Milwaukee M18 FUEL ONE-KEY 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 1-3/4 in. SDS-MAX Rotary Hammer with One 12.0 Ah Battery

37 reviews for Milwaukee M18 FUEL ONE-KEY 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 1-3/4 in. SDS-MAX Rotary Hammer with One 12.0 Ah Battery

1. Rated 5 out of 5

   Breana Bauch (verified owner) – December 20, 2021

   This is a review of Milwaukee’s #2718-21HD SDS-Max Rotary hammer drill kit.It comes complete with a rugged hard case, a single 12.0 A-hr battery, ans a much needed rapid charger.The motor is brushless.It is made in China.This is a massive hand tool, weighing in at ~ 25 lbs with bit attached. I have several tools with the One-Key feature … and I don’t use it.Being cordless, it’s a joy to use over my previous corded 15A SDS drill.I’ve used the drill primarily in three ways: while held horizontally, core drilling through 8-12″ foundation block/brick walls; both vertically and horizontally, setting masonry anchors up to 3/4″ D x 4″L; and holding vertically, demo’ing small 4″ thick concrete pads.Needless to say, the most difficult challenge comes with using this massive tool horizontally [fortunately for me, the pilot bit on the bore saws helps]; the 45-deg ‘auto stop’ feature works so the fear of wrist strain and possibly broken arm bones is almost gone.I find the vibration with the tool to be somewhat less than taxing on the body.The battery life? I can easily knock out four holes on a single charge; breaking up a 4″ concrete pad … used 7 full charges for 170 sq ft … I think that comes to 1,200 lbs per charge … more than the “1/2 ton per charge” claimed in the merchandising material! [This was nearly an ‘all day affair’ and what I would consider a torture test. It passed with flying colors.]

2. Rated 5 out of 5

   Eleanora Prohaska (verified owner) – November 29, 2021

   This cuts through dirt and rock like butter! Great tool if you have the $$$$$$$!

3. Rated 5 out of 5

   Kasey Dickinson (verified owner) – October 28, 2021

   Milwaukee makes another excellent product! This drill is not compatible with the SDS Plus bits and chisels. You must use SDS Max bits and chisels , which are sold separately. The tool comes with one battery and one charger. Extra batteries and chargers are available through Milwaukee for purchase. The tool has three selections to choose from, simply turn the sector knob to hammering with rotation, hammer only or chisel. The drill also has a chisel lock feature, which is nice to have. This tool comes with One-Key, which tracks, locks and renders it unusable at your choosing. This application can be downloaded onto all Apple and Android devices. This cordless rotary hammer has a 5yr limited warranty and comes with its own carrying case. However, I would like to see Milwaukee include a starter bit and chisel set as well as a re-engendered battery charger, which has zero humming. I spoke with the parts and an engineer from Milwaukee whom said it’s not a safety concern. The humming gradually goes away as the battery charges.

4. Rated 5 out of 5

   Lacy Boyer (verified owner) – September 10, 2021

   Has not disappointed me yet. 12 Amp batterys provide enough juice for most residential hvac projects. Just as heavy as my hilti without the extension cord stress.

5. Rated 5 out of 5

   Stanley Quigley (verified owner) – August 2, 2021

   What an awesome tool this M18 FUEL ONE-KEY 18-VOLT LITHIUM-ION BRUSHLESS CORDLESS 1-3/4 IN. SDS-MAX ROTARY HAMMER WITH ONE 12.0 AH BATTERY is! I have been a builder remodeler for 49 years, so I have a little experience in the use of tools, in fact I have a reputation of having every tool known to man! But one tool I haven’t owned until now is a big rotary hammer, as I don’t usually use one all the time. So I’ve typically rented a corded one. But it just happened that I needed to drill 120 holes in an existing foundation to retrofit anchor bolts, and I also needed to drive some ground rods. So when I got this, it was the perfect tool for the job! The only thing it lacked was a second 12.0 AH battery, but I also picked up one of those, and then I was ready to drill & drive! And boy did it do the job! No cords, power to spare, I’m not looking back! This is one awesome tool! I absolutely recommend this tool!

