The Milwaukee addiction thread! :)

[All]

My gateway drug into the M12 platform was buying several M12 batteries today, to power a rickety old non fuel version of the 27" blade M12 bandsaw that I bought used on CL several years ago.

Since I'm a Makita addict, I have most of my daily fixes covered.

What I am kind of curious about is finding new "highs" with tools that are useful and only found on the M12 platform.

The M12 Insider comes to mind. What other unique Milwaukee tools exist that are only found on the M12 platform?

I want to create a "nice to have" wish list so that I can be on the look out for any holiday sales for M12 specialty tools that do not duplicate the typical tools that I already have on a different battery platform.

 

[assassin10000]

New subcompact 3/8 vs my older impact driver.



Same model I converted to 3/8 drive a while back. This one is still 1/4 hex tho.

 

[darkzero]

I've had the M12 Subcompact drill & driver set for about 7 months now. Finally got tired of the basic non-auto (insertion) chuck on the impact driver. I have only seen people ask about it but haven't seen anyone actually do the swap. I'm pretty sure I'm the first one to do it.

M12 Subcompact 3450-20 Impact Driver Auto Anvil Swap

Took me this long to finally try cause I didn't have that much hope for being a simple drop in part swap & I was right. Luckily I didn't have to modify much. Parts list for the 3450-20 doesn't list much, not many parts you can buy for it which is no surprise to me these days for MW.

I used the anvil from the M12 Fuel gen3 impact driver 3453-20. I bought all the parts for the complete anvil & chuck assy but in the end all that is needed is the anvil & the retention spring for the locking ball. Can even reuse the original 3.5mm ball.

The M12 Fuel anvil "ears" or whatever they're called are longer than the Subcompact. All that is needed is to reduce the diameter/length. Yeah I know, easier said than done if you don't have a lathe. And of course the anvil is hardened and it's a heavy interrupted cut so carbide is probably a must.

 

[Rusty67]

#LatheEnvy

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

Grinder shaped bottle opener https://www.tradera.com/item/290407/705373370/milwaukee-grinder-shaped-bottle-opener

edit - Photo from website, not actually bought.

 

[Rusty67]

I see you got the latest model with the new Forge battery.

 

[pbon]

I am waiting for the Fuel version.

 

[nutjob]

I just picked up the 18ga brad nailer, 2746-20. All my air nailers are in a blow molded case that has room for fasteners so for simple jobs the case has what I need. The Milwaukee does not have a case so started looking around. Most of the packout type cases are expensive for this use and seemed too heavy duty also.

The DEWALT TSTAK II 13 in. Stackable Flat Top Tool Storage Case https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-...lat-Top-Tool-Storage-Case-DWST17807/204404619 looked like it would work and $24



Fit perfectly! And room to have some brads in a 3D printed case.

Hope this helps others.

Kevin

 

[Rusty67]

Just make sure to mask the case properly and paint that yellow with some red =)

 

[MichaelP]

It's a covert operation.

 

[darkzero]

Nah, paint is so 90s. All the kids these days are dying their stuff now with Rit dye.

 

[Rusty67]

Dang kids, get off my lawn!

 

[All]

Is there a Milwaukee M12 version of a tool that works similarly to the Ryobi Power Cutter / Cordless Scissors or the Makita CXT Cordless Multi-Cutter?

Ryobi Model # FVC51K



Makita Model # PC01Z

 

[Rusty67]

You can use the OMT with a specific blade to do a lot of what I see this tool cutting but I don't think there is a Milwaukee version of this one.

 

[mobiledynamics]

Anybody have used the new M12 Rover Light .

I've been wanting a small worklight...like if you're working inside of a sink cabinet.
The Rover Pocket Light might be better suited for my want.


