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Milwaukee Impact Driver: FUEL or FUEL SURGE?

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Dave88LX

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Narrowed down to Milwaukee because I need a battery for my Rocket light.

I've decided I want to go with either the FUEL combo kit (2999-22CX) or combo kit w/ FUEL SURGE impact driver (2997-22).

Watched a little YouTube, read some reviews. Anyone used both and have a preference?

Looking at the 2760-20 FUEL SURGE impact vs 2853-20 FUEL impact.

Both kits come with the 2804-20 drill.

Thanks.

Milwaukee tool kits.jpg
 
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mc4life27

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I have both as well as the m12 fuel and m12 fuel surge. I work construction so I use my impacts about 6-7 days a week. Plus I always carry multiple impacts with me just in case I need extras. But the two impacts I always grab first is either the m12 or the m18 surge. As a matter of fact my 2853 needs to be sent back in because of true chuck issue and bits falling out and he trigger is acting up. But the surge both m18 & m12 are by far my favorite impacts.


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pascal32

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I have the M18 "regular" fuel - its driven everything I've needed it to including some decent size lag bolts. if you are in the M12 market then the surge has its benefits.
 
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jonshonda

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I bought the 2853 1/4 Fuel impact because of the "Tim Allen effect" MORE POWER. But I don't find it easy to use like I did my much lower powered older Bosch 1/4 impact. I have always used Bosch square drive bits and never had an issue, as I drive mostly 3" square drive screws in 2x4's. But what I have found with the 2853 is that is likes to jump off the screw, and isn't very easy to use w/o really concentrating on driver position and lot's of pushing hard down on the fastener.

I am wondering if the Surge is easier to to use, more civilized. And if it is I wonder if I should look at getting the M12 for the small stuff, and use my M18 for the bigger stuff.
 
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dnschmidt

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It actually comes down to what you intend to do with the tool. If it has to do everything from take your car apart to drill holes the regular FUEL is the answer. If it's 90% drive screws the Surge is superior and much easier on the ears. The Surge is a screwdriver the non-surge is a multi-purpose tool.
 
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CobraRed

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jonshonda said:
I bought the 2853 1/4 Fuel impact because of the "Tim Allen effect" MORE POWER. But I don't find it easy to use like I did my much lower powered older Bosch 1/4 impact. I have always used Bosch square drive bits and never had an issue, as I drive mostly 3" square drive screws in 2x4's. But what I have found with the 2853 is that is likes to jump off the screw, and isn't very easy to use w/o really concentrating on driver position and lot's of pushing hard down on the fastener.

I am wondering if the Surge is easier to to use, more civilized. And if it is I wonder if I should look at getting the M12 for the small stuff, and use my M18 for the bigger stuff.
Click to expand...

Did the same, same thoughts lol.
 
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ThatSickRip

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I got the M18 on one of the HD deals with batteries and the battery return for the prorated price. I havent used it yet, but have some wood working projects coming up and thinking I shouldve gotten the M12 version now, but oh well.
 
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setfocus

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I've got the M12 non surge. I'm an auto tech so I'd rather have the higher peak torque over the better sustained torque of the surge. I use it for little under hood stuff, plastic skid plates, interior stuff

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winlinmac

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I've heard lots of complaints on the Surge and that it doesn't deliver the same power as the regular FUEL version

Milwaukee Surge

Anyone have and use one? What's the deal? Good? Bill
www.garagejournal.com www.garagejournal.com
 
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tarmy

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I have three of each of the M18 impact and surge. Surge all day everyday. They have way more control over lower speed and deliver more driving control over long deck and structural screws.

I will make you a good deal on 2 or 3 slightly used M18 Fuel impact drivers…PM me if you want them.
 
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CallumRD1

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Colorado
winlinmac said:
I've heard lots of complaints on the Surge and that it doesn't deliver the same power as the regular FUEL version

Milwaukee Surge

Anyone have and use one? What's the deal? Good? Bill
www.garagejournal.com www.garagejournal.com
Click to expand...
The Surge was never intended to hit as hard as the traditional impact mechanism of the FUEL impact driver. It spreads the torque out over a much larger angular range making it drive screws in a smoother and more controllable fashion but the cost there is that the impulse is vastly reduced. My 2853 impact driver will remove the 89 ft lb lugs off my Subaru with no trouble while the Surge won't do that. But if I'm driving fasteners into wood then I grab the Surge 100% of the time.
 
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rlitman

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winlinmac said:
I've heard lots of complaints on the Surge and that it doesn't deliver the same power as the regular FUEL version
Click to expand...
It depends on what you're doing with it. My M12 Surge kicks the pants of my M18 Fuel (1st gen) impact driver when it comes to driving stuff into wood. However, the "sharper" impulses from the Fuel do more to resist a phillips bit from jumping out of its recess. On anything hex (or torx or Robertson, etc.), I'm reaching for the Surge hands down every time. Really, even with Phillips, the Surge is so much quieter that I'll reach for it there too.

If you need more power than the M12 surge can deliver, you'll want something other than 1/4" hex bit anyway.
 
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techieman33

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winlinmac said:
I've heard lots of complaints on the Surge and that it doesn't deliver the same power as the regular FUEL version

Milwaukee Surge

Anyone have and use one? What's the deal? Good? Bill
www.garagejournal.com www.garagejournal.com
Click to expand...

