When we attended the 2013 Milwaukee press event earlier this year, I saw a new tool that really caught my eye…particularly because I was staring at the LEDs when it was turned on (don’t do that!) The new Milwaukee 2361 M18 LED Flood Light runs on the M18 RedLithium battery platform and claims best-in-class light output and I have to say that, so far, I can’t disagree. The new LED work light uses eight CREE-style LEDs arranged in a sort of checkerboard pattern to provide smooth and even light across your work area. Milwaukee claims that the light output beats more traditional halogen lights by a wide margin. It’s a vague claim, but we’ve seen these lights in action, and the bottom line is you get more light for less heat. Plus, an LED “bulb” doesn’t shatter when the light falls over and hits the ground.
Editor’s Note: Check out the best LED work light buying guide for our top picks.
Milwaukee 2361-20 M18 LED Flood Light Build Quality
Milwaukee specifically designed the new flood light to handle drops. And drop it we did, from 6 feet or more…tossing it towards a block wall…kicking it. The LED flood light is definitely adept at taking a hit and continuing to work. If I had tried that with my two-headed halogen work light I’d be shopping for new bulbs…and likely a new light as well.
The roll cage is compact and lightweight and the lens is impact-resistant and, surprisingly, also replaceable. The LEDs also come with a limited lifetime warranty. Milwaukee obviously has a lot of confidence in the ability of this light to stand up under pressure…the same confidence they place in the Milwaukee M18 FUEL impact driver and Milwaukee hand tools.
Since the Flood Light has an octagonal shape, you can point it just about anywhere. Lay it on its side and you automatically have 45 -degree increments in which to point it across the job site area. There’s an integrated hanger that suspends it from EMT or conduit, a keyhole hanger, cross bar hanger, and even a handle hanger—so positioning the light is a non-issue.
Pricing and Final Thoughts
The 2361-20 Flood Light will work with any of Milwaukee’s M18 lithium-ion batteries and will run for up to 8 hours on a single charge (we recommend the new 4.0 XC packs if you want the most runtime possible, but a slim pack will still give you tons of time and they charge quickly.
This is going to be a hot product, especially at $99. I’m going to pick up a couple for sure. Next, I may need to grab that Milwaukee M18 fan…
Specifications
- Model: 2361-20
- 1,100 Lumens (1,300 Lux)
- Dimensions: 8-3/4” L x 6-1/4” H x 6-1/4” W
- 3.4 lbs
- Includes M18 Flood Light (use with existing M18 battery and charger)
