It’s refreshing to see a transition in the conversation around tools from “I need the biggest, baddest, most powerful tools possible” to “Maybe we just use the tools that make the most sense for the specific application.”

M12 systems for the sheer fact the 3/8 and 1/2 stubby impacts can fit just about anywhere without the battery smacking everything

Excellent discussion 👍 I'm on the DeWalt platform and have tools on all 3 lines. 12v, 20v, & 60v...love them all. 12v is definitely the go to nowadays. Only pull out the bigger tools when they are actually needed.

When i started my building apprenticeship in the late 70s , the first cordless drill came out, it was the Makita 7.2 cordless drill, it took me 1 mth to pay it off , i still have that drill with 1 battery & charger that came with it, but has now been in retirement over the last 40yrs & have kept it for sentimental reasons only ,it's been my little baby

Thank you for titling this video this way. I was having a really tough time trying to find out this information, and when I saw the title of this video, I was like “YES! Finally! That’s what I want to know!” Thanks for making this information easily findable and searchable!

I love that I can watch this channel and not be afraid my family might walk in and hear or see something inappropriate. Thanks PTR! Great info today also.

We run a farm. We use power tools a lot and are hard on them. I used Dewalt for a long time and then began to invest in the Milwaukee platform. Started with the intention of doing all M18, somehow I ended up with M12 impact and drill. I was sold after a few uses. The M12 does most of the stuff we need. A few exceptions are we have M18 impact and 18 grinder. The M12 platform is unbelievable powerful and reliable.

I have Dewalt 20v and Milwaukee M12. I generally reach for the M12 fuel. In fact , like this morning, I only reached for my 20v impact because I could not remember where I left my m12 impact.

Great conversation! I particularly liked the latter part as you started talking about the 60V stuff.

Guys really enjoying your tool talks. Very informative and interesting.

I’m using M12 for automotive work, M18 for most construction. I have a few M12 to use around the house, and I carry M12 in our RV for on-the-go tools. Both are great whatever way you slice it.

I have been installing cabinets for 3 years now and my M12 is my go-to. The 12v Max was my first impact driver and still love it, but now I have a few M12 tools I use.

Loved the discussion guys. As a commercial electrician I use both. M12 for running Tek screws and fasteners all day plus the subcompact bandsaw for pipe. I use the M18 for task lighting, circular saw, full size bandsaw, hammer drill, drill and impact for driving into wood, concrete or things like 1/2" concrete anchors. I couldn't do without my M18's but my M12's really save on my body and space for the low demand repetitious tasks. I think DIY was meant to describe anyone who does a project over hiring a professional. With that in mind I'd think 18v for DIY. For anyone looking for the ability to drill holes and hang pictures, TV's, ECT, things that don't constitute DIY, then they can get a cheap drill from Walmart.

I think for most DIY projects you really only need a cordless drill and/or driver. Corded cutting tools are more than sufficient for most homeowners, since they are by definition working around the house they will generally have access to a plug

This was very informative and well explained, took a lot of my battery size confusion and made it easier to understand from the user side of the equation. Thank You

Great video. Cleared up a lot of confusion about battery choices and tool power.

I actually like the M12 Fuel circular saw for it's light weight and ease of use. Sure it's not as powerful as the M18 Fuel, but as long as your not cutting stacks of lumber, M12 will get the job done just fine.

This video was very educational and fun to watch. Thanks to you guys. it’s Sunday and I’m just getting home from church. I am going to subscribe to your channel. Keep up the great work.

For a small engine mechanic like me, 12V is ideal because you can run many (but not all) screws, bolts, & nuts down without accidentally stripping them from over tightening. Plus, most fasteners can be removed easily with 12V.

I love my m12 propress tool. Residential plumbing rarely goes above 1 1/4' and the 3" m12 cutoff tool is perfect for cutting old rotten cast iron.

