- Thread starter Baldrick
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If you've got M18 already, then I'd go for the M18 Mid-torque gun.
It is a bit bigger than the M12/M18 stubby (if going stubby, I'd go M12 as it makes it far more compact than the essentially same gun with a M18 battery on it), so you can't get it into quite as tight spaces, but it's still a reasonable weight and noticeably smaller than the M18 high-torque.
However, if you've not currently got either 12 or 18, then I'd be hard pushed to decide between the Mid-torque M18, and the new 3rd Gen M12 stubby. My 2nd Gen Stubby will do nearly most things on lighter vehicles, and I'd think if I do get the 3rd Gen, my M18 mid-torque is likely not to see much use.
I was going to bite the bullet on this yesterday - https://www.bigredpowertools.co.uk/milwaukee-m18onefhiwf12-502x but talking to @sako243 I realised that it has bluetooth for some functions that are not really needed... surely this is just an unnecessary gimmick to go wrong on a tool of this type? The non-BT ones seem to be out of stock everywhere so presumably discontinued. Any thoughts?
Although, whilst a bit more money, this has higher undo torque and is more compact and not bluetooth... - https://www.bigredpowertools.co.uk/...jkQttgwTKUl8NO4SjJO4ZFedTicuSwNIMhZm--HoifTqI
Although, whilst a bit more money, this has higher undo torque and is more compact and not bluetooth... - https://www.bigredpowertools.co.uk/...jkQttgwTKUl8NO4SjJO4ZFedTicuSwNIMhZm--HoifTqI
Craig-SM
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That's the original one with the Bluetooth. I used the bluetooth when I got it so as not to over tighten wheel bolts but soon resorted to spinning the nuts on using the lowest output mode and torquing up with the wrench. The bluetooth is just an option to provide a 4th mode to the standard 3 presets.
If you getting one then you may as well go for the latest generation like you linked to especially if you don't need the bluetooth setting
If you getting one then you may as well go for the latest generation like you linked to especially if you don't need the bluetooth setting
I think I would always spin on to a low torque and then check with a torque wrench, so I am not sure I see any need for the bluetooth and worry it is potentially something fragile in a tool thats not used in a fragile way...!
My second link is the latest generation? There seems to be too much choice out there to make sense of it!
I guess I meant that the Bluetooth was potentially a relatively fragile component.
This will get use on tractors, diggers mainly and then bigger stuff on my land rovers - would that alter the recommendation? I suspect that once I have the battery system and have saved a bit more, a more compact one might follow.
Craig-SM
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Never heard anyone mention that the bluetooth had failed but if you don't need it then it's a mute point.
I'd gotten confused with the OP's requirements for a torque gun. If you are generally turning spanners the M12 range will have more tools for you.
sako243
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@reb78's requirements are a bit different, he's got a very similar use case to me with general spannering but also dealing with more plant equipment such as backhoes and tractors. The M12 stubby is great but can be replaced with general spanners without too much effort, however, there are situations where the Hi Torque M18 is invaluable in busting big nuts loose etc.
The way I'd summarise it is that the M12 can be replaced with (more time consuming) tools such as ratchets and breaker bars. However, when you have a really stubborn nut (and we're potentially talking really big nuts here) then you're into huge breaker bars and scaffold tube territory which quite often are difficult to physically locate or operate. For example there's some nuts that hold the axles onto the JCB - if I didn't have the big Milwaukee then I'd have to resort to a breaker bar an scaffold tube however to get the clearance above the hub I'd have to go onto an extension which then introduces a whole world of pain with it slipping off.
Jelly_Sheffield
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Personally I prefer the Makita stuff, and if I was starting from scratch and a high-torque impact was my first purchase would probably buy the big 36v Hitachi as a kit... Easily the best value for money and will go toe to toe with the offerings from the three big brands.
Milwaukee undoubtedly had the widest range of automotive power tools though, so if you expect to buy more specialised mechanical stuff, it may be a better choice.
On light commercials and cars a mid-torque in the 450-500 range will do 99% of things you're not going to have to cut off or drill out.
