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Dewalt Vs Milwaukee 1/2" cordless impacts

ls1jay

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Aug 10, 2012
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59
So, I'v invested a bunch of money into the Dewalt 20 volt max lineup and am considering purchasing their "high torque 1/2 impact" It seems though, that this impact has considerable less torque than the competition (300 ft lbs). The standard milwaukee m18 claims 450 or 480 and the brushless claims 700 ft lbs. Do any of you have any real world experience with these? Is the dewalt that much less impressive? I dont always need max power of 700 ft lbs, but it is nice when you do. Its got me considering selling my dewalt collection just so i can start over and go with the best. Does anyone know if Dewalt plans on competing with the m18 brushless? Whats a guy to do. Iv considered the ingersoll rand as well, but it seems the milwaukee just about matches it in power for less price and the convenience of having one set of batteries for multiple tools. Thanks
 
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BajaBound

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Mar 20, 2011
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Nor Cal
I own the 2763 and it's a beast, it's heavy but as mentioned in other posts I did a lot of homework and research. I went with the M18 line and I have since added the M12 ratchet and M12 high speed rotary tool. I own the hammer drill and 1/4 drill driver. The 3/8 was supposed to be here today with the the protective boots for the 1/2 and 3/8 impact.

I am coming from the C3 line of tools and they are much better all around and I think the C3 is great.

There is something to be said for building upon a particular line of tools. The brushless stuff is really great and worth the investment. I say go with what is the smartest choice.
 

GSteg

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The Milwaukee is more powerful, but not worth scrapping your entire Dewalt collection just for one tool. By the time you're done collecting Milwaukee, someone else will come along with something better.

I have the M18 Fuel gun and I haven't used it in a while. Powerful it is, but I can't stand how heavy/bulky it is. It's okay if you use it once in a while.
 

dowmace

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Apr 30, 2012
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KCMO
You can get a dewalt high torque under the MAC name, unsure how much power it really has but it is there competition to snap on and Matco.

http://www.mactools.com/en-us/Power-Tools/Cordless-Tools/BWP050-L2/1-2-Drive-20V-Impact-Kit
I have the snap on 7850 and one of the other technicians has that Mac because everything else he has is dewalt and the mac won't take off a bolt tightened with my snap on.

However another tech has the dewalt branded version and after some hammering will eventually get the bolt loose.

I expected it to be the other way around.
 

Moose364

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Oct 21, 2014
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282
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East Texas
I seen a Dewalt 18v rip the lug's off the front wheels on a 4x4 case backhoe. I was impressed to say the least, Im a Milwaukee guy, but if you have Dewalt then I would stay with it, the 1/2 drive impact M18 is next tool on my list, but I don't have one yet to give you side by side comparison. I think you will be happy with the 20v unless your going to start a tire service on 18 wheelers
 

woodstockva

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Apr 28, 2012
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USA
The Milwaukee 2763 & Ingersoll Rand W7150 are the two most powerful 1/2" cordless impacts period.

Chicago Pneumatic has a new 1/2" High Torque Impact that is rated about the same as both the Milwaukee & IR, but I have not used one yet.

Supposedly Snap-on has a new 1/2" impact that is extremely powerful, yet there are zero torque specs on it online that I can find. Judging from the fact that 100% of Snap-on power tools are made by Bosch, I highly doubt it is the winner.

Some people like the Milwaukee better....

Some people like the IR better....

Both are WAY more powerful than the (insert competitor's name here).
 

DanInVA

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Oct 11, 2014
Messages
205
I love my milwaukee tools, but I vote dewalt on this one. To me, battery compatibility is huge. I suppose it depends on what you envision doing with it though.

I have one of the older craftsman c3 impacts that is only rated at 200 lbft, and I had thought about replacing it with an m18 fuel high torque. In the end, I decided to keep what I have. The only fastener I have ever put this thing on that it couldn't move was for an exhaust collector that I couldn't touch with an 18" breaker bar either. In the end, I decided that my 25" bar should suffice if the c3 can't get the job done.

Do you have a pneumatic gun of any sort? IMO, pneumatic beats any cordless out there when you look at torque, and also consider cost and weight as a factor. I have had a chance to use a w7130, and it is great, but it doesn't beat an ir 2135, despite being about 3 pounds heavier. (Edit: actually the w7130 is rated for more torque. Should have picked a different example) I have used and thoroughly enjoyed using cordless tools, but to me there is kind of a sweet spot for them. I can handle a 4 pound tool that will put out 200-300lbft of torque, but my needs beyond that level are too few and far between to justify the cost, weight, and added bulk these tools carry.

If you are married to cordless, and cone across a great deal of high torque fasteners, maybe you will be well served to switch. If not, I see no reason to abandon your battery platform over it. Best of luck with your choice
 
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MattPersman

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Apr 1, 2009
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The new cordless impacts good ones like IR, Milwaukee and snap on 8850 have more power than the majority of air impacts, there are some that have more or the same. They have less speed though(RPM) Say you are trying to get off that stubborn tie rod end nut with the nylon build in to it and it keeps spinning, well speed of an air impact helps out there.

They have a size disadvantage too, dimensions and weight.

