I’m very much interested in Milwaukee developing a 3in polisher to go along with these tools. I don’t mind so much working with a cord, mainly because I don’t do 50ft long vehicles. But I will say the ability to get into smaller spaces without worrying about the cord would be nice. I’m pretty impressed with the pricing for these considering the power and longevity of charge they have.
@Philly_Fixed sorry I missed your comment. About FLEX, they're still keeping the polishers somewhat separate from the new 24V power tools. We wish they would make their polishers work with the 24V batteries.
@@Shoptoolreviews I've spent forever just trying to figure out if these polishers are forced rotation or not. It seems they wouldn't be, but the video of them in action seem like they might be. I'm only interested if they are forced rotation. None of mine are forced rotation, so I have no use for another non-forced rotation DA polisher. I have 3 already, including a Porter Cable.
Man I'll tell you what....I 2 step polished a truck today (Mobile detail) and I just about lost my shit trying to untangle both my 15mm and 12mm Adams polishers. I finally pulled the trigger and bought the Mil 15mm today. Fuck those cords.
Good job Tim and the pro detailers for a thorough review, this game me the confidence to pick up this unit. On a side note: MIlwaukee should follow up with a 3 inch polisher to compliment the 15/21 inch polishers.
@@dwhite832003 @John Argumaniz I haven't tried the m12 (but heard good things about it) im thinking of using one battery platform and ergonomics coz when i see the M12 it's a drill type which u have to adjust your form from the conventional polisher to drill especially where your hands would hold and rest. A good 3 inch is the Flex pxe 80 that @Shop Tool Reviews have reviewed in the past.
Milwaukee really dialed in the batteries and tools with the FUEL system so that you get "full" power end to end, there is no slow down, it just stops when the battery is dead. I've found this with both the M12 and m18 lines, with and without the FUEL feature.
@@rolandm9750 the majority of my M12 usage is lights, my radio and a speaker, but the m12 FUEL cut-off saw, damn thing burns through batteries, and it stalls easily as the battery gets to one dot. The drill and impact driver seem to be full bore till dead.
The reason they don't slow down is the lithium battery. They have a low voltage cut-off. This cuut power to the battery. If they drop below a set voltage, the battery will kill itself. Ni-Cad batteries can deplete themselves and recharge without damage, and you notice a slow down until dead.
@@EM-fi2qg Right, this has been the thing with lithium batteries since they first came out many years ago. But still, some companies do better than others at harnessing the power and properties of them.
These are an amazing polishers. Lots of power and 15 is smooth enough and 21 is super smooth even with 5" bp. Rupes cordled have collected dust since i bought these. Today i ordered Milwaukee rotary too.
Which Rupes do you have? i'm debating between this milwaukee polisher and the new ibrid bigfoot polisher by rupes. i feel rupes will be more fine tuned, and better ergonomics because thats their main product and focus as a company. rather than milwaukee who just entered this space. would love to see a follow up comparison review of the two.
i'm debating between this milwaukee polisher and the NEW ibrid bigfoot polisher by rupes. i feel rupes will be more fine tuned, and better ergonomics because thats their main product and focus as a company. rather than milwaukee who just entered this space. would love to see a follow up comparison review of the two. rupes also offers the smaller 3in polishers and if milwaukee makes one that comparison would be great too. i have also heard great things about the newer brand KCx (kochchemie) which this shop has a banner on the wall for at 12:47 . Would LOVE a comparison video of all 3 top brands. KCx has some pretty innovative ideas in this world of polishing
I like that on my Meguiars MT300 there’s a tool to swap out the backing plate that the foam pad sticks to. So if I’m doing headlights or a bumper with tighter areas I throw a 3” on there, and for large panels use the 6”. I see there’s a few screws holding them on here so it looks like they didn’t intend for users to swap them. Not sure why. Some guys say they’re a bit heavy and vibrate a lot - others say it’s fine. Kind of torn on whether it’s worth it.
This is a situation those new Forge batteries really make a difference! I'd like to see a video on it. With most milwaukee tools you can just go ahead and throw a big 12.0 if you want more runtime but you wouldn't want to do that here. When you use those microfiber/wool cut pads, the buffer has to work harder to cut and gets warmer. The forge batteries will give you a bit more power and run cooler during the cutting stage.
The M18 8.0 high output are the same size as the 6.0 with a nice addition to run time. The 8.0 come with the fuel OPE kits cause of the extra run time. Thanks for the look at the new polisher
You are correct, the 8.0 are also HO. They used to pair the 8.0 with the 3/4" and 1" impact wrenches as well. Although, they don't seem to be as accessible in the stores as the 6.0. Thanks for watching.
When doing paint correction the movements are much slower and it takes longer. I have the Flex cordless forced rotation and use both batteries on a small suv or car. I also have the Griots G15 for correction and the G9 for polish and wax. I really don't need this but i have a ton of M18 batteries, and i love being cordless around a vehicle.
That would be a pretty long sander, but it would work well. I would like to see one of the tool companies make a battery powered DA sander for automotive. Thanks for watching.
DeWalt makes some great tools, but I don't think they match the Milwaukee on the Orbital Polisher. Milwaukee stepped way up on this one, and the DeWalt lacks a little comparatively. If you already have DeWalt batteries, and you don't have Milwaukee batteries, then I'd probably say stick with the DeWalt. Otherwise, Milwaukee takes the win for this one.
@@Shoptoolreviewsfinally got my Milwaukee 15 mm and man you we’re right I currently use-a griots g9 I never really noticed the vibration until I tested out the Milwaukee definitely a smooth ride thanks again for the advice
Thank you SO much Tim!!!!! I was looking at buying one of these polishers and thought if Milwaukee made one since I am on the M18 platform. Also can you do a video on how to fix swirl marks on car paint? Thanks a ton!
