milwaukee cordless impact guns?

[steveo3002]

anyone familar with the milwaukee range of impact guns , had a quick lend of one today and very impressed and now i want one

could i get this from the states

http://www.ebay.com/itm/162475824190?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&fromMakeTrack=true

then this uk charger - is all the right compatible gear?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/For-Milwa...142914?hash=item3d3f02a4c2:g:4ikAAOSwCkZZSx0O

anyone know the range? is that gun to get or better options

thanks

 

[Bill Edwards]

They are brilliant tools. But what do you want to do with it?
This question matters. I don't know the specs of that one linked to but they do a mega powerful two speed version which is said to be almost unstoppable - I think @normspanners either owns or has used one. Can be used by some HGV mechs for trailer wheelnuts quite happily.
At the other end of their 18v range is a compact one which I have one of as it's smaller and lighter. It'll undo nearly all normal car and pickup wheelnuts without problems and is much more handy to use. So you need to buy based on whether you want great power or a smaller tool.
Make sure you get the right retaining method, my big one has a pin to hold sockets on and it's a pain in the backside much of the time, my work involves changing sockets all the time and a friction ring is far more suited to this.

I strongly recommend getting a brushless (the 'fuel' range) as brushes seem to wear out quicker than you may expect.
As to buying from the states some people do but I've an idea it costs you the warranty, which is three years in the UK as long as you register the tool after purchase.

 

[normspanners]

Yes I have got the 18v fuel but the gun is so ridiculously powerful I am very careful using it for tightening so I bought the smaller compact gun same batteries but less than half the weight it is ideal for suspension work but the big gun is just WOW!! I used it the other day on the snapon guys truck coz he didnt have the tools !! it undid his 42mm wheel nuts that would not undo with 3/4 breaker bar and 5ft pipe with me jumping up and down on I have used it on 63 mm sockets for iveco hub nuts and it did it. and this is 1/2 " drive ------HOW I keep asking myself ??
the best batteries are the 5amp hr and can last for several DAYS work before charging they also do do a 9ahr that would be frightening I think !!

 

[Richard.]

Good friend of mine that I work with on site sometimes has the 1/2" drive fuel Milwaukee impact and as the guys said above it's the most powerful gun on the market today. Even air tools of the same inch drive don't beat its power.
If it won't undo it it will likely break it.
They have a weak point though and that is the knuckle under the nose cone is quite small in diameter for no known reason and it can (it did in my friends case) break. 5 year warranty on the tool so it was sorted out no problem.
I had a play with both this , the 20v dewalt and the 18v snap on and as far as shear power is concerned the Milwaukee wins and by quite a distance too.
The only things I don't like about them is
The gun is straight across the top rather than leant back like others which makes the battery pack right in the way sometimes
I've been told you cannot take the nose cone off without stripping the whole thing down. I like to service them once a year with a smear of grease inside the cone.
Milwaukee charger is sloooooow.
I'd dread to think how long a 9ah takes to charge as mine knocks 2 x 4ah batteries out in the time a Milwaukee takes to do one 5ah.
All that aside it's an amazing tool and cheap too when you think what it's actually capable of.

 

[normspanners]

Milwaukee charger is sloooooow.

But is that better for the batteries ?? I dont find it a problem as said it lasts for days not hrs

 

[Richard.]

But is that better for the batteries ?? I dont find it a problem as said it lasts for days not hrs

I don't know tbh is it?
I know the old ni cads liked a trickle charge but li-ion batteries don't seem to be fussed by it as most of them have these fast chargers now for the bigger batteries so I doubt it causes any issues but I'm no expert on them.
Yes mine last ages too and if you keep a few you've always got them to hand. It's just a negative imo over a charger that does it in half the time. Particularly if your not organised and have run them all flat. I've done it before.

