Milwaukee M18 kit vs Bosch 18v kit

[BeaterGoat]

I'll be moving into my first house at the end of the month and will have all kinds of projects. I already have a the vast majority of tools I need. The house is just 5 minutes from my workshop, so lots of big projects will be tackled there. There is one thing I'm missing and need to get: A new cordless 18v drill/driver kit. I have it narrowed down to these two:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001F7BIMG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BQV5IW2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Price is nearly identical, but the Bosch kit comes with the L-BOXX cases, which I think are really neat. I've had good luck with corded power tools from both brands, however I own more Bosch tools at the moment. Strong opinions either way? I don't think I can really go wrong here.

 

[wvrrcarknocker]

More tools in the M18 lineup, I think. Also, the charger included with M18 tools will also charge M12 batteries, if you have any interest in M12 tools. I have used Milwaukee but not Bosch, so I really can't comment on quality comparison, but I am rather happy with how my Milwaukee tools have held up.

 

[BeaterGoat]

I really don't see myself picking up a ton of cordless tools, so I don't think the massive M18 lineup (and it is impressive) is going to sway my opinion. I already have corded heavy duty power tools (circ saws, hammer drills, recip saw, etc) and air tools (impacts, air ratchets, etc), so I'm primarily just concerned with a drill and impact driver.

 

[bigdave39355]

haven't used the milwaukee line, but have 3 drills, 2 impactors and about 10 batteries from bosch 18v litheon lineup. I really like em. 2.0 ah batteries had be had on ebay for about $30-40 bucks.


Dave

 

[TheGrooveking]

I have the complete Bosch 18 volt line and 10 pieces of M18 and even though the Bosch hammerdrill/driver is a great tool the M18 Fuel is a whole step better.

TheGrooveking

 

[stage20]

The bosch line is not even in the same category. Bosch corded tools are pretty good. I pass on the cordless stuff.

 

[HEMI-D]

Go red and don't look back. I beat the snot out of my Milwaukee impacts and they keep coming back for more.

 

[gasaxeman]

I am switching all of my stuff over to Milwaukee.
Just got the M18 fuel sawzall. Nice. Corded power without the cord
I've had or have all of the different brands and I have decided on the M18 and the M12 stuff.
Use the M12 fuel drive with a reamer daily along with the M12 bandsaw.
Great tools.

 

[rice rocket]

Milwaukee tested their Fuel cordless to be more powerful than their corded saw at their demo thing last year.

 

[BeaterGoat]

I will not be purchasing from red's FUEL line or Bosch's new brushless line. I can't justify the cost of brushless tools for my usage. After spending the past few hours reading about these kits, I'm actually looking at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005GT0IXO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Basically trading the L-BOXX storage case for a higher torque impact driver.

 

[rice rocket]

The L-BOXX is cool if you have a Festool-like drawer storage system I've seen some people use/make, I'm not too keen on stacking/unstacking every time I want to get to a tool though.

 

[TheGrooveking]

Well if you are not doing the brushless then go Bosch for the drill driver which is definitely better than M18 2601 or 2602. Bosch High Torque 1/2" impact beats the M18 2663.

TheGrooveking

 

[JVB]

I have owned both sets and prefer my milwaukee. More power and felt better in my hand.

 

[fatboyf150]

Another vote for the Fuel. You will be very pleased.

 

[Spencer333]

I have both kits and yes the fuel is nice but the bosch kit holds up way better! I own a plumbing and heating company and have had to get almost every peice of the milwaki kit fixed where the bosch I haven't had a single one break. Just my .02

 

[diggerrick]

Another Milwaukee fan here. I saved a few bucks with the Milwaukee kit here:
http://www.ruralking.com/milwaukee-...r-1-4-hex-impact-diver-combo-kit-2691-22.html

Plus I got the 12% rebate they were offering that week. i prefer the bag over the box, but opinions are like.....and they all stink except mine!

Like you, I wasn't planning on many additional cordless tools, but I added the M18 fuel 3/8" impact and the M12 ratchet recently. I'll never work on a car without them again. The M18 Fuel 1/2" impact and Sawzall are next, and probably a work light too.

 

[netcaretaker]

I own that exact set from bosch with the locking boxes, I think they are great. It is funny that you have said you are not buying brushless and everyone keeps telling you to buy the fuel. I am sure the brushless have more power and last longer, but the bosch set has enough power and seems to last a very long time.

Good luck!

 

[57JoeFoMoPar]

I will not be purchasing from red's FUEL line or Bosch's new brushless line. I can't justify the cost of brushless tools for my usage. After spending the past few hours reading about these kits, I'm actually looking at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005GT0IXO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Basically trading the L-BOXX storage case for a higher torque impact driver.

You say that now. Wait until you move in and see just how much your tools get used. I'm glad I own professional grade tools despite the fact I'm really just a DIYer and auto hobbyist. When you're doing jobs and want professional results, you need professional tools. As someone who bought my first house a little over a year ago, my tools get worked harder than I ever would have imagined.