@The MBOD you are right but I like to support this channel and I love the way Tim explains things! He is detailed, easy to follow. I just find Pan hard to follow and somewhat intimidating.
those are promising tools i want to get them but where the hell is 3'" machine it is a must have tool when it comes to polishing hopefully if they come up with one soon i will gladly get a 5 and 3 inch set up
@@bigrollin wel the orbital action is what gets the work done so 21 will do more work at a faster rate and the 5 inch backing plate is a 6 inch pad witch is a good size for auto detailing
Got a griots g15 as soon as this thing was announced I had to sell the m18 rotary I had got last december since it turns out beginners can't use that without proper training... But im happy with the griots g15 I just bought a g8 kit to go with it. Might have to get this thing next year for cordless waxing.
I just got the 15mm and it sounds like the gears are rattling inside while in use. Is this normal? It's got plenty of power and seems to run fine other than the sound of the gears chirping nonstop.
Thanks for the video content. I recently ordered Flex XFE 15 150 18.0 and Flex PXE 80 10.8 on which I would like to build up my skillset and later offer my detailing services in Switzerland. Heard Flex can be a little under powered. However, once my skills develop while cars paint quality varies. Would you suggest in order to add value to my tool collecting to order 21 Milwaukee as being the better choice or still 15 Milaukee despite I already have Flex 15. The point I would like to make is to avoid buying two same tools without adding value.
good review, thats what i need to know before getting one myself.. do you think the backing plate is switchable between 15 and 21mm? i know that some people will get the 21mm and put 5 inch backing plate on it.
They are physically interchangeable, but I'm wondering if the balance will be off as well. The counterbalance weights on the shaft are different between the two polishers. You might pick up some more vibration by swapping the plates...maybe not. We'll try this soon. Thanks for watching.
hi im currently using the 21mm , 6inch one. what is the model number of the 15mm ,5inch one?? is it possible to use the 15mm with 3inch backing plate if they have? maybe too small? thanks
If you had to choose one which one would you choose. 15 or 21. I have the rotary Milwaukee m18 and I also have a spta 15mm cordless. But it kinda stalls. Still a great polisher for the money.
Thanks for covering the new polishers from Milwaukee. I'm going to give you some criticisms that maybe you will cover in your follow up video. A little back ground on me. I've trained detailers for a major manufacturer (which some of there products were in your video footage) for nearly a decade. The guy you are speaking with sorry to say appeared to be very green when it came to using a polisher and talking about the most important question all detailers would have. That being how well did it perform on defect removal? Watching this guy polish was cringe and boy was he nervous. He couldn't stand still. Sorry bud it was painfully obvious. Compounds and pads will have a big impact on defect removal but the machine plays a big roll as well. How well did this machine perform at removing larger defects? 1500 sand scratch? 3000? It wasn't covered but it appeared to be gear driven. Would be helpful to know. Also pressing down on the machine does not improve defect removal. You CAN burn thru clear coat with a polisher it's just much harder to do so compared to a rotary. Maybe take the polisher to a body shop and see how it does on fresh paint. Also test on a black vehicle. That's every detailers toughest color to work on. Black shows everything and will show the finish on camera very well. I could still see the defects in the paint even though it was red.
Thanks for the feedback, we welcome good and bad. Since you mention your pedigree, then we’ll jump to the understanding that we’re both professionals in the industry and in business. So we can talk frankly about this. You mentioned the detailer was ‘green’. To the contrary, Ryan is very much a professional that has many years under his belt. Chase, also in the video, is a 2nd-generation detailer and is a very well-respected name in the industry. Both of these guys know exactly how to handle a polisher, regardless of the surface. Just because someone rocks back and forth a little while on camera doesn’t mean they’re nervous, and it definitely doesn’t mean they don’t know how to use a polisher. Boy, that would be a terrible litmus test. Sure, we could create specific defects and show the machines removing said defect. We could cut with 1500, 2000, 3000, cut and polish. But, at some point, we have to cut the video, and this is where our professionalism comes in. We know that anything past the 20-minute mark, viewers drop off the cliff, so we try to keep our videos as close to 20 minutes as possible. Less is even better, but we also want to provide excellent coverage. It does concern me a bit when you mentioned that you trained detailers for FLEX. Maybe we’ve met before. Anyway, the reason it concerns me is because you mentioned that it appeared to be gear driven. No, these machines are not gear driven, they are both Random Orbital Polishers, which I mentioned several times in the video. Even the Title of the video says “Random Orbital Polisher” which tells you it’s not gear driven (forced rotation). You also mention about clear coats, black paint, and burning through clear. We’re very aware of all these, and it’s understood that any machine can cause damage to a surface. No one said otherwise. If you’re ever in Central Florida, we’d be happy to welcome you to their shop, and we’ll bring our cameras. Maybe we can have a PowWow and discuss our likes and differences. Thanks again.
@@Shoptoolreviews First off my apologies to the guys doing the polishing. You guys are right and that was unfair critique. On camera for a few minutes does not display their expertise. I will take your word for it. Now that is out of the way let me clear up a few things you mentioned. The battery powered polishers are relatively new to the market so I am no expert to be clear. However when I said gear driven what I mean by that is downward force will not stop the rotation of the machine. Some polishers on the market are "Free Drive" which when too much pressure is applied it will stop the rotation of the machine. I believe the Meguiar's MT300 is free drive. It also has a white line on the back of the backing plate to give the user a visual representation of the downward force they are applying. It works as a safety feature for beginner and novice detailers. @ 12:24 the detailer Ryan I believe is his name mentioned putting a decent amount of force down to try and stale the machine. That is why I asked the question. Didn't appear to stop or slow the rotation but hard to tell on camera. Oscillation will continue on all models that I am familiar with. Then you mention in your comment that it's understood that all machines can cause damage. @13:55 to around 14:10 is when you were talking to him about downward force and his response was "it won't hurt anything but not a good practice". Too much down pressure will cause hazing and could burn clear coat. I could go into that further but in short low solid clears will scratch easier and you can remove scratches easier. A high solid "scratch resistant" clear will be harder to do both. If that makes sense. As far as the length of the video you guys are the experts. The reason I left the comment was to see the things I felt were important in your follow up video. I might just have to buy one or both of these polishers. I don't work for FLEX. I do work in the automotive refinishing business. I work with the consumable side of the business compounds and polishes is part of what I do. Most of my business is in body shop and detail shop environments with some industrial applications. If I ever make it down to Florida I'd be happy to join you guys. One of my employee's is actually taking his family to Disney next week. I'll be here working in Chicago. Anyways great video. I like what you guys are doing and look forward to the follow up vid!
