I am In need of new power tools. Right now I have a few different companies and I need multiple chargers and batteries. I am looking at the Milwaukee m12 fuel hammer drill and impact to start with. How are these working for those of you that have them? Any feedback would be great? TIA

Depends on what you want to use them for, the M12 line is great but you are not going to run a 1" auger through studs in a prewire with it.

I use both the M12 and M18, M12 for anything that doesn't involve drilling studs and M18 for Prewire, TV mounting, etc.

I also need something where the batteries do not overheat or freeze.
My Ridgid 24V drill is a monster. Plenty of torque.
Where it totally sucks balls is that it can't work in over 100deg environments.
Charging it on a hot day is a no go.

Now that it gets cold, the damn batteries go from fully charged to empty in 2 minutes flat.

So whatever you decide to go with, take a look at operating, charging and storing temperature ranges.

 

I wanted smaller and lighter so I went from all Makita 18v to all Milwaukee Fuel, both 12v and 18v.

I am very happy with all of it. In the 12v category I have the impact driver the multi tool the right angle drill and the light stick. The impact driver doesnt have as much power as the makita did but it is 12v. They do have an 18v version but I was going for smaller size. It still works great though, just a little less power.

In the 18v versions I have the hammer drill (works great, plenty of torgue and power), circ saw, jobsite radio and vacuum....All work great, especially the vacuum.

Advice is to not buy the kits but instead buy individual tools. The reason I did that is because I did not want the chargers that come with the kits but instead purchased the multi-chargers which can charge EITHER 12v or 18v.

They also have a great warranty program if needed.

Jberger is correct, dont over tax the tools. I am finishing a prewire today and all drilling has been done with the 18v 1/2" hammer drill.
I consolidated to the 1 drill where in the makita I had 3. The milwaukee is a drill, a driver and a hammer drill.

I think I only needed to change battery twice.....


Mario, thats a serious flaw with those tools....thats a lot of downtime...

When we prewire, we have a 1" auger on a 36v Bosch and either a 1/2" (usually) or 3/4" on a 20v Dewalt.

If there is a LOT of heavy drilling, or lots of self feed holes to do (which the Bosch can do, but a big heavy drill whipping around when the bit jams hurts like hell) we pull out the Dewalt stud/joist drill (DWD460 I think). It drills anything really easy, and if a bit jams it has a clutch that stops the rotation, thereby saving your wrist, nutsack, or anything else that might be in drill-whipping-around range.

In regards to wrist breaking, I've started using an impact driver with irwin's speed bor bits. The impact action keeps a nail or a knot from yanking the drill out of your hand and bending your wrist.

I still pull out the corded right angle for stacks of studs, but the M18 Impact is great for 1 or 2 stud holes.

The new Fuel M18 Hammer driver has an optional 2nd hand grip that pops on for better grip, but I'm sold on the impact driver for boring holes.

I saw an electrician once doing that using the Bosch Daredevil bits.....I thought it was strange to use the impact to drill holes, but I think I'm going to try that the next time we go out. Thanks for the tip.

Irwin Speed Bore bits and 18V Milwaukee hammer-drill. If it's likely that it'll smack me in the head or try to break my wrist, I put the handle on it.

:D

[Link: festoolproducts.com]

Seriously! this thing is a TANK. LOVE the electronic clutch that senses that the bit is going to whip around and stop the bit immediately. Batteries last FOREVER...and to have a right angle attachment right there for tight holes has been absolutely amazing...Only even more amaizing is the eccentric bit...i was actually going to sell it to help pay for the kit but that little attachment ive used more then i ever thought i will and easily is my favorite attachment.

if you want to meet up sometime and check it out just let me know!

Dude, when did you start using Festool? I had no idea you liked their stuff ;-)

Are these the bits you use? [Link: irwin.com]

If so, how do they hold up? I used them when they first came out and as long as they where sharp, they were good, but they became dull quickly.

for now, I only use ship auger bits. my choice for bits [Link: milwaukeetool.com]

They seriously need to start giving him commission.  Oddly, all the Festool stuff in the world couldn't get that tree off that Jeep…  


Too Soon?  :)
 

i have a love hate relationship with those speed bores..seems like they dull way to easy, especially if you are going through Floors with plywood. As long as they stay in 2x4's they seem to be ok.

They do dull easy, but you can touch them up with a grinder or file.
I'm not looking to keep them forever since I'm using them in an impact driver. Keep expecting the impact driver to shatter the shaft on one, but they just keep on going.