If you can afford/justify the luxury, having both 12v and 18v platforms is phenomenal. Certain tools are well suited to either voltage. M12 and Makita LXT are my go to, and I break out each set equally as often and can tailor to the task I'm about to go perform

I started out at 16 with m12 and now am 19 and still use m12 and love it I work as a tech on forklifts but work on my home all time on remodeling my house and I have m12 tools out the Wazzu now for everything and does everything I need

I've been using the m12 circular saw for about 6 months now and love the little thing but sometimes it would be nice for it to be a little bigger so it could do 45s in inch and a half material. Pretty much the only reason for the 18 volt saw in the truck

The higher voltage means you’re drawing less amps, meaning the wiring and electronics can be sized smaller. So double the voltage instead of using 8 gauge wire you can use 16 gauge (half the size) and have the same amount of resistance. The resistance is what causes the heat.

I really like my Makita 18V subcompact set. I would like a few of the 12v cxt line to get a few of the nice light tools such as the ones named: drill, impact, one hand recip, and multitool. The 12v tools are usually a little cheaper too.

Thanks for the video. A lot of great info.

Great video guys. I do have say though the DeWalt 12v circular saw is awesome. Thing is a beast for it's size and if you're up on a ladder on the side of a house making a cut it's so much easier holding this saw up making that cut ...super light and does the job.

I use m12 stuff for the tool box in my truck. M12 hatchet, fuel drill, fuel impact, 3/8's stubby, 3/8s fuel ratchet, 5 1/2 circular saw, jig saw, recip and multi tool. All fit in 2 ridgid brand small tool boxes and still take up no room in my truck bed. The m12 circular saw works pretty good. I use it all the time.

I've found my M12 circular saw great in certain situations. When framing up structures it's not the greatest for constant cuts of 2x lumber, but if your working overhead or on a roof and need to make a quick cut it's incredibly convenient.

This was a great video. Learned a lot. Thanks!

Love this video and very detailed info

I am only starting to DIY but after watching this video I think I will be making better choices in the future. Thank you for demystifying the difference (none) between 24v and 18v. Absolutely legendary

I run 18v makita primarily. But I have been getting more and more 12v milwaukee. It started with the 12v installation drill drive (absolutely love this tool). Now I have several 12v lights, stapler, engraver and the 12v fuel pex expansion tool (another great tool).

I started out with m18 tools slowly then bought like 2 m12 tools and I realized what an amazing difference it was and I now own more 12v tools but still need the power from a few m18 tools

I'm a plumbing apprentice. I'm currently running 18 v impact and drill. Still getting the rest of the power tools but I think I'm also gonna pick up a 12 v impact. Just for the light weight for driving screws for brackets nail plates ect. But that's really the only 12 v tool I'm interested in. Next buy is the 18 v hackzall

In most cases, the majority of what a cordless drill or impact is used for is driving screws and drilling fairly small holes. Today's 12 volt tools are far more than enough for these tasks. 18/20 volt drills and impacts are only needed for hole saws or large drill bits. Even the 12 volt jig saws and recip saws work well. But as mentioned, the 12 volt circular saws can be a bit wimpy. Need power for those.

I'm not a huge Milwaukee guy. But I really like my M12 drill and impact. They are nice little drills that work great for cabinet and finish work stuff. I don't have the fuels. I bought them 10years ago in black Friday for $99 for the combo kit. And they are still going strong

The DeWalt 12v Extreme screwdriver is the handiest tool I own. I love it.

I'm new to this, I have 18v drill and impact driver but have a corded saw at 240v (but it's 230v) so I like watching and learning all this

I am fully fledged DIYer (fixes neighbours appliances and builds decks) and the M12 Fuel range has been my favourites set of tools for many years. They are light and powerful enough to tackle all of my projects. That said my circ. and jig saws are Dewalt 20v. I think its very different if you are a professional who is using cordless tools for more than a few hours a week. For those folks the 12v range in certain tools (drill/driver mostly) with high output batteries may make sense. BTW thanks for putting out a great video. always informative and very honest. Thanks again.

I got 18v Ryobi tools and for the drill and impact driver, I went with the Milwaukee M12. I love those 12v Milwaukee's and how compact and really powerful for how small they are.

I'm in Home Theater and I love my Milwaukee M12 tools. The one power tool I keep in my bag is the M12 driver/drill with the hammer function and it serves me well, BUT... There is definitely a place the 18 V stuff. Like retro fit wire runs where I have to go through 2x lumber all day. I will say that now that I have Fuel tools, I do think they're a bit too much sometimes. I used to do just fine with the non brushless stuff.

