Millwaukee 12v Vs Air tools

[Robbie260]

Ok lasses and gents this would seem the most appropriate place to put this but if not opoloigies. I have a Clarke PANTHER 2.5hp 24 ltr 9.3 cfm compressor.

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-panther-925-25hp-24-litre-air-compresso/

Im going to be fitting out the back of my pickup for mobile mechanic/engineering work.

I have a 3000w peak pure sine wave inverter, now hang on i know its not big enough to manage the compressor. So it was my original intention to flog the compressor and buy millwaukees 12v tool line up but hence only a 3000w peak inverter as it probably only have to manage a 9inch grinder at most. But i have been thinking and yes i know thats a dangerous thing. Would i be better off slinging the compressor in the back and investing in good quality air tools or do i stick with the plan to buy battery. I have metabo 18v tools including grinder, drill, 400nm impact, and lights, i have been contemplating millwaukee 12v for die grinders, grease gun, etc etc. I already have a last gen small 1/2 inch 12v millwaukee impact which is brilliant for getting in tight spots.

But im wondering im i better off investing further in 12v tools or just buying air tools.

Main advantages of air, air hammers, tools are lighter, tools themselves are well proven and last longer, get air to blow out components and clean with, can also inflate tyers etc,

12v advantages, no need for compressor, extra deepcycle battery and larger inverter not needed, takes up less space. I think thats about everything.

Dont talk to me about petrol power dont want it.

 

[James1979]

Battery all the way for me. I've the Milwaukee platform, some 18v and some 12v. Cant fault it. I use my angry grinder a lot and 4 batteries sees the day. Plenty of time between charges to let them rest. I have an inverter in the truck which powers the charger, but I can plug into 240 if its available.

Ive a few different tools and cant fault any. Their M12 90deg die grinder is the nuts. Better than air. I use that a lot as well.

Only things I dont have that would be handy is air hammer but they just dont do a battery one. Make sure you register the tools for the extended warranty. My Impact is the bluetooth one. It wasnt what I ordered but it was sent by mistake so they let me keep it. Its really good but loads to go wrong which is why i didnt want it to start with. You can geo fence it, pair it to your phone, lock it out and get it to make a siren noise if you cant find it. Handy on sites or in cities I guess.

 

[Robbie260]

Battery all the way for me. I've the Milwaukee platform, some 18v and some 12v. Cant fault it. I use my angry grinder a lot and 4 batteries sees the day. Plenty of time between charges to let them rest. I have an inverter in the truck which powers the charger, but I can plug into 240 if its available.

Ive a few different tools and cant fault any. Their M12 90deg die grinder is the nuts. Better than air. I use that a lot as well.

Only things I dont have that would be handy is air hammer but they just dont do a battery one. Make sure you register the tools for the extended warranty. My Impact is the bluetooth one. It wasnt what I ordered but it was sent by mistake so they let me keep it. Its really good but loads to go wrong which is why i didnt want it to start with. You can geo fence it, pair it to your phone, lock it out and get it to make a siren noise if you cant find it. Handy on sites or in cities I guess.

Thanks james so one vote for millwaukee. I have never used an air hammer so could probably live without one. Or just try and mash up some sds drill bits if needed.

Was thinking that if i was going to have air then a slightly bigger compressor would be required like this.

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/airmaster-tiger-16550-3hp-50-litre-air-compres/

Out of interest do you encounter much stuff where 1 inch drive is required and if so what do you do about. Had seen a 240v 1 inch impact on the Chinese deal sites might not be worth the hassle though.

 

[James1979]

Other than HGV which I stay clear of as much as I can, no not really. I either a, use a chinese torque convertor, or b, rag the hell out of my impact depending on what mood I'm in and how wet I'm getting!

That milwaukee impacts are amazing. I had dewalt before but that was carp compared to this one. The grease guns are good but I've had 2 - the worms go in them. Youre in Scotland I see. Try Duotool Direct in Aberdeeen. Steer clear of David, he is a Knob. Colin is a top man.

 

[Robbie260]

Aye i am, i will do. Yeah i have been looking at millwaukee 18v the metabo big impact is only a 600nm which should be fine in most situations un less someone has come along and glued something on with a dewalt or millwaukee. Though the metabo drill and grinder cant be beaten.

