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Dewalt or Milwaukee impact gun?

Fatandre

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Mar 2, 2011
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Iceland
I am getting a impact gun and was thinking about which one to get.
I plan on getting more tools in the future, but will start with this one as I will be sticking to one brand which is actually better?

I just dont want to be stuck with battery problems and somehow I think yellow looks so good with my hazet tool boxes. Let me hear your thoughts
 
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Cope

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Mar 8, 2013
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Houston, TX
Between these two, the one that is better is the one you want. Look at other tools in each family and buy accordingly. I have access to more DeWalt than Milwaukee, plus I had prior experience with DeWalt. YMMV
 

ADSR

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Jan 12, 2013
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I like the M18 tool line up from Milwaukee better so I would go that way myself.
 

SK-Mike

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Nov 5, 2014
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Elkhorn City, Ky
I can only speak for the tool which I own (Dewalt DCF 899). I have yet to come across a rusted lug it wouldn't break loose. I will admit I'm partial to the Dewalt Brand and have many other tools that use the 20v max battery platform.

I pulled in work parking lot, our maintainence guy was using an air impact to remove lugs on one of our delivery trucks, his air impact would not remove it, I just so happened to have the Dewalt DCF 899 in my truck box, put the socket on the lug and it busted it right off, he was very impressed.
 

jfranci3

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Oct 18, 2014
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Define impact gun? What are you trying to do with it? Heads up... my Milwaukee 3/8 12v Fuel BRUSHLESS gun was able to breakaway bolts better (about 90ft/lb) than the 18v Bosch Brush-ful unit, which is comparable to Dewalts brushed motor. My point - pay attention to torque numbers, but they're not exact AND go brushless if it makes sense.

Is one better Dewalt, Milwaukee, or etc? Probably not. I'd look to see what other tools you need. If you do automotive work, the Milwaukee m12 ratchets are nice, but that's another battery.
 

Local

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Fallbrook,ca
In the tests I've seen the Milwaukees usually zip bolts off a little faster than the other brands. All them are great and will serve you for years. I have a 20v DeWalt that has served me for years. I dropped that thing off a 50 ft pole into the dirt and it was fine. Pick one system and enjoy.
 

kctyphoon

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Milwaukee...

IMG_2017.jpg
 
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KWtech90

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Feb 28, 2016
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149
I would go with milwaukee for sure. Both guns are virtually identical in specs, but milwaukee has a better warranty and a better warranty service.

My coworker has had a dcf899 for about 6 months and it has recently stopped chooching. I have a 3/8 drive mac tools branded brushed impact and it died a little after a year of use and I couldn't even get it warrantied because of oil contamination inside the housing (what automotive tool won't have oil and grease buildup inside the casing after heavy use???).
 

KWtech90

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Feb 28, 2016
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Hate to say it, but that's Mac for ya...

I try not to fool with the tool trucks too often because it's rare that something just as good or better can't be had on amazon or ebay for significantly less, but their new axis ratchet is flawless.
 

jshillin

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I have a lot of M12 & M18 tools, including a couple impacts. My 1/2" Milwaukee Fuel hasn't met a nut it wouldn't break loose yet. I have no trouble suggesting going with Milwaukee. Do some searches, you'll find a whole lot of good info on them here on the forums.
 

ThatSickRip

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May 23, 2017
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Do like a poster above said, and see what other tools you need or will plan on going. Then see what manufacturer fits the bill for your needs.
 
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willjogervais

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Jul 31, 2016
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Minnesota
I have two dewalt 899 brushless impacts. They get worked hard. Great guns. I have had them since they came out and havent had a single problem with either of them. Also have two of the small brushless impacts, my 1/4 hex is probably my favorite most used tool in my box. It sits with a 3/8 driver insert in it 90% of the time. Every 20v battery I have owned, 10+, is still going strong. I prefer dewalt, But like others have said, both have good platforms. Choose the one you like better.
 

