Tag: Milwaukee M18

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Milwaukee’s M18 Weed Eater Passed the TLR Test

milwaukee weed eater m18 head

Milwaukee’s M18 weed eater is a freak of nature. I like the Milwaukee string trimmer because it comes from a super deep bench of M18 batteries and has unbelievable torque and power despite low voltage.

But when they make a lawn tool, it does not miss. If you don’t believe me check out their lawn mower or their sweet cordless hedge trimmer.

Bottom Line: The Milwaukee M18 string trimmer has an impressive cutting swath, great battery system, is comfortable and easy to use, and a highly durable motor. This weed eater is darn near perfect. You can grab it from your local Home Depot by using this link.

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Milwaukee M18 Brushless String Trimmer: Features and benefits

We already know Milwaukee’s M18 series is built to provide serious power, so let’s break down exactly what makes this a great weed eater. I’m going to look specifically at power, comfort, durability, and price. All of these things together paint the picture of how much value this weed eater has.

This string trimmer provides serious power

Weed eater power is impacted by a few things. One of the most important is the battery voltage, but also the cutting swath and rotations per minute, or speed, of the string trimmer.

When I look at voltage, usually lower voltage means less power. Somehow, Milwaukee has managed to make their 18V battery provide more power than other 18V battery lines, like Ryobi. Interestingly, they have a High Output battery line that performs better in different temperatures and overall delivers power more efficiently. While you won’t get the same power as you would from an one of the EGO 56V weed eater, it is going to still be a noticeably powerful tool.

The next way to look at power is the cutting swath. The gold standard for a battery-powered weed eater is about 15 inches. Anything above a 15 inch cutting swath puts you in commercial territory. The Milwaukee M18 string trimmer has up to a 16 inch cutting swath, putting it right at the top of the competition. 

Lastly, RPMs are also a good indicator of how much power is being delivered. At 6,200 RPMs, this is up there as one of the most efficient weed eaters, providing a ton of spinning force which will help rip through grass with ease. 

Comfort and usability

The next most important thing to assess after power is how comfortable the M18 weed eater is to use. Frankly, there is nothing particularly special about the Milwaukee M18’s design to imply that it is more or less comfortable than other weed eaters.

Here are some features that come with many other battery-powered weed eaters that are also on the Milwaukee M18 weed eater:

These are relatively common across the dozens of weed eaters we have used, so there isn’t really anything special here. One thing I do NOT love about this weed eater is the battery placement. The M18 battery is at the very, very tip of the weed eater instead of embedded lower in the handle, making the balance a little trickier. It requires a minor increase in downward force / torque of the shoulder that makes it uncomfortable after a few minutes of use. 

Hate to say it, but the Milwaukee 2828 M18 Weed eater is very “average” in the comfort and usability department. 

One last thing I want to point out with this weed eater that’s a huge advantage is the length. At almost 74 inches long, it is the ideal length for a straight shaft weed eater. Longer shafts allow  you to be more precise when cutting.

The weed eater has a durable brushless motor

If you’ve read any of our other reviews, you will know how much emphasis we place on brushless motors. They are EVERYTHING in battery-powered tools and of course super important for weed eaters. 

Brushless motors provide more torque, a cooler running motor, and a more durable life than their brushed counterparts. When it comes to electric tools, they should really be required. I would never buy a brushed motor again. 

Luckily, the folks at Milwaukee included a brushless motor on the M18 string trimmer kit. This instantly puts it in the upper tier of weed eaters in the ranks of durability because it will outlast every single brushed motor out there. 

Another great thing about this one is that the M18 battery system is darn reliable. You can use it on so many of the other Milwaukee tools and because they have 200+ tools on this system, you are going to have no concerns about the durability of the battery. 

Again, Milwaukee backs up their tools AND batteries with a 3 year warranty. If you’re worried about durability – don’t be. 

It’s not all that expensive either

The Milwaukee M18 weed eater comes in at a STUNNING price of just under $200 – including the M18 battery. I was simply aghast when I saw the price. If you already have the M18 battery, you can buy the tool-only version for $180. 

Holy cow – this little piece of news changes the whole game. You can grab this at Home Depot for a great (ridiculous) price.

Best Weed Eater String for Milwaukee Weed Eaters

The Milwaukee M18 weed eater can take .080” or .095” weed eater string. We developed our own weed eater string after testing dozens of strings and combining the best elements of each into one .095” string. We think it absolutely rocks, but we are biased. It does fit in this weed eater and will definitely add more power. You can grab it below for a really low price.

Final Review: Milwaukee M18 Weed Eater

At first glance, I love the Milwaukee M18 weed eater. I thought: “Milwaukee makes freakishly powerful tools – so this one has to be great”. I saw it was brushless and had a big cutting swath, which confirmed my beliefs. But nothing about it really seemed special. It has totally stock features and doesn’t stand out from the crowd.

