Dewalt vs Milwaukee in general

[driz]

I agree Glige. I have both and the fit and finish of the Dewalt 18s aren't even close. Then there's that little issue withe the bent chuck in my Dewalt drill. When I first noticed it I thought it was just in my head, nobody sells drills with bent chucks. Then I began looking on the net[emoji90]. Not that uncommon at all[emoji49] and their nicad batteries don't seem to last so well either. When mine wear out I'm done with them.


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[cgv69]

I'm going to interject some advice that won't be followed. I am the king of OCD and once thought how great it would be to have a power tool stable all of one color. Just like on the TV shows, This Old House, etc.. It's easy when you have a paying sponsor.

But, I took the road of the pro mechanics here who have a tool chest full of many brands. That's because no one brand makes the best of everything.

With cordless tools it makes sense to go with one brand. With everything else, it makes sense to go with the tool that suits you best (for a variety of reasons). For instance, my 4.5 inch grinder is a Makita, because I have small hands and my unit had the best ergonomics. Are you going to buy an inferior, uncomfortable, or otherwise bad tool because it has to be yellow or red? It really makes no sense. I have Dewalt, Rigid, Bosch, Makita, Porter Cable, and Milwaukee.

Just think, if you choose Dewalt, then you deprive yourself using the industry standard Milwaukee Sawzall. That would be a real shame.

Ha Ha. Good luck!

I fully agree with Treeman

And since you seem to be focused on cordless right now, I believe the Milwaukee Fuel lineup is the way to go. I have both M12 and M18 tools but my drill and impact driver are M12 versions. I feel the size/power ratio of the M12 drill and drivers are better suited for home/woodworking use which is how I use them. I have a 1/2 Milwaukee Corded Magnum Hammer drill for the rare occasions when I need a hammer drill.

 

[TomB19]

I assume Milwaukee makes the better sawzall, who makes the better grinder, circular saw, and random/orbital sander?

The Milwaukee FUEL sawzall beats anything out there. The Milwaukee M18 circular saw beats the DeWalt easily.

... but for corded, that's a different story. I have both brands of corded skill saw. To be fair, my DeWalt is from the 1990s but that thing is supreme. I wouldn't want to pick a favorite there.

For corded ROS, I'd go with DeWalt. I've had a few copies of the Milwaukee and endured the durability issues. The DeWalts used to have switch issues but that was over a decade ago and they seem to have sorted it out. Even back when they had switch issues, they were a better sander, IMO.

I don't have the latest DeWalt XR but a year ago DeWalt had a significantly better chuck on their XR drills than Milwaukee has on the FUEL drills. I haven't compared the entry level drills but the M12 drill is almost useless because of the lousy chuck.

 

[the1nonlyjl]

M12 chuck is that bad?


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[kctyphoon]

this thread is 3 years old... if you need to take a poll on whats the more popular brand, i suggest you pay a little more attention to how often "the Milwaukee addiction thread" shows up on page 1..

 

[driz]

I've got a m12 screw gun and a circa 2006 Dewalt Xrp 18 volt. To drive 3,5" drywall screws in wood on any quantity the Dewalt shines. On the other hand if there's ANY climbing at all involved the small frame of the M12 just shines. That small light battery in the handle feels just like handling a pistol. That big as XRP battery is heavy and bulky to handle on a ladder or in and out of a holster.


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[MacMcMacmac]

Milwaukee M18 fuel hammer drills have been doing the business at work for a year now. They are damn strong, real arm twisters, but the chucks are garbage. We've got just about all the M18 stuff. The only thing that seems a bit duff is the leaft blower, but it has it's uses for drying stuff off. We'll see if it's any good for blowing snow off equipment this winter. The USB outlet is handy. The portable bandsaw has been useful. The impacts are very strong, we have been using them for stuff they obviously should be used for like pipe studs, and they constantly amaze us with he power. That's the 1/4" ones, I'm sure the proper 1/2" drive, 500lb/ft ones are real beasts. The 1/4" ones have a habit of snapping off the socket adapters when you really use them hard, but we are definitely not taking it easy on them. We are trying to get a pair of the 1/2" drive ones for the plant for jobs where slinging air lines is a pain. The flashlights are very bright and useful as work lamps.

 

[JettaGetUpandGo]

this thread is 3 years old... if you need to take a poll on whats the more popular brand, i suggest you pay a little more attention to how often "the Milwaukee addiction thread" shows up on page 1..

Huh, never seen that thread... [/sarcasm]

I know this thread is old, but for anyone else still looking... I agree with what has been said about picking a battery line and sticking with it for cordless.

