Milwaukee m12 ratchet vs right angle impact?

[supremekizzle]

I currently have a 3/8 Milwaukee m18 fuel impact that I love. I use it for just about everything where it will fit. However, there are some places that it won't fit or I have a bunch of fasteners to remove in an area and the m18 can get unwieldy. So I'm going to buy something a little smaller and versatile. I like the ratchet for speed and getting into small-er areas. (still not that small, but hey) and I like the right angle impact for its power over the ratchet. Which one should I go with? Pros/cons between the two? Thanks!

 

[MrGiggles]

I prefer the ratchet because you can break the fasteners loose by hand and run them off.

If the impact doesn't have enough lead in its pencil to break the bolt loose, all you can do is switch to hand tools.

 

[kctyphoon]

I don't have the impact, but the main difference is that the impact has no ratcheting function, and if the impact cannot break a fastener loose, you cannot use it AS a ratchet to break it free. Meaning the head does not lock (from what I understand) so you can manually turn the bolt loose. I think most people would prefer the ratchet over the impact, and personally I would at least get the ratchet first. Other opinions may vary. It would be nice if Milwaukee created an impacting ratchet - but I think that is just a dream.

A more powerful m18 ratchet would be nice too, esp in an impacting form..

 

[mr.fabe]

I too prefer the ratchet for the same reasons @MrGiggles mentioned. With the impact, you cannot manually tighten or loosen anything... it just spins. I have the same setup with the M18 3/8 Fuel and love it with my M12 3/8 Ratchet. Next move for you if you do suspension work is the 2763. That thing is a beast!

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[supremekizzle]

I too prefer the ratchet for the same reasons @MrGiggles mentioned. With the impact, you cannot manually tighten or loosen anything... it just spins. I have the same setup with the M18 3/8 Fuel and love it with my M12 3/8 Ratchet. Next move for you if you do suspension work is the 2763. That thing is a beast!

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That's exactly what my path is planned. I chose the m18 over the m12 impact because, besides the battery, it's almost the same size. A little heavier though, but replacing a wheel bearing recently I tried the impact and it wouldn't break a bolt loose. My breaker bar did, but I thought the reason for impact was to break loose stubborn bolts? Anyhow, the bigger Milwaukee impact is after saving up some money. I think I'll go with the ratchet then. If I needed an impact type tool that has to fit in a tight space, I might as well go manual with a breaker bar as it's even lower profile than the right angle impact.

 

[kctyphoon]

That's exactly what my path is planned. I chose the m18 over the m12 impact because, besides the battery, it's almost the same size. A little heavier though, but replacing a wheel bearing recently I tried the impact and it wouldn't break a bolt loose. My breaker bar did, but I thought the reason for impact was to break loose stubborn bolts? Anyhow, the bigger Milwaukee impact is after saving up some money. I think I'll go with the ratchet then. If I needed an impact type tool that has to fit in a tight space, I might as well go manual with a breaker bar as it's even lower profile than the right angle impact.

The holiday promos will like start soon at HD. I think I got the high torque impact for $140 last year, (bare tool) taking advantage of the sales. I recommend getting the boots as well to protect them.. I don't use mine much at all, but the boots keep them in nice shape. I have the 7/16 hex drive utility version of the high torque impact at work, and the thing gets destroyed just from being the in contractor bag with all the sockets and stuff that's kept inside with it.

 

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I just got the ratchet this weekend and love it. I plan on buying an impact when I need it.

 

[mr.fabe]

That's exactly what my path is planned. I chose the m18 over the m12 impact because, besides the battery, it's almost the same size. A little heavier though, but replacing a wheel bearing recently I tried the impact and it wouldn't break a bolt loose. My breaker bar did, but I thought the reason for impact was to break loose stubborn bolts? Anyhow, the bigger Milwaukee impact is after saving up some money. I think I'll go with the ratchet then. If I needed an impact type tool that has to fit in a tight space, I might as well go manual with a breaker bar as it's even lower profile than the right angle impact.

