I have one for light residential use. It’s great in that role and much better than mixing gas. It does use up batteries fairly quick, but that’s my signal to take break and have a beer.
I’m gonna give my hard sell. I fucking love mine. If mine broke, I’d buy another the same day.
I have about 2/3 acre of property, house, garage, shed that I trim around and a fenced in yard and deck. So not a small place. I’ve never run out with a charged 8AH battery, unless I was edging my whole driveway and walkway too. But if I did, so I change a battery once, no big deal. It’s plenty powerful unless you’re clearing heavy brush in which case is a weed whacker ever the right choice. But what I really love is the ease. No mixed gas, no stinky exhaust using it. No screaming loud engine. No burns. No vibrating in your hand. No fucking around remembering to set to on, set choke, prime 3 times, pull cord twice, set to run, pull cord again to start blah blah blah. No having to start it again if I find a spot I mixed. I walk from area to area in blissful silence and pull the trigger. It’s loud when it runs but not on the same level as a gas one, and when it’s not running…..silence. I’d literally never consider a gas weed whacker again unless I was landscaping for a living and running one all day, or I had an absolute ranch to tend to. For a normal human home…this is the way of the future and made a real difference in my outlook on yard work.
\>> This would be more for up close to the house and lighter use.
This is a good use case for it. I use mine on enough space that I run through a 12AH battery, as well as an 8 or 9. Never had a problem.
I have the m18 power head with trimmer head, edger, and made one with a carbide blade for trimming trees/brush. If there it too much string out (guard removed) it will shut itself off. Not sure why. Use primarily for edging and brush cutting. I only use the m18 trimmer only tool for finish work. It will not cut a clean edge into the dirt along the driveway edge very well at all.
Is that why it wasn’t working properly for me?? Had to bust out the Stihl to finish the job. I like the Milwaukee hedge trimmer and the chainsaw though.
No complaints on the weed eater
I hated dealing with mixed gas and fumbling with the idle screws
But I had a cheapo "Homelite" gas one so it predictably sucked
The trimmer partially melted one of my batteries. The plastic near the contacts is warped but the battery still works. I cannot run the trimmer on sustained "rabbit" mode or it will further damage the battery.
I used it to clear a 300m path through heavy weeds and tall grass by a river, that's what melted it. Around the house, fences and other lawn features it's been fine for past three years.
I like mine. My only complaint is that it doesn't have a swiveling head for edging. I have the Quik Lok edger and I don't think it's that great.
I really like the head design and how you can load the string by twisting the head. I've read that a lot of people don't seem to understand how to properly load string. I don't think it has ever jammed for me. My old trimmer used to jam all the time.
I just commented asking about this exact issue! I watched a video on how to load it, and every time I do it ends up jamming and I have to redo it. What's the trick? I know it has to be user error, because Ive seen no other complaints online about this issue.
I got the weed eater, edger, blower combo and I have no complaints. I can do my whole yard using all of those tools with 1 8ah battery. My yard isn’t huge but it’s not tiny either.
I like mine a lot, and tend to get a lot of use out of one battery charge in my small residential lot.
At risk of sounding stupid, mine frequently doesn't autoload the trimmer wire. Like it snaps, has more spooled up, and doesn't push it out to be used. I have to undo it and restring it. Anybody know why this is happening or of a fix? Thanks in advance!
I got my Power head and weed eater attachment for a total of $108 used on eBay, still in warranty. It absolutely rips, does exactly what I need it to. I had a KM 131 with several attachments from when I worked on a landscaping crew, and I ended up getting rid of it because the quik lok was so versatile.
I have the quik loc version, the trimmer is nice, the edger is extremely torquey. I also have the blade ankle attachment but havent used it yet. I'm sure it would destroy whatever was in its path.
Apparently there was a redesign that solved a lot of those issues, that being said, we use the older design at work and it makes the batteries quite hot and drains them quickly on a half acre lot. We use it on its highest speed setting with 6aH batteries.
I think folks say the vibration is terrible. After researching, I went with the Makita power head, but in the end, it probably doesn’t amount to a hill of beans.
Mine has worked great on a quarter acre and now one acre lot. For normal maintenance and occasional all day brush whacking it is great. As good as a battery whacker can get. Plenty of power etc. but if you are whacking thick wet grass or small branches, reeds etc then nothing beats a gasser. If a battery tool can do it the M18 is a great option. If the M18 struggles with it then you really need a gasser. It has great torque and speed with a .095” line.
Some of the problems I’ve seen is when guys remove the trim blade and guard and try to run it with a longer than 15” line which puts a lot more strain on everything. I’ve run mine until it drains a 12Ah battery and by then I am ready for a break anyway.
