Cordless Impact driver

[murick]

Going to refresh the thread with an obvious question. I am eager to get my first impact wrench and pretty much settled on Milwaukee brand but still cannot decide which one. The usual suspects are these two:

1. Milwaukee 2555-20 (M12 Fuel Stubby) 1/2"
2. Milwaukee 2962-20 M18 18V Fuel 1/2" (also mentioned by @galaxy in the other thread)

The reports I am reading sometimes almost contradicts themselves. E.g. which one will (or will not) loose the lug nuts - which should be my main purpose, plus maybe some work on the bottom of the car (gearbox bracket, braces, rails). Eventually even dismounting the panels (e.g. bumper), but for that I would expect either would be an overkill and I could do fine with just a cordless drill.

Surprisingly, despite a significant difference in the power between those two, there is not a price difference. I guess this might be somewhat rectified by the prices of batteries, but still, it looks like the price should not be a factor.

Now, for what concerns the lug nuts (@ 150 ft-lb), there are people who claim that both should do fine and some who say even the M18 version may fail. There is also a form factor question (size, weight), which would prefer M12 Stubby, and the fact that it should better be an all-rounder potentially covering all my needs, where M18 Fuel should be a safer bet as it seems to have much bigger power margin to solve some hard cases.

Any comments, or recommendations, considering my thought process?

BTW: There is a nice video about measuring the power outputs of different Milwaukee impact wrenches:

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[_zOmbIE_]

I'm also old fashioned, I have a full set of campbell hausfeld air tools and I still install and remove my lug nuts by hand.

 

[Dana Pants]

Going to refresh the thread with an obvious question. I am eager to get my first impact wrench and pretty much settled on Milwaukee brand but still cannot decide which one. The usual suspects are these two:

1. Milwaukee 2555-20 (M12 Fuel Stubby) 1/2"
2. Milwaukee 2962-20 M18 18V Fuel 1/2" (also mentioned by @galaxy in the other thread)

The reports I am reading sometimes almost contradicts themselves. E.g. which one will (or will not) loose the lug nuts - which should be my main purpose, plus maybe some work on the bottom of the car (gearbox bracket, braces, rails). Eventually even dismounting the panels (e.g. bumper), but for that I would expect either would be an overkill and I could do fine with just a cordless drill.

Surprisingly, despite a significant difference in the power between those two, there is not a price difference. I guess this might be somewhat rectified by the prices of batteries, but still, it looks like the price should not be a factor.

Now, for what concerns the lug nuts (@ 150 ft-lb), there are people who claim that both should do fine and some who say even the M18 version may fail. There is also a form factor question (size, weight), which would prefer M12 Stubby, and the fact that it should better be an all-rounder potentially covering all my needs, where M18 Fuel should be a safer bet as it seems to have much bigger power margin to solve some hard cases.

Any comments, or recommendations, considering my thought process?

BTW: There is a nice video about measuring the power outputs of different Milwaukee impact wrenches:

M12 is incredibly unhappy with 150 ft lb lug nuts. Go with the M18. I have both. M12 just collects dust.

 

[skinnyb]

I am already invested in the Ryobi 18 volt family and got a 1/2 inch Ryobi one a couple months ago. It works pretty good, no problem to remove lugs and then I spn them back on briefly, lower the car and torque them with my torque wrench.

 

[Livernois Motorsports]

I have my cornwell impact gun in the tool box but when I don't want to drag the hose out and fire the compressor my Ryobi 1/2 inch impact has yet to not knock something loose. I bring it to the track along with my fans and a few extra batteries, its a neat little gun and it's pretty darn cheap for what it is.

 

[JOKER M1]

@murick, I always break them loose by hand then spin them off with the impact. When installing I do impact them on then torque to specs. I also do it the same way on my jeep. I use the M18 1/2” impact with the ring however I wish I would have bought the ball instead

 

[murick]

@murick, I always break them loose by hand then spin them off with the impact. When installing I do impact them on then torque to specs. I also do it the same way on my jeep. I use the M18 1/2” impact with the ring however I wish I would have bought the ball instead

I could probably loose them by hand too (at least until they got rusty and sticky ), I just think that using impact wrench is cooler (but I justify it for myself that it is also less stressful to nuts ).

