Milwaukee tool "combo" as starter?

[coderedpl]

Hello all,

So I've been eye-balling this forum for a while now, and I've been skimming through this section (& the topic) and there seems to be obviously quite a bit of love for the Milwaukee brand. I don't have a solid collection of tools as I've always gotten around borrowing and using others, and figured it's time to get the bare basics of my own.

I currently do have the Milwaukee 2655B-22 impact I bought back in 2014, while I'm not all that satisfied with it as it does have trouble removing wheel bolts off my car (which are torqued only to 90 to 100 ft/lbs) I do have this "attraction" towards the brand.

Anyway, I'm looking around at the basic Impact Driver / Drill combo's I've seen a few times that are on sale, sometimes including something like the Hackzall.
I've seen price drops of about 150$ for the combinations, and I'm wondering if such deals would be considered "great" or just average?
Any particulars I should look for?

Or considering my somewhat negative experience with the impact, I should look at other brands?

Any advice and help is greatly appreciated.

 

[sweet victory]

Head over the deals section of the forum, and you will find a dedicated Milwaukee Deals thread. FWIW, the new impacts are friggen awesome. My new compact 3/8 impact has as much torque as your 1/2". The new high output 1/2 does 1100ftlb of torque!

 

[verbalkint99]

There is a whole thread dedicated to finding the best deals on these sets in the *HOT DEALS* section

 

[barev]

I'm surprised your M18 impact has trouble removing lug nuts torqued to 100ft lb. My M12 Fuel 3/8 impact has less than half the power and takes off lug nuts with a second or two of hammering. Do you think you may have issues with the battery being old/weak?


To answer your question, the combo kits can be great. Kits/combos are also the best deal for getting extra batteries and chargers. A fresh or higher capacity battery might bring new life into your impact wrench as well.

 

[DFB]

Ya I'm bit surprised the earlier 55B struggles on car lugs I've only had a few problems on seriously neglected 16" truck lugs with my tool the condition of the wheel does matter for sure.

$150 combo packs and free tool

So are you asking about brushed M12 series tools...

or M18 like the impact wrench?

Fuel or non Fuel?

 

[Yarpo]

I currently do have the Milwaukee 2655B-22 impact I bought back in 2014, while I'm not all that satisfied with it as it does have trouble removing wheel bolts off my car (which are torqued only to 90 to 100 ft/lbs) I do have this "attraction" towards the brand.

Anyway, I'm looking around at the basic Impact Driver / Drill combo's I've seen a few times that are on sale, sometimes including something like the Hackzall.
I've seen price drops of about 150$ for the combinations, and I'm wondering if such deals would be considered "great" or just average?
Any particulars I should look for?

Your impact should have no trouble removing lug nuts, I use mine for everything and it zips the lugs on my car on and off no problem, even after a winter of driving in the snow/salt. Maybe there's an issue with the battery or the tool itself?

Also, I think 150 for the drill/driver is a good price, I assume thats not the brushless kit?

 

[coderedpl]

I'm surprised your M18 impact has trouble removing lug nuts torqued to 100ft lb. My M12 Fuel 3/8 impact has less than half the power and takes off lug nuts with a second or two of hammering. Do you think you may have issues with the battery being old/weak?


To answer your question, the combo kits can be great. Kits/combos are also the best deal for getting extra batteries and chargers. A fresh or higher capacity battery might bring new life into your impact wrench as well.

I'm honestly not sure on what it might be, I just found myself taking out the breaker bar, loosening the lug nuts and then dong the rest with the impact, even though I never torque my wheels past 100 ft/lbs

I would think the battery being old should not be an issue because I essentially had this problem since I've gotten the tool. My biggest mistake was now that I think about it, not sending it in under warranty to get checked out. Now I'll be out like 150$ to get it repaired if it needs to be.

I have two batteries, I think it was a deal CPO was running with an extra battery.

Ya I'm bit surprised the earlier 55B struggles on car lugs I've only had a few problems on seriously neglected 16" truck lugs with my tool the condition of the wheel does matter for sure.

$150 combo packs and free tool

So are you asking about brushed M12 series tools...

or M18 like the impact wrench?

Fuel or non Fuel?

Now that I think about it, I might of mixed up the 150$ price with something else. It's 229 for that deal.

I've been reading about, and watching videos on milwaukee in comparison to other brands and it seems like milwaukee just stands out much better, and has better longevity.

I don't need the tools on a professional level, but more of a DIY / around the apartment / working on car kind of things.

In terms of fuel, I'm not sure the higher price of the Fuel series would be justifiable for my usage and I'm actually second guessing M18 vs M12, but I also don't want to short myself in-case I need the extra power, and seeing as I already have two high capacity batteries for the M18, I think it would be a good series to stick with.

Your impact should have no trouble removing lug nuts, I use mine for everything and it zips the lugs on my car on and off no problem, even after a winter of driving in the snow/salt. Maybe there's an issue with the battery or the tool itself?

Also, I think 150 for the drill/driver is a good price, I assume thats not the brushless kit?

