Best Cordless Automotive Tools?

[toolfasttoolfurious]

I'm thinking about switching over some of my air tools to cordless tools. I've been looking into getting some Milwaukee tools especially some of their impact wrenches and ratchets. I'm curious if this is a good brand to get into or are they missing some key automotive tools that will make me regret my decision? Any advice helps.

 

[kctyphoon]

pretty sure your gonna get ALOT of guys recomending the Milwaukee Fuel impacts... there are other brands available, but bottom line is youll just have to decide for yourself.. the great thing about Milwaukee is that once you invest in the battery platform, you have a HUGE list of tools to pick from, unlike if you decided to go with IR or MAC instead.. the protective boots are a big plus for the M18 fuel impacts too.

 

[rice rocket]

If you're doing just impact wrenches and ratchets, IR has the better tools.

If you want to get into other stuff like saws, SDSs, etc., then Milwaukee isn't a bad choice.

 

[ADSR]

Fuel, because it's brushless.

 

[10mm]

How does milwaukee and makita compare?

 

[LB-1911]

How does milwaukee and makita compare?

Milwaukee,Makita or Dewalt
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=277789

Makita vs dewalt vs Milwaukee -- any thoughts?
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=214932

Milwaukee VS Makita (Hex Impact Driver)
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=273229

and more @
https://www.google.com/#q=milwaukee+vs+makita+Garage+Journal+site:www.garagejournal.com

 

[gsingh]

My hex driver from Milwaukee will last a full week on one battery and it is used all day. I have worked with their 3/8 and 1/2 impacts also, wasn't impressed. Go with IR for those.

 

[Skin]

Only brands i'd consider are Ingersoll Rand, Milwaukee, Snap-On, MAC. Bosch is changing over to Brushless so we probably wont see some of their latest and greatest in the states for some time. Craftsman, Ryobi, DeWalt, Makita etc... homeowner grade impact tools, handy but wont replace air like the other brands will.

 

[rice rocket]

How does milwaukee and makita compare?

Depends what tools you use (do you see a theme here?).

Milwaukee has the better high torque impact. Both have nearly equivalent mid-torque impacts @ 210 ft-lbs. Makita has the better impact driver, both in size and in power. Makita has better circular saws, Milwaukee has a better sawzall. Makita has the better hammer drill, Milwaukee has a better SDS. Makita offers a lot of stuff like a concrete ********, hedge trimmer, chainsaw, and more "lawn-type" equipment, Milwaukee has more plumbing equipment like PEX expanders, tubing cutters, etc.

Should I keep going?

 

[rice rocket]

Only brands i'd consider are Ingersoll Rand, Milwaukee, Snap-On, MAC. Bosch is changing over to Brushless so we probably wont see some of their latest and greatest in the states for some time. Craftsman, Ryobi, DeWalt, Makita etc... homeowner grade impact tools, handy but wont replace air like the other brands will.

Bosch has a handful of brushless tools available, but maybe not in the tools that you want. They also have been using brushless to make their tools lighter and smaller, rather than more powerful (though the tides are changing a little now that they realize that spec sheets are better at selling tools than ergonomics and small size).

http://www.boschtools.com/Products/Tools/Pages/BoschProductDetail.aspx?pid=DDS182-02
http://www.boschtools.com/Products/Tools/Pages/BoschProductDetail.aspx?pid=HDS182-02
http://www.boschtools.com/Products/Tools/Pages/BoschProductDetail.aspx?pid=IWBH182BL
http://www.boschtools.com/Products/Tools/Pages/BoschProductDetail.aspx?pid=IDH182-01L
http://www.boschtools.com/Products/Tools/Pages/BoschProductDetail.aspx?pid=rhh181-01
http://www.boschtools.com/Products/Tools/Pages/BoschProductDetail.aspx?pid=mxh180bl
http://www.boschtools.com/Products/Tools/Pages/BoschProductDetail.aspx?pid=ps32-02
http://www.boschtools.com/Products/Tools/Pages/BoschProductDetail.aspx?pid=ps22-02


And DeWalt and Makita are "homeowner grade"? heh.

