I just got back from Milwaukee’s 2017 new product media event, NPS17, and it was amazing. They have lots of exciting new tools and accessories coming out in the next few months, and we’re very excited about many of them.
There’s a lot of information to digest, but there are several standouts that I just couldn’t wait to talk about.
Advertisement
Milwaukee Packout Modular Tool Box System
By far, the most talked about new “tool” at NPS17 was the new Packout modular tool box system. In the first few minutes of seeing it, I was at a loss of words. I had all but given up on seeing something like this from the red team.
This is something that has been asked of Milwaukee very many times in the past few years.
Let me just say this – it will not disappoint.
Milwaukee Packout looks to be versatile, strong, durable, flexible, and in all respects very well designed.
It was simply amazing. And what we saw was just the tip of the iceberg.
Advertisement
One person I spoke to later in the evening said that “Dewalt will need to go back to the drawing board.” No. I didn’t get that sense at all.
Milwaukee and their storage product team has come out with something truly spectacular. But there’s nothing wrong with Dewalt’s ToughSystem tool box system, from what I can see. I own many, many Dewalt boxes, and they’ve been excellent.
Yes, Dewalt’s ToughSystem products are shown to be fragile, when a cinder block is dropped on top of it. Nothing is indestructible. Let me tell you – it takes a lot to break a Dewalt ToughSystem tool box.
Milwaukee Packout tool boxes are better in a lot of ways. A LOT. There’s a ton of thought put into it, but isn’t the reason obvious? They’ve had a lot of time to think about what they want to offer in a modular tool box lineup, and now they’ve made it happen.
The one big downside I see, for some if not many users, is that Milwaukee Packout products are higher priced than I would expect. You get a LOT for your money, and I’m sure any profit will be funneled back into Packout development.
The 3-piece combo shown above? It will launch at $280.
The new Milwaukee Packout tool storage system – and I say tool storage system here as there are tool bags as well – is the BEST tool storage system on the market. Milwaukee’s product team is already working on the next Packout products.
M12 Fuel Brushless Ratchets
YESSSSS!
While I don’t have strong personal needs for a cordless ratchet, or at least a very powerful brushless-motored model, I know that a lot of automotive mechanics, techs, and enthusiasts have been clamoring for them. Some of you have been asking for these tools for a long time.
Good news – Milwaukee heard your cries, and came out with 3 new M12 Fuel brushless ratchets, in 1/4″, 3/8″, and 1/2″ drive sizes.
The goal was for the cordless ratchets to be able to tackle all of the same applications as a market-leading air ratchet, and at comparable performance level.
In my short tests, I can tell you – I think they’ve met that goal.
The new M12 Fuel ratchets have all-new motors, specially designed for these tools. The 1/4” and 3/8” ratchets share a similar motor, and the 1/2” has a beefier motor.
The 1/2” ratchet runs a little slower, with respect to no-load RPMs, than the smaller models, in order to achieve the target of 60 ft-lbs peak torque.
They could have used the same motor in all 3 tools, but then the 1/2” ratchet would be compromised in regard to speed or torque. I don’t remember the exact speed specs, I’ll have to check my notes, but I had the impression that it is a very minor tradeoff for far greater benefits.
Here’s a photo of the lineup, from our Instagram feed:
Follow us on Instagram! (@ToolGuyd)
New Screwdrivers with Upgraded Features & Handle Grips
I think Milwaukee’s current generation of screwdrivers are good. They’re functional, they’re pretty durable, and they satisfy Milwaukee’s motto of being “Heavy Duty.”
But I don’t personally like them very much. I’ll use them if they’re the only screwdrivers around and I want to avoid a trip into the house. Their multi-bit drivers are also priced well enough to ignore some ergonomic dislikes, especially when holiday promos come around.
These new screwdrivers are great. I can’t comment on the durability, but the handles are a lot nicer. The tri-lobular grips on the basic screwdrivers are amazing at first feel. I hate calling them “basic,” but they’re more basic compared to the others being released.
There are several different lines of new screwdrivers, and none of them are “one style fits all.”
