Thanks for the review. I have always preferred gas but I bought a M18 blower and string trimmer about a year ago. Wow they are very impressive tools and its so nice to not have to mess with gunked up carburetors, gas and 2 stroke oils. Time to upgrade the mower!
I have all M18 Fuel outdoor power equipment. The M18 Fuel dual battery leaf blower is adequate for blowing the leaves and grass clippings in an average suburban lawn, the M18 Fuel quik lock string trimmer is a space saver and I can convert it to an edger in a snap because I do have that quiklok accessory and it really makes quick work around the edges and the flower bed, and the M18 Fuel Lawnmower is workhorse and plows through the toughest overgrown lawn. Doing yard work with no gas headaches is awesome. Overall, it's real nass like.
Just got one. It arrived today. Got it put together and made sure it works. It was raining so we'll get a chance to use it soon enough. It's replacing a Toro Personal Pace gas mower that died. Really looking forward to using it even more now after seeing your review. TNX
Great video Mark. Since I retired 5 years ago, Ive been mowing between 5 to 10 yards each week. About half of them needs pushing. I timed them a few weeks ago. They require about 75 minutes of pushing time. I am using a Toro rear wheel drive with the variable spreed control. It’s 5 years old. I keep all of my equipment inside. I use a 5 by 10 ft open trailer to transport the equipment. I don’t always get to mow in perfect weather conditions here in Kentucky. I have got drenched in a sudden afternoon thunder storm. The lack of water proofing would be a problem for me on any of these electric mowers. The batteries would be a second problem. I do like the cut quality, the height adjustment looks very easy. (The Toro height adjustment sucks.) I have been looking at the Ryobi line as I do bleed green. Lastly, I do prefer the gas over electric. This Milwaukee is very interesting. I will check the pricing at Home Depot. In another 10 years it will be electric mowers or Billy Goats. And the goats will generate methane. Opps, i should not say that…….. I can see Mark demoing goat herding……. :-) Again, great video.
Haha, I wonder if my dogs would get along with a goat? The battery compartment has a lip all the way around that looks like it would prevent rain from getting in. I think the mower will hold up to some rain and water, but Milwaukee probably is being cautious by saying to clean with a damp rag and not a garden hose.
@@MarkThomasBuilder Im betting top-down it runs fine in light rain or not sustained downpours. They just don't want people hosing them out fromt he underside where the motor might be exposed.
Quality cordless electric mowers are medium-rain-proof but not downpour-proof. Heck, you shouldn't even mow the lawn in the rain because wet grass greatly diminishes cut-quality
The assembly of the lawn mower could be done without any problems th-cam.com/users/postUgkxTPN04aT-Qdjr_KS3ql7ng8wnU3wwsCqk also recommend I just puzzled something about the red strange “key”. However, it quickly turned out that this creates a kind of contact bridge between battery packs and lawn mowers. An additional backup as a father of a 1 year old nephew is great!! :-)
I bought my Milwaukee a week ago and have cut around 45 lawns and it works great. I also have Makita commercial 4 batteries mowers and Ego . Milwaukee is now the best. Milwaukee build a 30" push mower.
@@charlesf9065 It is. I've never used this mower but the self-propel feature of the makita requires 3 seconds to accelerate (a widely criticized "feature"). This thing doesn't have that. That alone makes it superior.
About a week ago 5 of them showed up at our Home Depot. Today they had one out on display and I couldn't help myself from pushing it around in the store. I'm sure I'm going to break down and "just buy it" even though I dont need it and my current lawn mower works just fine. The (2) 12ah batteries come in handy and that's how I'll probably justify this purchase.
Haha, when you put things into a different perspective, it makes sense. I was excited that the dual charger on this is a simultaneous mode. It's a nice bonus to have a couple more 12AH batteries and I think you'll be happy with the mower if you decide on it.
I purchased a Toro 60volt recycler two years ago. I purchased 2 additional batteries because my grass is very thick Bermuda. The batteries get drained even at a normal pace with deck fairly high. I love the fact that you can increase the blade speed on the Milwaukee. I like the ease of deck height selection too. I believe I am going to ditch the Toro and invest in the Milwaukee equipment even though I’m normally a Stihl person. Thanks so much for the info.
Battery. I just replaced my gas craftman with this one and used it for the first time last week. I do not miss that annoying rip cord at all. Way more power and better cut than the craftman but it's an unfair comparison because I haven't done a thing to the craftman blade in about 6 years.
I agree that there's many advantages to battery power and several things I won't miss with gas power. It seems to me that the blade sharpness lasts longer on a push mower vs a riding mower. I think I'm more careful as to what I run over while push mowing.
@@Tundra_Guy I have Milwaulkee everything at this point, miter saw, table, saw, shop vacs, nailers, etc. that I have enough batteries to take me well beyond retirement.
You're welcome Jennifer. I'm always happy with how fast I can get the lawn mowed with this mower. I had an old self-propelled Husqvarna before this that wasn't nearly as responsive.
Great video, I really enjoyed the "action" shots. I went with the Toro 60V battery system last fall, and I am loving it. Had I waited until this year, it would have been a tough choice between the Toro and Milwaukee. I hope you enjoy your new mower!
There are some spots in my yard that my zero turn just isn't good for due to tight spacing or too steep of a pitch. Just ordered one today. Thanks for a great review
Battery. And this is my first battery mower purchase. I like Milwaukee product line and didn’t even hesitate with buying it. My lawn isn’t huge but I felt like I had to fill up gas every other mow. The first cut still had two bars left on my battery running it mostly on a 3 sometimes 4 with the hills.
Battery powered mowers have come a long way. To think this has more power than gas and gets up to full speed in 1 second is amazing. I recall buying a very used Honda push mower and it always smoked. It's nice not having to deal with that anymore.
What a great review! I just got the newer version of Milwaukee Mower and used it for the very first time today. Thanks for covering up the Mulch Plug! Great work. :)
Thanks for highlighting that it cannot be hosed off underneath the deck. Seems like a missed opportunity with how simply it stored upright! That actually got me excited to think how easy it would be to clean under the deck before storing it!
I never though of that, but yes that's a good point. Someone else here mentioned using a ceramic coating on it and noting sticks. I may have to look into that.
ha! I'm thinking... how heavy is it w/o batteries? Can I hoist it up on my rolling work table and clean out / top up on its side w/o worrying about gas/oil leakage? NICE!
