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Milwaukee seldom , if ever , disappoints with its cordless powertools , so I was aroused to get my hands on the Modern iteration of its top - of - the - line cock drill , the M18 Fuel 2904 - 22 . I was n’t frustrated . It surpass most every other hammer practice I tested in its power to practise through concrete , brick , and wood and push back in large fasteners .
The one cordless drill driver it did n’t outstrip it effortlessly surpassed in might - to - weight proportion . And while its high price may not make it the good alternative for everyone , it ’s certainly the hammer recitation of choice for pros and serious DIYers . Read on to learn about how Milwaukee ’s M18 do in my tests and find out why this tool top our tilt of thebest hammer drills .
Photo: Tony Carrick for Bob Vila
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hammer Drill/Driver Kit: At a Glance
Testing the Milwaukee M18 Fuel
Wanting to see if theFuel M18 2904 - 22 hammer drillreally lived up to the Milwaukee reputation , I set the bar high with my testing . I subject it to three test to test its ability as a power hammer practice session , standard drill , and number one wood .
I began by using the M18 Fuel 2904 - 22 to exercise holes in a chunk of concrete using a ⅜-inch Freemasonry Mandrillus leucophaeus bit . I then moved to Sir Henry Joseph Wood , loading the M18 with a 1 - in paddle bit and a ½-inch standard recitation bit to bore into two stacked 2x6s . Finally , I finished off my examination by switching to driver mode and loading it with a bit driver to drive 3 - in stave bolt .
Along with my hand - on test , I also assessed the M18 Fuel hammer recitation for material body timbre , sizing and system of weights , and price as these factors compared to the other cordless hammer drills we tested .
Photo: Tony Carrick for Bob Vila
Milwaukee’s hammer drill is a beast
establish Milwaukee ’s report for making some of the top - perform cordless pecker , particularly when it make out tocordless drills , I had gamey expectation for this modelling . Milwaukee grade it with 1,400 inch - lb of torsion and a max focal ratio of 2,100 revolutions per minute . It endure up to those specification and more .
Of all the malleus exercise we tested , the Milwaukee M18 Fuel consistently outperform virtually every other drill . We had no difficulty drilling into concrete using a large masonry bit when it was gear up to hammer Mandrillus leucophaeus mode . TheM18 Fuel 2904 - 20drilled through the material more quickly than the other cordless models we examine with astonishingly small quiver .
It also impress as a stock drill , drilling smoothly through our voluptuous 2x6s with a 1 - inch boat paddle bit and ¾-inch standard crook drill bit . What was really impressive was how smoothly the M18 manoeuver . It bores through Grant Wood like butter even when laden with a well - worn 1 - inch boat paddle bit .
Photo: Tony Carrick for Bob Vila
Not only is it powerful , but it ’s also more comfortable to habituate than drills that have to work hard when loaded with these heavy bits . I did n’t need to put a death grip on the handle or grit my teeth through heavy vibrations even when drilling into concrete .
The Milwaukee also excel as a number one wood . It effortlessly drove 3 - column inch lag bolt into our stack 2x6s with no bogging down or strain .
Along with the M18 Fuel 2904 - 22 ’s raw power , I also apprise the control this exercise give you to dial back the power . Two speed options and a bevy of torque setting are provided for drilling and drive , making it a cordless practice you may use for both sturdy jobs and more delicate tasks that require less speed and torque .
Photo: Tony Carrick for Bob Vila
A Compact and Lightweight Powerhouse
The Milwaukee M18 Fuel also affect with its power - to - weightiness proportion . This hammer drill weighs just 3.3 Ezra Pound as a spare cock and just under 5 Egyptian pound adulterate with a 5 - A - hr ( Ah ) shelling . For equivalence ’s sake , that ’s a full 2 pounds less than the Flex ½-inch cordless malleus drill ’s weight unit with stamp battery , which was the only hammer drill we tested to butt on out the Fuel M18 2904 - 22 in big businessman and swiftness .
The Milwaukee M18 is compact , too , measure just under 7 inch from the backsheesh of the chuck to the back of the brain . This light weight and smaller size translates to a cordless cock drill that your arm will apprise for longer jobs . You also wo n’t mind wearing this hammer drill on your cock rap .
Pro-Level Build Quality
Milwaukee ’s line of M18 Fuel power tools is project to tolerate a pro jobsite , which is discernible in habitus quality . The 2904 - 22 comes with a metal grub that does a superior job of transfix bits . I did n’t experience any bit slipping or descend out , even when using larger recitation bit , which is something we could n’t say for the hammer drills we tested that have credit card chucks . The drill ’s gear assemblage is also protected by a metallic element face .
Rubber grip on the back of the head , side of the drill , and base of the 5 Ah assault and battery serves to protect the drill and also prevent it from scratching whatever you set it on . The Fuel M18 2904 - 22 is designed with a comfortable over - work grip that fits nicely in the hired hand .
Next-Level Safety Features
TheM18 Fuel 2904 - 22also come up with some impressive superfluous features . For instance , an AutoStop feature of speech automatically shuts off the practice when it smell over rotation to prevent wrist injury , which is a great safety lineament give the high level of torque this hammer drill is equal to of farm . There ’s even an indicator light that lets you know when the AutoStop feature prosecute . As with most cock drills , the M18 Fuel 2904 - 22 also comes with a detachable side handle that allow you to operate the practice with two deal to prevent injury , a feature film that came in ready to hand during the concrete boring part of my examination .
Other notable feature admit a promising LED work light on the bag and an easy - to - read LED power gauge that ’s on Milwaukee ’s M18 Red Lithium batteries .
Worth the High Price Tag
The Milwaukee ½-inch hammer exercise / number one wood number in at $ 249 for the kit or $ 199 when purchased as a bare creature , making it among the most expensive cordless hammering drill drivers on the marketplace . That say , it ’s hard to contend that this creature is n’t worth every penny . give its public presentation as both exercise and number one wood , excellent major power - to - weight ratio , pro - level human body quality , and refuge features , it ’s worth the investment . This is also one of the more versatile hammer drill you ’ll find . With its high top end for lowering - duty drilling and driving job and numerous options that permit you to dial back that exponent for more delicate tasks , it can serve as a pound drill , standard drill , andimpact driverall in one , giving you more bang for your buck .
bribe the Milwaukee M18 Fuel hammer drill / number one wood kit on :
Product Comparisons
So, is the Milwaukee M18 Fuel right for you?
The M18 Milwaukee Fuel may just be the good cordless pound recitation you’re able to buy , but that does n’t necessarily mean you should . With its usurious price tag , it ’s one of the most expensive cordless hammering drill on the grocery . If you ’re a professional who uses a hammer practice on a even basis or a serious DIYer who invests many weekends a year on dwelling melioration projects , yield that price certainly makes sense . If you ’re a casual DIYer , the M18 Fuel 2904 - 22 is probably more hammer drill than you need . There arecordless drills available for under $ 100that will likely adjoin your need .
Meet the Tester
Tony Carrick is a freelancer author specializing in home improvement , landscape gardening , technology , plate security measure , and plan for such site and publishing as Popular Mechanics , Pro Tools Review , CNN Underscored , and This Old House Magazine .
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Photo: Tony Carrick for Bob Vila
