The Milwaukee Crosshair Laser Level will be the envy of others
Prosperity! And just like that, Milwaukee is jumping into the line laser world with gusto, and we have everything you need to know about Milwaukee's lineup of crossline laser levels!
advantage
- Green beam for all laser classes
- Choice of two power supplies – M12 or RedLithium USB
- Seven designs to choose from
- Each model runs 24/7 (minimum 8 hours)
- New fine-tuning dial for easy and quick positioning
- The laser rotates on a plumb point so it doesn't move as you adjust
- 1/8 inch per 33 feet
shortcoming
- More expensive than some competitors if you just need the basics
Milwaukee Crosshair Laser Visibility
Every Milwaukee crosshair laser uses a green beam for optimum visibility. The design team also created a new form of standard target cards to make it easier to see your lines when working in brighter areas.
It features a high-contrast design for better visibility, making it easier to see when you're hitting the center. It's also magnetic and has standard and metric measurements.
Green beams come with trade-offs. For starters, they're more power hungry than the reds, so you'll get less run time on the same battery source. They're also more expensive to produce, so you'll notice a bit of a premium compared to red lasers.
But it's easier for them to see that we're willing to take those deals for better visibility.
Milwaukee dials the diodes to an accuracy of 1/8 inch per 33 feet. It's exactly what we've come to expect from a professional laser level for this class. Some models drop to 1/4 inch or worse over 33 feet, making the Milwaukee more accurate than entry-level models.
Power and Runtime
Milwaukee is targeting two types of power sources: alkaline and lithium-ion. Ironically, they only do this using a Lithium-Ion power supply.
Milwaukee RedLithium USB Laser Level
The Milwaukee RedLithium USB crosshair laser model is designed to replace the alkaline battery model used by professionals. Powered by up to 4 AA batteries, heavy line laser users may use two to three sets of batteries per week.
Although these Milwaukee laser levels cost $50 to $100 more than alkaline levels, there is still a value proposition worth considering.
Let's say you're conservative and only use one set of batteries per week. A pack of 48 Energizer batteries sells for just over $20 on Amazon. That's enough to get you through 12 weeks. You'll need four of these for the year (plus a little more, but we'll give you some vacation time) for $80. The return on your lithium investment is about a year or less.
If you're a heavier user with three battery packs per week, you'll only pay $240 per year. By the end of Year 1, you've pretty much paid for the entire laser.
So what about that runtime? Milwaukee's RedLithium USB batteries run for over 8 hours in the crosshair laser and 15 hours in the 3 point model.
Thanks to USB charging and the ability to run while charging, you can easily use an M18 or M12 battery with a USB adapter as a power source. This will significantly increase your run time.
Milwaukee M12 Crosshair Laser
For compatibility with Milwaukee's compact cordless tools, select one of Milwaukee's M12 models. These compete more closely with lithium-ion batteries in terms of runtime.
With a 3.0Ah battery in the reticle/dot laser or a 4.0Ah battery in the 3-plane model, you can get up to 15 hours of continuous use.
Simplified settings
One of the main highlights of every Milwaukee laser level is the fine adjustment of the vertical beam. We used a lot of lasers and fine-tuned the horizontals on the brackets, not on the vertical planes.
Most of the time, you'll need to make adjustments manually, and there's a lot of wiggle, even going beyond your mark across the room. With Milwaukee's tuning, it's smoother and more precise, so you get the right results faster.
Another problem that arises when manually adjusting most lasers comes from using the plumb point to dial in the starting position. When you make side-to-side adjustments, the plumb point also moves. The design team put their pivot on the plumb point, so you can make vertical line adjustments without moving the floor reference.
site ready
Sensitive diodes, workplaces, and less than careful crews don't necessarily get along. However, Milwaukee designed these laser levels with 1 meter (3.3 feet) drop protection and an IP54 rating.
Milwaukee Crosshair Laser Level Options
There are currently seven laser levels to choose from. Here's a quick breakdown.
Milwaukee M12 Green Reticle and 4 Point Laser
The newest laser in the series is the 3624. It takes the reticle and plumb point laser concept and adds two additional horizontal square points on the left and right. You get a fine-tuning dial and plumb point rotation, and the 3.0Ah battery keeps the laser running for over 9 hours.
