Milwaukee M12 Impact Wrench (Ratchet)

[pamike]

Alright, anybody have the M12 Impact "Ratchet" like shown below? Guys that have them swear they are great...They aren't made in M18 unfortunately. I assume 3/8" might be more versatile than a 1/2". Let me know your thoughts. Since I need tool and batteries (I run M18) its going to be a bit of an investment.

 

[Marlin]

Looks like an impact, not a ratchet.

 

[Fly YX]

I have the Rigid version of it. They work well when I was working on light rail. You may check out the Rigid ones and you can get an adapter for your Milwaukee18 V batteries. Or if you catch them on sale, sometimes they will be reduced down to what the tool only is at Home Depot. If you check out, Direct tool and you get a blemished one it qualifies for the LSA warranty. If you do get the Ridgid make sure you’re registered online. On the M12 stuff, I like the ratchets I sometimes have trouble with the heads. All my other M2 stuff does not seem to hold up as well. Except for my M2 bandsaw. That thing used to cut a ton of Una strut..

 

[dnschmidt]

I have this tool and am waiting for an upgrade. It basically has the motor of the original stubby impact which was recently upgraded to version 2.0 and now has twice the power of the original stubby. If they do the same thing to this right angle impact it would become a killer tool. Currently, it's a little weak for caliper bolts. It's sort of a tweener. Bigger than a cordless ratchet and not powerful enough to replace a real impact wrench. If Milwaukee makes this improvement every mechanic in the world will buy one.

 

[gmcgeo]

I have the m12 Ratchet. I love it. Works very very well. I never use my air ratchet anymore

 

[dchawk81]

My hesitation to purchase is how big it is. I feel like I'd buy it and find it awesome for a couple things then never touch it again.

Milwaukee isn't cheap enough for that.

 

[Oldsmobile]

It's sort of a tweener. Bigger than a cordless ratchet and not powerful enough to replace a real impact wrench.

Absolutely correct. It's noticeably weaker than expected. It looked useful and I had some coupons or something, so I bought it, but I haven't found any job that it does better than anything else. I couldn't recommend it in its current iteration either.

 

[pamike]

Absolutely correct. It's noticeably weaker than expected. It looked useful and I had some coupons or something, so I bought it, but I haven't found any job that it does better than anything else. I couldn't recommend it in its current iteration either.

They offer a 1/2" version. Have you considered purchasing that? I read online that you can use it as a normal ratchet to break a bolt loose. I assume that's pretty hard on the tool though...

 

[Oldsmobile]

I find that for my needs, the normal impacts cover all uses well enough. I'm not opposed to buying a new tool, being a GJer, but it does seem to me that this M12 impact didn't solve any problems. As previously mentioned, the tool just doesn't have the guts to work as a decent impact. Anywhere I'd use 1/2 drive, I would expect to have plenty of clearance to use the traditional M18 impact gun.

 

[nicks78camaro]

It's not as powerful as it should be.

 

[WhataTool]

I read online that you can use it as a normal ratchet to break a bolt loose.

Nope

They offer a 1/2" version. Have you considered purchasing that?

Not sure what changing the square drive size does on a tool that doesn't have a lot of torque

 

[Gangly]

I have the fuel series M12 ratchet in 3/8 and absolutely love it. I do primarily automotive work with it, and it allows me to get into tight spaces that a typical impact simply wont fit. It has saved my keister a few times over the past few years, and if it ever breaks I'll be picking up another one to replace it that very same day. Since I have owned it, it has saved me HOURS of effort/work.

Like the M18 series tools, the larger the battery the better the "oomph" of the tool. If the nut or bolt is seized and requires more oomph than what the tool can provide, I break the nut or bolt loose with a wrench first, the hit it with the M12 ratchet.

My three "Must Have" tools for any automotive repair/replace task, listed favorite first:
M12 3/8 Stubby Impact
M12 3/8 Ratchet Wrench
M18 1/2 Impact Mid-Torque

And yes, for the sake of time, it can be used as a wrench to break a bolt loose. I don't recommend it because a wrench is a lot cheaper to replace than the ratchet, but I have done this on multiple occasions.

 

[Gangly]

They offer a 1/2" version. Have you considered purchasing that? I read online that you can use it as a normal ratchet to break a bolt loose. I assume that's pretty hard on the tool though...

You can, and I have. I would not recommend it though since a wrench, or ratchet wrench, costs a lot less than the M12 Ratchet.

 

[pamike]

Nope


Not sure what changing the square drive size does on a tool that doesn't have a lot of torque

The 1/2" one has a 200 ft lb torque rating where as the 3/8" doesn't have any torque rating...

 

[WhataTool]

they are both 220 ft-lbs.
This thread is wild.

