bczygan
Well-known member
Anyone have and use one?
What's the deal?
Good?
Bill
What's the deal?
Good?
Bill
Milwaukee Surge
- Thread starter bczygan
- Start date
DFB
Well-known member
Bill most any of those that have one really seem to like it over regular impact driver.
Hydraulic pulse drive. The torque numbers are different but it sinks a big screw fast and the decibel rating is quite a bit less. It really helps when working in confined spaces or in areas with other people around that may be disturbed by regular impact driving. Ha I remember keeping my boss away by rattatat with my impact all day
Might want to ask in the Milwaukee addiction thread too
Hydraulic pulse drive. The torque numbers are different but it sinks a big screw fast and the decibel rating is quite a bit less. It really helps when working in confined spaces or in areas with other people around that may be disturbed by regular impact driving. Ha I remember keeping my boss away by rattatat with my impact all day
Might want to ask in the Milwaukee addiction thread too
Love them...way more control and torque.
You can actually control it down to 1/4 rotation hit...so fine tuning setting a screw can be done so that you don't over tighten on weaker material...
I never use my traditional Fuel impact driver any more...I have two regular ones I will make you great a deal on those...
You can actually control it down to 1/4 rotation hit...so fine tuning setting a screw can be done so that you don't over tighten on weaker material...
I never use my traditional Fuel impact driver any more...I have two regular ones I will make you great a deal on those...
I just bought the Milwaukee 2760 Surge primary intended use is to work on my atv's. After initial testing it seems to have the power to break loose most bolts. Before I get to comfortable with it (as in not returning) does any one have input or updates as to how their Surge's have held up? Any regrets?
JimH74
Well-known member
Following.
Firebrick43
Well-known member
I have had one since it came out. as Tarmy said, you wont use a traditional impactor again.
I have been building my ICF house and have sunk over 25 lbs of 3 1/4 Framing screws, 10 lbs of tapcons, and a couple of boxes of GRK 1/4" 5" lags. Its held up fine. I am hanging all the drywall (4000 square feet of board) and while I use the fuel drywall gun for the most part, putting the surge on power level one allows you to slowly set screws that are proud easily without overdriving. I also allows you to even use it with plastic face plates on switches/receptacles.
Its quieter and faster (on setting 3) than a standard impactor. Really amazing. The only thing I have noticed that its worse is when your driving Phillips screws blind. The longer pulse makes having the bit engaged with the fastener squarely important and sometimes you have to drive a screw blind and it can cam out. The standard impactors short pulse allows the bit to fall back into the slot before the next pulse.
I try to buy torx screws so this is not an issue with them. Its minor issue as if you are using it as one typically would you will be square to the fastener. The other issues is overdriving screws. On full power it not only drives screws so fast but the tone doesn't change much when the head comes into contact with the wood. At first, especially since I use 2" driver bits mostly, I would bury the heads way deep in the wood. A standard impactor drives somewhat fast but slows to a crawl and gets loud when the head engages the wood. The surge does neither very dramatically. Again, if you understand and watch and listen for the subtle change its not an issue. In fact I don't notice it at all anymore but anytime someone wants to try it I get a chuckle when they over drive a screw.
As far as using it with socket adapters, I think it would be wonderful on ATV and motorcycle cases cap screws in the 3-6mm size and such. I would NOT be putting 1/2 drive adapters and doing axle nuts or suspension parts.
Setting the speed to 1 or 2 would be nice for plastic body screws.
I have been building my ICF house and have sunk over 25 lbs of 3 1/4 Framing screws, 10 lbs of tapcons, and a couple of boxes of GRK 1/4" 5" lags. Its held up fine. I am hanging all the drywall (4000 square feet of board) and while I use the fuel drywall gun for the most part, putting the surge on power level one allows you to slowly set screws that are proud easily without overdriving. I also allows you to even use it with plastic face plates on switches/receptacles.
Its quieter and faster (on setting 3) than a standard impactor. Really amazing. The only thing I have noticed that its worse is when your driving Phillips screws blind. The longer pulse makes having the bit engaged with the fastener squarely important and sometimes you have to drive a screw blind and it can cam out. The standard impactors short pulse allows the bit to fall back into the slot before the next pulse.
I try to buy torx screws so this is not an issue with them. Its minor issue as if you are using it as one typically would you will be square to the fastener. The other issues is overdriving screws. On full power it not only drives screws so fast but the tone doesn't change much when the head comes into contact with the wood. At first, especially since I use 2" driver bits mostly, I would bury the heads way deep in the wood. A standard impactor drives somewhat fast but slows to a crawl and gets loud when the head engages the wood. The surge does neither very dramatically. Again, if you understand and watch and listen for the subtle change its not an issue. In fact I don't notice it at all anymore but anytime someone wants to try it I get a chuckle when they over drive a screw.
