The 2017 edition of the Milwaukee New Product Symposium didn’t feature a massive overarching new technology like One-Key or Fuel have in the past. Each of the core trades did come away as big winners though and everyone will love the newest portable storage solution – Milwaukee PackOut. So whether you were able to follow Pro Tool Reviews live throughout the day or you’re just getting caught up, here’s the best of what the Milwaukee New Product Symposium 2017 had to offer.
Milwaukee New Product Symposium 2017 Highlights
No matter what social media platform you prefer, simply type “NPS17” in the search bar to check out everyone’s coverage from the day!
Even before we got in, we saw some new names and logos. It’s always fun to take a guess at what’s behind the curtains!
Milwaukee PackOut
Easily the biggest story of the Milwaukee New Product Symposium 2017 – since it covers nearly every tradesman – is the Milwaukee PackOut modular storage system. Interlocking storage units are nothing new. Neither are multiple sizes for that matter. But what makes PackOut different is the multiple widths and open top tool bags along with solid durability.
Will we see a premium music system that locks in?
A couple, I hope! Regardless, Milwaukee tells us that this system is in its infancy, so expect big things to come in the next few years as it expands.
OSHA Ready Dust Extraction
As you can imagine, dust control solutions are a big focus with the September 23rd deadline looming. Not sure what that’s all about? Check out our article on OSHA’s upcoming silica dust regulation enforcement. An 8-hour day’s exposure will be less than a grain of sand.
Milwaukee is ready for OSHA with a new dust extractor, dust shrouds, and vacuum bits to keep your jobsite in compliance.
Concrete Leveling
Screed and then grab the level?
Nah, the newest Milwaukee RedStick Level lets you take care of both with one tool and it cleans up easy – even a day or two later.
Mixing Goes Cordless
Milwaukee brings their M18 Fuel technology to bear down on mixing duties with a very welcome addition to the brushless line.
One-Key Comes to Mechanics
Milwaukee One-Key is coming to a new and very powerful high torque M18 Fuel impact wrench. This model boasts 1400 ft-lbs of nut busting torque that – on paper – is the strongest we’ve seen in the cordless realm to date.
One of the focuses of adding One-Key to the impact wrench is to get more repeatable results when you’re looking for a specific amount of tightening force. It’s not perfect, but it gets you a lot closer than some of the other models out there. You’ll have to jump WAY up in price point to get into your precision impact wrenches.
Cordless Miter Saw For the Trim Carpenter
Last year, we heard whispers of the M18 Fuel 10-Inch Miter Saw before the official announcement. This year, Milwaukee goes smaller with a 7-1/4-Inch model squarely focusing on trim carpenters. At just 28 pounds, it’s about as portable as you can hope to get in a full featured, dual bevel miter saw.
The new miter saw stand looks pretty basic but has an optional shoulder strap and table top that give it an edge over similar models.
Getting Personal in Lighting
Milwaukee is getting a little personal when it comes to their lighting division. A couple new handheld flashlights and a new headlamp (hallelujah!) are in the mix. There are a couple of standard low-power options while the higher power lights are rechargeable. And of course, they’re are dialed into the TrueView LED system.
HackZall Gets Fueled Up
In a move that’s very welcome, the HackZall gets its brushless motor and a shiny new M18 Fuel designation. With only a handful of one-handed reciprocating saws like this, Milwaukee owns most of them and they’re dead useful for plumbers and HVAC Pros to name a couple.
More Carbide is Coming
Whether you’re cutting with a Sawzall blade or hole saw, more carbide is on the way! The Ax with Carbide has been out for a few months and the Torch is joining the party for metal cutting as well. Hole Dozers are getting the upgrade and a new Big Hawg wood cutting carbide hole saw is making its way in, too. Plumbers, electricians, and general contractors will get a lot more life out of their blades with a focus on using more carbide in each tooth than the competition.
Here’s the new Carbide Torch head to head against the Diamond Torch in cast iron pipe!
It seems all that’s left are circular blades. Any chance we’ll see them in the near future?
Absolutely.
Pressing Matters
Milwaukee’s Short Throw Press Tool makes its presence known in compact installations with cordless convenience.
Ratcheting Pipe Cutter
Milwaukee doesn’t only do cordless tools and their new Ratcheting Pipe Cutter lasts up to 4000 cuts before the blade calls it a day.
Cutting to the Chase
Milwaukee dove a little deeper into the EDC knife category last year with their Hardline D2 steel folders. This year, the focus is on fixed blade knives with a couple of different sizes and one with a skinning blade design.
Hand Me that Screwdriver
There are new screwdrivers with comfort grips and wrench assist shafts. Check out the backs – not only are they marked, the grip is also molded to help you identify by feel!
Empire Level Advancements
Empire Level is a Milwaukee Tool company. They showed off some of their latest advancements as well, including LED enhanced torpedo levels at the Milwaukee New Product Symposium 2017.
Hanging Out with Friends
Being from Central Florida, we’re used to driving golf carts. Apparently, it’s a bit more of a novelty for our Canadian friends, @Toolaholic and @KrugerConstruction. Check out what they’re up to by following them on Instagram.
When the Sun Goes Down…
Maybe y’all didn’t know, but Editor-in-Chief, Clint DeBoer is a pretty legit singer. We’ll give him a break for the faux pa since he had about 60 seconds warning before coming on stage. Like the band?
They’re almost all Milwaukee Tool employees and their spouses!
As if the band isn’t good enough, check out the fiddle player going to town using a Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hackzall at the Milwaukee New Product Symposium 2017 after party!
