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Milwaukee Electric Tool M18 Fuel 3"" x18 Belt Sander

TLDR Review: Milwaukee M18 Fuel Belt Sander

Item: Milwaukee M18 Fuel Belt Sander
Author: ShopSavvy

By ShopSavvy Team

Published: February 28th, 2026

Pros

•Delivers cordless performance equivalent to corded units without being tied to an outlet
•Effectively sands large surfaces like decks in a short amount of time
•M18 FUEL motor maintains consistent speed under load and won't bog down on hardwoods
•Works exceptionally well with M18 5.0 batteries
•Variable speed control allows adjustment from fine work to aggressive material removal
•Belt tracking stays aligned with minimal tweaking; adjustments are quick and precise
•Dust collection system performs well, especially when paired with a shop vacuum
•Welalanced and not overly heavy for a cordless unit
•Adjustable handles provide comfortable use in various positions, including overhead applications
•Grip design is comfortable for extended use

Cons

•High power consumption severely limits work between charges
•Battery drains rapidly during heavy use (approximately 2 minutes with an mp battery)
•Best suited for small projects only (under 9 square feet)
•Batteries must be purchased separately
•Works best with M18 5.0 batteries; drains quickly with other battery models
•Batteries can overheat during extended use
•Corded models offer better value for extensive sanding work

Bottom Line

This is a stellar performer for Milwaukee M18 users tackling smaller-to-medium projects—according to user reviews, it delivers power comparable to corded models and handles decks with impressive speed. However, battery life is the real deal-breaker: reviewers consistently noted roughly 2 minutes of heavy sanding before needing to swap batteries, which limits this tool to projects under 9 square feet. If you need extended runtime, haven't already invested in the Milwaukee M18 ecosystem, or are tackling larger sanding jobs, we'd recommend a traditional corded belt sander for significantly better value and unlimited performance.