M12 FUEL™ 1/2" Right Angle Impact Wrench w/ Friction Ring Kit | Milwaukee Tool

MILWAUKEE® M12 FUEL™ 1/2" Right Angle Impact Wrench w/ Friction Ring Kit has Auto Shut-Off and Bolt Removal Modes for unmatched control and access into tighter spaces

www.milwaukeetool.com

M12 FUEL™ 3/8" Right Angle Impact Wrench w/ Friction Ring | Milwaukee Tool

MILWAUKEE® M12 FUEL™ 3/8" Right Angle Impact Wrench w/ Friction Ring is the industry's most powerful right angle impact wrench. The cordless ⅜” impact wrench is powered by REDLITHIUM™ Battery Packs

www.milwaukeetool.com

 

[dnschmidt]

they are both 220 ft-lbs.
This thread is wild.

M12 FUEL™ 1/2" Right Angle Impact Wrench w/ Friction Ring Kit | Milwaukee Tool

MILWAUKEE® M12 FUEL™ 1/2" Right Angle Impact Wrench w/ Friction Ring Kit has Auto Shut-Off and Bolt Removal Modes for unmatched control and access into tighter spaces

www.milwaukeetool.com

M12 FUEL™ 3/8" Right Angle Impact Wrench w/ Friction Ring | Milwaukee Tool

MILWAUKEE® M12 FUEL™ 3/8" Right Angle Impact Wrench w/ Friction Ring is the industry's most powerful right angle impact wrench. The cordless ⅜” impact wrench is powered by REDLITHIUM™ Battery Packs

www.milwaukeetool.com

Those are imaginary numbers. TTC tested these right angle impact wrenches and the true torque values were not even close to those published numbers.

 

[Tynee]

This thread is wild.

I'm not even sure everybody is talking about the same tool as OP. I think some are confusing this right angle Impact with a standard M12 ratchet.

 

[WhataTool]

Those are imaginary numbers. TTC tested these right angle impact wrenches and the true torque values were not even close to those published numbers.

Oh they weak as hell, I'm just saying they both equally weak as hell

 

[drmarkr]

We have a couple of the standard, and one of the Fuel. I recommend spending the extra money and buying the Fuel. The speed is worth it and it has additional torque as well. I have had to replace the internals of one of the standard models, but it only cost about $10 and 15 minutes to replace. Overall I love them both but would recommend the fuel for the additional speed and torque.

 

[WildBill]

I have the normal Makita 12v ratchet that looks like this, I use it all the time for automotive stuff. It's only something like 35ft pounds torque but you can use it like a regular rachet to break stuff free than zip the bolt out using tool power. Really nice for things like oil pans, valve covers, rear ends, etc. with a lot of small to medium size bolts. I just used it for a timing chain replacement on a 289 ford, was great for zipping all 10 million of the long **** water pump, timing cover, and accessory bolts in/out. The Makita also comes with snap in 1/4 and 3/8" drive pieces, which is handy. I use the 1/4" drive a lot for painful under dash stuff.

I don't understand this tool though, it's not strong enough to break bigger things free and it's not fast like the ratchet. At least that's my understanding. I think I would rather have the normal M12 ratchet.

 

[Dr.JohnnyFever]

I thought it would be great for caliper bracket bolts. People that actually have it say it is too weak though.

 

[darkzero]

I'm not even sure everybody is talking about the same tool as OP. I think some are confusing this right angle Impact with a standard M12 ratchet.

Yup, that's cause the title of this thread is incorrect.

The tool in question is a right angle impact, not a ratchet, or even an impacting ratchet (which Milwaukee does not make).

I never considered pur hasing this right angle impact cause as I understand it, it can't be used like a ratchet. If it's unable to break a fastener free under it's own power, it can't be used like a ratchet to manually break a faster free. Would then have to use another tool.

No thanks, that was the deal breaker for me in addition to it's power being under rated (like pretty much all cordless impacting tools). I'm currently using the M12 High Speed ratchet ever since it first came out & have been happy with it. Had the 1st gen Fuel ratchet before that & I was.never happy with it from day one.

 

[WWheeler]

They offer a 1/2" version. Have you considered purchasing that? I read online that you can use it as a normal ratchet to break a bolt loose. I assume that's pretty hard on the tool though...

Nope

Maybe not on a suspension component, but for most fasteners up to 100 ft lbs or so I strongly suspect this Milwaukee impacting ratchet can handle breaking free and tightening with it.

I don't own this Milwaukee impacting ratchet, but I do have a few Milwaukee (4) and Dewalt (2) cordless ratchets and I have always broke free and tightened by hand with all of them. Granted, I don't ever opt to use a cordless ratchet on things like suspension and caliper bolts, but pretty much everything under the hood I sure do. I've been using them to break free and tighten since my first Milwaukee ratchet in 2014 or thereabouts.