I would describe there being a new “everyday” line of screwdrivers, a new line of “heavy duty” screwdrivers, and then there are some new demolition screwdrivers.
Milwaukee also managed to come out with an appealing-looking 11-in-1 multi-bit screwdriver, and and a more extreme demolition screwdriver that is highly functional and seemingly capable of lots of abuse.
The one thing I would have liked to see added to the line are some hollow-ground slotted screwdrivers. *Raise your hands* in the comment section if you want to see the same. Here’s a bit of good news – the Milwaukee product manager was taking notes when we mentioned this.
M12 Fuel 2nd Generation Brushless Impact Driver
While it might seem like more of an “iteration” than an “innovation,” Milwaukee’s cordless team worked wonders to come out with a new smaller M12 Fuel brushless drill, and a more compact and more featured impact driver.
I demoed the impact driver, and it had a great feel to it, sinking lag screws with ease.
As mentioned in my Milwaukee NPS17 predictions post, I thought refreshed M12 Fuel brushless drills and impact tools were coming. The first generation of tools were great, and are still great, but the size of the M12 Fuel drills somewhat rival that of compact 18V-class drills.
The new version is shorter, by a full 1-inch, and reworked by the cordless team using several added years of knowhow and experience.
The impact driver is a little shorter – and I’m embarrassed to say I’ll have to get back to you with a number – and also features 3 speed and torque selection modes plus a self-drilling screw mode, for 4 modes total.
It has a different geometry as well, with the length in front of the hand grip and trigger being dramatically shortened.
I really liked the new impact, and while it’s too soon to tell (I really need a test unit and some hands-on time in a natural setting), I think it could very well be my 12V-class impact driver of choice.
There’s no word as to whether the additional M12 Fuel impact tools will be released in 2nd generation versions, but I anticipate that they will. Perhaps Milwaukee is still working to optimize the “4th mode” for those tools.
Here’s what the new M12 Fuel hammer drill looks like:
This was a pre-production model. There were no non-hammer drills on-site. I would assume that a drill and hammer drill will be launched at the same time, but there are no guarantees.
M12 Cordless Staple Gun
What’s so special about a cordless stapler, right? How about this:
It places staples accurately. It has sequential and bump-fire modes, and you can switch back and forth easily and effortlessly, and without having to actually toggle a switch of any kind on the tool itself. It fits in a pouch designed to hold a standard manual staple gun. It drives T50 staples with 80% less effort than a manual stapler. It has incredible runtime.
I dialed down the power a bit, and it still drove the staples flush into a wood stud.
The stapler isn’t very flashy or fancy, but it does what it was designed to do, and at a great price point.
This is a great example of how a “cordless hand tool” done right.
Buy Now(via Acme Tool)
Special Mention: Premium 46″ Tool Storage Combo
Milwaukee’s 46″ tool storage combo is real nice. It’s got great features and good quality, and priced at an almost too good to be true value.
This new premium version is built from heavier duty steel – 19 gauge for the frame and drawers. There are angle iron stabilizers built into the bottom to ensure a strong base, larger caster wheels, slightly different drawer widths, and incredibly smooth satin aluminum handle pulls.
It’s also appreciably deeper – 22″ vs. 18″.
There are 2 full-width drawers, and they glide out smoothly. A three-dimensional reinforcement bar underneath the drawer helps to ensure that drawer remains strong and sag-free.
The price point is expected to be around $1000. It offers significant upgrades for smaller-than-expected bump up in price.
As with the current 46″ combo, the top has a separate lockable drawer. The top chest and bottom cabinet locks are not keyed alike. If you buy a combo, you can swap the lock from the privacy drawer with that of the bottom cabinet. Or call Milwaukee customer service with a lock number, and they’ll send you another matching cylinder for FREE.
Big Adam
“M12 CORDLESS STAPLE GUN”
That, in either 12V or 20V form, is what I’ve been willing Dewalt to produce for years.
I’m tempted to invest in the M12 platform just for this tool.
fred
Funny how “one man’s meat is another man’s poison”.
