Not only are these Milwaukee tools some of the best at what they do, but they’re in many cases one of your few options, as DeWalt doesn’t make counterparts.
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While some people don’t really care what name is emblazoned on their tools and have a mixed collection of various colors and brands in their workshops, others tend to gravitate toward a particular tool manufacturer. There can be any number of reasons why you might prefer one brand over another, and if you’re a heavy power tool user, it can make sense to stick to a single company, as it’ll often save you space and money on batteries and chargers.
One reason you might favor a specific tool brand, though, is that it makes a particular type of tool you like to use. While most major tool brands have a strong overlap in their catalogs — you’ll find power drills and cordless saws from nearly all of them, for example — there are a handful of devices and accessories that you may not be able to get from all of them. In some cases, you may only be able to get a certain kind of tool from one specific manufacturer, especially if the company recently developed it as a first-of-its-kind product.
Because of this, you’ll find that there are some tools made by DeWalt that Milwaukee doesn’t sell, for instance. This doesn’t necessarily make DeWalt the better brand, though, because there are also products that Milwaukee makes that DeWalt doesn’t. Here’s a few such tools that you’ll find in red, but you won’t find in yellow — at least for now.Power Trowel
One of the last steps when laying down concrete is to smooth it out and remove any imperfections with a trowel. DeWalt sells plenty of hand trowels, but if you want to cover a lot more ground with a lot less effort, you’re better off with a powered trowel, which the brand does not offer. This is somewhat surprising, considering DeWalt does make some heavy-duty concrete equipment, including its Powershift Concrete Power Screed Kit. While a screed, which levels wet cement, is similar to a trowel, you still need the latter for a clean finish.
One of the several Milwaukee tools that come in handy for concrete finishing is the MX Fuel 36-inch Walk-Behind Trowel. Not only does it offer powered troweling for easier labor, but it can smooth a lot more at once with its 36-inch span. It’s also cordless and, despite being battery-powered, delivers five horsepower and can last 25 minutes per charge. The trowel blades spin at 130 rpm, which is very likely a lot more than you can do by hand. Since it’s electric, there’s no priming needed either — it’ll immediately start right up and can be controlled with an ergonomic throttle at the handle.
It’s also quieter and easier to breathe around compared to a gas-powered machine, which also makes it particularly useful for indoor work. If you’re wondering what the catch is, it’s the cost. Whereas a hand trowel from DeWalt will run you less than $50, the Milwaukee MX Fuel 36-inch Walk-Behind Trowel is closer to $7,500. This bundle includes the walk-behind trowel, as well as three powerful MX Fuel Forge HD12.0 Ah batteries and a Super Charger that can fully recharge one 12 Ah battery in 65 minutes.Drain Cleaning Air Gun
Many plumbers are big fans of Milwaukee’s professional-grade tools, as the brand makes sure to include a versatile range of equipment for the trade.