 

[Craig-SM]

I have the Milwaukee M12 right angle die grinder and it's a great bit of kit. I mainly use it with a 6ah battery but that's because it's always out as the go tot battery, it works just as well with the little 2ah batteries.
I also have the stubby 1/2 torque gun, screwdriver and fuel drill. They've all been great and with small size are easy to use in confined areas. I also have load of M18 tools too but the two most used tools are the die grinder and torque gun. My compressor gets less and less use.

 

[Robbie260]

So thats 2 votes for m12 line up. Might just plonk a wee arb 12v compressor in the back for using with a blow gun to clean stuff off.

 

[8ob]

Dont talk to me about petrol power dont want it.

 

[Robbie260]

Hahahahaha

Just cant be bothered adding to the list of things i have to maintain.

 

[julianf]

Why go 12v?

(Edit, as apposed to 18v)

Personally, I'd just get the 18v setup.

 

[Robbie260]

Why go 12v?

(Edit, as apposed to 18v)

Personally, I'd just get the 18v setup.

Millwaukee 12v are similar in size to air tools and better for getting into tight spaces than 18v tools, mainly beneficial for working on cars were there is limited space.

 

[James1979]

12v ratchets are good. I’ve just pre ordered the 18v hi torque one. See what it’s like when it arrives. Xmas they said.

 

[sako243]

wee arb 12v compressor in the ba

Out of curiosity what's the pickup? Any ability to add an air con pump as a compressor?

I've done this on my 110, initially to run the diffs but that wee compressor chucks out a huge volume and pressure of air (think it's something like 12cfm but at 200psi not free air). I've got a dinky P38 air tank sat above the rear wheel. The compressor is quite happy running my 50A plasma which gobbles air like nobodies business. In fact on a tick over you can hear the compressor cutting in and out as the plasma doesn't use the air fast enough.

 

[Munkul]

The M12 fuel stuff is good. The standard stuff, not so much.
For wheels etc you'll need an M18 impact

 

[123hotchef]

milwakee do a compressor now too

 

[sako243]

OK @8ob, I can't resist.


Many know I have a selection of M18 tools, Bob likes using my big impact gun if I'm up there. Not big enough for doing trucks but for everything else...

Yesterday has some people around to help sort out prep work for the new workshop slab. Needed to trim some mesh for the floor and he asked if I had a grinder, 4.5, 5 or 9" I asked. 9" was the reply so went and got it. Made a comment that with the battery one (5") wouldnt have to transfer measurements could do it inside.

You have a battery one? Told you yesterday... Well go and get it then. Anyway he started using it and is now strongly considering changing all his tools to Milwaukee based off 5 minutes with that grinder.

milwakee do a compressor now too

Battery? Can't see that lasting long, at good at their tools are sometimes there is no replacement for displacement as the yanks say.

 

[123hotchef]

OK @8ob, I can't resist.


Many know I have a selection of M18 tools, Bob likes using my big impact gun if I'm up there. Not big enough for doing trucks but for everything else...

Yesterday has some people around to help sort out prep work for the new workshop slab. Needed to trim some mesh for the floor and he asked if I had a grinder, 4.5, 5 or 9" I asked. 9" was the reply so went and got it. Made a comment that with the battery one (5") wouldnt have to transfer measurements could do it inside.

You have a battery one? Told you yesterday... Well go and get it then. Anyway he started using it and is now strongly considering changing all his tools to Milwaukee based off 5 minutes with that grinder.



Battery? Can't see that lasting long, at good at their tools are sometimes there is no replacement for displacement as the yanks say.

yes battery mate i presure it is for air nailers ect but be handy for a mobile mecanic to inflate tyres or blow out with

 

[Munkul]

Thomas Graham are doing a run of m18 batteries - buy 10, get one free.

Sign of the times that it's not a ridiculous idea... between myself and my brother, we have 13 5ah makita 18v batteries and another 4 3ah's...

If the tool has the power you need, its then just keeping it fed with a steady diet of cells

 

[Robbie260]

Out of curiosity what's the pickup? Any ability to add an air con pump as a compressor?

I've done this on my 110, initially to run the diffs but that wee compressor chucks out a huge volume and pressure of air (think it's something like 12cfm but at 200psi not free air). I've got a dinky P38 air tank sat above the rear wheel. The compressor is quite happy running my 50A plasma which gobbles air like nobodies business. In fact on a tick over you can hear the compressor cutting in and out as the plasma doesn't use the air fast enough.

Wanted a landy but couldn't justify the price they are going for these days so got a dmax instead.

 

[Robbie260]

The M12 fuel stuff is good. The standard stuff, not so much.
For wheels etc you'll need an M18 impact

Fuel is all that im interested in.