I am looking at Milwaukee, and all the reviews for both the m12 and m18 lines look stellar. Many have said that the non fuel brushed motor tools are very good as well. My question would be is there a significant real world difference between comparable fuel and non fuel models?
Milwaukee fuel vs non fuel is the difference that great?
- Thread starter atownmack
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oldldh
Well-known member
I have the Brushless Compact Drill Driver...Model 2710-22CT...
Home Depot sells them for $199.00...
The biggest difference would be from Brushed to Brushless...I think...
The Fuel Series are great tools, with more power, a longer running time,, and a higher selling price...Larger batteries are included...
Professional Tool "Junquies" will love the Fuel Series, pay the extra money, and be ecstatic...The Home Based DIY'er, like most of us, not so much...
I looked at the Fuel Drill Driver, but, at $279.00, I couldn't justify it...
I am very happy with my Brushless Drill Driver...
But that is just one Old Man's opinion, and will, no doubt be challenged numerous times...
A lot of knowledge can be found by searching the tools you're interested in of the GJ...
Home Depot sells them for $199.00...
The biggest difference would be from Brushed to Brushless...I think...
The Fuel Series are great tools, with more power, a longer running time,, and a higher selling price...Larger batteries are included...
Professional Tool "Junquies" will love the Fuel Series, pay the extra money, and be ecstatic...The Home Based DIY'er, like most of us, not so much...
I looked at the Fuel Drill Driver, but, at $279.00, I couldn't justify it...
I am very happy with my Brushless Drill Driver...
But that is just one Old Man's opinion, and will, no doubt be challenged numerous times...
A lot of knowledge can be found by searching the tools you're interested in of the GJ...
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thebeekeeper1
Well-known member
I won't buy anything but Milwaukee but I didn't spring for the (double cost!) of the FUEL. In almost two years of steady use I'm very happy with the regular M18 and red lithium batteries. Good life, charge fast, drill and driver work GREAT. Very happy, but of course, YMMV. 
hoston23
Well-known member
it depends on how often and the work load you will be using them. I bought almost all fuel stuff because we use them almost everyday. some of the stuff I got good deals on and went with non fuel until I can afford the fuel
LB-1911
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Milwaukee also has a non Fuel branded brushless line as well.
Milwaukee M18 Fuel vs. M18
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=270264
M-18
http://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/cordless?product+systems=m18
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Strouty
Well-known member
I have not tried the non fuel brushless yet, but when I tried my friend's fuel impact driver, the difference was so enormous that I went out and bought the drill driver kit. I sold my non fuel on ebay and covered a good portion of the cost, if I remember they had a trade in program that got a $100 off too. Keep your eyes out for promos or just buy the bare tools and sell your old ones (or keep them as spares?).
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
I haven't pulled the trigger yet, but I plan on buying the M12 Fuel 3/8" impact and drill. I like the idea of lighter weight without sacrificing much power (compared to the brushed M18).
bcradio
Well-known member
This is the route I went and am totally glad I did. M12 Fuel takes care of my cordless needs easy and is about the same level as 18v was not too long ago... but it is much lighter.
I am not building houses/sheds/decks/etc daily so I have no need for M18 Fuel. I can easily build any of the above with my M12 Fuel as needed though.
Strouty
Well-known member
I would use the m12 impact driver daily, it is awesome. If I was driving lags or really long screws, I would step up to the M18.
I have the non fuel impact driver and compact drill. The driver is fine, the fuel version was only slightly more powerful. But the drill, the drill is not that powerful at all. Im going to buy a fuel one soon and sell off the non fuel drill.
thdewey
Well-known member
I'm not a contractor but I use my M18 Brushless Impact driver every weekend for projects. IT IS AMAZING. It is the best tool I own by far!
I built decks, shelves, my garage etc and it never gives up. I bought the extra battery and got a third free, Home Depot special. I use it for hours and rarely ever have to swap batteries.
Now I am building my M18 tool collection. I just got the oscillating multi-tool. Next is the jig saw!
I built decks, shelves, my garage etc and it never gives up. I bought the extra battery and got a third free, Home Depot special. I use it for hours and rarely ever have to swap batteries.
Now I am building my M18 tool collection. I just got the oscillating multi-tool. Next is the jig saw!
Has anyone had first hand real world experience with a comparable tool in the fuel version vs non fuel version (ex m18 fuel hammer drill vs m18 hammer drill, or m12 fuel impact driver vs m12 impact driver)? I suspect the battery run time is longer, but I am asking is the tool's performance noticeably better.
Crusarius
Well-known member
I have the M12 and M18. the biggest difference I notice between them is speed. the M18 1/4 impact driver is alot faster than the M12.
