Which Milwaukee Combo Kit Should You Buy? M18 Fuel vs M12 Fuel vs Compact

You're in the market for a Milwaukee combo kit, but there are so many to choose from! M18 Fuel or M18 Brushless? M12 Fuel or M18 Compact? In this video, we're gonna highlight the differences between each Drill and Impact Driver Milwaukee Combo Kit, to help you decide which set is best for you.

The field we have in this video is the new Milwaukee Tool drill and impact driver combo kit, featuring the Gen 4 Hammer Drill (2904-20) and the Gen 4 Impact Driver (2953-20). Representing the M18 Compact Brushless combo kit we'll be detailing the drill driver (3601-20) and the impact driver (3650-20). Rounding out our group is the M12 Fuel Combo Kit, that includes the M12 Fuel Hammer Drill (3404-20) and the M12 Fuel Impact Driver (3453-20).

We'll go over the specifications, features, and performance of each of these tools as well as give you a rundown of where you can find these combo kits, and how much they'll cost you!

00:00 Which Combo Kit Should You Buy?
00:30 M12 Fuel Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit
03:37 M18 Compact Brushless Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit
05:37 M18 Fuel Hammer Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit
07:34 What is Milwaukee One Key?
09:17 Pricing

[APO]

From the instant I saw your eyepatch I knew I could trust your word on power tools, thank you kind sir

[LessEnergy]

If you’re a tool addict like me you just buy them all

[mikejrog]

Bought my first M12 fuel tools in Feb 2023 and fell in love immediately! Lightweight and packs a huge punch. Started with hammer drill and impact driver. Added the hackzall and hatchet later. Love them all! Highly recommend for sure.

[davidperry]

I have an M12 gen 3 fuel impact driver and pushed it hard for by doing a project that recommends M18 fuel. Got the anvil hot and I let it cool down but no harm done. My M18 fuel gen 2 circular saw acted up but got it repaired under warranty and it’s stronger than ever. Even the best power tool manufacturers have made lemons. Damaged my M18 fuel mower under operator error which isn’t covered under warranty but quick turn around. I’m just one of those DIYers that chose to pay the premium for commercial grade tools and I see the value of it.

[pointnozzleaway]

The M18 Compact Brushless Drill is a Favorite. I have one at Work & Home 👍👍

[infamousgbear]

I’m mostly homeowner/diy but I do I little bit of restaurant/cafe equipment repair and building maintenance stuff at times. I got the newest m12 combo kit and it’s been absolutely amazing. Does way more than it should be capable of

[zeroelus]

I chose M18 mostly because of the other tools available. Critically I was looking for the M18 cordless inflator since I wanted it on my wife's car. She drives quite a bit, is sometimes far away from my home office and can be carpooling not just with our kids but with other children, if she needs it I wanted the fastest one possible, it's size not being an issue since she drives a minivan and there's always more space in that car :) From there I backtracked into the M18 2892-22CT combo. The included impact driver is more than enough for what I need, and it mostly is ready for tire changing duties/car maintenance. It has successfully loosened lug nuts overtightened by unscrupulous tire shops using air impact wrenches and has enough power to also jack up the car, using a scissor jack adapter, and driving screws or bolts into wood with it is not something I do often, but it's obviously great at that too. The only weak point of that combo is that the included drill does not have hammer mode, which is critical since most of the constructions over here are brick or concrete. I ended up buying just the 2904 tool, and it's a beast. I've seen newer combos do include a brushless hammer drill. I dobut I would have bought the 2904 in that case.

Some 3...or 4? years ago now I bought my dad the M12 hatchet saw and that was my first experience with Milwaukee's system. It is an awesome tool and just right for what my dad needed.

[james]

M12 is great for both homeowners and trades who use their tools as a resource rather than the main means of doing their job. General contractors aren't going to carry M12s as their primary tool for industrial construction. But for automotive it's a goldmine being compact and having the ratchets. My buddy is a plumber and uses m12s. I know his favorite is the one hand fuel recip saw.

M18s are for when you're going to beat on them all day rather than a few screws here and a cut there. The m18s are truly contractor tools. While they try to bleed into the home market with the OTE stuff, dual 12ah batteries to power the mower they might as well make it MX based.

[michaelpoczynek]

I did a lot of research and came to the conclusion that for power tools Milwaukee was the best. I have since converted over, and been loving these tools ever since. I highly recommend them! 😀

[marjorie]

I love this video! You get right to the point explained clearly and thoroughly, and you truly answered all of my questions. Thank you for a great video.

[potvinsuks]

From reading alot of these comments, it seems that the new Sub Compact Brushless model gets quite alot of hate but I suppose I can understand it if you're someone who has already been established.

However, for someone like me who is only getting into this stuff for the first time in his adult life, starting off with the Compact M18 line makes sense.

It's lighter, faster and more powerful then the M12 line and the Charger that comes with it is also good for M12 gear so you future proof in that sense.

Picked up the combo kit with the compact drill and 3 CP 2.0 batteries for $235 over Labor Day Sale and just returned one of those batteries for $70 bringing my cost down to $165 for both tools (Compact Drill + Brushless Impact Driver + 2 2.0 CP 2 Batteries) which is on sale now (Black Friday) for only $189.

So in my situation, this is the more prudent move in my opinion.

Edit: Wanted to also say that it was between the new Mikwaukee Compact Brushless and the DeWalt DCF 850 Atomic. I still want that DCF 850 one day for sure but how come there are no comparisons between the two? Seems like they are the two perfect head to head duelers along with Metabo's Triple Hammer etc.

[jamesgoens]

Nice explanation of the different platforms. I just upgraded from the Gen 1 M12 set to the Gen 3 set today. I really like all of my M12 tools and lights. Can’t wait to try the new set out.

[TheAlpineShepherdBoy]

After watching the video, and figuring my specific needs/wants, I went with M12 Fuel combo kit and am very happy with them. They perform perfectly for me and what I need from them. Thanks for the straight-forward and informative video. The problem now is, I already want to start getting the M18 Fuel line as well. Not because I need them, just because I want them, too... My best justification so far is "just in case" I may find myself not being able to tackle a job with the M12 tools.

[Dhughe]

M12 fuel set is on sale at Home Depot right now for $145. You just return the free gift (extra battery)

[fabiantaveras]

For work I use a combo of the M12 gen 3 impact and the gen 4 hammer drill. I love the power to size/weight ratio of the M12 and the M18 hammer drill crushes whatever task I give it.

[devonboyer]

When I was doing electrical work my favorite combo was the m18 fuel drill and m12 fuel impact!

[arthurschamne]

I just bought the 3497-22 m12 fuel combo at a steal, as I got the combo along with the 2522-20 M12 cut off tool and a 48-11-2425 M12 2.5ah battery for $270.

[wuldntuliktonoptb]

The m12 isn’t just for DIY home guys. I work in the HVAC field and you’ll see people carrying the hammer drill, impact, and the surge all day long. Those drills are super small especially with the battery so ya can easily fit it down in your bag.

[dtn]

Most reviews like this video unfortunately left out one of the most important safety feature of the flagship M18 FUEL hammer drill; the auto stop feature to save your wrist or face/teeth when the bit gets caught in whatever being drilled.

[gameplayer]

The M12 hammer drill/ driver overheats when you drill numerous larger holes.