6. Rated 5 out of 5

   Dina Rosenbaum (verified owner) – July 15, 2021

   Milwaukee M18 2718-22HD 1 3/4” capacity SDS-Max Rotary Hammer Kit is definitely a heavy duty and a professional tool. It definitely meets, head on, the comparable 15-amp corded rotary hammer by a long shot. On the jobsite, like the fact that I don’t have to drag along an electric generator to power the tool since it comes with heavy duty two capacity batteries which makes the tool totally portable. I especially appreciate the “AUTOSTOP” electromagnetic clutch that prevents the tool from over rotation when it gets bound up. This is an important personal kickback safety feature helps to order to maintain a 45-degree control of the tool, especially when hitting hard aggregate or drilling rebar which is not found on competitive brand tools. An out of control tool can easily sprain your wrist and arm, and especially cause you to fall off a ladder. The ONE KEY feature on tool allows for tool tracking, inventory, and security to shut it down and all which are great amenities to have. The battery markings are a bit misleading through the M18 representing the voltage, 18 volts, and the 12 ah (amp hour) representing the amperage capacity of the battery. I think most people think it is 12-volt. I tried to buy Milwaukee brand concrete chisel Home Depot but ended up having to buy the Bosch brand instead. It should be noted that smaller shank (SDS Plus) is for the older 1” drive and larger shank (SDS Max) is made for the newer 1 3/4″ shank tool. On the downside, the tool is very heavy and it lacks the “depth stop” feature when drilling concrete holes.

7. Rated 5 out of 5

   Declan Mraz (verified owner) – July 9, 2021

   The M18 FUEL One-Key 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 1-3/4 IN. SDS-MAX Rotary Hammer with One 12.0 AH Battery. I actually used this SDS Hammer for removing brick from an interior wall in our kitchen with a wide chisel bit. The Milwaukee SDS Hammer done it with ease ! This Milwaukee Hammer is a very powerful Hammer ! This hammer uses the SDS MAX blits, and this kit comes with everything you’ will need except bits. It has features like a vibration damper built into the handle, and the ONE-KEY as well ! I have a project with an asphalt driveway, and some concrete to do with this Milwaukee, and I will update on here when I do that. No doubt in my mind, this Milwaukee can handle it ! Thank you Milwaukee for making such a great Cordless SDS Hammer ! And Thank you Home Depot for handling the Milwaukee Tools !

8. Rated 5 out of 5

   Kaylie Rutherford (verified owner) – May 30, 2021

   POWERFUL; VERSATILE; HEAVY; LABOR-SAVING — The Milwaukee M18 FUEL ONE-KEY 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 1-3/4 in. SDS-MAX Rotary Hammer with Two 12.0 Ah Batteries is an incredible, portable tool which has many applications. It can drill, chip, trench, make core holes, and much more. Tile and concrete contractors should be interested in the tool for its ability to save labor costs. Serious DIYers could use it for multiple applications to justify its cost. For me, it allowed me to remove my old ceramic tile floor in less than half the time that it took a contractor using a hammer and chisel to remove the tile in a similarly-sized bathroom. The best feature for me was the vibration damper. Another excellent safety feature is the auto stop clutch to keep the tool from rotating more than 45degrees if it gets stuck. This tool is huge and heavy. It weights 23 pounds including the battery which weighs 3.2 pounds. The weight may be the biggest drawback for people who would not be using it frequently. The well-designed trigger handle is comfortable. The side handle adjusts easily. That handle and the overall balance make the tool easy to use. The three modes are clearly marked and explained in the instructions. The chisel lock mechanism is not clear in the instructions. To insert a bit, you need to pull back on the spring loaded collar, then release it to lock the bit. The temporary setting is for adjusting the angle of the chisel. This step requires caution since you need to pull the trigger with the battery engaged. The tool case is large and has room for many accessories. The kit includes a tube of lubricant but the instructions for using it are missing. The drill has ONE-KEY with all of the associated advantages. Two current drawbacks are the lack of accessories and their cost. I needed a tile chisel bit for removing the ceramic tile in my bathroom. My SDS Plus tile bit is not compatible. I would have needed to buy an adapter at a cost greater than a new bit. Milwaukee does not make a tile chisel bit for the SDS Max but advised me that another vendor did. That vendor’s bit is HD store exclusive which means that it can only be obtained in a store. My store did not have it and had not seen one in months. I could not order one online. Fortunately an HD store manager figured out a way to obtain the bit for me. Bits can cost more than $100 each. One then needs to have specific, large tasks in mind. For those tasks with available bits, this tool will increase one’s productivity and make the tool a wise investment.

