M18 impact - mid torque vs high torque

[hoffman912]

I understand there are two schools of thought:

a) get the lightest/smallest tool necessary to do the job, they are easier to handle, work with and fit into tighter spaces.

B) or get the most powerful one, as it’s better to have power when you need it.

What’s are your thoughts around this when getting an impact? Those of you that have the high torque one, do you wish you went smaller? Those that have the mid torque, do you regret not going big?


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[Bowman85merc]

I have the 1/2" high torque impact for the heavy stuff, will break anything loose that I've thrown at it, and it always gets thrown in the junkyard bag. But I also have the 3/8" impact for general use. what it can't get the Big Hoss 1/2" comes out to play, but that doesn't happen too often because you have a pretty good idea what jobs are going to require which one to begin with.

When it boils down to it, I always just seem to grab the 1/2" High Torque. Not for any particular reason, besides your 'B' example I guess. Also the reason why It's the one I bring to the junkyard and lug around. "Rather have and not need, then to need and not have."

 

[livinloud11]

I opted for the high torque dewalt 20v impact over the mid range one because I just didn't want to be in a spot where now I have two small-ish impacts that can't get the job done. However, the high torque impact is pretty dang big. I will probably end up with the 1/2 mid torque one eventually as well.

 

[X1 Mike]

I have the high torque Makita and I tell you what the S.O.B. scares me. I've never needed to run it on full power yet. It's nice to know it's there when needed but honestly the one I reach for most often is my Milwaukee M12 stubby 3/8" it hits hard enough to remove my stock muffler and install a hot rod muffler and sewer pipe tail pipes on my truck on a single battery.

 

[darkzero]

When the 1st gen high torque came out, that's when I decided to retire my air impacts so I got one. The only other impacts MW had (besides brushed) was their compacts. I wanted a 1/2" gun to start off and their compact wasn't gonna do it for me.

Well the high torque was too damn bulky & had way more power than I needed not working at a shop anymore. When the mid torque came out I gave the high torque to my brother & not once did I ever regret that. Only once did the mid torque fail to remove a bolt, the crank bolt on my Tacoma. But I didn't expect it to remove it & if I had the high torque it wouldn't have fit anyway.

Sometimes I wish my mid torque was a tad bit small but not enough for me to upgrade to the 2nd gen. I would say it depends on your needs. If you need the high torque, get it. If you don't ever or rarely need that much power, IMO the thing is just too damn big to be using often. Bigger than air impacts which I was used to. I just work on my own stuff & for friends now (automotive) so my 1/2" mid torque & 3/8" compact are fine for me.

 

[steveo3002]

kinda need both...the big boy is too heavy to do light maintenance work , the smaller ones wont undo bigger stuff

if i had to choose one i would get the high torque one...i dont see any point having a tool that cant undo half the fasteners i need it to

 

[jonesg]

get them all.

 

[demarpaint]

Get both if you can. The high torque is big and limits access greatly. You'll probably use the smaller tool more, but there's nothing like having both.

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

I had a craftsman c3 and they only had one and it was a mid torque. I sold my c3 stuff and went with dewalt and got the high torque. I have a power torque cordless ratchet And will most likely get a 3/8s impact. For now an adapter in an impact driver does the job of a 3/8s. I know its not Milwaukee but hopefully its useful info for you. I just had to wait for that craftsman to loosen most fasteners

 

[finn]

I bought the high torque M18, but I am struggling with rounding out my impact inventory.

Leaning towards Dewalt fo a 12v 3/8” drive over the M12 because of Superior ergonomics, and also Dewalt for a mid torque simply because I have a lot of Dewalt batteries.

Seems that once the high end is covered, ergonomics become more important than power for the lesser tools.

 

[aussiek2000]

I have all the m18 3/8 stuff. While they get used 95% of the time. They don't like bolts mounted in rubber, or loctite. My snappy 3/8 air still outperforms in those areas.

 

[hoffman912]

Get both if you can. The high torque is big and limits access greatly. You'll probably use the smaller tool more, but there's nothing like having both.

But if could only get one ugga dugga?


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[visionguru]

I understand there are two schools of thought:

a) get the lightest/smallest tool necessary to do the job, they are easier to handle, work with and fit into tighter spaces.

B) or get the most powerful one, as it’s better to have power when you need it.

...

A) and B) don't contradict each other, not an "either this or that" kind of situation. It's all about why you buy an impact.

"A)" is for efficiency and convenience. Everything can be done by hand tools, just slower.

"B)" is for extending your capability. Not many people can generate 1000 ft-lb of torque with hand tools.

I have high, mid, low torque, and ratchet from Ingersoll Rand. As a home gamer, I found that I didn't really need to or could use an impact on majority of the fasteners on a car. The mid torque has been the most used for taking off lug nuts, but only the high torque is indispensable, for example, driving a ball joint press, taking off crank pulley bolts, and stubborn suspension bolts. If I could only keep one, I'd keep the high torque.