 

[Skin]

And DeWalt and Makita are "homeowner grade"? heh.

Grasp what the OP is asking about, cordless automotive tools. This means power and also things like cordless ratchets. There are only a few brands that stand out in this category. If he were asking about drills, saws, and impact drivers to drive screws into wood my advice would be quite different.

 

[rice rocket]

Ah okay, in that context, I agree. Sort of.

Makita has a really good angle grinder, as does Milwaukee. The XWT02 goes toe-to-toe with Milwaukee's 2654/2655.

Milwaukee has a ratchet but it ***** as it is rather "homeowner grade", I'd rather have the IR.

 

[Cruzomatic]

Am I the only that is going to vote for Dewalt? I have them and like them a lot.

 

[patknapp14]

I have all Milwaukee. I have an M18 Fuel 1/2 impact and that thing seems to make more torque than my pneumatic snap-on! I also have an M18 drill and 1/4 hex impact that I use a 3/8 adapter with. I have two M18 batteries, and they last a full week of running all three tools. I'm very happy with the M18 series, so happy that I brought my dewalt stuff home from work. I have an m12 3/8 cordless ratchet and love it. It is extremely helpful. I recommend them!

 

[rice rocket]

Am I the only that is going to vote for Dewalt?

Yes.

They haven't done much but replace the battery interface on their 10 year old tools and try to pass it off as all new. Their 300 ft-lbs impact wrench is just about as heavy and bulky as the twice-as-powerful Milwaukee and IR versions.

 

[blackedout12v]

My hex driver from Milwaukee will last a full week on one battery and it is used all day. I have worked with their 3/8 and 1/2 impacts also, wasn't impressed. Go with IR for those.

Not impressed with their 3/8 or 1/2 impacts, ha , find that very hard to believe (fuel series anyway). Maybe not as good as IR. but "not impressed " seems misleading at the very least when considering quality, run time and power.

 

[ADSR]

Am I the only that is going to vote for Dewalt? I have them and like them a lot.

yes. It's auto line up is not in this league.

 

[ADSR]

Not impressed with their 3/8 or 1/2 impacts, ha , find that very hard to believe (fuel series anyway). Maybe not as good as IR. but "not impressed " seems misleading at the very least when considering quality, run time and power.

You must be using the fuel products backwards.

 

[Cruzomatic]

Yes.

They haven't done much but replace the battery interface on their 10 year old tools and try to pass it off as all new. Their 300 ft-lbs impact wrench is just about as heavy and bulky as the twice-as-powerful Milwaukee and IR versions.

Ok, I see. Didn't know that.

 

[rice rocket]

Oh, looks like they re-released the DCF889...and gave it a small bump to 400 ft-lbs.

Still shows they're not paying attention to the automotive market, because they should be embarrassed to even release that when the equivalent IR gun released three years ago has been near 800 ft-lbs. I guess it fills a space though for those already invested in their battery platform.

 

[ADSR]

Oh, looks like they re-released the DCF889...and gave it a small bump to 400 ft-lbs.

Still shows they're not paying attention to the automotive market, because they should be embarrassed to even release that when the equivalent IR gun released three years ago has been near 800 ft-lbs. I guess it fills a space though for those already invested in their battery platform.

That's a joke.

And 20v = 18v is even a bigger joke. The number game they played was stupid.

 

[blackedout12v]

Yes.

They haven't done much but replace the battery interface on their 10 year old tools and try to pass it off as all new. Their 300 ft-lbs impact wrench is just about as heavy and bulky as the twice-as-powerful Milwaukee and IR versions.

I prefer using my 1/2 dewalt 20v (400ft lb) over my 1/2 fuel high torque impact for general work around the garage. Better ergonomics and lighter, at least it feels lighter. Fuel is only used for the higher torque applications. Poor ole 1/2 earthquake mostly collects dust now.

