Milwaukee Reviews

When I read 2.25 HP being described as "powerful," I thought this must be some kind of sick joke. I use chainsaws all the time with my carcasses, and 16" ain't nothing. First of all, let's get one thing straight, o.k.? Electric chainsaws have their limitations. That being said, I could still use it for chopping down trees and roundin up firewood. However, as for my, shall we say, clandestine operations, I have found this Milwaukee variety of chainsaw to be less than cutting edge, pardon the pun.

I purchased this chainsaw in March 2001 and immediately noticed oil leaking. I notified a Milwaukee representative who informed me that a small leakage of oil was normal but if the oil reservoir was empty then I should bring it to a service dealer. I finally did this once I was convinced that it was leaking too much and after waiting about 4 weeks I was informed that the parts needed were still on back order. In turn for my inconvenience I was given a new chain saw. Unfortunately, this new chain saw is doing the same thing. I have put out an inquiry regarding this problem to Milwaukee but still have not heard back.
I must say that I am very satisfied with the way this chain saw works and easily cuts through large sized logs.

LBuono

when the time came to get a new chainsaw I saw Milwaukee made an electric. With the advent of portable power generators it made sence. The Milwaukee power chainsaw cuts everything it goes up against. The safety features are great and dont impede the "average" guy trying to get a "job done". Its tough, dependable (as your generator), and will cut anything its gas powered "cousin" will without all the "hoopla".

This saw rules-
It is only my second circular saw (I am 13) but I think it will be my last saw. It will cut through fresh pressure treated wood with out breaking a sweat. This saw is so quiet that you do not need ear plugs. I own many other Milwaukee tools, I expect high quality from them, and like always, the past with flying colors. You will need some worm drive oil, Milwaukee part # 49-32-0050, and then your set. It will not cut a 4x4 in one pass, but it will cut a 6x6 in two passes.

Good luck,
And Happy cutting
Sammy.

IF YOU'RE INTO HEAVY DUTY REMODELING OR FIRE REPAIR,THIS SAW IS FOR YOU. IT'S NOT FOR WIMPS AND IT WON'T LET YOU DOWN. I'VE HAD MINE FOR OVER TEN YEARS AND IT SHOWS NO SIGN OF WEARING OUT.

To have a fair review of this saw, besides long lasting quality we should point out two important features of this outstanding saw: 1)SAFETY is maximized by Milwaukee here, positioning the handles far from the blade ! 2)YOU CAN SEE where you cut, making precise cuts.(almost impossible with other circular saws).

I purchased this saw believing it was made in the USA. The technical data provided by Amazon states the country of manufacture as being the US. I was very dissapointed when the product arrived and found "Made In Taiwan" on the box. I called Milwaukee and was told the US made miter saw, model # 6494, had been discontinued and that the -6 on the end of the model number denotes made in Taiwan. I decided to keep the saw despite this issue, if the quality seemed good. Overall, the saw appeared well made. However I was dissapointed to find a crack in the aluminum base in an area where the casting was quite thin. Needless to say the saw is being returned, and I am shopping for a different brand.

I bought this saw as a job site saw, its good for cutting baseboard, 2x4, and casing. It has the best range of degrees of any saw. 59 to the right with 51 to the left. And you can push the bevel cut three degrees to right. All that helps in the field. BUT the bevel doesn't have a positive stop at 0 an 45. What it does have is strong spring that holds and stops it at these places. so if you lean a little on the motor as your tightening the lever, you could easly be off a degree or two from 0 or 45. Not good. The micro adjustment on the miter cuts isn't anything to write home about also. Milwakee makes a big deal of this in their ads, but other saw micro adjust just as well.
The saws motor is load, but doesn't have the high pitch whine the some makita's, hitachi saws have, that's good. It also came with a 60 tooth blade, better than advertised.

I gave it three stars because it only has the wide range on the miter cuts going for it. Other than that its just a chop saw with a good 5 year warrenty. My ideal cabinet shop saw is the 8 1/4 slide hitachi saw.

The Milwaukee Magnum is a serious, heavy-duty tool, that does what it should--makes very accurate cuts, one after the other, all day. I'm very demanding of my tools and I looked at a LOT of miter saws and the Magnum was the only saw that consistantly was top of the class for accurate cuts and durability.

And it delivers. I've used the Mag now for 6 months and this baby is going to be with me for a long, long time. Plenty of power and the cuts are dead on, every time. No deflection, no curved cuts. The flip fence feature is brilliant and I say this because I have a friend who almost lost a finger with another brand of saw that didn't have this feature.

The price, size, and weight probably mean this is not a saw for the occasional-project homeowner. The whole design of this saw is geared toward the professional. If you're just building one deck, this is more tool than you need.

