1/2" Milwaukee or compact?

[tutti57]

What would you do? I have a 3/8 m12 and a 1/2" M18 high torque but want something lighter for work. I'm a Nissan tech. I'm debating between the M18 mid torque for about $150 or a compact 1/2" air.

I like the idea of having something super light for tire rotations but I don't like the air hose. The milwaulkee could be brought home or anywhere too, but it's about $50 more than the air.

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[kctyphoon]

Mid torque, and you can use 2.0 batteries to cut down on size and weight.

 

[Kenskip1]

Is the cost of batteries important? Air is cheap.Air is more reliable and consistent.You are walking on a double edged sword.They both have there merits. Personally I use the air, but that's just me.

 

[AngryBeaver]

i have the M18 3/8 fuel. I bought that after breaking too much stuff with the high torque. that little 3/8 will still pull lug nuts off. rated at 205 ft lbs

 

[tutti57]

Thanks for the replies. Batteries are not a concern since I already have some.

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[hkd76]

I've got the M18 1/2 high torque and the M18 3/8 impacts. The high torque is great for big jobs but for most jobs I grab the 3/8. Lots of power and quite a bit lighter and more compact. I wouldn't want to be without either one.

 

[Jeeper]

I vote mid-torque. Especially if you have a big air impact to get anything heavy. The mid-torque will do 90% of what you need. Just the other day I buzzed off some axle nuts on my jeep with the mid-torque and it took them off easy. And with the others said the 2.0 batteries make for a much lighter tool. Imagine if you are a pro, over time that will save some pain.

I am curious to see if the mid torque can do a honda crank bolt with the lisle socket. Haven't had to do one yet. Curious if anyone else has. There are videos showing the high-torque will take it off.

 

[gregpack]

The mid torque will offer plenty of power for most applications. My fuel impact driver will take lug nuts off my f250 torqued to 150lbs. I bought a 2.0 battery for it which makes it very easy to handle. My m12 stays back home.

 

[tutti57]

Ok, I'm going for the milwaulkee. Honestly, price was the real consideration here. I hate the air hose and location restrictions.

I'll probably do the 1/2" just because I already have a 3/8".

Thanks for the feedback! From the reviews, I'll def be opting for the friction ring over the ball too.

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[Tallpilot]

You won't go wrong with the mid-torque and your sockets will thank you. The big boy beats up the drive end of sockets pretty fast, especially the recent production cr-mo ones.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I have the 1/2" mid-torque and I love it. I usually have a 5.0 battery on it but I've used it a lot with 1.5ah batteries and still plenty of power and runtime.

 

[lanet2436]

i've yet to have a mid-torque in hand, but after buying and using a high torque, i'll vouch i'd bet you'd be better off with the 3/8ths or the mid-torque the high power version is an angry beast.

 

[PR1Gneon]

The Mid-Tq is a great balance between weight and power.

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[tutti57]

Mid tq it is! Thanks

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[ThatSickRip]

Mid Torque tore down the whole front end and rear suspension on my 05 4Runner, no problem (UCAs, LCAs, ball joints, axle nuts, etc.)

 

[tutti57]

It'll be here on Friday, so I'll get to use it at work on Saturday.

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[tutti57]

Re: 1/2" Milwaukee or compact?

A little update here. I've been using the mid torque for a couple of weeks now at work and it's been great. So far the only things it hasn't been able to take off have been a couple of original caliper bracket bolts with loctite (only when used with an extension) and a couple of subframe bolts. The high torque handled all of those easily though.

I am tempted to buy a compact air at some point too though. I would definitely be able to get to some of those back brake bolts instead of using ratcheting wrenches.

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[Wamsutta]

I'd still want something powerful enough to remove harmonic balancer bolts. Nobody has assured me yet that the mid-torque can do that.

 

[CR888]

I'd get the new perhaps not on all shelves yet '1/2" stubby' Milwaukee impact. Its got 250ftlbs (I think) and is small enough to use in a professional capacity. Really you need a small compact/stubby pneumatic, but if you really desire cordless I'd definitely look into the new stubby model. Keep the big fella but as you would have noticed, their weight, bulk and size limits them on modern tight spaced auto jobs.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I'd get the new perhaps not on all shelves yet '1/2" stubby' Milwaukee impact. Its got 250ftlbs (I think) and is small enough to use in a professional capacity. Really you need a small compact/stubby pneumatic, but if you really desire cordless I'd definitely look into the new stubby model. Keep the big fella but as you would have noticed, their weight, bulk and size limits them on modern tight spaced auto jobs.

It's not on any shelves yet. I don't think they've specified a release date yet, but the earliest would be July. I already have an M18 1/2" mid torque, but that M12 stubby 1/2" is really catching my interest. I can't wait to try one out.

Edit: Just browsing some NPS18 videos on YouTube, and the M12 stubby will be $159 bare tool and released in September.

 

[Tonyuk]

For tyre rotations i would go for the mid-torque, if you already have batteries and a charger then get the bare tool and spend the rest on a decent torque wrench.

I have a 1/2" compact and the mid torque, the compact gets more work by far and it will pull wheel bolts that have been torqued correctly easily, it wont pull them if someones ran them in with a larger air impact.

The mid torque usually will, however i'm also a fan of compact air impacts and i use my facom loads;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Facom-NS...546023&hash=item239635aefd:g:qGUAAOSwsTxXkLfE

About the power of the mid torque but much smaller and lighter.

I have a high-torque dewalt that works well for axle bolts etc.. but it doesn't get a great amount of use.

 

[BMack37]

Re: 1/2" Milwaukee or compact?

A little update here. I've been using the mid torque for a couple of weeks now at work and it's been great. So far the only things it hasn't been able to take off have been a couple of original caliper bracket bolts with loctite (only when used with an extension) and a couple of subframe bolts. The high torque handled all of those easily though.

I am tempted to buy a compact air at some point too though. I would definitely be able to get to some of those back brake bolts instead of using ratcheting wrenches.

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It's not as compact as the air compacts but the new M12 impact wrenches look insane! 250 ft/lbs for M12! It would probably work for that scenario.