Milwaukee’s flashy new M12 LED Stick Light (2351-20) is sure to be a popular accessory with M12 users and fans. It’s part automotive worklight, part handheld flashlight, and part general purpose stick-it-anywhere worklight.
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The worklight features 3 LEDs and has a maximum output of 220 lumens. The beam shape is said to be smooth and even, which should work well for closeup work. Runtime is rated at 4+ hours, which seems pretty reasonable, at least for a >200 lumen worklight.
A multi-position stainless steel hook gives you a couple of ways to hang the flashlight for hands-free lighting, and there’s also an optional magnetic base attachment (49-24-2351) that you can buy separately.
The Stick Light is semi-compact at 9-1/4″ long, and pretty lightweight at 0.55 lbs. It’s not small enough to stick in your pants pockets, but it’s definitely at least tool bag friendly.
While not available just yet, one authorized distributor has the LED Stick Light priced at $79 for just the tool. You’ll need to add your own M12 charger and lithium-ion battery, as there’s no kit option. The magnet accessory is priced at $20.
One thing I particularly like about the design, at least in theory, is how the impact-resistant lens is replaceable (and hopefully user-replaceable). Broad, exposed, and curved worklight lenses are much more vulnerable to damage than smaller recessed ones, so it’s good to know that replacements are available, just in case. That way users don’t have to worry about babying their worklights, at least not too much.
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A part of me wishes that Milwaukee was a little more creative and innovative with the design, but I suppose it’s more important for the product to do its job and do it well. In that regard, I have no doubt that the Stick Light will be a useful addition to any M12 user’s tool kit.
Javier
That’s cool! I have the m12 led work light and its great. It’s great for outdoors at night and super bright inside a room. It lights up my entire bedroom if I point it at the ceiling. I wonder if this led stick light is more for up close use or if the beam can travel a good distance? I like that it has a hook, mine doesn’t. The built-in magnet works great but I can’t hang the light if there is no flat metal. I think the led stick light is a bit expensive at nearly $80.
Aellynh
Honestly, this seems really overpriced.. I bought the same type of this tool (stick flashlight, LED, incandescent, or flourescent bulb available) for the Craftsman Nextec 12v platform for $29.99. This was the price for the tool-only, although it came -with- two strong magnets built into the tool body. Also, I like that they used the same bulb as the 19.2v C3 tools that Craftsman builds. So inexpensive tool and replacement bulbs. I honestly have no idea how a flashlight can cost any more than 30, maybe 40 dollars at most.
mnoswad1
Agreed. Magnet not included? just another thing to get lost in the bottom of a dark tool bag.
Does seem expensive. Admittedly I don’t have much on hands use of led flashlights but it always seems that led flashlights don’t throw as much real world illumination down range compared to conventional bulbs despite lumens ratings.
John S
I echo these sentiments… I guess the pricing is to keep it on-par with the other 12v bare tools, but it seems excessive for a flashlight…
Michael Quinlan
I just bought a bunch of M12 stuff, including the LED work light. After using DeWalt’s 12V Max work light for the past 2 years, the Milwaukee is a disappointment in every way, except for the brightness and light pattern. Although DeWalt’s light is not as bright and has a more noticeable hot spot in the middle when compared to Milwaukee’s, the magnet works better (even on the underside of metal surfaces), the head can rotate around 2 axes (plural axis, not plural ax), I can clip it to my belt or on my pants pocket, I can hang it on things, and it flashes as a low battery warning.
When I first saw the pictures of this new Milwaukee light and started reading the article, I thought this was a big step up. Then I saw the price has been stepped up too. With the optional magnet attachment, it’s 2.5 times the price of the current LED work light, or double the price without the attachment. I was about to drool over this, but the price put a quick stop to it.
matt
What a huge FAIL… I have been waiting for this forever and it looks to really suck. Optional magnets?? really come on and a $80 price tag.. The nextec for $30 bucks wins hands down and is very reliable, and I actually prefer the CFL bulb over LED’s. I hate the Light LED’s creates in this type of light far to focused for what this is intended for..
I really wanted to put the nextec light out to pasture when this showed up since I run mostly M12 tools and the nextec is the oddball battery and charger. but no way I will even consider this thing.