I was also disappointed that the saw is made in Taiwan. It doesn't mean it's not a good tool, though. I also agree with a previous reviewer who mentioned the front adjustment knob sticks out too far and could be bent when moving the saw around.

It's getting harder to find serious tools these days. It's nice to find something that works AND is built to last.

Is this the famous furniture maker Larry Summitt?

Do you need any other evidence that this is the greatest belt sander made? I mean, all due respect to Mr. Larry Summit below. But Jesus bought this sander and uses it to this day. Jesus from East L.A. He runs a cabinet-making shop over off Cesar Chavez Blvd...somewhere near Whittier. Makes good stuff and swears by this sander. Get it. It runs the wood down to the wire.

I teach shop in a Junior High School. Over the years I have used almost every brand of 4" X 24" Belt Sander. The Milwaukee sander is light, well balanced, sands smooth even when changing directions on large flat surfaces and is very durable. I always tell people, "If it can survive Junior High, it is good" Our sander has been in operation for 6 years and has performed flawlessly without breakage or failure.

I have owned many, many Milwaukee tools...But this one was a real disappointment. I estimate 7 to 8 hours on the tool before it is absolutely unusable. First the "random" action ceased, which is not uncommon with a worn out "belt"...but the power became less and less, sparks emit from the windings. I was shocked to get this poor of quality from Milwaukee. Not to complain, but the housing is also very light, the entire unit just feels "cheap" to me. Granted, it is a cheap (inexpensive) sander, but I expected a little more than 7 or 8 hours of use from it.
I still recommend Porter Cable, I generally get good hours out of that brand...DeWalt does ok, Makita, so-so...Hope that helps anyone out there lookng for a unit that will hold up under use.

Best sander I bought. It most likely will last me for a while. There is one draw back, do not buy the psa. Every time I put a new sanding disk on, it just shoots off. But the Hook and Loop. Hope this helped-

Milwaukee is noted as being a producer of top-notch tools for the professional. This sander lives up to the Milwaukee name.
The tool is comfortable to use, doesn't make too much noise and I know it'll outlast most other brands by a large margin. It even comes with a little vacuum bag to help keep down dust particles. This type of sander is usually one of the last tools you think of buying, but once you have it, you'll wonder how you got along without it.
One caveat BEFORE you purchase the 6018 (used with stick-on sanding disks) or the 6019 (used with the velco-type hook and loop sanding disks)!!! Check which type of disks are available in your local area!!! I bought the 6018 (stick-on), only to find that just the hook and loop type disks were available at the local Home Depot. Furious, I called Milwaukee to get a price on a replacement hook and loop type base ($30+!!!)...(similar base for the Porter Cable is $17.00) I must have sounded a little irate and they sent me one free!!! Now I have a choice of which disks to use. Don't count yourself this lucky....check which pads you can buy at local outlets and save yourself some grief.

I bought the 6148-6 to flush grind welds on a table saw stand that I made from 3/4 inch square mild steel tubing. The job was completed very quickly, much to my delight. The tool is powerful and the motor temperature barely moved above ambient throughout.

Some reviewers have commented about the less than robust wrench that is included. The tool that I bought included a wrench that is 1/8 inch thick and is entirely up to the task of tightening and removing the abrasive disks.

I have owned Ryobi, DeWalt, and Milwaukee grinders, and Milwaukee is by far the best. Powerful rugged and can stand up to heavy use. The wrench is not strong enough to remove the wheel if it is very tight.

I built a fireplace in my basement and needed a grinder/cutter to shape the stones as I put them on the fireplace. This tool worked great. With a diamond blade it cut the stones like butter and the grinder wheel fine tuned the stones so they fit perfectly. The three position handle was especially convenient in the shaping and cutting the stones when I found myself in an awkward position. The motor had plenty of power and didn't bog down. Removing and installing the blade guard was a little awkward until I got the hang of it. One of the previous reviewers complained about the wrench and how difficult it was to use. I found it easy to use and had no trouble changing blades and wheels. I highly recommend this tool.

Overall this is a great tool. The power is great. Some reviews talk about on/off switch, I found it to be acceptable. Although it could easily be improved for safety. The tool case was design very well, all accessories snap in. (but kit does not come with all accessories) Power cord is nice and long. It is loud! Use hearing protection.

There are three complaints.

It is made off shore. I know most people do not care where tools are made anymore, but I live, work and pay taxes in the USA. I care. I still feel the quality of American made tools is second to none. Including tools made here by foreign companies.