I bought a 12 volt Milwaukee screw gun (not a drill) yrs ago when I was installing vinyl siding on my house to drive in truss head screws. Works great plenty of torque and slow enough to control it. I’ve got a whole outfit of makita 18 volt tools but at work I use the 18 volt subcompact kit. Use the impact to clean out threads and to change t-nuts on a 3 jaw chuck. The drill has a 1/2 inch chuck and works on anything I need to do. Absolutely love the kit but I use my little Milwaukee screw gun for small jobs around the house. It’s a great little tool.

As a auto technician I bought into the Milwaukee M12 series and slowly added the M18 tools I felt I needed.

Really interesting discussion.

I buy m18 because I see my coworkers spending 3 minutes to cut one peice of conduit with there m12 while talking about how it gets the job done the same. The Sawzall kinda depends on the blade but fresh blade to fresh blade it feels like I'm cutting atleast twice as fast vs. The m12. The bandsaw seems like 3 or 4 times faster. Don't even get me started on holesaws on those tiny m12 drills.

I can agree somewhat with augmenting with 12v tools in certain instances of very tight spacing in specialty trades such as hvac/service techs/plumbing. Personally, after 38 years as a master carpenter/builder by trade, and a "can fix almost anything" guy in my off time, I have never found anything that i couldn't use my 18v Milwaukee tools for through judicious use of adapters/extensions/swivels that I couldn't accomplish using hand tools. To me the lack of power and versatility in a 12v tool doesn't justify the added cost and headache of having to buy, carry, and maintain them.

I bought Milwaukee 28volt system in 2002. I still have some of them and use them daily. I also have 12v and 18v. There is a MASSIVE difference in their capabilities. If you want to do 80% of the work with no issues, get 18v. If you need lightweight and convenience get 12v. If you’re a professional and need the tool to easily get the big jobs done then get the 28v.

As a DIYer/hobbyist, I currently only have Dewalt 20v max tools right now such as an impact driver, drill, and reciprocating saw. I even have the leaf blower which is great. I’m actually going to switch over to a 12v drill and impact driver largely because of the size and the fact that they can do all the tasks that I have while being smaller and lightweight. I’m sure a 12v reciprocating saw would work for me, but I like the idea of having longer runtime and plan on sticking with the 20v max at this time. Also, don’t be afraid of corded tools. I was given a Dewalt oscillating tool and a circular saw and they work great for me because I don’t use them all the time and when I do I can plug them in and get the job done and know that I will have consistent power throughout. I know that was long winded, but I hope that this helps someone!

10:20 he nails it! Thank you! I've been saying this forever when I hear the 18v/20v debate come up.......why doesn't 12v bother people the same way?

Damn nice bucket right there! Merry Christmas!

I have the Dewalt 60v circular saw and the Dewalt 12v circular saw. I use the 12v 9 times out of 10 for punch list. It is incredible.

I personally have the Ridgid 18v system as my battery platform of choice, the selling point to me was I wanted 1 battery system and the tools I need (rack refrigeration mechanic) and I wanted the highest torque 1/2" impact because sometimes I need to break loose some pretty rusty fasteners and Ridgid delivers that. I worked for a company that have M12 stocked on the truck and it was mostly fine other than my 1/2" impact needs.

Once a installed 4 rows of seats on a big van (involving drilling and tapping the hardened steel legs of the seats) with only a Bosh 12v drill that are even more compact than those mentioned, and they were brushed the nowadays brushless are even more efficient and powerful.

We use dewalt and Milwaukee 18v tools on our farm. Lots of repetitive cuts/ grinding. We spent 6 10 hour days grinding and welding pipes together. Went through dozens of batteries a day.

The small skill saw is great for cutting above your head and up in air stuff

As a new homeowner I had to start getting into DIY projects and landed on M12 Fuel drill/driver kit with free multitool and they have been great...been able to use a 1/2" bit on the hammer drill to drill into concrete for a gate drop rod. So far I'm really digging the M12 Fuel line so I may go for a few of the other tools in the line (have my eye on the hackzawl) but for anything I need more power for I'm going corded i.e. circular saw. For home use I don't see the benefit of going all in to a battery line when corded works just fine if not better.