 

[rice rocket]

That's a big gun to use around the garage. I think the Milwaukee is 7.2 lbs., I just saw the DeWalt listed at 6.8 lbs., but maybe it's balanced better?

I had the W7150 and I sold it because it never saw any use after I purchased a compact gun (had the Milwaukee 2654 for a while but sold it recently for a Metabo SSW18 LTX BL). They ring in around 4 lbs, and have adequate power, 200 ft-lbs for the Milwaukee, 300 ft-lbs for the Metabo.

 

[mrvm]

Milwaukee has a ratchet but it ***** as it is rather "homeowner grade", I'd rather have the IR.

Interesting angle on the Milwaukee ratchet but maybe a "fuel" version will improve upon the performance and at least its targeted for "automotive" work.

 

[ADSR]

Interesting angle on the Milwaukee ratchet but maybe a "fuel" version will improve upon the performance and at least its targeted for "automotive" work.

I'd buy the AC Delco before the milwaukee. It's 59 ft/lbs for 160 bucks with 2 bats.

 

[rice rocket]

Interesting angle on the Milwaukee ratchet but maybe a "fuel" version will improve upon the performance and at least its targeted for "automotive" work.

I'm not sure they have anything up their sleeve as some may think.

Why would they wait on a brushless version when IR has that cordless hammerhead already on the market that bests it 3x over?

 

[ADSR]

I'm not sure they have anything up their sleeve as some may think.

Why would they wait on a brushless version when IR has that cordless hammerhead already on the market that bests it 3x over?

I was thinking about IR until they started battery games with only certain ones fitting certain tools.

 

[rice rocket]

I was thinking about IR until they started battery games with only certain ones fitting certain tools.

Heh. You and me both, but for a different reason.

I was an early adopter of their IQV 19.2v and 7.2v stuff, I bought the drill, impact wrench, flashlight, etc.

Two years later, they abandon the platform and start from scratch.

Still a little miffed about that. That said, it's hard to deny how good their hammerhead is though, nobody else offers anything in the same league.

 

[Skin]

Am I the only that is going to vote for Dewalt? I have them and like them a lot.

Fine for contractors and around the house repair but their impacts are weak. Im not entirely sure what their game plan is. The stuff they're making for MAC clearly shows they have the components to stand with the best, but as stated they're basically pushing a line of very outdated impact tools. The MAC stuff on the other hand kind of cought me off guard. They've released some stuff over the last year that look quite impressive on paper. Likewise the stuff from MAC isn't priced as obscene as Snap-On especially their 12v line and their warranty also doesn't **** (like Snap-Ons). Flyer price, maybe a little more off, I think they could contend for my wallet vs IR or Milwaukee.

 

[rice rocket]

You bring up a good point though of them being from the same DNA, you could buy the MAC impact and use your DeWalt batteries if you wanted to expand beyond the 4 or 5 MAC cordless 20v tools offered.

 

[ADSR]

You bring up a good point though of them being from the same DNA, you could buy the MAC impact and use your DeWalt batteries if you wanted to expand beyond the 4 or 5 MAC cordless 20v tools offered.

That would be cool, until dewalt changes the battery style to 21 volts. And all their customers have to re-tool like before.

 

[rice rocket]

Heh heh. DeWalt isn't too frantic w/ the battery platforms, their old 18v/XRP platform lasted a good 10-15 years, no?

What would be more of a concern is when they change platforms, would you be rebuying tools designed in 1995?

 

[Skin]

That would be cool, until dewalt changes the battery style to 21 volts. And all their customers have to re-tool like before.

Designed obsolescence cant be fought regardless of the brand. Everyone has to refresh in some way to boost sales whether its through battery platforms or launching a more powerful line of tools for existing batteries. The only real question that should matter is whether what you're buying now will fulfill your needs today.

