Milwaukee M12 Planer

[@opennanoor44]

Being able to lock that kickstand flush is a excellent add by Milwaukee. I have the 12v Bosch which made it hard to plane doors with the kickstand. A 12v planer is an awesome tool all around. You don't always need 3" of material to remove.

[@lazswart2698]

You can lock their m18 planet's kickstand flush as well

[@Bigelite094]

I cut it out on my 12v Bosch. My question is, do you know if you can use a 6 ah hour battery on it or is it too big? There's only been a handful of times where I've been shaving many things down for a few hours, and the 2 ah is not long enough.

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Thanks for the info!

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Thanks for the info!

[@ghostdog662]

Looks like a well-built tool. Those are some of the most positive stops I've ever seen.

[@philwort1873]

I am amazed that you didn't have this on your radar. Thanks for your honest review. I own the bosch 12v and love it but would certainly appreciate the extra power and depth of cut

[@ConcordCarpenter]

I know

[@wayward-saint]

The design team for Milwaukee m12 is killing it. I really like the Makita 18v platform but Milwaukee m12 makes me envious.

[@EliotTruelove]

I'm Makita 18v and now that i have a m12 23gauge pin nailer im seriously thinking of going all in for the smaller tools on the Milwaukee 12v line.

[@wayward-saint]

@@EliotTruelove if Milwaukee would make an m12 chainsaw, string trimmer, etc that would use 2-4 m12 batteries at the same time like Makita does with their 36v tools I'd be all in.

[@procrastinator1842]

​@Wandering Saint I really doubt they will do that, ever. Because thats what the m18 and m18x2 line are for. A dual 12v sds would be on my list though.

[@wayward-saint]

@@procrastinator1842 I’m sure they won’t. But I can still dream of wearing a bandolier of 12v batteries that can power all tools big and small.

[@terryraygould9346]

I am a home repair and renovation contractor. I added the M12 planer into my tool mix two weeks ago and have already used it several times for quickly shaving studs for dead flat walls pre-tiling, scribing filler strips, and shaping door edges and bottoms. Like you I ignored this when I first saw it because I anticipated that it was too light-weight (toyish) and would be underpowered. I was flat out wrong on both counts. I love the smaller size. 2” is perfect for 95% of the times I want to shave off material, and who cares if I have to take an extra pass or two. It works! And it really does a great job of containing shavings and dust when paired to a good vacuum. PS, combining that with the M12 5 1/2” circular saw, each on 6.0 M12s… I can work all day and carry it all in one small load. Thank you Milwaukee! Rob…your reviews are the best! They are relevant to how I personally work. Thank you!

[@marcocardenas6543]

Do you recommend it for Straightedge on walls?

[@terryraygould9346]

@@marcocardenas6543 If by straightedge on walls you mean flattening the plane of a wall, yes. First I use a 360 degree line laser or a tall level to measure the vertical plumb of the left and right wall end studs. After I correct any discrepancies of the end studs I move to checking and correcting each wall stud by again using either a line laser (still in vertical mode to act as a top-to-bottom surface sweep) or a long level to bring all studs to the same exact plane. I use a combination of the M12 planer for high points and dense cardboard 1/16” thick shims for low points to correct most issues. Occasionally in severe out of plumb remodel jobs I will sister in a new stud to create a new surface for the drywall to attach to. The M12 Planer makes quick work of knocking off high spots and fine-tuning studs. The long cardboard strips attached with staples fill in low points. If you use a long level as a straight edge make sure you run it horizontally AND diagonally in a X pattern. Easy enough.

[@is5032]

Looks great thanks Rob, I hope they get round to replacing the M18 planer as that looks to be an older brushed model past it’s sell by date. I’ve just bought a Makita XGT planer for an upcoming project as a result.

[@ProToolsApproved]

Great review. I dunno if i'll pick it up to replace my 12v Bosch. I've got no complaints or issues with the Bosch. You're very correct saying a smaller planer will handle 98-99% of what finish carpenters would use it for. I do a ton of exterior trim work using truck loads of Azek and Veranda, the Bosch eats that stuff up and leaves a perfectly finished edge, i'm sure the M12 would be extremely similar. Without testing it I can't say either is better, but they share nearly every feature besides the detent in the turning knob and locking kickstand.

[@spunas1]

Truck driver now but 35 years finish work. Still got my tools, and dig your reviews on the new tech. Might go back, so keep it up bro!

[@Silly46337]

Looks awesome. I use the Dewalt cordless planer to scribe finish work all the time but it’s a heavy tool for one handed use which is how I normally use it. Very excited about this small planer! Will for sure be buying one. Thanks for the review!