TomB19
Well-known member
A buddy of mine has brushed M18 tools. Mine are FUEL. When we built his deck, the difference was not that big of a deal. He has 1.5 and 2.0Ah batteries. Mine are all 4.0Ah so I didn't charge a battery through the whole project but it's not like he was charging all the time, either.
His circular saw is a non-fuel (my old one) 6 1/2". Mine is the FUEL 6 1/2". The power and run time are very similar to the point I should not have bothered upgrading. Both are excellent. You would need controlled conditions to distinguish the two saws.
The biggest point behind FUEL for me is battery longevity. FUEL manages battery use to keep it within safe parameters for the battery. It will not allow a tool to draw too much current, damaging a battery.
Batteries are so good these days, it's not as big of a feature as it used to be but I still feel it has value. The torque difference between brushed and brushless is way over-hyped, IMO.
His circular saw is a non-fuel (my old one) 6 1/2". Mine is the FUEL 6 1/2". The power and run time are very similar to the point I should not have bothered upgrading. Both are excellent. You would need controlled conditions to distinguish the two saws.
The biggest point behind FUEL for me is battery longevity. FUEL manages battery use to keep it within safe parameters for the battery. It will not allow a tool to draw too much current, damaging a battery.
Batteries are so good these days, it's not as big of a feature as it used to be but I still feel it has value. The torque difference between brushed and brushless is way over-hyped, IMO.
Fuzz
Active member
I use my drills primarily in the electrical construction field. I have the M12 Fuel drill/driver and the M12 hammerdrill/driver. I use the fuel to do "heavy" drilling with ship auger bits and hole saws due to it's 1/2" chuck. It appears to have more torque with a more robust transmission than the other drill. I use the other drill for precision drilling in metal parts and driving machine and device screws. My Fuel drill developed a wobbly chuck most likely due to using the bigger drill bits. The other drill with only the 3/8" chuck is never used in a high torque situation to preserve the relatively smooth chuck rotation. I use the 4ah batteries in both drills seeing nearly identical run times between each drill. I don't subject them to the same stresses, so I can't give a straight comparison. Just from experience, the Fuel model is stronger for drilling larger holes, but the non-fuel version drives screws the same as a fuel drill. Depending on your needs, the non-fuel tools using the 4ah batteries may be more than sufficient.
Thank you so much. This is the answer I was looking for. I guess the extra cost of the brushless fuel is not a significant enough difference to make the extra expense worthwhile. If I find a good deal on Milwaukee fuel combo kits, I'll jump on it, but otherwise, it seems Milwaukee's regular brushed tool lineup are still an outstanding tool line!
TomB19
Well-known member
One thing... the circular saw really needs a 4.0Ah battery, or better. The drills and impacts are fine on 1.5Ah batts.
Of course, the more the better.
Of course, the more the better.
I have the M12 impact in both versions, and the FUEL model is far superior. Not only does it run much longer, but the manner in which it drives seems more efficient. The FUEL impact easily drives longer screws whereas the standard model sort of stops driving if the going gets tough. Plus the FUEL model has a dual range to limit the power, so it handles smaller screws better. I love it.
FWIW, the M12 Sawzall is pretty cool. Very handy for smaller tasks such as plumbing and stairs. Worked great to cut out over 100 oak balusters in a couple of minutes when I replaced them with wrought iron.
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Got both the M12+M18 Fuel hammer drill/impact. IME the differences are very noticeable when comparing the M12 brushed versus M12 Fuel hammer drills or impacts. The M12 Fuel runs much smoother, feels more torquey, and has higher rpms. Picked up an M12 brushed kit last year just to take advantage of the free battery promo, kept the charger and quickly sold the brushed M12 drill/impact. No more brushed power tools for me.
Sully1978
Member
M12 Fuel replaced most of my brushed 18V tools. Some of the standard M12 tools are good, right angle drill and hackzall especially. Fuel drills, drivers, and impacts are far superior to the brushed counterparts.
248superduty
Active member
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I have the FUEL M18 3/8" impact and 1/2" impact, and the FUEL M12 3/8" and 1/4" ratchets. LOVE them. like so much sometimes I wonder why I have air impacts...
From reading this thread and doing some Google searches it seems like the m18 vs m18 fuel isn't much difference, however it does appear that the m12 fuel is significantly better than the regular m12 line.
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Which c3 drill replaced it? Is it the brushless c3 drill?
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Negen
Well-known member
I use both brushed and brushless versions of the m18 at work I do not know the direct model numbers. But the Milwaukee drills impact drivers and drills do not drive bolts harder than our old brushed dewalts. The battery packs are better and have higher amp hour cells. At home I use bosch (brushed or brush-less) and would recommend that over any other for price and durability.