Years ago we got a Makita BST221Z 18V cordless T50 stapler as part of a promotion. Our vendor said that it was a $300 value they were adding to our big order for “free”. My initial thought was that $100 off the order would have been better. We tried it out and it never caught on – the guys sticking with their hammer tackers for the applications where the Makita seemed it might be useful.
Nonetheless a lightweight M12 T50 stapler may have some appeal – maybe not a game changer – but a nice DIY tool especially for Septuagenarians like me who’s hands sometimes balk at squeezing down on my old Arrow gun. Now if they could design it to convert to driving both T50 and some round top staples like T18, T25, andT37 it would be more attractive
scaryone
For 12″ x 12″ ceiling tiles, this will be awesome! I am using a pnuematic now (drives T50s). Can’t wait
fred
Funny how work goes. I could count on my fingers how many ceiling tile installation we did since the turn of the century. In our area – they were popular in the 1970’s – hung on for a few years then became unpopular even for commercial jobs – where suspended ceiling work was more normal.
Lots of the old commercial installations set them in mastic (no staples) against drywall or masonry ceilings. I had residential customers tell me they wanted old finished basement installations taken out over fears that they contained asbestos. Other things have come and gone as well – like EIFS work which seemed to peak about 15 years back – and then seemed to fade out – perhaps because of its limitations for our climate.
Brandon
I feel it would be a great addition to some drywall tools for stapling vinyl corner bead, which us the wave of the future in terms if durability. I’m excited to see it in stores and try it out.
Stuart
There was a wall constructed to show it’s applicability for corner beading. I think it was metal, not vinyl, but that shouldn’t change anything.
fred
Hmm! Maybe we could retire our cornerbead crimpers, rubber mallets and metal cornerbead entirely. Although when I retired, we already were using a lot of Beadex with good results..
ChrisP
I was interested in the Makita ST113D until I realized it is only good for up to 3/8″(10mm)! My manual Dewalt DWHTTR350 has no trouble with 9/16″ and I don’t see the point of a cordless stapler that can’t at least equal a manual one for driving power. The BST221Z (replaced byXTS01Z) Fred mentions above is rated to 7/8″ but is 18V and a lot bigger/heavier. I need something light but it has to drive at least 9/16″. Maybe this M12 will deliver?
fred
BTW – good luck finding T-50 7/8 inch leg staples – but I agree that 9/16 leg is likely to be a common-usage size – and one proabably should be looking for a gun to handle that size.
Scar
Looks like a M12 ratchet, no?
Stuart
Sorry and thanks, that’s right!
Phi Nguyen
Any pics of the new 2nd gen M12 Fuel drill? I was interested in the first gen, but ergonomics and size turned me off.
Stuart
Done – it’s added at the end if the impact driver discussion.
It’s smaller, but I don’t think the ergonomics are much unchanged from the first one.
Brian
I hate that they got rid of the mode switch collar. I have to unscrew fix then screw(with clutch) all day; it’s easier to switch to drill mode to unscrew then back to clutch to screw than to rotate the clutch to a point it can unscrew.
I wish they’d come up with a bit holder for the m12s. This belt clip area is better for a fabricated bit holder. I keep breaking my fabricated bit holders off the current Fuel because the screw hole is soo far back and it has no support.
Matt
I think the number one gripe with the m12 hammer drill was its size….. It got compared to full size drills in almost every article ive read.
Perhaps the only way to achieve this is to minus out the ring you speak of. Do i prefer the separate ring… Yea. Can i live without it….definitely.
The trade off, to me, is worth it is only a minor inconvenience
Cory
The modular tool storage looks awesome but that price wow. I’m about to pull the trigger on an m12 fuel drill/driver combo so I don’t have to carry my m18 fuel around and since they throw in an extra battery under the current sale, maybe I should wait for the sale right before the next gen come out?
Stuart
I brought up the price numerous times. They couldn’t achieve a lower price point and still deliver the level of features and quality expected of Milwaukee.
Cory
I don’t doubt that, but it’s still a lot of money. It will be interesting to compare them in person to the dewalts
z2w
yup. At that price, they’re going to have to be much better than the structural foam DeWalt ToughBoxes (which are great for the money, but you do kind of get the sense that if you threw them and they hit something pointy, it would bust through the outer layer).