Probably shouldn’t be using an electrical device where grass is wet enough to stick/clump underneath 🤷♂️ For anything else, just stick blowgun attachment to hose/compressor and blast it clean
Yeah, it’s me again. Since I have the plastic resin, whatever it is, deck on my Honda, I use my small jobsite blower after each mowing. I used a ‘wooden spoon/ spatula’ like tool in the past, on metal decks, Mark. Shim is OK, but that wooden spoon type thing was the, you know what! ✌🏻
I have the Milwaukee mower and I love it more every time I use it. When I clean the deck I actually just use a damp rag and wipe it down. Literally everything comes off without any real scrubbing or effort really. Also once I wipe it down I use my leaf blower to get any loose grass off of it. Honestly the mower is priced pretty high, but I was able to use my military discount on it and it was only $100 more than the other electric brands top mowers. (so if anyone gets that type of discount, it might be worth looking at again.)
I coated the business side of my mower with ceramic coating. Grass doesnt really stick so far.. im hoping a couple times a year will keep it clean. Loving this mower. Id like to see rubber coating where the handle hits itself folded, and where it rests on the ground. My only complaint.
I have bought $199 or under lightweight gas mowers for years & years... I happen to have plenty of Milwaukee M18 tools now, and can't help but think this badboy looks awesome! for my little .20-.25 acre lot, it'll maybe be overkill? But I think with buying a new house, I should buy a new mower, right? Oh yeah, old mower is on the fritz anyway. ha!
Thanks, the price of the mower is high, but if you need a couple 12Ah Hight Output batteries for your other Milwaukee power tools, then it may be a another way to look at the high price. Maybe someday it will be offered as a tool-only, drastically reducing the price.
I clean the undeside of my mower's deck with Simple Green and a rag after each cut.Then I spray it with silicone spray for ease in cleaning it next time- Very Easy!!
It seems there are quite a few dead leaves that are not being picked up. Otherwise i would like to switch to electric. I've had an aluminum deck for 30 years, not sure if i want to go to steel?
I bought the mower, and I like mostly everything but deciding whether to keep or not. I do not like the mulching plug being held in place by the grass flap which doesn't seal good. You end up with quite a bit of clippings that accumulate on the rear grass skirt. I have called Milwaukee and they relayed to the product manager but haven't heard yet from them.
Now that you mention it, I notice what you're saying. I've tested other mowers that have a tighter fit. The bagger and the rear side discharge work well. My favorite thing about this mower is that it gets up to speed very fast and when I'm going back and forth, it seems like I get my lawn mowed faster than my old gas self propelled mower.
Mark, great job on the video! Now that you’ve had the mower for a bit, can you comment on the mulch quality? Also, do you find the propel mechanism on the handle to be fatiguing to use for your hand or is it not an issue for you?
Thanks, I'd say the mower does a nice job of mulching up the grass. I had one comment saying that the plug for mulching lets some grass through and back on the flap. I experienced that in the beginning, but the thick wet grass seemed to plug the gaps quickly and it's not an issue for me. The propel mechanism tires out my hand on a long areas, like the 230' ares seen at 8:01 in my video. Fortunately, I can switch hands on the fly holding it down. Overall, I like the propel mechanism and my it works well for lots of back and forth mowing.
Recently went to Lowes and there was an EGO next to this mower on the sales floor. I have to admit the Milwaukee looks great, but the individual parts felt extremely cheap and flimsy compared to the EGO next to it. They will both cut grass, but i felt the EGO was a bit more polished.
I've seen the EGO up close but never tested one. I believe they have a dual blade double cut system, which is a personal preference thing. So far, this Milwaukee mower has held up nice.
Do your batteries drain at different times? Standing behind the mower like your pushing it the left side dies faster than the right (right side will have 2 bars left) is this normal?
Good question... I haven't noticed that happening, but often throw them on the charger before they fully drain. I'll have to test it out and see if that happens.
Great question! You can use 1 thumb at a time or both thumbs together. If I'm using my right thumb and it gets tired, then I switch to my left. It's a great design setup, in my opinion.
My lawn is ornamental, KGB full sun longer cut out front and about an 1/2 inch shorter KGB under a maple in the back. I have used a TroyBilt 160cc push ~2014 MTD unit / Honda engine for about 9 years and have been spoiled with tremendous and consistent vacuum and cut quality. I bought an M18 on a Monday, main reasons 1" height of cut, and self propel for the front slope. I returned the M18 for a refund Saturday after the second use. Some of the reason is kind of sort of shown in this video. ~10:27 when you look back and see all of the detritus left behind, along with pronounced wheel marks and uneven cut EVEN at the 1" mode shown here - which should have a vacuum. This mirrors what I saw when I used it at 1-1/2" and 2". Very uneven cut quality on dry turf, - I bought the high lift blades thinking this might correct it. These were installed prior to second cut on the Saturday. The high lift blades did not correct it. When the cut is complete the M18 looks like someone rode a dirt bike over the turf, there were many stragglers and it was very uneven pass to pass. When thick and healthy - the lawn should look like a just vacuumed carpet when you just finish cutting it. The M18 is 85lb and the TroyBilt is 64lb, and I found the M18 cut quality also suffered on slopes/grades, and the +33% weight of the M18 is far more difficult to move at the ends of a run. You might read / watch others say that this mower is light. Often those reviewers are used to a 144lb Toro TimeMaster or 240lb Toro GreensMaster reel mower. So in that context, yes - the M18 is light. Everything is relative - and I was able to clean up the cut quality by running over the front lawn with the TroyBilt, just before taking the M18 back.
Im thinking of getting this mower for a trim mower we have a very large yard where the main the main mower is a johndeere 3 series with a 72inch deck. So we need a push mower for getting around trees where i cant get close to with the tractor. My biggest concern is the price but i know that the batteries themselves arent cheap. So thats the only thing holding me back from pulling the trigger on one of these things.
