M12 Screwdriver Usefulness?

[Handyandy23]

Wondering for those that own them, his useful do you find the Milwaukee M12 Screwdriver? HD near me has a good deal on it with two batteries included, but it seems to me like it would have a lot of overlap with my 1/4" hex impact driver and drill.

Do people find it a more useful tool for driving screws than the impacts due to the multiple clutch settings? And if so, how does that differ from the clutch settings on a standard drill?

 

[Spacey_G]

I have one and find it's usefulness sorta limited, depending on what you do. Not as good as an impact driver for driving screws into wood, and obviously not made for drilling.

Where it shines is assembly/disassembly of bit-driven screws that are small enough where you want a clutch to limit torque rather than trying to feather an impact driver. Basically it does what you'd do with a bit in a drill/driver but it's more compact and faster to change bits.

 

[jasonphelps]

Maybe I'm in the minority but I really like mine and use it all the time

 

[techieman33]

It's good for delicate work. Assembly/disassembly of electronics, furniture, and anything else that is going into a threaded hole. It's a little smaller and lighter than the hammer drill, and you have a lot more control with the clutch than an impact driver.

 

[M6erfan]

which one are y'all talking about?

 

[Spacey_G]

I have the 2401.

 

[ARFLY]

I have the non-fuel and really like it. I use it quite a bit.

 

[jasonphelps]

2401-20 here

 

[jasonphelps]

Paired with 48-11-2401 battery

 

[DHCrocks]

I don't have milwaukee but use the Bosch 12v system. the screwdriver PS22 is my most used tool. I grab that I would say 75% of the time. It has a lock up clutch so it can also function as a drill. The thing I like about it is that it is much more compact then the drill/driver (PS32) since there is no chuck. In fact, I hardly use the drill driver the least of the set. The impact driver (PS41) would come in second most used tool.

Get the screwdriver, you will be surprised how much you grab it.

 

[M6erfan]

I don't have milwaukee but use the Bosch 12v system. the screwdriver PS22 is my most used tool. I grab that I would say 75% of the time. It has a lock up clutch so it can also function as a drill. The thing I like about it is that it is much more compact then the drill/driver (PS32) since there is no chuck. In fact, I hardly use the drill driver the least of the set. The impact driver (PS41) would come in second most used tool.

Get the screwdriver, you will be surprised how much you grab it.

I have a Bosch PS21. The thing I dont like about it is that the chuck doesn't hold the bits very tightly, there is several mm of play, which bugs me.

I have the M12 system too, so interested in the responses to this thread

 

[Handyandy23]

Sorry, didn't realize there were multiple versions. The 2401 is the one I was looking at.

 

[techieman33]

Sorry, didn't realize there were multiple versions. The 2401 is the one I was looking at.

There are actually 3 of them. The 2401, which is the basic single speed model. The 2406 which is a more powerful 2 speed model with more torque, and the the 2402 which is the 2 speed fuel model with even more torque and slight faster rpms than the non fuel 2 speed.

I have the 2401 and it's has more than enough power for any screwdriving I've had to do. It's driven some 2 1/2" screws into 2x when grabbing my impact meant taking 5 minutes to walk to the other side of the building.

 

[jasonphelps]

How much was it? Sometimes they are cheap enough to buy just for the batteries

 

[M6erfan]

How much was it? Sometimes they are cheap enough to buy just for the batteries

$99 at HD

 

[KDoug]

I've wandered it's usefulness if one already had a drill/driver and impact driver. But it looks useful if you did woodworking and used pocketholes a lot.

 

[tarbellb]

Meh, its underpowered for anything more than trim screws, delicate work. If you do fine woodworking, interior, electronics, etc... it is a useful(ish) tool.

But for anything else, much better off with the standard combo of driver and impact; especially the fuel (18v rivals)

 

[DFB]

2401 is for light assembly chores honestly can't even see you using an impact driver for same purposes.

I have the original 2401 (not the current model) and also the 2 speed FUEL. I prefer the 2402 over an impact especially for multiple screw driving chores indoors like building benches and built ins not just for myself but for others that may be around the assembly area. Plenty powerful to drive home 3 inch screws easily

2402 Fuel is the same body as the drill driver but shorter overall and with the convenience of a one hand quick release 1/4 shank.

 

[BMack37]

It has NO overlap with an impact driver...but it does have a lot of overlap with a drill. I like mine, it's small(shorter than a chucked drill) and the 1/4" chuck makes it easy to swap bits without an adapter. The M12 Fuel is pretty awesome too...I'm looking forward to the M12 Installation tool, might want to give that a look too but you're looking at a lot more money when that comes out.

 

[Handyandy23]

Alright, thanks for all the feedback. Sounds like a useful tool for certain tasks. I'm lazy so I tend to try to use my impact driver for way too many tasks, sometimes mangling screwed together assemblies in the process. Sounds like this would perform those tasks much more easily.

And as someone pointed out the batteries is why it caught my eye in the first place. $99 and comes with 2 batteries (small 1.5ah's I think) and a charger. For someone not bought into the M12 line yet, that's a good deal to be able to start adding bare tools to.

The Fuel sounds really nice, and like everyone I usually tend to try and overkill everything, but for what it should be used for, I'm guessing the 2401 will be plenty good enough.

 

[chrisnazzy]

Let me add that I also own the m12 screwdriver. I bought mine with both batteries and the charger in unused condition from a local pawn shop for $40. When I came across the deal I thought I couldn't go wrong for that price. Had I known how much use it would get in my house, I would have bought the kit sooner for the $99 regular retail price. Other than driving screws or lags in studs, it is the Milwaukee drive tool of choice for household fastening duties. In fact I find my wife and girls use it even more than I do.

I should also let you know that those 1.5ah batteries aren't bad at all. In fact the only M12 batteries I currently own are the 1.5's and I have 4. I've been dragging my feet on ordering the m12 stubby and now with the extended ratchet and especially the mini die grinder coming out, I've come to terms with the order I'm gonna have to make soon. I'm going to pick up a couple 6ah batteries at that time but so far, I have found the performance and run time of the little batteries to be adequate.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[M6erfan]

Chris, How much 'slop' is there in the bit/bit holder interface?

Thanks.

 

[clinebarger]

I use my Clutched cordless Driver for car interior/trim duties (Evaporator/Heater Core replacement)

 

[JRas]

Great for interior work, removing door panels, dash, center consoles, trims

 

[Spacey_G]

Chris, How much 'slop' is there in the bit/bit holder interface?

Thanks.

If you're asking about axial slop, mine has about .100".

 

[Flat-rate]

Not sure which M12 model I have, It's 10 yrs old and gets used every single day in a dealership service department. Great for interior work, and just about anything held together with small screws or bolts. Smaller than a drill, but not as powerful as an impact.

 

[Tallpilot]

I like mine. I keep most of my tools locked up in the shop. My M12 driver is in the kitchen with the household tools I let the girls use.

 

[M6erfan]

If you're asking about axial slop, mine has about .100".

Thanks, sounds similar to my Bosch.

 

[Tduby]

I have the old version I love it but now that the m12 surge is coming out I would buy that unless the screw driver was on a screaming deal

 

[decableguy2000]

Use mine daily with a 1/2" nut setter to open and close amplifiers. With a 4.0 battery it will last me for a few days before a recharge. BTW mines the older one with brushes.

 

[MushCreek]

I'm considering getting an M12 for lighter work. Ive been using my M18 driver lately for electrical work, and its a bit heavy-handed, in more ways than one. Small battery would be plenty for my usage, and would be lighter.