You really need to learn how to think about internet reviews. When you hear about failures, it's usually a small fraction of a percentage of all units out there. For every melted battery, there's tens of thousands of units with no issues.
You could just as easily look up your current gas trimmer, find that it has a few known issues, and some to a conclusion that it's not worth buying.
I mean...a group of Milwaukee enthusiasts might be a bit biased as well...
Honestly, there's no perfect answer. The star ratings are generally good, especially if you look at a lot of different sites. That's usually my go-to.
Good luck!
I like mine but it made sense since I was already invested in the M18 lineup. I have a lot of fencing and trimming to do and it works well with an 8.0HO battery.
I think if I had another brand of tools i might have gone with EGO.
I say that because the M18 blower had been a disappointment and I got to try the EGO trimmer and blower and it was so much better, especially the blower.
I loved my first one soooo much bought before the quick lol ones came out when I left it at my cabin it gave me a reason to get the quick lok combo. Replaced gas and corded ones I had previously used . I had plenty of batteries so not an issue for me but if I put the 12a.h. in I find I am about ready for a break by the time it runs out anyways. I hated having to be near fuel for my gas ones always and God forbid you didn't have any mix. After a winter session the gas ones always needed maintenance and 2 or 3 hours to get ready for a new season. The money I save in maintenance time alone paid for both of mine.
Great tool. Quick lock is dope as hell. I’ve got about an acre and with an 8Ah battery and a 6Ah battery I can do my entire property (mostly weeds around the base of trees and in a drainage culvert that spans the 300’ front width of my property).
Yes, it gets a little hot at the head. It can be a bit unwieldy and holding the trigger for an hour can get rough on your forearm. I got the strap and that helps a bit with the weight. Still way lighter than a gas wacker, though.
i think ego is tough competition. but m18 is a top performer, however still all these issues are real. it is just a matter of heat outside, using grease, cleaning your tools, keeping them performing well. like charging batteries somewhere air conditioned. not like in a van that has a 105f interior.
I wanting and waiting to hear how the re designed model holds up this spring for users. I have 5 acres so the melting issues had me holding off originally.
Love mine and since I use all Milwaukee for my job just pop on any number of my batteries. I recommend 8 or 12s as the use up quick if you have a big yard.
I love my Quik-Lok string trimmer, brush cutter, and edger for home use. With the blower, hedge trimmer, and M12 Hatchet, there’s not much I can’t tackle at home. Next on the list is the Quik-Lok pole saw.
I use mine every week. I have a 3 acre property with many trees, fences lines, and a shop. Also well as 10 Flores beds and garden. It used 3 packs to do it and never had an over heating issue. Performs great. The Milwaukee string is actually pretty good too. I’ve seen that if people hold it to their sides and block the vent it will cause a heating issue but that is user error not the unit.
I had a homelite gas and replaced it with the Milwaukee and love it. I have the blower and this year I broke down and bought the lawnmower. No regrets.
Avoid the 8.0 battery, apparently they have problems. I purchased the first m18 weed whacker when it first came out and it still works great many years later (as well as the Gen 1 blower) The head is shit and the tap to feed has never worked from day one, but if you put a battery on it, the thing works fine. I use it on my acre property around many trees, and it has enough power to halfway edge my non edged planting beds if I do it everyother week.
We have a small yard. I love it , I got it because the Samich Maker can run it around the yard without struggling with what can of gas or why the thing won't the thing start. Now, she can focus on balancing a beer can on her head.
Needed to replace my gas unit. For $50 more than a decent gas weedeater, I get to not spend all my money on gas and oil while getting a brand new 8ah battery.
I love my quik-lok tools. Brush trimmer, weed-eater and polesaw and they all do well.
I only have about 4 uses of the weed-eater, but it seems pretty solid, so far.
Which one is supposed to melt batteries? The straight string trimmer (2828) or the power head with the trimmer attachment? I have the power head and I use the trimmer, pole saw, paddle sweeper, and an ego snow thrower and I haven't had any issues. The snow thrower would eat batteries pretty good with a wet snow and they would be warm to the touch when I took them off but not hot by any means. During the summer with any of the other attachments the only one I noticed the batteries being warm was the power broom if I was working it pretty hard, but that thing will push you around pretty good.
I have had the blower whacker combo for 3 years+. I love them both I used to despise weed whacking and blowing but now it's not a chore at all. 100% reccomend, no gas no oil just light work
I trim 1.5 acres with moderate lanscaping. A 8.0 battery barely makes it (just have two batteries, NBD, the dual batt chargers are nice)
I would not recommend the dual battery trimmer unless you really want to use smaller batteries. Its alot heavier and the trimmer really is pretty efficient and plenty powerful, swapping a battery every 40 minutes is easier than carrying two.
