Trying to decide between DeWalt Flexvolt and Milwaukee M18 (& Fuel)?

[spent]

I have about 6 Milwaukee M18 & Fuel tools, but I also have 3 DeWalt 20v tools and 3 or 4 Makita 18v tools. I would really like to stick with one (yea right!) from here on out and the Flexvolt has gotten my attention lately. However, Milwaukee also is making it intriguing with 9 amp hour batteries.

Anyone with any experience with both of these platforms or simply has an opinion that is well researched would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[DeliveryGuy]

The new Flexvolts are 9 amp hour as well, when used on 20v tools. The Flexvolt grinder is a beast. Probably the best cordless grinder. Only the large carpentry tools make the Flexvolt stand out besides the grinder. If I bought my own cordless stuff, I'd probably buy Milwaukee because they seem to chatter to the mechanical trades rather than just carpenters.

If you have no use for a cordless grinder, table saw or 12" miter saw, then go with Milwaukee.
However, my 20v 3 ah and 4 ah batteries have been going for over 4 years, and they still work well. So, they are high quality batteries. I just feel milwaukee has more unique stuff I'd want, and they're compact tool line up is way better than Dewalt's.

 

[topp64]

I would stick to the brand/platform you have the most tools, unless you're not happy with the way their tools perform. Personally, everything I own is M18 Fuel but from what I hear you can't go wrong with Makita. No experience with Dewalt Flexvolt, but I'm not impressed with their 18 and 14.4 volt tools.

 

[spent]

Thanks for the replies. Part of me (does the embedded microchip with my credit card account count?) wishes I would've stuck with owning Black & Decker and other cheap tool brands that I was accustomed to for 20 plus years. Now I'm addicted to buying the newest, coolest tool and that Flexvolt Grinder is one them along with the cordless miter saw. I need to stay off this forum for awhile while I go to rehab for this addiction. Thanks again!

 

[racintj]

Competition is awesome. It makes everyone step to the plate...At least if they want to stay in the game anyway. @DeliveryGuy is right on. Red, Blue-green and Yellow are all making great tools. This is great for someone just starting their cordless collection or has a single color/brand.
The biggest expense to our cordless fetish can be the batteries. Especially if you have to have all the colors. For someone like you, and me, it kinda *****. We're always chasing the best, so we need all the batteries and chargers.
Above is correct, grinder - no doubt, the FlexV is best. Milwaukee probably has more tools on a single platform and has more specialty stuff. Makita compact stuff is great. Impact wrenches - Milwaukee or Makita - and they both have some great mid-sized stuff.
In time, I'm sure Milwaukee will have a grinder that lives up to the new 9Ah battery they just released. I'm sure DeWalt will continue to beef up their platform, along with Makita. The more I type, the more I realize that I'm not much help. It really depends on the tools you want to purchase.
Can you give us the next 3 tools you may purchase. This will help is better help you. I'm sorry for being no help.

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[spent]

racintj, you made feel better by letting me know I'm not alone, that there's other junkies out there! Sad part is there's really no tool that I need as I pretty much have all the one's I see myself using so it has come down to what tool could I use a better edition of? The grinder comes to mind, but I do have a brushless Makita that probably serves my purposes just fine. I know that my M18 6 1/2" circular saw would be a candidate to upgrade as it isn't the top of the line, but I must say I love using it. Anyway, I could go on and on, but I probably should just take a step back and enjoy the tools I do have. Thanks again!

 

[Firebrick43]

Been using the hell out of my 2731 7-1/4" Milwaukee fuel saw with 9 amp hour battery. It's awesome. Just today cut (2)14 step stair stringers, a dozen 2x4's, and two rips on a piece of duraplate(wabash nationals steel/plastic/steel composite trailer sides) all on one charge.

 

[kctyphoon]

The original flexvolt pack is only 2.0 amp hours when used on 60v tools, and 6.0 amp hours when used on 20v. The NEW packs are 9.0's and are about $200 a piece. Dewalts miter saw also requires 2 packs to be cordless.. if you buy flexvolt tools, you MUST buy the batteries and charger.. they are not backwards compatible. However any M18 battery with work on any M18 tool. If you have M18 batteries and chargers, all you need are bare tools. Also - nobody offers sales and deal with free batteries and tools like Milwaukee does, never to the same extent. That's just a fact.

The thing I don't understand about the flexvolt stuff is just "WHY?".. if they are still on par with the M18 tools - then WHY create yet ANOTHER platform and force people to buy more batteries and chargers, to use on tools that are on par but DONT LAST AS LONG as the 18v stuff they are competing with?? In my eyes it's just marketing. People look and gawk at the 60v label and assume it's the worlds strongest cordless stuff.. what's next? Flexvolt string trimmer? So they can compete with their own 40v trimmer? And 20v trimmer??? It just makes no sense to me.

 

[spent]

To make matters worse I can buy a the Flexvolt combo kit with the impact driver, hammerdrill, Flexvolt battery and 20v battery with charger for $210! Why do they do this to me? I think this is on sale for $329 at HD.

 

[Ericgst]

The original flexvolt pack is only 2.0 amp hours when used on 60v tools, and 6.0 amp hours when used on 20v. The NEW packs are 9.0's and are about $200 a piece. Dewalts miter saw also requires 2 packs to be cordless.. if you buy flexvolt tools, you MUST buy the batteries and charger.. they are not backwards compatible. However any M18 battery with work on any M18 tool. If you have M18 batteries and chargers, all you need are bare tools. Also - nobody offers sales and deal with free batteries and tools like Milwaukee does, never to the same extent. That's just a fact.