My Bosch corded tools are among the finest I own, so if their cordless tools are as nice as their corded, they'd get my vote for sure. But the Milwaukee Fuel line would be my choice now if I were to start over. All my stuff now is 18v DeWalt. They've been very good and rugged.

 

[Banjorear]

The L-BOXX is cool if you have a Festool-like drawer storage system I've seen some people use/make, I'm not too keen on stacking/unstacking every time I want to get to a tool though.

This. I just bought the same Bosch set a few months back. The tools are fine for what you want to do with them and I've used the impact a lot since I've owned it.

At first I thought the L-BOXX were a great idea. I find it a real pain in the **** to have to click and unclick them in order to get the one on the bottom.

That said, the L-BOXXs hold a ton of bits and extra stuff. Certainly a trade off. I guess you can store them like a normal box, but they are larger a standard hard sided box.

I like the traditional cases better, but Milwaukee didn't offer them in the two drill/impact kit so I went with Bosch.

I did buy a M18 Fuel Milwaukee 3/8th impact and plan to get the M18 Fuel 1/2 as well. Milwaukee's impact are smaller and a bit more compact then the Bosch units.

BTW: If you go to Bosch CPO site, this kit sells for $199 with free shipping.

 

[bigdave39355]

the bosch 18v litheon has been out several years, the Milwaukee fuel is pretty recent, wonder why the milwaukee is better?

I've been happy with my bosch tools.

 

[BeaterGoat]

Caretaker - I know. It's like saying I'm interested in buying a Chevy and everyone recommends a Cadillac

57Joe - I am certainly interested in buying quality tools. I always have and I always will. But saying I need to buy brushless to get "professional" tools to do a professional job is simply not accurate. Professionals in all fields have been doing quality work long before brushless tools, or cordless tools for that matter, were invented. Quality of work is a direct reflection of the person using the tools.

 

[MATTDOO]

I've used Bosch for a long time. But when Milwaukee came over here to the UK I recently tried out the new Milwaukee M12 range - albeit lower voltage and Ah the combi twin pack I picked up is doing a swell job - no complaints:

http://www.twwholesale.co.uk/product.php/section/7406/sn/Milwaukee-M12-BPP2B-421C

Well done USA on a great product! Please send more...

 

[diggerrick]

Bottom line is you'll be happy with either. I see that Bosch has a wide variety of cordless products also, but the Milwaukee line still seems to have a wider variety of 18V products.

 

[Banjorear]

I find it odd the amount of praise for their corded tools, but a lot of shiz bombing their cordless stuff. How could tools from the same company be so far apart?

 

[thebeekeeper1]

I can't comment on the Bosch but I bought that exact Milwaukee set a few months ago on Ebay--for $184 shipped. I prefer the plastic case (hate the bag!) and found that too on Ebay--for $17.88 shipped. I am VERY happy. I simply don't use them enough to justify the cost of the FUEL as it was double. Screw that.

I do have a couple of Bosch corded tools and like them well enough, but I like Milwaukee MUCH better. Personal preference I guess.

 

[rtole]

I have a m18 non brushless drill and hex impact kit. The pair has been great. So impressive I have no need for brushless. I have helped a freind build his house. And the hex impact drove almost footlong torx screws very well. It lasted a few hours of hard hammering before the battery needed to be changes. Plenty of time to charge the other battery. My freind went threw his dewalt 20 volt batteries quick and was using the m18 after an hour. This was in 30 below weather with 30-40 mph wind. It was COLD! I use my drill at work for wire brushing all day, and the hex driver for running up lug nuts. They have served me very well. I would buy the fuel stuff if this every breaks, but I dont see the need. It will not disapoint. I have always heard good things about bosh, but never used any. I think your right.....hard to make a bad choice here.

 

[BeaterGoat]

I ended up picking up the Bosch CLPK232-181 kit. I went back and forth between this kit and the comparable Milwaukee kit for a couple weeks. It came down to ergonomics to me. The Bosch tools were simply more comfortable for me. I finally got the chance to put both the drill and impact driver to good use today. Simply put, I am extremely impressed. Lightweight, tons of power, comfortable, and AMAZING battery life. I would recommend this kit to anyone who is ready to upgrade their 18v tools and doesn't want to drop the coin on brushless tools.

 

[yowzer]

I ended up picking up the Bosch CLPK232-181 kit. I went back and forth between this kit and the comparable Milwaukee kit for a couple weeks. It came down to ergonomics to me. The Bosch tools were simply more comfortable for me.

That's why I went with a Bosch set over Makita and Milwaukee recently too. The drill and driver just felt better in my hand. They have all the other cordless tools I'm likely to ever need (Circular and jig saws, impact wrench) too when it comes time to expand the collection.