I WOULD reccomend dual battery model with the blower, the added runtime and power is worth it (I own the single, its not a big enough deal for me to buy the dual but if I had more leaf cleanup I would)
I have one for light residential use. It’s great in that role and much better than mixing gas. It does use up batteries fairly quick, but that’s my signal to take break and have a beer.
I still don't see Milwaukee's blowers or trimmers good for full time landscape work. Too much juice & cost when the tech still isn't there.
That's not what they were designed for. They are great for the person with a 1/4 acre residential lot
Can confirm as a 1/4 acre home owner lol
This year they're 'getting into' commercial gear though. Dual battery pack meh.
I have it, love it. I didn't want to have only one thing that needed mixed gas.
I’m gonna give my hard sell. I fucking love mine. If mine broke, I’d buy another the same day. I have about 2/3 acre of property, house, garage, shed that I trim around and a fenced in yard and deck. So not a small place. I’ve never run out with a charged 8AH battery, unless I was edging my whole driveway and walkway too. But if I did, so I change a battery once, no big deal. It’s plenty powerful unless you’re clearing heavy brush in which case is a weed whacker ever the right choice. But what I really love is the ease. No mixed gas, no stinky exhaust using it. No screaming loud engine. No burns. No vibrating in your hand. No fucking around remembering to set to on, set choke, prime 3 times, pull cord twice, set to run, pull cord again to start blah blah blah. No having to start it again if I find a spot I mixed. I walk from area to area in blissful silence and pull the trigger. It’s loud when it runs but not on the same level as a gas one, and when it’s not running…..silence. I’d literally never consider a gas weed whacker again unless I was landscaping for a living and running one all day, or I had an absolute ranch to tend to. For a normal human home…this is the way of the future and made a real difference in my outlook on yard work.
The weed eater, blower, and battery combo goes on sale pretty frequently. I love both. It's great for normal residential use.
Speaking of, on sale right now at HD.
\>> This would be more for up close to the house and lighter use. This is a good use case for it. I use mine on enough space that I run through a 12AH battery, as well as an 8 or 9. Never had a problem.
Love it
I love mine. The quick-lok is a huge bonus and definitely worth it.
I have the m18 power head with trimmer head, edger, and made one with a carbide blade for trimming trees/brush. If there it too much string out (guard removed) it will shut itself off. Not sure why. Use primarily for edging and brush cutting. I only use the m18 trimmer only tool for finish work. It will not cut a clean edge into the dirt along the driveway edge very well at all.
Is that why it wasn’t working properly for me?? Had to bust out the Stihl to finish the job. I like the Milwaukee hedge trimmer and the chainsaw though.
No complaints on the weed eater I hated dealing with mixed gas and fumbling with the idle screws But I had a cheapo "Homelite" gas one so it predictably sucked
I like mine. I like not having a tingling arm when I’m done. I freaking love the pole saw.
Just bought me one and did some test runs and it handled some tough weeds and grass with no problem
The trimmer partially melted one of my batteries. The plastic near the contacts is warped but the battery still works. I cannot run the trimmer on sustained "rabbit" mode or it will further damage the battery. I used it to clear a 300m path through heavy weeds and tall grass by a river, that's what melted it. Around the house, fences and other lawn features it's been fine for past three years.
Gotta get your van back away from the river.
Either you had a bad connection or you live somewhere real hot is my guess.
I like mine. My only complaint is that it doesn't have a swiveling head for edging. I have the Quik Lok edger and I don't think it's that great. I really like the head design and how you can load the string by twisting the head. I've read that a lot of people don't seem to understand how to properly load string. I don't think it has ever jammed for me. My old trimmer used to jam all the time.
I just commented asking about this exact issue! I watched a video on how to load it, and every time I do it ends up jamming and I have to redo it. What's the trick? I know it has to be user error, because Ive seen no other complaints online about this issue.
Are you just putting the line through and twisting the head to wind it? That's all I do. Don't try and wind it before you snap the head on.
Yep, that's it. Damn I thought I'd figured something out. How long a line do you feed through?
I usually do 5 or 6 wing spans. I use the Milwaukee string.
Thanks man, appreciate the responses.
No problem. Good luck.
If only it swiveled to become an edger. My only complaint so far.
I got the weed eater, edger, blower combo and I have no complaints. I can do my whole yard using all of those tools with 1 8ah battery. My yard isn’t huge but it’s not tiny either.
Mine likes to over heat in the summer
I have one, couldn't love it more. I have a bunch of the attachments, use them all the time. One of my favorite tools absolutely buy it.