Awesome video Mark, well done. Your question, battery or gas, for me, if costs was not a concern I'd go with the battery. Love the idea of a battery lawn mower but replacement costs of the batteries are to high. Seems most battery mowers that I have looked at, the cost of the batteries are half to two thirds the cost of the mower. For this mower that is $500. Imagine, every 3 to 5 years spending $500 on batteries. I compare that to my 22 year old Honda that I spend less then $10 a year on oil and filter. Costs will come down eventually, then I'll get one.
If you're into power tools, then this might make more sense since everything is going battery power. I like the 12Ah batteries for some big tools like the table saw and miter saw. Eventually they need to offer it as a tool only. I've owned a Honda mower for years. It's a good running engine. Thanks for sharing your opinion.
Milwaukee and Dewalt are my two main tool suppliers. This looks like a great mower, price seems steep compared to dewalt (it looks like the performance far exceeds it though). I am disappointed that the mower is powered by the rear wheels as my Dewalt mower is powered by the front wheels which makes it easier to turn around trees. I was able to use the EGO mower (which is rear wheel drive like the milwaukee mower) and it was very hard on my back and hands when trying to use the self propelled drive around trees. I am hopefull that someone comes out with an electric pushmower that has the articulating wheels on the front. Thanks for the great review!
I hope you had the in-Ground camera mounted down as to not being sucked up LOL... I have no need for a Lawn Mower anymore as My new Place is in 10 Acres of woods.. Mike M.
Have had gas my whole life, but the inconvenience of cleaning the air filter, spark plug, and carb😞. I have a reel lawn mower and love it cuz it’s light and fast, but if your grass gets more than 6” long its more work. Interested in the Milwaukee lawn mower. Like the tech that is built into it (higher grass = higher RPM’s). Just don’t think I can break out with that kinda $ for such an item.
It's a great mower that should give you years of easy maintenance service. I'm predicting that it will available someday as a tool-only someday. That would be a significant savings for those who already have a couple 12Ah batteries.
I use a plastic paint scraper. I'm looking at some options of products to spray it with, once it's all cleaned off. Hopefully it will prevent most things from sticking to it and then I can quickly brush it off after each use. If I find a good solution, I may make a video on it.
This is one of the better operational videos, especially with all of the camera angles, I have seen. What I would like to know is what are the actual db noise levels at regular and max RPM speeds, as manufactures don't usually provide them? My goal is to replace my gas Toro super recycler with a comparable electric mower. Also, I'm curious about required battery charging/recharging times and battery replacment availability and costs, because no one wants to stop at the end to wait for recharging. You also indicated switching hands due to possible thumb/hand fatigue. So, have your hands/thumbs gotten stronger or more fatigued over time?
Thanks, I will have to follow up with some of your questions making a TH-cam short video. I have a new decibel meter to test out. I still get hand fatigue if mowing a long time, but it's so easy to use my right or left hand for holding the thumb bar.
Using an Extech 407732, fresh 9V, mower on a paver walkway, sound level meter at operator ear position (tripod) A weighted, Peak Hold, 10 second duration (it in rush current ramps then settles) this mower was 86.4dBA in normal mode, and 88.1dBA in high lift (think that is 3,300rpm) mode. To compare, my TroyBilt 160cc (equal parameters+location+time of day) was 88.5dBA. So, the M18 is not noticeably "quiet", with only a 0.4dBSPL delta between it and my gas mower. I did not measure a Toro, but I believe those tend to be louder - (anecdotal only). I did not measure one.
Not being able to clean out underneath just took me away from buying the milwaukee....and I have about 10 grand in milwaukee tools/batteries. It not being dual blade was my initial gripe that I could kind of get over given cut quality still seems to be there(but I don't think this will mulch as well as an Ego Xr with dual blade)...but with the cleaning issue AND single blade...nope...ill wait for gen 2 like milwaukee will certainly bring out within the next 3 years as is their go to with new popular tools to drive secondary sales(their tools last forever...so the only way to get us to keep buying is to bring out a gen 1 with upgrades that can be implemented then release a gen 2 with those upgrades after a couple years of release so we sucker ourselves into buying the same tool twice 😅
Easiest thing I found is to spray the bottom of the mower deck before each mow with pam and barely any grass ever sticks to mine to have to scrape off!
That's what they say, but I'm guessing if you're careful to only get the deck, then it would be okay to rinse it off. I'm sure there's too much liability to allow any partial rinsing of the mower.
@MarkThomasBuilder just seems completely bonkers that you couldn't rinse it but I hear you, someone would hammer it with a pressure washer and then complain it was fried
I've been trying to talk myself into this mower but most of the reviews on the Milwaukee website for the 12.0 batteries are bad and warranty service isn't as easy as taking them in for exchange.
I read the reviews as well. I didn't experience any power stopping in the first couple minutes. I have nothing but good things to say with my experience of the mower. I can't speak yet of the customer service for warranty work. I'm in the middle of getting the 2 gallon compressor fixed and will have a final report sometime soon.
I've never tested that out since it comes with 2- 12Ahbatteries. I heard some information that it will work with other size M18 batteries, but as soon as one of the batteries depletes itself, the mower won't run on just 1 battery.
Awesome video.. loving it. Just got the quik lock trimmer. Pole saw next. Then maybe the mower. Long handle dry scrub brush could work at gettin most the grass off.. then maybe alil simple green on a shop rag could do the trick. I wanna get one and flat black the whole thing with white walls and red centers.. plus put some red lights on the front. 👊😠⚡️🤣🤣🤣
This clearly doesn't suffer the awful ramp-up time that the makita has, but the biggest problem will be that less than half a kWh total energy isn't going to be enough for a decent size yard if the grass is long and/or damp. And with a new pair of batteries running $500 that's only $50 less than an exceptionally well rated brand new honda mower. I want to run one of these electric mowers but they just are not competitive with gas. Less power, much higher cost. They seem to be a good idea if you have a small yard. This mower with batteries is $1100.
