A hammer drill adds a tapping action for masonry, so one tool drills wood, steel and brick anchors, which is an advantage over the plain drills in several other kits. The impact driver drives lag bolts through thick lumber, and the Hackzall is a one-handed reciprocating saw that cuts branches, lumber and PVC. A work light rounds out the kit, so you have lighting on a dark job.
The real value is the M18 platform. Milwaukee builds hundreds of tools on the same battery, from saws and grinders to vacuums and lights, so a kit like this is the start of a collection, not the end. Compared with the DEWALT 5-tool kit, the Milwaukee has fewer tools but a pro-focused hammer drill. Compared with the CRAFTSMAN 7-tool kit, it gives you fewer pieces and stronger ones.
Ownership: batteries are the long-term cost, so buy a larger pack when you can. Keep the chucks clean, oil the Hackzall's shoe pivot and store batteries cool. The tools are brushed or brushless depending on the model, so check the version before assuming runtime.
What works
- Hammer drill handles masonry anchors as well as wood and steel
- Hackzall one-handed saw suits tight spaces and pruning
- M18 platform spans hundreds of compatible tools
- Work light adds usability in dark spaces
Watch out for
- Fewer tools than the DEWALT and CRAFTSMAN kits
- Highest relative price per tool
- Motor type depends on the tool version in the kit
Spec sheet
- Platform
- M18 18V
- Drill
- 2607-20 hammer drill/driver
- Impact driver
- 2656-20 1/4 inch hex
- Saw
- 2625-20 Hackzall reciprocating saw
- Extra
- Work light