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Right on

[@justgregnow]

I have the Dewalt power planer which is great for big projects. Like you said it’s heavy for small projects which is why I bought the Bosch 12v power planer. To me this is a Bosch clone. Great tool

[@Tool_Addicted_Carpenter]

I've had the Bosch 12v planer and router for a while. Very impressed with both of them. Hopefully Milwaukee comes out with a 12v router that's more thought out than the Bosch was. Line of sight and dust mitigation can be an issue sometimes.

[@martylucas8557]

I have the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Palm Router, it’s a very nicely built, compact tool. I use the 3 amp HO batteries, which make for a very compact, light, precision and powerful tool. I’m not sure if the can get the power and runtime in an M12 Fuel Router, maybe they can. The M18 Router has a plunge base and an offset tool available separately. They just came out with a track guide that connects to the plunge router and works on the new track saw tracks.

[@Tool_Addicted_Carpenter]

@@martylucas8557 The Bosch 12v planer and router have very impressive run times. I never really looked twice at the M18 router after it performed poorly on Toolbox Buzz head to heads. I believe it bogged down the most under load but I'd have to double check the video. I've had good luck with my DeWalt 20Vs. I'm definitely eyeballing the new M18 1/2" router though.

[@Spramacol]

I appreciate this review. It literally sold me as a finish carpenter myself. I was toying with either the 18v or the 12v and I believe it is worth the money for me to get the 12v and a few batteries. Currently everything I have is milwaukee 18v. But adding this planer to the arsenal will change my game.

[@EuropeanKitcheninstallation]

I’m a kitchen installer in Austin I got it when it first came out I love it ..

[@IppiopaidFEEDBACK]

I was looking to get this about three years ago when I saw it at Lowe’s, it was 12v made by Bosch. I’m glad I waited because now I can buy this one, which would work really good for trimming doors.

[@reddawgrup1779]

Thanks for your thoughts Rob! Always appreciated 👍👍

[@1970gregg]

I pretty much ignored this too. Since it doesn’t say fuel I assumed it was brushed which seemed kind of dumb

[@Intoxacajun]

Milwaukee 12V line is Crazy!! I have most of them and use them for 80% work. Hardly use my Dewalt 20V unless a big job. I can carry all of them in half the storage. Their 12v oscilator and orbital sander are fantastic. The 12v Surge impact driver is sweet. Now that I finally found the circular saw on sale my set is complete. Been watching the planer and when it goes on sale I will pick it up. The 23 gauge pin nailer is great and the 12v Stubby impact is a little beast! The cutoff is great as well as the 12v die grinder..Great review and always check out your reviews for help deciding on tools...Now if they would just make a rolling box with drawers instead of the top load box....

[@slicktype001]

Thx for the demo. Just picked this up, but have not used it yet.

[@daversj]

I’m right there with you on weight. At 53 every tool needs to be lighter and smaller to make my life better and earn a space in the van. Thinking of downsizing my Hitachi 10” slide saw to the 8.5” Festool or Metabo cordless. I’m rarely cutting material both wide and thick. I already switched to the 8” dewalt table saw from the 10” and don’t miss the 10lbs.

[@disklamer]

Light weight and still enough power to be useful is what the 12V gear is about now. I bought a whole kit of router, mini dropsaw and planer, and the light weight makes work 10x easier. On another note, the offbrand/house brand stuff is quickly catching up with the big names. I bought this parkside set because it cost less altogether than a single tool from the big names, but it performs at least 90% as good. Of course there is some difference in build quality, but I suspect we pay a lot for the logos. And yes they look like toys, it’s fantastic, why struggle with unwieldy equipment when it can be this easy.

[@MORGANSMaintenance]

I think it is a really good option for a compact planer. I really like mine so far. Good to see your opinion on it. 👍

[@wilsoneashoian5789]

An honest review with an honest person

[@ronaldoleksy8264]

I have the Bosch 12 volt. Haven't really got into full bore use yet.That Milwaukee looks very interesting

[@scottmorris4914]

I have mostly M12 Fuel line, some M18, but find the M12 does fine by me in most cases.

[@michaelmcewan5074]

Nice review Rob! You changed my mind about this tool. I originally had the same thoughts you did. Very informative as always! Keep’em coming!

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Glad it helped.

[@loganmyers9042]

Great review, I appreciate it! It was not on my radar either and now I am definitely ordering it. I’m a cabinet maker/installer and this thing will be perfect for me. Thanks!

