Milwaukee 18V Li-Ion Compact Drill Kit 2601-22

I would also like to hear any thoughts on it.

-- Gary - Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way - Tyler, TX

Check-out
http://shopping.aol.com/milwaukee-2601-22-18-volt-li-ion-compact-drill-kit/50467578/reviews
http://www.dealsolow.com/B000WER5SE/reviews.html

-- "Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life" Solomon

I’ve got one of the older (2002) Milwaukee 18 volt battery and I’ll sing nothing but songs of praise for it. This is one tool that I probably use at least once a day for something. In fact I just a short time ago I drilled a 3/8 hole in a 3/8 thick piece of metal with it!
As for driving screws all day long on one battery it might be a stretch. Again, it depends if you are driving drywall screws, or if you are driving 6×1/2” lag screws. But, you can recharge a battery in an hour and you can always have a fresh battery.
If I needed another drill, I’d buy one without question.

-- Jim

Milwaukee is a name brand that usually is quality. Specifically, I haven’t heard anything about this unit.

I own the Milwaukee 2601-22 and have used it for extended periods of time without hassle. It feels durable, especially given the weight and torque. The battery charges in slightly less than the 60 minutes it takes with the XC battery. It kills my old NiMH Makita. For a second opinion, the guys at Pro Tool Reviews reviewed it as well:

Milwaukee 2601-22 Cordless Drill Driver Review

-- "This is the buffer... you don't want to be puttin' your face in it!" - My 9th grade shop teacher

I have this drill and LOOOOVED it…. until the batteries started dying. I don’t know if it’s the batteries, the charger, or the drill, but three different batteries ceased functioning completely on two different chargers. This was within one year of mild use. Supposedly I can just take it to a Milwaukee service center and get it fixed (accounts vary about the time it takes to replace it), but I haven’t tried yet. Very dissapointing for a fairly expensive tool.

If you look through reviews of any of the new Li-Ion tools (regardless of brand), you’ll find people complaining about premature battery death.

Anyway, I absolutely loved it until it died, and many people report long battery life, so take it with grain of salt.

I have a Milwaukee cordless set that I have used for years….I also got the V28 set as I was given a deal I could not refuse. Batteries are not that great as for lasting…1 year or 2 usually….but the idea is to have a tool you can use without finding a power outlet….and for that they work great. I would also recommend you look at the reconditioned….they are 1/2 the price with the same 5 year warranty…same goes for most of the other brands. Unless you are a person that must have brand new….these are great deals….I bought my makita set that way and they are still in use 5 years later.

-- Woodworking.....My small slice of heaven!

Thanks for the info guys I have the Drill for almost 2 years now and had battery issue last year and it was fixed by Milwaukee.

i have this drill….bought it over a year ago…ive had no problems, until last week i found the charger not working..so i took it in to a repair center and they should take care of it..it has a 5 year limited warranty..so im waiting to see if they do me good..if they dont replace it..then i wont buy the brand again…but the drill itself has been a honey..and ive like it…plenty of power…so that is my experience so far…good luck with whatever you go with…

-- GRIZZMAN ...[''''']

reggiek: “Batteries are not that great as for lasting…1 year or 2 usually….”

See, now that’s just wrong. I had a 9V Makita that lasted about 12 years. The chuck finally broke, so I figured I’d upgrade to a more powerful drill. I loved the new drill, but a 1 year lifespan for a battery is simply unacceptable. It isn’t like those go for $10 apiece, either.

I’m not taking a shot at you, I just wonder if Milwaukee, et al aren’t trying to sell us on the idea that we can only expect year or so out of a $60 battery… that’s just BS. Look at how many people on one forum have responded in a few hours about crap batteries…. buyer beware.

edit [haha – I didn’t realize this was originally posted 702 days ago! Ah well, nothing like some timely advice!]

Bob, it really depends on how much you use the batteries…and how many times you charge them. Milwaukee has circuitry in their batteries to tell them how many times the battery has been charged. They estimate that it will last a minimum of 1000 charges (I got this information from their tech department). So typically if you are a hobbiest and use the drill rarely…the battery can last more than the 1-2 years. As a contractor, I have had a few make it to 3 and 4 years….but you can actually see the time they hold charge…and the power they provide to the tool dropping off.

I agree with you that this is really unacceptable…but it is mostly due to the limitations of our battery technology – there are new technologies in the works and someday we may have more reliable/longer lasting power supplies. For now though, even with replacing them every 1 to 2 years, in construction work these tools are a necessity and the expense of batteries is just a cost of doing business (and should be included in your bids).

-- Woodworking.....My small slice of heaven!