Great show very informative

The 12v cordless ratchets are a must have in industrial maintenance and auto mechanic work

Rigid,it’s a no brainer. Free repair and batteries for life. I have them in both voltage platforms and reach for the 12v the most. Love the multi tool and like he said it fits in my main bag along with a drill and is always within reach. Fits in my pouch and going up a ladder and is easier to carry. 18 v if I’m driving 3” screws ,sawing and demos. 12v for cabinet and furniture building. Oh and I’m old enough that I started with the 7.2 Makita and Ryobi platforms in the 80s. Cheers

As a luxury apartment maintenance technician in a building with over 200 units, I’ve learned a 12v, especially the 12v fuel lineup is super useful. Light and almost as powerful as 18v. My 12vs do everything I need, literally from concrete to cabinets. Takes a bit longer but speed isn’t important in our field. Accuracy and precision is. And working hvac as well, it feels great to no longer carry 18v. The bag is heavy enough, 2 pounds makes a difference over time. Only 18v I have is my leaf blower. Even my vacuum is 12v from Milwaukee.

Good stuff. Thanks.

He man is already back on Netflix 12v Bosch stuff I have. Screwdriver, impact drill, impact driver, jigsaw, router.

Back a few years ago doing a fence, we would get way down the line with a drill. We would run out and have to have a battery with us but always having on in the charger. I decided to go cordless when I had to run 200 foot of power cord and still ran out on the side of a building attaching a line set 3 floors up.

As a home owner and an RV'er handy man. I am perfectly happy with the M12 platform. If I need more power I go electric. I have a dozen M12 powered devices & it is so nice to know if one of the batteries run out you can always steel one from another tool. Gold Son GOLD

I’m a pro user and have Milwaukee 18 volt system as well as m12 and I have to say I love the size of m12 for most applications and performs very well .

I have a Milwaukee M12 circular saw with a metal cutting blade for Metal cable tray containment and it’s awesome

You guys missed something--the motor on my M12 impact driver is actually BIGGER than my M18. For a long time I stayed away from 12v tools, because there used to be a huge power difference between 12v and 18v. But with new lithium batteries and brushless motors, the gap between the two is much smaller than it used to be.

As a plumber for 30+ years ,I have reverted back to corded for remodeling and sewer repairs no worries about charging and change outs ,and M12 for day to day

I have a Milwaukee 12 v drill and 12 v sawzaw and this conversation is helpfull

I love m12 drill/ drivers, they are my go to faves over my m18 every time so handy compact and a pleasure to use

I have this m18 impact driver that gives 1600 inlbs but I recently got a used impact driver that only gives 600inlbs but uses hydraulic tech so there's far less vibration. I noticed I used the quieter tool because it gave more control for the application. BUT having more than enough power and not needing it is better than not having enough power and need it

I run a yacht restoration and rigging business. I almost exclusively use the M12 line of tools for all of my rigging and most of my yacht restoration work with a couple of exceptions. The compact design make these tools perfect for hauling up the mast. If you look at the M12 fuel line you will find that the power of the gen 2 and 3 tools are nearly the same as the older style of M18 or 20 volt max. The 12 volt tools will meet the needs of more than 95 percent of people and even most contractors

Love both of my m12 3/8 impacts

Normal day to day at work I run 18volt need the run time and the extra power. My personal automotive impacts and ratchets are 12 volt due to the nature of cars being tight spaces. So it really depends on your situation

I agree about 12v. I have a lot of 18v tools, but I always grab my 12v drill unless I know it can't handle the job, because it's so small and light.

I buy what I need when it’s on special haha. 20V and 12V whatever I see works best! I have no preference, if I could I’d have ever tool lol!

It all depends on the Job/Task at hand, no necessarily the tool itself. I wouldn't use a framing hammer for finishing nails. Some jobs require a heavier output of the 18V, and others don't. It's not always a cut and dry situation though. I believe it also depends on the Quality of the 12 volt tool/battery that you are using as well. We are mentioning brand names, but we all know the within these various brands, there are different levels of performance. For instance, Milwaukee has three levels, from their entry level brushed to brushless to FUEL and then you have DeWalt, with all sorts of stickers on their tools as well and many other brands that do similar things. On top of that, we also have the home owner/DIY, then the Pro-sumer levels of tools that, depending on how much you pay and how old they or the batteries are, may or may not alter the performance of the tool on any given day..

Thoughts or reviews on battery snow blowers?