As far as using it with socket adapters, I think it would be wonderful on ATV and motorcycle cases cap screws in the 3-6mm size and such. I would NOT be putting 1/2 drive adapters and doing axle nuts or suspension parts.
Setting the speed to 1 or 2 would be nice for plastic body screws.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
Can't be used as an impact wrench as it lacks to torque to remove bolts but as a screwdriver it's impossible to beat. A tool to be used for a specific purpose, not an all purpose tool.
Not quite, its has more power than you would think. When I started using my surge I tested it on a fresh lug nut and it took it off.
In soft woods the surge will drive a screw faster than the M18 Fuel hex impact. In harder woods it will drive it more evenly.
Anyone that I know who has a surge loves it and everyone they show it to wants one.
In soft woods the surge will drive a screw faster than the M18 Fuel hex impact. In harder woods it will drive it more evenly.
Anyone that I know who has a surge loves it and everyone they show it to wants one.
So far all tests I’ve done it has worked[emoji106]. Might try one of those torque tests and post a short vid[emoji848].
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crucible
Well-known member
I have one as well and it's the device that got me to switch from my beloved Bosch impact/driver combo.
I find I can control it down to the individual impact hit too, giving me more control when needed.
Now, Milwaukee needs to get out that stubby 18v impact, and with the mid-torque I also have, I'll be set
I find I can control it down to the individual impact hit too, giving me more control when needed.
Now, Milwaukee needs to get out that stubby 18v impact, and with the mid-torque I also have, I'll be set
I have one as well and it's the device that got me to switch from my beloved Bosch impact/driver combo.
I find I can control it down to the individual impact hit too, giving me more control when needed.
Now, Milwaukee needs to get out that stubby 18v impact, and with the mid-torque I also have, I'll be set
More stubby than the 2853[emoji44] is that even possible!!? Are you thinking like the Makita subcompact the black ones?
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crucible
Well-known member
Hmm, the 2853 is just a 1/4" hex impact correct? That's what I have in the Surge Fuel already.
I was referring to the M18 version of these: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M12-FUEL-12-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Brushless-Cordless-Stubby-3-8-in-Impact-Wrench-Kit-with-One-4-0-and-One-2-0Ah-Batteries-2554-22/305980696
The 2853 is the new stubby M18 yes. Think what most are expecting is that all other M18 impacts including the surge will be stubbied in the future. They already did the useless brushless model.
Just curious, why do you say “useless brushless” ? Is it not as adequate as the brush model?
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The brushless models dont have changeable modes, dont know why anyone would want those models.
Rarified27
Well-known member
This is why I passed on the $99 brushless w/battery deal at HD last year around the holidays. To contrast, brushless drill was a great find and has been outstanding in some tight spaces. It's actually shorter than my M12 hammer drill.
I've been bouncing between the 2753 and a Surge for over a year and still can't decide after this thread.
Ign
Well-known member
IME the Surge is useless on bolts. I can only assume they're worried about overheating or somehow otherwise over-working because if it can't move something within a few impacts it just stops. But oftentimes if you keep impacting a stubborn fastener it will break free.
That said, the Surge is AWESOME for driving screws, RSS, smaller lags etc
2manytools
Well-known member
By OSHA standards, every traditional impact driver (maybe not 12v) requires hearing protection, where as the Surge falls below the level necessatating protection.
It's not a lot weaker. It lacks the peak torque, but has a longer sustained drive impact, resulting in smoother operation.
No 1/4 impact should be used with bolts for the most part. Maybe a few small size ones, but you need to go to a impact wrench. On several occasions hoping the driver would be enough, all I ended up doing was twisting & shearing off the 1/4 to 3/8 or 1/2" adapters.
The Surge is my go to driver for most of my needs. Sold my One-Key impact because I prefer the Surge so much more
JimH74
Well-known member
You guys convinced me I had to have it. Ordered with the 10% eBay thing last night. Should be here Monday. I'm rebuilding some outside stairs and a deck, so I hope it saves me some effort. Thanks!
ThatSickRip
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 23, 2017
- Messages
- 763
Reviving this one...Ive used my Surge for wood projects and love it.
Ive got some drywall work coming up with a kitchen reno, and wanted to see if anyone has used the Surge for that application vs a drill/driver? Its not enough drywall to add the M18 Drywall gun, so no new tools for this one lol
Ive got some drywall work coming up with a kitchen reno, and wanted to see if anyone has used the Surge for that application vs a drill/driver? Its not enough drywall to add the M18 Drywall gun, so no new tools for this one lol
I love my Surge - it's so much quieter and smoother that I'm going to try really hard to never use a regular impact driver ever again.
Anyone who says it lacks power hasn't used one - it's...different power. I've driven all kinds of screws and smaller lags with zero issues and used it a fair bit for small work on my cars. I find it does a nice job removing difficult fasteners too.
I'd experiment with some scraps and the power level...