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The Drill and Impact driver , in my opinion, are two of the most important and one of the most used tools in any type of workshop. Over the years i have owned and used dozens of combo kits. If you want to play on the ball field of a "pro" you need to be taking your hand tools seriously. In my experience the time lost in efficiency of a slow or unreliable tool can be detrimental in running a "pro" shop. Also, no one likes having a massive set of drills when they're doing small furniture work. Typically in our industry (furniture maker) the tendency is to lean towards the lower voltage tools because they're smaller and more compact. That is all changing now with the innovations in the industry, and the Milwaukee Hammer Drill & Impact Driver Combo have an amazingly small profile and still pack the power of an 18v tool!
*This post is sponsored by the Home Depot
These tools have a lot of really cool features, Milwaukee really put the time into improving on their last models and stepping it up in the very competitive world of drills and impact drivers. To start, the hammer drill claims to be the shortest in its class at 6.9" and the impact driver is the same coming in at 4.59". Also the M18 FUEL 18V cordless tools are most powerful in their class with some crazy specs like:
The hammer drill has some nice subtle upgrades too. Like a brand new all metal knurled chuck for fast bit changing and durability. If you're like me, you do not like plastic on your tools. This is a prime example of a small addition that i believe takes this tool over the top. not to mention the extremely compact design that allows for the use of a full size 18v tool in very very tight spaces. The impact driver is no different. With a brand new housing, the head of the driver is absurdly compact. It has a very comfortable grip and a multi speed function for quick changes when in use. The sheet metal screw setting is one of my favorites, the gun ramps up nice and slow and then buries the screw without stripping it out, its awesome. One tiny detail for me is the auto locking chuck on the M18 Impact Driver. When you're swapping bits all day long, it is nice to have the bit seat properly and lock in place, which this gun has, and some of the other guns in my shop do not.
PRICE:
For professional grade tools you have to be ready to spend top dollar, and the Milwaukee FUEL 18v Hammer Drill & Impact Driver Combo kit is no exception. Coming in at $379.00 for the combo kit including (2) 5Ah batteries, charger, and carrying case, you are going to be paying top dollar. Now do I believe it is over priced, perhaps, it is a very hefty chunk of change, no doubt.
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When you break it down though, the pricing is much more reasonable considering the kit includes 2 Tools: M18 FUEL Hammer Drill & Impact Driver. One advantage to investing in the Milwaukee platform is that they have put an emphasis on making their battery platform forward and backward compatible. Which means the (2) 5Ah Batteries included with this kit can be used with over 150 other tools in the Milwaukee line up. As we all know, the price of batteries is on the rise due to the extreme competition and advances in technology. A single 5.0 Ah Battery with charger will run you $150.00, and a battery alone is $139.00. So the bargain in this kit is for sure those (2) 5Ah batteries and the amazing new combo kit.
MY THOUGHTS
A few things make the Milwaukee FUEL 18v Hammer Drill & Impact Driver Combo kit a solid buy for me. First being the reliability and overall quality of the tools. These are professional grade tools for the Professional. There is no questions about that. If you're a DIY'er or weekend warrior, you most likely will not be spending the money on something like this. But, if you did, you wouldn't need another drill and impact for the next decade. Being fully compatible with the M18 System, featuring over 150+ tools I will always invest in the Milwaukee tool system simply because batteries are expensive, and I know they emphasize usage for all their tools past and present. Not to mention, the M18 FUEL 18V cordless tools are most powerful in their class. If you're a Pro, who is in the M18 family, this kit is your next must have. No questions asked.
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I acknowledge that The Home Depot is partnering with me to participate in the ProSpective 2018 Campaign. As a part of the Program, I am receiving compensation in the form of products and services, for the purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All expressed opinions and experiences are my own words. My post complies with the Word Of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission guidelines.
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I used to be an offensive lineman in the NFL, Now I run my own furniture business and am completely self taught. In my videos and posts you'll see a variety of wood and metal work as well as some tips and tricks. Enjoy!
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Pittsburgh-based custom wood and metal worker. Tool Reviews, DIY Projects, and a whole lot of yinzer pride. Join the movement & punch your next project in the face.