Second, I dislike how companies say "KIT" and only supply you with basic tools with the tool. I feel most consumers who buy high end tools expect a tool case with the tool. This does not constitute a kit. On a jig saw I feel the basic tool should come with case, a few blades, anti-splintering device. A kit would include all above plus Combination Rip and Circle Guide fence, dust pickup attachment, Plastic Shoe Cover, and hearing protection.

It is a barrel grip saw and the plastic barrel housing gets slippery when you use it for awhile. I think the engineers should of used a rubberized grip. This is all the rage now with tool manufacturers. This helps in many ways. It reduces operator fatique, improves comfort and anti-slip for safety. I would bet the engineers who designed this never used a jig saw before.

I still like the tool. It is a keeper.

Well, I've used this saw on my job for two years now. It has power and cuts pretty smoothly or aggresively with a flick of the orbital action switch. I like the way it fit in my hand and the way the base adjust. But I did have the blade changing lever break on me. It seems a little flimsy to me and if you kept it together with other power tools in a bucket, it might break like mine did. I also have a bosch which cuts even smoother with less vibration and it hasn't broke on me in 8 years. I gave that jigsaw 5 stars

I recently purchased this jigsaw and have used it a few times. Here are a few things I've noticed in this short time:
On the plus side, I like how it fits in my hand, barrel grip saws just feel better to me than top grips. It's got plenty of power, and with the variable speed, you can dial in whatever you need. It cuts beautifully and leaves smooth edges, but that could also be that I only use Bosch blades.
While it is a bit heavy, I find this to be advantageous to staying online and reduce vibration. The plastic foot cover allows to to glide nicely as well.

On the minus side, there are a couple of safety concerns I'd like to mention. First and foremost, the switch to turn it on, while somewhat protected by the upper knob, pushes in for ON and pulls out for OFF. This occurs to me as easy to accidentally bump on and a little trickier to turn off quickly if needed. I'm a bit surprised that is configured this way as every other tool I've seen is designed to turn off if bumped, not on.
Second is in regards to the quick change blade system. While certainly a super idea and WAAAY faster than any other jigsaw I've used, I've noticed that after only being used a few times, the blade retaining sleeve, which should rotate back 90 degrees to completely lock the blade in, only rotates back about 20 degrees barely doing the job. As I previously mentioned, I use Bosch blades which are a bit thicker than the Milwaukee ones, but even with those it only closes about 40 degrees now. I've blown it out with compressed air in case there was sawdust in there, but that had no effect.

Against my better judgement(needed to finish the project that day), I've used it in this condition and haven't had any problems though I plan on contacting Milwaukee about this.

The last thing on the minus side is that the bevel adjuster lever is really easy to bump loose and thus inadvertantly slanting the blade over. Alas, I know this from experience. Now that I'm aware that this can happen, I'll have to pay more attention to that setting.

All that being said, I really do like this saw. It's SOOOO much nicer than my DeWalt cordless jigsaw. Once the blade retention sleeve issue is worked out I'll feel fully confident and won't have any worries, but I'll always keep an eye on the ON switch and bevel adjust lever from now on!

I just received a Magnum Mitre Saw model 6490 and I am extremely disappointed. I can't believe they make these in Taiwan now. First, it would not even run!!! Milwaukee's Taiwan buddies don't seem to understand that spade connectors are supposed to be TIGHT, not LOOSE!!! The spade connectors for the brushes were loose, and one was NOT EVEN CONNECTED!!! This is a SAFETY Hazard!! I fixed it, since I DO have a brain and understand basic electrical connections. Second, I go to cut the kerf in the plastic insert, and guess what? IT ISN'T STRAIGHT!!! The kerf is not parallel to the sides of the plastic insert, and to top it off, it was not perpendicular to the fence!! What is wrong with these people?! I loved their little 3/8" hammer drill, but this is a piece of crap. I don't even know how to adjust the blade so that it cuts a proper kerf nice and parallel with the insert, and no, the fence was nice and tight, it had not "loosened" in transit. The box it arrived in was undamaged too, so I can only assume that these people don't know square and safe from cocked and dangerous. Worthless.

As a professional, and having many other saws in my shop, I can tell you that you can only be impressed by the accuracy and stability of this saw. My workers all enjoy and comment strongly about how much they like it. Thanks!!!

If you're looking for a saw that will last a lifetime this is the one to get! Built to Milwaukee's tough "Heavy Duty" standards this saw has quality written all over it! It may lack the compound adjustments with all the bells and whistles and cost a bit more than a cheap Taiwan model, but outfit this saw with the proper blade or jig and it'll tackle anything from trim work to rough framing! Not to mention, with excellent power and precision. The fifteen amp motor is as powerful as it gets without tripping most circuit breakers. This rock solid machine is vibration free and most of the dust actually goes out the dust port! The high fence and clever wrench storage clip completes this simple design.

