Customer Reviews for Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Belt Sander W/M18 12.0 ah Battery

Purchased this to link up with my m18 16” chainsaw. Works awesome! Gives me plenty of runtime to get things done around the yard. Liking everything about this battery.

I recently bought this 3”x18”belt sander and was really disappointed when a HD12 battery was used up in less than 20mins. In order to finish my project I used my orbit sander instead which last 45 minutes before changing a 6amp battery. I’m a big fan of Milwaukee’s tools however I think they needs to improve on this belt sander.

Read all reviews before FROM MILWAUKEE’s WEBSITE BEFORE you buy!!! Not sure why Home Depot’s reviews are so different. My batteries life match Milwaukees website reviews. I have two of the 12Ah batteries. Use for yard tools. BOTH of them are charging only to 3 outta 4 bars! I have some large Ridgid batteries that I bought well before I got my Milwaukees and no problems with them. My Milwaukee 12Ah batteries failed prematurely and so did the MAJORITY of the 12Ah batteries on Milwaukees website! Read all the reviews for yourself. Milwaukee should replace these for all of us. $250 plus tax is close to $100 a year EACH to own these. Expensive lesson.

Used this sander for the first time the other day and it has a lot of power. Was using it on an old table that was painted and it took it right off. With that kinda power it does use alot of battery life but that is to be expected

Bought this for a project with high hopes. Used this to hog down glue that was on floor joist after removing decking. Does eat batteries, but it works better than any corded I’ve used. Look forward to finding more products to use it on.

Not good the 12.0 has a 2star rating on Milwaukee’s own site. I suspect it’s actually lower. They would not post my review and I’m sure there’s plenty of other bad reviews they would not post. It’s probably more like an honest 1.5 stars. I’m a carpenter of 23 years a small business owner/remodel contractor and love Milwaukee tools and run them exclusively out of my work van. Unfortunately, I’m going to have to diversify my platform with another brand for high demand tools.

These batteries are stupid expensive and you rarely get one with any tools, they are convenient though but cost prohibitive to the extreme.

I’m a Milwaukee fan. I’ve been using a belt sander makita so far. I was excited to try this new cordless option despite the price. What a surprise - I bought it today and I see that the sanding belt can’t stay in place and keeps sliding towards the outside? Who designed this? I tried multiple sanding belts and I had many belt sanders I’m the past. Never happened to me. I’m so disappointed. I wasted $250+ on this. I’ll think twice about blindly purchasing Milwaukee tools in the future.

I’m a Milwaukee fan. I’ve been using a belt sander makita so far. I was excited to try this new cordless option despite the price. What a surprise - I bought it today and I see that the sanding belt can’t stay in place and keeps sliding towards the outside? Who designed this? I tried multiple sanding belts and I had many belt sanders I’m the past. Never happened to me. I’m so disappointed. I wasted $250+ on this. I’ll think twice about blindly purchasing Milwaukee tools in the future.

The Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Belt Sander offers more useful features than my 3"x21" corded unit does. Due to it's lighter weight, smaller size and cordless design, it is more maneuverable, manageable and controllable in sanding operations. I find it easier to obtain my desired results without over sanding my projects! The convenient dust bag works well, but my shop vac does pull in more sawdust. The sliding front grip handle gives me more options in tight places. The LED lights help when I am sanding in shadow areas and the variable speed gives me better control when clsing in on the finished project. Overall, find the Milwaukee Cordless belt sander a well built, strong performer with well executed design features!!

