Bosch or Milwaukee cordless drivers/impacts?

[MINIz guy]

I'm looking at a piecing together a cordless screwdriver and impact wrench combo for making wrenching on cars quicker. I'm going to use these primarily for home mechanic use, but I am an express tech and may eventually bring them in to work at the shop. I'm between these two brands as I'm not sure which would be better to start off with.

Cordless screwdriver (mainly for taking off belly pans, small bolts 13mm or smaller, and interior screws):
Bosch PS22 http://www.ebay.com/itm/331883853538?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
or Milwaukee 2402 http://www.ebay.com/itm/322166298604?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Impact wrench (for lug nuts, bigger suspension bolts, driving pullers):
Bosch IDH182 http://www.ebay.com/itm/281840686886?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
or Milwaukee 2755B http://www.ebay.com/itm/281994370847?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

The Milwaukee tools are stronger, and I'd get a M12 and M18 compatible charger to save space. However, I feel that I may need an impact driver for an in-between tool and the price of entry is much more than the Bosch tools.

The Bosch tools end up being cheaper, even though I have to double up on chargers. The IDH182 seems to be a great solution as it's a 1/4 impact driver and 1/2 impact wrench. It is weaker, and I don't know if I'm limiting myself when starting with it.

 

[gdocktor3]

That Bosch 1/4" & 1/2" gun is 1650 inch pounds or 137 ft lbs. I don't think that's very useful as a 1/2" impact wrench. I'd say your best bet is to just buy a 1/4" impact driver and then a 1/2" impact wrench. I don't know if you have a drill, but you can't drill anything with the screwdriver and they are pretty weak in most cases. Really only useful in light assembly stuff or interior work. I use my 1/4" impact driver for most all assembly/disassembly/interior stuff I do. If I were you, I'd look for a m12 drill/impact driver combo kit or just impact driver and then an impact wrench. They are on sale all the time and one just ended at HD. That Milwaukee m18 impact wrench is also the weaker version and not the 1100 ft lb brushless version. I am not a mechanic by trade, but do a lot of mechanical work and I recently purchased a Dewalt dcf899 impact wrench. It's 20v with 1100 ft lbs of torque and even as a "diyer" it is the best tool I've purchased in recent years. Along with it I have a 20v Dewalt 1/4" impact driver and a Ridgid 18v drill I had from my carpentry days. Other than a sawzall, that's really all I ever need for power tools. I have tons of air tools, but haven't used anything but my angle grinder in many months because of these cordless tools. It's so nice and easy using cordless.

The way I look at it is, cordless tools are expensive. Do I want to spend X amount on a Dewalt 300 ft lb impact wrench, or spend X amount more on the biggest, strongest impact wrench that Dewalt offers. Let's say I bought the cheaper 300 ft lb version and the first time I use it, it doesn't remove the fastener. I'd be pissed. So, I go back to my old ways and I get out the breaker bar or air tool instead. Should have just kept doing it the old fashioned way to begin with...

 

[nmk_61802]

Had Bosch, sold it to buy Milwaukee, and haven't looked back. Bosch doesn't seem interested in expanding the 12v line in the USA.

I have the M12 3/8" impact:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauke...On4ax_s1TeuNPlWjK7-hYaAhaN8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

and it will do almost everything that larger version you have linked to will, just not as long. You can also get a power ratched and die grinder in the M12 line-up that are both very useful.


The compact M18 impact you have listed will not do suspension work, unless it is relatively new. You need to step up to the 2764 or 63 to handle that. I have both the compact and larger version as well as the 3/8 m12.

Also, if I remember correctly, the dual charger, can not charge both batteries at the same time. I thought it looked good initially, but decided not to purchase as that was too limiting

 

[FigureItOut]

Whenever the PS22 or PS21 comes up I always throw out my praise for it. I have the Milwaukee M18 line and Bosch 12 volt. The Bosch is used far more at work, but I'm doing mostly interior and trim stuff. My PS21 is like a trusted friend, the way a lot of guys feel about their favorite ratchet. The 12 volt impact and the little drill aren't bad either, but the impact is no nut buster.
That said, Bosch isn't currently expanding that line much here, and Milwaukee seems to be moving towards making the M12 as attractive to automotive guys as they can. From what you've described, I'd be more likely to buy into M12/M18 if I were you.

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[Ole Slewfoot]

the tools sure look better with ratings in the thousands of inch pounds instead of tens of foot pounds

 

[Superbec]

That bosch is NOT for lug nuts , I have a more powerful version of it and sometimes (there must be that one bolt ) I have to take out the air impact... and that pisses me off so much

 

[oldldh]

Milwaukee...