Now that I look through the history, like above. I don't think it was 150. I see a 199$ price for the M12 kit and 229 for the three pack M18

I've always wondered about deals such as this (yes i know its expired, just using it as an example)
https://slickdeals.net/f/11464503-m...349-shipped?src=SiteSearchV2_SearchBarV2Algo1

Are THOSE essentially worth buying as a pack? Or am i better off buying individual tools separately?

 

[DFB]

I've always wondered about deals such as this (yes i know its expired, just using it as an example)
https://slickdeals.net/f/11464503-m...349-shipped?src=SiteSearchV2_SearchBarV2Algo1

Are THOSE essentially worth buying as a pack? Or am i better off buying individual tools separately?

Price wise that's a fair deal, but not an exceptionally deep discount. Best I think I've seen for the drill driver combo one xc battery one compact was around $180 maybe. the hackzall has always been like $99 and the saw about $120. Figure they could be had with 20% off promo maybe, so another $180 is my math's right The worl light was always like $40.

Now if it had an extra XC battery thrown in then it would be a slick deal .

 

[coderedpl]

Price wise that's a fair deal, but not an exceptionally deep discount. Best I think I've seen for the drill driver combo one xc battery one compact was around $180 maybe. the hackzall has always been like $99 and the saw about $120. Figure they could be had with 20% off promo maybe, so another $180 is my math's right The worl light was always like $40.

Now if it had an extra XC battery thrown in then it would be a slick deal .

I guess this can be considered one of those deals you can get without trying too much. I'll wait around for something better seeing as I don't need them right this minute.

 

[kctyphoon]

Thruth is, I think MOST people start off with a drill and impact driver combo, since those are the most common used tools for many people. IMO - THOSE are worth getting fuel versions.. for some other stuff, I feel that fuel is less important, and alot of the brushed stuff is still really good.

 

[theoldwizard1]

In general, I have never been a fan of battery 1/2" drills. Just not enough torque ! My 1/2" corded drill has triple gear reduction, with a maximum RPM of only 600 rpm. Of course that ***** for small drill bits but it has enough torque to really sprain your wrist if you do not have a firm hold of the assist handle when it is spinning a big Silver and Deming bit or a large Forstner bit.

That new Milwaukee 1/2" drill might change my mind, but you can not beat a lightweight, M12, 3/8" drill for so many jobs ! You really don't need the torque of the M18 1/4" hex impact driver for most jobs. Another tool where an M12 version is more than adequate.

 

[coderedpl]

I'm actually starting to wonder whether my combination of socket that i need for my wheels + using the impact socket on top of that could be a problem
I have something like this for wheels
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N17CK76/?tag=atomicindus08-20

on top of that, i need to use a thin enough socket to fit my wheels

 

[garymtx]

I own a BUNCH of m18 and m12 tools and love every one of them. They get used and abused daily and never had a breakdown. Good tools are an investment, might as well cry once when you buy them instead of crying every time you use one.

 

[DFB]

I'm actually starting to wonder whether my combination of socket that i need for my wheels + using the impact socket on top of that could be a problem
I have something like this for wheels
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N17CK76/?tag=atomicindus08-20

on top of that, i need to use a thin enough socket to fit my wheels

Ya it probably help some to have regular deep socket direct on the anvil

I have the same set Tekton branded I will have to compare results

 

[coderedpl]

Ya it probably help some to have regular deep socket direct on the anvil

I have the same set Tekton branded I will have to compare results

My problem is I can't use 'just' any deep socket as the wheels have lug bolt holes that are just smaller in diameter than usual, hence the special "tool." I'm still thinking this could be part of a reason, I'd have to experiment.

With that said, as of right now, I'm essentially leaning towards the M12 Fuel for basic driver / drill, and if I need further tools such as a hackzall or saw, or something more "heavy duty" I'll invest in the M18

Still debating hah

 

[Tonyuk]

My problem is I can't use 'just' any deep socket as the wheels have lug bolt holes that are just smaller in diameter than usual, hence the special "tool." I'm still thinking this could be part of a reason, I'd have to experiment.

With that said, as of right now, I'm essentially leaning towards the M12 Fuel for basic driver / drill, and if I need further tools such as a hackzall or saw, or something more "heavy duty" I'll invest in the M18

Still debating hah

You loose torque through extensions with impact tools.

I would try getting one of those plastic covered wheel bolt sockets. If you need it thinner cut the plastic sleeve off.

 

[coderedpl]

You loose torque through extensions with impact tools.

I would try getting one of those plastic covered wheel bolt sockets. If you need it thinner cut the plastic sleeve off.

Yea that's the plan, I'm looking around for one now and then I'll give the impact another go with just the one socket.

 

[coderedpl]

Tried my impact with a freshly charged battery just one socket directly to impact without any attachments on a friend's car and it took the bolts off without issue, not sure what his torque was but pretty sure it was similar to what my car is.

Now need to find myself a thin wall socket to clear my wheel bolt holes and try it on mine