contendernut
Member
Any preference to 3/8 cordless impact? I was looking at Dewalt 890 verses snapon 761. The 761 looks much more compact but not quite as high of ftlb. Any other suggestions?
3/8” cordless impact
- Thread starter contendernut
- Start date
619DioFan
Well-known member
My 3/8 and 1/2 inch drive cordless impacts are milwaukee fuel. I recommend these.
Bad Ronald
Active member
What is your opinion on the Milwaukee
2861-21 mid-torque impact driver? I need something
for home use(tires,brakes,etc.).
LB-1911
ALLIANCE MEMBER
manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Search the posts here and you will find a large Milwaukee contingent, my self included. If my quick search is correct, the following data would make my decision easy:
- DeWALT 890: 2 lbs. 150 ft/lbs
- Snap-on 761: 2.5 lbs - 120 ft/lbs
- Milwaukee M12 Fuel Stubby: 2 lbs. - 250 ft/lbs
OHMS LAW
Well-known member
I went from being a snapnon fan boy to Milwaukee real fast. I have the 3/8 mid torque in M18 that thing is awesome. Makes the snap on look like a Walmart knock off brand.
Edited to add : I had all he snap on cordless. The only one left is the 761 and the ratchets. I’ll keep those.
Edited to add : I had all he snap on cordless. The only one left is the 761 and the ratchets. I’ll keep those.
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HazetMatt
Active member
That just makes me doubt the torque claim on the Milwaukee
manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I'd advise trying one out before drawing that conclusion. The cordless impact field is very competitive, false advertising won't get a major company very far these days. Social media is quick to kill any bogus claims.
HazetMatt
Active member
Not saying the content is wrong, I'm sure it's a fine tool, but you know that guy is getting paid to make that ad right?
RedneckWelder
Well-known member
Snap on’s cordless tools have been very problematic in our shop. Milwaukee is a favorite but Dewalt Makita and IR are all regarded well IMHO. We even have a Kobalt and an HF in service with a couple of our guys
OP
contendernut
Member
I’m looking at ergonomics and size also. How is the Milwaukee on size. At how many ftlbs do you start twisting off 12-18mm or 3/8 -3/4 bolts?
manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
To the OP - welcome to Garage Journal! 
Snakebyt
Well-known member
i am currently using a porter cable that came with my drill, was really well priced, 100 for drill and driver, 2 batteries and a charger. I use it on a daily basis, and use it pretty hard and no problems after several months of use
Rabid Badger
Well-known member
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- Apr 2, 2018
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Smart man.
Yeah, except the DeWalt and Snap-On list max (i.e. real) torque. Milwaukee lists breakaway (i.e. B.S.) torque.
I'm not even going to bother listing everything wrong with that video.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
since i like using a common battery for many tools, Milwaukee is my choice. The recently released stubby impacts are trully outstanding.
Ign
Well-known member
since i like using a common battery for many tools, Milwaukee is my choice. The recently released stubby impacts are trully outstanding.
Yep I recently used the M12 stubby in 1/2" drive to R&R a steering rack in an '03 Town& Country. It did everything on that job --- now in fairness we don't get much rust and this was the most well-oiled chassis I've ever seen due to oil leaks from every possible seal that can leak
GirlnAgarage
Well-known member
I was about to commit to the M18 for the 3/8" range work, in this thread actually, but something said look at the 894 1/2" midrage boasting 330ft/lbs. The M18 has the 890 beat in 3/8 category. The advantage for me of looking at the 1/2" 894 (to fill the 3/8" range) is the same battery platform (in a 885 and 899 already). Size appears compact for suspension work and compact and strong is what I need in the midrange.
OP, are you starting from scratch on your cordless platform? That may be your priority factor there as to the brand.
OP, are you starting from scratch on your cordless platform? That may be your priority factor there as to the brand.
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AngryBeaver
Well-known member
how about about removing 20 lug nuts on my race car? and only 1/4 of the batter used on a 4.0. my snap on 761 wouldn't remove one single lug nut.
I was the biggest snap on fan bois you'd ever see. selling off all my snap on cordless junk has paid for all my milwaukee gear
the new m12 stubby has more nuts than the compact m18 3/8 fuel (205 ft/lbs), which I also own.
the older m12 fuel model was comparable to the snap on 761. the new one completely blows it away. yes I have them all.
Repeat. I sold ALL my snap on cordless junk last year. paid for all my milwaukee gear. Better warranty, more tooling options, cheaper battery replacements, 2x working tq in most instances, and 1/4 of the price.
want more "real world proof" snap on 20V lithium impact. (forget the model number, but the big *******). I could get 2-8 bolt flanges (3/4" bolt, 1-1/8 head) to one battery change. occasionally had leaks. new milwaukee m18 big bois? I could get 12 of the same flanges to one 5.0 battery. didn't have to take the 24" ratchet on them afterwards to fix the leaks from lack of tq on the milwaukee.