@Vyllynt I appreciate this reply. Please understand, you can say anything you want about me, and I'll let it roll off my back. However, when something negative is said about the professionals we work with, then it's my duty to stand up for them, always in truth, of course. We know exactly what you mean when you say gear-driven. Gear driven or forced rotation means that the oscillation and the rotary motions are forced, they only stop if the polisher stops. Random Orbital (free drive) means that you always get the oscillation (15 or 21mm orbit with these polishers) but the rotary motion only happens from inertia of the oscillation. Other words, you can grab the pad of a Random Orbital, even under power, and the rotation will stop, but it's still oscillating. Most of the orbital polishers on the market are Random Orbital; very few are gear driven (forced rotation). You are correct, too much pressure can cause issues, which will require additional work...and possibly paint. Ryan was told by me that our audience is mainly the Pro, so that's his assumption when making these comments. In other words, he wasn't trying to teach a homeowner to polish, but rather provide info to the Pro. Also, about the clear, that red Camaro's hood was a pain, the polisher would make it slick, then just the wipe of a new microfiber would scratch it. It was very soft. We were having a good laugh about it. And the car is owned by one of the owners of the shop. Thanks again for coming back and lightening things up. I apologize if it seems that I went into Defense or Attack mode, but I'm protective of my partners that help us out.
Came to conclusion 21mm and just switch the back plate to the 5in not really a pro detailer so if it’s a difference to anything it’s ok cause it’ll just be on my car
@@Shoptoolreviews i'm a hobbyist, DIY'er, and i'm planning to buy either one of the Milwaukee M18 polisher mentioned above to polish and wax the hood of my Truck
Flex cordless do have a power drop. Dewalt not as much. A few questions/tests. Can the 5in backing plate be put on the 21mm throw DA? Do have any 3.0 XC high output battery for them to try out that'd be interesting to see if that battery could keep up power wise I like having the smaller batteries for when I'm doing bumpers and not flat panels. When you're done with your review could you pop them open a see what kind of grease they're using. If you still have the Dewalt DA you should try repacking that DA's grease it's a HUGE difference in smoothness and sound if done right.
You are correct on both the polishers you mentioned. The DeWalt, while it has decent power, it definitely has more vibration and it doesn't have a smooth sound (almost rattling). We're pretty sure that it's 'possible' to swap the plates (same bolt pattern), but we're also pretty sure that the counterbalance would change (more vibration). The counterbalance weights on the shaft are definitely different on the 21 and 15, and that could be in regards to the throw AND the backing plate size/weight. We were looking for our 3.0 batteries the other day and couldn't find them. We think they both bit the dust, but we'll have to get a couple more in. I'm pretty hesitant to say they will work with the polisher. I have a feeling that we might see some performance drop with the 3.0 in place, especially on longer runtimes. I could be wrong, but we will try that. We will definitely do a follow up review, and we will also continue to drip out content on the polishers on IG and even TH-cam Shorts, so be sure to keep an eye out. One of these shorter videos will be taking the backing plate of the checking out what they're using, grease etc. Also, it seems that they're using a proprietary backing plate all their own. We haven't seen this 4-bolt pattern on any other machines.
@@Shoptoolreviews The sound from the DeWalt is due to the grease. It's cheap, and it doesn't stay on both sides of the worm gear. When I replaced mine, and the grease is working on the grease it'll become like 10 dB quieter same with the smoothness. The Milwaukee grease doesn't sound cheap, and after looking at the service parts pdf, it's a MUCH different design head than every other DA polisher out there. That's why it sounds and feels soo much smoother. It's directly geared from the motor vs. a traditional DA using an extra shaft that connects from the motor to the main gear. Interesting GO Milwaukee for constantly innovating the space in cordless tools, not just making it cordless but making them better than corded. I wish I could share pics and stuff to show, but I'm sure you guys can find this out. Many detailers out there have a lot more 5in pads than 6in pads, so many of us will buy polisher with 6in backing plates and swap them. A common swap on the harbor freight DA polisher and Rupes 21mm DA. The 4-bolt pattern is also on Dewalt. There's a 3.0 HO battery that has 21700 batteries. I use the same in Dewalt polishers. I mainly use one in the rotary because I usually only use the rotary to spot correctly. The power is there, but ya runtime takes a decent hit. Sounds good! I'll always be watching out for your videos. Even though I've dropped my wrench for a polisher, I still do some wrenching on the side. I've ordered a 21mm throw and a 5in backing plate. We'll see either way. Thanks always for the great content and replying!
@@Shoptoolreviews the backing plates were actually designed to be the same weight, so the vibration would be the same if you swap them (without a pad at least).
Lol. I'm still trying to figure if it is forced rotation or not. I get how a DA polisher works and I know how long batteries last. The only question is whether it is forced rotation or not, and this seems to be the only detail nobody will talk about, albeit the only detail that actually matters.
@@skankytrick yeah I don’t think anyone isn’t actually talking about it’s kinda of a given when we say random orbital it’s exactly that and not a forced action machine. Typically a a forced action polisher is something everyone says , it’s on the box , it’s a selling point as the Flex and Makita machines that are forced action that offer that it’ll say that.
@@AmirAbdullah Okay, that's all exactly what I was assuming, ai just wanted to know for sure. I know the Flex and the Makita, but I didn't know those are the only ones with the feature. So yeah, I assume a forced rotation wouldn't be a "random" orbit, but I basically was taking into account that most people are stupid and might be using terms indiscriminately. Thanks.
I bought the 15mm and ended up retuning it. GREAT power but was just too heavy and bulky. The shinemate cordless has much better ergonomics and less bulky, but does not have the power of the milwuakee.
I’ve heard the Milwaukee 15MM is similar in power to the Shinemate 21mm which is a monster. As a side note all these cordless polishers will run better with the lower profile pads or open cell pads. Closed cell is ok to, like the blue here used I have that kit and a bunch like it. The oberk microfiber pad also is a outstanding pad to use as he did here. I’ll try the Milwaukee soon here.
