Milwaukee M12 3/8" Mini-Impact Wrench???

[nato]

I see a bunch of mixed reviews scattered across the grid (and not a whole lot for any detailed automotive use), but it seems to be from people that were expecting too much from this little thing is what got it the bad reviews. I'd like to know if anyone has any real user-feedback on it? I primarily am considering it as a doubled under-dash and engine compartment tool because I find it redundant to purchase both a smaller powered, LIGHT DUTY 3/8" impact AND a 1/4" impact driver when this could do both w/ adapters. I know Milwaukee "claims" 1000 in lbs or 83 foot pounds....I've read a few reviews saying it's actually closer to 55 ft. lbs., but that's okay as far as I'm concerned. That pretty much covered both of my prioritized torque needs.
So if anyone can assist me in my deciosion making, that'd be swell!

 

[robertgreen79]

I got the M18 impact and LOVE it. Has worked perfect for me!

 

[wellstig1]

I have been using the hell out of mine for awhile now and have no complaints. The battery life is really good. The power for its size is more than adequate. Like you said about the poor reviews of power, people are just expecting way too much out of it. Being that its 3/8 drive makes it much better suited for mechanic usage since your not having to use an adapter. The only thing that ***** about this version versus the 1/4 hex version is that its hard to find a good deal on it.

 

[Deskmechanic]

I have the 1/4 hex version and use it a lot. Spins small fasteners off and on pretty quick. I wish mine was the 3/8 square though.

 

[Zebu Fellenz]

I have one and I love it. It's no replacement for an air impact gun and you have to remember this or you'll be disappointed. It doesn't seem to have much luck budging stubborn bolts but for my use that's fine as I use it pretty exclusively as a tool to disassemble and reassemble machinery after the bolts have been broken.

I've also used it pretty exclusively with a bit socket to drive screws and do other work outside the shop.

Used for its intended purposes I feel it's an excellent tool, but you won't be removing lug nuts or doing suspension work with it.

The most impressive feature I've found is that it seems to run at full power until the battery is almost completely dead and then it just stops spinning, it doesn't seem to have the gradual power drop off that other cordless tools have had. I think this may be common to all Li-Ion tools though?

 

[Racr350]

Love it...hasn't failed me yet. I haven't pushed it too hard because with some common sense, you'll know whether it can break it free or not. You're exactly right by saying that the haters were just expecting too much. Bought the gun by itself for $100 and a additional battery for $40 (as I already had the mini driver). Far more powerful. Again, very impressed for what its capable of.

 

[williaty]

My last job provided the Bosch equivalent of that tool. It was absolutely wonderful for zipping out all the screws under the dash, on the access covers on the engine and ****** etc. It would also work on most small bolts, basically up to M6x1.00 stuff. Things that are torqued to about 15-20lbf-ft or less. By the time you were trying to undo M8x1.25 bolts torqued to 25+ lbf-ft, it'd eventually do it, but it had to hammer away at them for a longer than I really like.

When I struck out on my own, I elected not to get the M12 one you're looking at though. The M18 compact one isn't any deeper front to back (it is much taller top to bottom, though) so it'll fit into just as tight of areas as the M12. The M18 compact is also rated for WAY more torque, making it useful on fasteners torqued up to 100lbf-ft or so. The downside is that the M18 compact does weigh a good bit more than the M12.

 

[truckdriver]

I have the M12 1/4 hex and love it. I think it's better than my bosch. I really don't understand why they made it 3/8 instead of 1/4 sq. I would think that with it's intended use and limitations that 1/4 would make more sense.

 

[Ign]

The most impressive feature I've found is that it seems to run at full power until the battery is almost completely dead and then it just stops spinning, it doesn't seem to have the gradual power drop off that other cordless tools have had. I think this may be common to all Li-Ion tools though?

Yes.

I've also been eyeing this and plan to order when funds allow.

I'm not expecting much more than my 1/4" hex driver, it's just more convenient for automotive use w the 3/8" square.

Furthermore, I have to believe that by not having a 1/4" hex to 3/8" square adapter (which I've used on my 1/4" impact driver before), you gain effective torque because the adapter surely absorbs some of what the tool can put out.

 

[SS5150]

I have one but haven't really used it alot, just doesn't seem strong enough for what I need. I bought it on ebay as a combo with a light and cordless screwdriver, and although it sounded good at the time, I should have let it pass. The screwdriver just seems slow so I end up using the drill/driver (that I bought separately) all the time.

 

[srmofo]

The Family Handyman had a huge write-up on all the mini impacts and drivers this month. I didnt look at it too close because Im not really in the market for one right now

 

[TheGrooveking]

I have the M12 3/8" impact I believe it is the 2451, I also have the 1/4" hex version which has 150 less inch pounds of torque. Both units are good, I used the 2451 to run in over 100 1/4" dia x 2-1/2" lags into 2x4's (side of them) for a modular Santa's Castle and a large Gingerbread house I built for the kids for the Christmas party, it did 78 of them before needing a battery change. After the party one battery took everything apart and this included other screws (about 200) on one battery. I give the M12 stuff a big thumbs up, the only negative I've heard is that the Hackzall was somewhat limited/weak.

Everybody who has used my 2451 loves it, I know three other guys who've bought them since mid-December after having used mine.

TheGrooveking

 

[whatsitsname]

Its pretty weak if you are using it for automotive repair. Any bolts over 12mm (head) it will struggle to loosen. I did a test by torquing in lug nuts and see many ft lbs can it loosen. At 40ft lbs it will take it a while to hammer away to loosen the lug nut. My Bosch PS41 starts to struggle over 55ft lbs.

