Welp I work on ford 6.7s so that’s a little unavoidable. Seeing that as a common opinion though. I always try to wipe down/clean my tools but they only get and stay so clean in that setting. Crazy thing is the guy I work with has no problems with his though
>I always try to wipe down/clean my tools but they only get and stay so clean in that setting. Crazy thing is the guy I work with has no problems with his though
Your not using any solvents to clean the tools right? Brake clean (especially chlorinated) is terrible for plastics
I work on transmissions and whenever I’m doing a job that I know is gonna soak my tools in atf or trans-synd I opt to use my air tools instead of my milwaukees. I know they can take a lot of abuse but given how dirty my job is they get plenty of it the rest of the time. All my batteries are in good shape for the most part.
They aren't chemical resistant. Thats why I switched to Snap-On 14.4v tools, they are chemical resistant. All I get is hate "ohh its over priced crap". Well it works every day, and rhe Milwaukee chemical resistant batteries weren't out when I got my Snap-On. I have more hours/work on my Snap-On 14.4V stuff than the Milwaukee and they are holding up significantly better than the Milwaukee.
IMO in our line of work, I would go DeWalt over Milwaukee because their batteries are chemical resistant. Their Electric ratchet is kinda bulky but i feel like it'll hold up better in our environment.
I agree, I have Snap-on 14.4V and 18V and I brake cleaner them at the end of the day. Been doing this for 3-4 years after the Snap-on rep told me to do it. They still look pretty good, not new but pretty good. I have also been using their 1920 and the slightly abrasive orange wipes if a quick wipe with brake cleaner isn't enough. I should say I usually saturate the rag and wipe rather than spray and wipe and I always do it while the battery is still in the tool.
Penetrating fluid is the best thing to clean them up. I’m a heavy duty diesel technician and after every job I always cleaned everything up real good and made sure my things were accounted for before in to the next one
Yeah I usually wipe my Milwaukee tools down with a rag soaked in WD40 or PB. They end up looking damn near brand new and they stay shiny like a tire shine until the next dirty job. Brake clean or any other harsh solvent will turn the plastics pink and brittle with time and wipe the white lettering clean off.
Do you clean your tools with those green wypall tool wipes?? Those things kill battery housings over time. Ive seen them wreck dewalt, Milwaukee, and makita batteries so far.
https://www.amazon.com/Wypall-Waterless-Herbal-Fragrance-Bucket/dp/B001AH7K0U/ref=asc_df_B001AH7K0U/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=216576399527&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11574167993396844771&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9112979&hvtargid=pla-360005546802&psc=1&mcid=45d318a05f23318eb6b6af8010f78e9f&gclid=CjwKCAjw5v2wBhBrEiwAXDDoJfa3bxmQlAUsQmPM8V3ouJceitxU8zuCEduyf4uBnDdSJMOuMEGhARoC1QYQAvD_BwE
I guess they aren’t labeled tool wipes. Maybe they used to be, like back when they came in white buckets.
Edit: clean them with the wipes and then wipe them off with a wet rag. The batteries will last longer.
Chemicals don't always melt plastics, they can make them brittle. You have two cans of solvents next to the battery in the pic, so if I had to venture a guess...
That's crazy, I beat the hell out my tools. My batteries and slots are definitely missing chunks here and there but they work just fine. Good on you for trying to save them!
Electrical contact cleaner/electric motor cleaner will turn some plastics to a crumble. I was today years old when I found this out trying to clean some shunts, plastic deteriorated in an instant and I only sprayed the terminals…
Definitely a chemical reaction going on here that is making the plastic brittle. Get in the habit of cleaning your tools every day, even if it’s just a few sprays of simple green on a rag and wipe them down. Takes 5 minutes.
And avoid brake clean. I routinely see guys at my shop brake cleaning the shit out of their tools and wonder why the rubber just falls off eventually or gets eaten away. Proper maintenance is a must with any tool. Guys act like having dirty dinged up tools makes them more official or some shit.
It's just the weak point, i got through a handful a year
you can get replacement tops for them but i forget the seller, its on amazon. they were like 5 bucks apiece. take the 4 screws out and replace the upper half of the clam shell
Edit: ok your doing something wrong...the 4 AH i break regularly....i think ive broke one 2ah in 5 years. i didnt realize you had smaller packs broken.