For years I had Dewalt 18v cordless tools (pre-lithium ion era). The batteries crapped out shortly after Dewalt switched to the 20v max line. I was too ticked to buy new 18v batteries assuming the 18v tools would die off and the 20v max tools were too new to have many options. I also didn't want to be stuck with 20v max tools if they flopped and were discontinued quickly. I used the opportunity to sell what I had and switched to Milwaukee. No complaints.

You really can't go wrong with either. Milwaukee seems to have more tool options, especially in the 12v, but if you need a cordless miter saw Milwaukee doesn't make one (in the US). The same could be said for something Milwaukee makes and Dewalt doesn't. Look at both lines and pick the one that offers everything you think you might need.

For corded tools I typically will buy the brand that is best known for whatever tool I need or whatever brand I can get the best deal on (as long as it's one of the major brands). My router and table saw are Bosch, jig saw and angle grinder Dewalt, rotary tool and multitools Dremel, and miter saw Ridgid. All have been great and work as needed. Anything Tool Shop brand from Menards should only be purchased if you need it for one project and never again. Even then, it may not make it through the project...

 

[the_glassman]

Red is my color, but my tools are yellow. Although I do eye some of the FUEL line from time to time, I've never had a Dewalt let me down. I like that they're assembled in the U.S. now as well.

 

[Roobaix]

but if you need a cordless miter saw Milwaukee doesn't make one

Like this one?

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/cordless/2734-21hd

 

[jd_1138]

Most people will say Milwaukee because of they still remember when most of it was USA made. I own products from both. I think the DeWalt 20V max is better than the Milwaukee 18V stuff. The 1/4 impact smokes the Milwaukee all day every day, and the sawzall is better too. Milwaukee has more tools though. Both are good tools and you can't go wrong with either one.

James

Same here. They're both great. To me, I like to put my money where my mouth is, and DeWalt is an American co. with at least some assembly occurring here. So that tips it to DeWalt for me.

But really, for a homeowner/DIYer, either brand is going to kick major ****. And for a pro, either are also fine.

 

[WWheeler]

Huh, never seen that thread... [/sarcasm]

I know this thread is old, but for anyone else still looking... I agree with what has been said about picking a battery line and sticking with it for cordless.

For years I had Dewalt 18v cordless tools (pre-lithium ion era). The batteries crapped out shortly after Dewalt switched to the 20v max line. I was too ticked to buy new 18v batteries assuming the 18v tools would die off and the 20v max tools were too new to have many options. I also didn't want to be stuck with 20v max tools if they flopped and were discontinued quickly. I used the opportunity to sell what I had and switched to Milwaukee. No complaints.

You really can't go wrong with either. Milwaukee seems to have more tool options, especially in the 12v, but if you need a cordless miter saw Milwaukee doesn't make one (in the US). The same could be said for something Milwaukee makes and Dewalt doesn't. Look at both lines and pick the one that offers everything you think you might need.

For corded tools I typically will buy the brand that is best known for whatever tool I need or whatever brand I can get the best deal on (as long as it's one of the major brands). My router and table saw are Bosch, jig saw and angle grinder Dewalt, rotary tool and multitools Dremel, and miter saw Ridgid. All have been great and work as needed. Anything Tool Shop brand from Menards should only be purchased if you need it for one project and never again. Even then, it may not make it through the project...

Like this one?

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/cordless/2734-21hd

I'd just point out that JettaGetUpandGo wasn't wrong, as you are responding to a post of his from Dec 2015 with a link to a 10" cordless finally released by Milwaukee in the US sometime around Oct 2016, and nowadays Dewalt makes several different 12" versions of 120V flexvolt cordless sliding miter saws. I'm just sayin'

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hct9072GKio" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[JettaGetUpandGo]

Like this one?

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/cordless/2734-21hd

At the time the cordless miter saw was only available in Europe and there was no announcement of any kind that it was coming to the US.

 

[Roobaix]

I'd just point out that JettaGetUpandGo wasn't wrong, as you are responding to a post of his from Dec 2015 with a link to a 10" cordless finally released by Milwaukee in the US sometime around Oct 2016, and nowadays Dewalt makes several different 12" versions of 120V flexvolt cordless sliding miter saws. I'm just sayin'

At the time the cordless miter saw was only available in Europe and there was no announcement of any kind that it was coming to the US.

I don't disagree with either of you.

I'm simply updating the thread with the new info for future forum readers.

 

[jo4gj]

See if your Home Depot has a rental/service station and go ridgid. There warranty can't be beaten. For power diy and home use there is probably no better brand. If your a dedicated pro needing the best I would jump Milwaukee. It's like buying craftsman or snap on.