They have similar power, they just hit different. A normal impact looks like a heart monitor. Big hit, pause, big hit. The surge is more like a sine wave. If your driving 6" lag bolts all the time then you may want those bigger hits. Personally I prefer the quieter smoother action of the surge. And for those rare occasions that I need to drive a big fastener I'm just going to grab an impact wrench with far more power than either tool.
 
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Ton ton

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dnschmidt said:
It actually comes down to what you intend to do with the tool. If it has to do everything from take your car apart to drill holes the regular FUEL is the answer. If it's 90% drive screws the Surge is superior and much easier on the ears. The Surge is a screwdriver the non-surge is a multi-purpose tool.
Click to expand...
Well said.
 
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joseywales

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This is very interesting. I was hanging pictures, etc., for my in-laws, when they asked me to hang their TV. Ok, so different tools, because I'm not running lag bolts into studs, so let's see what I have with me.

I actually had the M12 Surge, but instead, reached for the Ryobi. No reason really, other than I was thinking 18V for lags. I drilled a pilot hole, and the Ryobi was doing fine, but I just couldn't take the noise (tinnitus doesn't help the matter). I didn't bring any ratchets, but had a Husky set in my truck, so I just ran them in a bit quickly with the Ryobi, then finished with the ratchet, easy.

I was then searching here earlier, for what would be the best for running lags easily, and quietly. Even Googled some videos, then though, "Duh...just go downstairs and run some tests!"

I drilled holes into a 4x4, then used:
Ryobi P239
M18 3/8" Stubby
M18 1/4" Impact Driver
M12 Surge

All ran fairly equal. I had hearing protection, so can't say which was louder really. I was surprised at how smooth the Surge ran.

The Stubby seems bulky for hanging TVs, etc. So, I'd remove that from my list.
I'm not really looking to bolster my Ryobi collection, so that's out - but hang just fine.
So I'm thinking the M18 1/4" is best for running more than a few lags. The Surge, as stated above, is best for driving screws, all be it, with authority and control.
Is here another in the M line I should be looking at?
 
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M635_Guy

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I'd choose my (M12) Surge for anything. Fantastic tool, great power and less abusive to my hands and ears (also have tinnitus - I wear hearing protection for anything on level 3 with my Surge, and pretty much any level on my other tools). Doing some decking for my mother earlier this year it was fantastic. It came inside after that and was perfect installing shelving. I barely used my old C3 1/4" impact driver unless I really needed to, and hated the noise and vibration when I did. Now my Surge is probably my most-used tool.
 
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joseywales

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curious about the decibel difference between M12 Surge and M18 Surge.
Wait...don't tell me, I'll just have to hear it for myself. $199 and 1 free tool later, I'll have to do my part, for science's sake...
 
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M635_Guy

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joseywales said:
curious about the decibel difference between M12 Surge and M18 Surge.
Wait...don't tell me, I'll just have to hear it for myself. $199 and 1 free tool later, I'll have to do my part, for science's sake...
Click to expand...
Is the M18 different? My recollection is the M12 and M18 have the same power, so I'd expect the volume to be similar.

But either is a lot gentler/less sharp on your ears vs. a standard impact.
 
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joseywales

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M635_Guy said:
Is the M18 different? My recollection is the M12 and M18 have the same power, so I'd expect the volume to be similar.

But either is a lot gentler/less sharp on your ears vs. a standard impact.
Click to expand...
Honey, is that you again? STAY off my forums! I can’t decide the differences between M12 and M18, until I rigorously test them. And breakfast is ready.
 
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M635_Guy

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joseywales said:
Honey, is that you again? STAY off my forums! I can’t decide the differences between M12 and M18, until I rigorously test them. And breakfast is ready.
Click to expand...
The answer, of course is both. That way you are never without a battery option when you really need it.
 
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jonshonda

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I may be guilty of buying my current M18 Drill/Driver based on power figures (fuel m18) and must say that while the driver has enough power to remove 90ft/lb lug nuts, it is overkill for projects around the house short of fairly intensive building projects.

With that said, I have been kicking around the idea of an M12 surge with a larger 4 or 6ah battery for smaller projects.

What has been suggested by more then a few users is that if you do go with M18, get the 3.0ho battery instead of the big 5.0, as it is a much more manageable and balanced tool with the smaller battery.
 
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M635_Guy

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Ton ton said:
I would lean toward M18. You can get lightweight M18 batteries that still have oodles of power.
Click to expand...
I don't think that matters in the case of the Surge. I forget the specifics, but something to do with the hydraulic action I think. And boy is the compactness of the M12 nice. My $0.02.
 
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webscrounger

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Thx. Good tip on Blain's. I already have the m12 Surge so I got the M12 Crown Stapler and 6.0ah battery instead ($84). The M12 Surge is the only driver I really use because it's compact, light and powerful enough to do everything I need around the house. The M18 Surge and the M12 & M18 standard hex drivers almost never gets used now.
 
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jonshonda

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webscrounger said:
Thx. Good tip on Blain's. I already have the m12 Surge so I got the M12 Crown Stapler and 6.0ah battery instead ($84). The M12 Surge is the only driver I really use because it's compact, light and powerful enough to do everything I need around the house. The M18 Surge and the M12 & M18 standard hex drivers almost never gets used now.
Click to expand...

I have the crown stapler and like it a lot!
 
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