How’s everyone liking the new gen m12 stubby impact? New buttons bothering anyone?

[mikey03]

I picked up one of the new Milwaukee m12 impacts that everyone was going crazy for when it hit a sale but I kept it in the box because I already got an m18 mid torque and I honestly haven’t been doing as much car stuff this year compared to house work.

I was real reluctant to buy it because the new switch looks real bad. The early reviewers said they didn’t like it. People say they changed the switch so it could fit the bigger motor in the same size toolbody.

Now it’s been out a minute, anyone use it and how you liking the switch? Been thinking of listing it on marketplace while it’s still a hot tool and getting my money back. I actually looked to see if I could get gen 1 at a discount but they were completely gone.

I like the switch on the gen 1 and I prob don’t need the power of the new one, at least not in 3/8 and I got the m18 mid torque in 1/2. Usually Milwaukee keeps around the previous gen at a cheaper price but I started conspiracy theorizing they knew the new switch would be unpopular and people would buy the gen 1 cheaper if they still offer it. Literally every other tool with a new gen they keep selling the old gen. I’m sure that’s crazy talk but what do y’all think about it now you got it for 6 months or so

 

[jayemm]

I've seen a few reviews of it and gathered a few things, both from the reviews and the comments (which can be informative). Here are the negatives which would give me pause if considering purchasing one. The mode switching through the trigger can be unintuitive and inadvertently change setting while normal handling. The max power advertised is with a big, expensive battery. During review testing it would suddenly stop operation on a random basis. It eats batteries and runs hot because the motor/gearbox assembly is encased with rubber. This was seen in a teardown. One commenter on a youtube review video stated that his actually had melting rubber leaking out under hard usage.
I have no experience and can't verify all of these claims but maybe some forum members here can give their experience.
If yours is still in the box can it just be returned to vendor rather than marketplace if you don't want it anymore.

 

[rmack898]

I have one and like it. The mode switch can be a pain in the **** until you get used to it. I still sometimes change modes inadvertently but realize the change right away and correct it.
I work in a shop with 4 auto techs, 4 heavy equipment techs, and 2 machinist/fabricators. Everyone in the shop has the new 3/8 compact and likes it.

 

[Callelle]

Mine's been a champ, I love it. The trigger power selector is a non-issue for me because I always just leave it in 3, if I accidentally switch out, it's not a big deal to just switch it back. It does eat through a 5.0 under heavy use, but I go through maybe 1 a day. It does get hot under heavy use too, but I don't know anything about melting rubber leaking out, that seems like an exaggeration.

 

[dnschmidt]

It's a killer. 500 ft-lb in something that small. I just wish Milwaukee would get off its *** and put the same motor into it's right angle impact. The current model of this is strictly weak sauce. With the new stubby motor it would become the killer tool of the year. Nobody likes change which is what all the complaining is about. I'll tolerate change for an additional 300 ft-lb.

 

[WhataTool]

The trigger select *****. Mostly what annoys me about it is Milwaukee calling it the new hotness, like some new technology they improved while actually making the tool worse.
Otherwise great tool, nothing really gets close to its power to size in cordless

 

[Wrench-Polisher]

the back and forth button location ***** but everything else about is amazing. I was able to do 21mm and 23mm rusted on bolts and nuts on my ford flex with a 3/8 drive

 

[mikey03]

The trigger select *****. Mostly what annoys me about it is Milwaukee calling it the new hotness, like some new technology they improved while actually making the tool worse.
Otherwise great tool, nothing really gets close to its power to size in cordless

Yea honestly if they said we know this change isn’t great but we had to compromise to fit the bigger motor then I wouldn’t feel as bad but they are treating us like retards and pretending this was a design change on purpose for the best

 

[BWWgarage]

I have one and like it. The mode switch can be a pain in the **** until you get used to it. I still sometimes change modes inadvertently but realize the change right away and correct it.
I work in a shop with 4 auto techs, 4 heavy equipment techs, and 2 machinist/fabricators. Everyone in the shop has the new 3/8 compact and likes it.

Curious ... why the 3/8 vs 1/2?

 

[RangerChief]

I have the 3/8 and I like the trigger so much I just ordered the 1/2 also.

 

[WhataTool]

Curious ... why the 3/8 vs 1/2?

There's no downside to using the 3/8"
Plus smaller sockets

 

[mikey03]

Curious ... why the 3/8 vs 1/2?

Even though I haven’t used mines yet I went with 3/8

I already have a 1/2 m18 mid torque and high torque.

If the mid torque and 1/2 sockets are too big to fit then I want as small as possible and 3/8 sockets will be smaller than 1/2 and fit in more places

also don’t really see the need to go above 19 mm heads with the stubby And 3/8 is good for that

if I didn’t have a mid torque 1/2 and was using this to replace that which honestly it has similar torque then I could see owning this m12 stubby in 1/2 and using Astro nanos if it was too tight a spot.

of course here is garage journal just both 3/8 and 1/2

 

[mikey03]

There's no downside to using the 3/8"
Plus smaller sockets

There is downsides but honestly at 19 mm and below it’s not really a big deal

1/2 sockets are heavier so you get more whack whack whack momentum than 3/8. Astro makes some impact socket sets that are purposely heavy like triple weight if you need the extra momentum

1/2 also thicker and less likely to crack

but honestly like I said at 19 mm and lower I don’t think those are a big deal

the upsides of smaller lighter sockets overweigh the downsides by alot

 

[BWWgarage]

There is downsides but honestly at 19 mm and below it’s not really a big deal

1/2 sockets are heavier so you get more whack whack whack momentum than 3/8. Astro makes some impact socket sets that are purposely heavy like triple weight if you need the extra momentum

1/2 also thicker and less likely to crack

but honestly like I said at 19 mm and lower I don’t think those are a big deal

the upsides of smaller lighter sockets overweigh the downsides by alot

Thanks all for 3/8 vs 1/2 reasoning. Putting word in your mouths ... 3/8 stubby is complementary to high torque, so go with the smaller 3/8 to take advantage of stubby size and pull out the high torque 1/2 when it’s needed (higher torque or 19mm+)

 

[mikey03]

Thanks all for 3/8 vs 1/2 reasoning. Putting word in your mouths ... 3/8 stubby is complementary to high torque, so go with the smaller 3/8 to take advantage of stubby size and pull out the high torque 1/2 when it’s needed (higher torque or 19mm+)

I got a good deal on the m18 1/2 mid torque and it doesn’t have the weird switches and overheating issues the m12 gen 2 stubby got.

but the mid torque is much bigger than the stubby so that’s why thinking of keeping the 3/8 stubby but idk