I'm looking for a circ saw, 1/4" ratchet and a 1/2" impact for home use. Looking at Black Friday sales most are the non fuel versions. I already have the non fuel sawzall which is fine for what I need, a fuel 1/4" impact and fuel drill. I'm assuming the non fuel circ saw will fit my needs, but what about a ratchet and impact? Should I go with fuel versions?
Milwaukee fuel or non fuel for home use?
- Thread starter Nightowl
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MushCreek
Well-known member
Most of my tools are non-Fuel, as I bought them before Fuel came out. I built my house with them, and have been very happy to this day. I have a newer Fuel drill, and it doesn't seem much different than my old one.
i wouldnt waste my money on the non fuel stuff really. mostly the circular saw. my only non fuel tools are the ratchets and thats b/c the head is so much smaller than the fuel ones. years ago i bought a non fuel M18 drill and impact driver. the drill was just sad, it cut out for overload protection polishing my head lights with a small buffer. the non fuel didnt even bat an eye.
sparky 1971
Well-known member
I have a whole bunch of Milwaukee in both styles, Fuel and non. I have the non fuel tools listed above except for the 1/4 ratchet, but I do have two 3/8 as well as two circular saws and the original 1/2 impact. They perform flawlessly and I wouldn't even consider spending the money to upgrade the ratchet or circular saw for my use. I do have the big boy Fuel impact as well as an older Fuel 3/8 impact. While there is a noticeable difference in power between the big Fuel and the older version, I have never not been able to do something with my older impact. The Fuels are in my garage, the non Fuel in my service truck. It gets used to pull extremely dull knockout cutters through electrical panels quite often and has been used several times for construction site tire changes. A friend of mine has the big Fuel but was with me on a job when I got out my old beat up impact to do something, he was impressed enough with it that his Fuel went into his garage and was replaced by the old style on his service truck as well.
And.. don't forget the price difference. I saw the bare tool Fuel impact at Home Depot last week for over $300.00. While the tool itself is fairly impressive, more impressive on paper than in real world use, I own one and there is no way I'd pay that much money for it now that I have experience using it. My air powered IR231 blows it away.
And.. don't forget the price difference. I saw the bare tool Fuel impact at Home Depot last week for over $300.00. While the tool itself is fairly impressive, more impressive on paper than in real world use, I own one and there is no way I'd pay that much money for it now that I have experience using it. My air powered IR231 blows it away.
Milwaukee Brushless FUEL power tool deals can be found and had for less than what their non-brushless counterparts at the moment. If you can afford the wait, definitely go for the FUEL versions. THD has their $199 for battery kit + tool of your choice sale through the end of next month
Black300zx
Well-known member
For the M12 ratchet, don't hesitate to go non-fuel if you find a good deal. With a cordless ratchet, you don't need to worry about power since you usually are going to use it like a ratchet to crack the fastener loose by hand, and then spin it off under power.
My non-fuel 3/8 M12 ratchet is firmly in my top-5 favorite tools.
My non-fuel 3/8 M12 ratchet is firmly in my top-5 favorite tools.
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I agree that except for the non-fuel M12 ratchet, I buy fuel. But I have had no problems with my older nonfuel tools except for an M18 multi tool that failed and an M18 drill. In most cases, though, the fuel has more power so if you need the most power possible, buy fuel.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
The advantage of the FUEL is both power (maybe not that much more but definitely more) but more significantly battery run time. The FUEL models go longer between needed charges for any given tool type. If you've got enough charged batteries laying around to pop in when one dies this is a moot point. If you're battery poor it becomes a factor.
housewolf
Well-known member
This has been my experience. Longevity has never been an issue for us in a professional environment. We generally loose them, completely destroy them, or they are stolen long before they’re worn out. I have a mix of both for (heavy) use around the house and honestly don’t remember what’s what without looking. I’m pretty happy with all of them
Odd-job
Well-known member
Some of the fuel stuff is more compact like impacts. Also there's special stuff like the m12 surge that doesn't come in non fuel format. I really appreciate the silent impacting action.
Despite just being a DIYer I have been choosing fuel when in doubt as of late combined with the deals which are tending to be more fuel oriented. There a few notable exceptions like the screwdriver and the original M12 ratchets that have been just fine.
This being said I find the non-fuel saws to really lack the power vs the fuel saws. One of the more frustrating life experiences is when a tool bogs down cutting at an awkward angle. Also the 1/4 non fuel "original" ratchet never seems to go on sale... at the prices I last saw you might as well go for the fuel versions or if you are looking to save $20 go through the trouble of getting the 3/8 and converting to a 1/4.