This belt sander is another addition to the Milwaukee M18 Fuel line of cordless tools. It will find most use for quick spot sanding when, with the provided dust bag attached, it would be cumbersome having a cord and hose attached. With a battery installed, the weight and balance of the tool is comfortable and, with the movable handle in the forward position it falls readily to hand. (The rearward position of the handle is of limited use as one cannot wrap one’s hand around the handle due to interference with part of the tool enclosure). A small dust bag is supplied, as well as a universal adapter for connection of a shop vacuum (or dust collection system) hose. When hooked up to a shop vac, there is no discernible dust escaping the tool. Both the adapter and the dust bag incorporate a spring-loaded latch to prevent undesired disconnection (although the hose end of the adapter is merely a friction fit). The 3 inch by 18-inch belt is easily changed out after operating the lever on the right side of the tool. An 80 grit (coarse) belt is supplied with the tool and additional belts are readily available for various grits and intended material use. A speed adjustment know is located on the right side of the tool with five (5) detented positions to vary the speed over the tool’s range (700-1350 FPM), although there is no indication if the control varies the speed linearly or not. If one has large digits, turning the control by hand may be difficult requiring using a small object to advance the thumbwheel. The operating trigger falls readily to hand and is provided with a lock to maintain it in the on position. No lockout position is provided to prevent unintended operation. Two (2) LED work lights are provided (at the front and right side) which illuminate when the trigger is operated. The tool can be used with any of the M18 Fuel batteries, however after using the tool on and off for about a half hour (mostly on), a 5 Ah battery discharged from “Four Bars” to “One Bar” on the battery’s integral indicator. The belt tracking adjustment was easy to use, however during use of the tool it had a tendency to “wander” and required frequent readjustment. Apparently Milwaukee does not intend for this tool to be used in a fixed, upside-down position (for fine detailing, for instance) as it is difficult (though not impossible) to clamp the tool in this position while still having access to the trigger. I tried the tool out on both wood and metal with acceptable results with both. Whether or not this tool makes it into your inventory will depend upon whether your typical use can accommodate the battery life and tracking adjustment frequency. The tool comes with a five (5) year warranty against defects in materials and/or workmanship.

Milwaukee keeps churning out great battery-operated tools, and this M18 Cordless Belt Sander (Model 2832-20, Made in China) is no exception. It's well-balanced and powerful, but the cordless convenience really makes it shine. The adjustable front handle lets users position the grip for comfort, and the trigger lock reduces fatigue on the index finger. Belt installation and adjustment are easy, and the belt tracks well under load. The variable speed feature is great, but I found the motor changes speed slightly during use for no particular reason. The smaller belt size (3”x18”) provides exactly the same surface area (~16 1/8 sq-in) for sanding as my older 3x21” sander, thanks to the smaller diameter front roller on this unit (and others). That smaller roller also means I get sand about an inch closer to a vertical obstruction. I noticed the unit does not sit flat on my work surface; it rolls slightly to the exhaust side of the unit, but that's easy to compensate for during use. Dust collection with the bag has been impressive – I collected quite a bit of the dust when sanding my deck recently. The bag has a nice locking feature so the bag does not blow off during use but still rotates freely. The hose adapter has the same lock but of course the hose can still slip off the adapter. As usual, Milwaukee tools are more expensive than others, but not outrageously so – and the extra quality shows. If you want that quality and need the cordless convenience, I recommend this tool.

This is a really nice belt sander. It has plenty of power to cut down rough wood. Variable speed lets you control the amount you want to remove. two led lights one on the side and on in front lights up the work piece real nice. The description said it had all day run time on a battery. I tested it out for about ten minutes at different speeds and loads and it was still full. come with a dust bag and an adapter for a hose. great tool!

This Milwauke M18 Fuel cordless belt sander, like every Milwaukee Fuel tool I've ever tried, is very well engineered and constructed. It's heavy-duty and is able to remove lots of material but can also be used for finer sanding with different grit belts and speed adjustment. I really appreciate that the top handle is retractable, allowing you to get very flush to any vertical surface you might be working near. It slides back and forth, for best clearance and/or grip. It has all the features you might want - adjustable belt tracking, a dust bag, a vacuum hose port with adapter, speed control, etc. No more getting the power cord caught in the belt! Not that I've ever done that on my corded sander :)

Aside from being a great quality Milwaukee power tool, this belt sander is easier to use than my older one (especially since it has no cord), adjustable pommel and good weight. It also has a lock-on button which allows continuous mode without holding down the trigger. Replacing and adjusting the 3 x 18" belt is also very easy. You can adjust the speed and the tool has two LEDs to see forward and to the right which is extra helpful when sanding. This sander has great power and the dust collection is exceptional. Hardly any dust escaped. Accepts any M18 batteries. This belt sander is made in China.

The Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Belt Sander has a substantial feel to it, weighing over seven pounds. It has an attractive design with plenty of easy to use features. I love that it’s lightweight compared to a corded sander, which I always despised having to take the time to drag out an extension cord and connect. The cord has always been bothersome to me and with this 18-Volt Lithium battery, no more cords needed. The safety and trigger work easily and the machine has a good amount of power. The LED lights up when the trigger is engaged and can easily be seen. It comes with a 3”x18” belt but not the battery. Milwaukee makes it so one battery can be used on multiple products so I don’t have a stack of batteries laying around. As with any sanding project, it’s wise to use face protection. The variable speed as a great feature. Definitely an asset in my tool box. Comes with a 5 year warranty. Made in China

The Cordless Milwaukee Belt Sander is a great addition to my other M18 tools. Like the others, it is professional grade and does the same work as my old corded tools. This sander uses 3” x 18” belts which are easy to change with the tool-less release lever. A nice feature is the variable speed dial mounted on the handle and the lock-on button if needed. It also has two LED’s to help light the work which is convenient. The collection bag seems to catch most of the sawdust. It does comes with a vacuum hose adapter as well which I have not yet used. On my projects so far I am very impressed with the sander’s ability to perform, and it looks like it is time to retire my old corded sander! I have found on the Milwaukee tools that if the M18 battery gets hot it will quit working until cooled down. I have only had this happen once, so I do carry a spare battery just in case.

I'm a homeowner / DIY'er, not skilled trades, so this review comes from that standpoint. The Milwaukee M18 belt sander is working really well for me; the only issue I have is the tool weight - it's about 7 ½ pounds without a battery. Nice for doing sanding on floors or work that is underneath you. When I ran the sander over our outside house wood trim at a 90-degree angle it was a bit of a trudge. (YMMV). The good news is that, in my application, the sander took off the old paint very quickly indeed so there was no need to hold the tool vertical for any length of time. You'll want to wear hearing protection - the Milwaukee doesn't seem to be any louder than the other sanders I've used, but it's plenty loud enough. A breathing mask and eye protection are also recommend - even with the included dust catch bag attached there's enough wood/paint dust not caught to get your attention. Since I wear eyeglasses, I just put on a full faced clear face mask to protect my eyes and face. For hearing protection, I used noise cancelling “over the ear” earphones with music being played via Bluetooth. A good combination – except that in the summer heat I had to stop occasionally to wipe off the perspiration. I imagine that a Pro wouldn’t want to take the time for that and might prefer earplugs. Fit and finish of the tool is excellent. No tools are required for changing sanding belts and setting the tracking of the belt is a simple matter of turning a knob. The manual covers those features. The dust catch bag, as noted, catches some but not all of the material removed from the work; a vacuum does a better job but there's still material released into the air or work area. A "universal" fit vacuum adapter is included in the box. Since I was working outside on this job I didn’t bother with hooking up a vacuum hose. Twin LED lights light up the work when the trigger is engaged. The tool also offers a variable speed (again, a simple rotating button handles that chore). There's a trigger lock button which I was really glad to see - holding the tool at a 90-degree angle to sand siding trim is easier when you don't have to hold down the trigger simultaneously. One really nice feature is the adjustable front hand grip - it can be slid back (which is how I store the tool in a tool bag) and then slid forward to offer a really good grip for my forward hand. (No tool bag comes with this kit). I haven't noticed any bogging down of the sander; I tend to guide the sander and let the belt do the work. You'll want to stock up on sanding belts; obviously how long any individual belt lasts depend upon the work being done, but the tool only comes with one (1) belt. The tool only works with 3" by 18" belts. The product overview notes that a HO 6.0 M18 battery will run "all day"; I ran the sander on an XC 5.0 M18 battery and, in my job of sanding the house trim, had no issues with the battery running low on power. I didn't time the minutes/hours I had the sander running because it was frequently stopped so that I could use a paint scraper, move my location, etc. (Note that no battery is included with this kit). Although the Milwaukee belt sander is targeted towards professionals, I don't think that it's out of place when being used by a homeowner/DIY'er - the tool works hard, and it works well. Since sanding is one of those chores that I really dislike I'll take all the help I can get. This one got me through a really unpleasant job and I'm giving it high marks. I like tools that resolve problems for me. There's a 90-day return warranty on the tool, and Milwaukee guarantees the tool for five (5) years.

