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5 Expensive Milwaukee Tools Users Say Are Worth Buying – SlashGear

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5 Expensive Milwaukee Tools Users Say Are Worth Buying – SlashGear






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There’s no way around it: Milwaukee is an expensive brand. The toolmaker produces a lot of niche tools that specialized professionals rely on, as well as more common work tools and small, portable alternatives for DIYers and renters, and none are known for being especially affordable. For that, you’ll want to look at cheaper brands like Ryobi, Hercules, and Kobalt instead.

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However, purchasing an expensive tool doesn’t mean you’re wasting your money. Sure, buying into the Milwaukee ecosystem is a serious investment, but sometimes that investment pays off in spades. That’s true for a lot of the more expensive Milwaukee tools, but the five examples on this list represent the most beloved products made by the brand that the community absolutely recommends, even if they have a big price tag attached.

Of course, you should check for any active promotions. If you shop at Home Depot, for example, you can often get a Milwaukee tool with a battery included at no extra cost.

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M18 Fuel Hammer Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit

This kit, which includes the M18 Fuel Hammer Drill, the Impact Driver, and two M18 XC 5.0Ah batteries, is normally $400. It is not the cheapest way to get a drill and a driver, and even Milwaukee itself sells a more affordable hammer drill and impact driver bundle as part of the M12 portable productivity system lineup.

That said, $400 is a good price for a kit as versatile and powerful as this, at least according to professional reviewers and those who own it. The bundle has a nearly perfect review score on Home Depot, and Pro Tool Reviews called the M18 Fuel Impact Driver in this kit “the best all-around impact driver we’ve tested to date.” While the publication didn’t have quite the same words for the drill, it was still highly recommended, especially for its overall value.

That’s the secret to this bundle. While it isn’t cheap, the reason users so often recommend it is that, compared to buying its individual components, the kit is a steal. The two included batteries are usually sold for $170 each, while just one of these tools costs more than $200, making this combo kit, model number 3697-22, the cheaper option by far. Plus, the kit often goes on sale, and sometimes it comes with the High Output 6.0Ah M18 battery pack as a “free gift,” which is worth $200.

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M18 Fuel Oscillating Multi-Tool

Sold for $250, most users say the M18 Fuel Oscillating Multi-Tool is worth the price, even if other brands’ alternatives are quite a bit cheaper. DeWalt even sells a whole kit with battery, a charger, a bag, and an oscillating multi-tool for less than just the Milwaukee tool. Professional reviews of Milwaukee’s tool are very positive, with Pro Tool Reviews listing its relatively slow tool-free blade change as the only negative. Meanwhile, users simply love it, with many comparing it favorably to DeWalt’s version. At the time of writing, this tool is offered in a bundle with a High Output 6.0Ah M18 battery at no additional cost. According to users, this kind of deal happens pretty often.

While it seems to be aimed at carpenters (lots of enthusiastic users are, in fact, carpenters), there’s a lot you can do with a Milwaukee oscillating multi-tool. However, you need to get the right blades and attachments first. You can buy Milwaukee blades. However, with much less attention from users, it’s hard to say if they’re worth the higher price. Thankfully, a number of Ryobi attachment sets work on Milwaukee multi-tools, and they’re way cheaper than Milwaukee’s originals. A 16-piece set of blades and accessories from Ryobi will cost you about $50, significantly less than Milwaukee’s $70 eight-piece blade kit.

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M18 Fuel Hackzall Reciprocating Saw

While it’s now a somewhat common term for all small reciprocating saws, Milwaukee invented and owns the name Hackzall. It’s no surprise, then, that the company makes some of the best versions of this versatile one-handed tool. Its versatility means you’ll likely be using it more often than other cutting tools. Users recommend you pick the best of the best, the M18 Fuel Hackzall. This is a brushless tool, meaning (among other things) that the motor is less likely to fail; great for something you’ll get a lot of use out of.

The Fuel Hackzall is more expensive than non-M18, non-Fuel Milwaukee versions, as well as other brands’ alternatives. DeWalt’s Atomic Brushless reciprocating saw is technically just as expensive (both are sold at $200 when not on sale), but you can get DeWalt’s for free “with a qualifying purchase,” like a big pack of batteries and chargers.

Still, users say the Milwaukee is absolutely worth the price for the pivoting shoe and power. It gets 4.8 out of 5 stars on Home Depot, is recommended by many of its users, and has great professional reviews as well.

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M18 Fuel 1/2-inch Controlled Mid-Torque Impact Wrench

Why is an impact wrench that only goes up to 250 ft-lb of torque priced at $1,599.00? As you might imagine, the 1/2-inch Controlled Mid-Torque Impact Wrench isn’t a normal impact wrench. “Controlled” in the name refers to the ability to set a target torque via the One Key app without worrying that the tool will overtorque: an ability that few impact wrenches have, and one that Milwaukee claims to have perfected. And every single user review on Home Depot is a full five stars, wholeheartedly recommending this tool to those who need it.