Mr. Mark Thomas! What a difference from your ‘First Look!’ I’m sure it was more satisfying to mow grass, VS Snow! 😳🤔🙄 Two key points for me: @ 03:05, and 07:05. Beautiful Pup you have there! And you can see the force the blade is moving at, as it is blowing some little piece of debris in side discharge mode. You can see it over the edge of the handle. I’d say it was several feet away from the mower? That is the key, with lifting and cutting of the grass, as well as air movement. I think it is ugly, and Expensive, but it NO doubt Mows some freakin grass! The area you mowed looked nice and even, no ridges! I’m not so sure about the bale and handle design, but it seemed to be alright with you. One aspect I do t like on my Honda, and it looks very similar to the Milwaukee? I prefer to mulch almost 100% of the time. My HRX Honda with the twin blade set up, has no issue going through even tall grass, and leaves it carpet smooth. Mulching is like a natural fertilizer each time! Great video Mark. You always test/review products in the most natural and useful way! No stupid gimmicks or insipid music blasting away. Loved the ‘hidden cameras ‘ and slo mo in the bag and all! Stay safe and Healthy! 👍👍👍✌🏻🔨🇺🇸😄
My first thought is that this is a single blade mower and I'm guessing your Honda is a twin blade design? I'm very happy with this mower and love the controls and cut quality. The runtime is plenty to complete a big mowing session.
@@MarkThomasBuilder i was researching about cold storage when i discovered your video..i found out i can store at any charge and in the cold shed is actually good for them.let me know if you have other info..thanks again.
I read several reviews on the Home Depot website and found some mixed reports. Some are very happy and some are finding some things to improve. I didn't look real close at the sharpness of my blade, but heard some say it worked much better after sharpening it.
That's a good question. I haven't tested the EGO mower yet, but I hear great things aobut it. If I get the chance, I'll make a comparison video this summer.
Thanks for the review. I have always preferred gas but I bought a M18 blower and string trimmer about a year ago. Wow they are very impressive tools and its so nice to not have to mess with gunked up carburetors, gas and 2 stroke oils. Time to upgrade the mower!
This is a great mower and I agree it's nice not having to deal with starting issues and changing spark plugs, etc.
You'll be saying the same when the plastic breaks down and batteries add up
Great video. Especially love how you mowed over the top of your camera and when you put the camera in the bag!
Thanks Charlie, I was hoping some people would like those action camera shots.
I have all M18 Fuel outdoor power equipment. The M18 Fuel dual battery leaf blower is adequate for blowing the leaves and grass clippings in an average suburban lawn, the M18 Fuel quik lock string trimmer is a space saver and I can convert it to an edger in a snap because I do have that quiklok accessory and it really makes quick work around the edges and the flower bed, and the M18 Fuel Lawnmower is workhorse and plows through the toughest overgrown lawn. Doing yard work with no gas headaches is awesome. Overall, it's real nass like.
Haha, I couldn't agree with you more! 😎👊
Just got one. It arrived today. Got it put together and made sure it works. It was raining so we'll get a chance to use it soon enough. It's replacing a Toro Personal Pace gas mower that died. Really looking forward to using it even more now after seeing your review. TNX
I love this mower! It took a little to get used to the controls, but it definitely zips around fast and cuts well.
Love it. Bought the entire M18 lawn tools after purchasing the mower.
Nice, Milwaukee makes some great outdoor power equipment!
Great video Mark. Since I retired 5 years ago, Ive been mowing between 5 to 10 yards each week. About half of them needs pushing. I timed them a few weeks ago. They require about 75 minutes of pushing time. I am using a Toro rear wheel drive with the variable spreed control. It’s 5 years old. I keep all of my equipment inside. I use a 5 by 10 ft open trailer to transport the equipment. I don’t always get to mow in perfect weather conditions here in Kentucky. I have got drenched in a sudden afternoon thunder storm. The lack of water proofing would be a problem for me on any of these electric mowers. The batteries would be a second problem. I do like the cut quality, the height adjustment looks very easy. (The Toro height adjustment sucks.) I have been looking at the Ryobi line as I do bleed green. Lastly, I do prefer the gas over electric. This Milwaukee is very interesting. I will check the pricing at Home Depot. In another 10 years it will be electric mowers or Billy Goats. And the goats will generate methane. Opps, i should not say that…….. I can see Mark demoing goat herding……. :-) Again, great video.
Haha, I wonder if my dogs would get along with a goat? The battery compartment has a lip all the way around that looks like it would prevent rain from getting in. I think the mower will hold up to some rain and water, but Milwaukee probably is being cautious by saying to clean with a damp rag and not a garden hose.
@@MarkThomasBuilder Im betting top-down it runs fine in light rain or not sustained downpours. They just don't want people hosing them out fromt he underside where the motor might be exposed.
Qqqqqqqqq
Quality cordless electric mowers are medium-rain-proof but not downpour-proof. Heck, you shouldn't even mow the lawn in the rain because wet grass greatly diminishes cut-quality
Gas- Honda 22” 5hp variable drive, bought it in’98. Stepped up to a used wide cut 33” 9hp, in 2005 and kept Honda for leaf bagging.
I'd like to try a 33" mower to see how it handles. When it comes to gas engines, I really like Honda. I have one on my wood splitter and love it.
Great Video! Just curious on how it handles the lawn debris ie twigs, plastic, pebbles, and kid toys?
Haha, good question. It's gone over a few worn out dog toys without a problem.
I am done with Gas . I am hoping to get this mower soon . Thanks for a great review.
You're welcome, I think you'll be happy with this mower.
The assembly of the lawn mower could be done without any problems th-cam.com/users/postUgkxTPN04aT-Qdjr_KS3ql7ng8wnU3wwsCqk also recommend I just puzzled something about the red strange “key”. However, it quickly turned out that this creates a kind of contact bridge between battery packs and lawn mowers. An additional backup as a father of a 1 year old nephew is great!! :-)
😎👍💯
I bought my Milwaukee a week ago and have cut around 45 lawns and it works great.
I also have Makita commercial 4 batteries mowers and Ego .
Milwaukee is now the best.
Milwaukee build a 30" push mower.
I'd love to see a 30" mower. Thanks for sharing your results and glad the mower is working well for you.
its better than the 2 battery makita then? That's what I was wondering
@@charlesf9065 It is. I've never used this mower but the self-propel feature of the makita requires 3 seconds to accelerate (a widely criticized "feature"). This thing doesn't have that. That alone makes it superior.
Camera view inside was awesome. 1st time I've seen that, pretty cool. Great video
Thanks, I thought this would make it interesting and I appreciate you letting me know 👊
Great video Mark. All the info I was looking for.
Awesome! I use this mower all the time and love how fast it gets the job done.