But then I saw the price and thought “Wow” this is a super valuable weed eater. It has amazing power, great durability, and an awesome warranty – all for under $200. 

If you’re in the market – and PARTICULARLY if you already own Milwaukee products – then you won’t regret buying this bad boy.

Why we review weed eaters

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site. 

How we spend our time.

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.

How to instantly improve your weed eater

Upgrade your weed eating game with the ultimate GrassKicker Weed Eater String! While weed eaters and lawn edgers are great tools, it’s not complete without the right string. Our specially crafted line is designed to enhance your weed eater’s performance and give you flawless edges around your yard and garden.

Don’t settle for subpar string that breaks easily and leaves ragged edges. Our team has scoured the market and combined the best colors, shapes, thicknesses, and materials to create a superior line that cuts more cleanly and lasts longer.

With GrassKicker, you can take pride in your perfectly manicured lawn and make a lasting impression on your friends and family. And who knows, your envious neighbors might just start dropping by more often! Don’t wait, elevate your weed eating game with GrassKicker Weed Eater String today! Click the link now to buy.

What to look for in a weed eater

Weed eaters AKA string trimmers come in all shapes and sizes. They aren’t highly complicated pieces of equipment, but they do have a few nuances. Here is how we evaluate a weed eater at The Lawn Review.

Feel

Obviously this is subjective, but feel is everything to me. I have had weed eaters in the past where the handle is off to the side, making me torque my shoulders and back. If you can, get as many adjustable pieces as possible to make this customizable. It doesn’t seem like you use a weed eater for a long time, but the work is precision work that requires a steady hand and focus.

Motor

Brushless motors are a non-negotiable when it comes to battery powered weed eaters. Without a doubt,  they are the best option to ensure you have maximum torque, more durability, and a longer life. These things are top notch performance and will be the only option when others start to catch on.

Curved vs Straight shaft

 I always, always, always prefer straight shafts. They are so much easier to use and control and are much longer than curved shafts. Curved shafts are good for clearing out a small piece of land unable to be mowed. But if you want to actually do some good trimming and edging, a straight shaft is much better. Curved shafts are difficult to maneuver and to create a straight line for edging. 

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The Milwaukee M18 Mower Is Expensive. Is it worth it?!

The best (and currently only) Milwaukee lawn mower is their BEASTLY M18 series self-propelled mower. We bought it for over $1,000 and don’t regret it.

What was the result? Well, we went to Home Depot and bought this bad boy – straight up. Then we used it in our yard, my mother-in-laws yard, and my neighbors yard all in one day.

Well, unlike their peers who made 100 different battery-powered mowers, Milwaukee just made one.

For real? They just made one mower? 

Bottom line review of the Milwaukee M18 Mower: The Milwaukee M18 mower is absolutely worth the price. Because when you put in as much thought and focus into a single item, you get amazing results. You can watch our video review of this mower on our YouTube channel here.

So let’s check out the best (and only) Milwaukee lawn mower: the M18 FUEL Brushless Cordless 21 inch walk behind dual battery self-propelled mower. 

Best Milwaukee lawn mower: Milwaukee M18 FUEL self-propelled mower

It’s honestly hilarious because it is the only Milwaukee Lawn Mower. Therefore the best AND the worst. But who wants to read about the worst Milwaukee lawn mower? Not me. Anyways, let’s get started.

Isn’t it a beauty?

The Milwaukee M18 mower is more powerful than my Honda mower

If there’s anything you can be confident about when buying a Milwaukee lawn mower, it is going to be the power. Milwaukee is notorious for making powerful products that deliver without fail. 

So when it comes to lawn mowers, you have to know that the power is there. And it is. It’s always hard to evaluate power without measuring horsepower or cc displacement or whatever can be compared with gas mowers, so let’s get a little more qualitative.

After a few cuts it got some nice grass clippings.

The Milwaukee M18 Fuel mower is going to at least be as powerful as a 200cc lawn mower. For comparison sake, one of the most popular gas mowers, the GCV170 from Honda has 170ccs. So even more powerful.

At the end of the day, you just want to make sure it cuts every blade of grass without being weak. I’m here to tell you that it does.

The Milwaukee M18 mows smoothly and efficiently

Second most important thing in a Milwaukee lawn mower is the feel. If you’re going to be making a bunch of laps in your yard, you don’t want it to be too heavy to the point of becoming super difficult to push. You also don’t want it to be plastic-y and lightweight, unable to keep a straight line.

The M18 Fuel mower has a metal deck, which makes it a little heavier than most electric mowers. Bad thing, right? 

