Why I Run Milwaukee M18

I've used a lot of cordless platforms over 25 years. Makita, DeWalt, Ryobi back when I was young and broke, and Milwaukee. I'm on Milwaukee M18. Here's why.

Battery Platform First, Tools Second

The right way to pick a cordless platform is to pick the ecosystem first, then the tools. Because once you've bought four or five M18 batteries, switching to a different platform means starting over on batteries — and that's where the real money is.

M18 has the deepest tool catalog of any 18V platform. Drill, impact driver, circular saw, reciprocating saw, oscillating tool, lighting, vacuum — all on the same battery. That interoperability is worth paying for.

The Combo Kit Makes Sense

For commercial electrical work specifically, you're running a drill and an impact driver constantly. Having them on the same battery chemistry means you're managing one type of battery, not two. The combo kit gets you both tools and two batteries at a price that makes sense compared to buying separately.

What M18 Does Well for Electricians

Torque on the impact driver is high enough for structural fasteners. The drill has enough speed range for both small bits and hole saws in wood framing. The batteries have enough capacity that I'm not swapping constantly on a full-day job. Build quality holds up in commercial environments — dust, concrete dust, rough handling.

What It Doesn't Do

M18 is not the lightest platform. If you're in a crawlspace all day doing overhead work with a drill, the weight adds up. Milwaukee has addressed some of this with the compact series, but full-size M18 tools are substantial. That's a tradeoff I accept for the power and platform depth.

Hole Saws

On any platform, hole saws are where you need quality. I run Lenox bi-metal. The teeth stay sharp through more cuts than cheaper options, the arbor design doesn't strip, and the plug ejection works. When you're cutting fifty holes in a day, the saw quality matters more than you'd think.