About a week ago 5 of them showed up at our Home Depot. Today they had one out on display and I couldn't help myself from pushing it around in the store. I'm sure I'm going to break down and "just buy it" even though I dont need it and my current lawn mower works just fine. The (2) 12ah batteries come in handy and that's how I'll probably justify this purchase.
Haha, when you put things into a different perspective, it makes sense. I was excited that the dual charger on this is a simultaneous mode. It's a nice bonus to have a couple more 12AH batteries and I think you'll be happy with the mower if you decide on it.
Excellent review, thanks!
Thank you, glad it helped out.
Great video. I have been using the same Milwaukee drill and impact and original batteries for over 20 years. My next mower will be this one. Thanks
Good choice, this is a great mower.
I purchased a Toro 60volt recycler two years ago. I purchased 2 additional batteries because my grass is very thick Bermuda. The batteries get drained even at a normal pace with deck fairly high. I love the fact that you can increase the blade speed on the Milwaukee. I like the ease of deck height selection too. I believe I am going to ditch the Toro and invest in the Milwaukee equipment even though I’m normally a Stihl person. Thanks so much for the info.
Battery. I just replaced my gas craftman with this one and used it for the first time last week. I do not miss that annoying rip cord at all. Way more power and better cut than the craftman but it's an unfair comparison because I haven't done a thing to the craftman blade in about 6 years.
I agree that there's many advantages to battery power and several things I won't miss with gas power. It seems to me that the blade sharpness lasts longer on a push mower vs a riding mower. I think I'm more careful as to what I run over while push mowing.
You'll miss the gas one when you're buying batteries every few years.
@@Tundra_Guy I have Milwaulkee everything at this point, miter saw, table, saw, shop vacs, nailers, etc. that I have enough batteries to take me well beyond retirement.
Thank you for this video. I got the mower yesterday at a Milwaukee event and this gave me a quick run down on how it all works.
You're welcome Jennifer. I'm always happy with how fast I can get the lawn mowed with this mower. I had an old self-propelled Husqvarna before this that wasn't nearly as responsive.
Great video, I really enjoyed the "action" shots. I went with the Toro 60V battery system last fall, and I am loving it. Had I waited until this year, it would have been a tough choice between the Toro and Milwaukee. I hope you enjoy your new mower!
Thanks Kevin! I'd like to try the Toro out for comparison. I used to have a gas one with the personal pace, but it wasn't really fast enough.
@@MarkThomasBuilder I’m old with hip and knee replacements. Slow works for me! 😂👍
I'm considering this mower and appreciate this awesome review.
It's an awesome mower, still going strong for me.
Hey Mark,
What a high-level review video that you made with this tool. 👏🏼.
Cheers from Wisconsin
Thank you, I appreciate that! Cheers👊
There are some spots in my yard that my zero turn just isn't good for due to tight spacing or too steep of a pitch. Just ordered one today. Thanks for a great review
Same here. Enjoy, it's a great mower!
Battery. And this is my first battery mower purchase. I like Milwaukee product line and didn’t even hesitate with buying it.
My lawn isn’t huge but I felt like I had to fill up gas every other mow. The first cut still had two bars left on my battery running it mostly on a 3 sometimes 4 with the hills.
Battery powered mowers have come a long way. To think this has more power than gas and gets up to full speed in 1 second is amazing. I recall buying a very used Honda push mower and it always smoked. It's nice not having to deal with that anymore.
Thanks for the great review! Good job!
Thanks, this really is a great mower in my opinion.
What a great review! I just got the newer version of Milwaukee Mower and used it for the very first time today. Thanks for covering up the Mulch Plug! Great work. :)
It's my favorite push mower so far!
Newer version? What is different about it from the old version
@@pillcosby3949 they make it a bit smaller I think. New one is 457mm. And small changes on the cosmetics. I’m in Australia by the way.
@@pillcosby3949 I haven't heard of a newer version released yet. There's talk of what people want in the gen 2 version, but nothing that I've seen.
Wow very impressed by.
Thanks for highlighting that it cannot be hosed off underneath the deck. Seems like a missed opportunity with how simply it stored upright! That actually got me excited to think how easy it would be to clean under the deck before storing it!
I never though of that, but yes that's a good point. Someone else here mentioned using a ceramic coating on it and noting sticks. I may have to look into that.
ha! I'm thinking... how heavy is it w/o batteries? Can I hoist it up on my rolling work table and clean out / top up on its side w/o worrying about gas/oil leakage? NICE!
Probably shouldn’t be using an electrical device where grass is wet enough to stick/clump underneath 🤷♂️
For anything else, just stick blowgun attachment to hose/compressor and blast it clean
Yeah, it’s me again.
Since I have the plastic resin, whatever it is, deck on my Honda, I use my small jobsite blower after each mowing. I used a ‘wooden spoon/ spatula’ like tool in the past, on metal decks, Mark. Shim is OK, but that wooden spoon type thing was the, you know what! ✌🏻
Thanks for the advice, I'll have to look for a spoon to try. The wood shims I have are a heavy duty version you won't find in the big box stores.
I have had battery for 3 years. Love it!
Glad to hear it. I think I can get used to maintenance free, like no oil changes, etc.🙌
Putting that camera in the bag was genius idea sir.
Thanks, glad to hear you like it.
If my old like 20yr old Honda does this Milwaukee will be my new mower. Perfect for my size yard and conditions. Excellent video.
Thanks, I used to have a Honda mower that lasted for years. I think you'll like this one too.
Wow that is some beautiful grass you were cutting..nice mower ..love your cameras skills too..nice views
Thanks Charles! Appreciate that💯😀
Good video sounds. Work. Battery. Good show
Thanks, Peter!🙌
I have the Milwaukee mower and I love it more every time I use it. When I clean the deck I actually just use a damp rag and wipe it down. Literally everything comes off without any real scrubbing or effort really. Also once I wipe it down I use my leaf blower to get any loose grass off of it. Honestly the mower is priced pretty high, but I was able to use my military discount on it and it was only $100 more than the other electric brands top mowers. (so if anyone gets that type of discount, it might be worth looking at again.)
That's a good point, to use that discount. They also have pro coupons they email out occasionally which save $25 or so. Every bit helps.