NinnyCTSV

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Apr 30, 2017
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Ontario California
Everyone in my shop has Milwaukee as its the brand of choice from our Cornwell dealer. The warranty is amazing. That being said I've always been a Dewalt fanboy. All my power tools are dewalt. Have a set at home and a set at work. The power between the two is virtually identical. The warranty is a little lack luster to be honest from dewalt, however there is a dewalt dealer close to home that will rebuilt them for relatively cheap and usually includes a free 4hr battery
 

pbon

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May 14, 2017
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You should be happy with either brand for impact. I have Milwaukee but won't knock Dewalt. I would look at the rest of the brand's lineup to see whether you might want more from one or the other once you have a battery set and start buying bare tools.
 

deberly12

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Jun 7, 2017
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Lebanon County, PA
I have just recently been considering the same question. I am deciding to go with the Milwaukee high torque fuel version. I simply can't argue with over a thousand foot pounds. The DeWalt appears to be close to the same rating but I have heard and had much better experiences with Milwaukee. I don't know a single person that has ever had anything too bad to say about Milwaukee. On the other hand I know several people that dumped DeWalt in favor of Milwaukee.

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk
 

visionguru

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Jan 2, 2017
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Chicago
All cordless impact guns are using similar technology. Within the same power range, the performance difference is rather small. "platform" is over-rated, unless one plan to rely on 1 battery for all of his tools. A charger is normally $50, that's what "platform" is all about.

I would pick ANY brand based on the following:
(1) How does it feel in hand?
(2) Price
(3) Warranty
 

handymancanfixit

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Aug 25, 2014
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Location
Winston Salem, NC
I like that fact that there are local service centers nearly everywhere for the products that fall under the Stanley Black & Decker family. Those would be:

Dewalt
Porter Cable
Black & Decker
and now Craftsman

Not to mention that they are a USA Owned and based company.

Unfortunately Milwaukee tools is now owned by the Hong Kong based Techtronic Industries.

They are all made in Asia, but it gives me some satisfaction to buy from a USA owned and operated company.

My personal preference is Porter Cable.
 

-->

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I have friends who love rigid. So far their stuff actually seems pretty decent. I have Milwaukee stuff because I got it on sale at HD. My brother picked Dewalt so our stuff wouldn't get mixed up, no " you have my drill" or " you have MY driver " !

All in all if it's that hard to decide i'd just flip a coin...
 

Bighead38

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Rockland County NY
Go hold each one in the store. Milwaukee fits my hand better and is more comfortable and seems a better balance for me. I like the lighting on dewalt way better. Milwaukee claims to be a leader in lighting but the lights on their tools are pretty poor.
 
Joined
Jun 16, 2017
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As you can see I am invested in both battery lines! Though Milwaukee is the way to go for impacts. When you buy a Milwaukee Fuel impact it will be pretty top notch. Nailers...not so much.


 

rustbucket5

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Apr 22, 2015
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252
you dont buy an impact you buy into a platform, dewalt and milwaukee have a very similar portfolio with similar spec for most of the tools. i bought into milwaukee because they had a great sale on them at the time and they were the only one at the time with a HD 1/2" impact which i needed at the time. but now? dewalt and makita both have monster impacts.
 

Tonyuk

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Jun 9, 2017
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Scotland
I have a dewalt 1/2 impact (XR DCF899) it shifts hub bolts and brake fixings no problem, a bit heavier than an air tool but there's no line on the floor to trip over.
 
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Fatandre

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Mar 2, 2011
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Iceland
Still trying to decide.
I want to buy drills and impact guns. I will be working with wood but also with some stuff around the home.
Would Dewalt suit me better?
 

bcradio

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Jan 30, 2012
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New Mexico
Would Dewalt suit me better?

It depends on what you mean by impact gun. Also, you'll want to look at any other tools you might want from both companies cordless lineups. This will help you to determine what lineup is best for you.
 

gdocktor3

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Apr 18, 2015
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Connecticut
Still trying to decide.
I want to buy drills and impact guns. I will be working with wood but also with some stuff around the home.
Would Dewalt suit me better?

You obviously don't need it if you've gone this long without making a decision, but truly either will suit you fine. I personally have the Dewalt dcf899 and it hasn't let me down once. I said this when I bought it and continue to say it - the dcf899 is the best money I've spent on any tool. Haven't touched an air impact since.

To further extend your line of tools - I also have the new brushless dcd996 hammer drill and compact recip saw. They're both super powerful and side by side IMO are better than the latest comparable Milwaukee versions. The hammer drill is unbelievably powerful for what it is. I use it to send 3/4" worm bits and 2" hole saws through studs no problem. Up until this drill, I was only able to do something like that with a corded drill or hole hawg.
 
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