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Glad it was helpful!

[@superspeeder]

Significantly more expensive than my Makita 18v planer. I don’t need that slight weight difference anywhere as much as I would need another $200 tool in my kit. This is a low value tool, but I can see how it might suit for some specific jobs.

[@timh7156]

Nice review as always. I wish Milwaukee would have came out with this a year ago when I needed a mini planer since I already have a boatload of m12 batteries. I wouldn’t have have to buy into another battery platform. That said,I’m super happy with the little Bosch. It’s well balanced and amazingly easy to use with one hand.

[@spycedezynuk]

Wow had no idea about this 👍🏻 was eyeing up the Bosch as I need to swap to a small plane but didn’t want yet another battery system. Nice review Milwaukee 12v are seriously good small tools, I’d literally be lost without the cutoff tool.

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@procrastinator1842]

Same. The new M12 Gen 3 Drill has enough power that I don't need an 18v drill. The cut-off tool is also something that I have found every day uses for. Cutting tiles for socket outlets with dust extraction ia m12 wet and dry vac, cutting 16mm furring channel in ceilings, sharpening spade drill bits and more...

[@robertsamagalsky1617]

Great review Rob!

[@gregfraser3852]

thank you for the review I'm going o buy this planer now

[@jamesclark4270]

It's the next tool in my box

[@ryanhill2348]

Great review,…been looking into this tool. You just made the purchase easier!

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Enjoy!

[@randallm5579]

I'm glad you did the review. I have been waiting for this tool since it's announcment👍🏻

[@rowankeltizar5961]

I hope you have beer waiting for me too! 😂 Actually that's a good idea I should have a beer for all my tools when they come home.

[@rickfulla3029]

Great review. Been looking forward to this to replace my DeWalt 20v. The switchable chip chute from side to side is a game changer

[@bearlemke]

Me too, I upgraded to the dewalt from my corded Bosch. Tons of power but losing the smoothness and dual sided chip ejection was so saddening, sometimes maddening when hooked up to a vac inside smaller rooms. This might just be the sweet compromise. Although I know I’d miss the power of the dewalt!

[@Anonymous..VQ3.5Lg35]

Im no wood worker but that looks like another great tool from Milwaukee

[@Dirtyharry70585]

I believe Milwaukee uses a glass fill plastic for strength and light weight.

[@stephen8577]

Excellent, can't wait for these to arrive in the UK. 👍

[@prototype3a]

I guess I'm like you. I know the Makitas (LXT / XGT) are excellent and just assumed I would get one eventually but maybe this M12 might be a better fit for the kind of work I do.

[@verktools731]

Good review as always, just wondering about this not being fuel version. Does this type of tool not benefit/necessary from brushless motors?

[@Size15s]

Please can you compare it to the Bosch GHO 12V-20 planer?

[@bluemantom77]

I like this one but I am in the Bosch platform for 12 v & 18 v

[@TheHandystanley]

Thank you Rob!!!

[@OUTILSCLIPSQC]

I want this tool

[@procrastinator1842]

I wish Milwaukee would sell bigger multi packs of tools. Like a 5/6/8/10 piece. Buying 10+ M12 tools individually has cost significantly more than an M18 10 piece kit.

[@jrsuk1170]

I'm getting one 👍

[@stephenleepmg113]

Rob - Question ? - You did a video on the Bosch version of this tool a while back. Since you have used both, in your opinion which is the better version. Bosch or Milwaukee for basic installation work 🤔. Thanks Rob for the video and look forward to your response.

[@ConcordCarpenter]

I don’t remember doing a 12 V planer possibly I did the 18 V? I’ll have to go back and look I’m going to just say that if it’s a 12 V Bosch that this is nicer since it is newer and it has the updated features. I also think that the M 12 batteries are better than the Bosch 12 V batteries they’ve done nothing to update them over the last couple years.

[@stephenleepmg113]

@A Concord Carpenter / ToolBoxBuzz Thank you, Rob, for your thoughts. I am looking forward to picking up a 12 volt planer. Love your videos.

[@WhistleLad]

Thanks!

[@ConcordCarpenter]

You bet!

[@JeffreyAWhittaker]

Great review I’ve been looking at this one.

[@JoshR512]

Might have to sell my Dewalt and buy this. Saves me some space when storing it too.

[@ConcordCarpenter]

haha nice!!

[@marcocardenas6543]

Do you recommend it for Straightedge on walls?