 

[ADSR]

Heh heh. DeWalt isn't too frantic w/ the battery platforms, their old 18v/XRP platform lasted a good 10-15 years, no?

What would be more of a concern is when they change platforms, would you be rebuying tools designed in 1995?

I had a ton of XRP tools from buying only dewalt for years. Then made the li-ion 18v in 05 and i thought they did this to support their customers. Then 20v came out and it's not even 20v, it's 18v. And even though you can still buy the old 18v batteries, stores weren't bringing them in because it was an old product now. They could have at least made an adapter to fit 20v to old 18v. They lost a lot of customers by that move.

I'll never buy dewalt again.

 

[Skin]

Not like Milwaukee is without fault. Their NiCad battery line was downright terrible. I swore off Milwaukee after that debacle, that stuff was literally more useful as a doorstop. The Chinese buy-out was the best thing that ever happened to their cordless line.

 

[rice rocket]

Not like Milwaukee is without fault. Their NiCad battery line was downright terrible. I swore off Milwaukee after that debacle, that stuff was literally more useful as a doorstop. The Chinese buy-out was the best thing that ever happened to their cordless line.

Right, Milwaukee went V18/V28 to M18/M28 at about the same time, and now the only one left standing is M18. ***** for everyone who invested in the other three. And the first few years of M18 were terrible too, with battery issues and such. Same thing happened at Makita. The cell technology just wasn't there.

The Chinese buyout did wonders for them, but it's funny how this forum is all USA USA USA until it comes to Milwaukee tools.

 

[Adam.C]

I have a Bosch impact. Bosch has many other high quality tools that fit the same battery.

I don't think bosch is the most powerful, but I think manufacturers outright lie about their torque numbers. It is VERY difficult to measure the torque output from an Impact gun, let alone a battery powered one.

The other thing to consider is how much power you really do need. I think crank pulleys are the only things that give any of these guns trouble. Before I sprung for gunzilla, I'd buy those new blue point crank impact sockets. My preference is for a smaller, lighter gun to fit in more places with battery packs that are cheap to replace and easy to come by.

 

[kctyphoon]

one thing i can tell you - is that Verizon's fleet mechaincs are bought cordless Milwaukee impacts and ratchets to use. they all like them (at least in my loacation). also dont forget Milwaukee has the non-fuel impact thats rated at about 400ftlbs i think, if you think the high torque fuel model is too powerfull..
they work on everything from cars, vans, light trucks, all the way up to the big diesel bucket trucks and digger derriecks.. not to mention all sorts of trailers and equipement.


if you have no other good cordless tools, and want to start investing in some for automotive purposes, just consider want you will most likely want or need..

1/4" impact, 3/8" impact, 1/2" impact , drill, sawzall, impact driver (maybe), various lights, right angle drill, rotary tool.. maybe even a radio... all of which the m12 and m18 platform can give you.. you can buy 2 batteries from each, and combo charger, and fill in with bare tools however you see fit.. might seem like alot at first - but it goes quick once you realize that everything you buy lives up to what you "hoped" it would be..

 

[kctyphoon]

I had a ton of XRP tools from buying only dewalt for years. Then made the li-ion 18v in 05 and i thought they did this to support their customers. Then 20v came out and it's not even 20v, it's 18v. And even though you can still buy the old 18v batteries, stores weren't bringing them in because it was an old product now. They could have at least made an adapter to fit 20v to old 18v. They lost a lot of customers by that move.

I'll never buy dewalt again.

i moved over to Milwaukee when i upgraded to lithium, but ive never walked into a Lowes or Home Depot that DIDNT still sell dewalt nicad batteries AND tools.. hell, in HD - they STILL sell 9.6v Makita stick batteries on the shelf, and those things go back to the early 90's i think..

 

[LordPsychon]

I'd go with Milwaukee Fuel line - tons of options available for your batteries, generally last forever with the Red Lithium tech. If you need power (i.e. torque), Ingersoll-Rand might be the better bet but for flexibility, Milwaukee.