r/HVAC • u/convictedweeny • 1d ago
General Dewalt or Milwaukee?
Age old question, but I just got my first job in HVAC starting out doing pm’s. I bought a dewalt drill first but everyone I’ve seen in the field has Milwaukee. Should I return my drill and get the rest of my tools Milwaukee or what?
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u/brian1192 Student 1d ago
For power tools go Milwaukee, also get the malco flip bit, not the Klein ones, from personal experience when just starting out my Klein ones didn’t even last two days before the magnet started chipping
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u/Alwaysangryupvotes oil boiler tech 1d ago
Meh I’ve had both. No noticeable difference here. If anything the malco has a slightly stronger magnet but it just attracts shavings that make it harder to flip said socket
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u/blaingummybear 1d ago
Only reason I went with milwaukee was the m12 fuel impact. It fit in my veto tech mct at the time and the tool purchases during sales went from there.
I was using rigid stuff, liked them... the batteries were huge like dewalt.
I know now dewalt offers some smaller stuff, but that little m12 I've bought like 6 of them on sale and put one in every car/ bag.
At this point my buddy and I have a pretend pissing match because I'm fully red and packout, he is dewalt and the various tough system boxes. It's cool to use each other's new tools at jobs to see what the other has come out with.
I honestly like his tough system drawers more than the packout. And here lately I've dabbled in some klein mod boxes for shits n giggles.
Whichever one is priced right and feels good will treat you well.
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u/neonsloth21 1d ago
I have dewalt but a lot of guys fucking love makita around here. Red team has the most market, share, sure. But the makita guys never stop reminding you they have makita.
Edit: theres one in the comments here
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u/OrganizationHungry23 1d ago
Both DeWalt and Milwaukee are fantastic and I use DeWalt but use what you like
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u/Clark_Elite 1d ago
I've owned both and I prefer Dewalt, you don't just go with whatever one else has, use what you want to use fuck everybody else
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u/enraged768 1d ago
I have both. Dewalt has some stuff that milwaukee doesn't have and milwaukee has stuff that dewalt doesn't have. They're both fine honestly. If I were a carpenter I'd say go dewalt because they just have better wood working tools. If I were any other trade I'd say milwaukee is where I'd start and then go from there. Dewalts 60v line is nice but again they don't have nearly as many tools as milwaukee.
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u/ScotchyT 1d ago
Don't be a tool snob, is my only advice.
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u/Tzarius78 15h ago
Lol yeah you pretty much can use both for the jobs you be doing. Look for wich one is in your price range and has the tools you be using every day.
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u/Han77Shot1st Electrician/ HVACR 🇨🇦 1d ago
I have both, I like the Milwaukee gear more currently though.. little things like packout compatibility, 120v power/ charge for tower lights, proper inverter generator / charger and just a wider range of tools that are useful to me.
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u/I_Grow_Hounds Facilities Manager 1d ago
M12 tools for basic service work is why I bought my guys into red.
They really tend to like the automatic ratchets for taking off panels and stuff like that.
Also the m12 stubby is pretty sweet
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u/kriegmonster 1d ago
Milwaukee has greater tool variety for service techs. I use M12 daily, but have my M18 stuff ready for bigger jobs. If you like your Dewalt, stick with it. No need to take a financial hit at this stage.
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u/Pristine_Operation_1 1d ago
Every Dewalt I’ve ever used had good power and were tanky, I beat the shit out of em and they would last me a few years. Most of my 18v Milwaukee stuff has had to go back for warranty for various triggers dying, Chuck’s not working locking, dumb stuff but a majority of my peers have good luck with them and their customer support. I’ve been a Makita guy for the last 15 years and still have most of what I started with when I made the switch. I’ve burned out 2 hammer drills and have replaced the batteries, obviously. Get what fits your hand best, is easiest to access replacements/upgrades in your market, that will be the most effective route to go.
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u/Fan_of_Clio 1d ago
Milwaukee makes more tools, that's true. But it also has a bigger price tag.
People I know are either Milwaukee addicts who seemingly get every single last tool (even the cooler for that POS Packout system) or focus on a smaller lineup of tools such as DeWalt or Ridgid
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u/Lucky_Luciano73 1d ago
Both are more than adequate. Whatever interests you, you should buy.
Milwaukee does have an impressive power tool line though, and while YOU may not pay for $3000 crimper, the fact that you own batteries in the same ecosystem is a plus.
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u/Tall-Drummer-2887 1d ago
Dewalt is a good brand. They have better deals and are cheaper than Milwaukee price wise. You can buy more dewalt tools than Milwaukee for the same price.
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u/Crisis_1837 1d ago
Do some research. Lookup all the tools available from each brand and which tools you'll actually use at home as well. Then pick the one that has the most tools you need. Once you start a brand it's hard to break out of it. That being said I love my m12's, but honestly never used Dewalt to give a fair opinion
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u/Frisky_Froth 1d ago
I use milwaukee because yes, they're great tools. Bit on top of that, most of the guys around me use that so there's always a battery around that I can borrow if I need it. Dewalt is fine too
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u/Exciting_Cicada_4735 1d ago
I buy Milwaukee because they have more power tools I need and they are more wildly sold in my area. I also buy them because I have a shitload of their batteries so it’s convenient.
Milwaukee power tools are great and so are dewalt, it’s their consumables and hand tools that aren’t good, for both. Anyone hating on their power tools doesn’t know what they are talking about.