First day with Milwaukee M12 Fuel Impact

[243]

I stopped by Home Depot after reading the review threads here and asking what an impact driver is useful for around the house and shop. I was undecided on the M12 and M18 Fuel after testing them at the display and wanted to check the price with tax against the online price with shipping.

After more reading and on a tight budget I decided to get the M12 Fuel from CPO along with the extra battery. My thought was I would be out less money if the tool didn't meet my needs and simply be a convenient tool to use when I didn't want to use my air powered 3/8" impact. Earlier this week I picked up three socket adapters and had the chance to use it this weekend.

I started out installing the head bolts on and AMC 258, the convenience to spin bolts tight without cords or an air hose was nice and the variable power allowed me to run them tight enough to start tightening in sequence with a torque wrench.

I used it on various other fasteners when I had access that is pretty good with the smaller M12, I could have used the M18 on most of the same bolts but the M12 is lighter.

Yesterday I was able to remove the lug nuts to complete the rear brake installation, the lug nuts were tightened with an old CP air impact, I use anti-sieze on lug bolts. The M12 removed them all with only one or two needing a little extra hammer hits; again, the convenience is great.

I do my own tire rotations and other maintenance and before I had a compressor I used an electric impact that was a lifesaver with 32 nuts on one vehicle. The corded electric is more convenient than the air impact.

There is no doubt I will have a 1/4 M18 Fuel in the near future.

 

[Hafen_Kafer]

Glad to hear it work that good. I got the 1/4 m12 due to the fact that I don't have a an ir compressor and there is no electricity in my garage. The apartments life.

 

[Stuey]

Yup, it really does work beautifully. I reviewed it about a month ago (http://toolguyd.com/milwaukee-m12-fuel-brushless-impact-driver-review/), and find myself often reaching for the M12 over my 18V driver. That's mainly because my 18V Bosch doesn't have the speed/torque control setting, but I see no reason to reach for the larger tool most of the time.

 

[Hafen_Kafer]

I ordered the older model. no torque setting adjuster. But i think I'll be alright.

 

[#1SomeGuy]

117ft-lbs (rated) is enough to remove lug nuts?? And torqued your lugs with an air impact wrench?

*scared*

 

[firebox40dash5]

117ft-lbs (rated) is enough to remove lug nuts?? And torqued your lugs with an air impact wrench?

*scared*

I've got 65 and 85 ft. lb. torque sticks, but yeah, it's a bit unsettling that it can overcome the static friction and bust them loose. My Makita 18V BL could do it about 75% of the time, as long as the threads weren't jacked up or rusty, and it wasn't rated for much more. I'm not planning to bother trying the M12 though.

I got the Fuel drill and impact a couple weeks ago. I was a little concerned at first that I'd end up wanting duplicates in 18V, but I have to say so far I don't think that will be an issue. The M12 has enough *** for anything I should be doing with a hex driver, and I'll probably get the M18 Fuel 3/8" for heavier tasks. The size, weight and low cost make it an impressive little tool. Even with a 4.0XC pack it's smaller and much lighter than the Makita, and has almost as much power, and with the 2.0 battery it's seriously compact and light, and still lasts at least most of a work day, if not the whole day. The actually usable belt clip is handy too. I kinda wish it had a bit holder available, but short of mounting it on the motor opposite the clip I don't know how they'd do it, and that would increase the bulk of the body, so I'll settle for my pocket I suppose.

I'm waiting on the rotary tool to arrive, and I'll probably buy the Hackzall and see how long I can go without buying into M18 to get a real sawzall and grinder. My Makita grinder was handy for little jobs, but got quickly overwhelmed, and the sawzall and circular saw were almost useless because of runtime. Most of the sawzall's use was cutting 1 or 2 little things (exhaust pipes, hangers, whatever) that I can probably do with the Hackzall, much more and I bust out the corded one anyway.

 

[243]

117ft-lbs (rated) is enough to remove lug nuts?? And torqued your lugs with an air impact wrench?

*scared*

I am not sure what you mean by "scared".

It did remove the lug nuts but I don't know how it would do with lug nuts installed without anti-sieze and tightened to a bung-hole-pucker-factor with a cheater pipe.

 

[#1SomeGuy]

Yesterday I was able to remove the lug nuts to complete the rear brake installation, the lug nuts were tightened with an old CP air impact, I use anti-sieze on lug bolts. The M12 removed them all with only one or two needing a little extra hammer hits; again, the convenience is great.

This is what is scary...you are tightening lugs with an air impact, using anti-seize on the studs and a tiny impact was able to remove the lugs. Sounds improper, hopefully you don't have issues with lugs coming off.

 

[cyarm]

I just picked up the 1/4" impact in this line. The 18 volt 1/2" has been a stud in our shop. We've had an Ingersol unit that worked for a month and also an A/C Delco that lasted about two days but the milwaukee keeps on working I absolutely recommend. Just my two cents.

 

[243]

This is what is scary...you are tightening lugs with an air impact, using anti-seize on the studs and a tiny impact was able to remove the lugs. Sounds improper, hopefully you don't have issues with lugs coming off.

OK, now I understand.

The Jeep project is not on the road yet, the wheels are taken off and on as needed while I work on different parts and pieces. The old CP may tighten to 125 ft-lbs or 65 ft-lbs, I have no idea and it's old.

All other vehicles lug nuts or bolts are tightened properly. In 26 years since I started driving, I have only had one wheel come loose and that was after changing a flat and I didn't tighten them after lowering the jack, I was 15

 

[#1SomeGuy]

OK, now I understand.

The Jeep project is not on the road yet, the wheels are taken off and on as needed while I work on different parts and pieces. The old CP may tighten to 125 ft-lbs or 65 ft-lbs, I have no idea and it's old.

All other vehicles lug nuts or bolts are tightened properly. In 26 years since I started driving, I have only had one wheel come loose and that was after changing a flat and I didn't tighten them after lowering the jack, I was 15

Fair enough, just being safety conscience

 

[m33p0n3]

Good to know it's working for you. I'm considering buying a 1/4 m12 to complement my M18 fuel 3/8. I figured the M18 would be slightly more useful for my purposes, plus it comes with the dual charger. That way I only need a bare tool and battery to buy into the M12 series.

 

[BK13]

I just picked mine up... For whatever reason, I thought the dual voltage chargers were included with both the M12 and M18, must just be for the 18v system.