Milwaukee, 3/8, 1/2 or both?

[bullnerd]

I am not up to date on the "new" cordless impact guns but I want to try one.

My shop burnt and I lost all my old air tools.

Is the 3/8" impact enough to do most jobs (lug nuts?)or should I get just the 1/2"?

Both? I'd like to start out with one if I can.

Home hack, not pro-feshinal, but I have a suburban and there's some big stuck bolts under that thing.

 

[sberry]

I only use 1/2 impact. I can do the work with it, I am all over the place and one size is so much simpler and don't need/want two later of tools. If I was a specialist would tailor but I can magnetic well enough the way I do it. More wouldn't save me 5 minutes a week.

 

[Professional Tool User]

The only Milwaukee impact guns I would buy are the fuel stubby and fuel ratchet. The mid torque and full size guns are too bulky. As for which drive size, the power should be the same. It's really just a matter of whether or not you want to buy 3/8 impact sockets if you already have 1/2 impact sockets. 3/8 sockets are a bit shorter.

 

[sberry]

I use a standard gun. I hear it once in a while,,,, I cant,,,, but you can. I am a master of socket and extension length, use special stuff, swiv and uni occasionally.

 

[RKA]

I would get a 1/2” M18 mid torque for wheels and suspension stuff. If you’re mostly working under the hood, a M12 3/8” ratchet is nice too. I also use an impact driver anywhere it fits because of the high rpms.

 

[M635_Guy]

I would get a 1/2” M18 mid torque for wheels and suspension stuff. If you’re mostly working under the hood, a M12 3/8” ratchet is nice too. I also use an impact driver anywhere it fits because of the high rpms.

I agree - I love my M12 Stubby, but if I could only have one it would be the mid-torque

 

[Yarpo]

I agree - I love my M12 Stubby, but if I could only have one it would be the mid-torque

I agree, but I dislike my stubby.

Mid torque all the way if I could only have one.

 

[Firefighter1406]

I agree, but I dislike my stubby.

Mid torque all the way if I could only have one.

What makes you dislike the stubby? I have been looking at a stubby for a while now. I have the mid torque and like it, but it’s too big sometimes.

 

[bullnerd]

Yeah, The stubby is what I was looking at also.

I don't have any impact sockets anymore, I'll be buying those also.

I was planning on the M12 ratchet also.

I do have a dewalt 1/4" impact, but I mostly use that for wood/home repair stuff. Dont want to get it greasy.

 

[Firefighter1406]

I have the M12 Fuel ratchet. I forget I have it half the time and still wrench by hand. It’s a little bulky but still nice. If I get a stubby it will probably be a 1/2” and then just use a reduced when needed.

 

[bullnerd]

So can the 3/8 stubby pull suspension/chassis bolts on a truck?

If it can, Maybe I'll start with just the 3/8.

Waiting to hear why the mid torque is prefered.

 

[bullnerd]

OK, So I went to good ol you tube.

Now know the difference between stubby and mid torque.

Maybe one of each? lol!

Skip the 1/2" so I can just get 3/8 sockets?

 

[sberry]

The heavier sockets, extensions, the gun hit harder, last longer.

 

[bullnerd]

The heavier sockets, extensions, the gun hit harder, last longer.

Yeah, I always used a 1/2" air impact in the past.

3/8" impact sockets seem too small, but that's probably psychological issue from using 1/2" for so long.

 

[dacan23]

Milwaukee has about 7-8 3/8 and prolly 10 1/2 impacts, so depends on if you want M12 or M18 and how important size is.

Here's a post on a big impact test I did with lugs.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=7796170#post7796170

 

[bullnerd]

Awesome, thanks Dacan.

I like the sound of your final recommendation/preference.

 

[_Riddle]

I have the 3/8" stubby that I use most of the time but also have a 1/2" mid torque for doing wheels, suspension components, and anything that the stubby won't break loose. The stubby is very impressive but there is still a place for a more powerful tool. You can remove lugs nuts/bolts with the stubby but a mid torque will do it faster with less effort. Doing stuff like that and suspension components with the stubby kills the battery faster (in my experience) so if you don't have multiple batteries you might be taking a siesta in the middle of a job while you wait for it to recharge.

I've only encountered one fastener that the mid torque couldn't break loose and it was a lug bolt on an e30 BMW that had been sitting/rusting for 12 years. It took a breaker bar with a cheater pipe and 2 sockets because the first one broke. I was really impressed that the breaker bar made it through since it's a harbor freight. It must have had close to 1,000 ft lbs of force on the anvil.

Very happy with both the stubby and the mid torque, not sure how I got by without them.

 

[BK13]

I have the first gen M12 Fuel 3/8", first Gen 3/8" M18 with ~200 ft/lb, and the mid-torque 1/2". I ain't in Joizey, with salted roads a big chunk of the year, and I'm pretty OCD about keeping my lug nuts/studs clean, so even the M12 will usually remove the lug nuts. The only time (outside of working on a rusty CJ) I really need to break out the mid-torque is when the knuckleheads at the tire shop get a little over-zealous and run the nuts down with their big pneumatic guns... but as I said, here in Orygun I don't have do deal with road salt much...

I do want to pick up the 1/2" and 3/8" stubbies, though...

 

[SuitorsGarage]

For a non professional that was used to using 1/2" air impacts, I would suggest the M18 high torque first then pick up a drill and driver combo and use the driver with a 3/8 adapter for convenience.

 

[Tbird22]

I have a 3/8 stubby and my friend got the 1/2. Looking back, the 1/2 does transfer the power better. I feel weird using a 1/2 for jobs like removing engine covers and the like. But that’s me. I have the 1/4 fuel ratchet and I want to get one of the bigger ones. Really want the extended reach 3/8, but they are asking snap on like prices for that thing.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[M635_Guy]

OK, So I went to good ol you tube.

Now know the difference between stubby and mid torque.

Maybe one of each? lol!

Skip the 1/2" so I can just get 3/8 sockets?

I have the M12 Stubby and the Mid-Torque. They're both 1/2", but that's mainly because they replaced an old 1/2" impact.

If you don't have impact sockets yet and you're planning to get both, I don't think it makes much difference what you choose. The benefit of 3/8" is a bit more selection in small socket size and the sockets themselves are a bit smaller/lighter. 1/2" has all the big sizes but larger/heavier sockets. The additional mass is hypothetically helpful, but whatever.

Personally, I'd still go 1/2" again because I don't think the smaller/lighter sockets are worth much when I've got a super small/light M12 Stubby to slap them on.

I also have a 3/8" FUEL M12 ratchet, and love it. I just use my regular chrome sockets with that.

 

[sberry]

I use air ratchet for smaller work, actually have one in 1/2 I use quite a bit. I somehow can manage a 1/2 gun under cars, brakes, etc where others seem to have a problem.

 

[bullnerd]

Thanks for all the advice everyone.

 

[lethal-6]

I work in the Automotive industry and use the Milwaukee stubby 3/8 and the high torque 3/8 and the 2767 1/2 and I can use the 3/8 for a lot. But when things don't want to move the 2767 makes life easy. I would recommend starting with the high torque 3/8 or get the kit with the 1/2 with it. But the stubby's are great in tight spaces and they are pretty strong. I hardly use air anymore. Good luck with your search.