Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 8 ft. Concrete Pencil Vibrator, Model 2911-20

SUMMARY: A great tool for compacting concrete
BACKGROUND: I prefer to mix my concrete according to the bag instructions. Usually, this gives a low slump mix. When I put the mix into a form it takes a lot of work to get it compacted. Using home-made vibrators, I have never gotten the compacted pour I wanted (see photos.) The chance to evaluate the Milwaukee M18 Pencil Vibrator was a welcome opportunity.
FIT AND FINISH: The vibrator is on par with my other Milwaukee tools.
FEATURES: From the product page, with my comments as appropriate.
• Can consolidate 20 yds³ of concrete per charge with high output 6.0 Ah battery pack.
o This is based on a 6.0Ah battery. I ran an 8.0 Ah battery and was able to complete my massive 2-cubic foot poor with power to spare!
• 1.8 peak HP is 3-times more powerful than competitive cordless pencil vibrators for concrete, all on the M18 Cordless System.
o This is what Milwaukee says. I checked a half-dozen other brand specs and they either didn’t give the HP or used watts instead.
• The POWERSTATE Brushless Motor delivers maximum sustained power and 12,500 VPM for optimal consolidation with a variable speed trigger.
o Brushless seems to be the new standard in cordless tools. It worked very well for my small pour.
• REDLINK PLUS Intelligence, enabling communication between batteries and tools, ensures unmatched levels of performance and protection.
o This seems to be the standard for the M18 line now.
• No extension cords: easier set up and transportation, eliminates trip hazards.
o I’m slowly converting all my corded tools to cordless for the increase ease of use, especially for my small DIY projects.
• Square head design delivers greater amplitude for increased productivity compared to round heads
o It makes some sense to me although there may be increased wear on the corners of a square body. Time will tell.
• Variable speed trigger for maximum control
o I found this useful because I can control the rate of compaction.
• Press fitted head and shaft is 1 unit integrated with the motor
o I.e., you can’t take it apart.
• Compatible with all M18 REDLITHIUM battery packs.
o I didn’t try a smaller Ah pack although I assume it would just give a shorter run time.
OPERATION: This is one of the simplest and easiest tools to use. Put in a battery pack, place the pencil end into the concrete, pull the trigger and move the tip through the concrete to compact the pour.
On the pour I did for this review I had an old form and when I used the vibrator the liquefaction and resulting slump caused an increase in the hydrostatic pressure. Since the pour was 2 feet thick the pressure popped a screw at the bottom of on joint and the concrete started to leak out (see photos and video.) Fortunately, I was through with the vibrator and when I turned it off the concrete stopped oozing out. I would advise anyone using this for the first time to make sure your forms are securely constructed.
The resulting base was much better than any of my previous bases using home-made compactors.
SUMMARY: A great tool if you want well-compacted concrete pours.