Milwaukee Reviews

I have had great results with the Milwaukee 18v power tools, until today when I discovered that one of my batteries was dead just like so many other reviewers have written about. The voltage at the terminals is about two volts, and the charger does not recognize it. I sincerely thank all those reviewers who wrote about charging the battery above the 3 volt point so the charger will see it. BTW, I have been very careful to charge the batteries every couple of months whether I was using them or not.

I have had the Milwaukee hammer drill and circular saw kit for around three years. It came with two batteries, the first of which died around 8 months ago. I accepted it, grudgingly, but with the apparant death of battery number two today I was fairly unhappy. My previous drill's battery (old Craftsman) lasted around eight years. So I was ready to shell out some cash for new batteries, but happened to see the other reviewers discussion about the 9v battery trick and a problem with the charger not recognizing the battery when it didn't show a charge of at least 3v. So, I tried the trick, and suprise, I have two very functional chargable batteries. Used both tonight to continue finishing off our bonus room. No issues. Thanks to the intelligent reviewer for sharing his insight. Milwaukee, if you read the reviews on Amazon of your products, which I would do if I were in your shoes, you really should address this problem with at least the folks that registered their cordless tools with you.

CHECKED AT LEAST 15 SORCES TO REPLACE MY MILWAUKEE 18 VOLT 2.4 AMP BATTERY. AMAZON WAS THE LEAST EXPENSIVE AND AT THE TIME OFFERED FREE SHIPPING. WHAT A PLUS!!
RON Z.

The reason these bits wear out so soon and do not hold up anymore is because now they are made overseas and with inferior material. This is with all products that used to be made in the USA and are now made overseas. The manufacturers find it cheaper to do this so they can expand their profits, but in doing so the sacrifice quality, customer loyalty, and the most important of all is another American worker is laid off.

we have been using this brand of bits for the past 8 years. the bits that i have purchased in the past 7 months have not met our expectations. they wear out after drilling ten holes. In the past they have lasted atleast 3 hundred holes. the set screws are wearing out a lot faster as well. They have lost their durability. I would like to continue using these bits, but we need the quality that milwaukee used to have.

This piece of garbage broke after 2 days of light use. Customer service is non-existant to totally rude. Don't waste a penny on this junk.

it broke within 2 weeks of purchase even though we babied it quite well.

The drill itself feels terrific. Heavy construction, tight tolerances, everything you could want. But what the Amazon page doesn't tell you is that it doesn't include a battery. Suddenly that great savings is not so great. Fully outfitted this will cost you closer to $400.

Be careful when you order this saw item 073022 because it comes without a battery and charger. This is the first time I have ever ordered a cordless power tool that comes without the stuff to make it run. Fred Owings

I am a contractor and have always seen Milwaukee tools as the "Holy Grail" of all tool manufacturers. Several years ago Milwaukee prided its tools for being MADE IN THE USA, but times have definitely changed. The Drill in this kit is made in the CZECH REPUBLIC, the flashlight is made in CHINA, the battery charger is made in CHINA, and the batteries are made in MEXICO...BUT the cardboard carton is "printed in the USA"...Let's don't discount that fact! At least hard working Americans get a little piece of the Milwaukee pie.

We have always used Milwaukee tools in the past. They've lasted so long that we're just now replacing some of them. Their Sawz-All was the best in the industry several years ago (I'm not sure that is still true since they are now being made overseas today). We've used they're circular saws in the past and they were great. They're hammer drills packed a lot of punch and had a lot of torque. But, recently we purchased three of these Milwaukee drill kits to replace some PORTER CABLE 14.4 volts that have been nothing short of amazing. Based on the Milwaukee tools that we've bought in the past, I figured the quality of these Milwaukee drills would be just as good as their other tools. THEY'RE ABSOLUTE GARBAGE!! The plastic housing on these drills feel so cheap and fragile. The holders for the extra bits are steel and mounted on the side of the drill.....if you bump the sides into any finished surface it will scratch the surface. Worst of all, the first day we used them, one of the drills chuck/shaft assembly flew apart...ball bearings went everywhere! This happened after about driving only 50 or so screws! The other two drills seemed to work alright, but they made funny clicking noises (this was not the same noise that is made when the clutch slips) when doing anything that required a medium amount of torque...like driving 3 inch screws into soft pine.

After inspecting the build of these drills, and after seeing one of them fall apart on the first day of use, we decided to get our money refunded on all of them. The Porter Cable 14.4 volts that we used in the past done such a great job for us and lasted so long that we've decided to go back to that tool. The Porter Cables have a heck of a lot more torque than these anyway....they're a little bit heavier but based on their track record with us, they're worth their weight in gold!

It really is a shame that American tool companies are outsourcing their tool production to other countries. Even Porter Cable is building their tools in Taiwan now. DeWalt is producing their tools in Mexico. Bosch is making their tools in Mexico and Czech Republic. Hitachi is being made in China.

If there were still a company making their power tools in America I would pay a higher price for their tools as opposed to buying the cheaper, foreign-made counterparts. As for this drill...stay away from it. You'll regret it! It's cheap made and won't last! Look at Porter Cable instead. I'm happy with them (would be happier if they'd start making them in America again!)

Sept. 20,2001
Gentlemen on Aug. 3,2001 I ordered this blade package with the Milwaukee Sawzall as of this date I have not recieved this blade package. The order form I recieved with the saw stated the blade package would be shipped later at no additional shipping cost. When can I expect to recieve the blade package. Thank you.
Charles Halpin

Too small, blade box keeps coming open. Previous style steel box much better.

I bought this tool three years ago and it has been used intermittently, (only a few times a year) and yet it has cost me as much in repairs as I paid for it in the first place. A friend has the Hitachi version of this tool which he has used for 20 years and it has NEVER been in for a repair. The tool store I bought it from has stopped selling it because of complaints. Don't waste your money like I did.

Milwaukee makes some awsome tools but this is disappointing. Although the motor is excellent with it's variability & the multiple cutting angle for increased speed of cut works real well I'm completely dissatisfied with it. I Bought it figuring I'd have it for life, but within a year, the lever mechanism which opens the chuck for blade installation broke off- It's made of cheap plastic which couldn't handle the force of opening & closing now I have to use a flat screwdriver to get the blades changed & the housing is wearin out where the screwdriver goes in & out. The base plate is not very accurate & doesn't hold it's position in reference to perpendicularity to the blade. I'm real careful with my tools & take the best care of them. I don't even use this tool more than once a month & this happened. I should have spent the extra money & bought a Makita. Live & learn...