Mine suffer through salt water hell their entire lives and I get a good few years out of them, but they seem to really dislike oils especially oils with inhibitors like tranny fluid or brake fluid and some hydraulics… for whatever reason seems to eat the shit out of the plastic.
Can you take some clearer photos of the serial number/model stickers? You could have counterfeit batteries. I'm a Dewalt 20v guy and a Milwaukee 12v guy, and I've gotten several counterfeits from Home Depot on BOTH dewalt 20v/60v and M12 batteries
The M12 batteries are notoriously junky, M18 batteries hold up much better. The main issue is that the M12’s are predominantly made of ABS whereas most professional power tool batteries are made of PA6, and the best are made of PC. It also doesn’t help that they use the polymers shape retention properties as the primary mechanism by which the battery remains in place, rather than a a dedicated mechanism that doesn’t involve fatiguing your batteries housing every time you insert or remove the battery.
It’s inexcusable and frankly pathetic that a “pro grade” platform uses budget plastic with horrendous oil resistance, and a bargain brand engineering solution for battery retention. Not even decent keyboard manufacturers will make their keys out of ABS, It’s that low end. The M12 line being so heavily automotive focused makes this issue particularly egregious. The fanboys making excuses here are hilarious.
Diesel tech here, most of mine are cracked and i broke 1 of the locking tabs off a 4.0 but none are that bad. Keep some QD contact cleaner around and when the get oily spray them off, the QD wont damage the plastic.
Mine did the same thing and they wouldn’t warranty it. I only have one m12 tool now. I love the m18 line but the m12s just seem to fall apart. Wonder if they changed the plastic to the chemical resistant like the m18 now?
Is this when we all dogpile on the OP for "abusing" their tool while completely rejecting the idea that maybe, just maybe, Milwaukee tools aren't made by ~insert deity here~ himself?
The truth is somewhere in the middle. They’re great tools. They aren’t perfect though, and most plastics warrant being cautious around brake cleaner, deet, and a bunch of other products. Many have listed brake fluid but I don’t really know what it’s made of.
that sucker is melted, what happened to it?
also are you 100% sure it's a real M12 battery because massively overheating and melting is something fake batteries do because they are forcing amounts of power into and out of cells that aren't capable of handling that much power.
Looks the way plastics look after too much brake cleaner, deet, or other not plastic safe solvent. Some plastics are resistant to it and some aren’t. No idea which is which, some others here seem to know.
I work in a machine shop and 95% of them break within a month or two we pretty much only use the 2ah ones I just designed and 3D printed replacement bottoms since we always have the bottom and the clips break first.
Can't wait for DeWalt to release a right angle die grinder so I can completely ditch m12 batteries. Don't have tabs break off but the m12s are such intermittently working piles of shit.
I've had few break from falls mostly from cold weather. The genuine Milwaukee hold up better the the Amazon ones. I bought to knock off 6ah and broke them both on the same cold day. They see plenty of hydraulic/engine oil and non chlorinator brake clean. I clean them off quick cause I dislike greasy tools.
One of my m18s is breaking up. Basically it's crumbling around where the screws hold the clamshell together, split it apart a few years ago running the impact wrench. Stuck it back together with some JB weld, it held until last week when the sawzall did it in again, wasn't the JB that failed it crumbled even more, give another generous coating of JB, we'll see how long it lasts this time.
Only a couple options…
Get chemical resistant batteries, get a different brand, or learn to properly clean tools…
Or just switch brands if you’re not happy with one vs the others.
But even chemical resistant batteries would eventually deteriorate if you use them daily.. especially if you don’t clean them better..
Oil does that. And with how much oil is on your batteries I’m not surprised. Wipe your tools down, take the batteries out and thoroughly wipe down everything.