The New M12 Rover Light looks a bit bulky. Without physically seeing it, but just on pics, I was looking at the bulk of the body housing. I get that some of it was due to adding a packet interference and they have built the body around the enclosure of the battery, so it may not be a bulky as I am ---seeing it in pics--

 

[Smokeshow69]

Got some hd gift cards for Christmas so I used them to buy some much needed gear. Took advantage of the holiday only items to get the pack out set and the smooth jaw pliers!

 

[duneslider]

I am not a Milwaukee guy, I'm a Makita guy, but I had a bunch of work that I needed to do on my jeep that was going to require a lot of quality time with the ratchet. I mean a lot of 10mm bolts in tight spaces and I wasn't looking forward to it. I decided to see what the 12v milwaukee ratchet cost, it was on sale on amazon, $125 for the tool, battery, charger and a cute bag to hold it. Anyway, price was low enough for me to justify it considering I wasn't looking forward to all those little fasteners that had to come out and go back in.

Anyway, I love this freaking tool. I should have bought one years ago. This is just the cheap one, its slow, not super powerful, no bells and whistles, no fuel (whatever the heck that is). Its just a 12v ratchet that goes forward and reverse and I freaking love it. If you don't have one just go get one now! No idea if that deal on amazon is a good deal on not but at $125 it's totally worth it. To be completely honest, I wouldn't want it to go faster or have more power.


Don't pay attention to the mess back there, just finished up the work and piled everything on a table so I can wipe it all down and put it away but had to take a quick picture of the star of the show. I don't know if I will ever buy another milwaukee cordless tool but this little guy is a gem.

 

[Dr.JohnnyFever]

Be careful, they have a tendency to multiply. When I bought the first one around 8 years ago I had buyers remorse and thought "I'm never going to actually use this thing." Boy was I wrong.

 

[Radio Flyer]

I am not a Milwaukee guy, I'm a Makita guy, but I had a bunch of work that I needed to do on my jeep that was going to require a lot of quality time with the ratchet. I mean a lot of 10mm bolts in tight spaces and I wasn't looking forward to it. I decided to see what the 12v milwaukee ratchet cost, it was on sale on amazon, $125 for the tool, battery, charger and a cute bag to hold it. Anyway, price was low enough for me to justify it considering I wasn't looking forward to all those little fasteners that had to come out and go back in.

Anyway, I love this freaking tool. I should have bought one years ago. This is just the cheap one, its slow, not super powerful, no bells and whistles, no fuel (whatever the heck that is). Its just a 12v ratchet that goes forward and reverse and I freaking love it. If you don't have one just go get one now! No idea if that deal on amazon is a good deal on not but at $125 it's totally worth it. To be completely honest, I wouldn't want it to go faster or have more power.


Don't pay attention to the mess back there, just finished up the work and piled everything on a table so I can wipe it all down and put it away but had to take a quick picture of the star of the show. I don't know if I will ever buy another milwaukee cordless tool but this little guy is a gem.

Yup, the ratchets are just a gateway to impacts, and before you know it, lights and inflators are hanging around!

 

[onetonbb74]

Makita guy here too...Those original ratchets (3/8" and 1/4") were my M12 gateway tools...haha! Love using mine so much I ditched the air version immediately.

 

[mikeinri]

Makita guy here too...Those original ratchets (3/8" and 1/4") were my M12 gateway tools...haha! Love using mine so much I ditched the air version immediately.

THIS, 1,000%...

I was a firm M18 guy, vehemently against buying into a second battery platform (I don't care that there are dual chargers, it's the BATTERIES that are expensive and if they're dead, you need more spares!).

But, the M12 ratchets are VERY nice...

Mike

 

[Steel_Rain]

I am not a Milwaukee guy, I'm a Makita guy

Makita guy here too

Makita guy here too…I only have one M12 ratchet thus far. I know it’s not the brushless, extended reach, or newest version, but I used it recently for a maintenance project that required many fasteners in odd spots and it was helpful.

I like my Makita better, but it’s also much larger and feels more powerful but the M12 felt nice and compact:



Any suggestions from M12 users for the best automotive M12 ratchets right now?