The thing I don't understand about the flexvolt stuff is just "WHY?".. if they are still on par with the M18 tools - then WHY create yet ANOTHER platform and force people to buy more batteries and chargers, to use on tools that are on par but DONT LAST AS LONG as the 18v stuff they are competing with?? In my eyes it's just marketing. People look and gawk at the 60v label and assume it's the worlds strongest cordless stuff.. what's next? Flexvolt string trimmer? So they can compete with their own 40v trimmer? And 20v trimmer??? It just makes no sense to me.

Flexvolt batteries can be charged on any Dewalt 20v charger. The only limitation is that flexvolt tools require flexvolt batteries, all 20v tools can use 20v batteries or flexvolt batteries, not nearly as bad as some people make it out to be. The batteries are not nearly as expensive when purchased with tools.

I don't have any 9ah batteries yet but am waiting for a sale on the string trimmer, it is regularly $270 with a 9ah battery.

I have the grinder and 12" sliding miter saw and am very happy with them. I will wait until deals come up with the circular saw as well.

 

[heffneil]

I bought the 18v fuel surge and the thing is super heavy and too powerful for me honestly. Also I like my 12v dewalt impacter. It has three lights around the head vs the one on the Milwaukee. It's far superior.


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[racintj]

Is there marketing behind a bigger number like "60V"? Of course, and why wouldn't they. Most people think: "Oh, bigger is better" time and time again. Who can blame them?
At the same time, they may be on to something. No doubt, a lot of the FlexVolt tools are awesome, grinder for sure. Also, electricians, help me out here. More current (Volts), Less Amps. Isn't this the case. Could this be a positive as well?

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[Voi]

... all 20v tools can use 20v batteries or flexvolt batteries....

There is a video review online somewhere that shows some 20V tools that won't accept Flexvolt batteries. I'll see if I can find it.

 

[KMdef9]

Also, electricians, help me out here. More current (Volts), Less Amps. Isn't this the case. Could this be a positive as well?

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Current is amps.

If resistance is constant, no. Voltage and current are proportional.

And more current is better, power wise.

 

[KMdef9]

To the OP:

Nothing wrong with having multiple platforms IMO. I have 4 myself (not counting at work). It's what saves me money. I just buy a new tool or replace as needed.

Like Racintj said, what tools do you have? What about them makes you want to replace them? Any new additions you plan on adding?

I'm not sure who has the most cordless tools to offer, but 99.9% don't NEED a whole line. I'd worry more about who offers the specific/specialty tool YOU need.

 

[Ign]

I bought the 18v fuel surge and the thing is super heavy and too powerful for me honestly. Also I like my 12v dewalt impacter. It has three lights around the head vs the one on the Milwaukee. It's far superior.


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I don't follow this at all. The M18 Surge is quite svelte and petite as 18V impact drivers go.

I don't know what heffneil's frame of reference is or what he's thinking, but I'd encourage anyone reading that particular post to reserve judgment. Me personally - - I think he's off his rocker.

 

[heffneil]

I don't follow this at all. The M18 Surge is quite svelte and petite as 18V impact drivers go.



I don't know what heffneil's frame of reference is or what he's thinking, but I'd encourage anyone reading that particular post to reserve judgment. Me personally - - I think he's off his rocker.

I did a project which was driving cabinet anchor style screws into durarock. I did it the first time with the dewalt 12v and it went flawlessly. Surge on low stripped them all out and everything I put in that hole after it on low. It's like driving a clumsy car you have no idea how hard this thing is driving no steering control. I grabbed the even svelter dewalt and my wrist was happy and succeeded. And the light *****


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[Ign]

I did a project which was driving cabinet anchor style screws into durarock. I did it the first time with the dewalt 12v and it went flawlessly. Surge on low stripped them all out and everything I put in that hole after it on low. It's like driving a clumsy car you have no idea how hard this thing is driving no steering control. I grabbed the even svelter dewalt and my wrist was happy and succeeded. And the light *****


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Ok thanks for clarifying you're comparing the 12V market to the 18V market.

 

[buckwheat_la]

It is tough because you see all the different features and you see advantages of each brand. They are all good. Which one feels best to you? Because there is no smoking gun answer that is going to make the decision for you...

 

[kctyphoon]

I always tell people to invest in a system, not just the first tool you buy... if you have Milwaukee batteries, what's the flexvolt offering that Milwaukee doesn't (that you'd honestly consider buying), to warrant buying into another platform. The 12v platforms are something else to consider, since most people wind up buying into both (with Milwaukee anyway)..

By all means, buy what you like.. but money spent on more batteries could have easily gotten you more bare tools, given these batteries are getting crazy in price.. invest wisely into something that fits within the type of work you do. Many tools are the same, but each line offers things the other doesn't.

 

[heffneil]

I bought a **** on of the fuel milkshake stuff and I don't regret it. It just has a specific purpose and it's much more industrious than the small projects I am doing at home for now. The 12v is more my style. But I bought the 18v blower and it's great even though it got poor reviews. I'm happy not to choke on exhaust. The hammer drill that same with my surge set is massive and hugely powerful. I don't regret my purchases but if I had more 3" screws to drive surge all the way.


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[spent]

Enjoyed reading all the advice and experiences. My take from everyone else's takes is that when possible try to stick to one brand if there's not an exceptional need for another brand's tool due to it's uniqueness or simply overwhelming evidence of a better tool, all in effort to be fiscally responsible when considering the cost of batteries. I do try to find the best of each brand and have done a pretty good job at that, but I do now have the 3 impact drivers. Anyway, thanks again for everyone's help!

 

[RCsGarage]

Just my .02 but different tools feel / work different so I can never stick with the same brand. I tried back in the days with DeWalt but they were slow to catch up.

So now I have Milwaukee, DeWalt and Bosch power tools.