Milwaukee is on a roll with the dual-battery concept, beginning with the M18 Fuel Self-Propelled Lawn Mower. The Dual-Battery Leaf Blower followed, and now we’re getting a look at the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Dual Battery String Trimmer. Is this a better option than Milwaukee’s single-battery model or the Quik-Lok system? I’ll share what I’ve learned after using it and running some tests to help you decide.
Pros
- Incredibly strong performance
- Impressive runtime
- 17-inch cutting swath
- Low speed is highly effective
- Loads up to 0.105-inch line
- Fast-loading head included
- Shoulder strap included
Cons
- Heavy
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Dual Battery String Trimmer Performance
With the 3006, Milwaukee steps up to a 17-inch cutting swath. For a cordless string trimmer, that’s the top of the food chains and a heavy load to maintain. While today’s advanced batteries can give you the power you need in a single 18V battery, Milwaukee’s dual-battery power source offers the higher runtime you need to handle larger or multiple properties.
This isn’t an optional two-battery design—you need both packs to operate the trimmer. While any two Milwaukee M18 batteries will do the job, I found that a pair of 8.0Ah High Output packs balance cutting performance, runtime, and weight the best.
Rated at 2.5 Nm of torque and 2.4 HP gas equivalence, but Milwaukee tells us the PowerState brushless motor in this unit delivers higher torque than other Pro-grade string trimmers. That includes both gas and battery-powered models.
A two-speed selector lets you prioritize either runtime or cutting performance. Typically, I find that the lower speed forces me to slow down in the process on trimmers that have a two-speed feature.
That’s not the case here. For regular maintenance trimming, I was able to work in low speed (4900 RPM) while keeping up my normal pace. It was only when I got into heavy overgrowth that I really needed the additional power to keep the line speed up to its max 6200 RPM.
That was using the stock 0.095-inch line. The trimmer can also step down to 0.080-inch or up to 0.105-inch line. With the performance I experienced, I recommend going with the line size you’re already comfortable using. For the way I trim, that’s 0.095, but I wouldn’t hesitate to switch over to the 0.105 if I know I have overgrowth on the menu.
Just like previous models I’ve tested from Milwaukee, this string trimmer is dialed in to accelerate the line up to full speed in less than one second.
Runtime
I tested runtime at both high and low speeds. For both tests, I used Milwaukee’s stock trimmer line at the full 17-inch cutting diameter with two fresh, fully charged 8.0Ah High Output batteries.
At low speed, the trimmer ran for 54 minutes and 4 seconds.
High speed netted an impressive total of 30 minutes and 59 seconds.
With the power Milwaukee is putting out, I wouldn’t have bet on a 30+ minute runtime in high, even with two batteries, but you’ve got it. The big takeaway is that you don’t have to manage your battery usage as carefully as we’ve seen with other battery-powered string trimmers. It does an excellent job in low yet has the runtime to get some serious work done when you need the full extent of its muscle.
Vibration
The Milwaukee 3006 sounds like it should have more vibration than it does. With the stock line, it sounds a little rough. However, the amount of vibration in the handles is very low, especially compared to the first-generation string trimmer. It’s not the lowest vibration level I’ve experienced, but it’s a big improvement and makes the trimmer more comfortable to use.
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Dual Battery String Trimmer Design
As you can imagine, two High Output batteries on a legitimately high-performance string trimmer has some weight to it. With a pair of 8.0Ah batteries, our string trimmer weighed in at 16.9 pounds.
There’s a shoulder strap connection point between the trigger and the handle. With the weight of two batteries and how robust the trimmer is built, you’ll want to take advantage of a strap, especially if you’re trimming large sections. The strap has plenty of adjustability, and we had no trouble dialing in a good fit for multiple people on our team.
The stock head on this trimmer is Milwaukee’s Easy Load model. Instead of making manual line changes, you run your line through a hole until you reach the center point and then twist the head to reel it in. You can complete the process in about 30 seconds with a little practice and it’s a lot less frustrating than full traditional dual-line heads.
The head holds up to 25 feet of line, so you’ll get a lot of trimming in between line changes.
The batteries are installed in an over-under configuration rather than side-by-side. Any size batteries fit, including 12.0Ah High Output packs, but that large of a pack extends below the motor housing. It’s something to keep in mind if you’re setting the tool down on hard surfaces. It also adds to the weight.
Additional Highlights
- Wide guard
- Variable speed trigger
- Straight shaft
- Batteries are compatible with more than 200 M18 and M18 Fuel products
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Dual Battery String Trimmer Price
You can add the Milwaukee 3006 to your trailer as a kit that includes two 8.0Ah High Output batteries and a charger for $699. There’s also a bare tool option for $399.
The Bottom Line
The Milwaukee M18 Fuel Dual Battery String Trimmer is an incredibly powerful and capable way to kick the gas can for your trimming duties. Delivering more than half an hour of runtime in its strongest mode is eye-opening and makes the 3006 a more viable gas replacement for heavy-duty trimming applications than other models I’ve tested. With the single-battery model for a lighter weight option, Quik-Lok for an attachment system, the dual-battery when you need more muscle, and the brush cutter for small trees and bushes, Milwaukee now brackets your professional trimming needs extremely well.
