The Milwaukee M18 Router

Posted by Ryan Sep 14, 2021 at 11:29 AM and filed under Reviews & Features

Updated on Sep 14, 2021 at 11:30 AM

I’ve always used the classic Bosch Colt as my palm router of choice. I like it because of its power to weight ratio as well its user interface. It’s a simple motor with a collet and a platform that is easy to build jigs for. However, I left my Colt at the APO and needed a new palm router for the Atomic Lab. Why not try something different?

Enter the M18 Milwaukee router… I bought this after my less than glowing experience with the M18 palm sander thinking that I owe Milwaukee a chance to redeem itself in my shop. They did… this thing rules.

I don’t want to get into a full review as there are plenty of those out there, but from my experience what makes this thing great is really, really simple – It’s just the perfect application of the cordless format. I don’t run a palm router for more than a few seconds at a time and rarely do I use it for more than 15 minutes or so total in a day. Battery capacity just isn’t an issue in my use case.

What is important to me, however, is usability and removing the cord from a palm router just makes things that much more convenient. I feel like I can get into far more tighter circumstances with this Milwaukee than I can with my Colt.

It’s just a bonus that this thing also seems to be really powerful. I’m impressed… and if you’re on the fence, I suggest you jump off.

You can get these things anywhere really, but the best price I found was eBay… Not sure if this is some grey market deal or not, but the price is hard to beat.

View thread (21 replies)

Tman

Well-known member

Sep 14, 2021

Trying to find an excuse to need one..............

eastbaysubaru

Well-known member

Sep 14, 2021

Thanks for the review. I've been on the fence because the Bosch has been so good and I only use it sporadically. Might be time the next time it shows up in a sale.

-Brian

littlelebowski

Well-known member

Sep 14, 2021

Milwaukee has a lot of atoning to do regarding the palm sander.

gahrajmahal

Well-known member

Sep 15, 2021

I have the corded Dewalt palm router. I got it with a plunge routing base that makes it that much more versatile. I love anything with a “soft start”.

Firebrick43

Well-known member

Sep 15, 2021

How do you like the base plate of the M18 vs the colt. I like my colt but not overly found the the baseplate shape??

How much free play in the adjuster, my colt is terrible in that regard. I guess its not really that bad if you remember to go back one way and then advance it the other just a pain where my big milwaukee router has very little.

Also does it come with an edge guide and is of decent quality?

pennsylvaniaboy

Well-known member

Sep 16, 2021

i LOVE mine....I find it to be amazing and I have used a large variety of routers in the past...

Ryan

Administrator

Staff member

Sep 16, 2021

Firebrick43 said:
How do you like the base plate of the M18 vs the colt. I like my colt but not overly found the the baseplate shape??

How much free play in the adjuster, my colt is terrible in that regard. I guess its not really that bad if you remember to go back one way and then advance it the other just a pain where my big milwaukee router has very little.

Also does it come with an edge guide and is of decent quality?

I'm not picky about baseplate shapes... My colt was fine... and this one seems fine as well.

Free play. Far less than the Colt... I haven't used any other modern palm routers, but this one seems to have tight tolerances.

It comes with an edge guide... It's the expected stamped steel one that most routers seem to come with. Not special at all...

metaldad

Well-known member

Sep 16, 2021

So, how is the base? For adjustments? They easily stay 'locked' in, and easily changed? Seems my old colt, the base/ adjustments is kinda cheezy, really have to tighten the snot out of it, and remeasure, as it could/ does shift.
On the other hand, my big p/c whatever model it is (690?) big bosch, big milwaukee, all corded, easily lock and stay in position

LegacyIndustrial

ALLIANCE MEMBER

Sep 17, 2021

Ryan, is there a recommended table out there?
I want to get a router but also a small router-table that is compatible.

Ryan

Administrator

Staff member

Sep 17, 2021

LegacyIndustrial said:
Ryan, is there a recommended table out there?
I want to get a router but also a small router-table that is compatible.

I don't have a router table... I've always wanted one, but have always balked at the price of the well made lifts and what not...

To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Firebrick43

Well-known member

Sep 17, 2021

Ryan said:
I don't have a router table... I've always wanted one, but have always balked at the price of the well made lifts and what not...

Why get a lift at all? The Milwaukee 5625-20 Has an above table lift built in!. Still have to reach below to clamp/unclamp but adjustments are done with a supplied wrench through the router plate. I have an INCRA mag lock plate but any plate labeled for a 7518 PC router will work, just have to drill the hole for the tool to go thru.