@@AmirAbdullah are you talking about the Shinemate Cordless 21mm or corded?? The Milwuakee cordless 15mm has more torque than the Rupes Mark III, in my opinion. Definitely more power than the Shinemate 15mm, in my opinion.
@@orthodox1717 I was referring to the 15mm, that in itself has a lot of power and I use that being I have the 15 and the 21 but I just wanted to know if it had more power than the 15mm shinemate ? I’ve heard it does but it’s heavier , louder significantly. But if a person already has a ton of Milwaukee batteries it’s a better buy I would think. But imo the Shinemate is more than enough. But like I said I did hear it ( the Milwaukee 15mm ) has more power.
Dude using the polishers obviously doesn't work with polishers on a daily basis. Always stop polisher with pad on surface until stopped, and he's going way too fast. I understand this is for demo purposes, but it looks a little sloppy from a detailers point of view. Sorry for the constructive criticism.
MILWAUKEE ARE THE BEST CORD POWER TOOLS ON THE MARKET PERIOD. YES THEY ARE EXPENSIVE BUT THEY ARE THE BEST EVERY TOOL IN FUEL SERIES IS TRADE QUALITY TOUGH , AND THEIR BATTERIES BLOW EVERY COMPETITOR AWAY WITH POWER AND LONG DURATION . IF YOU HAVE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PRICE YOU ARE IN THE WRONG PROFESSION, GO TAKE UP KNITTING 😂😂😂😂😂😂.
Used it for the first time last weekend definitely worth buying if you're a person who likes detailing your own car recommend first time to use on lowest setting 800 so you don't burn paint don't leave in one spot keep moving it over paint easy to use th-cam.com/users/postUgkxfzbDkCRyv3CFXnLZI4APZtRRuG2uRmP2 truck looks like new again used maguires black light battery life like all milwaukee products seem to hold up well 😀
I’m very much interested in Milwaukee developing a 3in polisher to go along with these tools. I don’t mind so much working with a cord, mainly because I don’t do 50ft long vehicles. But I will say the ability to get into smaller spaces without worrying about the cord would be nice. I’m pretty impressed with the pricing for these considering the power and longevity of charge they have.
This detailer does an excellent job of critiquing this Milwaukee polisher. Thnx.
Thanks for the kind words and thanks for watching.
Looking at getting the new polisher and couldn’t decide which one! This helped a lot. Thank you
REALLY appreciate the pro perspective! Looks like Milwaukee's first attempt is a good one!
Thank you, as always. Yes, Milwaukee checked all the boxes on these. As long as they hold up, there may be a lot of brand changes in detail shops.
@@Shoptoolreviews Since grinders and polishers are Flex's wheelhouse, I'm surprised one of their debut tools wasn't a 24v DA polisher.
@Philly_Fixed sorry I missed your comment. About FLEX, they're still keeping the polishers somewhat separate from the new 24V power tools. We wish they would make their polishers work with the 24V batteries.
@@Shoptoolreviews I've spent forever just trying to figure out if these polishers are forced rotation or not. It seems they wouldn't be, but the video of them in action seem like they might be. I'm only interested if they are forced rotation. None of mine are forced rotation, so I have no use for another non-forced rotation DA polisher. I have 3 already, including a Porter Cable.
Man I'll tell you what....I 2 step polished a truck today (Mobile detail) and I just about lost my shit trying to untangle both my 15mm and 12mm Adams polishers. I finally pulled the trigger and bought the Mil 15mm today. Fuck those cords.
This guy did a great job with the polisher, thanks for the demo, i will be getting one..
Good job Tim and the pro detailers for a thorough review, this game me the confidence to pick up this unit. On a side note: MIlwaukee should follow up with a 3 inch polisher to compliment the 15/21 inch polishers.
That's awesome that you picked one up. Let us know what you think. We're hoping that we see a 3" from them very soon. Thanks for watching.
3” in a m12?
M12
@@dwhite832003 @John Argumaniz I haven't tried the m12 (but heard good things about it) im thinking of using one battery platform and ergonomics coz when i see the M12 it's a drill type which u have to adjust your form from the conventional polisher to drill especially where your hands would hold and rest. A good 3 inch is the Flex pxe 80 that @Shop Tool Reviews have reviewed in the past.
Milwaukee really dialed in the batteries and tools with the FUEL system so that you get "full" power end to end, there is no slow down, it just stops when the battery is dead. I've found this with both the M12 and m18 lines, with and without the FUEL feature.
Yes, battery technology has gotten much better over the past few years. Thanks for watching.
I dunno about that, definitely notice M12 tools slowing down a little as the battery gets lower.
@@rolandm9750 the majority of my M12 usage is lights, my radio and a speaker, but the m12 FUEL cut-off saw, damn thing burns through batteries, and it stalls easily as the battery gets to one dot. The drill and impact driver seem to be full bore till dead.
The reason they don't slow down is the lithium battery. They have a low voltage cut-off. This cuut power to the battery. If they drop below a set voltage, the battery will kill itself. Ni-Cad batteries can deplete themselves and recharge without damage, and you notice a slow down until dead.
@@EM-fi2qg Right, this has been the thing with lithium batteries since they first came out many years ago. But still, some companies do better than others at harnessing the power and properties of them.
These are an amazing polishers. Lots of power and 15 is smooth enough and 21 is super smooth even with 5" bp. Rupes cordled have collected dust since i bought these. Today i ordered Milwaukee rotary too.
What made you order the rotary?
