M12 3/8" stubby impact

[X1 Mike]

How the heck did I miss this tool? Of course I knew of its existence I just didn't have any idea how much I needed it. I have at last count 21 M12 tools so it's not like I don't love the things but I had no idea that a little old 12 volt could have so much power until I watched some YouTube videos last night.

To anyone that owns one is it the real deal? Can it actually change a set of tires off a car? I did the tires off my Can Am 4 wheeler with my Makita 1/2" and it scares me a bit. I throttle it way back.

If it is the real deal is it worth it to get the larger ah battery like a 3.0 or 6.0 or will the stock 2.0's that I have work good enough?

 

[rcbk00]

I have the 3/8" stubby and I think it's a great tool. I wouldn't use it with anything other than a 6.0 battery though- it definitely affects how much peak power the tool produces.

 

[Tuc04]

I have the 3/8” stubby. Using a 2.0 amp battery it will take the lugs off a Durango (100 ft/lbs) without any drama.

 

[Kaervak]

I have the 3/8 stubby and the 1/2 high torque. I've used the high torque once, the stubby gets used all the time. I use an XC pack with mine and it has no problems removing multiple sets of lug nuts torqued to 100ft/lbs. I've pulled axle nuts with it and recently a Saturn crank bolt. All of them removed by the 3/8 without issue. Those M12 subbys are much more powerful than people realize, you won't be disappointed it's a great impact.

 

[mc4life27]

Same mind takes my life nuts if no problem. I have the 3/8 and awakes use a 4.0 or a 6.0 though. The 2.0 and cp3.0 just do t give it kick you in the *** power like the bigger ones do. Only problem. I have is the hog ring doesn’t want to hang in to sockets very well.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[setfocus]

my plan is to switch to just milwaukee cordless at work (auto tech).

M12 3/8 Stubby would replace my old snap-on ct4410, which has been a good tool, although not real powerful compared to current cordless (150 ft/lbs working torque and 230 bolt-breakaway), but the old ni-cad batts ****, one is shot and won't put out full power. Snap-on wants way too much for replacements. ct761 is tempting with smaller size and butterfly trigger but actually a little less powerful (120 ft/lbs working).

I'm currently running the old snap-on ct4410 3/8 14.4v ni-cad and the old makita 12v max Li-ion (like m12 batts, not newer cxt) impact/driver and drill.

m18 fuel drill and m12 fuel impact/driver would replace the makitas and I could bring in my m18 sawzall and rapid charger to work once I have more batts and another charger at home for the trimmer. Might add one of the m12 ratchets to the mix.

The old snappy 3/8 and makita's would be brought home and maybe have the snappy batts rebuilt

 

[X1 Mike]

I ordered the 3/8" stubby, $155 shipped to the house. Can't wait to try it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H5W6B8H/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I also ordered a battery, it claims it's an actual Milwaukee but I have doubts it is. If it isn't it goes right back.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MCVWX6N/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Rattle]

I used the 3/8" to remove lugs on my ram 1500 4x4 no problems. Seems to hit faster with the 4.0 instead of the 2.0 battery. Awesome little gun

 

[X1 Mike]

I used the 3/8" to remove lugs on my ram 1500 4x4 no problems. Seems to hit faster with the 4.0 instead of the 2.0 battery. Awesome little gun

Have you tried it with a 6.0 ah battery? If the battery I bought isn't genuine Milwaukee I may get the Home Depot deal someone posted in another thread for two 2.0 ah batteries and two 4.0 ah batteries. It's good to know the 4.0 will get it done.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauk...4-0-Ah-Batteries-4-Pack-48-11-2442P/309990325

 

[M635_Guy]

I have the 1/2" version (b/c I had 1/2" impact sockets) along with the mid and high (which is so far unused, but that's another story).

Awesome tool. So light and easy to get in a lot of places, and plenty grumpy enough do do most common stuff.

 

[CJM8515]

i have all 3 and LOVE them.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Get an M12 Stubby, but get the 1/2" drive model. That way you will remember when you pick it up just how much power it has and not use it to drive some screws !

 

[Rattle]

Have you tried it with a 6.0 ah battery? If the battery I bought isn't genuine Milwaukee I may get the Home Depot deal someone posted in another thread for two 2.0 ah batteries and two 4.0 ah batteries. It's good to know the 4.0 will get it done.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauk...4-0-Ah-Batteries-4-Pack-48-11-2442P/309990325

I don't have a 6.0 battery. Got a bunch of 2's and 4's with kits. A full 2 will take them off as long as they are not over torqued. Just seems to take a couple seconds longer over a 4.

You might get a bit more power and definitely longer run time out of the bigger 6.0 but I can't justify the cost for batteries when I have more than enough of them and would rather more different tools.

 

[M635_Guy]

Have you tried it with a 6.0 ah battery? If the battery I bought isn't genuine Milwaukee I may get the Home Depot deal someone posted in another thread for two 2.0 ah batteries and two 4.0 ah batteries. It's good to know the 4.0 will get it done.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauk...4-0-Ah-Batteries-4-Pack-48-11-2442P/309990325

I got a 6.0 when as part of a bundle when I got my Surge, and it is pretty much dedicated to my Stubby. I've had a couple things with a 2.0ah that the Stubby balked at a bit, but switching to the 6.0 fixed that and the 2.0ah probably won't touch the Stubby again.