How do these prices compare to Pelican sale prices, I wonder.
glenn
Stuart,
Do you know the price point of the stapler pls?
Stuart
My notes say $99 for the bare tool, $149 for the kit.
glenn
Thanks Stuart, that means it will end up being @ $170-$200 in Aus. for the bare tool. Still worth it to me at that price if it works well.
John Gunn
When should we expect these in stores?
Stuart
Packout: September 2017
M12 Fuel Ratchets: September
M12 Fuel Impact: December
Screwdrivers: July
Stapler: October
Tool Storage Combo: November
This post is more of a “I’m exhausted but want to talk a little about these NOW” post. Fuller details will be in the forthcoming previews.
John Gunn
I appreciate it!
Jeremy Brown
Is there any release dates for the heat gun and wrenches? Can’t wait to get my hands on those.
Damian C Deleon
Any Idea the Temperature reachable on that Heat Gun. With an accessory Kit, I’m wondering whether it can be used to Join 2 pieces of PVC waterstop together. Traditionally we use a welding iron designed for PVC waterstop reaches between (250º-500º ). Wonder if it could do the same job but cordless.
Tye
Do you have an estimate for the M12 Fuel hammer drill? Thanks.
Stuart
Everything should be out by December.
Tye
Thanks Stuart, I have since confirmed with a chain store that we are getting them here in Australia in Q1 2018!! 🙂
Will
Price and availability on the ratchets?
Stuart
September 2017.
Pricing hasn’t been officially announced yet. I was told it would be comparable to a competitor’s popular air ratchet. They showed me an online example, and I think the price was ~$260. So maybe we should expect a ~$260 kit price. The 1/2″ will cost a little more than the other sizes.
(Ingersoll Rand 3/8″ Hammerhead via Amazon)
Sergey
That online example has 180 ft lbs of torque, 3 times of the Milwaukee’s ratchet!
It’s more comparable to this air ratchet with 70 ft lbs: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004XOSY/ref=psdc_9022387011_t3_B003V9P6RO
That one is selling for $129. I’d expect Milwaukee to sell their version for $149 for a bare tool.
Stuart
You could be right. Thanks!
There’s no press release yet, and no prices I can see. I think the price is TBD, as all they could tell me is that it would be comparable to a leading air tool competitor’s model. Maybe they brought up the wrong model on their phone.
Brian
My first thought was $130 for the 1/4″, $140 for 3/8″ and $160 for 1/2″ bare tool. So I tend to agree with you.
Will
I was just about to pull the trigger on the older 3/8 milwaukee m12 ratchet… glad I didnt! Gonna go with this instead in 1/2.
Damian C Deleon
Yeah, Kicking myself as i Just picked up the old 3/8″ model a few months back. Guess I’ll end up getting the new 1/2″ to fit my 1/2″ drives.
Shane
The Hammerhead looks like it’s an impact ratchet, so they get more torque from the impact mechanism.
Steve
Can you expand on the features of the packout system? Or is it too early?
Stuart
I’m working on it. =)
Would you want to see a bunch of images as soon as I’m done processing them, or are you okay waiting a little longer (maybe a day) for the full write-up?
Steve
No rush, take your time and do it right!
Electricguy
In my opinion, those screwdriver handles are backwards. I try to avoid any handle like that. Anytime you’re trying to apply force while turning your hand will slip towards the shaft.
Think about the new grips on power tools. The thinner portion of the grip is at the bottom towards your pinky, not at the top by your thumb.
I have this problem with Estwing grips as well. They’re wide at the bottom and thinner at the top, it should really be the opposite for the best grip and ergonomics.
BikerDad
It depends on what you’re doing with a tool. For any sort of “swinging” tool, such as an axe or hammer, the wider grip helps to keep the tool in hand as it accelerates away from you. For a demolition screwdriver, which is what is pictured, same thing.
Electricguy
I work with a lot of screwdrivers and there are no cases where it makes sense to have the type of shape the ones above do.