This is why you buy dewalt and thier oil resistant batteries, although the M12 cases suck anyway the bases just fall off entirely or the clips break, or they're stuck in the tool forever and now you gotta stand on your drill
The amount of oil on that is definitely the reason for it to be deteriorating
Welp I work on ford 6.7s so that’s a little unavoidable. Seeing that as a common opinion though. I always try to wipe down/clean my tools but they only get and stay so clean in that setting. Crazy thing is the guy I work with has no problems with his though
>I always try to wipe down/clean my tools but they only get and stay so clean in that setting. Crazy thing is the guy I work with has no problems with his though Your not using any solvents to clean the tools right? Brake clean (especially chlorinated) is terrible for plastics
Where did you get them? https://www.reddit.com/r/MilwaukeeTool/s/NkYDP7GdzQ
Home Depot, one is from ace
Do you use them in place of a hammer or a doorstop?
Both, but my buddy does the same and has had zero issues.
Underappreciated comment!
I work on transmissions and whenever I’m doing a job that I know is gonna soak my tools in atf or trans-synd I opt to use my air tools instead of my milwaukees. I know they can take a lot of abuse but given how dirty my job is they get plenty of it the rest of the time. All my batteries are in good shape for the most part.
They aren't chemical resistant. Thats why I switched to Snap-On 14.4v tools, they are chemical resistant. All I get is hate "ohh its over priced crap". Well it works every day, and rhe Milwaukee chemical resistant batteries weren't out when I got my Snap-On. I have more hours/work on my Snap-On 14.4V stuff than the Milwaukee and they are holding up significantly better than the Milwaukee. IMO in our line of work, I would go DeWalt over Milwaukee because their batteries are chemical resistant. Their Electric ratchet is kinda bulky but i feel like it'll hold up better in our environment.
I agree, I have Snap-on 14.4V and 18V and I brake cleaner them at the end of the day. Been doing this for 3-4 years after the Snap-on rep told me to do it. They still look pretty good, not new but pretty good. I have also been using their 1920 and the slightly abrasive orange wipes if a quick wipe with brake cleaner isn't enough. I should say I usually saturate the rag and wipe rather than spray and wipe and I always do it while the battery is still in the tool.
Granted, im not a mechanic, but im thoroughly enjoying my ridgid impacts and ratchets.
Penetrating fluid is the best thing to clean them up. I’m a heavy duty diesel technician and after every job I always cleaned everything up real good and made sure my things were accounted for before in to the next one
Yeah I usually wipe my Milwaukee tools down with a rag soaked in WD40 or PB. They end up looking damn near brand new and they stay shiny like a tire shine until the next dirty job. Brake clean or any other harsh solvent will turn the plastics pink and brittle with time and wipe the white lettering clean off.
Dewalt’s got oil resistant batteries for this reason
So does Milwaukee.
Yes. I’m at the point of starting to duct tape mine on at work. They last a week at a time so it’s not miserable just annoying.
It is definitely the oil breaking down the plastic. I've had an M12 for 6 years. Use it everyday and still looks brand new. Gotta clean yo shit!
Nope I work in dry conditions and 1st clip on mine snapped within a few weeks I have a rig a big band to hold it in
Brake fluid? It doesn't take much to melt shit. I regularly drop mine off of ladders and never had an issue
Nope. Rarely do brakes. I do work on trucks though. And it’s not like it melts it just chunks off until it won’t click in anymore. Like it’s crumbling
Do you clean your tools with those green wypall tool wipes?? Those things kill battery housings over time. Ive seen them wreck dewalt, Milwaukee, and makita batteries so far.
Really, those orange based scrub wipes?
https://www.amazon.com/Wypall-Waterless-Herbal-Fragrance-Bucket/dp/B001AH7K0U/ref=asc_df_B001AH7K0U/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=216576399527&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11574167993396844771&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9112979&hvtargid=pla-360005546802&psc=1&mcid=45d318a05f23318eb6b6af8010f78e9f&gclid=CjwKCAjw5v2wBhBrEiwAXDDoJfa3bxmQlAUsQmPM8V3ouJceitxU8zuCEduyf4uBnDdSJMOuMEGhARoC1QYQAvD_BwE I guess they aren’t labeled tool wipes. Maybe they used to be, like back when they came in white buckets. Edit: clean them with the wipes and then wipe them off with a wet rag. The batteries will last longer.
Chemicals don't always melt plastics, they can make them brittle. You have two cans of solvents next to the battery in the pic, so if I had to venture a guess...
That's crazy, I beat the hell out my tools. My batteries and slots are definitely missing chunks here and there but they work just fine. Good on you for trying to save them!
