Milwaukee 18V grip texture / material

[joseywales]

Can someone with these 18V brushless tools, such as the circular saw for instance, comment on the grip. Any tool in that family is fine, if you've had it for a while. I'm ignorant to the Milwaukee line and am not sure how long these have been out.

I was in HD, with my hand on my wallet to purchase some Milwaukee brushless, but was turned off by the material used for the grips. I could be totally off base, but when I saw and felt it, it reminded me of material that had been used on my Remington grooming kit, as well as a 12V travel charger I used to carry in my car. On both of those units, the "rubber" material became...sticky. Really sticky, like the material had melted and everything in the world sticks to it.

I think I used the charger twice and when I pulled it out of my glove box, I thought it had melted or something. There is no way to clean it up and everything then sticks to it. Then my Remington, which sits in a vanity, did the same thing. Humidity? I don't know and certainly don't want to slam the Milwaukee grips, but it seems like the same material.

It's clear that the grips on the standard 18V tools or the 12V are not the same. In fact, I jumped in feet first with M12 Fuel line today, so my itch has been scratched. I wanted small profile for casual use and the 12V should fit the bill. I only wanted the 18V for the circular, but was also thinking about returning the DW drill/impact combo I bought and switch to Milwaukee 18V. The rubber gave me pause.

 

[Bighead38]

I have zero problems with it on any of my m18 tools. When I get them dirty I usually clean them up with wd40.

 

[jshailor1871]

I use m18 tools everyday at work and have 0 complaints about the grip on any of them.

IMO they are pretty comfortable and don't fatigue my hand or grip at all.

John

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[joseywales]

And you’re both talking about brushless, correct?

 

[karl1672]

I have all M18s (circ saw, sawzall, drivers, cut off, etc.) and use them every day. No issues. Clean the grips with tub-o-towels. Overall, no complaints – there all a couple of years old. The rubber around a couple of the batteries are a bit chewed up, but that’s about it.

 

[joseywales]

I have all M18s (circ saw, sawzall, drivers, cut off, etc.) and use them every day. No issues. Clean the grips with tub-o-towels. Overall, no complaints – there all a couple of years old. The rubber around a couple of the batteries are a bit chewed up, but that’s about it.

Thanks. The brushless line, correct?

 

[jshailor1871]

Yes all my tools are brushless.




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[joseywales]

Yes all my tools are brushless.




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Well that's not what I wanted to hear. This was my only excuse for NOT spending more money! Seriously, thanks. It's weird, but when you have a bad experience with something, sometimes you never forget. Geez, do I have tool rubber PTSD

 

[jshailor1871]

Well that's not what I wanted to hear. This was my only excuse for NOT spending more money! Seriously, thanks. It's weird, but when you have a bad experience with something, sometimes you never forget. Geez, do I have tool rubber PTSD

I know man, this site has caused me, and many others, to spend our money on nicer things.

Hope your new tools give you complete satisfaction.


John

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[DFB]

NONE of the grips on ANY of my Milwaukee cordless have EVER been a problem feeling tacky. Over several years ine have been looked up in hot vehicles, stored in cold environments and also been cleaned repeatedly with different cleaners mostly use WD40 and/or soap and water

 

[joseywales]

NONE of the grips on ANY of my Milwaukee cordless have EVER been a problem feeling tacky. Over several years ine have been looked up in hot vehicles, stored in cold environments and also been cleaned repeatedly with different cleaners mostly use WD40 and/or soap and water

Thanks.

BTW, ever google uses for WD. Man, if I could get past the smell, that stuff is the bomb

 

[Bighead38]

Thanks.

BTW, ever google uses for WD. Man, if I could get past the smell, that stuff is the bomb

It’s unbelievable for a Milwaukee tool at the end of a mechanic day. My tools will look abused and a few years old at the end of one day. Quick wipe with the wd40 and they look brand new again. Everyone I’ve showed is amazed how well it works.

 

[Ign]

Yeah, I've not had any problems across dozens (literally, 60+ tools) but I'm almost always wearing gloves and I don't recall ever cleaning up a tool except maybe a quick wipe for fresh, wet oil

 

[joseywales]

Thanks guys. Just note, this degradation did not come from use. These items sat 99% of the time, so it was weird what this material did. My only concern was that the brushless Milwaukee grips might be the same material, but it sounds like that's not so. Thanks for responding

 

[SRX]

I know what material you are referring to. My wife had a "high-end" hair dryer and the rubberized grip on it became so tacky, she threw it out.

Not sure what the specifics are on the material, but it seems that the rubberized grip that deteriorates was on alot of products in the early 2000's.

Haven't encountered it lately?

 

[American Locomotive]

I've worked in a manufacturing facility that used all M18 tools, constantly getting soaked with oil.

The rubber over mold turns into a sticky gooey mess on every single one of those tools. The tools were absolutely disgusting to use. Most of the operators just started peeling the rubber off.

 

[Locker537]

No issues with materials degrading on my M12 and M18 tools.

One warning though, brake parts cleaner will cause marks on the plastic battery housing. Splatter got on one or two of my batteries when being used with the M18 stick light. It's cosmetic, but reminded me how strong brakes parts cleaner actually is on some materials.