Battery did not last as i only used it on two separate times. Omce when i purchased battery for my super sawsall and once om 2020. Battery will not charge or hold a charge. I even went out an purchased a new charger and still does not hold a charge. I would think Milwawkee warranties these battery as they cost $199.00 amd should last longer than two uses

This Milwaukee battery is definitely worth the money. If you're ever in a situation where you'd be away from a charger for an extended period of time this batter can get you through it. Every tool I've used this batter on lasts all day and for some many days even with constant use. Th only tool that I have that'll drain this battery is my blower. Moving air is by far one of the hardest tasks for a tool to do and it puts quite the pull on this batter even still you'd get twice the time from any other HO battery by going with this one. Power sorta tops out at the 8.0 HO so if you're looking for a power increase that's minimal this battery simply lasts a lot longer and gives the tool all the power it asks for.

The Milwaukee M18 Lithium HO 2.0 battery pack is the best battery on the market. Hands down, the battery last twice as long the competition. I only by the best and that’s Milwaukee!!

Awesome, works great!!! Had enough power to run the Milwaukee vacuum for hours!!

Great battery with long lasting power for the bigger tools. This battery is big but the weight isn't much for the chainsaw and weed trimmer. The M18 series keeps getting better and better!

Cuts for days... Literally! Huge addition for my day draining M18 tools.

Lots of power

It has helped me a lot because it makes my tools work longer and with greater performance

Battery has performed well in M18 chainsaw and wet/dry vac. Only 'problem' I've had is when using on cooler/cold days (below 50 degrees or so... so not sub-arctic or anything...) the battery has drained much faster. Apples to apples comparison as I was cutting same material, same location, and straight off charger at full charge a month or so back during Fall - 70 to 75 degrees. Battery has been through less than 5 charge/recharge cycles, so that shouldn't have impacted anything. I would have thought the constant demand/use of chainsaw would minimize any cold weather drops in performance, but I suppose not. I'm not sure how they balance not overheating while minimizing cold weather performance, props to Milwaukee's R&D for developing technology to get this much performance out of an 18 volt to begin with. Hopefully I didn't get a defective one... as I didn't find any reports of the cold weather drop in performance/longevity before purchasing. I'll give it a couple more shots and consider reaching out to Milwaukee to ask if this drop in performance during cold weather is normal.

I saw a review that stated similar symptoms with their fuel weed eater so I haven't tried it with mine and I won't. Used with my fuel skil saw (2731) and it cut half of the 1x12 I was working with and now will not operate at all. Milwaukee needs to address this. Otherwise the battery is good for the new tools it was released with and the battery just looks sharp.

The new High Output High Demand 12 Amp Hr battery lives up to Milwaukee's claims of 50% more power while running 50% cooler than previous gen XC batteries. I tested it along with Milwaukee's new 7 Tool Combo kit over the course of a week doing various tasks including driving, grinding, lighting, etc... and it still barely takes a charge. An excellent choice for extended use and to cut down on the number of batteries you lug around if you're traveling to different work sites on a daily basis. In terms of charging time, or more precisely, rate, it appears to be comparable to the XC’s when adjusted for capacities but I haven’t tested this extensively enough to make a definitive remark. The only eyebrow raiser is the price, but considering all power tool batteries are pricey, its still a good, if not great, value considering how much use you'll get out of it between charges, and its being backed by Milwaukee's typical battery warranty.