- Power supply: M12 battery
- Beams: Horizontal, Vertical, Vertical Point, and Horizontal Point
- Running time: 9+ hours
- Range: 125 feet visible, 165 feet with detector
- Accuracy: ±1/8 inch at 33 feet
- Self-leveling: ±4°
- Protection class: IP54
Milwaukee M12 Green 360° Single Plane Laser Level
Another new 2022 laser in the series is the M12 3631. It is a 360° horizontal single plane laser that can run for up to 30 hours on a 4.0Ah battery. The laser has a visible range of 125 feet and can cover a diameter of 250 feet without a laser detector.
- Power supply: M12 battery
- Beam: Horizontal 360°
- Running time: 30+ hours
- Range: 125 feet visible, 165 feet with detector
- Accuracy: ±1/8 inch at 33 feet
- Self-leveling: ±4°
- Protection class: IP54
Milwaukee M12 Green 360° 3 Plane Laser Level
When you need three 360° lines for layout look no further than Milwaukee's 3632. Similar to a single plane laser, its two vertical beams and one horizontal beam are visible up to 125 feet from the laser, giving you a visible diameter of 250 feet. The model is pivoted at the top and bottom vertical intersections, making layout based on these points easier and faster.
With all three lasers running, the run time is still enough to get you through the day in under 15 hours on the 4.0Ah battery pack.
- Power supply: M12 battery
- Beam: 360° horizontal and two 360° vertical
- Running time: 15+ hours
- Range: 125 feet visible, 165 feet with detector
- Accuracy: ±1/8 inch at 33 feet
- Self-leveling: ±4°
- Protection class: IP54
Milwaukee M12 Green Crosshair and Plumb Spot Laser Level
Of all the Milwaukee line lasers we use the 3622 the most. Its vertical and horizontal crossing lines combined with plumb points make it suitable for a variety of industries. The fine-tuning knob rotates on a plumb point, and even with the kit's smaller 3.0Ah battery, it still gets over 15 hours of run time.
- Power supply: M12 battery
- Beam: horizontal 360°, vertical 360° and plumb point
- Running time: 15+ hours
- Range: 125 feet visible, 165 feet with detector
- Accuracy: ±1/8 inch at 33 feet
- Self-leveling: ±4°
- Protection class: IP54
Milwaukee USB Rechargeable Green Crosshair Laser
After switching to a RedLithium USB battery system, Milwaukee's 3521 was the horizontal/vertical reticle laser of choice. The visible range is slightly shorter at 100 feet when using the USB battery, but you still get over 8 hours of charge time. While there is no rotatable plumb point, the fine-tuning mechanism is the same.
- Power source: RedLithium USB battery
- Beams: Horizontal and Vertical
- Running time: 8+ hours
- Range: 100 feet visible, 165 feet with detector
- Accuracy: ±1/8 inch at 33 feet
- Self-leveling: ±4°
- Protection class: IP54
Milwaukee USB Rechargeable Green 3-Point Laser Level
When all you need is points, choose the 3510 from Milwaukee. It has two plumb points and one horizontal point and is visible from 150 feet away. Due to the way the 3-point laser is used in the field, the base has no pivots or fine adjustment knobs. However, its RedLithium USB battery offers an impressive 15+ hours of runtime.
- Power source: RedLithium USB battery
- Beams: Vertical and Horizontal Points
- Running time: 15+ hours
- Range: Visible to 150 feet
- Accuracy: ±1/8 inch at 33 feet
- Self-leveling: ±4°
- Protection class: IP54
Milwaukee USB Green Crosshair and Plumb Spot Laser
For the same reticle and plumb functionality as the M12 3622 on the RedLithium USB system, look for the 3522. Visibility is slightly less at 100 feet, but your detector range is still 165 feet. The battery is capable of running for over 8 hours, and you have fine-tuning knobs and a plumb point turning action.
- Power source: RedLithium USB battery
- Beam: horizontal 360°, vertical 360° and plumb point
- Running time: 8+ hours
- Range: 100 feet visible, 165 feet with detector
- Accuracy: ±1/8 inch at 33 feet
- Self-leveling: ±4°
- Protection class: IP54
Available accessories
Besides the laser, there are a few other handy accessories worth mentioning.
First up is the magnetic/hangable mount that looks pretty standard. In fact, the design allows you to connect the laser in a 360º range, making it easier to find quick mounting points in almost any environment.
There's also a track clamp to help when you're working on a dropped ceiling or something like that.
the bottom line
The Milwaukee Cross Line Laser Level has the accuracy and visibility we demand, helping to speed up the setup process. We like the fact that each model is powered by a lithium-ion battery with enough run time to get it through a full 8-hour day. Overall, real innovation is exciting and we expect Milwaukee to have a significant impact on the line laser market.