Klein’s black handled journeyman drivers were shaped that way and they were real annoying to work with my hand always slipping forward towards the skinny part when applying any force. As far as the hammer they can still flare the bottom out and keep a more ergo grip and not sacrifice safety.
Stuart
They said the handles were specially designed to help keep users’ hands away from the ends when striking with a hammer. As for how well they work to do that, we’ll have to see what people think when they hit the marker.
Lenny
Storage stuff is nice. Was hoping to see something that would go against flexvolt. A little disappointing.
Stuart
We can build some ideas around something I was told that is not secret but not publicized. I’ve worked on the post a little, will look it over with a figurative pen soon.
JC
I have to agree with you, I think NPS should have stood for “Nothing Particularly Special”. There were some neat things like new HT imp wrench (been waiting a long time for update before I would buy one) , soldering iron, and ratchets.
This was probably not a bad show for plumbers but I was looking for a flexvolt response in the former of a 12″ miter, chainsaw, worm drive circ saw, and other tools with dual batteries.
Notwithstanding the information Stuart is referencing as not publicized but not secret, I was again disappointed by NPS and have chosen to add Makita (4th batt platform) to my tool chest. They have several tools I was hoping that Milwaukee would release but didn’t.
Hopefully Stuart’s info pertains to dual batteries and hybrid plug in options because I never thought I’d see the day when Ryobi would have a potentially more powerful tool than Milwaukee (dual battery ryobi sliding miter saw).
glenn
Although you and I are in the same boat regarding looking at adding some Makita as a 4th battery platform, I thought this years NPS had some pretty good releases, certainly better than last years.
From my wishlist, the only one I got was the T50 stapler, however was surprised by and will be adding the said stapler, the soldering iron and the heat gun.
I also use the current M12 ratchet daily for work but as it works perfectly for my needs so far, I wont be replacing it with the new one til this one fails, tempting as it is.
My main disappointment was the lack of an upgraded M12 jigsaw and still no inflator. I already have the Ryobi inflator so that’s fine but its the jigsaw I am undecided about, having just sold off my M12 version. These 12v CXT jigsaws are looking good. Not a lot of info, but scroll down the page to the bottom left,
https://www.makitatools.com/whatsnext?id=slWtuDMW6Ys
If Milwaukee are planning on doing an upgraded M12 jigsaw anytime in the near future, they should start leaking news now, rather than have people jumping into other brands. Its not like its a state secret, its just an upgraded tool after all.
I don’t think it would overly affect sales of the current one as it would most likely be brushless and be at a higher price point. Nothing wrong with having them both on the market, it works with drills/impacts etc.
JC
I bought more of the releases from last year than I will this yr. I too am waiting on an upgraded jigsaw but an m18 version.
There were a couple of things I will pick up for sure from this NPS. I just looked at pro tool reviews Makita media event releases along with a couple of other new releases and there are 8 tools I want. Haven’t felt that way about NPS since 2014 or 15.
Nathan
that staple gun intrigues me but I’d prefer it in a 18V flavor. I think the form factor would allow that with ease and it would give you more power – when you might need it.
I like the idea.
Love the ratchets – I wish dewalt would make one also, but again here is another device where I would prefer it have the 18/20V battery setup. And I don’t know of anyone that uses a 1/2 drive air ratchet. 1/4 however is nice. and I would want a 1/4 and a 3/8.
Stuart
If it’s popular enough, maybe they’ll do that too.
In the meantime, this has plenty power for T50 staples, and is smaller, lighter, and cheaper than an M18 version might have been.
Steve
Were there any new outdoor power equipment products?
Benjamen
Nope.
firefly
I watched some videos on the new modular storage system and they do indeed look to very well designed. They seem to put a lot of attention to many little details which is nice. Surely they have all the time to come up with a better design and they certain did. Color me impressed.
e. baker
I’m loving their modular storage offering, but I’m wondering if they’re just a little late to the game.
DeWalt has had modular storage out for quite some time with both their toughsystem and tstak systems and within the last couple years Ridgid jumped into the mix as well. Both are very, very competitively priced during sales / promos, etc. and I’m left wondering how Milwaukee will perform when it comes to sales seeing as how a great number of individuals have bought into one or the other existing platforms.
