M18 tool line?

[BFroa]

In the past 2-3 years I have bought a few Milwaukee M18 tools; drill/driver, a couple torque wrenches, grass trimmer. Thinking of purchasing a Milwaukee circler saw. I just turned 65 a a couple months ago and that got me to thinking. Will the M18 batteries still be around 10-15 years from now?

 

[mike93lx]

Your guess is as good as any.

I would bet yes though

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I hope so. I love my M18 tools and plan to buy more just not lawn tools like power tools like more impacts and stuff. I love all my tools haha (And hi fellow Roanoke person) .

 

[M635_Guy]

There aren't any guarantees. After getting orphaned by Craftsman (C3), I was pretty grumped, and likely platform longevity was one of my highest criteria when choosing what to switch to. I bet on Milwaukee.

 

[Showkey]

Even if there’s a new line with millions of M18 tools in service……… batteries and the market place will be supplied for years to come.

 

[Kscardsfan]

Can’t speak to 10-15 years from now, but a bunch of my core M18 stuff is 10 years old this year and I still use a lot of them and the batteries without any complaints.

 

[mrvm]

With a selection of generic battery adapters available the odds of powering your old power tools years from now have improved

 

[Shiftless]

The fact that there are literally millions of M18 tools out there by now, most of which I bet are still operational, I think you will be fine in 10-15 years.

 

[rancherbill]

Will the M18 batteries still be around 10-15 years from now?

There's a big enough base that there will always be clone batteries. There's lots on Amazon right now.

 

[Showkey]

There's a big enough base that there will always be clone batteries. There's lots on Amazon right now.

Most of the clones, copies, aftermarket, off brand or counterfeit batteries are marginal to junk to dangerous.

 

[Neggy]

try having a DJI Drone worth about 1600 dollars new and losing battery support after 4 years.

 

[CJM8515]

milwaukee has way too much vested into it. unless tech changes such that they can make as powerful a tool and battery in a smaller package i doubt they are going anywhere.

about 15 years ago my dad had the old makita 9.6V pistol grip drill. we were able to buy a brand new one at home depot b/c his from like 1992 crapped out.

 

[ER70S-2]

I'd be much more worried about not being able to get faulty triggers fixed.

 

[rancherbill]

try having a DJI Drone worth about 1600 dollars new and losing battery support after 4 years.

There are battery stores where I live that will custom rebuild batteries.

 

[Bockscar]

milwaukee has way too much vested into it. unless tech changes such that they can make as powerful a tool and battery in a smaller package i doubt they are going anywhere.

about 15 years ago my dad had the old makita 9.6V pistol grip drill. we were able to buy a brand new one at home depot b/c his from like 1992 crapped out.

I think there is an Ace Hardware that still sells those batteries

 

[finn]

There are battery stores where I live that will custom rebuild batteries.

The battery store by me will rebuild the old NiCad batteries, but not the Lithium Ion batteries.

Milwaukee has obsoleted battery platforms in the past, and I am sure if the technology advances, the M18 platform will fade away.

Nothing wrong with that, though. It happens in every industry and consumer product. The world isn’t static.

 

[Firebrick43]

It took a decade to kill off the dewalt 18v line, and milwaukee has a lot more tools out there than it did

 

[theoldwizard1]

This may be a silly question. Do ALL M18 battery packs use 18650 sized batteries ?

Any tool that uses batteries that wind up inside the handle when the battery is plugged in will have to stay with 18650 sized cells even as the 21700 are becoming more popular.

 

[mike93lx]

This may be a silly question. Do ALL M18 battery packs use 18650 sized batteries ?

Any tool that uses batteries that wind up inside the handle when the battery is plugged in will have to stay with 18650 sized cells even as the 21700 are becoming more popular.

I expect the new HO stuff uses bigger cells, just like Dewalt is doing

 

[Firebrick43]

I expect the new HO stuff uses bigger cells, just like Dewalt is doing

Yes, HO has the larger cells.

 

[smokeysevin]

This may be a silly question. Do ALL M18 battery packs use 18650 sized batteries ?

Any tool that uses batteries that wind up inside the handle when the battery is plugged in will have to stay with 18650 sized cells even as the 21700 are becoming more popular.

The higher capacity packs for the m12 line are "L" shaped and put part/all of the extra cells in the lower section.

Sean

 

[LB-1911]

Do ALL M18 battery packs use 18650 sized batteries ?

Any tool that uses batteries that wind up inside the handle when the battery is plugged in will have to stay with 18650 sized cells even as the 21700 are becoming more popular.

