Snap-On cordless line vs Milwaukee 18 Fuel

[bradley8795]

So I'm going to start buying some power tools. The first two on my list are the 1/4 in ratchet and 1/2 impact. Which ones would you recommend for pro use? Without taking cost into consideration because I'm in the Snapon SEP so they are priced basically the same. Which line is best?

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[mikebramel]

Snap On is a much better ratchet. M18 fuel impact has good more power than the Snap On impact

 

[bradley8795]

That's what I was expecting to hear actually. I just don't want to get into a bunch of different systems when I have to buy a ton of batteries. I understand the impact and ratchet aren't going to be the same batteries either way but I want as few batteries as possible.

I'm leaning towards snapon because theirs come with two batteries included on most kits. Which I believe Milwaukee doesn't do.

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[Bro-Hio]

My Milwaukee M12 Fuel drill came with two batteries. If you look at the box the ones that don't come with batteries will say "Tool Only", i.e. their oscillating multi-tool.

 

[FMC1959]

That's what I was expecting to hear actually. I just don't want to get into a bunch of different systems when I have to buy a ton of batteries. I understand the impact and ratchet aren't going to be the same batteries either way but I want as few batteries as possible.I'm leaning towards snapon because theirs come with two batteries included on most kits. Which I believe Milwaukee doesn't do.

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I am not familiar with the SO ones but from what you imply above, they have different batteries for the ratchet & impact? With the Milwaukee you definitely have the same batteries and also open yourself up to one of the most extensive cordless tool catalogs available. No knock on the SO cordless but it would definitely be a small catalog.....this to be considered if having the least amount of battery systems is important.

Either way, this forum is very big on SO & Milwaukee cordless, I think I will need at least 2 bags of popcorn for this one

 

[bradley8795]

I am not familiar with the SO ones but from what you imply above, they have different batteries for the ratchet & impact? With the Milwaukee you definitely have the same batteries and also open yourself up to one of the most extensive cordless tool catalogs available. No knock on the SO cordless but it would definitely be a small catalog.....this to be considered if having the least amount of battery systems is important.

Either way, this forum is very big on SO & Milwaukee cordless, I think I will need at least 2 bags of popcorn for this one

Lol ya for sure. The battery for the ratchet is much smaller than the one for the impact. Maybe they would work on both but the size difference would be pretty big, from a 1/4 ratchet to a 1/2 impact, I would think.

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[FMC1959]

Lol ya for sure. The battery for the ratchet is much smaller than the one for the impact. Maybe they would work on both but the size difference would be pretty big, from a 1/4 ratchet to a 1/2 impact, I would think.

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My bad, I just checked and in M18 they do not have 1/4" impact, only 1/4" driver, so even with Milwaukee you would the M12 thus need two battery systems. (but one charger for both)

 

[BottomLineReviews]

The snap on has more power in a smaller unit (7.2v power is similar to Milwaukee 12v) but the battery's leave a lot to be desired. Milwaukee makes a very reliable, very powerful, tool, and imo a much better 18v line.

 

[scissorman]

I don't own any SO cordless stuff nor will I ever as they don't put out nearly the ratings thay others such as Milwaukee and Ingersoll Rand do. With that being said I just purchased the IR W5110, IR W5130 and the IR W7150 and couldn't be happier. They all use the same batteries and my next purchase is the IR 1/2" cordless drill.

 

[ephotrod]

Another thing to that I took into consideration is on the same battery system my possibilities to grow is much great with Milwaukee. Meaning that I can purchase a 3/8 impact then a sawzall, then a caulking gun, you get the drift.

Sometimes when I deliver parts for our yard I walk into to customers shops and see what they are using. More and more I am seeing professional shops with Milwaukee impacts, they will also have other brand tools, not confining themselves to a single plat form.

With all that said I have confined our yard to Milwaukee impacts because for the dollar amount, warranty, battery life, and ease of expansion, they come out ahead in my opinion.

 

[WhiffySpark]

I don't own any SO cordless stuff nor will I ever as they don't put out nearly the ratings thay others such as Milwaukee and Ingersoll Rand do. With that being said I just purchased the IR W5110, IR W5130 and the IR W7150 and couldn't be happier. They all use the same batteries and my next purchase is the IR 1/2" cordless drill.

That's because they publish working torque. Not some inflated once in a run number

Op is this for home use?

 

[crewchief888]

on warranty basis alone, i'd go milwaukee...

1 year vs 5 year


and what happens when you decide to add more tools, and you no longer have access to SO discounted prices....

 

[bradley8795]

That's because they publish working torque. Not some inflated once in a run number

Op is this for home use?

Nope. If it was home use I would go with Milwaukee 12v and not think twice, but it's for pro use.

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[jcbarry]

I just sold off all my snap on 18volt tools. The milwaukee are just as good, if not better. I am referring to the 1/2" fuel impact, 1/2" fuel drill and 1/4" hex impact which I use with a 3/8" adapter. I was very disappointed with the lithium snap on.tools. I had to return both drill and impact for warranty repairs while my old cicadas were abused for years without issue.

 

[bradley8795]

on warranty basis alone, i'd go milwaukee...

1 year vs 5 year


and what happens when you decide to add more tools, and you no longer have access to SO discounted prices....



[emoji481]

I'll have access to them for 2 years. There are only so many different battery powered tools I could need. If they are better and they last then the price really doesn't matter though does it?