I will say that the Milwaukee packout products look like they should definitely command a higher price-point…but WOW…was shocked to see it that high. I figured if the pricing was more competitive between them and the DeWalt and Ridgid offerings…Milwaukee diehards would dump their existing configurations and jump on board with this…but at this price-point…idk if that will happen.
I myself personally own two of the Ridgid units, with all four pieces in the set up and while I really, really like what I’ve seen from the Milwaukee side…I don’t know if I could justify unloading my existing sets to snag the Milwaukee set.
Matt
They will capitalize on their brand popularity.
Guys who own red and black tools want red and black boxes… Kind of feels like cheating when you reach for the Surge thats placed in the Tstak …
Price may deter a few but maybe they will have bundled deals around xmas similar to dewalt and ridgid.
Stuart
I asked about bundled deals, and the response suggested that there aren’t any such promos in place. Yet?
Maybe there will be starter sets with tools?
They were cautious about discussing the next series of Packout pouches.
Dennis
I’ve been waiting on the Milwaukee modular storage for years, glad they finally made it happen. I saw some video of the system and it looks great. Particularly the part where 2 half boxes can lock side by side to 1 standard width box, and the fact that they’ve integrated soft side storage too. My only wish is that they would have made them black so they didn’t scream “Hey Milwaukee tools here come steal me.”, but that’s a personal preference.
Was there any mention if Milwaukee was going to be creating factory molded inserts for the system based on their M12s= and M18 tools?
dcl
The packout stuff looks great, and I might invest in some of the bags and smaller cases since the integration looks convenient, but the pricing is absurd for the full kit. I don’t really care how durable it is, 3x the cost of a comparable rigid kit is not worth it on the incredibly off chance one of them breaks. I have some Ridgid, Dewalt, and Bosch L boxx’s and have never managed to break one, a d I’m very hard on my stuff. I’m not going to spend $2-$3 thousand dollars on a storage system when a $700 system will do 90% of the same thing. I’m growing increasingly frustrated with Milwaukee as they seem to be abandoning actual contractors and going after affluent home gamers who just have to have the latest and best stuff. Hard to make money if you’re blowing it all on toys and gimmicks.
ACalz
yea lol what are the chances a cinder block ands on it. They look great but you could have 3 ridged sets at that price.
jc
Good point. As a side note though, I have every size of the DeWalt Tough System and have managed to crack two XL sizes by standing on the lid (I weigh 145) and have never gotten any of them to actually be air tight. i.e. close lid, latch, close valve, then push on the lid and hear air escape out the sides. The large size seems to be the best compromise and I use it in the bed of the truck to hold towing chains but do not expect it to last forever. The video of the cinder block dropping on the new Milwaukee is awe-inspiring and although I won’t be dropping any cinder blocks I do expect to drop my toolbox from bed height. I have no hope the DeWalt will make it through unscathed based on my experience.
Brian Miller
I’m a masonry contractor and I can see blocks dropping on it, I’ve done it myself. I’ve had excavators drop boulders from their backhoe and break a tool box. If a 145 lbs. guy had cracked it by standing on it, I’ll cave it in pretty easily. I have the tough system and won’t change just because I own red tools and black and yellow boxes, but it’s nice to know that this product is out there because the tough system won’t last forever.
David
Did they happen to introduce a shallow version of their 10 compartment “pro small parts organizer”? I’d happily buy lots of them if they made the same thing with more, shallower, smaller cups!
Stuart
No, but I pushed for it again.
David
Thank you!
Rock Hound
What size chuck is on the new 12v brushless drill? In the picture, it looks smaller than the older version, which has a 1/2 inch chuck. It was one of the biggest selling points for me on the old model.
Stuart
1/2″
Bob
How about new 7″ miter saw?
Stuart
That would be in my top 10 favorite new Milwaukee tools.
mattd
Is it really much different than the ridgid one? with them coming out with bigger batteries I don’t see much of a difference
Stuart
I’m not ready for a head to head comparison, but I can say I’d choose Milwaukee’s over Dewalt’s. I HATE the blade change process on the Dewalt, which involves having to loosen very tight guard screws with the included very ineffective combo tool.