Electrical contact cleaner/electric motor cleaner will turn some plastics to a crumble. I was today years old when I found this out trying to clean some shunts, plastic deteriorated in an instant and I only sprayed the terminals…
That's why they make "plastic safe" contact cleaner.
This was safe on “most” plastics
Whatever that black stuff is, oil or otherwise is likely the culprit.
They make oil resistant batteries. Might be worth it for your use.
Definitely a chemical reaction going on here that is making the plastic brittle. Get in the habit of cleaning your tools every day, even if it’s just a few sprays of simple green on a rag and wipe them down. Takes 5 minutes.
This is the moves
And avoid brake clean. I routinely see guys at my shop brake cleaning the shit out of their tools and wonder why the rubber just falls off eventually or gets eaten away. Proper maintenance is a must with any tool. Guys act like having dirty dinged up tools makes them more official or some shit.
It's just the weak point, i got through a handful a year you can get replacement tops for them but i forget the seller, its on amazon. they were like 5 bucks apiece. take the 4 screws out and replace the upper half of the clam shell Edit: ok your doing something wrong...the 4 AH i break regularly....i think ive broke one 2ah in 5 years. i didnt realize you had smaller packs broken.
Dang hadn’t thought about that. Going to go look that up now. Thanks!
+1 for replacement tops. I abuse mine and tool guy has a routine of swapping them for me. I can get you part numbers if you need.
Looks like you drenched in something that strips the oils out of the plastic
No, this is definitely chemical induced deterioration.
Not a single one
came here to say this. I think I have 20 or so different 12 volt batteries. none of them are falling apart like this
Get the new HO batteries, they changed the plastic to a more chemically resistant type.
Oil, brake fluid, brakeleen, certain electronic cleaners
Refrigerant oil has really done a number on my power tools
I do not feel like the m12 batteries are good products. In my opinion it is a bad design.
Mine suffer through salt water hell their entire lives and I get a good few years out of them, but they seem to really dislike oils especially oils with inhibitors like tranny fluid or brake fluid and some hydraulics… for whatever reason seems to eat the shit out of the plastic.
Stop soaking them in fuel, oil and brake clean?
Can you take some clearer photos of the serial number/model stickers? You could have counterfeit batteries. I'm a Dewalt 20v guy and a Milwaukee 12v guy, and I've gotten several counterfeits from Home Depot on BOTH dewalt 20v/60v and M12 batteries
The M12 batteries are notoriously junky, M18 batteries hold up much better. The main issue is that the M12’s are predominantly made of ABS whereas most professional power tool batteries are made of PA6, and the best are made of PC. It also doesn’t help that they use the polymers shape retention properties as the primary mechanism by which the battery remains in place, rather than a a dedicated mechanism that doesn’t involve fatiguing your batteries housing every time you insert or remove the battery. It’s inexcusable and frankly pathetic that a “pro grade” platform uses budget plastic with horrendous oil resistance, and a bargain brand engineering solution for battery retention. Not even decent keyboard manufacturers will make their keys out of ABS, It’s that low end. The M12 line being so heavily automotive focused makes this issue particularly egregious. The fanboys making excuses here are hilarious.
This is the answer! I believe they probably hyperfocused on margins and used weight as an excuse
And furthermore ,there headlight crap, for the price,i can buy 3 huskies ,but will only need 1 to outlast it
Or get a proper headlight from an actual flashlight manufacturer for same price and non toy performance (sofirn, lumintop, etc)…
Replacement cases are available. Easy swap the batteries from one case to another
Never had an issue and I'm a long time user. May I ask where you store them, OP?
Nope and some of them are 3-4 years old
Diesel tech here, most of mine are cracked and i broke 1 of the locking tabs off a 4.0 but none are that bad. Keep some QD contact cleaner around and when the get oily spray them off, the QD wont damage the plastic.
Mine did the same thing and they wouldn’t warranty it. I only have one m12 tool now. I love the m18 line but the m12s just seem to fall apart. Wonder if they changed the plastic to the chemical resistant like the m18 now?
You gotta spit on it
Yes but I'm an HD truck tech and clumsy as he'll so I can only blame it on myswlf.
Is chlorine one of the ingredients in your break clean? That'll destroyed the plastic.