Just remember that the ratchet has up to 35 ft-lbs torque capability. Nice, but it's best to break the nut first on larger nuts and then pull the trigger. It's not an impact and you will feel it jerk and slam your hand against the nearest object. After that lesson, you'll automatically know how to use it. It's a cool toy to add to your toolbox.

Good luck!


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[TheFarmer]

The M18 right angle impact is no good. I assume the M12 right angle impact is similar since their power ratings are very close. The M12 ratchets are way better because of their ability to ratchet when they can't break a bolt or nut loose. I ended up returning the M18 angle impact because it was useless to me and picked up the Ingersoll. The Ingersoll is 1000x better.

 

[kctyphoon]

I really like how nice the IR stuff looks.. they might be too tempting to buy if I were a mechanic

 

[Ign]

The 2668 is a gutless *******. I got rid of mine. One of Milwaukee's fails.

I do like my 2467 but it's 1/4" hex and I realize it's an impact driver, not an impact wrench. It replaced my Nextec RAID

 

[DFB]

I have one of the 2467 impacts but will say get a M12 ratchet first. And the ratchets were a free add on with some kits for a quite while there too (haven't looked recently so I don't know what is available right now).

If you want to spend with your money you can always get one later. The overall torque isn't all that much with these things anyhow what is it 50 ftlbs? l find it interesting that 12v version makes like only about 6lbs less than the 18v 1/4 hex model model 600 in. lbs vs 675 are the numbers I see at CPO. Though that 18v tool has two speed switch.

And since it's only 1/4 hex and not a square drive option you have to use a socket adapter too so now your adding xtra length. Have yet to find an socket adapter smaller than the Milwaukee's Shockwave either. With an adapter and 1/4 in drive 1/2 deep socket its like 5inches out from the back of the head. It's also the longest right angle M12 tool too.

Might consider the right angle drill as another useful tool in the M12 lineup. Its not a rocking powerhouse but its a sufficient and can drive screws just fine. The electronic clutch is neat no ratchet action sound...just stops when you reach the preset torque.

If only the ratchet could do that!

The drills can had pretty cheap on Amazon. I found one for only $40 Was brand new in a sealed box. If I could get a 1/4 drive ratchet for a similar price I'd possibly add one of them too and ditch using an adapter. I really like M12 lineup of tools. I have a lot of them and M18 too. Love those impact wrenches...I will have to take a photo for the Milwaukee addiction thread.

 

[kblee27]

I have both m12 ratchet and m18 right angle.

I think it depends on your application.

For me, I worked with battery terminals and hold-downs mostly.

For terminals that are corroded with the nut stuck fast, I'd tend to use the impact first in a controlled manner to loosen the crud and the nut.

If the nut is still stuck, then I switched to a wrench, although I could have used the m12 ratchet in a locked position, but I always seem to forget to use that.

When using the ratchet, I've to be careful not to let it twist my wrist. With the impact, it's more comfortable, as hearing the knocking sound, I'd know when to stop.

 

[Showkey]

I really like how nice the IR stuff looks.. they might be too tempting to buy if I were a mechanic

Also too big and bulky ...........

 

[bcradio]

I would definitely get the hammerhead before an M12 ratchet. I would eventually get some kind of air/battery ratchet as well though. I prefer reactionless myself.

 

[supremekizzle]

Bought the ratchet today! Can't wait for something to break so I can use it. Lol

 

[DeliveryGuy]

I have both the m12 ratchet, and the right angle impact. I rarely use the impact. It's more suited for wood screws. It will drive 3" construction screws no problem, but struggles with the smallest bolts. I use it for driving screws and small wood lags in difficult spots, and I use the ratchet for anything metal.

 

[supremekizzle]

Man I hope I actually end up using this ratchet enough. I love my impact and the only thing I'd think of using the ratchet is hard to reach places. Then again, I have a Subaru so I have a lot of hard to reach places...

 

[MrGiggles]

The ratchet is one of those tools that I don't use often, but when I do, it's a huge time saver.

It's nice for a lot of FWD cars where you're working up against the strut tower or fender. Timing belts, water pumps, stuff like that.