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Mikwaukee drill

Schwinn68

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 19, 2012
Messages
133
Location
Illinois
what are you guys crediting for the extreme battery life? Is it the brushless fuel tool or is it the batteries? I've got a few year old drill with the compact 1.5 batteries and I always loved the life I could get but they are starting to get tired.

Wondering if upgrading to the 4's will be worth it or should I get new fuel tools too.

I was thinking of just buying the batteries now and buy a couple bare tools in the future. I'm wanting the 1/4 impact and the new 1/2 fuel impact. Thoughts?
 
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Ign

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
12,769
Location
Butte Peak ND
If you're happy with the drill get new batteries and keep using it. Aren't the new smaller Reds 2.0ah? IOW even the new "small" packs may be better than your current packs.

And whatever you get they'll work with M18 Fuels if you go that way later.
 
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Schwinn68

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 19, 2012
Messages
133
Location
Illinois
I love the drill and its definitely not going anywhere. I think I will probably just get new batteries for now. You are correct the new compacts are 2.0 but they arent much cheaper than the 4.0 big boys. I will just buy the 4.0 so they will work better with the new fuels I plan to purchase
 

firebox40dash5

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 19, 2012
Messages
4,185
I love the drill and its definitely not going anywhere. I think I will probably just get new batteries for now. You are correct the new compacts are 2.0 but they arent much cheaper than the 4.0 big boys. I will just buy the 4.0 so they will work better with the new fuels I plan to purchase

You can buy the Fuel drill with a 4.0 pack (and a 2.0 too). I got mine when they were doing the free 3rd battery, and the drill was one that came with a free 4.0 instead of a 2.0... schwing! If I'd bought a pair of the 4.0 packs at street price, it was like $20 more than just buying them. Not bad for a brushless drill, 2.0 battery, and charger. :lol: I really wish I'd sprung for the hammerdrill... I figured no way in hell I'd have a use for the hammer mode, and planned on an M18 hammerdrill, but the M12 has impressed me enough to not bother with that.

Point being, if you're not in a hurry, I'd wait and see if they do another good promo!
 

rlitman

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 18, 2010
Messages
24,591
Location
Long Island
All my M18 stuff is Fuel, so I cannot compare the Fuel against the previous generation.
But the battery life is awesome.

One thing to be aware of is that the faster you drain a battery, the less energy you get out of it. The Ah rating on batteries is based on a 20 hour drain rate. No tool will give you that much run time. So understanding that, you can expect that if you jump from a 2.0Ah battery to a 4.0Ah battery, run time will increase by around 133% (not 100% as the numbers would have you believe).
 

crewchief888

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
13,742
Location
NW indiana
i have a 3/8" dr 18v fuel impact with the big battery.

over 3 weeks on the 1st battery charge, on the 1st battery havent had to even use the 2nd battery yet :shocking:


i dont use it all day long, but it's used every day, and lives a hard life in a const eq service truck.

:beer:
 

ADSR

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
10,713
These Redlith batteries are awesome! They are made by samsung. Here is the part number if you wish to research it online

INR18650-15R
 

thebeekeeper1

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 5, 2012
Messages
1,011
Location
Illinois
I recently bought a combo set and after using it for two weekends, I'm surprised any other company can sell their stuff. Milwaukee M18 drills/drivers are absolutely great!
 
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Schwinn68

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 19, 2012
Messages
133
Location
Illinois
I'm sold on the new bigger batteries. I plan on buying one 4.0 for now as mine are getting tired. I'm still wanting to get the 1/4 impact. I can get the regular bare tool to 58 or the fuel for 88.

Is the fuel worth it? Or is it mostly the bigger batteries that makes them so good or should I spend the money fr the fuel tool
 

ADSR

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Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
10,713
I'm sold on the new bigger batteries. I plan on buying one 4.0 for now as mine are getting tired. I'm still wanting to get the 1/4 impact. I can get the regular bare tool to 58 or the fuel for 88.

Is the fuel worth it? Or is it mostly the bigger batteries that makes them so good or should I spend the money fr the fuel tool


Fuel is so worth it, bro. It's the next level in power tools. I drove 900 - 1 3/4 long screws in 2 hours and the gun didn't even get hot. Just a little warm is all. And i started that job on 2 bars of battery. After 900 screws, it dropped to 1 bar. I almost couldn't believe it.
 
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Schwinn68

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 19, 2012
Messages
133
Location
Illinois
I ended up buying a fuel m18 hex impact bare tool. One 4.0 battery and the hackzall kit with a xc battery. Haven't had a chance to use any of it because I'm workin too much right now. I'm happy with the size and feel so far. I might end up getting the 1/2" compact impact soon too.
 

trogo

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 3, 2013
Messages
341
Location
TN
I really like the Fuel Impact Driver's 3 position settings. Have the 2653 (hex) and 2654 3/8"impacts and both are great for dialing in torque.

I should be getting the new Milwaukee 2764-22 High Torque Impact Wrench later this week. Will be posting a review on HD's website after I get a chance to use it.
 

ADSR

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
10,713
I ended up buying a fuel m18 hex impact bare tool. One 4.0 battery and the hackzall kit with a xc battery. Haven't had a chance to use any of it because I'm workin too much right now. I'm happy with the size and feel so far. I might end up getting the 1/2" compact impact soon too.

Nice buy. The impact is a beast. Give your thoughts on the hackzall when you get some use time.
 

retfr8flyr

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 7, 2013
Messages
756
Location
Providence Forge, VA
I have both the earlier Milwaukee M12, M18 drills and I upgraded my M18 to the new Fuel version drill this summer. Believe me there is no comparison, smaller lighter and with more power. I will be upgrading my M12 to the Fuel version, as soon as I can recover from all the woodworking tools I have purchased this fall and the cost for rebuilding my turbos.
 
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