M18 18 V Lithium-Ion Cordless 5" Random Orbit Sander - Tool Only

Well maybe 14months of use before failing. Seems the random orbit part stopped working and now it just spins @ high rpms kinda wierd. I’ll have to check and see if its under warranty. Worked good up untill that fail point. Plenty of power. Burns through 2.0 batteries quick so i was always using the 5.0. Works with shop vac connected. Dust collecting extension collet could be designed alot better. Crack the second day of use and is just awkward the way it goes from the round shop vac connection the this square-ish weak connection to the tool. Should be more durable because the extensions has to support the weight of the vac hose which it does not.

While I loved the sander when I first got it, I will warn everyone that like other users here online, my backing pad failed after very little use. I was sanding a cedar dock out at our remote cabin, sadly while changing the sandpaper the hook and loop pad came off, leaving the sander useless, so being 2 hours from any hardware store my project was at a complete standstill. And on top of that, I cannot seem to find a replacement pad, does Milwaukee even make one? I have almost every m12 and m18 tool, and this (along with most of my m12 batteries dying) has caused me to start second guessing the future of Milwaukee cordless tools.

Holding the box in line at M&D hardware it felt heavier than my Dewalt sander . Upon opening it and Holding it it felt OK but a bit off balance. After putting a 4ah battery and vacuum hose on it the balance was perfect. Be ware this this has way more power and better orbit than the Dewalt. You can really chew through material fast if using a heavier grit pad. Currently using it to remove a failed drywall texture on a 2'×3' patch on a ceiling. Yes I know it's not the intended use but it's working excellent. I would absolutely recommend this product and I am happy about my choice to purchase it . I'm not at all disappointed.

This sander is great; I've used it for years and years with absolutely no problem. The only reason I am giving 4/5 is the flimsy dust collection container that was included. I use it almost exclusively with my shop vac, but sometimes need to use it without a vacuum and it's a.) flimsy, b.) comes apart often, c.) messy to clean, and d.) most importantly, the method of attachment is awkward and hard to use without tools. I own 30-40 Milwaukee tools, including jobsite table saws, etc. and won't buy another brand if I can. But this plastic part is simply annoying and not what I normally expect from Milwaukee.

I have almost the complete line-up of M18 tools. Making the switch has been spendy but also easy to do since I'm so pleased with all the M18 tools. This sander is the only one I am having a problem with. The sanding features alone are great. But the dust collector falls off or the lid on the container pops off which erupts into a huge cloud of dust. Very frustrating. Also, the sanding pad has it's own unique attachment holes so DeWalt pads or Makita pads don't work. I can't seem to find a Milwaukee replacement sanding pad at any retailer online or in person. So I now have a tool I cannot use.

I am a dedicated Milwaukee fan through and through. I love every single one of my Milwaukee tools, including my M18 Orbital Sander. I have a cabinet shop at our ranch and I am always needing to sand something. With a 5.0Ah battery I can get quite a bit of sanding done. The speed adjustment comes in very helpful with certain pieces. There is however one issue that I wish would be fixed. I am on my 4th sander now because after 6mo or so the brake under the velcro disc wears out causing the sander to spin faster and faster. As soon as it touches the work it gouges a big hole in the surface.

Scoring a 3. Very handy tool but so grabby and leaves a lot of swirlies. The sanding action of this tool is similar to some of the earliest electric/non air lowered 5” orbitals I used in the 90’s… very aggressive. Fine for heavy removal with 60-80grit… yet, poor for final finish/ finer grits. Dust catcher really works. Major improvement over leaky dusty cloth dust bags of other sanders. Not easy to open and close but catches dust! The tool Gobbles up 5ah batteries which is the largest you can mount with catcher in place. Lets have that higher efficiency fuel version Milwaukee!

It sands equally to an average corded sander. The dust collection with the included bag is OK but the capacity is too small I am quickly plugs. hooking it up to a vacuum cleaner is difficult and makes the sander very clumsy. My big complaint is battery life. The sander has decent balance with a 2 APH battery but I only get about 10 minutes of sanding. Using a larger battery makes the sander clumsy and results in uneven sanding. I wish they would’ve put up brushless Fuel motor in this sander for more battery life, made it more compact, and make dust collection more user friendly.