Which Rupes do you have? i'm debating between this milwaukee polisher and the new ibrid bigfoot polisher by rupes. i feel rupes will be more fine tuned, and better ergonomics because thats their main product and focus as a company. rather than milwaukee who just entered this space. would love to see a follow up comparison review of the two.
i'm debating between this milwaukee polisher and the NEW ibrid bigfoot polisher by rupes. i feel rupes will be more fine tuned, and better ergonomics because thats their main product and focus as a company. rather than milwaukee who just entered this space. would love to see a follow up comparison review of the two. rupes also offers the smaller 3in polishers and if milwaukee makes one that comparison would be great too. i have also heard great things about the newer brand KCx (kochchemie) which this shop has a banner on the wall for at 12:47 . Would LOVE a comparison video of all 3 top brands. KCx has some pretty innovative ideas in this world of polishing
You know that guy is a a professional polisher because he never stops moving side to side lol
Lmfao 😂
He’s probably got young kids too. I rock side to side out of habit from holding kids😂
That detailer is amazing. Great job
I like that on my Meguiars MT300 there’s a tool to swap out the backing plate that the foam pad sticks to. So if I’m doing headlights or a bumper with tighter areas I throw a 3” on there, and for large panels use the 6”. I see there’s a few screws holding them on here so it looks like they didn’t intend for users to swap them. Not sure why. Some guys say they’re a bit heavy and vibrate a lot - others say it’s fine. Kind of torn on whether it’s worth it.
This is a situation those new Forge batteries really make a difference! I'd like to see a video on it. With most milwaukee tools you can just go ahead and throw a big 12.0 if you want more runtime but you wouldn't want to do that here.
When you use those microfiber/wool cut pads, the buffer has to work harder to cut and gets warmer. The forge batteries will give you a bit more power and run cooler during the cutting stage.
Are the backing plate interchangeable between 5 and 6 inch model ? i like 21mm model, but 6 inch foam pad in the market are not versatile as 5 inch.
Agree need a 5in backing plate
You know when your a really good paint correcter when you prefer the 15mm over the 21mm just like me lol
The M18 8.0 high output are the same size as the 6.0 with a nice addition to run time. The 8.0 come with the fuel OPE kits cause of the extra run time. Thanks for the look at the new polisher
You are correct, the 8.0 are also HO. They used to pair the 8.0 with the 3/4" and 1" impact wrenches as well. Although, they don't seem to be as accessible in the stores as the 6.0. Thanks for watching.
Just picked both up looking forward to use them 👌🏽
When doing paint correction the movements are much slower and it takes longer. I have the Flex cordless forced rotation and use both batteries on a small suv or car. I also have the Griots G15 for correction and the G9 for polish and wax. I really don't need this but i have a ton of M18 batteries, and i love being cordless around a vehicle.
Helpful video! Doing research on getting a buffer myself. In my research most pros like the 5 inch pads so they can get into tighter areas.
You can run the 5-inch pad and backing plate on either of these. In fact, a lot of the Pros are running the 21mm with a 5-inch pad.
@@Shoptoolreviews Nice!
Milwaukee needs to make a sander in that design
That would be a pretty long sander, but it would work well. I would like to see one of the tool companies make a battery powered DA sander for automotive. Thanks for watching.
About auto sanders pheumatic random orbital rules with a large selection but can be expensive
Do you know anything about putting a 5 inch backing plate on the Milwaukee 21mm cordless polisher?
Just a comment to help in some way
Thx for your excellent, detailed reviews!
I’m trying to decide between Milwaukee and Dewalt how they handle body lines and curves without stalling thanks for a great video
DeWalt makes some great tools, but I don't think they match the Milwaukee on the Orbital Polisher. Milwaukee stepped way up on this one, and the DeWalt lacks a little comparatively. If you already have DeWalt batteries, and you don't have Milwaukee batteries, then I'd probably say stick with the DeWalt. Otherwise, Milwaukee takes the win for this one.
@@Shoptoolreviewsfinally got my Milwaukee 15 mm and man you we’re right I currently use-a griots g9 I never really noticed the vibration until I tested out the Milwaukee definitely a smooth ride thanks again for the advice
Thank you SO much Tim!!!!!
I was looking at buying one of these polishers and thought if Milwaukee made one since I am on the M18 platform. Also can you do a video on how to fix swirl marks on car paint?
Thanks a ton!
Glad I could help! Sure, we'll do a swirl removing video very soon. Thanks for watching.
@@Shoptoolreviews thank you so much Tim!
@The MBOD you are right but I like to support this channel and I love the way Tim explains things! He is detailed, easy to follow. I just find Pan hard to follow and somewhat intimidating.
Sir thanks so much. About the noise is the video with sound filter?
Thanks for the additional input!!
Our pleasure! Thanks for watching.
those are promising tools i want to get them but where the hell is 3'" machine it is a must have tool when it comes to polishing
hopefully if they come up with one soon i will gladly get a 5 and 3 inch set up
Hello anyone knows , what is the compatible replacement backing plate for Milwaukee m18 15mm ?
Nice review exactly the info I needed was looking at it but the prices seem steep but it looks worth it wireless
Great vid, man, really help with the research.
What’s your opinion of putting a 5 inch backing plate on the Milwaukee 21mm cordless polisher?
It’s a common thing to do, 21mm throw with a smaller backing plate is great.
I would want the 5 inch pad on the 21T model
Yes, many have mentioned this. Thanks for watching.
why is that?
@@bigrollin wel the orbital action is what gets the work done so 21 will do more work at a faster rate and the 5 inch backing plate is a 6 inch pad witch is a good size for auto detailing
I'm going to pick this up what battery size would this lad recommend if he thinks 6amp is to big?
Got a griots g15 as soon as this thing was announced I had to sell the m18 rotary I had got last december since it turns out beginners can't use that without proper training... But im happy with the griots g15 I just bought a g8 kit to go with it. Might have to get this thing next year for cordless waxing.
That G15 is a great polisher, and it's hard to go wrong with that. Thanks for watching.
Yes it takes a long time to learn how to properly use a rotary. Fortunately I know how to use rotary in Long throw da and there it's a place for both
I just got the 15mm and it sounds like the gears are rattling inside while in use. Is this normal? It's got plenty of power and seems to run fine other than the sound of the gears chirping nonstop.
Good review, now the “pro” detailer that I’m not so sure about lol.
It's about time! Take my money!
Lol, we feel your pain. At least it's for a worthy cause. lol. Thanks for watching.
Would you say the 15mm is a better choice for a novice detailer?