The Milwaukees do have a note against doing so in the manuals, but the Dewalts only warn against doing so for "high torque applications like lug-nuts". They all do rather well being used that way. I have no use for a cordless ratchet if it needs me to switch back and forth with a different tool to do all the heavy lifting. I buy them and use them because they save me time, not so I can be afraid to break one.

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

I honestly don't like that thing. I have used them a few times and the head is way to thick to be useful. You are better off buying a stubby impact with swivel sockets and the standard m12 ratchet.

As for pulling on a m12 ratchet i truly believe they don't recommend it because people pull on the batteries. The battery design on the tool is seamless with handle so people tend to slide there hands down towards the battery to increase leverage. I use my m12 ratchets daily to loosen bolts and have never had an issue (5 years of use now). I am in Dallas so rust free vehicles, I am soft on my tools compared to others on here from the heavy rust states!

 

[mike93lx]

Maybe not on a suspension component, but for most fasteners up to 100 ft lbs or so I strongly suspect this Milwaukee impacting ratchet can handle breaking free and tightening with it.

How many <100ft lb bolts are you encountering that have tight access?

I've never seen a favorable review for this tool

 

[jar944]

I have one, (the right angle impact)

It works well enough for what it is. No it's not taking lug nuts off a f350. For tight spaces where nothing else fits it works great.

 

[pbon]

I thought it would be great for caliper bracket bolts. People that actually have it say it is too weak though.

Yes, it is too weak unless maybe it is a newer car and the bolts recently torqued or it has never seen rain or snow. Break them loose by hand and use the battery tool to spin them off or use extensions to get a more powerful wrench in there. The new 3/8 stubby with 5AH battery is pretty compact.

 

[dnschmidt]

My opinion is WAIT. Milwaukee clearly has a more powerful motor that would easily fit this tool as is demonstrated by the new Stubby. Any reasonable company would introduce that motor into a version 2.0 of this tool. A cordless right angle impact with double the torque of this dog would surely be a winner and would finally do what most people would use this tool for: caliper bracket bolts.

 

[Gangly]

I honestly don't like that thing. I have used them a few times and the head is way to thick to be useful. You are better off buying a stubby impact with swivel sockets and the standard m12 ratchet.

As for pulling on a m12 ratchet i truly believe they don't recommend it because people pull on the batteries. The battery design on the tool is seamless with handle so people tend to slide there hands down towards the battery to increase leverage. I use my m12 ratchets daily to loosen bolts and have never had an issue (5 years of use now). I am in Dallas so rust free vehicles, I am soft on my tools compared to others on here from the heavy rust states!

I strongly disagree, the M12 ratchet is my go to for tight spaces, and I use it A LOT more than my stubby when working in engine bays. If your pulling intake manifolds, heads, etc. you will only be able to access the bolts on the back of the engine with a ratchet, the stubbies wont fit. Now if its a bolt that I can get to with the stubby, I'll take the stubby ALL DAY LONG because of its torque and bolt breaking ability. The stubby is my favorite, the ratchet a close second.

 

[pbon]

I really like my M12 1/4 drive non fuel ratchet. I also have right angle 3/8 and stubby 3/8 impacts and 3/8 fuel M12 ratchet and m18 mid and high torque impacts. Each tool has its place and I use them all but the 1/4 non fuel gets a lot of use.

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

I strongly disagree, the M12 ratchet is my go to for tight spaces, and I use it A LOT more than my stubby when working in engine bays. If your pulling intake manifolds, heads, etc. you will only be able to access the bolts on the back of the engine with a ratchet, the stubbies wont fit. Now if its a bolt that I can get to with the stubby, I'll take the stubby ALL DAY LONG because of its torque and bolt breaking ability. The stubby is my favorite, the ratchet a close second.

I think something got lost in translation here. I love the m12 ratchet and like you use it all day everyday for everything. I don't like the m12 right angle impact that the OP originally showed. IMO there are not enough cases to use it to justify buying it.

Now my m12 fuels that I use are standard speed and thats my only ***** about using them. I wish they were faster so I guess I need to buy the high speed versions.

 

[whateg01]

How many <100ft lb bolts are you encountering that have tight access?

I've never seen a favorable review for this tool

I know of one that needs 450 ft*lb that has a sway bar mount welded to the frame less than 1" away. Yeah, different applications but even fasteners that are less than 100 could sometimes benefit from not having to swing a tool.

 

[WWheeler]

How many <100ft lb bolts are you encountering that have tight access?

I've never seen a favorable review for this tool

As I wrote, I do not have this Milwaukee impacting ratchet. I was remarking that I would find it surprising that you can't use it manually by hand at all to break free and tighten, when I routinely do exactly that with every cordless ratchet I own. I was wondering why this impacting one would be any different.

But I'm a bit confused by your question.