The plus is you don't need a compressor, it's mobile, and you can add other tools from the collection. Best bang for buck considering all things is the Milwaukee 2763-22
 

blackedout12v

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Dec 4, 2014
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147
The new 20v dewalt 1/2 impact is 400lb/ft of torque. It is and has been available for a while. It is distinguishable from the 300lb version by the horizontal slats(400lb) on the nose cone vs the smooth nose cone(300lb). I recently purchased one and it works good.I zipped a couple lugnuts off my 8 lug cummins and it brought them off nicely. I was downright scared to hold the trigger very long when tightening them up, for fear of damage to studs. Maybe not more powerful than Milwaukee,but plenty powerful that you will not be dissappointed.
 

blackedout12v

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Dec 4, 2014
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Also if it matters. Milwaukee says "professionally made in China for milwaukee" on there tools. Dewalt says made in Mexico on the majority of the 20v tools. I believe I have one that says somewhere else that I can't recall at the moment. I own sawzall, circ saw, 1/4 impacter, hammer drill, oscillating multi tool, 1/2 impact-dcf889hm2. All 20v, I have nothing bad to say about Milwaukee as I will be purchasing a m18 fuel 1/2 impact if funds allow. I think either dewalt or Milwaukee is a quality tool.
 

TOOL FANATIK

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Sep 20, 2014
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Bennington, VT
Will you need more than 300-400ft lbs?...if so then do what you gotta do...if not, stay with what you have. I'm kinda annoyed Dewalt hasn't decided to join the race yet, but who knows maybe they come out with a 20v 1000ft lb monster.
 

blackedout12v

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Dec 4, 2014
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400ft lbs pathetic.?? have you used the new 20v dewalt impact ? you must have very high expectations. its not advertised as the highest rated out there, but it is by no means pathetic IMO.
 

GSteg

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You're right, my expectations are high considering I've gone through cordless impacts like underwear. At one point or another, I pretty much owned all the major player's impact guns (minus the Matco Infinium). I owned the older 300 ft-lbs gun and hated the trigger but the 20V was available with a normal trigger so I gave it a try for a week. Ended up not buying one because it wasn't much of an improvement over the old gun to justify getting new 20V batteries/charger.

It just didn't hold up to the automotive environment, which is okay since they're marketed towards construction where you don't need heavy torque. I shouldn't have said "pathetic"... "underwhelming" is more like it. The Dewalt came after owning the older non-Fuel Milwaukee M18 gun which was more powerful and shorter in length. I felt both Dewalts were step-down from the older M18.
 

geojag

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Oct 11, 2012
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Little Rock, AR
I have the old 18v dewalt rated around 375 ft/lb IIRC. Plenty of power for what I need but that thing is huge, no working in tight spots.
I have used the 20v dewalt at work. Never really tested its power but worked fine for everything I needed. I like the size and weight compared to the 18v.
 

FMC1959

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Feb 9, 2014
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Montreal, Canada / Upstate NY
To sell everything and start over doesn't make sense (actually for GJ tool nuts it does!). I am heavily vested in Makita, I just bought their impact wrench rated in the 325-350 IIRC, used it once so far and it was great.

Get the Dewalt and it will probably do the job, it does for most. The odd time it doesn't, grab a breaker.

The few people that work on heavy equipment that wouldn't get by with a 300-400 Dewalt, know who they are and know what they need. These same people can't get by with mediocre air tools either.

You probably do not fit in the latter otherwise you wouldn't have even asked to begin with.
 

blackedout12v

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Dec 4, 2014
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147
GSteg. You say you have owned a bunch of cordless impacts, which in your experience has been the most durable for you? Just so we are on the same page the 20v dewalt you used , was it the 400 version or the 300? Early 20v were 300 like the 18v. Later 20v are the ones with 400, beginning in 2014 I think.
 

GSteg

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GSteg. You say you have owned a bunch of cordless impacts, which in your experience has been the most durable for you? Just so we are on the same page the 20v dewalt you used , was it the 400 version or the 300? Early 20v were 300 like the 18v. Later 20v are the ones with 400, beginning in 2014 I think.

It was the 400 ft-lbs model. Came with 4.0AH battery instead of the older 3.0AH. Huge upgrade over the really old gun in terms of ergonomics and the trigger is actually useable. Still, I felt it should have been at least better than the aging M18 non-fuel.

I can't tell which one is most durable because they come and go. I use them for maybe a year, get bored of it, and try something else. Though I can tell you the least durable gun is the Snap On CT7850. Within a month mine had front bearing issues. They replaced it with another new gun and within 3 months I had the same problem. One of the battery wouldn't take charge anymore, although i did run the gun pretty hard for those 3 months. Left a sour taste in my mouth so I'm probably not going to get the latest CT8850. It's too bad because I had a stellar track record with the older CT6850.

Both my current IR W7150 and Milwaukee M18 Fuel have been reliable for me, but I do use the IR more.
 

Southernbuild

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Aug 25, 2012
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408
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North MS
For what it's worth, I'm heavily invested in the DeWalt 18v lineup, as in 8 tools and a lot of batteries. And, I needed to buy a 1/2" impact. I looked at the options, and last week ordered the Milwaukee Fuel 1/2 impact.

Because:
1. The DeWalt 18v line up appears to being phased in favor of the new 20v line.
2. The 18v DeWalt isn't super strong
3. The first job I need the cordless impact for is removing some tractor wheels that were installed 20+ years ago, so I wanted the most toque possible.
4. Buying into the new DeWalt 20v line, is no different from buying any other line of tools that are not compatible with the tools I currently own. And, the 20v toque isn't the greatest.
5. The Milwaukee 1/2 Fuel is currently the best / most powerful, with 1,100 foot pounds of loosening toque.
6. The Milwaukee 18 line up, is almost the most extensive, so it makes sense for future expansion.
7. I'm upset with DeWalt for making the 20v line not backwards compatible, with the sea of 18v DeWalt tools in use.


I must say though, the Fuel impact wrench kit isn't cheap.... But the best rarely is.
 
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