According to Milwaukee, rather than relying on the imprecise method of counting the blows performed by the tool, this impact wrench uses sensors and “machine learning developed algorithms” to achieve higher repeatability. In this context, high repeatability means that repeated uses of the tool under similar circumstances create very similar results. Setting the torque to 100 ft-lb might not result in that exact number (that’s accuracy), but it will produce the same number every time.

If you were confused by its price, you weren’t the only one. Users ask about it quite often on the Milwaukee subreddit, and the answer is always the same: For someone who works on large-scale installation projects where precise torque levels are necessary, this tool (or the higher and lower torque models) is absolutely worth the money. As Milwaukee points out, the controlled torque line is designed for utility-scale solar projects like solar farms. And as noted by Pro Tool Reviews in its buying guide for this product, a trusty controlled torque impact wrench can save lots of time by removing the need to finish each bolt with a manual torque wrench.

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M18 Fuel Gen-2 Mid Torque Impact Wrench

More users recommend the Fuel Mid Torque Impact Wrench over the high torque version, since it’s not as heavy and can still handle most of what you can throw at it. With up to 650 ft-lb of breakaway torque, 2,575 max rpm, and a dedicated function to maximize torque when removing tough bolts, it shouldn’t have any problems with removing lug nuts from cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks.

Some users point out that it can struggle with nuts stuck with rust, but most owners seem to agree that, even at $279, the Mid Torque 1/2-inch Impact Wrench is worth its price. It has a near-perfect review score on Home Depot, with a 4.9-star average from over 2,500 user reviews. Users on forums praise the weight-to-power ratio, and professional reviews place it near the top of the pile for mid-torque impact wrenches.

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When using it with a large 5.0Ah battery, it weighs only around five pounds, while the head is only about six inches long, which helps it fit into tighter spaces. With four power modes and an auto shut-off to prevent overtightening, it’s a relatively precise tool, too.





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Milwaukee, WI

Brewers score: Mitchell, Contreras power Crew past Cubs

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Brewers score: Mitchell, Contreras power Crew past Cubs


Garrett Mitchell celebrates with third base coach Matt Erickson after hitting a two-run home run against the Chicago Cubs. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)

Garrett Mitchell and William Contreras homered, Jacob Misiorowski delivered another winning performance, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the rival Cubs 6-2 at American Family Field on Friday night.

Jacob Misiorowski

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By the numbers:

Misiorowski (9-3) struck out eight over six innings and 105.5 mph, tied for the third-fastest since pitch tracking began in 2008. He allowed one earned run – a Seiya Suzuki home run in the fifth – on two hits but walked four. His earned run average for the season now sits at 1.45.

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Home runs at AmFam

By the numbers:

Milwaukee trailed 1-0 when Misiorowski threw his final pitch of the night, but Mitchell belted a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to put Miz in position for the win. David Hamilton made it 3-1 with a triple that scored Cooper Pratt later in the sixth.

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Contreras added insurance with a two-run home run of his own in the seventh. Suzuki drove in Pete Crow-Armstrong with a sacrifice fly in the eighth to close the gap for Chicago, but Christian Yelich doubled home Pratt in the bottom half.

Abner Uribe pitched a scoreless seventh for his eleventh hold of the season, Aaron Ashby gave up the sac fly to Suzuki in the eighth and Trevor Megill walked one but worked a scoreless ninth.

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Former Milwaukee pitcher Colin Rea pitched five innings in the start for Chicago, but Ethan Roberts was credited with both the loss and a blown save. 

Brewers manager Pat Murphy, who had surgery Thursday for a ruptured disk in his back, guided his club from a safe spot near the dugout.

Saturday’s game

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What’s next:

LHP David Peterson (3-6, 6.09 ERA) makes his Cubs debut after being acquired Thursday from the New York Mets for minor league third baseman Cole Mathis. LHP Kyle Harrison (8-1, 2.50) starts for the Brewers.

The Source: Information in this story is from Brewers.com. The Associated Press contributed.

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Brewers Are Making a Mistake With Andrew Vaughn’s Playing Time

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Brewers Are Making a Mistake With Andrew Vaughn’s Playing Time


There are few things that the Milwaukee Brewers haven’t done right so far in 2026.

Milwaukee has navigated difficult injuries all season and yet it is 49-29 and has the second-best record in baseball behind the Los Angeles Dodgers (52-29) heading into an important series against the Chicago Cubs. How many teams out there could accomplish this feat when guys like Andrew Vaughn Christian Yelich, Quinn Priester, Jackson Chourio, and Brandon Woodruff all missed significant time at various points in the season? These are legit, star-level pieces and the Brewers navigated the losses admirably.