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[crewchief888]

Nope. If it was home use I would go with Milwaukee 12v and not think twice, but it's for pro use.

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i'm using a milwaukee 18v fuel 3/8"dr impact, 12v drill and flashlight professionally

i'm not in a nice clean auto shop,

i'm a field mechanic working on const eq.

i have a co-worker that bought a SO 3/8" dr impact a little over a year ago.
one battery has already stopped holding a charge, so sorry it's out of warranty.

i've been abusing mine for over 2 years without a problem.

 

[Hammer1963]

I was once a Snap-on cordless user myself, but have sold them all in favor of the Milwaukee M12 and M18 products. All Fuel sans the M12 ratchets which are not available in Fuel configuration. You just can't beat the Milwaukee cordless line for everyday use.

 

[techenthusiast]

I bought my snap on cordless through the student program just like you're considering

18v lithium 3/8 impact, 1/2 impact, hammer drill and 7.2v ct661

At this point now that I no longer qualify for the SEP as I'm graduated and out In the work force , I regret not going with the m18 fuel line because of the high price and limited warranty on snap-on cordless.

I realized that I don't even use my 3/8 or 1/2 cordless out here working so I took home the 1/2 and the 3/8 is sitting in my box at work, The only time I used it in the last 6 months it couldn't perform so I had to pull out air anyway. With such rare use the LED doesn't work either.

I had to replace 1 out of the 2 batteries I had for that 18v line but that was my fault, I got it wet

My hammer drill is good but the chuck binds under heavy load, mostly deep at the end of a through hole with 1/4 and up drills...
I need to send it in for flat rate repair but then I'll be out a drill for a month or two so it's not going to happen...

Edit: the ct661 I don't regret , had to send it in for repair once after the first few weeks
Of use but since that it has held up to daily use for 1.5 yrs. but if not for the half off student discount I wouldn't have got it, and now there's nothing appealing in this 7.2v line to add on because the 14 volt micro lithium line came out and took over the 7.2

 

[DodgeMech]

7.2 tools ****...the 14.4's are pretty decent actually, but i hate my ratchet...like my mini 3/8 impact and screw gun though

 

[CJM8515]

My snap on guy even tells me the cordless tools aint worth it. My old snap on nicad 18v 1/2" impact works fine after all these years. I had it rebuilt one and rebuilt the batteries once.

The fuel impact is 10x better.

 

[redwrench60]

I also just sold off the last of my Snap On cordless lithium tools. I gave them multiple chances but the reliability, power and value just isn't there. I went round and round with tool and battery problems only to have my **** outdone by Fuel stuff that costs half as much and comes with four times more warranty. My dealer always has a drawer full of lithium **** to send back for warranty.

Buy Milwaukee for cordless.

 

[Bruce57]

I like Snap On and have an 18v cordless drill which is a great drill. However, I just bought the Milwaukee Fuel 1/2" impact. I use it professionally and the power is great. The specs were higher than the Snap On 1/2 impact and the price was much less. I am very happy with the Milwaukee.

 

[redwrench60]

Snap On's cordless lithium tools have actually pissed me off and left a bad taste in my mouth. That stuff is too expensive to be as unreliable as it is and a one year tool warranty....what a joke. They won't fu*k me again.

 

[ephotrod]

Let me point out a couple things.
1st off everyone is saying the same things with the same issue (so you won't be magical and not have these issues).
2nd Many other professions use Milwaukee tools daily all day long from journeymen, to electricians to plumbers, carpenters. These tools are not just home owner grade. Mechanics are not the only one to use tools and use them hard. I know of two electrician companies that rent yes rent hilti and purchase other brands such as Milwaukee cordless tools because they issue them to guys who drop them or could give two focks about them.

Before we were spoiled with great cordless tools people were spoiled with the simple ratchet, the name of the game is get the job done efficiently, at a fair value and properly.

 

[619DioFan]

I would go with Milwaukee. better power and better warranty. love my 1/2 and 3/8 fuel impacts.

 

[Bruce51d]

I love snap on but I'll be goin with Milwaukee. 1/2, 3/8 impacts, sawzall, grease gun, grinder, drill

 

[Skin]

If I were starting over i'd probably go MAC. Their new stuff is very impressive, comes in a fair chunk of change less than the truck "norm", has a 2 or 3 year warranty, and is based on DeWalt battery technology which you know is going nowhere. The fact that you can run to the corner hardware store for a new battery for your MAC tool is pretty nice. In fact if you already had an existing supply of 12v and 20v batteries you could literally just buy bare tools and be good to go. Milwaukee stuff feels cheap to me and the rubber over molds permanently deform when they contact automotive fluids.

Snap-Ons 14.4 3/8 impact is great. I like the ratchet as well. CT8810 and 8850 are also very nice. Couldn't recommend them though based on the astronomical price, horrid warranty (although monster lithium did bump the battery warranty to 2yrs), and some probable long term reliability issues with the tools themselves based off my own experiences.

 

[shockwave]

I keep the m12 for my house and road use where the 14.4 at the shop

The 14.4 ratchet and 3/8 impact are slightly stronger imo but drill is lackluster

The m12 ratchet is great and the size can fit easily in tight spots the drill is awesome better than my old 18v lxt makita was and the 3/8 impact has balls about equal to snap on

But keep in my me warrantee can be a let down from snap on vs Milwaukee and price is also cheaper thru Milwaukee

If I choose 1 brand it would be Milwaukee