Cons: Driver drill weaker than some. Batteries can be awkwards for small hands.
The Bottom Line: Super high quality tools, even the bag is better than the competitors'!
kramnnim's Full Review: Milwaukee 18 Volt Circular Saw, Driver-Drill, Sawz...
I work full time doing various construction, remodeling, and metal roofing jobs, and corded tools can be a major hassle. It's just not practical to drag a cord around wherever you go. I considered several brands of cordless tools, but I chose Milwaukee, and I'm glad I did!
I'll start with the batteries. They are 2.4 amp hour nickel cadmium batteries, and are made in Japan. I like their shape and design: rectangular, so they fit in toolboxes nicely without wasting space; they do not have protruding stems that stick out and get in the way, like some other brands (DeWalt, for example). They last just as long, if not longer, than my coworker's DeWalt batteries. The release buttons on the batteries can be awkward to remove at times, people with smaller hands may find it difficult to remove the batteries from the tools.
The "driver-drill" is made in Germany, and feels very smooth and precise. The battery is "reversible" , most of the time I find myself using the battery in the "normal" position, but when screwing into ceilings and into cramped places, the "reversed" position is often more comfortable. The drill's highest speed is only 1500rpm, I wish it would be at least 1800. The drill doesnt seem to have quite as much torque as the newer styled DeWalt drills.
The Sawzall is alot like Milwaukee's corded Sawzalls, hefty and solid. The quick-change blade chuck is easy to use, and is all metal, no plastic to break. You need an allen wrench to adjust the shoe, a toolless design like on Milwaukee's Hatchet would have been nice.
The worklight is just a worklight, Milwaukee needs to make the beam adjustable from spot to flood.
The circular saw is a pleasure to use, ergonomic, fast, and very smooth. In my opinion, it's the best tool in the set; ALOT better than the poorly designed DeWalt saw. It's well balanced, and the base is aluminum, not cheap stamped steel.
The battery charger does it's job well, and charges dead batteries in about an hour. It's wall mountable, too. It even has a sturdy plastic tie (not just a twist tie) to keep the cord from tangling.
The bag surprised me, I was expecting a cheap worthless bag, but it's just the opposite. It's made of thick, tough cloth, and has pouches and pockets inside and out. No hinges or hasps to break or come apart, and the bag fits perfectly behind the seat of my extended cab compact pickup truck. I love how I can open the bag and get to my tools without having to get the bag out of the truck, something impossible to do with one of DeWalt's huge bulky plastic cases.
Overall, I'm very happy with this Milwaukee tool set, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for high quality tools that feel good in your hands and get the job done.
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