Fair enough. Here are my requirements. Under $160. I am just looking for an impact driver and don't plan on using saws or anything else in the future. At most I might consider buying a drill sometime down the road. The only other requirement is that it must include a charger and 2 batteries. The driver is for home use but having a horse farm it will see more use than the typical homeowner. It needs to be able to be bought locally as I am starting to build three horse stalls this weekend and will need it for then.
Keith
I’d get the brushed m18 milwaukee kit i posted.. it comes with a drill and impact driver, 2 batteries, contractor bag and is at your budget. Thats the most for your money. ($9 over your $160 limit)
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauk...-Batteries-Charger-Tool-Bag-2691-22/100650378
This is how milwaukee’s M18 tier system works w/ their drills and impacts = Its M18, then M18 ‘Brushless’, and then M18 Fuel. Fuel being the highest tier. The only exception is their “Surge” model impact driver which is different still. Thats their oil pulse impact driver, but you dont need to worry about that one. (Unless you decide youd rather have that type of impact driver - which will still display about the same power in real world compared to the m18, and m18 brushless, its just quieter and will impact less often - but out of your budget anyway)
The next step up from the one I’m suggesting is the m18 ‘brushless’ set, but that tier still has the same (or very similar) torque specs as the ‘brushed’ combo i suggested. I think the only other difference is the ‘brushless’ set comes with slightly larger batteries (1.5’s for the M18, 2.0’s with the Brushless). Power wise they are near identical - the difference is just what type of motors (and supporting electronics) are used internally. ‘Brushless’ is just a newer technology - but like i said earlier, it doesnt automatically mean it will be any stronger than other brushed tools.
Fuel is king when it comes to Milwaukee. They are still brushless but have bigger, better brushless motors when compared to their ‘Brushless’ line. Fuel will always be the most powerful options they offer.
Ive actually owned that kit I’m recommending (and others too). I’d imagine if theres a lowes near you, you have Home Depot also (they are usually not far from each other). If not you can order from Home Depot online and it will be free shipping, usually delivered in 2 or 3 days.
Also - the m18 chargers will have a slot for m12 batteries too. Dewalt kinda has the same thing, since their 20v chargers will also work on their 12v max batteries - but theirs can only hold 1 battery at a time. The m18 has a separate slot, so it CAN hold one m18 and one m12 battery at the same time.
If you have to get something from Lowes, then just get something from Dewalt thats in your budget in the 20v max platform.
Edit - yea i just checked to be sure - the m18 and m18 brushless impact drivers are almost identical in torque specs, 1500 vs 1600.. thats really not anything big. Unless they recently changed it, Dewalt uses a different scale so its hard to compare it - but something similarly priced should be about the same.
I would honestly buy a kit with a drill included now since you know its something youre gonna wind up with anyway. The pricing works out better - unless you wanna spend your whole budget on JUST an impact driver and see if you can get the next model up..
Edit x2 -
Looking online this is the Dewalt ‘impact driver only’ kit thats listed for $159 ($10 cheaper than the milwaukee drill/impact combo I recommended)
https://www.lowes.com/pd/DEWALT-20-...ries-Included-and-Charger-Included/1001009086
It appears they have that tool’s power rating listed in inch pounds as well, so this makes things easy - even though its Brushless, its rated for 1500 inch pounds too - identical to Milwaukee’s M18 model. Included are two 1.3 amp hour batteries - but it said theres a free promo that includes a free 2.0 battery.
So if I’m reading that right,
- $159 at Lowes gets you a Dewalt impact driver, and w/promo, 3 batteries totaling 4.6 amp hours
- $169 at Home Depot gets you an identically powered Milwaukee impact driver, a drill, and two Batteries totaling 3.0 amp hours.
If you can, I’d still go with the Milwaukee. For comparison, that same M18 impact driver in a kit by itself with the same batteries is $164. Only other difference is that one comes with a hard case, and the combo kit with the drill comes with a contractor bag. So an extra $5 gets a drill, which is why i was saying to get the drill now.
Finally - if you go with Dewalt their tools have a 3 yr warranty. Milwaukee has a 5yr warranty on the tools.
There’s another Dewalt impact driver only kit “on sale” on the lowes site. Brushed impact driver, (1400 inch pounds) w/2 1.5 batteries.. $79.. but the only option to buy it is using “truck delivery” which is $65.. lol.
People might think this is speculation - but some video reviews have shown Dewalt to be a little generous with their torque specs on some tools. Ive raced that brushed m18 vs brushless dewalt impact drivers side by side with big screws (almost a small lag bolt) and even though on paper they spec out the same, the milwaukee was noticeably stronger. I know you were looking at their 12v atomic which specs out at about the same as the 20v stuff - but something to consider is that their batteries will drain much faster since its a smaller tool. Esp if you wanna be able to drive larger screws like 3”.. its always better to work a bigger tool less hard, then to ask something small to do bigger jobs. The high tiered 12v tools still can drive longer screws almost as fast as the low tiered 18v, but you will pay for it in runtime and excessive heat. If you are just gonna own one platform, I’d always say youre better off going with the bigger 18/20v stuff. They will be worked less hard which ultimately will translate into a longer lifespan. (which are physically not so big anymore compared to 10 years ago).
***Thesis Over***