No


July 1, 2021

Milwaukee uses two types of battery cells: 18650 cells and 21700 cells.

The numbers refer to the size of the cell, so 18650 cells measure 18mm by 65mm and 21700 cells measure 21mm by 70 mm.

The High Output batteries use 21700 cells, which are newer and now most commonly used to run larger, more powerful tools.

The rest of Milwaukee’s traditional battery packs use 18650 cells, which are more compact but don’t have as long of a runtime.

Source

Milwaukee M18 High Output vs Standard REDLITHIUM Batteries - Ohio Power Tool News

Along with Milwaukee’s extensive M18 cordless tool system comes a wide range of battery options to power them. Their REDLITHIUM battery packs are some of the most powerful battery solutions...

news.ohiopowertool.com

 

[rancherbill]

The battery store by me will rebuild the old NiCad batteries, but not the Lithium Ion batteries

Look for another store, or on the net.

 

[finn]

Look for another store, or on the net.

Only one within a hundred miles.

 

[M635_Guy]

Most of the clones, copies, aftermarket, off brand or counterfeit batteries are marginal to junk to dangerous.

Agree

 

[Thedave1164]

I believe the M12 and M18 lines will continue for years to come.

That said, I got hosed on the V28 line.......

I am heavy in the M12 Fuel line, a couple non-fuel tools and have a couple in the M18 Fuel

 

[Poolshark314]

Even if they did stop, people make adapters for other tool batteries to fit each other

 

[dacan23]

The M18 line & batteries has a better chance of longevity than any other brand. Dewalt has made many changes over the same time, Makita had a long run but just switched the XGT to LTX, while XGT is still around it's never going to get more updated batteries. Ryobi has had a long run but its a different segment than Milwaukee. Milwaukee giving into x2 battery packs is a good sign it will continue.

 

[Mb4]

I suspect that batteries for the most popular platforms will be backward compatible for the foreseeable future (20 years). Because adapters can always be sourced, batteries aren't what would render this tool obsolete. Brushless motors are the weakest point. 100 years from now, I have no doubt that an original Skil 77 from the 1960s or even earlier (or old Sawcat, etc.) will still be operational because brushed motors are so easy to fix. Brushless motors, however, can be fixed but their repair is expensive and generally has to be sent out for service.

Nevertheless, I wouldn't worry about M18 tools going obsolete. They're probably the best battery powered tool line on the market and you'll get 20 years of service out of them. I'd love to see an outlet adapter like the Metabo HPT has for the M18 line. When I'm cutting thick metal stock, I have to use a corded Sawzall.

 

[LB-1911]

In the past 2-3 years I have bought a few Milwaukee M18 tools; drill/driver, a couple torque wrenches, grass trimmer. Thinking of purchasing a Milwaukee circler saw. I just turned 65 a a couple months ago and that got me to thinking. Will the M18 batteries still be around 10-15 years from now?

You may want to take a look at the various lighting options available within the M18 line too.
Over the years the Rover Flood Light, Stick Light & Trouble Light w / USB Charging have been very useful.

Jobsite Flood, Tower and Handheld Lighting | Milwaukee Tool

Shop heavy duty and high performance jobsite lights including flood, temporary, handheld, tower and personal lighting.

www.milwaukeetool.com

 

[mike93lx]

The M18 line & batteries has a better chance of longevity than any other brand. Dewalt has made many changes over the same time, Makita had a long run but just switched the XGT to LTX, while XGT is still around it's never going to get more updated batteries. Ryobi has had a long run but its a different segment than Milwaukee. Milwaukee giving into x2 battery packs is a good sign it will continue.

What are the many changes Dewalt has made? I count one, from 18v to 20v.

 

[dnschmidt]

I would be more concerned about whether YOU will still be around in 15 years.

 

[jonshonda]

Pulls crystal ball out of ***, questions are asked, answeres are given. Too bad the crystal ball is full of ****.

 

[finn]

What are the many changes Dewalt has made? I count one, from 18v to 20v.

And that’s no more than Milwaukee made when they obsoleted their (14.4 V?) line.

Dewalt took care of their old 18v customers by introducing the adapter that accommodates the new 20v batteries.

Dewalt also made the new technology Powerstack battery fully compatible with the previous 20v platform.

They did the same thing with the Flexvolt.

Milwaukee is the only Manufacturer that left previous customers high and dry.

 

[Firebrick43]

And that’s no more than Milwaukee made when they obsoleted their (14.4 V?) line.