9. Rated 5 out of 5

   Dameon Jaskolski (verified owner) – February 2, 2021

   this sds hammer is very good it is kind of heavy but its all part of not using the body weight to push into the material and it is very strong it is made of thick material and it should hold very strong the only down fall is that you need to use a 9.0 or higher battery for a longer run time other then that the tool is very good then again its made by milwaukee

10. Rated 5 out of 5

    Rodrick Russel (verified owner) – January 15, 2021

    This is really an awesome cordless rotary hammer. It literally has so many quality elements built-in, that I don’t know where to start. I was initially impressed with the side handle that practically guarantees the proper balance while in use, and is also a major safety element. Definitely built for professional usage, but also includes multiple safety features for enhanced safety and productivity for the average semi-professional user.This Milwaukee Rotary Hammer is the perfect tool for chipping thru concrete, rebar, etc. and delivers quality and consistency even under the roughest circumstances. One recommendation would be to make this tool usable as a corded hammer, as compared to being totally cordless. Otherwise, an awesome tool that I would recommend without hesitation to all Hope Depot shoppers looking for the best tools available. 

11. Rated 5 out of 5

    Amalia Keeling (verified owner) – December 29, 2020

    A really powerful tool

12. Rated 5 out of 5

    Nikki Carter (verified owner) – December 21, 2020

    380 revolutions and 2,900 beats per minute generating 8.1 ft-lbs impact energy make this rotary hammer a heavy hitter. Using big HD 12.0, 18 volt, batteries provides a strong and relatively long lasting power source. The two batteries charge up quickly as well, just 96 minutes for a full first charge. The small LED light lights up the work area adequately.With the ability to drive a 1-3/4 inch diameter bit into reinforced concrete or chisel away a half ton of material on just one charge this tool is very powerful and has massive torque but the built in safety of the AUTOSTOP E-Clutch stops the machine dead if it twists 45 degrees suddenly, no doubt saving many a sprained wrist, or worse. The built in shock absorption is clever too and it really is most efficient and productive to find the sweet-spot between trying too hard and not hard enough.Ongoing development of the ONE-KEY app continues to add features and the ability to remotely locate and disable / enable ONE-KEY equipped products is well worthwhile. The kit even includes lubricant to apply to the bit shank. Adding a generous compartment for bit storage in the case is a thoughtful touch.

13. Rated 5 out of 5

    Irma Emard (verified owner) – December 19, 2020

    It’s built like a tank, However it’s a bit heavy I don’t mind the weight, It gets the work done effectively, And it met my expectations,

14. Rated 5 out of 5

    Zechariah Zulauf (verified owner) – December 13, 2020

    This is a review of Milwaukee’s #2718-21HD SDS-Max Rotary hammer drill kit.It comes complete with a rugged hard case, a single 12.0 A-hr battery, ans a much needed rapid charger.The motor is brushless.It is made in China.This is a massive hand tool, weighing in at ~ 25 lbs with bit attached. I have several tools with the One-Key feature … and I don’t use it.Being cordless, it’s a joy to use over my previous corded 15A SDS drill.I’ve used the drill primarily in three ways: while held horizontally, core drilling through 8-12″ foundation block/brick walls; both vertically and horizontally, setting masonry anchors up to 3/4″ D x 4″L; and holding vertically, demo’ing small 4″ thick concrete pads.Needless to say, the most difficult challenge comes with using this massive tool horizontally [fortunately for me, the pilot bit on the bore saws helps]; the 45-deg ‘auto stop’ feature works so the fear of wrist strain and possibly broken arm bones is almost gone.I find the vibration with the tool to be somewhat less than taxing on the body.The battery life? I can easily knock out four holes on a single charge; breaking up a 4″ concrete pad … used 7 full charges for 170 sq ft … I think that comes to 1,200 lbs per charge … more than the “1/2 ton per charge” claimed in the merchandising material! [This was nearly an ‘all day affair’ and what I would consider a torture test. It passed with flying colors.]

