installation tool for cabinet installs and tight areas is excellent. Their new line of framing squares, speed squares and solid tape measure line up are no slouch either. They also have cordless planer, jig saws, orbital sander, staple guns, oscillating tools and not to mention their awesome circular saw line. Of course their Super Sawzall is bad to the bone. Seems to me they pretty much got woodworkers covered as well as any other cordless brand and blow away the others in plumbing, linemen support, lighting solutions by a long way. Their one shortfall, which I believe they're quickly remedying, are their OPE, they need a lawn mower but already have a great chainsaw, trimmer, edger, blower and their latest quick connect line ups the game again. Funny how Milwaukee beats all the main cordless companies warranty of 5 years, doesn't seem like they're making anything not intended to last. They do have a fast generational timeline which most think is a positive. Who wants to wait 5-10 years for a update to a particular tool? I don't. Just sayin'!

I have both the 2nd and 3rd generation Milwaukee Hammer drills and have used them both extensively drilling aged 60 year old concrete foundations/floors and they have both performed fantastically. No doubt the Gen 3 runs hotter in the motor area when doing the same work as my Gen 2 but absolutely zero issues with battery overheat on either unit and there is no impact on performance just a hotter environment. The obvious thing to anyone that has actually used both Gen hammer drills is that the drastic reduction in size from Gen 2 to Gen 3 is the biggest reason for the increased heat discharge of the newer smaller Gen 3 drills. Simply no heat sink area left so it gets discharged hotter. It is a compromise to getting a smaller, lighter, more agile, HD Hammer Drill that has all the power of the older Gen in a smaller lighter package. So in summary it's simple thermal dynamics, same motor doing the same work in a smaller package is going to release more heat.

So let's be clear. DeWalt 18V XRP is 20V (they just call them 20V) but when they moved from lithium Ion they made the corporate decision to change everything else, many companies just upgraded the battery internals and chargers since peak and nominal voltages didn't change. The 40V system came out 4.5 years ago, the technology already existed for the FlexVolt system, in fact I bet it was already in development. The problem with the FlexVolt system is the low Amp hours of the batteries when they're being used in the 60V mode (A 12Ah FlexVolt is only actually 4Ah when in 60V mode), which was the whole reason they said the 40V system was for professionals and the FlexVolt was intended for prosumers. And I'm aware that you can buy an adaptor for the older 18V system but again the cost and obligation is on the consumer. No other major tool company at this level has changed battery platforms more rapidly than DeWalt, take that for what it's worth but it seems a bit to often. Not to mention that they let their 12V stuff die out almost completely before making the decision to re-invest, no doubt many consumers got tired of waiting and moved on to other brand 12V tools out of impatience. It just seems like DeWalt (or SB&D) doesn't really think of the consumer side of their decisions very often, they just assume folks will open up their wallets and buy again. I'm not knocking the tools but I do question some of the corporate decision making. I think DeWalt makes excellent tools but is straddled with out of touch corporate leaders.

DeWalt is killing off the 40V system to make way for a single OPE system based on the newer FlexVolt platform. Yet another dead battery platform for them and I can't see how the consumer could be happy about this. DeWalt claimed the 40V system was their top OPE gear and now that they have archived the system consumers are forced into the FlexVolt system which DeWalt has already said was inferior to their 40V line. Strange but not unexpected for a company that seems to continually change their battery platform about every 5 years. Keeps the consumer in the store buying the latest equipment which has got to be good for their corporate bottom line despite being a burden to the consumer. Some really good information is located here: https://toolguyd.com/dewalt-40v-max-cordless-outdoor-power-tools-discontinued/

Finally grabbed the 15" tote, and I'm very pleased with it. Makes getting and keeping things organized much easier.

Can't wait to get my very own router! So glad I was patient, I almost bought into another brand/battery system just to gain access to a cordless version. Initial reports indicate the Milwaukee version is a very solid entry so I'm anxious to get one in my shop.

I have a good friend with one and he has had zero issues, I have the older non-quick lock version and it runs like a demon, I only use 9 and 12 amp batteries on mine.

The M18 Surge and the newly introduced M12 Surge both have a 450in/lb rating.

You can get them each even cheaper if you don't mind purchasing them used or in the "open box" category from as low as $51.... Seriously doubt you can buy a motor for that cheap from Milwaukee (if that turns out to be your issue)

Not sure what the cost of repair would be but you can purchase a brand new Gen 3 2804-20 M18 Fuel Hammer drill on Amazon for $119 and the older 2607-20 M18 Hammer Drill for $71 which are both great deals. I actually caught the 2804 on sale and got it brand new in the box for $95 not long ago. the Gen 2 2704-20 can be had for $112 if that model is more to your liking. All of these are M18 Hammer Drill bare tools.

I picked up a new Milwaukee M18 FUEL 1/4" Hex Impact Driver and I'm really loving it. I have an older M12 version that I use all the time, but recently I have been doing a lot of concrete fasteners and felt like the extra torque offered by this newer model would be beneficial, and as it turns out it is. Not only that but all that extra power and speed are packaged in a smaller compact package that is barely three tenths of a pound heavier than my old M12 version. Win-Win! I have found the "soft start" feature (Self tapping screw mode in Milwaukee lingo) enabled through mode 4 is really handy and a welcome addition. If I had any feedback to Milwaukee it would be to offer the three current speed modes and a fourth option that enables the soft start option in any of the three speed modes.

I haven't tried to fit it yet (I will) but based on the measurements it should fit, it may need to be turned on its side though. I try it to see and let you know.

I just bought a new 2804 to augment my 2704, and paid less than $95.00 bucks for the bare tool. My 2704 chuck has been acting a bit wonky lately so I was concerned it might die on me in the middle of a job, so I opted to get the newer 2804. I do like the revised chuck, and this Gen 3 drill does get hotter than the 2704 under repeated heavy loads but it is not hot enough to cause me any real concern. At least now if the chuck does die on my 2704 I can upgrade it to the 2804 style chuck, and still be able to work using my new 2804, at least that's the plan.

I used to store my tools in the cases they came with and in canvas bags for the bare tools I purchased. It was effective but tedious to make multiple trips carrying several cases and bags. now I use the PACKOUT system to store and haul all my primary stuff and I love it.