Thanks for the video content. I recently ordered Flex XFE 15 150 18.0 and Flex PXE 80 10.8 on which I would like to build up my skillset and later offer my detailing services in Switzerland. Heard Flex can be a little under powered. However, once my skills develop while cars paint quality varies. Would you suggest in order to add value to my tool collecting to order 21 Milwaukee as being the better choice or still 15 Milaukee despite I already have Flex 15. The point I would like to make is to avoid buying two same tools without adding value.
Right now the to only 15 mm throw at Home Depot comes with a free six amp hour battery. As of February 15th 2024
August 11th 2024: Now it comes with a free eight amp battery. Online only.
@@kostofliving wow didn't know that
Can you burn paint with either ? Like a traditionally rotary or do they not produce enough heat?
Keep it in one spot long enough you sure could
Anyone else have trigger issues with theirs? Mine has a notch on initial squeeze and jumps. No smooth starting it.
Nice that the FLEX brand boxes and batteries are all over the shop. Makes ya wonder?
What does it make you wonder?
...... I'm going to use this as a sander for my solid surface countertops. To replace my underpower festool.
good review, thats what i need to know before getting one myself.. do you think the backing plate is switchable between 15 and 21mm? i know that some people will get the 21mm and put 5 inch backing plate on it.
Yes, the back plates are interchangeable.
They are physically interchangeable, but I'm wondering if the balance will be off as well. The counterbalance weights on the shaft are different between the two polishers. You might pick up some more vibration by swapping the plates...maybe not. We'll try this soon. Thanks for watching.
@@Shoptoolreviews 95% of people put 5in backing plates on their 21mm.. no noticeable diff
Does that mean you will get a 21mm stroke putting the 5” plate on the 21mm tool
would a HO 8.0 battery work with the 15mm?
Having used one of these, it's just hefty. An eight pound polisher is wild. Trigger sucks. Run time isn't great. For the price you can do much better.
Time to upgrade from my corded chemical guys polisher. Wish they made a good m12 mini polisher, like a fuel one not the other one they sell
I need a polisher for boat but this look to be long for the tight areas of a boat
hi im currently using the 21mm , 6inch one.
what is the model number of the 15mm ,5inch one?? is it possible to use the 15mm with 3inch backing plate if they have? maybe too small?
thanks
Can someone please explain why it’s called a 21mm when it’s 6 inches across ?
21mm orbit in sending or buffing
21mm throw?!?!?! That's freaking huge. I think my porter cable is like 5
If you are using it overhead or on the sides of a van or boat, maybe the 3.0 HO batteries.
Sure, a 3.0 battery will definitely provide more clearance. Thanks for watching.
10:05 good point
How long is battery life
If you had to choose one which one would you choose. 15 or 21. I have the rotary Milwaukee m18 and I also have a spta 15mm cordless. But it kinda stalls. Still a great polisher for the money.
I’d choose the 15mm 5”
Ir really depends on your type of work. I have both a 15 ,and 21. The 21 is great on large panels, where I like it on boat hulls.
I want buy one. But i dont know which one good for polisher.
2684-20 VS 2685-20 VS 2738-20
What brand pad are you using for the 15 mm polisher? Where to buy?
We used several, but probably a Lake Country. It really depends on the job and the condition of the finish.
Could I use this for cutting new paint?
I cut a fleshly painted black hood with.
I used interface pad with 1500, 2000, 3000 and 5000 . It worked perfectly for that
Did you use this for buffing as well?
As soon as it gets discounted from the big stores, I am getting it.
We hear you. Thanks for watching.
Got the 15mm.. also have the flex cordless.. Milwaukee blows it out the water
That's impressive for sure. Thanks for watching.
More power I assume?
Thanks for covering the new polishers from Milwaukee. I'm going to give you some criticisms that maybe you will cover in your follow up video. A little back ground on me. I've trained detailers for a major manufacturer (which some of there products were in your video footage) for nearly a decade. The guy you are speaking with sorry to say appeared to be very green when it came to using a polisher and talking about the most important question all detailers would have. That being how well did it perform on defect removal? Watching this guy polish was cringe and boy was he nervous. He couldn't stand still. Sorry bud it was painfully obvious. Compounds and pads will have a big impact on defect removal but the machine plays a big roll as well. How well did this machine perform at removing larger defects? 1500 sand scratch? 3000? It wasn't covered but it appeared to be gear driven. Would be helpful to know. Also pressing down on the machine does not improve defect removal. You CAN burn thru clear coat with a polisher it's just much harder to do so compared to a rotary. Maybe take the polisher to a body shop and see how it does on fresh paint. Also test on a black vehicle. That's every detailers toughest color to work on. Black shows everything and will show the finish on camera very well. I could still see the defects in the paint even though it was red.
Thanks for the feedback, we welcome good and bad. Since you mention your pedigree, then we’ll jump to the understanding that we’re both professionals in the industry and in business. So we can talk frankly about this.
You mentioned the detailer was ‘green’. To the contrary, Ryan is very much a professional that has many years under his belt. Chase, also in the video, is a 2nd-generation detailer and is a very well-respected name in the industry. Both of these guys know exactly how to handle a polisher, regardless of the surface.
Just because someone rocks back and forth a little while on camera doesn’t mean they’re nervous, and it definitely doesn’t mean they don’t know how to use a polisher. Boy, that would be a terrible litmus test.
Sure, we could create specific defects and show the machines removing said defect. We could cut with 1500, 2000, 3000, cut and polish. But, at some point, we have to cut the video, and this is where our professionalism comes in. We know that anything past the 20-minute mark, viewers drop off the cliff, so we try to keep our videos as close to 20 minutes as possible. Less is even better, but we also want to provide excellent coverage.
It does concern me a bit when you mentioned that you trained detailers for FLEX. Maybe we’ve met before. Anyway, the reason it concerns me is because you mentioned that it appeared to be gear driven. No, these machines are not gear driven, they are both Random Orbital Polishers, which I mentioned several times in the video. Even the Title of the video says “Random Orbital Polisher” which tells you it’s not gear driven (forced rotation).
