Switched from DeWalt to Milwaukee after 10 years and it stung a little

I ran DeWalt drills on every fence job from 2010 to 2020. But last spring my old hammer drill finally died on a rocky property outside Austin. I picked up a Milwaukee Fuel out of necessity since the local hardware store was out of DeWalt that day. Honestly, the Milwaukee has better torque on those 8 inch auger bits, but I still reach for my old 18v impact out of habit. Anyone else stick with a brand just because you've got the batteries and hate spending on new ones?

3 comments

3 Comments

casey161mo ago

My old 18v DeWalt finally gave out last summer on a job with hard clay soil and I had the same moment of hesitation. The Milwaukee Fuel I grabbed was a shock at first because the balance is different, but after three months I noticed it runs cooler and doesn't bog down on the heavy stuff. I still keep one old DeWalt impact in the truck for fence staples and light work since I have a pile of those 18v batteries that won't die. Battery loyalty is real though, it's hard to throw away a system you've got chargers and cases for scattered everywhere.

jennys722mo ago

Sticking with a brand for batteries is exactly why people end up with inferior tools. DeWalt hasn't made a game changing drill in years, their 18v line was outdated back in 2015. Milwaukee's Fuel hammer drill will punch through 8 inch augers in rocky soil without slowing down, while the old DeWalt just bogs out and heats up. You mentioned your old DeWalt was a 2010 model, that thing is a dinosaur compared to modern brushless motors. Battery loyalty is a trap, it just keeps you from using better technology.

adam_thompson532mo ago

Did you try swapping in a higher amp hour battery before giving up on it? I had a similar problem with my old Makita until I put a 5.0Ah in it and it woke right up.