impact wrench recommendations

[Craig-SM]

For most stuff, I'd probably go for the new Milwaukee Fuel Gen 3 M12 (@Craig-SM Gen 3 is the latest, not Gen2), which is currently just over £300 with two of the newer high output batteries, but stock is still a bit limited.
Part no of the kit is M12 FCIWF12G3-502X. I've got an eye on it, as I'm hoping it'll drop below £300 next year as more stock becomes available, and it as cheap to buy the complete kit, than just the bare gun and two batteries (it really needs the high output batteries to get full power, as using the Red lithium batteries limits it's power)

I've got the Gen 2 1/2", and for most light servicing work, it does the job and is a nice size to use, so the Gen 3 should do most things.
I've also got the mid-torque M18. Above that, the air gun is coming out.
I've used the M18 high torque gun, but I just find it too big/heavy for regular use.

It’s nearly below £300. Go on and treat yourself, tell the wife I made you buy it

Milwaukee M12FCIWF12G3-502X 12v Fuel 1/2" Compact Impact Wrench Kit - 2 x 5.0ah High Output Batteries - PowerToolMate

www.powertoolmate.co.uk

BTW it’s Gen 3 I’ve got.

 

[ChrisBailey]

I tried my new 1/2" milwaukee impact out when I changed the brakes on my fiesta. Thought it would make it a 30 minute job.
The wheel nuts were cheese and chewed up immediately turning it into a 3 hour job.

Not the wrenches fault, just crap ford nuts. It's great fun gunning nuts and bolts off.

 

[JOEPRO]

This was a test with my M18 a few years back

 

[MetalMonkey]

As suggested, go for a mid torque in whichever flavour of battery platform you already have. Unless you absolutely need a high torque, the mids do most of what you need, and are a lot lighter and easier to get into places, in my experience.

I have the same question as the OP really. I have Hitachi drills. They are nice tools.. I van get a bare Hitachi impact wrench for around 100£ with 600nm undoing torque. I'd love milwauke but I'd need to spend 250-350 on the tool, batteries and charger.

What Hitachi batteries have you got? Hikoki do a very solid range of impact guns, the bigger ones are running on the 36v multi volt batteries though, although they are compatible with your 18v slide Hitachi tools. I have their 36v mid torque, and that backs out very F/T bolts no bother

 

[Nomad]

A mate has a car repair workshop, he has 2x Milwaukee 1/2" for wheelnuts suspension etc, different models, 1 is good the other is good++

 

[reb78]

As suggested, go for a mid torque in whichever flavour of battery platform you already have. Unless you absolutely need a high torque, the mids do most of what you need, and are a lot lighter and easier to get into places, in my experience.


What Hitachi batteries have you got? Hikoki do a very solid range of impact guns, the bigger ones are running on the 36v multi volt batteries though, although they are compatible with your 18v slide Hitachi tools. I have their 36v mid torque, and that backs out very F/T bolts no bother

I only have 18v 2.5ah batteries for my drills. I don't know if that changes things. My uses are not heavy, but I could.spend all day rebuilding a digger or tractor or land rover so I would like a decent impact wrench.

 

[Guzrik]

I only have 18v 2.5ah batteries for my drills. I don't know if that changes things. My uses are not heavy, but I could.spend all day rebuilding a digger or tractor or land rover so I would like a decent impact wrench.

I saw on torque test channel that it makes a big difference what battery you put on a machine.
Maybe buy one new battery with the new machine? That is what I did. It takes two hours to charge.

 

[julianf]

I only have 18v 2.5ah batteries for my drills. I don't know if that changes things. My uses are not heavy, but I could.spend all day rebuilding a digger or tractor or land rover so I would like a decent impact wrench.

I have the M18 system. There is a body I would like before an impact driver, however, when I get to the point, I think, basically, the tool that I get will be set by what I want to spend.

What I mean is, i think any of the Milwaukee range are probably pretty good. So then you set a price point and will be somewhere on the scale accordingly!


I was looking at them the other day and £200 seems to get what I would think would be quite enough for me.

But then there's the other consideration - more power generally means larger body size and less power is smaller.

I can't be bothered to start on the m12 route, so, again, £200 ish seems to be the sweet spot on m18 between power and size.

 

[MetalMonkey]

I only have 18v 2.5ah batteries for my drills. I don't know if that changes things. My uses are not heavy, but I could.spend all day rebuilding a digger or tractor or land rover so I would like a decent impact wrench.