Dewalt took care of their old 18v customers by introducing the adapter that accommodates the new 20v batteries.

Dewalt also made the new technology Powerstack battery fully compatible with the previous 20v platform.

They did the same thing with the Flexvolt.

Milwaukee is the only Manufacturer that left previous customers high and dry.

Little hard to make an adapter compatible from 18v (nominal after charge, dewalts 20v is actually 18v) to 14.4 volt. Tool would be over volted. Dewalt also left their 14.4v line high and dry. They has not developed their 12v li-ion line like they promised either. That is why I left them. Milwaukee left them in the dust on tools/power. Only now after loosing major market share is dewalt trying to bring out comparable tools.

Also, I say this as a milwaukee fan, Milwaulkee pre m18 line was ****.

 

[finn]

Little hard to make an adapter compatible from 18v (nominal after charge, dewalts 20v is actually 18v) to 14.4 volt. Tool would be over volted. Dewalt also left their 14.4v line high and dry. They has not developed their 12v li-ion line like they promised either. That is why I left them. Milwaukee left them in the dust on tools/power. Only now after loosing major market share is dewalt trying to bring out comparable tools.

Also, I say this as a milwaukee fan, Milwaulkee pre m18 line was ****.

As I said in other posts, I have both Milwaukee and Dewalt tools. I don’t have a favorite, but too many Milwaukee fan boys constantly bashing Dewalt make it difficult to remain.

 

[Firebrick43]

As I said in other posts, I have both Milwaukee and Dewalt tools. I don’t have a favorite, but too many Milwaukee fan boys constantly bashing Dewalt make it difficult to remain.

Your gaslighting. You come to a milwaukee thread, to bash it. You ascertain milwaukee "left users high and dry" on the 14.4v line when dewalt did the same. Then instead of having discourse, you use words like "fan boys" to dismiss others arguments, and then blame them (on a milwaukee thread) for constantly bashing dewalt?

 

[Ton ton]

Even if they did stop, people make adapters for other tool batteries to fit each other

Well said.

 

[finn]

Your gaslighting. You come to a milwaukee thread, to bash it. You ascertain milwaukee "left users high and dry" on the 14.4v line when dewalt did the same. Then instead of having discourse, you use words like "fan boys" to dismiss others arguments, and then blame them (on a milwaukee thread) for constantly bashing dewalt?

Five of my last nine battery tool purchases have been Milwaukee. That’s within the last year or so. Milwaukee buys include three impact wrenches, a high speed fuel ratchet, and a *********** band saw. That’s probably over a thousand dollars worth of Milwaukee, not including batteries and chargers, which is another five hundred.

Most of my Dewalt battery tools are three to four years old. Dewalt purchases within the last year include a compact reciprocating saw, Atomic impact, a random orbital polisher (which Milwaukee didn’t offer at the time), and a leaf blower, all of which probably cost less than half my Milwaukee investment over that time period

Like I said, I’m neutral on Milwaukee, but clearly see the fan boy attitude among some Milwaukee enthusiasts.

FWIW, I also have some cordless Bosch, but haven’t bought any of that brand in the past three or so years.

I also have several legacy corded Milwaukee tools that I am satisfied with, and. a corded Dewalt mitre saw that I got used from my son. Most of my other legacy corded tools are Bosch or Makita.

 

[Firebrick43]

Five of my last nine battery tool purchases have been Milwaukee. That’s within the last year or so. Milwaukee buys include three impact wrenches, a high speed fuel ratchet, and a *********** band saw. That’s probably over a thousand dollars worth of Milwaukee, not including batteries and chargers, which is another five hundred.

Most of my Dewalt battery tools are three to four years old. Dewalt purchases within the last year include a compact reciprocating saw, Atomic impact, a random orbital polisher (which Milwaukee didn’t offer at the time), and a leaf blower, all of which probably cost less than half my Milwaukee investment over that time period

Like I said, I’m neutral on Milwaukee, but clearly see the fan boy attitude among some Milwaukee enthusiasts.

FWIW, I also have some cordless Bosch, but haven’t bought any of that brand in the past three or so years.

I also have several legacy corded Milwaukee tools that I am satisfied with, and. a corded Dewalt mitre saw that I got used from my son. Most of my other legacy corded tools are Bosch or Makita.

Your statement of owning all that Milwaukee equipment is an "appeal to false authority". And you are still using the term "fan boys" to discount others. Still no response of to dewalt abandoning its 14.4V line.