 

[MINIz guy]

Good to know that that Bosch tool isn't good enough for double duty work. Also straying away from Bosch in general as Milwaukee really has a good line of tools.

Father has had Ryobi tools so that covers the drill. He wants a smaller one for tight spaces. I feel that the Milwaukee 2402 has enough oomph for his needs of going through drywall or a 2x4, and I've used a 2401 at the last dealership I worked at and loved it. The 2402 is only for small 6, 8, 10 and 13mm bolts in tight spaces. Will I really need a dedicated impact driver for it?

I also got to see if the stronger impact wrenches are short enough to work under a car on jack stands. I've got the HF corded impact and its too imbalanced and long to work under the car for some projects. Something less noisey would be nice too. Been looking at the weaker 200-300 ft lbs impacts due to the more compact size.

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[nmk_61802]

The compact M18 impact you have listed will not do suspension work, unless it is relatively new. You need to step up to the 2764 or 63 to handle that. I have both the compact and larger version as well as the 3/8 m12.

Also to add to my post, had I known the limits of the compact impact at the time, I would have not purchased it. The 3/8" m12 gets used all of them time, and if it cannot break something loose with less than 10 hammers, generally the compact won't either, so I go straight to the large impact.

 

[crewchief888]

ive been using a milwaukee 18v fuel 3/8" impact at work for over 2 1/2 years without a problem.
i'm a field mechanic working on const eq, mud, water, snow, oil and diesel fuel havent killed it yet.

i was impressed enough to a buy a 18v fuel grinder, 12v 1/2" drill, 12v LED flashlight.
12v fuel hex impact and 3/8" dr drill have pretty much replaced the 12v & 18v ridgid drill & driver i bought for home use.

myself, i'll buy milwaukee again.

 

[Roobaix]

I went with Milwaukee too. I have both M12 and M18 tools.

 

[bcradio]

Milwaukee gets my vote

 

[MINIz guy]

Sounds like Milwaukee it is. Buy it right, and I'll only have to buy it once.

Definitely gonna check out the 3/8" impact. Videos make it look pretty compact. Too bad I can't get a feel for it in stores, as HD doesn't have them on display.

I'll be buying the 2453 1/4" impact driver first and seeing how much that can do, then I'll step up to the 3/8" M12 impact. I won't be stepping up to the M18 Fuel wrenches until my HF corded impact starts dying, but at least I'll have the ability to easily expand.

 

[rice rocket]

Whenever the PS22 or PS21 comes up I always throw out my praise for it. I have the Milwaukee M18 line and Bosch 12 volt. The Bosch is used far more at work, but I'm doing mostly interior and trim stuff. My PS21 is like a trusted friend, the way a lot of guys feel about their favorite ratchet. The 12 volt impact and the little drill aren't bad either, but the impact is no nut buster.

I did this too.

The Bosch 12v stuff is the best if you have both 12v and 18v setups. The M12 stuff is huge in comparison. Hell, even the M18 impact driver is smaller than the M12, dunno what the deal is.

As for what's in the pipeline for the Bosch 12v system, there's a bunch that's been available in Europe and Asia that hasn't made it to our shores yet. There's a new brushless impact wrenches and drivers, brushless 3" angle grinder, and brushless drywall gun. And I imported the Bosch version of the Dremel from Germany because I wanted battery compatibility, not buying into their goofball Dremel battery for one tool.

 

[FigureItOut]

I did this too.

The Bosch 12v stuff is the best if you have both 12v and 18v setups. The M12 stuff is huge in comparison. Hell, even the M18 impact driver is smaller than the M12, dunno what the deal is.

As for what's in the pipeline for the Bosch 12v system, there's a bunch that's been available in Europe and Asia that hasn't made it to our shores yet. There's a new brushless impact wrenches and drivers, brushless 3" angle grinder, and brushless drywall gun. And I imported the Bosch version of the Dremel from Germany because I wanted battery compatibility, not buying into their goofball Dremel battery for one tool.

I keep seeing that little 3" grinder that some guys have posted here and other forums. I kinda really want that thing really really badly, really.

Compared to M12, the Bosch is underpowered, but if it does what you need, the size, weight and ergonomics are awesome. The PS21 has such precise control of speed with the trigger, and a very effective and consistent clutch. For reassembling interior parts, that clutch has probably saved me hundreds over the years in broken plastic without having to hand tighten. The M12 driver feels like a bull in a china shop to me.

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