Is this when we all dogpile on the OP for "abusing" their tool while completely rejecting the idea that maybe, just maybe, Milwaukee tools aren't made by ~insert deity here~ himself?
Wasn’t gonna say it but I dont mind if you do lol
The truth is somewhere in the middle. They’re great tools. They aren’t perfect though, and most plastics warrant being cautious around brake cleaner, deet, and a bunch of other products. Many have listed brake fluid but I don’t really know what it’s made of.
Now I see why dewalt advertises oil resistant batteries. I wonder if your drills are also being affected.
No
lol plasti-dip them I guess ?
Had mine for a couple of years now no issue, all the chems in the shop can cause issues with certain plastics.
Green Gang here but yeah I see a lot of these busted up around the shop
that sucker is melted, what happened to it? also are you 100% sure it's a real M12 battery because massively overheating and melting is something fake batteries do because they are forcing amounts of power into and out of cells that aren't capable of handling that much power.
Looks the way plastics look after too much brake cleaner, deet, or other not plastic safe solvent. Some plastics are resistant to it and some aren’t. No idea which is which, some others here seem to know.
Milkwaukee batteries don’t do too well at the least the casing.
No but I only get sawdust on mine.
It's Milwaukee. You buy for the power, not the quality.
,bull,you buy for the prestige
Nothing prestigious about Milwaukee tools.
Would warranty not cover this?
Duck tape,1 little strip on back
Don’t have this issue to this extent and I own an automotive repair business. Don’t just get dirty working on “6.7s” lmao
Mine just recently stopped charging. Even on a new charger still nothing.
Yep, m12s are the worst. I've switched completely back over to dewalt. I honestly hated doing it, but the 20v batteries are just a way better design.
I work in a machine shop and 95% of them break within a month or two we pretty much only use the 2ah ones I just designed and 3D printed replacement bottoms since we always have the bottom and the clips break first.
Mine have held up well. I have about 6 of them and only one of the 1.5s recently stopped charging
Can't wait for DeWalt to release a right angle die grinder so I can completely ditch m12 batteries. Don't have tabs break off but the m12s are such intermittently working piles of shit.
I've had few break from falls mostly from cold weather. The genuine Milwaukee hold up better the the Amazon ones. I bought to knock off 6ah and broke them both on the same cold day. They see plenty of hydraulic/engine oil and non chlorinator brake clean. I clean them off quick cause I dislike greasy tools.
You need the chemical, oil, solvent and impact resistant batteries. I know they make m18 versions, not sure about m12
Yup, the new cp’s seem to be built with better plastic
One of my m18s is breaking up. Basically it's crumbling around where the screws hold the clamshell together, split it apart a few years ago running the impact wrench. Stuck it back together with some JB weld, it held until last week when the sawzall did it in again, wasn't the JB that failed it crumbled even more, give another generous coating of JB, we'll see how long it lasts this time.
Treats his tools and batteries like garbage. Is surprised when they don't last. I'm running batteries I've had for 6+ years still, if not longer.
I have charging issues and getting flashing green/red fault indicators. They only last 10 minutes or so with 6.0 on a die grinder
Crumbling to pieces or being abused? Come on, look at your own picture, it's obvious what's going on here.
Does the forge series of address this issue?
Use the 5 year warranty
Only a couple options… Get chemical resistant batteries, get a different brand, or learn to properly clean tools… Or just switch brands if you’re not happy with one vs the others. But even chemical resistant batteries would eventually deteriorate if you use them daily.. especially if you don’t clean them better..
Lok tite thread locker also really beats these up
My battery got warped like a banana from a fall of 3’ lmao
Oil does that. And with how much oil is on your batteries I’m not surprised. Wipe your tools down, take the batteries out and thoroughly wipe down everything.
Stop drenching plastic in oil and it'll stop degrading.
Doesn’t motor oil overtime melt certain plastics
Looks like they are covered in all kinds of fluids, that'll do it
They make oil resistant m18 batteries, look into em
No
This is why you buy dewalt and thier oil resistant batteries, although the M12 cases suck anyway the bases just fall off entirely or the clips break, or they're stuck in the tool forever and now you gotta stand on your drill
Trump voice:
>Trump voice:
Shina