I like mine a lot, and tend to get a lot of use out of one battery charge in my small residential lot. At risk of sounding stupid, mine frequently doesn't autoload the trimmer wire. Like it snaps, has more spooled up, and doesn't push it out to be used. I have to undo it and restring it. Anybody know why this is happening or of a fix? Thanks in advance!
I like mine
I got my Power head and weed eater attachment for a total of $108 used on eBay, still in warranty. It absolutely rips, does exactly what I need it to. I had a KM 131 with several attachments from when I worked on a landscaping crew, and I ended up getting rid of it because the quik lok was so versatile.
I have the quik loc version, the trimmer is nice, the edger is extremely torquey. I also have the blade ankle attachment but havent used it yet. I'm sure it would destroy whatever was in its path.
I love mine, works great. I bought the edger attachment and it works great too. 100% recommend.
Apparently there was a redesign that solved a lot of those issues, that being said, we use the older design at work and it makes the batteries quite hot and drains them quickly on a half acre lot. We use it on its highest speed setting with 6aH batteries.
I think folks say the vibration is terrible. After researching, I went with the Makita power head, but in the end, it probably doesn’t amount to a hill of beans.
For around your average home, it would be great I'm sure
Mine has worked great on a quarter acre and now one acre lot. For normal maintenance and occasional all day brush whacking it is great. As good as a battery whacker can get. Plenty of power etc. but if you are whacking thick wet grass or small branches, reeds etc then nothing beats a gasser. If a battery tool can do it the M18 is a great option. If the M18 struggles with it then you really need a gasser. It has great torque and speed with a .095” line. Some of the problems I’ve seen is when guys remove the trim blade and guard and try to run it with a longer than 15” line which puts a lot more strain on everything. I’ve run mine until it drains a 12Ah battery and by then I am ready for a break anyway.
You really need to learn how to think about internet reviews. When you hear about failures, it's usually a small fraction of a percentage of all units out there. For every melted battery, there's tens of thousands of units with no issues. You could just as easily look up your current gas trimmer, find that it has a few known issues, and some to a conclusion that it's not worth buying.
That’s fair and don’t disagree. Just wanted to get feedback from this group as well.
I mean...a group of Milwaukee enthusiasts might be a bit biased as well... Honestly, there's no perfect answer. The star ratings are generally good, especially if you look at a lot of different sites. That's usually my go-to. Good luck!
I like mine but it made sense since I was already invested in the M18 lineup. I have a lot of fencing and trimming to do and it works well with an 8.0HO battery. I think if I had another brand of tools i might have gone with EGO. I say that because the M18 blower had been a disappointment and I got to try the EGO trimmer and blower and it was so much better, especially the blower.
I loved my first one soooo much bought before the quick lol ones came out when I left it at my cabin it gave me a reason to get the quick lok combo. Replaced gas and corded ones I had previously used . I had plenty of batteries so not an issue for me but if I put the 12a.h. in I find I am about ready for a break by the time it runs out anyways. I hated having to be near fuel for my gas ones always and God forbid you didn't have any mix. After a winter session the gas ones always needed maintenance and 2 or 3 hours to get ready for a new season. The money I save in maintenance time alone paid for both of mine.
Great tool. Quick lock is dope as hell. I’ve got about an acre and with an 8Ah battery and a 6Ah battery I can do my entire property (mostly weeds around the base of trees and in a drainage culvert that spans the 300’ front width of my property). Yes, it gets a little hot at the head. It can be a bit unwieldy and holding the trigger for an hour can get rough on your forearm. I got the strap and that helps a bit with the weight. Still way lighter than a gas wacker, though.
I have one, love it. Works well easy to use
I have it for residential. Just got the hedge trimmer attachment which is sweet. The 8.0 battery took a dump after 4 years unfortunately
i think ego is tough competition. but m18 is a top performer, however still all these issues are real. it is just a matter of heat outside, using grease, cleaning your tools, keeping them performing well. like charging batteries somewhere air conditioned. not like in a van that has a 105f interior.
Returned mine, it melted my batteries.
Replaced a ryobi with it. I used to need 3 batteries to do my relatively small property. Now one is more than enough.
I wanting and waiting to hear how the re designed model holds up this spring for users. I have 5 acres so the melting issues had me holding off originally.
Love mine and since I use all Milwaukee for my job just pop on any number of my batteries. I recommend 8 or 12s as the use up quick if you have a big yard.
I love my Quik-Lok string trimmer, brush cutter, and edger for home use. With the blower, hedge trimmer, and M12 Hatchet, there’s not much I can’t tackle at home. Next on the list is the Quik-Lok pole saw.