 

[nadogail]

All my cordless tools are Makita, my earlier ones of other battery families are unpleasant memories.

 

[Steel_Rain]

All my cordless tools are Makita, my earlier ones of other battery families are unpleasant memories.

Most of mine are too. Gasp! A Makita pic in a Milwaukee thread!

 

[duneslider]

Yup, the ratchets are just a gateway to impacts, and before you know it, lights and inflators are hanging around!

I already have lots of impacts and lights and inflators. No need to add milwaukee 12v versions. I could see adding a long reach 12v ratchet though.

 

[duneslider]

Makita guy here too…I only have one M12 ratchet thus far. I know it’s not the brushless, extended reach, or newest version, but I used it recently for a maintenance project that required many fasteners in odd spots and it was helpful.

I like my Makita better, but it’s also much larger and feels more powerful but the M12 felt nice and compact:



Any suggestions from M12 users for the best automotive M12 ratchets right now?

What does that m12 ratchet you have not do that you need one to do? The fuel versions are slightly more powerful but that isn't what I wanted or needed from mine for automotive work. Almost all the 10mm bolts the m12 broke loose no problem. The few bigger ones I did just required a little bit of loosening by hand and then it handled it no problem. There were a few bigger ones that had easy access that I still used my regular 18v impact on. I didn't run into anything this 12v ratchet could do that I needed it to do. I could see that I could run into an time or two where a long reach would be helpful.

I looked at the bigger makita but it just seemed too big and cumbersome to use a lot. I'm getting old I guess, having to hold onto the bigger makita for a long time just didn't seem like something I was looking for. I'm not saying there is no place for something like that but the little milwaukee is so small and light and easy to use for extended periods.

 

[willf650]

Just picked up an M18 rocket light mainly for grilling purposes. I have an M12 version I've had for several years but this one gets above shoulder height to light up the grill from overhead.

Home Depot still has a few here at the Black Friday Price as leftover stock.

 

[Steel_Rain]

What does that m12 ratchet you have not do that you need one to do?

Extended reach. Maybe a little faster too. I like the profile and the size, but I need a further and more powerful reach.

I looked at the bigger makita but it just seemed too big and cumbersome to use a lot.

I ageee the Makita has more bulk, but it’s been solid for me. I wish they would revise this model with more power and offer an extended reach. They have new right angle impacts on the way.

 

[mikeinri]

Just picked up an M18 rocket light mainly for grilling purposes. I have an M12 version I've had for several years but this one gets above shoulder height to light up the grill from overhead.

Home Depot still has a few here at the Black Friday Price as leftover stock.

Very cool. What was the BF price, and did it come with any batteries?

Mike

 

[willf650]

Very cool. What was the BF price, and did it come with any batteries?

Mike

It was $179 and supposedly this light sells for $250 normally but you know how prices get manipulated for “sales”.

I paid $200 for the M12 version with two 6.0 batteries a few years ago. The M12 is about 1/2 the brightness and 1/3 the physical size so it’s better for throwing in the back of a truck.

 

[mikeinri]

Thank you. I could use a couple of those for firewood splitting / stacking.

Mike

 

[Rusty67]

Ok, I'm gonna say it since I feel like I'm the only one in here with them. I LOVE my M12 right angle impacts. Still waiting for the Gen 2 version to drop but man are they great. A bit top heavy because of the impact being at the ratchet head but I imagine it will always be that way. Impacts need mass to work. I used the hell out of mine and they made everything so much easier. No swing to break the bolt lose? No problem, just let the impact do the work. The heads are obviously a bit bulky for some tasks but if it fits, it ships.

 

[mikeinri]

Does anyone have one of these kneeling pads?




Seems insanely expensive, even by Milwaukee standards.

The bottom is a plastic shell, which seems nice so it doesn't absorb oil, etc. from the bottom. There are four rubber feet to keep it from slipping.