I guess professional mechanics would want everything that can help them work more efficiently.

 

[hoffman912]

Yeah, the highest torque item on my 912 is the fly wheel gland nut at 400 ft/lb. based on the spec of the mid torque, it is capable of 650 ft/lb of removal torque. I would think it should be fine?

The next biggest item is the rear axle bolt at 250, which the mid should be fine doing.

On the subarus, i am not sure how much i would use it other than suspension and wheels.

 

[demarpaint]

But if could only get one ugga dugga?


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If I could only get one, I probably wouldn't be a tool enthusiast or a member of this board.

 

[FuzzyTiger]

I currently have the M12 stubby and the high torque is on my shopping list. I figure between the two of them, it covers everything.

If I had to only get one, I'd probably get the mid torque. I think any fastener on my car that a mid-torque impact can't get off either needs heat and some gentler persuasion or its big and accessible enough that a breaker bar + pipe should get it off without risk of rounding it or shearing it. Axle nuts are the only thing that really come to mind that I'd want a bigger gun for and there is zero issue accessing them.

 

[pbon]

The new Milwaukee mid torque looks like the best all around impact. Very compact but still does 600 lbs. I don’t have one and probably won’t buy one because I have the predecessor plus the high torque and the stubby, but we’re I buying just one today to do everything that would be the one.

 

[allinon72]

If you can only have one for basic homerowner tasks, mid torque is all you need.

 

[M635_Guy]

If you can only have one for basic homerowner tasks, mid torque is all you need.

Another vote for this (if you're buying only one). The new Gen 2 Mid is great - powerful, small, great lights and far les weight/bulk than the High.

I own the M12 Stubby as well as both the mid and high. I kinda feel stupid for buying the High as it is still a virgin - the other two get all the work in my home-garage. (I didn't intend to wind up with all three - got a great deal on the High, then saw an incredible deal on the Mid and grabbed it, not realizing I was beyond the return window on the high).

The Stubby is what I reach for first, and it's been a star for wheel lugs and brakes. It succeeds 80% of the time (at least), at which point the Mid does whatever the Stubby can't (among other things, a few rusty/sorta-seized brake/suspension bolts so far, and the stupidly over-tightened lugs on my mothers Camry ).

I did grab the new Mid since I can still sell my Gen 1 for pretty much what I paid for it, and it makes the "If I can only have one" decision pretty easy since it's nearly as small as the Stubby but far more powerful:

(a bit unfair with the HO 3.0 battery on there, but...)

A more "fair" comparison - but definitely a lot more compact and better anvil-placement vs. the Gen 1 Mid.

I still think the Stubby will get most of the work, but we'll see. Lots of stuff to do over the next six months or so...

 

[DeeKay]

I would definitely buy the new Milwaukee mid-torque if I could only have one and didn't already have a first gen 3/8, and a 1/2" high torque.
If Milwaukee isn't exaggerating the specs too much I bet that new gun would tackle just about everything I need my 1/2 for at home.

 

[matt_i]

I used to wrench by hand. Sometimes need the 3/4" sq drive.

I got the mid torque. Mainly as a convenience. Don't need a giant tool that's already a problem in tight spaces.

 

[CentenIJ]

I was going to get the High Torque before I did my timing belt with the intention of breaking the crank bolt loose (180ft/lb). However, the mid torque went on sale so I took a gamble. To my surprise it didn’t even break a sweat. Definitely happy with the mid torque.

 

[setfocus]

I guess it depends what you plan to use it on. If you own and work on fairly new vehicles. Based on torque ratings and what I've heard here, mid torque should take almost everything apart, but I've never actually used one. If you work on old junkers... the high torque maybe a better idea

As an auto tech, if I were trying to replace the majority of the duties my 1/2" pneumatic impact does, I would go mid torque. The high torque is just way too big and heavy to use on the regular. My IR 2135qtimax, that does the brunt of the work, weighs less than the gen2 mid torque with HO 3.0 batt... not ready to convert to cordless for 1/2" impact, working in a shop plumbed with air

I bought the high torque M18, but I am struggling with rounding out my impact inventory.

Leaning towards Dewalt fo a 12v 3/8” drive over the M12 because of Superior ergonomics, and also Dewalt for a mid torque simply because I have a lot of Dewalt batteries.

Seems that once the high end is covered, ergonomics become more important than power for the lesser tools.

Milwaukee just came out with a new compact M18 impact too. Looks like an M18 version of the stubby that should have better ergonomics over the M12 line... that said, I've got the M12 3/8 stubby and less than half the time am I holding it normally. It's crammed in some tight spot and my thumb is on the trigger, ergonomics don't really matter much at that point.

Also, nothing wrong with going dewalt, if it saves you money