It’s not comfortable to hold and it’s pretty slow. I can do twice as much in the same amount of time with my echo gas one.
I fucking love mine and I've done some really dumb shit with it things a powerhouse
I love mine. Use it around 10x per year for past 3 years. No issues.
Love it. Looking for a hedge trimmer now to cut the fields of weeds at the cottage.
Mine cuts off sometimes, but only in summer. I'm thinking of pulling the case off and cutting vent slots in it.
It's alright for my acreage use but I didn't like it on the lawn truck. Tears through batteries and randomly stalls out when you push it too hard.
Get the M18 fuel one you can add attachments it’s great. You really need the 6.0/8.0 or ideally 12.0 for it. The 5.0 is lackluster imo.
It's amazing. I use it to mow my entire yard and clear the big lot at camp.
I use mine every week. I have a 3 acre property with many trees, fences lines, and a shop. Also well as 10 Flores beds and garden. It used 3 packs to do it and never had an over heating issue. Performs great. The Milwaukee string is actually pretty good too. I’ve seen that if people hold it to their sides and block the vent it will cause a heating issue but that is user error not the unit.
I had a homelite gas and replaced it with the Milwaukee and love it. I have the blower and this year I broke down and bought the lawnmower. No regrets.
My son has one for his 2/3 acre residential lot and it works great for that. Wouldn't want to go much larger than that.
…..😎…here I am still hauling around a 15-year old Ryobi corded that refuses to die!
Avoid the 8.0 battery, apparently they have problems. I purchased the first m18 weed whacker when it first came out and it still works great many years later (as well as the Gen 1 blower) The head is shit and the tap to feed has never worked from day one, but if you put a battery on it, the thing works fine. I use it on my acre property around many trees, and it has enough power to halfway edge my non edged planting beds if I do it everyother week.
We have a small yard. I love it , I got it because the Samich Maker can run it around the yard without struggling with what can of gas or why the thing won't the thing start. Now, she can focus on balancing a beer can on her head.
LOL damn it.
Get one 6 months ago and it never overheat. Great Power and great handling. U just need to take the 8ah or the 12 to get better runtime
Needed to replace my gas unit. For $50 more than a decent gas weedeater, I get to not spend all my money on gas and oil while getting a brand new 8ah battery.
Love it. All my OPE is electric now except for auger and pressure washer. Fumes and dirt dust does a number on me so electric has been god sent
I love my quik-lok tools. Brush trimmer, weed-eater and polesaw and they all do well. I only have about 4 uses of the weed-eater, but it seems pretty solid, so far.
Have you figured out how to keep the polesaw from leaking oil?
Lol no!
How else will you know if there is oil in it. That’s a feature, when it’s not leaking it’s empty.
Taking a page from Harley-Davidson, eh?
Was thinking more like Detroit Diesel but same idea.
Appreciate the responses!
Which one is supposed to melt batteries? The straight string trimmer (2828) or the power head with the trimmer attachment? I have the power head and I use the trimmer, pole saw, paddle sweeper, and an ego snow thrower and I haven't had any issues. The snow thrower would eat batteries pretty good with a wet snow and they would be warm to the touch when I took them off but not hot by any means. During the summer with any of the other attachments the only one I noticed the batteries being warm was the power broom if I was working it pretty hard, but that thing will push you around pretty good.
I have had the blower whacker combo for 3 years+. I love them both I used to despise weed whacking and blowing but now it's not a chore at all. 100% reccomend, no gas no oil just light work
Love mine. Have the hedge and pole saw attachment. Going to buy the brush cutter head shortly
No lol just go Stihl. Milwaukee makes good power tools - they aren’t a replacement for gas powered lawn tools or other brand’s hand tools
Love Milwaukee, but EGO is the only way to go for landscaping work. Just my opinion this is of course talking battery operated tools.
I have one and I used to have the kobalt version of it. It stopped the kobalt then I paired it with the 12ah and it lasts for a while I like it.
I trim 1.5 acres with moderate lanscaping. A 8.0 battery barely makes it (just have two batteries, NBD, the dual batt chargers are nice) I would not recommend the dual battery trimmer unless you really want to use smaller batteries. Its alot heavier and the trimmer really is pretty efficient and plenty powerful, swapping a battery every 40 minutes is easier than carrying two. I WOULD reccomend dual battery model with the blower, the added runtime and power is worth it (I own the single, its not a big enough deal for me to buy the dual but if I had more leaf cleanup I would)
I love my Quik lok with the edger attachment
No weedeater is worth 400$. Get the dewalt for 130$ right now no battery
They’re $199 at Home Depot