15. Rated 5 out of 5

    Kelli Tillman (verified owner) – November 19, 2020

    Milwaukee Rotary Hammer model # 2718-22HD review by a home owner / DIY’er.I’m a semi-retired I.T. technician so I try to leave data cabling jobs to younger techs, but sometimes I get roped in. Most of the time I don’t have to run cable through masonry; sometimes, however, I’ve run into situations that call for ‘more power’ – and this new Milwaukee rotary hammer supplies ‘more power’ by the bucketful. Vibration is present, but minimal. Noise is high-pitched; you’ll want to wear hearing and eye protection. The trick is to let the drill do the work – apply just enough pressure to guide the bit. Of course, the 2718 is a beast – you can check out the specs on the Home Depot web page. (See attached photo of the case – I’ve included a yardstick to give some idea of proportion).The “lock out” for the trigger is on the back (see photo); there is a light that comes on to light up the work. A hard-shell case is included with the kit. Fit and finish is excellent.Being a DIY’er I don’t expect that I’ll wear down the 12 a/h battery on any given day, but the kit comes with a spare battery as well and a second battery is always welcome. Of course the M18 batteries are interchangeable with any other M18 tools.Every time I plant a new rose bush or shrub I have to dig out something left by the subdivision builder – cement bricks, poured concrete leftovers, you name it. I found the top half of a concrete bird feeder buried about 7” down! Also, we’re sitting on hard clay soil which doesn’t make digging easy once you get past the topsoil.The Milwaukee will allow me to cut the concrete, bricks, etc. into chunks that are easily hauled away in bags or bins. (See attached photo of SDS-Max chisel bit; the bit isn’t included with the kit but there’s space in the case for carrying a few bits).The really good news is that spade attachments are available that makes digging into hard clay much, much easier. This is where this new tool really starts to pay off for the DIY’er. This kit is obviously targeted towards skilled trades pros; however, since it also has applications around the house other than the drilling of masonry holes and it is part of the M18 tool family, the cost of the kit can be spread over a number of areas.You’ll want to check out accessories (such as the ‘spade’ bit) to see what duties this rotary hammer can perform other than drilling holes in concrete. There’s an adapter available which allows the use of SDS+ bits, which is useful.The tool offers a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty (3 years on the batteries), and a 90-day return guarantee from Home Depot. One really nice safety feature – the tool offers an auto stop which limits the tool to a 45 degree turn if the bit binds up in the work. That means that you won’t be fighting the rotation of the tool to stop the twisting motion – after a 45 degree spin it automatically shuts down.One surprising lack – there’s no “drill only” mode; you won’t be using this beast for drilling through rafters or railway ties. It would have been a handy option to have. There’s a “Hammer Only” mode, and a “Hammer/Rotate” mode. The third position on the mode switch is for changing the angle of the chisel bit.Also – Milwaukee has an online tracking database that you can key your tools (not just Milwaukee brand) into and download a nifty Excel spreadsheet showing warranty dates, serial numbers, purchase dates – just about anything you want to key in. Very handy for insurance, warranty claims, or checking purchases for income tax deductions. See the documentation that comes with the hammer for details.My bottom line on this new Milwaukee drill for DIY’ers? It would be a pricey tool to have on hand for the typical homeowner if all it did was break up concrete. But considering its other capabilities (drilling large or small holes through concrete, brick, masonry; making short work of hard clay deposits in the lawn or garden;) I think a case can be made that the tool can be cost effective. Certainly in my case, where I’m frequently called out by friends and neighbors to lend a hand in some sort of DIY chore, this thing will be a back saver.HTHRegards,Jim

16. Rated 5 out of 5

    Elfrieda Hamill (verified owner) – November 18, 2020

    This M18 FUEL ONE-KEY 18-VOLT LITHIUM-ION BRUSHLESS CORDLESS 1-3/4 IN. SDS-MAX ROTARY HAMMER WITH ONE 12.0 AH BATTERY is incredible! The power and weight are perfect for the job I used it for, which was breaking up my patio to replace it since it was cracked. I will also be buying a Milwaukee hammer drill soon since the battery on this will work for that, too. The battery has higher capacity than others so it will last a long time.

17. Rated 5 out of 5

    Jamil Bartell (verified owner) – November 18, 2020

    This is a pricey purchase, but it pays back big time in efficiency and convenience. We never had an effective portable hammer drill and depended on AC or compressed air to do our concrete demolition. It takes a huge amount of time, effort, and budget to provision feeds for a remote job site or obscure location. Well, the product claim on this model is true – it has all the power of a corded 15 amp hammer and the 12 amp hour batteries offer incredible duration. That Milwaukee did this without adding appreciable weight to the tool is impressive. It’s nicely balanced in horizontal and vertical use with intuitive, well placed controls. The side handle adjusts smoothly and is well located on the nose. Our guys love the anti vibration features on both the side and the rear handles – really eases extended chiseling fatigue. We don’t install many anchors, but the drill and hammer drill modes seem fine – gearing is a little low, but probably needed to achieve the needed torque from a battery tool. The rotation clutch system works like a charm – immediate and consistent release. The bit chuck works perfectly and is easy to clean. I see that there are bit vacuum attachments available for OSHA complianceThe batteries charge quickly and the charge gauge is handy. We’re not using the Redlink location feature, but I imagine it’s helpful for tool control with large crew operations. All in all, a huge time saver and a great investment.