I coated the business side of my mower with ceramic coating. Grass doesnt really stick so far.. im hoping a couple times a year will keep it clean. Loving this mower. Id like to see rubber coating where the handle hits itself folded, and where it rests on the ground. My only complaint.
I'd like to try that coating as well. Good point on the rubber coating. That would be a nice thing to see on there.
whats the name of the ceramic coating you used?
@@charlesf9065 Mothers CMX. Just because that's what was available..
Cool video very helpful thanks
Any time!
I have bought $199 or under lightweight gas mowers for years & years... I happen to have plenty of Milwaukee M18 tools now, and can't help but think this badboy looks awesome! for my little .20-.25 acre lot, it'll maybe be overkill? But I think with buying a new house, I should buy a new mower, right? Oh yeah, old mower is on the fritz anyway. ha!
Yes, 100%. You won't have to worry about gas, oil, fumes, and noise with the M18 Mower. It's pretty fast too, so your lot will be done pretty quick.
great review mark, would you happen to know where to get a cover for it as well as the milwaukee high lift blade? Thank You Mark!
I didn't see the cover on the Home Depot website, but did notice it on the Milwaukee website. It may be available at Ohio Power Tool or Acme Tools.
I want a Milwaukee lawn mower, but they priced me put of the market on this one. Great video though!
Thanks, the price of the mower is high, but if you need a couple 12Ah Hight Output batteries for your other Milwaukee power tools, then it may be a another way to look at the high price. Maybe someday it will be offered as a tool-only, drastically reducing the price.
I clean the undeside of my mower's deck with Simple Green and a rag after each cut.Then I spray it with silicone spray for ease in cleaning it next time- Very Easy!!
That's a good idea, using the silicone spray. Thanks!
Hi there, Is it easy to push without using the propelled system? Thanks
Yes, it’s easy to push on its own.
Thanks for that@@MarkThomasBuilder
That’s really badass
It's a great mower. I was looking at it today at Home Depot next to the Makita and DeWalt. It's a nice looking design and it cuts well.
I just bought one tonight haven't used it but for like 5 mins was to dark for mowing
Once you get used to it, the LED lights are great for seeing in the dark.
It seems there are quite a few dead leaves that are not being picked up. Otherwise i would like to switch to electric. I've had an aluminum deck for 30 years, not sure if i want to go to steel?
I haven't heard of any concerns with the steel deck. It looks good to me after a season of regular use.
I'll have this in a day or 2.. hope it's worth it.. moving from a gas I been using for about 8 years..
That's cool! I think this mower will work well for you. Milwaukee did a great job on all the details of it and it's powerful.
I bought the mower, and I like mostly everything but deciding whether to keep or not. I do not like the mulching plug being held in place by the grass flap which doesn't seal good. You end up with quite a bit of clippings that accumulate on the rear grass skirt. I have called Milwaukee and they relayed to the product manager but haven't heard yet from them.
Now that you mention it, I notice what you're saying. I've tested other mowers that have a tighter fit. The bagger and the rear side discharge work well. My favorite thing about this mower is that it gets up to speed very fast and when I'm going back and forth, it seems like I get my lawn mowed faster than my old gas self propelled mower.
I agree poor engineering.
I think we will stick with our snapper however this does look like one of the best battery operated ones
Mark, great job on the video! Now that you’ve had the mower for a bit, can you comment on the mulch quality? Also, do you find the propel mechanism on the handle to be fatiguing to use for your hand or is it not an issue for you?
Thanks, I'd say the mower does a nice job of mulching up the grass. I had one comment saying that the plug for mulching lets some grass through and back on the flap. I experienced that in the beginning, but the thick wet grass seemed to plug the gaps quickly and it's not an issue for me. The propel mechanism tires out my hand on a long areas, like the 230' ares seen at 8:01 in my video. Fortunately, I can switch hands on the fly holding it down. Overall, I like the propel mechanism and my it works well for lots of back and forth mowing.
That’s great to hear. Thank you!
Hey mark does it use more battery on inclines and hills? Thx and love your channel.
I would think it would use more battery power on inclines, especially if your bagging the clippings, causing extra weight to go uphill.
@@MarkThomasBuilder ok thx
Great video- I'd love to see a comparison between the M18 mower and the new Worx 80V Nitro
I haven't tried that one out yet, but the reviews look great. I'll see if I can get a comparison before the end of this mowing season.
Recently went to Lowes and there was an EGO next to this mower on the sales floor. I have to admit the Milwaukee looks great, but the individual parts felt extremely cheap and flimsy compared to the EGO next to it. They will both cut grass, but i felt the EGO was a bit more polished.
I've seen the EGO up close but never tested one. I believe they have a dual blade double cut system, which is a personal preference thing. So far, this Milwaukee mower has held up nice.
Do your batteries drain at different times? Standing behind the mower like your pushing it the left side dies faster than the right (right side will have 2 bars left) is this normal?
Good question... I haven't noticed that happening, but often throw them on the charger before they fully drain. I'll have to test it out and see if that happens.
@@MarkThomasBuilder let me know if you could I mow my whole yard with it
Do your thumbs get tired using this mower?
Great question! You can use 1 thumb at a time or both thumbs together. If I'm using my right thumb and it gets tired, then I switch to my left. It's a great design setup, in my opinion.
How is it holding up?
My lawn is ornamental, KGB full sun longer cut out front and about an 1/2 inch shorter KGB under a maple in the back. I have used a TroyBilt 160cc push ~2014 MTD unit / Honda engine for about 9 years and have been spoiled with tremendous and consistent vacuum and cut quality. I bought an M18 on a Monday, main reasons 1" height of cut, and self propel for the front slope. I returned the M18 for a refund Saturday after the second use. Some of the reason is kind of sort of shown in this video. ~10:27 when you look back and see all of the detritus left behind, along with pronounced wheel marks and uneven cut EVEN at the 1" mode shown here - which should have a vacuum. This mirrors what I saw when I used it at 1-1/2" and 2". Very uneven cut quality on dry turf, - I bought the high lift blades thinking this might correct it. These were installed prior to second cut on the Saturday. The high lift blades did not correct it. When the cut is complete the M18 looks like someone rode a dirt bike over the turf, there were many stragglers and it was very uneven pass to pass. When thick and healthy - the lawn should look like a just vacuumed carpet when you just finish cutting it. The M18 is 85lb and the TroyBilt is 64lb, and I found the M18 cut quality also suffered on slopes/grades, and the +33% weight of the M18 is far more difficult to move at the ends of a run. You might read / watch others say that this mower is light. Often those reviewers are used to a 144lb Toro TimeMaster or 240lb Toro GreensMaster reel mower. So in that context, yes - the M18 is light. Everything is relative - and I was able to clean up the cut quality by running over the front lawn with the TroyBilt, just before taking the M18 back.