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AngryBeaver
Well-known member
LOLOL. maybe you should climb out from under the rock you have been living under.
drink some more kool aid, pal. the rest of us will be using the better Milwaukee tools. SOME of us use them professionally everyday, I had all the snap on cordless tools. HAD being the key word.
AngryBeaver
Well-known member
the new M18 3/8 and 1/2 mid tq fuel models are the exact same size, specs, tq etc. only difference being the drive size. they are rated at 600 breakaway foot pounds and 450 tightening.
the older gen2 M18 3/8 fuel (came out last summer) was rated at 205 ft/lbs and would hit about 210 or so based on real world usage.
I just used a Milwaukee Fuel M12 3/8 stubby on a friend's 2009 Altima with lovely Chicago rust. The stubby took care of everything except a heavily corroded sway bar end link nut that was so far gone it needed to be cut off.
Rabid Badger
Well-known member
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What kool aid would that be? I don't have any Snap-On tools, and the only DeWalt tools I have are my miter saw and an old corded drill. I'm just capable of realizing when someone is comparing apples and oranges.
Immediately after mocking me for distinguishing between actual and breakaway torque, you distinguish between actual and breakaway torque...
This kool aid you mentioned...would it happen to be Milwaukee red?
GirlnAgarage
Well-known member
I was talking about the Dewalt
WittHay
Well-known member
Another choice for a 18V 3/8 impact is a Mac MCF891 which has 275 ft. lbs. torque compared to the Milwaukees stubby at 250 ft. lbs.
For myself I would never buy a cordless stubby. Smaller better 12V options for taking off screws and torx bolts on covers and shields. More powerful 18V options for actually taking off parts.
Attachments
The only 3/8 impact smaller than my Milwaukee stubby I can find is my astro 3/8 small air impact.
Which one are you meaning?
WittHay
Well-known member
i am not understanding the purpose of the Milwaukee 3/8 or 1/2 stubby for a diy mechanic. Disclaimer, I own a M12 Fuel screwdriver, thats used for occasional use and a M12 Fuel drill/driver in the service truck. For big jobs I use Dewalt 12V cordless, for me better ergonomics than the Milwaukee M12 battery in the handle tools.
2 examples, changing a lift pump in a Dodge cummins diesel. Use a high torque to get the driver side wheel off. Take a 12V 1/4 impact or driver to take of the 8mm head screws that hold on the inner fender. Reach in with a ratchet and take off the 4 torx bolts on the pump. Be careful when tightening up the bolts because the lift pump is made out of plastic.
Working on Volkswagon TDI diesels, bottom cover, inner fender and air filter housing all held on with small torx screws. Cordless ratchet is better working on the actual motor. A small 12V Bosch or even a Snap-on 14.4 driver would work fine for removing these bolts.
All I am saying if you are not invested in the Milwaukee line. There are other options out there that will get the job done for the average diy. If a full time time auto mechanic sees the need for a cordless stubby impact i am not going to argue against it
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The new Milwaukee stubby is the real deal. Have done numerous wheel/brake jobs using it and its done everything except some real bad pick-em-up caliper bracket bolts. Definitely stronger than the 761 but also much fatter than it too so theres that.
The only other 3/8" cordless I always thought was **** is the IR W5132 with its torque dial, light ring, and high torque rating (550 foot pounds nut busting). With their revised 1/2" coming out soon i'd give both a very hard look.
The only other 3/8" cordless I always thought was **** is the IR W5132 with its torque dial, light ring, and high torque rating (550 foot pounds nut busting). With their revised 1/2" coming out soon i'd give both a very hard look.
The Critic
Well-known member
Even as a semi-professional tech, I agree. The Milwaukee 3/8 Stubby really excels at removing fasteners, but it is disappointing for tightening fasteners. On M12/14 fasteners, you can expect these levels of performance:
Position 1 = ~30 ft lbs
Position 2 = ~45-65ft lbs
Position 3 = ~100 ft lbs
I keep mine for removing and installing small fasteners only.
joe_pinehill1
Well-known member
I have the M18 3/8 and love it. Its amazing the fasteners it can loosen. I couldnt do some jobs without it. Brakes, exhaust, ball joints..
lethal-6
Well-known member
When your looking at a 3/8" impact it's not for lug nuts. For that get a 1/2" gun. As far as the snapon 761 it's great for general use but not lug nuts. Ingersoll has a great line of professional tools. In the Automotive industry each tool has a purpose, so use them appropriately.
visionguru
Well-known member
Ingersoll Rand 5132 is the one for 3/8" impact wrench.
Dewalt/Milwaukee are more for general purpose use, but Ingersoll Rand is designed for mechanics. The quality level (ergonomics and construction) is obviously better.
Snap On is older tech, not worth considering.