18. Rated 5 out of 5

    Adan Parker (verified owner) – November 16, 2020

    I’ve used this to break up a concrete footer left in the driveway from an old porch, cut out a bad section of blacktop in the driveway, break up a dirt pile full of roots, remove mortar from field stones to rebuild a wall, and bust up a concrete fence footer to repair a rotted fence post. In all cases this tool breaks things up pretty quickly. The tool weighs about 25 lbs when outfitted with battery and bit, but it’s very manageable given the shock absorption, adjustable handle, and ability to rotate the chisel before using hammering mode. The kit includes the brushless, 1 3/4” SDS-Max rotary hammer (model 2718-20), two M18 REDLITHIUM, high output, HD12.0 amp hour batteries, Rapid Charger (40% faster), a tube of grease for the bits, and what is a giant red suitcase. The only thing missing, which is surprising, is a depth gauge. You’ll also need bits and chisels, but that will depend on how you plan to use the tool. Given my intention to chisel concrete, my first bit purchases were a 3”x12” scaling chisel and a bull point chisel.Per the literature, this tool can “chip 1/2 ton of material on one charge.” In my case, each new, fully charged, HD12.0 Ah battery provided approximately 20 minutes of run time when chiseling concrete and blacktop. Perhaps there’s a technically difference between “chipping” and “chiseling,” but I definitely didn’t remove 1/2 ton of material on one charge. Also, I noticed that as the batteries got to the last bar and started blinking, the tool’s power started to drop off a little. Luckily, the batteries run cool so they can immediately be placed in the charger. With the Rapid Charger, each of my HD12.0 Ah batteries charged in roughly 1 hour and 40 minutes (from blinking). You can’t beat the convenience of a cordless tool, but if I had to run this thing all day, I’d consider investing in more batteries and chargers. The One-Key features aren’t important to me, but as a curious individual I downloaded the app and connected the tool to check it out. I can understand how the app would be useful in professional applications. Milwaukee has delivered another well-engineered tool that is comfortable and as powerful as a 15 Amp corded rotary hammer. I really enjoy using it!

19. Rated 5 out of 5

    Lacey Koelpin (verified owner) – November 15, 2020

    The past few years now Milwaukee has really been implementing a lot of new features and technology that make tooks better and safer to use. This 1-3/4 SDS-Max Rotary Hammer is no exception. This thing is a beast of a drill and cordless too thanks to the M18 12.0 batteries. It will work with smaller capacity batteries but you won’t get as much run time, and possibly performance out of it. With the 12.0 battery it goes head to head with the comparable corded version.If you’re doing demo or drilling through concrete where services haven’t been installed yet or if you just like working without cords for safety and convenience, this rotary hammer can tackle a lot of tough jobs previously only a corded drill could. All the buttons, switches and controls are easy to use with gloved hands.Some quick max capacity recommendations… twist bits 1-3/4″, core bits 6″ and tunnel bits 2-1/2″. This is a heavy drill meant for heavy jobs like demolotion and drilling big holes through concrete. The back part of the drill with the handle has dampening bellows as does the side handle which helps minimize the vibration that gets back to you while operating. It weighs almost 20lbs without the battery and has a lot of power. If the bit gets stuck while drilling the Autostop clutch will stop the drill and only let it turn 45 degrees to minimize damage to you or anything nearby. There hasn’t been a condition to test it out and for my own safety I’m not going to set up a situation to test it intentionally but the videos are convincing and other Milwaukee M18 drills that have similar safety features have worked perfectly for me in the past when the bit bound up. This is a very important feature to have especially if you’re working in tight spaces or on a ladder. There’s a lot of safety information in the manual which is worth reading.There’s no reverse or variable speed trigger which isn’t uncommon in an SDS-Max drill like this. If a drill bit gets stuckyou can try setting it to hammer mode only to try to get it unstuck or use other means.The ONE-KEY app is nice if you have a lot of expensive Milwaukee cordless tools to keep track of across multiple workers and jobs sites. It can help keep track of lost or stolen tools. Any time someone with the One-Key app comes within 100 feet of a One-key tools the location of that tool will be updated on Milwaukee’s servers. If multiple people use your One-Key tools, make sure they all have the apps on their smart phones so tools don’t get lost and you might have some help finding them if you can’t remember what truck or jobsite it was last used on.If a tool does get stolen and you mark it as such in the app the tool will be locked the next time it’s in range of a smartphone running one-key. Making it unusable until it’s unlocked. The app also also you to mark the tools location or who the tool was assigned to. The app is well done.This isn’t the type of drill that everyone will need but for those that do and want it cordless this is a great choice in my opinion based on the clutch and performance.

20. Rated 5 out of 5

    Elfrieda Batz (verified owner) – November 9, 2020

    Good don’t need to pull out the cords and the inverter to run ground rods and more on jobs site as a electrician lots of time we don’t have power on service call till we’re done, so this is great!!