Despite just being a DIYer I have been choosing fuel when in doubt as of late combined with the deals which are tending to be more fuel oriented. There a few notable exceptions like the screwdriver and the original M12 ratchets that have been just fine.
This being said I find the non-fuel saws to really lack the power vs the fuel saws. One of the more frustrating life experiences is when a tool bogs down cutting at an awkward angle. Also the 1/4 non fuel "original" ratchet never seems to go on sale... at the prices I last saw you might as well go for the fuel versions or if you are looking to save $20 go through the trouble of getting the 3/8 and converting to a 1/4.
Renegade1LI
Well-known member
Well this is GJ so the answer has to be fuel, no question about it. Seriously for home use not much of a difference, as a contractor we have a mix of everything, really don't know the difference.
bubinga
Well-known member
Who is THD? Home Depot?
rick carpenter
Well-known member
I'm thinking the opposite for you here. Think about how long/often the trigger will be pulled in a circ saw. A Fuel circ saw would perform so much better than a non-Fuel. (Note that I have a corded Milwaukee circ saw so I have all the power I need for as long as I need.) My non-Fuel M12 and M18 impacts and drills have performed adequately even in light-to-medium volunteer construction & demolition use.
Bryan Burns
Well-known member
Yes, THE Home Depot. Look at their logo.
Correct, I was reluctant to type it all out, haha
dnschmidt
Well-known member
Here in Phoenix I don't think many people consult the ice fishing forums.
WWheeler
Well-known member
I don't think I've ever heard it called 'THE' Home Depot before.Correct, I was reluctant to type it all out, haha
You didn't happen to go to 'THE' Ohio State did you? lol
ChevyEFI
Well-known member
If I saved $80 buying a non-Fuel circ. saw and it fell short, I would be pissed at wasting my own time. Needing to go buy a 2nd of something should be because you wore it out, or have a helper, or an unforeseen reason. Not because you saved a dime to cost yourself a dollar.
beemerphile
Well-known member
I have a Fuel Sawzall and my son has a non-fuel Sawzall that he uses as a plumber. He used mine a few months ago and said "Damn dad, can we trade saws?"
bubinga
Well-known member
Used to love to lce fish
. My feet and hands won't tolerate the cold any longer. I had a small pop up shed and everything.bubinga
Well-known member
Well now is the non-fuel brushed, the fuel brushless?
Because the run time on brushless is much better.
tyyost
Well-known member
Honestly, I wouldn’t take the non fuel versions of anything M18. My experience is that they are anemic at best. While M18 Fuel versions of most tools can replace their corded counterparts, the non fuel are weaker, have worse runtimes and are basic models.
For high power tools like saws you will see a real difference, I’d save up for the fuel circular saw. The 7.25” saws are beasts, and the 6.5” is a nice all around saw with the blade left. I had the non fuel 1/2” impact and it was a joke compared to the new high torque impact. I’d take a hard pass on the non fuel, at best it’s old tech, in many cases outdated tech.
For high power tools like saws you will see a real difference, I’d save up for the fuel circular saw. The 7.25” saws are beasts, and the 6.5” is a nice all around saw with the blade left. I had the non fuel 1/2” impact and it was a joke compared to the new high torque impact. I’d take a hard pass on the non fuel, at best it’s old tech, in many cases outdated tech.
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beemerphile
Well-known member
I need to correct and clarify... Fuel is always brushless, but brushless is not always Fuel. The Fuel has the PowerState brushless motor which is more powerful than the non-Fuel brushless motors.
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toyotadriver
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Go Fuel if you can but if you can't, as a homeowner you'll still be happy with Milwaukee no matter which version you go with.
Wiz02
Well-known member
HD is running a sale on the M18 non-fuel multi tool, with 1.5A hr battery, charger and tool bag for $99, bare tool for the fuel version is $229 at HD. Seems like the-non fuel version is the way to go for this tool at this price. I went for the fuel version of the hammer drill and impact which I use (diy) far more than I expect to use a multi tool. Thoughts ?
That's what I was thinking. I'm replacing my 20 year old Ridgid tools. These tools won't even be used on a weekly basis. I can get the 9 tool kit with 3 batteries at HD for 599. If I was to go Fuel on those I would be spending over 3 times that much. I'll probably buy the 599 kit and won't open it for awhile and see if they have better deals on the Fuel. I have the brushed sawzall already and cuts circles around my old ridgid and even my old corded craftsman.
I already have the Fuel hammer drill and 1/4" impact. I figure I can sell the brushed ones.