When the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Wireless Compact Router was first announced, the crowd cheered. Now that the initial excitement has worn off and we have more time to use it, how does it compare to other cordless options?
advantage
- excellent load power
- Quick stop bit at power off
- Excellent drill line of sight
- Well-designed drop-in and offset mounts
- very good ergonomics
- second fastest bit speed
- variable speed dial
- 5-year warranty
shortcoming
- no obvious disadvantages
As far as speed goes, this M18 Fuel compact router runs at 31,000 RPM. That makes it one of the fastest cordless routers on the market (Kobalt claims 31,500 RPM), and Milwaukee says it hits the 1 1/4 HP mark we'd expect from a trim router. In terms of real-world cutting ability, it translates well and is one of the most powerful cordless routers we've tested.
We are very impressed with the power of this tool. We started by popping in a Milwaukee M18 5Ah battery, then went to town with a cut off bit, a larger size round bit and a 1/2" slot bit. Those are huge for the size of this router, so the power claims are true. Since those initial tests, we've done a lot of edge routing and cut out various dadoes, notches, and even freehand designs alongside other models, and it continues to perform at its peak.
A variable speed dial lets you set different speeds, and you can dial all the way up to 10,000 RPM on the lowest setting. The dial is conveniently located on the side where the dial and power switch are within easy reach.
Milwaukee says you should be able to do 250 straight-foot turns in red oak with that battery. For smaller projects like the one we've been working on, a 3.0Ah high output battery is a great way to keep weight down without compromising performance.
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Cordless Compact Router Design
ergonomics
The tool feels great in the hand—smooth and firm without being too big to hold. There are a couple of models we like a little better, but not many. Overall, the combination of the Milwaukee's barrel diameter and overmolding make it a very comfortable tool to use.
The weight is right in the middle of the pack. The router weighs 3.01 pounds bare, and 4.63 pounds with the 5.0Ah battery. If you prefer the 3.0Ah H2O battery pack, it drops to 4.36 lbs.
The battery does make it a bit top-heavy, but that's been the case with every cordless router we've used so far. Suffice it to say, you might want to avoid the 12.0Ah HO pack for this tool!
bit depth adjustment
You can make macro and 1/64 inch fine adjustments to adjust the depth exactly as needed. This level of deep adjustment matches what we'd like to see in a high-end trim router. We also like that Milwaukee etches the dimensions into the barrel instead of using stickers or paint that will eventually wear off.
The fine-tuning dial sits below the power switch and functions smoothly. Likewise, there is a push-button macro release on the clip, making it easy to make large adjustments or switch mounts.
what a beautiful scenery
Milwaukee has excellent vision on their base, offering some of the best thin lines we've seen. They've also placed a pair of LEDs on the front, which do a good job of keeping your work area bright. The absence of a third LED on the back or a more symmetrical placement on the sides doesn't seem to affect your view around the back of the drill. There is plenty of light all around.
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Cordless Compact Router Prices
The new Milwaukee M18 Fuel Cordless Compact Router is priced at $179 bare-bones. This will give you a 4" round base plate, 5 3/4" formwork sub base, a 1/4" collet, and a collet wrench.
Depending on which retailer you prefer to shop at, Milwaukee has a variety of bare tool, base and combination kit configurations to choose from. You can also pick up the cut-in and offset mounts individually.
Milwaukee Compact Router Inserts into Dock
- Price: $109
Milwaukee Compact Router Offset Mount
- Price: $99
the bottom line
The Milwaukee M18 Fuel Wireless Compact Router took a while to hit the market, lagging behind several other brands. However, the wait appears to be worth it. Milwaukee improves on the shortcomings of their competitors and offers the most complete cordless router. While we rate other models highly, we think Milwaukee has the best cordless routers out there.
Milwaukee Cordless Compact Router Specifications
- Model: Milwaukee 2723
- Power: Milwaukee M18 RedLithium battery
- No-load speed: 31,000 rpm (high), 10,000 rpm (low)
- Estimated Run Time: 250 linear feet of loop on red oak
- Power Equivalent: 1-1/4 HP
- Weight: 3.01 lbs with stationary base
- Height: 6.86 inches naked
- Warranty: 5 years
- Price: $179 (tools only)