Customer Reviews for Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 1/2 in. Hammer Drill/Driver (Tool-Only)

This is my first router, but I'm not completely new to using one, and I must say that I am very impressed. Lightweight, easy to set up and use. The variable speed setting is great and very easy to adjust. The LED lights are in the perfect location. The test runs I have made with it are smooth and flawless. Even on the slowest speed it slides along effortlessly. The dust cover that comes with it hooks right up to my M18 shop vac which means very little clean up. I am looking forward to many projects with this router and would highly recommend adding it to your M18 tool family.

I use two of them for my carpentry business and I use one for ice fishing drilling holes in ice with the K- Drill auger attachment!!!

Another great product from the people at Milwaukee. This M18 Fuel router is a great addition to my woodworking shop (cabinets/furniture) for various trim and routing applications.This compact but powerful router fits comfortably in your hand for smooth and easy use. The dual LED lights are great for lighting up the project. Since this is a compact router it only uses 1/4" shank bits unlike the full sized router which uses 1/2" shank bits.

This router is a perfect size for free hand tasks. It works well for prepping door hinges. Very lightweight but lots of power. This is also useful for hand lettering of signs. I read somewhere that it is rated to do 250 linear feet with the suggested 5 amp-hour battery. I only had 3 and 6 amp-hour batteries and the router is not too heavy with larger one. The router is very well balanced and fits in smaller hands without fear of losing grip. With a 3 amp-hour battery the balance point is just at the aluminum ring before the plastic electrical housing. The 6 Amp-hour battery moves the balance point about ½" higher towards the top. See the pictures that are balanced on a thin cedar board for example. I was surprised that Milwaukee includes an edge guide, dust collection window and extra base plate.

For the pro this is a no-brainer, especially if you already own M18 tools. The convenience of having corded power in a cordless router is what drew me to this tool. I have been using a Milwaukee M18 drill since 2003. I replaced an aging Porter Cable cordless with it. It was pricey at almost $400 back in 2003, however I still use it today. Hundreds of projects later it still keeps up with, and often surpasses newer models of other well known/respected brands. The only thing I've replaced has been the batteries. Knowing this made purchasing this router simple. I knew it would last! At first the $180 price tag may set you off, however, once you hold the router in your hands it is more than justified. I've also found that I grab for the router much more often because of its cordless ease of use and small size.

This impact out did my Ingersoll ram. No questions asked hands down the best battery impact I bought

I used this drill along with an older model drill for drill wholes for water lines. My old drill that is 10 times older is still running fine, unfortunately this drill doesn't run anymore and it's not even a year old. Unfortunately Milwaukee will not warranty it because of a scratch in model number sticker.

Milwaukee M18 Compact Router This is a brushless compact router the only compact part of the router is its physical size. You will not find it small in operation or capacity to get clean cuts. The adjustments that need to be made with this router are easy to make. Your major movements of the motor sleeve are easy to make by lifting or compressing the barrel to get the cutter near the level of your intended cut. this is done with a locking lever and a final locking button. While the lever is in the unlock position your fine adjustments are made with a dial that just above the barrel lock. This allows you to get the cutter, or guide bearing, closer or farther from the cut with a barrel adjuster which is marked off in 64th’s of an inch. After you have your cutting adjustments made you need to make your final lock with the barrel lever. After getting your depth adjusted you have a dial with 6 power markings making your speed adjustments easy to replicate, from board to board. Milwaukee includes 2 bases one 5 7/8 inches in diameter and the other 4 inch in diameter, both are clear base plates, which allow you to see your cuts. The saw dust collector actually bolts in place with an included 'wing bolt' rather than a group of plastic catches. We all have those dust collectors that eventually need to be taped in place, after the tabs breaks off. This router is designed for the long haul and will be in your tool box for some time to come. I used the small base for edge routing. The other base is considerably larger to give the user increased stability. The straight edge included is secured with only one screw, but I found it sufficient to hold the tool on your cut line for straight line datto cuts regardless of the length of cut. All in all I did not find this router lacking in ability, regardless of the task placed in front of the tool.

Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Compact Router (Tool-Only) is a compact router similar to others with Milwaukee's unique take on the tool. I've had a cordless Ridgid compact router for several years and also a corded Porter-Cable compact. This one is the newest and has aspects of both my other compact routers. A big plus is how the router feels in your hand. It is just a comfortable fit like it was built for me. The fit and trim is excellent all around. In performance, Milwaukee's brushless motor has a wider RPM range from 10,000 to 30,000 RPM's. Milwaukee, like all other compacts routers, accept only 1/4-inch shanks which limit the bits used compared to full size routers. The Milwaukee compact does include a dust shroud not found on the other two I own and does a good job. Milwaukee like the Ridgid has a light and here is dual LED's which does a better job. What's in the box? It comes with a straight base, a dust shroud as mentioned, an edge guide, two base plates (4-inches and 5 3/4-inches), two wrenches (collet and spindle) and also has a spindle lock button, too. . It does not include a battery or charger. There are two optional bases, plunge and offset. They are on the Milwaukee website, but Home Depot doesn't seem to have them in yet at this date. Adjustment on the base is smooth. It has a macro and fine adjustment mechanism which is standard; although, this one seems to operate more smoothly. I didn't find any slipping of the setting once set. Popping the router into the base is easier than other ones I've used. It has no alignment bumps, just catches the threads. The motor is strong, the whine from it is not as loud or as high pitched. The controls are a dust proof on/off toggle on the top and a speed control knob. I tired it out making some cuts and loved how clean they came out and done so effortlessly. This tool is up to Milwaukee's standards and is my new favorite..

Very handy, lightweight and versatile M18 cordless compact router, I love using it. At the bottom of this review, with the pictures, is an over and demonstration video I made of the router. This is a great little router with a lot power. I love that I can fit it in my work bag, do some routing outside and bring it back in easily. I also dont have to mess around with an extension cord and it weighs about 3 lbs w/o battery. This 1/4" shank router packs a lot of power with a brushless motor with speeds ranging from 10,000 to an amazing 31,000 rpm. The brushless motor is relatively quiet as well. Depth adjustments are pretty easy and the LED lights help you see the area you are working. When you turn the router off, the break is amazing; it stops the bit within a second or so. This is great for safety and also to prevent accidentally dinging your piece while the bit slows. My main complaint with this router is that the depth adjustment latch lock comes loose from the factory. Basically, after you lock it, turning the micro depth adjustment lock can raise and lower the bit or vibration can move it as well. I had to tighten the latch for this not to happen. The router has 6 different speed settings although I find there are about 22 'clicks' on the knob, so many more speed settings which is great. Depth is pretty easy to adjust aside from the problem I explained above. With a 5.0 XC battery you can get about 250 ft of routing which is great. Although the 31,000 rpm is advertised for hardwood, I found it can easily burn oak and I stay around setting 4 or in the low 20,000 rpm range. Setting 1 (10,000 rpm) works fine for softwoods like spruce. The guide is a little tricky to use, I suggest practicing before using it on a piece; the router can bounce around a little in the grain. The chuck holds on tight to bits and adding/removing them is not too hard. Remember to REMOVE THE BATTERY when adding/removing bits! You can easily hit the on/off switch and hurt yourself. The chuck is loosened and tighten with either both of the wrenches or with one wrench and by pressing on the chuck lock. Another thing I did not like was the two jagged edges around the chuck lock. This router does not come with a battery and the plunge (Model# 48-10-5601) or offset (Model # 48-10-5602) bases are sold separately as well. It will accept any M18 battery. This router comes with a dust shroud which can accommodate shop vac hoses with either a 1-3/8" or 1-1/8" outer diameter. It also comes with a guide, wrenches (collet/spindle for the chuck), 5-3/4" template base and instructions. A downside to this tool is it does not come with a bag. A soft bag would have been great for all the accessories. This tool is made in China.

Wow, this Milwaukee M18 Fuel compact router is powerful and loaded with great features. The push button macro depth adjustment is fast and solid. The micro adjustment is precise. I have a corded router and now I can just leave it in the router table. This one will be able to handle any routing job that I do. I have several Milwaukee M18 and M12 tools and have been very satisfied with all of them. This dude buzzed thru MDF Plus grade and never bogged down. The dual LED lights are fantastic. The variable speed knob is easy to adjust on the fly. It is lightweight and easy to use. I highly recommended this compact router.

Drill broke in 2 pieces while using a step but on light sheet metal. Drill was 4 month old. Milwaukee denied warranty. Draw your own conclusions.

The torque on this beast is amazing. It effortlessly removed the anode rod on my water heater which was frozen in place. I'm not a fan of the "friction ring," as it is not compatible with various other tools and adapters, including Milwaukee's hex adapter.