What I really like about this saw is the effective blade retraction system. The clear lower guard retracts into the upper blade guard assembly away from snagging your thumb or sleeves as the guard moves upwards. O.K., maybe it's just the way I'm holding the handle with my big hands but I have gotten the pointy joint on my thumb slammed on the retracting path of the DeWalt and Makita guards...Ouch!!! To me, there is insuffient space between the handle and retracting guard on those saws.

Along with the high sticker price, this saw should have came with a set of extentions with stopping block and hold down clamps. These accessories are quite pricey when purchased separately. I guess to enjoy fine dining you must order ala carte just as you would with this fine tuned machine!

I bought this drill as I build cabinets, some of them only 12 inches wide. This drill was a life saver a time or two and did a good job in that capacity!

The problem that arose, and the complaints I have, pertain to the ease in which you can inadvertanly turn this drill on(as the switch is a very accessible paddle) and when pushed hard, such as drilling 3/4 inch holes through 2x4's for wiring, the drill would not shut off, but kept running.

You can not sit this drill down on anything except a flat surface or it can accidently turn on.
Attempting to park it on top of a ladder for a moment can be dangerous.
You also can not tuck it under your arm for a second to reach for something else, as you can accidently turn it on.

I took this drill to the local Milwaukee repair center and complained about the drill continuing to run after I had released the switch. They kept it a week, called and said it tested fine! I took it back, did another drilling job, same problem! This is an accident waiting to happen.

I junked the drill. I could not in good concience sell it to someone whom might use it hard and inadvertantly drill through their leg, arm, or other body part!

Mine arrived looking like new, and works great. Nice to have a US made product that surpasses my expactions.

I resently went into business for myself installing cabinets.I have struggled for months with other drill / drivers to drill holes or drive screws in small or tight cabinets. THIS IS THE PERFECT TOOL FOR BOTH. Also great for removing cabinet door from there hinges. Buy one for yourself, or two. Give one to your helper for Christmas, or his/her birthday. My female partner loves it. She say's "Very easy to handle, but hold on, it has power."

I have owned the Dewalt 1/2" Impact Wrench for several years. When I recently decided to do my own service on my 1.1/4 ton truck, I found out that the Dewalt just didn't have what it takes to loosen tire lug nuts. Enter the Milwaukee...

There is almost no way to describe this thing to you. First, is BIG. It's not going to be the only Impact Wrench you own, because there are a lot of places it plain won't fit.

Second, it's HEAVY. Trying to hold this thing over your head to remove bolts requires some serious muscle. Not for the weak or faint of heart.

Finally, it's strong. Those lug nuts I was mentioning? Eight per wheel, and 32 total? This thing zipped the nuts off so fast I thought I had slipped off the first one! Took all 32 off, then a few hours later put all 32 back ON with one charge of the battery!!

And speaking of the battery - some genius at Milwaukee deserves a gold star. Remember when I said it won't fit certain places because of its size? Well, Milwaukee designed it so the battery can slide on from the front of the tool, or slide on from the back, and it workes either way. Putting it on from the front makes the wrench shorter overall - if a little front heavy - while putting it on from the back gives you more room to get your wrench into tight spots by leaving the battery back out of the way.

BE WARNED that you should make certain you have a good set of impact sockets to go with this wrench. DO NOT attempt to use it with a standard socket, as you are likely to end up with shrapnel flying everywhere when the regular socket fails. Ask me how I know?!!

Bottom line - the tool is a little big for 'average' wrenching, but when you need to go after the big boys there is nothing like it!

Go buy one. You NEED it.

I do some circle track racing and bought this for convenience in the pit area. I wasn't sure if it would have enough power when I ordered it, but it has more than enough. It makes a tire change during the race much easier and a lot faster. The fuel gauge on the battery is really nice as well. This way you know how much juice you have and don't get stuck half way through a tire change and have the battery die on you.

I bought this originally for just tire changes. Now I find my self using it for pretty much everything on the cars. It works great for breaking loose head bolts and pretty much anything else under the car.

It even came in handy when building our deck this past summer. I guess it is just one of those tools that once you have it you find many more uses for it than you originally intended. This has been a great investment and I highly recommend it.

I got this tool to go along with my V28 combo kit. I was so happy with my other V28 tools I thought I would give this one a shot as well. I am not disappointed. This thing has as much power as my corded impact. It has been great for driving lags. The battery life is great as well. I have even been using it at home on my old fixer upper truck. It has been great for breaking loose lug nuts and rusted bolts on the under carriage. I LOVE IT!!!