On the other direction I believe there is an advantage in being able to tighten the nuts to some predefined, albeit much lower, torque (the safe torque - should be 35 ft-lb on M18) and then finish it by hand, than doing it all the way up by hand only.

Also, thanks for pointing out the ring vs ball design, I did not realize that. What is your experience with the ring? Are there Milwaukee models with balls? (There are! Marked with P at the end of the model numbers.) I believe I have the sockets with holes, so they should fit ball mount fine, how would they fit the ring, I have no idea.

 

[JOKER M1]

I could probably loose them by hand too (at least until they got rusty and sticky ), I just think that using impact wrench is cooler (but I justify it for myself that it is also less stressful to nuts ).

On the other direction I believe there is an advantage in being able to tighten the nuts to some predefined, albeit much lower, torque (the safe torque - should be 35 ft-lb on M18) and then finish it by hand, than doing it all the way up by hand only.

Also, thanks for pointing out the ring vs ball design, I did not realize that. What is your experience with the ring? Are there Milwaukee models with balls? I believe I have the sockets with holes, so they should fit ball mount fine, how would they fit the ring, I have no idea.

Only reason I don’t use the impact for removal is I don’t want to damage or chance damaging any lug nuts. I do know the impact I have will hit 150lbs installing them and I would feel confident it would remove them fairly easy.
I just don’t like the ring because it’s cumbersome getting sockets/extensions on and yes they have both. Later today I will message you the model I have.

 

[murick]

I just don’t like the ring because it’s cumbersome getting sockets/extensions on and yes they have both. Later today I will message you the model I have.

Did you try the one with the pin?
I just went to Milwaukee site to check on the P version and there were few guys in the comment section literally writing "do not buy the pin model", because it is apparently quite difficult to separate from the mounted socket.
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Power-Tools/Fastening/Impact-Wrenches/2962P-20

 

[JOKER M1]

Did you try the one with the pin?
I just went to Milwaukee site to check on the P version and there were few guys in the comment section literally writing "do not buy the pin model", because it is apparently quite difficult to separate from the mounted socket.
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Power-Tools/Fastening/Impact-Wrenches/2962P-20

I did not try the ball/pin impact, now that you mentioned it I do remember reading complaints about that which may be why I bought the ring. I know a socket wrench/ratchet has the pin/ball release and the impact does not but I can’t imagine it’s that difficult but I may be wrong. Either way you can’t go wrong with a Milwaukee that meets your needs

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Did you try the one with the pin?
I just went to Milwaukee site to check on the P version and there were few guys in the comment section literally writing "do not buy the pin model", because it is apparently quite difficult to separate from the mounted socket.
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Power-Tools/Fastening/Impact-Wrenches/2962P-20

What vehicle is this? I feel sorry for those 5 short skinny studs.

 

[JOKER M1]

@murick - 2767-20

 

[2BigPups]

Did you try the one with the pin?
I just went to Milwaukee site to check on the P version and there were few guys in the comment section literally writing "do not buy the pin model", because it is apparently quite difficult to separate from the mounted socket.
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Power-Tools/Fastening/Impact-Wrenches/2962P-20

I have the pin model and frequently need to use a pin punch to free the socket if I inadvertently line up the socket hole with the pin.

Easy on, pain in the ass to remove.

 

[kz]

I have the biggest M18 and stubby M12. I don't take out the M18 one unless I am doing axle nuts or something similar. M12 stubby easily gets lug nuts off, if used with larger batter (4 Ah at least, I have 6 Ah on mine). I don't remember last time I've used the M18 one for lug nuts and I do them literally probably close to 100 times a year.

 

[Rapid Red]

I'm also old fashioned, I have a full set of campbell hausfeld air tools and I still install and remove my lug nuts by hand.

I will use the impact to remove the nuts but trigger the tool, not pull and hammer the nut. About 3 - 4 hits and it spins off.

Going back on, turn down the pressure bump the nuts snug, and finish off with the torque wrench.

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