Guide to Multi-Tool Outdoor Power Equipment [2024]

July 27, 2023

This article ‘Guide to Multi-Tool Outdoor Power Equipment’ looks at the development of outdoor combination systems for use in the forestry, gardening, and landscaping sectors. It will cover:

• What is multi-tool outdoor power equipment?
• The move from petrol to cordless battery outdoor power equipment
• What are the best cordless multi-tool outdoor power combination systems?
• Which multi-tool outdoor power combination system should I choose?
• Guide to the Milwaukee M18 FOPH outdoor power equipment range
• Other Milwaukee outdoor power equipment for gardens and landscaping

What is multi-tool outdoor power equipment?

The concept of interchangeable ‘split-shaft’ tools for landscaping and gardening equipment has existed for a few years. A single drive unit powers a multitude of attachments, including line trimmers, brush cutters, pruning saws, and hedge trimmers, creating a complete outdoor power system for discerning and professional users. The click-in attachments instantly change the function of the tool in seconds – a perfect solution when there’s limited storage space or a multitude of tools need to be transported from job to job.

Leading multi-function outdoor power equipment manufacturers have traditionally been the perennial forestry and garden brands, including Stihl and Husqvarna. With the acquisition of Dolmar in 1991, Makita also became a serious player at the high-performance end of the market. Established in 1927, Dolmar was a well-respected German forestry equipment manufacturer, and Makita immediately inherited their years of experience and know-how.

The move from petrol to cordless battery outdoor cordless multi-tools

In this Guide to Multi-Tool Outdoor Power Equipment we will have to discuss the move from petrol to cordless battery outdoor cordless tools. Originally, the drive units for multi-function outdoor power combination systems were petrol driven, with a compact two-stroke engine that was lightweight enough to handle for prolonged periods of time – often aided by straps or harnesses to distribute the weight for maximum comfort in use. Makita launched their ground-breaking MM4 mini four-stroke technology in 2008, which was an advanced engine with tangible safety and cost-saving benefits compared to conventional two-stroke engines. The Makita MM4 outdoor power equipment didn’t require the mixing of fuel, significantly reduced emissions, reduced vibration levels, reduced noise, and was also much more energy efficient – meaning less fuel was required to do the same amount of work as the two-stroke equivalents.

‘Bingo’ you’re probably thinking! Not quite… the whole market has moved once again in recent years, with the advances in lithium-ion battery technology. This has brought new players into the mix, with a heritage of battery and motor technology, such as Milwaukee and DeWalt. The power and performance of cordless outdoor power equipment became comparable to their petrol counterparts… often surpassing it in certain applications. No ‘dirty’ or ‘smelly’ fuel was required, emissions were zero, and vibration levels and noise were significantly reduced. The substantial reduction in noise is not only a benefit for the operator but let’s not forget about those in the vicinity. Whether the equipment is being used in a public park, golf course, or hotel grounds – there are members of the public or guests that don’t really want to listen to whirring petrol engines whilst they’re going about their business. Such were the apparent advantages of battery outdoor power equipment, Makita has recently ceased production on all their two-stroke and four-stroke petrol tools, focussing only on cordless solutions.

Which are the best cordless garden tools?

There are numerous DIY or home-use systems available, designed to be used on a handful of occasions throughout the year, and then stored away for a few months until the following season. At the other end of the spectrum, we’ve got the premium forestry and garden brands, that have launched a professional range of cordless battery solutions. Stihl have their KombiSystem, which is driven by 36V battery-powered drive units and features a good number of KombiTool attachments… but beware there are some caveats as to what tool attachments are compatible with what drive units. Husqvarna has its own Combi Systems, but some drive units are 36V, whereas others are only 18V… each compatible with different tool attachments… this is getting confusing!

What about Makita? Similarly to Husqvarna, Makita offers different drive unit options powered by a single 18V battery, two 18V batteries side-by-side or their latest 40V battery platform. Although the drive units differ, the split-shaft attachments are the same easy-change fitting across the range – which certainly makes life easier. For absolute simplicity, Milwaukee has a single drive unit – powered by any of their M18 18V batteries, and all of the M18 FOP multi-head attachments are compatible. You may be thinking, ‘But surely an 18V battery system is not as powerful as a 36V?’ This is not the case, as, unlike many other brands that have launched ‘higher voltage’ ranges, Milwaukee has stayed consistent with its 18V battery platform. Instead of increasing the voltage of their batteries to improve capacities, they launched a range of battery packs with increased amperage – known as Ah. So, the Milwaukee higher ampere-hour M18 batteries, like the 12Ah or even the 8Ah high output, are more than comparable with alternative 36V or 54V battery platforms, when it comes to performance and run times.

Which multi-tool outdoor power combination system should I choose?

The reputable brands I’ve consistently mentioned throughout this article, all produce excellent systems, so my decision is not based on performance alone. There is no question that most professional landscapers and gardeners are staunch Stihl or Husqvarna users, with their heritage in producing high-quality forestry and garden equipment. With the seismic move from petrol to battery-powered equipment, these stalwarts have had to develop new motor and battery technology, and are still learning. On the other hand, the power tool brands that have entered the lawn and garden market, are well-versed in cordless technology, with decades of experience. There is no question that the likes of Makita and Milwaukee can sit alongside Stihl and Husqvarna at the top table! Let’s not also forget; you can also use the batteries in their huge range of other power tools.