Im thinking of getting this mower for a trim mower we have a very large yard where the main the main mower is a johndeere 3 series with a 72inch deck. So we need a push mower for getting around trees where i cant get close to with the tractor. My biggest concern is the price but i know that the batteries themselves arent cheap. So thats the only thing holding me back from pulling the trigger on one of these things.
It's a great mower, but yes the batteries are expensive. Most high quality mowers have expensive batteries it seems.
Awesome video Mark, well done. Your question, battery or gas, for me, if costs was not a concern I'd go with the battery. Love the idea of a battery lawn mower but replacement costs of the batteries are to high. Seems most battery mowers that I have looked at, the cost of the batteries are half to two thirds the cost of the mower. For this mower that is $500. Imagine, every 3 to 5 years spending $500 on batteries. I compare that to my 22 year old Honda that I spend less then $10 a year on oil and filter. Costs will come down eventually, then I'll get one.
If you're into power tools, then this might make more sense since everything is going battery power. I like the 12Ah batteries for some big tools like the table saw and miter saw. Eventually they need to offer it as a tool only.
I've owned a Honda mower for years. It's a good running engine.
Thanks for sharing your opinion.
Exactly, and this mower will never hold up as long as gas ones do. I have mowers over 20 years. If you get 5 from this consider yourself lucky.
Milwaukee and Dewalt are my two main tool suppliers. This looks like a great mower, price seems steep compared to dewalt (it looks like the performance far exceeds it though). I am disappointed that the mower is powered by the rear wheels as my Dewalt mower is powered by the front wheels which makes it easier to turn around trees. I was able to use the EGO mower (which is rear wheel drive like the milwaukee mower) and it was very hard on my back and hands when trying to use the self propelled drive around trees. I am hopefull that someone comes out with an electric pushmower that has the articulating wheels on the front. Thanks for the great review!
I hope you had the in-Ground camera mounted down as to not being sucked up LOL...
I have no need for a Lawn Mower anymore as My new Place is in 10 Acres of woods..
Mike M.
Haha, yeah I was a little nervous going over the camera, but glad it worked out. Sounds like some nice land you have!
Have had gas my whole life, but the inconvenience of cleaning the air filter, spark plug, and carb😞. I have a reel lawn mower and love it cuz it’s light and fast, but if your grass gets more than 6” long its more work. Interested in the Milwaukee lawn mower. Like the tech that is built into it (higher grass = higher RPM’s). Just don’t think I can break out with that kinda $ for such an item.
It's a great mower that should give you years of easy maintenance service. I'm predicting that it will available someday as a tool-only someday. That would be a significant savings for those who already have a couple 12Ah batteries.
How do you clean it
I use a plastic paint scraper. I'm looking at some options of products to spray it with, once it's all cleaned off. Hopefully it will prevent most things from sticking to it and then I can quickly brush it off after each use. If I find a good solution, I may make a video on it.
Good video. Air hose will clean it out
Great idea! I have a couple nozzles that would work well for that.
Good video sir.
Thanks, appreciate it.
how long does the batteries last for a 1/4 acre lawn?
What are the best replacement mower blades?
Milwaukee offers the stock blades or a high lift option.
The time stamp should have been 03:55, for your beautiful Dog!
I’m an idiot, what can I say? 😳🙄🤣👍✌🏻
Haha, my dogs are always so curious, so you can bet they'll make an appearance in each video. Glad you like them too!
5:12 is the most satisfying thing I've ever seen.
Thanks, I'm glad to hear someone enjoyed my extra effort of creativity.😅
I have two solar panels on my van , inverter , voltage ⚡ regulator and chargers to charge all day my Milwaukee batteries.
That's cool. I've wondered about getting a solar charger of some sort. I'm guessing it takes a long time to fully charge them by solar?
is the mower motor 18v or is it 36 volts running the batteries in series?
It's running on both batteries at the same time. I believe it needs all of that. power for the blade and the self-propelled.
This is one of the better operational videos, especially with all of the camera angles, I have seen. What I would like to know is what are the actual db noise levels at regular and max RPM speeds, as manufactures don't usually provide them? My goal is to replace my gas Toro super recycler with a comparable electric mower. Also, I'm curious about required battery charging/recharging times and battery replacment availability and costs, because no one wants to stop at the end to wait for recharging. You also indicated switching hands due to possible thumb/hand fatigue. So, have your hands/thumbs gotten stronger or more fatigued over time?
Thanks, I will have to follow up with some of your questions making a TH-cam short video. I have a new decibel meter to test out. I still get hand fatigue if mowing a long time, but it's so easy to use my right or left hand for holding the thumb bar.
Using an Extech 407732, fresh 9V, mower on a paver walkway, sound level meter at operator ear position (tripod) A weighted, Peak Hold, 10 second duration (it in rush current ramps then settles) this mower was 86.4dBA in normal mode, and 88.1dBA in high lift (think that is 3,300rpm) mode. To compare, my TroyBilt 160cc (equal parameters+location+time of day) was 88.5dBA. So, the M18 is not noticeably "quiet", with only a 0.4dBSPL delta between it and my gas mower. I did not measure a Toro, but I believe those tend to be louder - (anecdotal only). I did not measure one.
71db
Not being able to clean out underneath just took me away from buying the milwaukee....and I have about 10 grand in milwaukee tools/batteries. It not being dual blade was my initial gripe that I could kind of get over given cut quality still seems to be there(but I don't think this will mulch as well as an Ego Xr with dual blade)...but with the cleaning issue AND single blade...nope...ill wait for gen 2 like milwaukee will certainly bring out within the next 3 years as is their go to with new popular tools to drive secondary sales(their tools last forever...so the only way to get us to keep buying is to bring out a gen 1 with upgrades that can be implemented then release a gen 2 with those upgrades after a couple years of release so we sucker ourselves into buying the same tool twice 😅
Interesting perspective. I'm hoping to test out a dual blade mower this spring to see if it makes a noticeable difference.
