Ditching an extension cord is nice, but there are even more benefits to replacing gas motors with batteries. These benefits are why I invested in the new Milwaukee power screed. This motor-free tool requires less maintenance, and I don’t have to worry about old or bad gas gumming up the carburetor or the noise of a roaring engine. And to me, the absence of harmful fumes, and being able to work inside without the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, is always a good thing.

Milwaukee makes screed bars from 4 ft. to 16 ft long. I have the 8-ft. and 12-ft. bars. I like the “clamp-on” bar design because it allows you to swap out bars fast, and you don’t need to totally remove (and potentially lose) nuts and bolts. I like that when I need to pause while using the tool, there is a handy kickstand to keep the tool out of the mud.

The manufacturer says that the 3-Ah lithium battery will run the 12-ft. screed for two hours per charge, which seems about right. The Milwaukee MXF381-2CP screed kit includes two batteries and a charger, and comes with a two-year battery and a two-year equipment warranty, which is nice to have for more expensive tools like this. I purchased mine for $2500. The bars are sold separately and start around $300.

— AJ Reyer; concrete contractor in Rosemount, Minn. Photo courtesy of the manufacturer.

From Fine Homebuilding #324

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