Not a lot of users change miter saw blades often, but I tend to work with different materials that really requires it.
fred
In the shop we had 5 dedicated chop/miter saws (some different vintage, styles and makers 12 inch saws) for cutting different materials. One for aluminum (Feud LU89M012 blade)
, one for plastic (CMT 222.096.12 blade), one for solid surface materials (Freud LU95R012), one for fine trim (Forrest MM121006 blade) and one for general trim (Forrest CM12806115 blade). If you have the room and volume of work – this improves productivity. Sometimes we’d set up more than one of these saws with the same style blade if we had a big job going. In the field we’d change our blades when switching between chopping pressure treated lumber and doing trim work – or if we were doing a batch of onsite work with laminate flooring, solid surface trim, Trex decking or aluminum. Of course if the volume of cuts were low – I suspect the guys would just go with whatever was mounted on the saw (typically a CM12906115 – 90 tooth blade) thus keeping our resharpening contract with Forrest going.
Albert
Hey Stuart….I’m so tempted to get into the M12 line, however I’m DEEPLY invested into the Dewalt 20v line. Any idea if Dewalt abandoned their 12v line? I wish we had some insight to what’s going on there. I would hate to start dropping $$ on M12 and then Dewalt wakes up. Thanks!
Stuart
Speaking frankly, if in your shoes I wouldn’t hesitate to go with M12.
And if Dewalt comes out with an appealing 12V Max tool in the future, you can just get a battery and charge it on your 20V Max charger.
When’s the last time a Dewalt 12V Max tool came out?
https://toolguyd.com/tag/dewalt-12v/
Here are the headlines of the most recent Dewalt 12V Max posts:
Line lasers in October 2015
20V and 12V Max USB adapter in January 2015
20V and 12V Max Bluetooth speaker in October 2014
20V and 12V Max Heated Gear Hoodies in July 2014
20V and 12V Max Dual-Port Charger in April 2014
M12: https://toolguyd.com/tag/milwaukee-m12/
The M12 lineup is huge, and there are continued advancements.
Dewalt 12V Max lineup hasn’t been abandoned, but it’s obvious that Dewalt hasn’t been putting anywhere near as many engineering resources into it.
Joe
Not a bad show ,not a great show and no answer for Flexvolt……I see Milwaukee is up to their old Tricks….
Dropping a CINDER Block on a Dewalt value priced ds130 ……Not the ds150 which is much beefier and made to higher standards…….just like Last year comparing the 9ah Milwaukee battery to a Flexvolt 6ah……..
It’s SAD when Milwaukee has to resort to gimmicks and deceptive comparisons…
……I’m in the m12 line as Dewalt doesn’t have one ,to speak of…..I like the stapler
Stuart
Every brand will design their competitive demos to make their products look better.
Is the DS150 built beefier than the DS130? From what I can tell, there are some greater benefits.
Part of the savings could be in how the DS130 is made in USA, and the DS150 in Israel, which I would guess leads to greater transport and distribution costs.
Hilario
Tough system is still better, when you have the dolly. That demonstration with the cinder block was bogus. You can tell that they better up the tough box, then painted it to hide the burn marks. That thing was too brittle. I will recreate that drop with my own tough box, which suits in the sun alot, to prove that demo was rigged. Also what if you have a high stack and want to get to the bottom box? Tough system allows you to access any box independently.
Stuart
It wasn’t bogus. Dewalt ToughSystem boxes do crack like that under concentrated strikes. I took a sledge to a ToughSystem box a few years ago, and a piece of the top just cracked away from the main box and fell inside.
It’s tough under everyday stresses, but at higher impact energy it does exhibit brittle fracture and breakage. The before-demo and after-demo boxes didn’t seem to have been modified in any way except to remove the logo.
ToughSystem allows you to access any box independently ONLY when using the large dolly. Using the ToughSystem bottom box cart, the effect is the same.
Packout vs. ToughSystem is going to be a great discussion, because both lines have different pros and cons.