I to resisted due to the cost of lifts for a long time

jeepinerdeep

Well-known member

Sep 17, 2021

metaldad said:
So, how is the base? For adjustments? They easily stay 'locked' in, and easily changed? Seems my old colt, the base/ adjustments is kinda cheezy, really have to tighten the snot out of it, and remeasure, as it could/ does shift.
On the other hand, my big p/c whatever model it is (690?) big bosch, big milwaukee, all corded, easily lock and stay in position

IMO as a casual wood butcher the adjustment is 400% better than the colt. Solid as a rock and easier to dial up.

tarbellb

Well-known member

Sep 17, 2021

Thread notes:

Trim routers are a perfect application for cordless, bravo Milwaukee

Sorry, but the Bosch Colt is NOT a great trim router, easily bested by the Ridgid and others

DO NOT use a trim router in a router table (unless you are only doing /32" round overs)

Ryan

Administrator

Staff member

Sep 18, 2021

tarbellb said:
Thread notes:

Trim routers are a perfect application for cordless, bravo Milwaukee

Sorry, but the Bosch Colt is NOT a great trim router, easily bested by the Ridgid and others

DO NOT use a trim router in a router table (unless you are only doing /32" round overs)

agree that the Ridgid is fantastic… and you can’t compare the Colt to It. I mean, the colt is what? 20 years older?

But as a trim router, the Milwaukee bests them both in my opinion.

alinc100

Well-known member

Sep 18, 2021

Nice to see a trim router with a dust shield/cover. I recently used a Ryobi cordless trim router at a shop I work on and off in, the balance wasn't great(not only top heavy,but tippy as well), so I used my left hand on the base as I do quite often with a corded trim router. I was quite surprised at just how close my fingers got in relation to the bit. For the record ,no skin/blood loss as I did NOT harm myself. It just made me take notice, and probably made me dislike the router very quickly. The really bad part was I had a chamfer bit in the router and immediately changed to a different router after installing the bit. I asked a few guys at the shop if there was a plastic guard/shield that just didn't get installed but no-one had knowledge of such. Looking at the pictures on line I did not see anything included by the mfg.

RonnieC

Well-known member

Sep 20, 2021

LegacyIndustrial said:
Ryan, is there a recommended table out there?
I want to get a router but also a small router-table that is compatible.

Lee Valley has a small router table for trim routers.

capww8

Well-known member

Oct 2, 2021

I have many, many routers, and the M18 is what I actually use most often, because so much of what I do is extreme light duty, short duration work. For example, I used it yesterday to cut a kerf in the bottom of a door for a door sweep.
Before that it was routing out hinge recesses, or putting a quick round-over or chamfer on something.
It’s pretty bomb, agree with Ryan, get one if you are already in the M18 ecosystem… I just wits they made an M12 version - I could use something even more light-duty.

Last edited: Oct 15, 2021

Trapps

ALLIANCE MEMBER

Oct 7, 2021

I'll be replacing 15 doors in my house next year and I want a palm router to cut the hinge and latch mortices in. The 1¼HP Bosch GFK125 has been my front runner. It's $10 more than the Rigid.

This M18 Router is the only tool I've seen that has really tempted me to add a second battery platform to my arsenal. Reading these positive reviews is only making it more difficult to stay the course. As you mention the Colt is 20 years old, I assume you're referring to the 1HP and not the 1¼ , correct?

TJMtl

Well-known member

Oct 12, 2021

I picked one of these up last weekend. I bought some crappy Mastercraft Maximum router bits and after about 5 minutes of use lost the bearing off a flush bit and chewed up my workpiece before I realized what happened.

Once I pick up some beefier bits I think this will work well.

acer66

Well-known member

Nov 3, 2021

Firebrick43 said:
Why get a lift at all? The Milwaukee 5625-20 Has an above table lift built in!. Still have to reach below to clamp/unclamp but adjustments are done with a supplied wrench through the router plate. I have an INCRA mag lock plate but any plate labeled for a 7518 PC router will work, just have to drill the hole for the tool to go thru.

I to resisted due to the cost of lifts for a long time

Same here but I caved in and got a Triton after realizing it has the lift build in too and I really love that feature.
I had an old Porter Cable in a router table before and it was a pain to adjust.
The Triton also has a dust hose hook up.
While I was it I got a router top from Kreg.

I have the 12v Bosch router and once I got used to the unusual grip I really liked it.
It became my go to round over router and also works great for delicate work.