Milwaukee M18 FUEL Framing Nailers – Myth or Reality?

Are unicorns real, sasquatch, what about leprechauns with pots of gold? Almost as elusive, the rumored Milwaukee M18 FUEL Framing Nailers seems like it may never come but alas we have it on good authority (yeah… again) that these will be hitting the street in July 2020. We’ve seen it, held it and used it, can’t tell you what the delays were about but we’re looking into the future now, onward. Coming in both 21 degree (2744-21) and 30 degree (2745-21) options with a $449 Kit or $349 bar tool options. The big question is can a true Cordless Tool (no gas cartridges) actually replace a Pneumatic when it comes to a Framing Nailer??

YES, according to Milwaukee and what we’ve seen with our eyes these M18 FUEL Framing Nailers will allow crews of production stick builders to pitch all their hoses, compressors and/or fuel cells making a switch to a pure cordless jobsite. While possibly confusing for those new to the MM18 tool line “FUEL” does not mean gas fuel… it sounded good to the Milwaukee marketing team in 2010, might cause a little confusion here in 2020, no fuel cells required just a powerful BRUSHLESS motor that can fire 3 nails per second.

Runtime Questions?

700 Nails per 5.0Ah charge is pretty impressive, for weight reduction maybe try a High Output 3.0Ah or if you just hate changing batteries go High Output 8.0Ah for 1000+ nails. When launching they will also have extended magazines optional for both 21 and 30 degree which will allow for 2 full strips of nails. Firing at over 3 nails per second this gun should really allow full production crews to make the switch and never look back.

Demo from Kyle at RR Buildings

At the top of the page you’ll see the Milwaukee Demo which has made it’s way around by now and always one thing to see the Milwaukee Team present their own tools. Kyle from RR Building skipped a few other presentations at last year’s NPS19 and really spent some time with the M18 Nailers to test different nails, and came away very impressed using full length 3.5” ring shank nails on bump fire.

Other Milwaukee Nail Guns

The first Milwaukee nailers that hit the market in 2017 were for finishing work 15ga, 16ga and 18ga, and would not say home runs. The 18ga actually got a total redo and relaunched late last year, we’re happy to report the performance has been very solid at least for the first few months out there for the 2^nd generation 18ga 2746-21CT no longer any questions of not sinking the nails at an angle or not firing fast enough.

Another Milwaukee Tool than was shown off for the first time with the M18 Framing Nailer was the M18 18ga Crown Stapler which Rob Robillard from Tool Box Buzz actually highlighted in the video below and again not been in the field too long but seems to really have hit the mark!

Overall while Milwaukee seemed to stubble a little out of the gate getting into cordless Nailers, it seems like they’ve figured it all out and really firing on all cylinders now! Can’t wait to see them continue to round out the lineup as we’d love to see a 23ga pinner, coil roofing nailers and concrete anchor solutions in the years to come!

Milwaukee M18 FUEL 30 Degree Framing Nailer 2745-21 ($449, 5.0Ah Kit) 2745-20 ($349 Bare)