You also mention about clear coats, black paint, and burning through clear. We’re very aware of all these, and it’s understood that any machine can cause damage to a surface. No one said otherwise.
If you’re ever in Central Florida, we’d be happy to welcome you to their shop, and we’ll bring our cameras. Maybe we can have a PowWow and discuss our likes and differences. Thanks again.
@@Shoptoolreviews First off my apologies to the guys doing the polishing. You guys are right and that was unfair critique. On camera for a few minutes does not display their expertise. I will take your word for it.
Now that is out of the way let me clear up a few things you mentioned. The battery powered polishers are relatively new to the market so I am no expert to be clear. However when I said gear driven what I mean by that is downward force will not stop the rotation of the machine. Some polishers on the market are "Free Drive" which when too much pressure is applied it will stop the rotation of the machine. I believe the Meguiar's MT300 is free drive. It also has a white line on the back of the backing plate to give the user a visual representation of the downward force they are applying. It works as a safety feature for beginner and novice detailers. @ 12:24 the detailer Ryan I believe is his name mentioned putting a decent amount of force down to try and stale the machine. That is why I asked the question. Didn't appear to stop or slow the rotation but hard to tell on camera. Oscillation will continue on all models that I am familiar with. Then you mention in your comment that it's understood that all machines can cause damage. @13:55 to around 14:10 is when you were talking to him about downward force and his response was "it won't hurt anything but not a good practice". Too much down pressure will cause hazing and could burn clear coat. I could go into that further but in short low solid clears will scratch easier and you can remove scratches easier. A high solid "scratch resistant" clear will be harder to do both. If that makes sense.
As far as the length of the video you guys are the experts. The reason I left the comment was to see the things I felt were important in your follow up video. I might just have to buy one or both of these polishers.
I don't work for FLEX. I do work in the automotive refinishing business. I work with the consumable side of the business compounds and polishes is part of what I do. Most of my business is in body shop and detail shop environments with some industrial applications.
If I ever make it down to Florida I'd be happy to join you guys. One of my employee's is actually taking his family to Disney next week. I'll be here working in Chicago.
Anyways great video. I like what you guys are doing and look forward to the follow up vid!
Brevity…look it up.
@Vyllynt I appreciate this reply. Please understand, you can say anything you want about me, and I'll let it roll off my back. However, when something negative is said about the professionals we work with, then it's my duty to stand up for them, always in truth, of course.
We know exactly what you mean when you say gear-driven. Gear driven or forced rotation means that the oscillation and the rotary motions are forced, they only stop if the polisher stops. Random Orbital (free drive) means that you always get the oscillation (15 or 21mm orbit with these polishers) but the rotary motion only happens from inertia of the oscillation. Other words, you can grab the pad of a Random Orbital, even under power, and the rotation will stop, but it's still oscillating. Most of the orbital polishers on the market are Random Orbital; very few are gear driven (forced rotation).
You are correct, too much pressure can cause issues, which will require additional work...and possibly paint. Ryan was told by me that our audience is mainly the Pro, so that's his assumption when making these comments. In other words, he wasn't trying to teach a homeowner to polish, but rather provide info to the Pro. Also, about the clear, that red Camaro's hood was a pain, the polisher would make it slick, then just the wipe of a new microfiber would scratch it. It was very soft. We were having a good laugh about it. And the car is owned by one of the owners of the shop.
Thanks again for coming back and lightening things up. I apologize if it seems that I went into Defense or Attack mode, but I'm protective of my partners that help us out.
Do these batteries work on other Milwaukee tools?
What is the measurement of the 15mm pad?
if you've doing this at home and not professionally and if you were to only buy one polisher, would it be the 15mm or 21mm?
15
Came to conclusion 21mm and just switch the back plate to the 5in not really a pro detailer so if it’s a difference to anything it’s ok cause it’ll just be on my car
There will be no issues, these machines are made to interchange the backing plate sizes. Thanks for watching.
i have the 15mm and i love it.
What opm was he running ? Max opm or mid opm?
Which one is better the Milwaukee 2684, 2685, or 2738?
That really depends on what you're using it for and what you want. Thanks for watching.
@@Shoptoolreviews
i'm a hobbyist, DIY'er, and i'm planning to buy either one of the Milwaukee M18 polisher mentioned above to polish and wax the hood of my Truck
Flex cordless do have a power drop. Dewalt not as much.
A few questions/tests.
Can the 5in backing plate be put on the 21mm throw DA?
Do have any 3.0 XC high output battery for them to try out that'd be interesting to see if that battery could keep up power wise I like having the smaller batteries for when I'm doing bumpers and not flat panels.
When you're done with your review could you pop them open a see what kind of grease they're using. If you still have the Dewalt DA you should try repacking that DA's grease it's a HUGE difference in smoothness and sound if done right.
You are correct on both the polishers you mentioned. The DeWalt, while it has decent power, it definitely has more vibration and it doesn't have a smooth sound (almost rattling).
We're pretty sure that it's 'possible' to swap the plates (same bolt pattern), but we're also pretty sure that the counterbalance would change (more vibration). The counterbalance weights on the shaft are definitely different on the 21 and 15, and that could be in regards to the throw AND the backing plate size/weight.
We were looking for our 3.0 batteries the other day and couldn't find them. We think they both bit the dust, but we'll have to get a couple more in. I'm pretty hesitant to say they will work with the polisher. I have a feeling that we might see some performance drop with the 3.0 in place, especially on longer runtimes. I could be wrong, but we will try that.
We will definitely do a follow up review, and we will also continue to drip out content on the polishers on IG and even TH-cam Shorts, so be sure to keep an eye out. One of these shorter videos will be taking the backing plate of the checking out what they're using, grease etc.
Also, it seems that they're using a proprietary backing plate all their own. We haven't seen this 4-bolt pattern on any other machines.