Totally bummed
Stuart
The price might still change. Right now ToolBarn is the only retailer accepting orders at the $79 price, and there’s a (very small) chance that price is a bit inflated.
But seeing as how their 1-LED light is priced at $39, I don’t think $79 is too outlandish.
Now that I’m thinking about it more, I hope this model offers adjustable brightness. Maybe low and high output modes.
Craftsman’s 12V Nextec worklight really is a nice model. I keep waiting for them to bring out an LED version, but I don’t think they’ll do that since the pricing might be too high for most typical Nextec users.
matt
the entire LED thing is such a scam.. they dont cost more to purchase then a CFL and a ballast. And that is my experience as a end user so I cant figure out how it possibly cost’s more for a manufacture of a product.(I am sure they do cost slightly more then a incandescent as used in the flashlights. but that pricing is reflective its not a huge jump between those 2 lights)..
I have designed and implemented many LED based lighting systems and they are cheap. Especially in the case of a Low Voltage system like this.
I personally would prefer the CFL in this type of light but the LED pricing just amaze’s me..
I am far from a typical “nextec user” and that light they have is a home run.. solid as a rock, 2 built in magnets, and a hook, with a great price… My only real complaint is its hard to justify just buying that light and a battery and charger because nothing else in the lineup really shines to me..
Heck the nextec line can somehow manage to built a battery with 6 led’s built in for $30 🙂
Kevin
I love their tools, but Milwaukee is way off with their flashlight prices, which tool companies usually treated as throw in items to sweeten the deal with their tool combos. I have a fair amount of m-12 stuff, but haven’t bothered with their flashlights after I bought one of their overpriced pieces of junk couple years ago. Plenty of better lighting solutions out their for 80 dollars.
Jay
Woo hoo!!! I just love new m12 stuff. Do u think they will ever come out with an m12 circular saw, battery power definitely seems powerful enough now?
fred
While 12 Volts and even 18V is underpowered for some sawing applications (we take 36V Dewalt saws up on the roof) – I agree that an M12 trim saw – like the Makita SH01W – would be a welcome addition to the lineup
Javier
Response to Jay. Better yet how about a m12 Fuel circular saw? Now that would be sweet!
Wade
It would be a lot nicer if the magnet was integrated. Then making you have to pay extra for it is a total rip off. The Dewalt 12v light is very good all around in my opinion.
Stuart
I can understand why the magnet isn’t integrated. Weak magnets are acceptable if you’re working low. But if you’re working up high, you need something stronger, which means larger and pricier. I bet that they looked into including it with the worklight but realized the price was too high, especially since not all users are going to find the magnet handy.
The Dewalt 12V is a really, really good worklight, but its bright center spot might be a little too intense for some applications. For closeup work, the wide flood beam of the Milwaukee is going to be easier on the eyes.
Ben
Well it sure sounds like they left plenty of room in the price to include a magnet or 3. My EZRed 3000 lights include a magnet, a whole lot more LEDs, a charger, and have a built in battery, and they’re around $80, too. I have to say I’m a little disappointed… I’m a mechanic, just bought into M12, and spent $40 on the LED flashlight because the EZReds are kinda fragile. I kept thinking to myself how awesome it would be to have something exactly like this, but hopefully not at $80 for a bare light. I could handle $50 or so, but $80 for 3 LEDs and a housing is kinda obscene.
James C
The LEDs in your light and this one are completely different. I can’t say whether that light is better or worse, but just comparing the LED count is apples to oranges.
Brian Russo
Different? Possibly but not in the way you imply. It’s true that in terms of light temperature there are big differences, but not so much in output or any of the other important characteristics of various LED brands. Unless people are doing PANTONE matching underneath the lights the colour temp or CRI is unimportant within reason.
Most of the cost of LED lights is in the heat dissipation and diffuser design. The former is what gives you reliability and power, the latter a nice diffuse light that covers the work area. However these are pretty much a “pay someone else for their design” type of deal and not a per-unit cost. Certainly not $80. Milwaukee makes good stuff but this seems like a loser to me.
Brian Russo
Oh and for $80 they could have made the lens cover polycarbonate and nonreplacable. It would scratch more easily but you can easily buff it out.