I'm wondering if your legs extend over the edge, and they compress the foam, does that plate lip now cut into your legs?

Mike

 

[danski0224]

Packout tax.

 

[ThatSickRip]

Does anyone have one of these kneeling pads?




Seems insanely expensive, even by Milwaukee standards.

The bottom is a plastic shell, which seems nice so it doesn't absorb oil, etc. from the bottom. There are four rubber feet to keep it from slipping.

I'm wondering if your legs extend over the edge, and they compress the foam, does that plate lip now cut into your legs?

Mike

Im a Husky guy for this one Think I got mine for $20 at one point

 

[darkzero]

Im a Husky guy for this one Think I got mine for $20 at one point

The Husky ones are pretty good IMO. The HF ones even at $3.50 for the last one I bought aren't worth it. The Husky ones are normally just under $17. They were on sale some months ago for like $13-$14 or something but I slept on it. Because of that sale I'm too cheap to buy one at full price, haha, no way in hell would I pay $80 for any kind of kneeling pad! I'll probably end up buying the Husky one for work though.

At Ace they Earth Edge bra d kneeling pads thatbl are similar to the Husky, come in different sizes &two thicknesses. But they cost considerably more than the Husky. MW also a non-packout one for $40 but still too expensive for me.

 

[richfinn]

Makita guy here too…I only have one M12 ratchet thus far. I know it’s not the brushless, extended reach, or newest version, but I used it recently for a maintenance project that required many fasteners in odd spots and it was helpful.

I like my Makita better, but it’s also much larger and feels more powerful but the M12 felt nice and compact:



Any suggestions from M12 users for the best automotive M12 ratchets right now?

Just wait until a bit later this year, a new generation of M12 ratchets are being released, faster, higher torque, slimmer body and optional push button controls (instead of the paddle trigger).

Tightening up a loose understanding of the many Milwaukee M12 Ratchets

Baffled by the litany of Milwaukee M12 Ratchets, and not wanting to watch hours of videos, or wade through involuntary ads, or sift through hoards of Amazon affiliate link commission agendized articles, or toggle back and forth through separate windows and pages and pictures on Milwaukee's...

www.garagejournal.com

I'm waiting to swap out my 3/8" Fuel High Speed for a new long neck version

 

[mikeinri]

Im a Husky guy for this one Think I got mine for $20 at one point

The Husky ones are pretty good IMO. The HF ones even at $3.50 for the last one I bought aren't worth it. The Husky ones are normally just under $17. They were on sale some months ago for like $13-$14 or something but I slept on it. Because of that sale I'm too cheap to buy one at full price, haha, no way in hell would I pay $80 for any kind of kneeling pad! I'll probably end up buying the Husky one for work though.

At Ace they Earth Edge bra d kneeling pads thatbl are similar to the Husky, come in different sizes &two thicknesses. But they cost considerably more than the Husky. MW also a non-packout one for $40 but still too expensive for me.

I have a couple of the Husky ones too. They're great, would be better if they had a cutout handle (or just a small cutout for hanging / storage).

Mike

 

[Rusty67]

Milwaukee still has yet to release a ratchet I find worth it for me. I was really hoping the insider ratchet would be the one but I just didn't see myself using it enough. I guess most of my work is either 1/4" drive or needs an impact. I don't do a lot in between and when I do a standard ratchet is just fine. I'm sure if I did this all day every day I would see the value.

 

[duneslider]

Milwaukee still has yet to release a ratchet I find worth it for me. I was really hoping the insider ratchet would be the one but I just didn't see myself using it enough. I guess most of my work is either 1/4" drive or needs an impact. I don't do a lot in between and when I do a standard ratchet is just fine. I'm sure if I did this all day every day I would see the value.

I was in this boat too and bought it a bit on a whim and love it. I don't do a ton of wrenching, just a few times a year really and frankly I still think it was worth it considering how cheap they are. I use mine mostly on 1/4 drive...