Plenty of torque! Nice addition to my cordless tools, I don't have air so this is the next best thing. Carefull with lug nuts on high I've snapped a few studs.

good balance and weight easy blade change but the thing chips way to much trie multiple blades and settings. I am a Milwaukee guy almost all my tools are Milwaukee M18 (table saw, hammer drill, sds hammer, impact driver, surge impact driver, sawzall, drywall gun, circular saw, lights and a ton of batteries and packout cases) just so you know I'm not bashing the brand.

I absolutely love this product. I am a professional union carpenter/ metal worker. It’s range of power is unbeatable in today’s market of cordless tools. I just recently installed steel lentils (3 by 4 angle iron) for a smoke dampener system. I used This drills Multifunctional settings to drill through 1/4 inch steel and 9 inches of Cinderblock, concrete, and tile with ease. On the flip side this drill is a bit heavy with a 5 amp hour to 9 amp hour batteries That I use. It doesn't bother me at all, I have no problem sacrificing Weight for runtime. (Use 1.5 -2.0 amp hour batteries to reduce weight dramatically). This product is the best midsized hammer drill/ driver on the market period.

I had waited very long for the M18 Fuel Compact Router to come to Home Depot Shelves it was well worth every dollar spent I did a test with two bits on 3/4" Pine it did not bog down it handled very well and I would like to welcome this into my M18 Family of cordless tools for my woodshop

I use the drill and driver every day as a diesel technician and a trailer technician. I also bring my kit home a lot to do work around the house or to work on my trucks. The drill is very light and is a nice size, my old drill used to get stuck or not fit into tight spaces. The driver is also compact but still delivers a lot of torque and speed for fastening bolts and screws.

great product! plenty of power! great battery life

I have bought the 2997-22 combo, consisting of the 2804-20 hammer drill and the 2853-20 impact driver. I am very impressed with the power both tools produce. The 5 amp battery delivers constant power. As a first test, I have cut 13 ea of 8cm dia wooden pieces (22 mm thick) for a diy drum sander. The drill just cut the pieces effortlessly without bogging down. I am very satisfied and have no regret at all buying these tools combo.

Power and performance is great. Great battery life. Well balanced and compact size. Love all my m18 tools.

I am a lineman and don’t have very much room in my bucket for useless tools. That’s why I purchased the Milwaukee hammer drill!! It has tons of power to get through concrete utility poles but doesn’t take up a ton of room in my bucket tool apron!!

This is my first hammer drill and impact driver by Milwaukee, and they are definitely a cut above my previous units manufactured by a competitor. They are very powerful and well made. I hope to add more tools to my collection soon!

I have no problem drilling 10 inch timber-lock screws without a pilot hole. I can't say theres any down side to owning any one of the brushless drill Milwaukee has to offer.

Many years ago (20) I had poor experiences with cordless power tools. I never bought another. Recently while tripping over a power cord a friend convinced me to give Milwaukee a try. Wow technology has changed and Milwaukee seems to be at the cutting edge. I purchased several M12 platform tools and was hooked. Now as the need arises I have exclusively purchased Milwaukee tools to help me do the work. The battery life is amazing, as is the torque, and well thought out features on every tool. I have started adding from the M18 Fuel platform as well for that extra power when needed. According to my wife, I have developed a Milwaukee power tool addiction. My favorite by far is the M18 surge 1/4 inch impact driver. All other impact drivers pale by comparison. It made driving 3/8 inch lag bolts into floor joist so easy it could be done with three fingers. That is ridiculous. I couldn't be happier.

Is fast enough to polish out my aluminum rims with it..

This 18v impact packs the power. Used frequently on the farm for a variety of applications. It has gotten every lug off from heavy duty gooseneck trailer wheels to tractor wheels to wagon wheels. Also, it has been used on equipment repairs. Owned for over a month now and hasn't let me down. I received this product promptly from seller. I've own a 1st generation Milwaukee impact and is still in use. The 3 levels of impact available make this tool a must have. Works great when installing lugs. Certainly this tool is a must have for every farmer, mechanic shop, tire shop and those who travel to change tires on the go.

This drill is an absolute beast

Has more power compared to other impact wrenches. Smooth operation. Great product.

Great all around drill. It's powerful and can do pretty much any job a drill is needed for, and then some. The belt clip is nice. The bit holder is not. The square edges on it are sharp and can scratch up finish work, but it is easy enough to remove. The reason for four stars is that the battery is a touch loose, nothing to concerning though. Also the trigger catches a lot of the time. Difficult to feather the speed when this happens. It is one of those things where it is annoying when you are using it but isn't bad enough to take the time and energy to send it in for repair. So four stars it is.