Milwaukee M18

[M635_Guy]

I believe the OP (and the rest of us) are referring to 1/4" impact DRIVERS. If one was to only buy 1 impact WRENCH I could see 3/8" being the best all around. If you haven't used a 1/4" impact DRIVER when driving screws,lags,etc you've missed out on some very good tools of the last couple decades.

Exactly. A drill is a great drill but a pretty terrible driver. An impact driver (or at least my Surge) is a GREAT driver and a decent general-duty drill. It's not a substitute for a good drill if you're dealing with big bits, metal, etc., and obviously isn't going to do hammer-drill things, but for most homeowner stuff I've been perfectly happy making holes with my Surge and will never use a drill for fasteners again if I can help it.

If I have to pick one between my drill and my Surge, for the stuff I do it's easily the Surge.

 

[428PI]

Just a few moments ago I broke a 5/16 structural screw with my Milwaukee 1/2 drill. It may or may not have been driven in a few times with my 3/8 impact in other projects. Surprised me. Trying to build some stairs and screwing stringer in from side into stair treads (not the way to build stairs but that's what I'm doing).

 

[M635_Guy]

Just a few moments ago I broke a 5/16 structural screw with my Milwaukee 1/2 drill. It may or may not have been driven in a few times with my 3/8 impact in other projects. Surprised me. Trying to build some stairs and screwing stringer in from side into stair treads (not the way to build stairs but that's what I'm doing).

Doing deck repairs/maintenance is what formed my opinion of the Surge. I had an older Craftsman C3 impact and absolutely hated it for the vibration and noise. It also tended to snap screws. My drill wasn't much better, even with the clutch set).

The Surge in Mode 1 or 2 is great at removing things without hurting them. Mode 3 drives 2.5" and 3" decking screws just fine, and does it in a way that doesn't leave me with ringing ears and tingling hands...

 

[Mgdoug3]

I like all my Milwaukee tools except for the drill. The chuck is terrible. I can never get the chuck tight enough. At this point I would like to switch it out to a keyed chuck.

 

[428PI]

I can never get the chuck tight enough.

Haven't had too much trouble with that. Does it feel like it goes "over center" when tightening it? Mine is the 1/2 hammer drill version.

 

[Mgdoug3]

Mine is the non hammer drill version. I can't use the drill unless the drill bit has 3 flats. It's not an issue on my larger bits but anything under 1/4" or so is useless. The chuck sometimes also locks up and "clicks" in both directions.

I'm used to using Jacob Supreme ball bearing chucks and the chuck on this drill is far from that quality.

 

[finn]

I don't get the need for the 1/4 impact. What can it do that the drill won't do? I'd go for a 1/2 inch hammer drill and jump to a 3/8 impact. Love my Milwaukee stuff. Need to buy a 1/2 impact someday. Have the framing nailer, weed eater, and chainsaw.

Try it. You’ll become a devotee and relegate your drill to making holes.

I bet I use the driver 100 times for every time I pick up a drill.

 

[david3921]

Thanks for the suggestion, but it's time to upgrade. There's a hidden agenda in my quest to replace the impact driver . . . I absolutely hate the keyless chuck on the Porter Cable 20v drill. Because it loosens in use, it's f-ed up far too many drill bit shanks (creates a small burr that needs to be filed off). The hex bolt securing the chuck to the drill is also worn down to a nub, so there little chance of removing it without drilling it out.

I replaced my chuck on my drills (regular and hammer) with this chuck.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002UYP0OA/?tag=atomicindus08-20

It's made by ROHM and works great. Both my drills and impact are Porter Cable 20v.

 

[428PI]

Try it. You’ll become a devotee and relegate your drill to making holes.

My brother has one. Maybe I can trade his 1/2 impact that I'm safe keeping for his 1/4 impact driver!

 

[imagineer]

Thanks for all the good advice, but like my thinning hair . . . I went gray.

After compiling the numbers for red, yellow and blue, as to what it would cost to replace my Porter Cable ensemble, for me the smarter money was to get a PC 'starter kit' with a drill and 1/4" impact driver (both brushless), two 1.5aH batteries and a small charger.

Now I'll have 5 batteries, 2 chargers and 2 drills (one of which is somehow going to get a new chuck).

 

[tak1313]

FYI (caveat - I have never tried them myself as I have never needed to so far), but you can get adapters for just about any battery platform to use with any brand tool (with similar voltage) these days.

For example, you can get an adapter to run PC's 20v batteries on Milwaukee M18 tools.

I don't know how well they work, but if it does, it broadens your choice of tools because you could purchase "tool only" items as needed.

 

[jar944]

Try it. You’ll become a devotee and relegate your drill to making holes.

I bet I use the driver 100 times for every time I pick up a drill.

This..

Except for the milwaukee installation driver it's all impact for driving screws.

This thing is fantastic for cabinets and cabinet installation, and cabinet hardware, where a fine touch and a light clutch is needed.

 

[67CarGuy]

I got the M18 hammer drill/driver and impact driver combo as a housewarming gift 10 years ago. I wore out the first drill and replaced it with another, and think they're great tools. While not married to Milwaukee, because I've already got two tools + 2 batteries I'll likely continue to buy them rather than branching out to another brand.

 

[engineer2]

I looked at that video again and if my Milwaukee impact driver kept stopping, I would return it for a refund. You could tell by the inflection in his voice he is an obvious Milwaukee fanboy. Testing should be unbiased in my opinion.

 

[jonesg]

Drive screws with any real length efficiently. Drills are for drilling.

thats it,
the most efficient way to drive a nail is with impact, pushing it takes way more energy.

A drill imparts constant force but impact only uses energy to spin the rotary hammer.
Driving 4 inch screws with hex heads is the cats meow using a small impact.