What that demo shows is that the Packout boxes might be tougher in theory. Realistically, is the difference enough to matter? I’ll have to run my own controlled drop tests to see how much of a difference there is.
Phi Nguyen
Any new One Key tools announced? I was hoping for a One Key Surge.
Stuart
One-Key heavy duty impact wrench with lug nut tightening settings.
The non-One-Key has a fastener loosening mode, which also be set on the One-Key model. That mode starts at 100% to bust a fastener free, then goes to 40% for greater control.
Benjamen
The two battery, tall Radius light is also One-Key. That’s it though. They talked about app usage doubling, continued app usage growth, and improvements they want to make to the app. There wasn’t much.
Jeremy
That storage kit looks exactly like the Ridgid modular boxes which I have. There’s no way they can beat the Ridgid price if they put em side by side at HD. I think the small boxes are 30 bigger boxes are 40ish and the roller is like 70 or 80 bucks. Best boxes I’ve ever had to bad I recently sold like my 4 Ridgid kits to buy a new M18 fuel and M12 fuel kit…. Sigh first world problems…
Stuart
That’s the tip of the iceberg though – there are many more Packout products. That’s the first full NPS17 preview post I’m working on.
Plus the Milwaukee boxes won’t have the California Prop 65 warning that keeps my Ridgid boxes from being used for photo gear and other similar non-tool stuff.
Johnny Bright Light
I wouldn’t mind a set of brushless ratchets and the stapler, maybe a black Friday sale would be in order……… but since they be new, I kinda doubt it
Brian
The pack out looks awesome, but I’m heavily invensted in the tough system. Does the packout have a “dolly” like dewalt or is the bottom box attached to the dolly?
Stuart
It’s a bottom cart.
But I was given a *wink, wink* that they have a lot more up their sleeves.
This seems to be “foundation” products that will be built upon and accessorized. And the way they designed the tops, there’s a lot of potential for expansion.
Adam
Where is an updated fan? The M18 is horrible compared to other offerings, especially the ones from their sister companies.
While they were making Fuel ratchets, I wouldn’t have minded seeing a Fuel Rotary tool. Could toss the plug-in Dremel if they did.
I don’t know how much sense it makes, but I wish Milkwukee would go back & tweak some of their tools. Not enough for a whole show, but enough to keep it relevant (ie their fan). I just received the M12 radio, and I love it. Perfect size/sound/protection, but no USB or bluetooth (and maybe a more universal plug input). It seems without those features, it is way over priced at $100, but don’t see a whole redesign being necessary either.
patrick
im super excited for that stapler and the new ratchets, im not sure if the staples we use are t50, but i hope so. we do a ton of seat recovering and the pneumatic is good but it ties up the air for too long
Myframe
How about a framing nailer ?
Stuart
Sorry, not this year.
Abel
Waooo !!!! We do MOBILE HOMES work and we are talking to buy any battery operated stapler, we use the normal stapler and now with this one we see!!! We can wait for it!!!!!!
fred
Can buy this one neow if you can’t wait
http://www.cpoindustrialpowertools.com/factory-reconditioned-makita-bst221z-r-18v-cordless-lxt-lithium-ion-16-gauge-3-8-in–crown-stapler–bare-tool-/mktrbst221z-r,default,pd.html
fred
also this one:
http://www.tools-plus.com/makita-xts01z.html?gclid=CPbbn5OIttQCFdqLswodzQsNEg
Steve
I like the new m12 drill drivers…they finally got the sizing right…wish they would have done put a knurled chuck on the drill like Dewalt has…the Milwaukee one just looks cheap and is slippery.
Apenas83
I was waiting for the new tool chest to be released thinking it would cost like $800 but if it will be be $1000 I’ll have to go with the husky, may I ask if the Milwaukee people told you it would probably be $1,000?
Stuart
Yes. I asked, and that’s the price I was told. But I should mention that pricing can change until it’s in a press release or published elsewhere, but even then it’s not set in stone.
From what I saw, and different tool storage combos I priced out over the years, $1000 is likely lower than they could reasonably sell it for. $800 is too low for the upgrades you get over their existing 46″ combo, which retails for $700 most of the year.