 

[BiggityBen]

the hog ring is annoying sometimes and i foresee it being a legitimate problem after another year or two of daily use. not that big of a deal though. otherwise it can't compete with my stubby pneumatic IR but since it's cordless it wins in all other categories. absolutely worth purchasing. it has only freaked out on me once, flashing the battery lights and refusing to work. a 15 minute time out (and battery on the charger cuz why not) and it's been fine since. it's definitely good enough for personal vehicle lugnuts. i keep a 4ah battery in it and it's not always enough to finish a job without a recharge or battery swap.

 

[M635_Guy]

It has only freaked out on me once, flashing the battery lights and refusing to work. a 15 minute time out (and battery on the charger cuz why not) and it's been fine since. it's definitely good enough for personal vehicle lugnuts. i keep a 4ah battery in it and it's not always enough to finish a job without a recharge or battery swap.

What kind of jobs are you talking about? I mean, swappable batteries is part of what makes them convenient, but a 4ah should be a pretty long-lasting battery unless you're really having to hammer on stuff for a while (at which point you should probaby be using the mid- or a pneumatic. The flashing battery lights was (probably) overheating...

 

[BiggityBen]

that job in particular was installing a lift kit on a buddy's 2010 Silverado a couple months ago, with replacing new front cv axles, tie rod ends, sway bar linkages, upper control arms, and shocks. used that impact on just about everything, but i used Dewalt 20v 1/2" for lug nuts and axle nuts. and the fastener on the lower control arm ball joint was a 24mm which i used just a ratchet for.

i also tore apart a late 90's vintage John Deere 6081 engine to pull a couple pistons out and hang in the shop as decoration. one 4ah battery wasn't enough for just the disassembly of that engine, which obviously never got put back together.

 

[Jmo371]

Curious if there is a Fuel version of it out yet....seems like it makes a big difference on the other Milwaukee tools.

 

[X1 Mike]

Curious if there is a Fuel version of it out yet....seems like it makes a big difference on the other Milwaukee tools.

It is a Fuel version, check the Amazon link in the first post.

 

[pbon]

After I got them mid torque, I used the high torque less. After I got the 3/8 stubby, I used the mid torque less.

 

[M635_Guy]

Curious if there is a Fuel version of it out yet....seems like it makes a big difference on the other Milwaukee tools.

Do you mean an M18 version? (because the Stubby is an M12 FUEL product)

If you did, the Mid is pretty much that. Without the battery, it's actually not much bigger than the Stubby:

Of course, once you put a battery on there...

 

[M635_Guy]

Family Pic:

 

[visionguru]

^^
Nice family photo. IMO, only the high torque is indispensable though.

I have Ingersoll Rand 1/2" (1500 ft-lb nut busting) 3/8" (600 ft-lb nut busting) and 1/4" at 120 ft-lb ish. I thought the mid torque 3/8" is more than enough to work on cars, then I encounter at least 3~4 rusty bolts that only the 1/2" would work, especially with unavoidable extensions and swivel heads. Milwaukee stubby, as impressive as it might be, will have 0 chance to move those.

 

[macs_rock]

^^
Nice family photo. IMO, only the high torque is indispensable though.

I have Ingersoll Rand 1/2" (1500 ft-lb nut busting) 3/8" (600 ft-lb nut busting) and 1/4" at 120 ft-lb ish. I thought the mid torque 3/8" is more than enough to work on cars, then I encounter at least 3~4 rusty bolts that only the 1/2" would work, especially with unavoidable extensions and swivel heads. Milwaukee stubby, as impressive as it might be, will have 0 chance to move those.

I think it falls in line with the usual 80/20 rule. The stubby is 20% the size and gets 80% of the work done. The others take care of the rest. I've got all three as well. I started with the High Torque, and found while there wasn't a nut or bolt I could find it couldn't break loose, there were a lot it couldn't fit to reach. Bought the stubby and it gets most of the work done but some things (axle nuts mainly) are just a little bit too much for it. So in came the Mid Torque. I'm just a DIYer but I feel like each tool has its place. I could get along with just the High and the Stubby but the Mid is just right for the in between stuff, as it should be. I'm lucky not to live in a rust prone area.

 

[pbon]

Family Pic:

They look unused. Put them to work!

 

[X1 Mike]

Well, I got my impact this week and took it in to work today to do some personal work.

A tech was about to start a job that he has to break a couple nuts loose by hand or with air because his 3/8" drive M18 won't break it loose. Admittedly this impact is three years old and he thinks it lost some juice over the years but the M12 busted every nut loose. This was a suspension job loosening control arms and strut mounts among others.

After work I put a hot rod muffler on my Ram and it busted torca clamps loose without hesitation and one 2.0 ah battery did the complete removal and reinstallation.

So far this thing is amazing!