So what does the battery cost for two when that time comes.
There's a special buy at Home Depot for $349 for the pair of 12Ah High Output. Normally the cost is close to $500.
How is the Battery performance after 2 years?
My batteries are still going strong, and the mower too!
Easiest thing I found is to spray the bottom of the mower deck before each mow with pam and barely any grass ever sticks to mine to have to scrape off!
So you can cut wet grass but can't rinse off the underside of the deck with a hose?
That's what they say, but I'm guessing if you're careful to only get the deck, then it would be okay to rinse it off. I'm sure there's too much liability to allow any partial rinsing of the mower.
@MarkThomasBuilder just seems completely bonkers that you couldn't rinse it but I hear you, someone would hammer it with a pressure washer and then complain it was fried
do the batteries fit on Milwaukee hand tools? electric drill?
Yes, same M18, 12Ah batteries I use on the other tools like the miter saw, table saw, etc.
Flexible Bondo spreaders work well to clean the underside of the deck.
Good point, I have a few of those to try out on the deck. Thanks!
I've been trying to talk myself into this mower but most of the reviews on the Milwaukee website for the 12.0 batteries are bad and warranty service isn't as easy as taking them in for exchange.
I read the reviews as well. I didn't experience any power stopping in the first couple minutes. I have nothing but good things to say with my experience of the mower.
I can't speak yet of the customer service for warranty work. I'm in the middle of getting the 2 gallon compressor fixed and will have a final report sometime soon.
weird, I have a bunch of the 12amp batteries and I love them, as does everyone else I know
Question : How does it work with 2 different amp hour batteries? say a 12 and an 8.
I've never tested that out since it comes with 2- 12Ahbatteries. I heard some information that it will work with other size M18 batteries, but as soon as one of the batteries depletes itself, the mower won't run on just 1 battery.
Plastic putty knife works good to clean deck.
Great advice, I keep a few of those on my tool wall.
Awesome video.. loving it. Just got the quik lock trimmer. Pole saw next. Then maybe the mower.
Long handle dry scrub brush could work at gettin most the grass off.. then maybe alil simple green on a shop rag could do the trick. I wanna get one and flat black the whole thing with white walls and red centers.. plus put some red lights on the front. 👊😠⚡️🤣🤣🤣
Nice, I'd like to see how the mower would look after your custom changes. The Quik Lok is very nice, it's a great tool!
you can use a rubber kitchen spatula to clean it out :)
Great idea!! I'll have to look for one to use as a dedicated cleaning tool.
This clearly doesn't suffer the awful ramp-up time that the makita has, but the biggest problem will be that less than half a kWh total energy isn't going to be enough for a decent size yard if the grass is long and/or damp. And with a new pair of batteries running $500 that's only $50 less than an exceptionally well rated brand new honda mower. I want to run one of these electric mowers but they just are not competitive with gas. Less power, much higher cost. They seem to be a good idea if you have a small yard. This mower with batteries is $1100.
Agreed, insane
Great review! But you forgot to do the dog turd test 😂
Yikes, I hope I never do that test, lol😂
my rapid charger died already. what is going on with milwaukee
I'm working on my first warranty claim right now. It seems pretty easy to do online. I'm hoping for quick results.
Mr. Mark Thomas! What a difference from your ‘First Look!’ I’m sure it was more satisfying to mow grass, VS Snow! 😳🤔🙄 Two key points for me: @ 03:05, and 07:05. Beautiful Pup you have there! And you can see the force the blade is moving at, as it is blowing some little piece of debris in side discharge mode. You can see it over the edge of the handle. I’d say it was several feet away from the mower? That is the key, with lifting and cutting of the grass, as well as air movement.
I think it is ugly, and Expensive, but it NO doubt Mows some freakin grass! The area you mowed looked nice and even, no ridges! I’m not so sure about the bale and handle design, but it seemed to be alright with you. One aspect I do t like on my Honda, and it looks very similar to the Milwaukee?
I prefer to mulch almost 100% of the time. My HRX Honda with the twin blade set up, has no issue going through even tall grass, and leaves it carpet smooth. Mulching is like a natural fertilizer each time!
Great video Mark. You always test/review products in the most natural and useful way! No stupid gimmicks or insipid music blasting away. Loved the ‘hidden cameras ‘ and slo mo in the bag and all! Stay safe and Healthy! 👍👍👍✌🏻🔨🇺🇸😄
Thanks George for the insight. I'd like to try a twin blade design mower for kicks sometime.
I am looking at your video to see if want to sell my new Honda mower and a get the Milwaukee.
My first thought is that this is a single blade mower and I'm guessing your Honda is a twin blade design? I'm very happy with this mower and love the controls and cut quality. The runtime is plenty to complete a big mowing session.
Thanks.
I like my Milwaukee mower..
Same here, Andy. Every time I use it, I'm glad how well it works.
@@MarkThomasBuilder i was researching about cold storage when i discovered your video..i found out i can store at any charge and in the cold shed is actually good for them.let me know if you have other info..thanks again.
I need to be able to adjust the left and ride side separately
Why is that? Wouldn't you want a level cut?
electric please and great video !
Thank you! I'm a big fan of this mower. It gets the job done quickly!
Cool 😎
Thanks man💯
@@MarkThomasBuilder anytime
You can clean it easily with a scrubber head attached to a drill 🤟
I think southern grass (Bermuda grass) needs to be cut very shallow
Yes, like 1" or less from what I've heard from some.
All of my yard tools are battery powered and are Stihl.
Gas all the way
Just works better
Specially if you're doing commercial
Use a Milwaukee impact and drill brushes to clean it.
Yeah, I've heard good things about the Ryobi drill cleaning brushes.
Probably nice to get it for free many people are having trouble with this model
I read several reviews on the Home Depot website and found some mixed reports. Some are very happy and some are finding some things to improve. I didn't look real close at the sharpness of my blade, but heard some say it worked much better after sharpening it.
Is this mower better than the ego
That's a good question. I haven't tested the EGO mower yet, but I hear great things aobut it. If I get the chance, I'll make a comparison video this summer.
👍
Thanks Charles👊