Milwaukee drill replacement

[bluedog225]

My first Milwaukee cordless drill lasted about 10 years. I worked the thing to death. When it died, I bought another just like it. This one lasted six years. It had one trip back to the factory for a repair. And yesterday it died.

I really appreciated the power of the drill. Reliability aside. I understand the M28 platform has been discontinued.

What would you guys recommend that might have the same grunt?

The only battery platform I’m really invested in at this point is Ryobi (and Ego). I like the wide assortment of affordable tools they offer. But they don’t have the power for the heavy jobs.

Thanks

 

[LopezBart]

By heavy job, can you describe what you're actually doing w/ this drill? I've had pretty good luck w/ my M18 Fuel hammer drill and a high output battery ; the next step up seems to be the Hole Hawg or Super Hawg, which are right angle drills and real monsters. The problem w/ all of these powerful drills is hanging on to them; the drill becomes really hard to control if/when the bit grabs.

 

[tarmy]

HD has some good deals on drill/driver and impact sets right now. 10 years of what looks like hard use has earned you a new on. I am an M18 Fuel guy…get yourself a Christmas present OP…a serious GJer would…

 

[bluedog225]

Agreed. The old M 28, the original, would about break your arm. The replacement M 28 had been tamed considerably. But you could still lock out the safety and really push in on something stubborn.

The hole hog was a POS they should’ve recalled. The super hog is pretty magnificent, but I think it weighs in at 13 pounds. It has its place. As to the Bosch, SDS and SDS Max drills.

I’m looking for a heavy cordless drill. I’m sinking lots of 3 to 6 inch Simpson SDS screws for example. Or drilling half inch holes through multiple timberstrand studs. And modest holes and concrete walls

Maybe the M18 is the way to go. Seems like the voltage went in the wrong direction.

 

[LopezBart]

Agreed. The old M 28, the original, would about break your arm. The replacement M 28 had been tamed considerably. But you could still lock out the safety and really push in on something stubborn.

The hole hog was a POS they should’ve recalled. The super hog is pretty magnificent, but I think it weighs in at 13 pounds. It has its place. As to the Bosch, SDS and SDS Max drills.

I have the Milwaukee SDS Plus drill... plenty powerful and fast drilling for moderately sized holes. No trouble drilling 5/8" holes in granite or concrete for example.... The SDS drills are far better for drilling in concrete than a 1/2" hammer drill.

I’m looking for a heavy cordless drill. I’m sinking lots of 3 to 6 inch Simpson SDS screws for example. Or drilling half inch holes through multiple timberstrand studs. And modest holes and concrete walls

Maybe the M18 is the way to go. Seems like the voltage went in the wrong direction.

I drove lots of 3" SDS screws with my 1/4" M18 impact driver. This is actually more comfortable that using the drill, because there's so much less torque feedback to the user. The M18 Fuel drill seems ample for what you're doing, but like they say, one test is worth a thousand (not so ) expert opinions.

 

[tarmy]

On the Simpson screws…M18 Surge is the tool you want…just did over 1000 of them on my deck.

 

[Shiftless]

I’m sure the M18 surge is a wonderful tool.
But I had no trouble at all sinking several dozen 4 inch long timber lock screws when I was building 2 big raised beds using treated 2x6s with 4x4s in the corners. I used my 10 year old M12 fuel impact driver and a 3.0 battery.

 

[jar944]

I'd just get a new (and on sale) m18 drill.

 

[Rusted Nut]

I’m looking for a heavy cordless drill. I’m sinking lots of 3 to 6 inch Simpson SDS screws for example. Or drilling half inch holes through multiple timberstrand studs. And modest holes and concrete walls.

For driving 3” to 6” screws you should have an impact driver, not a drill. Impact will be faster and last longer.

 

[dnschmidt]

Agreed. The old M 28, the original, would about break your arm. The replacement M 28 had been tamed considerably. But you could still lock out the safety and really push in on something stubborn.

The hole hog was a POS they should’ve recalled. The super hog is pretty magnificent, but I think it weighs in at 13 pounds. It has its place. As to the Bosch, SDS and SDS Max drills.

I’m looking for a heavy cordless drill. I’m sinking lots of 3 to 6 inch Simpson SDS screws for example. Or drilling half inch holes through multiple timberstrand studs. And modest holes and concrete walls

Maybe the M18 is the way to go. Seems like the voltage went in the wrong direction.

If you're driving SDS screws wouldn't an impact wrench be the first choice? That's what I use.

 

[bluedog225]

I’ll give the impact a shot. Thanks

 

[tarbellb]

Interested in your feedback and review of a new M18 Fuel drill/driver set

Sounds like you push your tools hard which I can respect and do the same.

I feel like my 1st gen Fuel had less gov'n and I can push it harder then my newest Fuel tools?


Keep us posted, they certainly have made some power advancements, but at the cost of more tech and sensor protection

 

[sparky 1971]

I bought this one not too long ago and am not impressed. It does the job, but seems underpowered compared to the M18 Fuel I bought when the Fuel was the new thing.

M18 FUEL™ 1/2" Hammer Drill/Driver | Milwaukee Tool

Discover the M18 FUEL™ 1/2" Hammer Drill - powerful, compact, and safe for all your drilling needs. Perfect for dense materials.

www.milwaukeetool.com

I'm also going to concur that the impact driver is the way to go. My most used tool is my M12 Fuel but I also have two M18's. One is the original Surge and I don't think it would work well with the big screws. It works very well for what I used it for; about 30 pounds of 2-1/2" deck screws and it's a lot quieter than a regular impact but has nowhere near the balls. I've also read that there is a new model Surge, but I wouldn't want to risk it not doing what I bought it for.