[@slylockfox85]

Seems like a tool like this (sustained load) should be Fuel by default. Milwaukee seems to like milking some of their tools and coming out with a non-Fuel knowing that they can later sell the Fuel version and increase their sales.

[@ConcordCarpenter]

I think Milwaukee uses the fuel formula when it’s needed for long-term sustained work a planer like this is not a long-term tool. You’re shaving very small amounts off a little at a time. If you’re needing to use this tool too much you need to use a saw, and then clean it up with a planer.

[@kds471]

So I gather it’s strong enough to bevel 1-3/4 doors?

[@ConcordCarpenter]

yes

[@kds471]

@@ConcordCarpenter perfect. That’s all I need it to do mostly

[@davidcurtis2593]

Anyone use these types of planers for cutting scribes? I feel this would be a good tool for scribes on filler strips, stiles, etc.

[@ConcordCarpenter]

yea

[@markrhein8405]

Will it give me better depth perception? New glasses didn’t help with that.

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Ha ha a comedian in every group

[@kenkohncke7929]

Hi, I have bought the M12 Planer and here's my observations, an excerpt from my letter to the Milwaukee rep: The M12 planer is poorly designed. For the money this should be a precision 100% accurate tool. But is far from it. Since we spoke I have done some further measuring and testing. Please see below. All measuring done with vernier callipers and feeler gauges. The people designing these tools have absolutely no idea, they should be sacked. • With the depth set to zero and a straight edge on the front toe a .4mm feeler gauge easily slips in between the straight edge and the rear shoe. At zero these should be in the same plane with the blade just able to touch the straight edge. • On my M12 planer the rear shoe and front toe surfaces line up at .5mm depth setting. This is really where zero should be, however the blade then protrudes by approx. .7mm. Using the planer removes .7mm of material. • When testing the snipe I found it to measure up to .9mm, it should be zero, in a perfect world, .1mm would be acceptable to me. .9mm snipe, that’s crazy! • With the straight edge laid across the rear shoe over the front toe with the depth set to 2mm I can only fit 1.6mm feeler gauge between the straight edge and the front toe. This should measure 2mm. • In testing max depth of cut it is taking off 2mm, which is a combination of 1.6mm at the front toe and the balance in snipe. Should be 2mm at front toe with no snipe. • Another thing I noticed with the straight edge on the rear shoe is it is not perfectly flat front to rear. It kicks a little behind the kick stand port. You will find that the m12 planer will take more material off at the start and end of your work piece. The more passes you make the worse it gets. Make enough passes you end up with a radius. Having thoroughly inspected the exploded view in the service parts list, (attached), I see no available adjustment to deal with the snipe. So unfortunately the issues with the depth of cut cannot be fixed. It is not a matter of simply recalibrating the front toe depth. Both must be done to fix it. I may try to find something to glue on to the rear shoe to raise it’s height like another user has done with the M18 to fix the same problem, he glued a piece of laminate to the shoe which worked for him. Then I would recalibrate the front toe, or send it back to Milwaukee to do under warranty. So until then I will continue to use it as is. It’s such a pity, this M12 planer could have been a real winner☹. Thought Milwaukee would have listened to the multitude of complaints about the M18 Planer and made sure they wouldn’t be repeated. But no they didn’t. Why???? * I have also since checked out the Bosch 12v planer and found it appears to be accurate by measurement, as I have not used it. But at zero depth the front toe is in the same plane exactly as the rear shoe and the tip of the blade just comes up into the same line as it should. This was checked laying a straight edge across the bottom of the plane. The depth measurements looked to be right although I didn't have feeler gauges with me in the store to measure, only a straight edge.

[@steverodriguez1293]

Is the M 12 planer available now? If so, where?

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Yes, stores and online

[@stephenpalazzi720]

Do you think I would have a need for this with a Wahuda bench top jointer? I guess for super long stock it would be useful

[@gulzeb]

Different tools for different purposes

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Probably not if you’re working in your shop but if you’re out in the field - absolutely

[@procrastinator1842]

Can anybody tell me what makes this planer, not a 'fuel' model?

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Some tools do t Ed the power of 18 volt or the FUEL line

[@procrastinator1842]

@A Concord Carpenter / ToolBoxBuzz But what is the difference between a brushless and a fuel brushless? I would have thought a mini planer would need every bit of power they could pack in there. Ally M12 tools are either Fuel or basic brushed, none are just 'brushless'. I need more info.

[@viralprimenetwork]

Great review so far. You did an amazing job. We'd like to collab with you, and we'd love you to check your email/inbox for more info. Thank you!🙂