Right now, all of them are healthy, except Priester. The young starter will miss the entire season. Now, Milwaukee is firing on all cylinders and yet it could be even better. Soon enough, Logan Henderson will be back. Also, the offense would arguably be even better if Vaughn was given more opportunities. Since May 4, Vaughn is only eighth on the team in plate appearances, per Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

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Despite this, Vaughn has done nothing but tear the cover off the ball. In 39 games, he has slashed .355/.444/.542 with a .987 OPS, two homers, 12 doubles, and 23 RBIs. That’s the type of production you need in the lineup every night, regardless.

The Brewers Need To Give Andrew Vaughn More Time

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Jun 7, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Milwaukee Brewers infielder Andrew Vaughn (28) rounds third base to score in the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images | Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

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Brewers manager Pat Murphy acknowledged that Vaughn has had a weakness with some righties, as transcribed by Hogg.

“Heavy east-west sometimes is more troublesome for him,” Murphy said. “But for him this year you can look at it and go, ‘Yeah, against the two-seamer he’s been [worse]. But what about the times against the two-samer that he took it and got something else? You don’t get credit for being good against the two-seamer when you take it. You only get dinged when you swing at it.”

Still, this is a guy batting .355 since May 4. He’s obviously not perfect, but Milwaukee’s offense is better with him in it. Even if the club has to get creative. Jake Bauers has made his mark this season and needs playing time as well and both play first base, among others. Throughout Vaughn’s career, he has seen time at third base, second base, left field and right field, along with first base. Throughout the season to this point, there’s been chatter about how the Brewers haven’t had enough offense on the left side of the infield.

They recently promoted Cooper Pratt to play shortstop, so third base has been handled by David Hamilton and Joey Ortiz. Maybe a good idea could be trying to shift Vaughn to third base for the time being because they could then get his bat and Bauers’ bat in the lineup consistently. In that scenario, the Brewers could also consistently roll with an outfield of Chourio in left field, Garrett Mitchell in center field, and Sal Frelick in right field.

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At the end of the day, the Brewers need Vaughn’s bat in the lineup every day. If you can bat .355 over a 39-game stretch, you deserve significant playing time.

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We must have answers before awarding new wastewater contract | Opinion

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We must have answers before awarding new wastewater contract | Opinion



Milwaukee’s current wastewater treatment contract holder, Veolia Water Milwaukee, is under fire, with some calling for an audit.

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It goes without saying that Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) is an essential community asset.

Recently, MMSD has been in the news and not in a good way. The MMSD Commission voted to approve an audit of the district’s private wastewater operator. This is less than six weeks after the community organization Common Ground launched a public campaign calling for an audit of Veolia Water Milwaukee, alleging mismanagement of the Jones Island and South Shore wastewater treatment facilities.

I was briefly on a six-member MMSD advisory committee for the 1998 United Water Services contract. Now 28 years, and 2008, 2018, contracts later, the question is what firm to hire for the 2028 contract. I read Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Urban Milwaukee articles, whistle-blower letters and other materials and jotted down concerns listed below (there are others):

  • Veolia cut corners on treatment time and process chemicals
  • Veolia allowed MMSD assets — buildings and process equipment — to deteriorate
  • Veolia provided inadequate staffing
  • Employees, particularly those who questioned management, were treated poorly
  • Reversing these conditions will be very expensive, if it is even possible to do so

Aren’t these issues sufficient to disqualify Veolia from future consideration?

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MMSD has an innovative civil engineering history.

The national American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) designated the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewage Treatment Plant a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark when they honored Milwaukee in 1974 for developing the waste-activated sludge treatment process and pioneering a beneficial reuse of biosolids (Milorganite). MMSD has also been recognized for the Deep Tunnel and many innovative infrastructure and flood management projects over the years.

Wisconsin has a strong civil engineering community, which includes the American Society of Civil Engineers-Wisconsin Section (ASCE-WI); five civil engineering university programs with three —Marquette, MSOE and UW-Milwaukee — in Milwaukee); as well as many technical school and apprenticeship programs. Civil engineering projects require many types of expertise and skills.

Is anyone asking questions such as what should be the future of wastewater treatment in Milwaukee? Or what do citizens know about wastewater treatment? Or what do citizens need to know about treatment options to make informed decisions about parameters such as feasibility, public health, environmental protection, costs and financing?

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Before the next contract is decided and awarded, shouldn’t human waste generators (citizens), civil engineers and the wastewater industry be asking some of these important questions?

Carol Diggelman, PhD, Emerita Professor, Milwaukee School of Engineering, where she taught for over 30 years, has since retiring, resumed volunteer activities with the League of Women Voters and organized many programs at the intersection of infrastructure and natural resources. 



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