 

[PhillipM]

Most decent lithium-ions will charge at 1-2C (1h-30min charge time) without any real impact on capacity over their lifetime, slow charging can actually lead to issues as the voltage rise+drop isn't always high enough to disengage the charger. Leaving batteries at 100% charge is far more damaging.
If you want something without the warrenty hassle I have the large and small Makita brushless pairing (DTW285 and DTW1002 - the 285 is only rated at 270 or so but it's tiny and it's taken off stuff I've torqued to 350+ so it's a bit under-rated! The 1002 just breaks anything that won't undo...) and they've been superb. You won't go wrong with the Milwaukee fuel's though.

 

[Richard.]

Leaving batteries at 100% charge is far more damaging.

Very true li-ions don't like this at all.
My charger has a cut off on it that kills the charge from continuing after the battery is complete.
Good job really as many times they have been forgotten about.

 

[Migmac]

Pals use the fuel range, one is heavy plant mechcanic and the other works on wind turbines. Neither have found anything they can't undo and the batteries do last for days

 

[normspanners]

Milwaukee charger is sloooooow.

Funny enough I had to charge mine today to use on an 'impossible' crank bolt one battery 5AH was down to one light I put it on charge and was fully charged in about 20-25mins

 

[Revs1972]

The fast charger is a lot lot quicker to charge than the standard.
Can't remember exact time but it charged my 9ah up from 1 bar fairly quickly ( an hour or so )
I have the compact 1/2 and the big boy 3/4 which will screw in M16 and M20 concrete anchors without breaking a sweat .
The compact 1/2 will happily do up M16 XOX bolts all day long. Not used it on M20's yet, but if it struggles then I'll crack out the 3/4

Just watch the total price on that EBay one, as there will be import charges to add to it.

My local has it on special at the moment at £169+VAT

I assume you have batteries for it ?

 

[Revs1972]

That battery and charger you link to are not genuine either.
What difference that makes though.....
as mentioned above, the batteries are probably ok , but I wouldn't trust the charger myself

 

[armalites]

You do have to be careful with selecting the 1/2 Milwaukee guns are there are different models that look the same that aren't as powerful, there are also hog ring/friction ring and detent pin.

 

[Richard.]

Funny enough I had to charge mine today to use on an 'impossible' crank bolt one battery 5AH was down to one light I put it on charge and was fully charged in about 20-25mins

It's a quick one then mate.
Last time I saw one recovering on the bench it was still charging after 50 mins. Yours must be a better one.

 

[Bill Edwards]

It's a quick one then mate.
Last time I saw one recovering on the bench it was still charging after 50 mins. Yours must be a better one.

Something different there I think, as although I have never timed it my 5a batteries don't seem to take a great amount of time to charge.

 

[wyn]

I have two types of milwaukee chargers they look very similar, one takes a while to charge up 5ah's and the other a lot quicker.
My 3/4 drive milwaukee handled 36mm bolts pretty well. I think it gets 24mm bolts up to the right torque.

 

[oilyneil]

I know its not a milwauke, but i bought myself one of these makita ones,, its a beast and has no trouble undoing M20 bolts that have been outside for 40 + years,, its a beast of a tool.
http://www.makitauk.com/products/co...dtw1002z-18v-lxt-brushless-impact-wrench.html

 

[normspanners]

My 3/4 drive milwaukee handled 36mm bolts pretty well. I think it gets 24mm bolts up to the right torque.

A24mm bolt 8.8 is 725nm and

a 36 mm bolt 8.8 is 2530 nm

I know its not a milwauke, but i bought myself one of these makita ones,, its a beast and has no trouble undoing M20 bolts that have been outside for 40 + years,, its a beast of a tool.

that in theory beats the milwaukee HUM I was going to get makita but at the time they were not as powerful, I hate having different batteries all over the place

 

[oilyneil]

I went with Makita as all our powerline tools are now makita powered, and I prefer to stick to one battery style, I've enough kit on the van without 4 seperate chargers !

 

[wyn]

A24mm bolt 8.8 is 725nm and

a 36 mm bolt 8.8 is 2530 nm

It does things up to around 1000nm but will run larger bolts in and out without too much grief.