Certainly normal automotive wheel nuts should not be tightened to anywhere near 1000Nm!
You can have the torque-y-est impact out there, but if it can only access the bolt head with a 12" extension and a wiggler, then it's not going to apply much more than a stubby that would fit straight on.
Personally this has caused me to go back to air tools whilst in the yard/workshop... More power than most "high torques" in a package the size of a compact (or a stubby if you get an Astro "Onyx Nano").
Milwaukee undoubtedly had the widest range of automotive power tools though, so if you expect to buy more specialised mechanical stuff, it may be a better choice.
For trucks or heavy plant maybe...
On light commercials and cars a mid-torque in the 450-500 range will do 99% of things you're not going to have to cut off or drill out.
Certainly normal automotive wheel nuts should not be tightened to anywhere near 1000Nm!
Compactness makes a huge difference to usability...
You can have the torque-y-est impact out there, but if it can only access the bolt head with a 12" extension and a wiggler, then it's not going to apply much more than a stubby that would fit straight on.
Personally this has caused me to go back to air tools whilst in the yard/workshop... More power than most "high torques" in a package the size of a compact (or a stubby if you get an Astro "Onyx Nano").
Its very good. Its perhaps a bit bulky for some of the stuff on the cars, but I knew that when I bought it as I really wanted it for the big stuff on the land rover and the tractor and digger. It whizzed the digger wheel nuts off with no effort at all.
Perhaps my only criticism other than its size is that it doesnt have a medium tighten torque of say 150Nm. Its either 68 or so FT that I doubt I will ever use it. That said, I bought it to undo tight things and always do up with the correct sized torque wrench. I have a huge one that will go up to 750Nm (I think) if needed.
I am considering the smaller M12 one for the cars now. As ever, getting a new battery system opens up a new world of must have tools! I also want an impact driver but have found an M18 one for not too much so will pick that up at some point.
Perhaps my only criticism other than its size is that it doesnt have a medium tighten torque of say 150Nm. Its either 68 or so FT that I doubt I will ever use it. That said, I bought it to undo tight things and always do up with the correct sized torque wrench. I have a huge one that will go up to 750Nm (I think) if needed.
I am considering the smaller M12 one for the cars now. As ever, getting a new battery system opens up a new world of must have tools! I also want an impact driver but have found an M18 one for not too much so will pick that up at some point.
I’m invested into the Makita battery ecosystem but if I wasn’t, I would buy Milwaukee now. Their 18v fuel high torque unit is lighter than the strongest Makita 1/2” drive unit. The Makita is good but very heavy for continued use. It now only tends to get used on wheel nuts.
Craig-SM
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The M12 stubby torque gun is a great bit of kit and makes the big M18 high power virtually redundant and only for those nuts that really don’t want to let go.
A lot of my recent cordless tools have been M12 and Milwaukee are really investing in the platform so no doubt you if you do go for the M12 stubby then you’ll have plenty more tools to tempt you.
If you have the choice High Output M12 batteries then take it as they do deliver that extra performance that the newer tools can provide.
Craig-SM
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I was using it last Friday to remove the wheel nuts off the Shogun whilst rotating tyres, changing rear discs and pads along with front ball joints. All done in mode 1 of 3 with ease and only 1 bar on the battery.
I’ve not had this latest gen that long to really test but had the original version and that also removed the driveshaft nuts too. This latest version is noticeably more powerful with a 5ah high output battery.
dobbslc
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Milwaukee M12 FUEL FCIWF12G3-0 Gen III 1/2" Impact Wrench Body Only | Power Tool World https://share.google/9Hmvdnqt52Xcfay28
745Nm of nut busting torque!
WOW.
745Nm of nut busting torque!
WOW.
Craig-SM
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The 3/8 ratchet is something I’m still not sold on as again the Stubby has a mode for spinning nuts on until they seat so use that mainly.
Craig-SM
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It’s silly that something that fits in the palm of your hand can be that powerful. The max torque is based on 5ah batteries though as they perform better than the 6ah