Well, it makes up for it by coming with a nice self-propelled function that helps push it along (if you need it). 

These knobs pull out and help you fold it down.

Whenever I use an electric mower, it still feels weird to me that it isn’t loud. The noise is always a little weird to me – like a blender at a smoothie shop. I’m still getting used to the noise, but am growing to like it because I can listen to music or a podcast while I mow. 

This Milwaukee mower is also extremely easy to maneuver and feels exactly like my first mower did when I made turns. 

Milwaukee built a rugged steel deck and brushless motor that makes the M18 mower super durable

When I consider durability in lawn tools, there are a few things I keep in mind. One of the top considerations is the brand’s quality and reputation. Milwaukee is one of the few brands that does not put out any suspect tools. 

A nice big steel deck and large tires.

A lot of the other brands have lower-power tools that are relatively inexpensive to market to a different segment of customers. Milwaukee doesn’t have time for that. They only put out bangers.

Oneother thing I love about this mower is the steel deck. Steel cutting decks are way more durable than their plastic counterparts, with the ability to keep it together even under potentially harmful scenarios. This means no cracking, no chips, no breaking. The steel deck here is going to last you for a long time (forever).

The mower has some nice bells and whistles

The Milwaukee M18 mower does not try to have all the bells and whistles – it’s just a rock-solid, heavy-duty push mower. 

But it does have some features that have serious utility. The first of which is three cut styles: mulch, bag, and side discharge. Go with what suits you, but I generally mulch my grass and leave it in the yard. This is controversial. Deal with it. 

Another cool thing about this mower is that it goes to full throttle in less than one second. Which means you can just crank it and roll. A nice little touch. 

This mower is worth the hefty price tag

The Milwaukee M18 mower comes in at just over $1,000 for the mower with batteries and a charger. You can get it for a bit less if you get it without batteries in case you already have some. 

Nice battery indicator.

The M18 battery series serves over 200 tools and is an extremely reliable and intelligent battery.

I know what you’re thinking – a whole rack for a mower? Yeah, it is a little steep. But like I said, Milwaukee just has one mower and it is pretty dang good. 

The official review: Milwaukee M18 FUEL 21 inch mower

This Milwaukee mower not only comes with the power that you trust from all Milwaukee tools,  but is also extremely dependable. 

The price is a little steep, but this mower is exactly what you would expect from a Milwaukee product. Durable, consistent, and relentless about getting the job done.

You can grab it from Home Depot – check the price here – and a variety of other places.

Why we started The Lawn Review

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site. 

We test a lot of tools

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something. 

We also did a nice review of their weed eater.

What to look for in a battery powered lawn mower

When looking to purchase an electric lawn mower, you need to make sure you understand what things matter. You will get hit with a lot of technical specifications and marketing tactics. Totally forget them and focus on the things that impact you. Below are my recommendations:

  • Brand quality
    • Quality is going to be super important here. Everyone is in the electric mower game these days and there are a ton of junky mowers out there. Avoid anything from a weird brand on Amazon that takes 9 years to ship. It is probably being 3D printed in a Laotian bathroom. Go for brands that have consistent quality and focus on the details, not just flashy colors.
    • Luckily – Milwaukee carries really good brand quality. They’re well known for making durable, powerful, trusted tools
  • Metal where it matters.
    • Most electric mowers are plastic-y. Probably to reduce the weight of the mower so that the battery can get you further, but it feels cheap. Make sure to get metal where it matters – namely the deck. The deck is the part that covers the blades. Don’t get plastic here – a rock can rip through it.
    • Again, Milwaukee has you covered ehre.
  • Battery interoperability.
    •  A ten dollar word used here, but really just make sure to buy a mower with a battery that is compatible with other electric tools. Ryobi has this, so does Dewalt, and so do some of the Greenworks products. This will save you garage clutter and plug space.
  • Self-propelled or not.
    • Some people love it – I am indifferent. It’s a great feature for hills, uneven surfaces, or if you don’t like to push your push mower.

If you’re interested in learning more, check out our electric lawn mower buying guide.

About Milwaukee tools

Milwaukee tools have a long history of being tough and durable. Milwaukee is a brand that has been around for over 100 years, and it has a well-deserved reputation for making high-quality tools. Milwaukee tools are used by professionals all over the world, and they are known for being able to withstand heavy use. 

Milwaukee makes a wide variety of tools, from hand tools to power tools, and they are used in a variety of industries, from construction to automotive. Milwaukee is a brand that is trusted by professionals, and Milwaukee tools are built to last.

Favorite logo.

We noticed that Milwaukee was starting to make a splash in the lawn tool industry, so we have been trying to get our hands on any Milwaukee products that we can.

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