18V for new construction/heavy duty use. 12V got finish/service work. They're for different things

I Owen a wide variety of m12 tools that I use in my remodeling business for wood working they're my tool of choice. Makita is the 18, 36v tools if I need more power

I used the m12 fuel line for handyman and most projects because the size and power is so close, but i have dewalt 20/60v for carpentry

I have the new Dewalt 12v extreme 5-1/2” circ saw. Love it . Need bigger amp hour battery.

So what's the deal with the Craftsman previous gen 19.2V packs ?? I still use them but whats the diff from the 18v / 20v max and the 19.2v ??? I'd love to know ...juust to know.

Completely off topic, but which PERCH tool holder are y’all using for the Kobalt tools? They don’t have a Kobalt specific one on their website.

I use m18 every day at work but I'm really thinking about getting m12 drill driver and multi tool

I really like the miniature nature of 12v and I have some m12 tools. By and large though my work is too heavy duty for 12v as a primary platform. I’m finding that my power demands are sometimes even unmet by 18v, such as with recipe saws and vacuums, so I’m looking forward to Makita’s 40v line which I’ve already bought into, but the 12v tools are very neato and compact, super attractive

Very informative

Yeah, I have all M12 cordless tools with the exception of an M18 circular saw. The other tools that I would consider for 18V is an angle grinder, jigsaw, and sander. But I have corded versions of those which are fine for me (I don't use them very often), so I'm not inclined to upgrade any time soon.

I have the m12 fuel and non fuel drill fuel driver cutoff saw 3/8 stubby i think im going to buy the fuel recip saw but im just wondering where to go then and before you ask what i do i do everything from building houses to plumbing to electrical to mechanical

I bought into the 12v Milwaukee stuff because I do a lot of automotive work and general home repair, usually in confined spaces. 12v is TONS of power for a drill or ratchet, the impact wrench is a LITTLE lacking for heavier work but still plenty for wheel lugs or most automotive suspension.... truck stuff where you're dealing with 125 ft/lbs or higher the M12 impact can be lacking. As a Canadian the best part is the M12 heated jackets sharing the same batteries, outdoor work in the winter doesn't suck when you're toasty warm.

Im loaded of 12v and I finished all my basement with them no issues it’s just work, for longer runtime I would choose a 18v or dewalt 20v but for all the rest I love the compact size and the variety of tool te 12v serie have

I use m12 circ saw all the time for lefthand blade and all my trim work, plus on a ladder, 12v is a huge time saver

The m12 line has a ton of tools, I hang my drill and impact from my pocket and can move around freely without pulling my shit down. Plenty of power in a small package. Hard to beat it. Other brands try but my 12v dewalt died, my Bosch 12v was too weak. The m18 sit in the box and still look brand new lol

Thanks for the excellent overview. I've been wondering which system to choose and this helps. As for system voltage affecting heat produced in the battery cells: Oddly, reconfiguring a pack for higher voltage does not reduce the current or heat produced per cell for a given load. For example imagine a 360 Watt load using 10 cells. At 36V the 360W load is carried by one string of 10 cells, current per cell (and string) is 10 amps. At 18V it requires 20 amps to get the same 360W power. This is shared by two parallel strings of 5 cells each, so the current per string is still 10 Amps. Higher voltage does reduce the current in the wiring, electronics and motor, so the real advantage is in the balance of system. A primary disadvantage of higher voltage is the increased cost of the Battery Management System. Now if only we could freely swap different brands of batteries, then I would feel like the manufacturers cared about us customers. :-)

I buy both m12 milwaukee tools and 60v dewalt tools. The m12 is intuitive and easy to use and the flexvolt line can handle anything. Especially the 120v dual battery chopsaw.

I have run 18V my whole career until 2 years ago I bought an M12 surge. It was love at the first pull of the trigger... I am now heavy in M12 tools but agree that I have certain 18V tools that are necessary in some situations. It's a mix for me as a professional.

Everything but the m12 hackzall I only use it for cutting PVC, M18 with diablo blades is a beast

I started with Makita 9.6 volt a long time ago.

Good info on batteries, glad OPE was also talked about. Charging can effect battery life. If possible avoid using fast chargers, the higher amp rate generates more heat. Also when a used pack feels warm let it cool before charging.