So which multi-head outdoor power combination system would I choose? If I already used Makita power tools for the rest of my tool kit, I’d go with Makita. If I already used Milwaukee, I’d go to Milwaukee. If I was starting from scratch, I’d probably choose Milwaukee for one reason. I like things to be simple, and one single drive unit, one single battery platform, plus one single Quik-Lok tool attachment system – where I know it fits – definitely appeals to me. Performance-wise there is no compromise either, as the Milwaukee M18 FOP Fuel Outdoor Power system is certainly up there with the other premium-performing brands.

Guide to the Milwaukee M18 FOPH other Multi-Tool Outdoor Power Equipment

The Milwaukee M18 FOPH Fuel Outdoor garden equipment range is an all-in-one solution to, landscaping, gardening, outdoor maintenance, and land clearing. The whole system is based around the M18 FOPH Fuel Outdoor Power Head, which drives the various smart line attachments that can be rapidly detached and reattached depending on the users application. Powered by any of the Milwaukee M18 Redlithium batteries, the power head and Quik-Lok attachments are designed for professional contractors working in gardens, fields, and other remote sites – plus home-users that like to use high-quality equipment.

Milwaukee M18 FOPH 18V Fuel Outdoor Power Head

To get started, you need the M18 FOPH Fuel Outdoor Power Head. This can be purchased as a body only tool and is compatible with any Milwaukee M18 NRG Kit or existing Milwaukee M18 batteries you may already own. The power head also comes in a kit with the popular M18 FOPH-LTA Power Head Line Trimmer Attachment – available as body only or complete with a battery and charger. Once you have the M18 FOPH Fuel Outdoor Power Head, you can build your kit with other Quik-Lok outdoor power attachments.

Milwaukee M18 FOPH-LTA Line Trimmer Attachment

The Milwaukee M18 FOPH-LTA Quik-Lok Line Trimmer Attachment can be purchased with the power head unit, or on it’s own. With an impressive 38.6cm cutting path, it has the capacity to clear brambles and thick brush. The easy load trimmer head, with bump feed, holds up to 7.6 metres of trimmer line for uninterrupted landscape maintenance applications. Replacement spools and trimmer line is available.

Milwaukee M18 FOPH-BCA Brush Cutter Attachment

The Milwaukee M18 FOPH-BCA Quik-Lok Brush Cutter Attachment is designed to clear tall grass, weeds, thick brush and saplings up to 3cm in diameter. The four-tooth blade is 23cm in diameter, for effective clearing of overgrown areas. The blade shield ensures maximum material containment. Replacement brush cutter blades for the M18 FOPH-BCA brush cutter attachment are available.

Milwaukee M18 FOPH-HTA & M18 FOPH-SHTA Hedge Trimmer Attachments

The Milwaukee M18 FOPH-SHTA Quik-Lok Short Hedge Trimmer Attachment and M18 FOPH-HTA Quik-Lok Long Hedge Trimmer Attachment are capable of cutting branches up to 19mm and 25mm in diameter respectively. The 508mm long blades can trim a large amount of material in a single pass, increasing productivity. The short hedge trimmer attachment has a straight fixed shaft, perfect for topiary and lower-level hedges – maximising control and comfort. The long hedge trimmer attachment has an articulating head with twelve different positions from 0° to 270°, for user comfort, sculpting angles and effortless trimming of tall hedges. For additional reach, without the need for a ladder, the hedge trimmer attachment can be used in conjunction with the Milwaukee M18 FOPH-EXA Extension Attachment.

Milwaukee M18 FOPH-CSA Chainsaw Attachment

The Milwaukee M18 FOPH-CSA Quik-Lok Chainsaw Attachment is designed to cut down overhead limbs or branches. The 254mm bar has automatic chain oiling and there is side access to tension the chain for easy adjustment. An innovative branch-extracting hook is ideal for leveraging and pulling cut branches out of the way. For additional reach, the chainsaw attachment can also be used in conjunction with the Milwaukee M18 FOPH-EXA Extension Attachment. Replacement saw chains are available.

Milwaukee M18 FOPH-EA Edger Attachment

The Milwaukee M18 FOPH-EA Quik-Lok Edger Attachment is designed to cut along walkways, paths, and lawn edges to create a sharp and manicured look. The adjustable height and guide wheel ensure optimum performance and control, whilst the durable 20.3cm blade offers a long service life and clean cut. Replacement edger blades for the M18 FOPH-EA edger attachment are available.

Milwaukee M18 FOPH-BBA & M18 FOPH-RBA Brush & Broom Attachments

The Milwaukee M18 FOPH-BBA Quik-Lok Bristle Brush Attachment is perfect for clearing wet leaves, mulch, stones, dirt, sand, and other debris off hard surfaces such as pavements, paths, driveways or patios. The robust bristle brushes will also clean between the cracks in pavements and patios.

The Milwaukee M18 FOPH-RBA Quik-Lok Rubber Broom Attachment is designed for clearing stones, leaves, mulch, dirt, and other debris off grassy or soiled areas, as well as hard surfaces. The robust rubber paddles can also move standing water or snow up to a height of 7.5cm.

The drums of both attachments counter-rotate, conveniently throwing material to the front and away from the operator. They both feature an optimised guard design for excellent material containment. 58cm clearing capacity ensures effective and efficient material movement, on a single pass.

New Milwaukee M18 FOPH Quik-Lok Attachments

Guide to Multi-Tool Outdoor Power Equipment Summary & Other Milwaukee outdoor power equipment for gardens and landscaping

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Craig Sanders

Joint Managing Director, Protrade

Craig has over 30 years of experience at Protrade, working in various departments including sales, procurement, and marketing, and ultimately becoming Managing Director in 2008. Following the merger of Protrade and Joinery Fit-Out Supplies in 2018, Craig is now the joint MD of the company.