The WR18DH or the older WR18DBDL2 are a couple of 18V options that would work on your current batteries.
I have a WR18DBDL2 as well and its fine for smaller stuff, and nice and compact - but I would say its underpowered if you want to be working on diggers or landrovers, especially on a 2.5Ah battery
For that stuff I'd suggest buying the WR36DE mid torque along with a 36v "A" multivolt battery - that punches hard for its size (I had no issue whipping off bolts torqued to 350Nm) and you can use the battery as a 5.0Ah on your existing 18v tools.

Alternatively you might get a better deal on a kit from Makita or Milwaukee etc, which may work out better for you if you don't mind running multiple battery platforms.
Do be a bit cautious with some of the new Milwaukee impacts as they do seem to have had some issues.

 

[bert]

I've got the big m18 milwaukee and it's a beast but heavy and big. I've also got the m12 for lighter duty. It deals with most things so I don't use the m18 much

 

[reb78]

The WR18DH or the older WR18DBDL2 are a couple of 18V options that would work on your current batteries.
I have a WR18DBDL2 as well and its fine for smaller stuff, and nice and compact - but I would say its underpowered if you want to be working on diggers or landrovers, especially on a 2.5Ah battery
For that stuff I'd suggest buying the WR36DE mid torque along with a 36v "A" multivolt battery - that punches hard for its size (I had no issue whipping off bolts torqued to 350Nm) and you can use the battery as a 5.0Ah on your existing 18v tools.

Alternatively you might get a better deal on a kit from Makita or Milwaukee etc, which may work out better for you if you don't mind running multiple battery platforms.
Do be a bit cautious with some of the new Milwaukee impacts as they do seem to have had some issues.

I think it sounds like I'd be silly to stick with Hitachi for this. So am looking at the milwauke options. My uses are about the same as @sako243 so i think I will go down the same route as him. Which, Interestingly is pretty much the same conversation and route that Bert just posted.

 

[reb78]

Looking about. Milwauke prices seem to be better direct. Althouhh, toolstation seems to match them. Are any of the places to buy this kit likely to do deals in the sales?

 

[julianf]

Looking about. Milwauke prices seem to be better direct. Althouhh, toolstation seems to match them. Are any of the places to buy this kit likely to do deals in the sales?

Watch out buying tool station (etc) Milwaukee.

Often they have part numbers that noone else sells. Ie they are screwfix's (etc) own "edition".

What this means, who really knows.

Personally I would buy from somewhere like power tool mate.

 

[sako243]

The high street stuff used to be brushed stuff when the brushless came out.

 

[Craig-SM]

Looking about. Milwauke prices seem to be better direct. Althouhh, toolstation seems to match them. Are any of the places to buy this kit likely to do deals in the sales?

Try PowerToolMate they regularly do discounts but also check their prices against UK Planet Tools who have been doing some great deals lately and also Big Red Power Tools.
Toolstation and Screwfix tend be older models and usually much higher prices too

 

[ChrisBailey]

It's worth having a look at the list of authorised dealers for milwaukee tools. I've found some on ebay that were cheaper than the well-known sites and you can still register the tool warranty.
I picked up my mid torque in a case for £179 last November from bryson tractors

 

[Craig-SM]

It's worth having a look at the list of authorised dealers for milwaukee tools. I've found some on ebay that were cheaper than the well-known sites and you can still register the tool warranty.
I picked up my mid torque in a case for £179 last November from bryson tractors

You just reminded me about the Milwaukee warranty and to get the full 3 year warranty you need to purchase from an authorised dealer and then register online. Used to be that you could get the full warranty so long as you had a receipt but they change£ to authorised dealers only this year.

 

[Baldrick]

looking at this model.
it looks small enough to get into tight spaces with 880nm of punch, and only 20 quid over budget .
milwaukee-m18fmtiw2f12-502x-fuel-impact-wrench-12/p13727

thoughts?

 

[Craig-SM]

I would still go for the latest M12 Stubby torque gun. More compact with near equal power but also being in the M12 battery platform you’ll have the batteries for ratchets, die grinders, soldering iron and such tools that working on cars you’ll find more useful

 

[Ton-up]

My mate has a big 1" drive Milwaukee (used for repairing lorries) he thought it had lost a bit of its power although the batteries were good. S he returned it to where he bought it, they sent it off and Milwaukee sent him a brand new one.