Its bigger brother (Milwaukee M18 impact) is a different beast altogether. Lug nuts tighten to 100ft lbs and it still hammers it loose. The head is actually shorter than M12 I believe. With compact M18 batteries it was pretty light. I would recommend you get that and then order the 3/8 anvil ($15) from milwaukee and swap the out the hex for the 3/8. I'm using the hex to 3/8 square adapter from sears without any problem though.

 

[TheGrooveking]

Whatsitsname, don't confuse the 3/8" impact wrench and the 1/4" hex impact driver, there is a difference of 150 inch pounds between the two.

The Milwuakee M18 2651 has 2,000 inch pounds of torque and as whatsitsname states it is shorter than the M12 2451 by 3/4". The 2651 weighs in at 4.11 pounds and the 2451 weighs in at 2.3 pounds.

Acmetools.com has the M18 kit for $299 and the M12 kit for $159.99 including a M12 flashlight.

TheGrooveking

 

[nato]

thx guys, this is what I was hoping to see.
Whatsitsname: they do make a factory 3/8" anvil version of the M18 3/8" impact. I'd be all over it if is wasn't so tall b/c I already have the 2663 M18 1/2" impact. I see the girth problem coming into play if you need to be horizontaolly positioned under a dash at any time...It does intrigue me that it is actually a little bit shorter from the nose.
Thx Grooveking, I believe today calls for a short trip to home depot to at least see again the size of the M12 hex driver they have for further comparison to the 3/8" M12

 

[williaty]

thx guys, this is what I was hoping to see.
Whatsitsname: they do make a factory 3/8" anvil version of the M18 3/8" impact. I'd be all over it if is wasn't so tall b/c I already have the 2663 M18 1/2" impact. I see the girth problem coming into play if you need to be horizontaolly positioned under a dash at any time...It does intrigue me that it is actually a little bit shorter from the nose.
Thx Grooveking, I believe today calls for a short trip to home depot to at least see again the size of the M12 hex driver they have for further comparison to the 3/8" M12

I have both a 2663 and 2652 (the 1/2" big-balls and compact M18 impact wrenches). The height from battery bottom to tool top hasn't yet been a problem for me with the 2652. However, because the 2652 is "stubby" from anvil to ****, it really does fit in a lot of places.

As I said earlier, the big difference between the M18 "compact impact wrench" (in whatever anvil you choose) and the M12 "impact driver" for the kind of work you're asking about is going to be the weight of the tool. The M12 will be kinder to your arms when you're upside down, *** on the headrest, head stuffed under the dash, working on something.

 

[diesel research]

Have the 2450(?) 1/4 hex m12. Good to about 1/2" or so. The type of bolts you normally break free w/o leaning into. Stuff like transmission pan, valve cover, engine cover, various screws, and other fasteners attached to sheet metal, aluminum, or plastic that may be damaged by excess torque. Also good for running down fasteners. Assembled roll cart in this manner and then went over again for final torque. Definitely not 83ft-lbs, nor was that amount necessary.

Use a variety of bits, 1/4" adapter, 3/8" adapter, and dedicated hex drive sockets. 3/8 drive is almost pointless, since 1/4" socket set covers more sizes than this devices needs.

As far as the larger m18, it seemed to max out on new fresh 5/8" or 9/16" exhaust band clamp bolts on install or removal. Still significantly more power than the little one, significantly lighter than many others when used with compact battery.

Each has it's place. Each still requires some hand torquing/breaking-free. I do not view them for power, as I can easily accomplish anything they can as far as torque. They are better for repetitive nut/bolt running to save some time, not save strain. That is what full size or air impacts are for. In many limited access areas it takes significantly less time to set final torque after fastener is run down.


Edit: I did remove dodge ram 1500 transmission using nothing more than the m18 and basic hand tools. 15yr old rusted frame cross member bolts did struggle a little, not so much with exhaust bolts. This is in coastal Texas. It would have never made the cut above the rust belt.

 

[mepilotunot]

Sold 4 last week and the techs love them. I sold the reg M12 driver and it was one of my best sellers. Just started pushing the 3/8 and the impact driver this past week and so far so good. I also sold several m12 grease guns, video scopes, right angle drills and a few 1/2 M18 guns. I really like the M12s and M18 set up. Cant beat the 5yr Warranty and the price when you compare them to some other trucks when it comes to cordless bang for the buck.

 

[whatsitsname]

thx guys, this is what I was hoping to see.
Whatsitsname: they do make a factory 3/8" anvil version of the M18 3/8" impact. I'd be all over it if is wasn't so tall b/c I already have the 2663 M18 1/2" impact. I see the girth problem coming into play if you need to be horizontaolly positioned under a dash at any time...It does intrigue me that it is actually a little bit shorter from the nose.
Thx Grooveking, I believe today calls for a short trip to home depot to at least see again the size of the M12 hex driver they have for further comparison to the 3/8" M12

Yes I know they have the 3/8 anvil version. I did not buy it because I think that limits the impact to mostly sockets (mechanical duty). Also I think it only makes sense to buy the M18 impact in the 3/8 anvil size not the M12 with the 3/8 anvil. As I have said earlier they just don't have enough torque to make use of the 3/8 normal size sockets (10mm to 19mm). It would make more sense to put a 1/4 inch square as these will be the normal kind of screws/bolts (6mm to 12mm oil/******/valve cover pan) they can tackle. Of course I have no idea what your primary usage will be so take that into consideration for your purchase.

Also if you go with the M12 tools try to get the one that has the "Red Lithium" batteries. They are supposedly stronger and longer running by 20%. I can't vouch for the longer run time (yet) but I can vouch that it definitely runs stronger.