Earlier this week the crew here at Tool Box Buzz went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to the Milwaukee Tool New Product Symposium. Many of you, following through our Facebook and Twitter feeds, found out about the new tools just seconds after we did. Now that we have had a few days to process all that we have seen and heard, we want to highlight some of the items that we feel will have the greatest impact on the industry this year.

The first tool that will make some waves is the M18 FUEL Hole Hawg. I think we were all stunned at the introduction of this tool. The corded Hole Hawg has been a staple on job sites for well over 40 years and it works so well that it’s easy to forget about improving it. Milwaukee didn’t forget though.

We all took turns drilling holes with the M18 FUEL Hole Hawg as well as the old tool. The new tool weighs 4 pounds less than the corded version and that’s immediately noticeable. The speed of the new tool is also immediately noticeable. It drilled faster than its corded counter part. This photo was snapped a second too late but believe me, the cordless one finished first. It wasn’t a landslide but still very impressive considering it’s a cordless tool.

Another great feature to note is the QUIK-LOK chuck. Not only is it quick and easy to switch bits but there isn’t a chuck key to lose and it saves another half pound over the chucked version. The corded version is 13 pounds, the cordless version with the Quik-Lok is 8.5. That’s a big time weight savings.

M18 FUEL HOLE HAWG ½” Right Angle Drill Kit (2707-22)

M18 FUEL HOLE HAWG Right Angle Drill w/ QUIK-LOK™ Kit (2708-22)

The M18 Fuel Hole Hawg will be available in both chucks and in kit form or bare tool starting in October 2014. As of right now the price hasn’t been published.

Contributing Editor Jeff Williams is a Project Manager for a masonry restoration company specializing in large historic buildings. Jeff comes from a long line of Contractors. His parents started a Commercial General Contracting firm many years ago and it has afforded him life-long, hands-on learning opportunities from rough and fine carpentry all the way to structural steel and concrete. Jeff has a Construction Management degree and loves the thrill of coordinating and successfully managing large jobs from start to finish. Inspired by the difficulties sometimes encountered to complete punch lists his motto is, "Work hard until the job is done."

@jeff_williamsJeff Williams

All posts by Jeff »

Product reviews on this site contain our opinion of a product or service. We will always strive for objectivity and transparency in our reviews. Our goal is to provide readers with honest, objective information based on our own experiences. We never have and never will accept payment in exchange for a positive review. Many of the products that we review are provided to us for free by a manufacturer or retailer. In some cases, we also have advertising or affiliate relationships with manufacturers and retailers of products and services we review. For additional information please visit our additional disclosure policies.