@@Shoptoolreviews The sound from the DeWalt is due to the grease. It's cheap, and it doesn't stay on both sides of the worm gear. When I replaced mine, and the grease is working on the grease it'll become like 10 dB quieter same with the smoothness. The Milwaukee grease doesn't sound cheap, and after looking at the service parts pdf, it's a MUCH different design head than every other DA polisher out there. That's why it sounds and feels soo much smoother. It's directly geared from the motor vs. a traditional DA using an extra shaft that connects from the motor to the main gear. Interesting GO Milwaukee for constantly innovating the space in cordless tools, not just making it cordless but making them better than corded. I wish I could share pics and stuff to show, but I'm sure you guys can find this out.
Many detailers out there have a lot more 5in pads than 6in pads, so many of us will buy polisher with 6in backing plates and swap them. A common swap on the harbor freight DA polisher and Rupes 21mm DA. The 4-bolt pattern is also on Dewalt. There's a 3.0 HO battery that has 21700 batteries. I use the same in Dewalt polishers. I mainly use one in the rotary because I usually only use the rotary to spot correctly. The power is there, but ya runtime takes a decent hit.
Sounds good! I'll always be watching out for your videos. Even though I've dropped my wrench for a polisher, I still do some wrenching on the side. I've ordered a 21mm throw and a 5in backing plate. We'll see either way. Thanks always for the great content and replying!
@@Shoptoolreviews the backing plates were actually designed to be the same weight, so the vibration would be the same if you swap them (without a pad at least).
Can't wait to try one. I won't give up my rupes set up butt looks like a good alternative when needed
You should try one, if you get a chance. They're very impressive. Thanks for watching.
how long does the battery last?
Until you put a new one in
How is this on aluminum wheels
You need a rotary polisher for aluminum wheels, not an orbital.
How does it compare to a rupes Bigfoot?
I wanted to know that too, check this short out for some info comparing the two
th-cam.com/video/E1himAU0utQ/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=DetailersGarage
I wonder how much paint is left in that spot.
Lol. I'm still trying to figure if it is forced rotation or not. I get how a DA polisher works and I know how long batteries last. The only question is whether it is forced rotation or not, and this seems to be the only detail nobody will talk about, albeit the only detail that actually matters.
That’s a standard DA that’s not a forced action machine. The Flex XCE is a forced rotation machine. This is actually a good machine.
@@skankytrick yeah I don’t think anyone isn’t actually talking about it’s kinda of a given when we say random orbital it’s exactly that and not a forced action machine. Typically a a forced action polisher is something everyone says , it’s on the box , it’s a selling point as the Flex and Makita machines that are forced action that offer that it’ll say that.
@@AmirAbdullah Okay, that's all exactly what I was assuming, ai just wanted to know for sure. I know the Flex and the Makita, but I didn't know those are the only ones with the feature. So yeah, I assume a forced rotation wouldn't be a "random" orbit, but I basically was taking into account that most people are stupid and might be using terms indiscriminately. Thanks.
Why only a 3 yr warranty? Typically Milwaukee has 5 yrs. Hmmm
What size pad are you using on the 15mm?
5" on the 15mm and 6" on the 21mm.
Aonde vende no Brasil???
I bought the 15mm and ended up retuning it. GREAT power but was just too heavy and bulky. The shinemate cordless has much better ergonomics and less bulky, but does not have the power of the milwuakee.
That's interested, we have not yet reviewed the shinemate, but we'll try to get one in soon. Thanks for letting us know.
I’ve heard the Milwaukee 15MM is similar in power to the Shinemate 21mm which is a monster. As a side note all these cordless polishers will run better with the lower profile pads or open cell pads. Closed cell is ok to, like the blue here used I have that kit and a bunch like it. The oberk microfiber pad also is a outstanding pad to use as he did here. I’ll try the Milwaukee soon here.
Did it completely over power the Shinemate ? And was I did hold the 21mm and it did seem heavier.
@@AmirAbdullah are you talking about the Shinemate Cordless 21mm or corded?? The Milwuakee cordless 15mm has more torque than the Rupes Mark III, in my opinion. Definitely more power than the Shinemate 15mm, in my opinion.
@@orthodox1717 I was referring to the 15mm, that in itself has a lot of power and I use that being I have the 15 and the 21 but I just wanted to know if it had more power than the 15mm shinemate ? I’ve heard it does but it’s heavier , louder significantly. But if a person already has a ton of Milwaukee batteries it’s a better buy I would think. But imo the Shinemate is more than enough. But like I said I did hear it ( the Milwaukee 15mm ) has more power.
i hate this video, it's making me wanna go out and buy one of these polishers
Dude using the polishers obviously doesn't work with polishers on a daily basis. Always stop polisher with pad on surface until stopped, and he's going way too fast. I understand this is for demo purposes, but it looks a little sloppy from a detailers point of view. Sorry for the constructive criticism.
21 throw needs a 5 inch pad no one uses 6 inches
Frikn sucks my depot never get this cool stuff
"Next to no vibration at all"... BS. This machine has high vibration compared to other RO polishers.
Buffing on a hood without polish? Stay away from my cars please.
Lol. The things you don't know and don't care to ask. These guys know what they're doing and do it very well. Thanks for watching.
There was polish. But sure looked that way at times
Why are you screaming so damn hard?
Why is he polishing a CLEAN SURFACE!!! WTF😮
Polishing dirty surfaces are not exactly the thing to do either.
WHY are you screaming
MILWAUKEE ARE THE BEST CORD POWER TOOLS ON THE MARKET PERIOD. YES THEY ARE EXPENSIVE BUT THEY ARE THE BEST EVERY TOOL IN FUEL SERIES IS TRADE QUALITY TOUGH , AND THEIR BATTERIES BLOW EVERY COMPETITOR AWAY WITH POWER AND LONG DURATION .
IF YOU HAVE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PRICE YOU ARE IN THE WRONG PROFESSION, GO TAKE UP KNITTING 😂😂😂😂😂😂.
Used it for the first time last weekend definitely worth buying if you're a person who likes detailing your own car recommend first time to use on lowest setting 800 so you don't burn paint don't leave in one spot keep moving it over paint easy to use th-cam.com/users/postUgkxfzbDkCRyv3CFXnLZI4APZtRRuG2uRmP2 truck looks like new again used maguires black light battery life like all milwaukee products seem to hold up well 😀