I don't use cordless ratchets (nor this impacting one if I owned it) just for places that have tight access. I use them because they are faster. I use them instead of a regular hand ratchet in every instance that I can. For example, I just did a Lexus 470 timing belt / water pump this morning, and save for a stubby impact to remove the crank bolt and a torque wrench for installing the water pump, I only used my cordless ratchets to loosen / tighten every fastener for that job. I don't need to use any hand ratchet or wrench on this job to git'r'dun. I've done quite a few of these, and the cordless ratchets, four of them each set up with all the sockets I need, are a big assist to help turn a 5hr book time job in right about 2 hours.

I've many times considered getting this Milwaukee cordless impacting wrench just for the saved seconds where it might be able to break free / tighten with just a trigger pull stuff I currently have to do by hand with my cordless ratchets before/after they are able to spin them with the trigger. Even if it's just a bit stronger than my regular cordless ratchets, and a big plus if it's less finger smashing, it seems like it might be a good investment. dnschmidt makes a pretty good point though, IF Milwaukee is actually working on a new and improved 2.0.

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

As I wrote, I do not have this Milwaukee impacting ratchet. I was remarking that I would find it surprising that you can't use it manually by hand at all to break free and tighten, when I routinely do exactly that with every cordless ratchet I own. I was wondering why this impacting one would be any different.

But I'm a bit confused by your question.

I don't use cordless ratchets (nor this impacting one if I owned it) just for places that have tight access. I use them because they are faster. I use them instead of a regular hand ratchet in every instance that I can. For example, I just did a Lexus 470 timing belt / water pump this morning, and save for a stubby impact to remove the crank bolt and a torque wrench for installing the water pump, I only used my cordless ratchets to loosen / tighten every fastener for that job. I don't need to use any hand ratchet or wrench on this job to git'r'dun. I've done quite a few of these, and the cordless ratchets, four of them each set up with all the sockets I need, are a big assist to help turn a 5hr book time job in right about 2 hours.

I've many times considered getting this Milwaukee cordless impacting wrench just for the saved seconds where it might be able to break free / tighten with just a trigger pull stuff I currently have to do by hand with my cordless ratchets before/after they are able to spin them with the trigger. Even if it's just a bit stronger than my regular cordless ratchets, and a big plus if it's less finger smashing, it seems like it might be a good investment. dnschmidt makes a pretty good point though, IF Milwaukee is actually working on a new and improved 2.0.

It's not a ratchet, its a impact and you can not use it manually. It's exactly like the stubby pistol style impact just at 90*. I have never seen an impact of any kind that had a ratcheting feature since they work off the anvil impacts.

I think this thread shows how useless this tool actually is. The vast majority of the comments here are about the m12 ratchet and nothing about the right angle impact.

 

[WWheeler]

It's not a ratchet, its a impact and you can not use it manually. It's exactly like the stubby pistol style impact just at 90*. I have never seen an impact of any kind that had a ratcheting feature since they work off the anvil impacts.

Thanks. I hadn't thought it would operate like that. I assumed an 'impacting ratchet' would still operate like a ratchet.
[EDIT] Doh! What I've been calling an impacting ratchet is rightfully called a 'Right Angle Impact'. That helps explain my ignorance.

Has Torque Test Channel (or the like) done any real-world torque testing on it?

[2nd EDIT] Found it.

 

[jar944]

I think this thread shows how useless this tool actually is. The vast majority of the comments here are about the m12 ratchet and nothing about the right angle impact.

I think this thread shows mass confusion on what the tool in question is, even with a picture included in the original post.

How about this, it's got enough torque to back off the lug nuts on this elantra, even with a 3/8 to 1/2 adapter.

And is half the width of thr m12 stubby

 

[WWheeler]

After watching the TTC test vid, the Milwaukee's 218 ft lbs seems plenty adequate for what I was hoping it would be. The way some are talking here I honestly was expecting less than half that. I don't think I'm ready to knock it off my 'want' list just yet.

All you waiting/wanting Milwaukee to come out with a more powerful Gen 2 of this may be in luck, because as soon as I buy this one it's almost a given by now that a week or two after is when the new-and-improved version makes it's debut. Every. F'ing. Time.

Admittedly there are others that put up better torque numbers, Ridgid 266 ft lbs and Kobalt 252 lbs, but I don't have any nor want to join any of those battery platforms.

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

I think this thread shows mass confusion on what the tool in question is, even with a picture included in the original post.

How about this, it's got enough torque to back off the lug nuts on this elantra, even with a 3/8 to 1/2 adapter.

And is half the width of thr m12 stubby

Agreed!

The width of the head on that tool is the reason I didn't like it. If your doing something like a timing belt on a fwd vehicle there isn't enough room for it. There isn't enough use cases for it IMO to justify purchasing it. Maybe suspension bolts but you can typically get to all of those with impact swivels.