Snap-on or Milwaukee Ratchet?

[robe5000]

Looking at getting a cordless ratchet
From what I've gathered so far Snap-on and Milwaukee seem to be the only decent ones, or at least the only ones I'm interested in

Snap-on
3/8 kit = tool, 2 battery,case, boot, charger about 400$

Milwaukee
3/8 kit = tool,1 battery,case,charger about 200$

I've held the snap-on unit, seems alright. Price is typical snap on, but not too bad
No where up here seems to have the Milwaukee unit for me to at least hold

What do the owners of either think?
Anybody got both? Which is best?

 

[robe5000]

I should have mentioned, either tool would be a new battery platform for me
I'm a dewalt guy, no interest in that MAC ratchet monstrosity

 

[rmsg0040]

I got the M12 ratchet, already invested in Milwaukee stuff, works great, tons of reviews and videos online.

2457-21 = 1 battery
2457-22 = 2 batteries

Cant speak for SO, I thought about their stuff but their lineup is limited

 

[greasemonkey44]

I have a snap on 1/4 because I wore my 1/4 Milwaukee out; the little retainer ball fell off
Pro use and the Milwaukee only ran me 120$ since I had the batterys
That Milwaukee was great and really saved my wrists and elbows; the snap on is a beast tho and very strong
For the money I'm glad I used a Milwaukee first; it gave me a feel for how often I would need/want one

 

[joedodge]

Love my milwaukee! Daily use as a pro diesel tech no issues

 

[abvw]

Overall I felt the Snap-On had better ergonomics.

The trigger button is slightly more responsive than the paddle that Milwaukee uses.

The direction switch sticks out of the ratchet head and it's much easier to use than Milwaukee's. I can guarantee that you'd have a hard time with Milwaukee unless you use nitrile gloves exclusively.

LED seems brighter and better positioned/angled than Milwaukee's.

The handle is slightly tapered around the trigger. After handling the Snap-On, Milwaukee's felt a little cumbersome.

The soft grip around the handle is easier to clean than Milwaukee's.

I haven't had a chance to do a full comparison yet (these are just my initial impressions from 30 minutes use from my neighbour before I received my Milwaukee) but if I haven't already have invested in the M12 system I would have went with the Snap-On, without hesitation.

 

[techenthusiast]

Well I bought the snapon 3/8 18v compact lithium 8810 that came with 2 batteries, charger, and the carrying bag but I don't know what kit comes with the boot as you say... I had to buy that seperate. I used the 2 batteries as a base to start buying the snap on line of 18v lithiums... Also got the bare hammer drill for now. But I can't compare it to any other brand for now haha . But I would love to hear others opinions. I have only used this on my personal vehicle so far and it can pull off any bolt I've used it on even lug nuts... But this is only a small civic.

I'm not yet a professional so I can't say much but from the research I've done, in my personal opinion I wouldn't have went with snap on if I wasn't a student receiving the discount. That is the only reason that I went with snap on. If not, I would have went with the fuel.

Without the discount, for the price of the impact kit and the hammer drill I could have bought the entire line of the competitor brand... And still had left over money


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[amlv20]

I have both the Milwaukee and snap on.ived had the Milwaukee over a year and my girlfriend gave me the snap on for Christmas.i haven't touched my Milwaukee since then! I absolutely love my snap on ratchet.both are 1/4, and around the same torque but the snap on is just fast and feels more powerful.my Forman also has two milwaukee and is constantly warrantying them,but he abuses his stuff.for now I'm snap on hands down,I also have the compact 3/8 impact and screw gunn too,today I just bought the compact drill to add to my snapons,and I'm thinking about getting a second snap on ratchet in 3/8.


Only things Milwaukee has on snap on is price and better longer warranty.

 

[Conductor562]

I don't see where you could go wrong with the Milwaukee. It's a nice ratchet and there are a ton of nice tools in the M12 line you can expand into.

I would get the 2 battery kit though.

 

[Tbirdtc]

Milwaukee 2 reasons price and almost more importantly if it lasts you can buy battery's at Home Depot
No chance batts go on sale thru snappy
Not to mention the snappy could change next year and no avail batts that milwaukee system will be around a while

 

[skruft]

This is a very useful thread. I have not had a cordless for a long time because they were all junky or too big. Now I may try. Thanks!

 

[teamarctic]

Just picked up a milwaukee 3/8 tbis week. While i love it and use it way more than the air one it replaced. I wish it was stronger.

I picked it up in the free bare tool promo milwaukee hes going on right now. Got the 1/4 fuel impact driver. Love them both!

 

[Conductor562]

A lot of Milwaukee users (myself included) thought the brand was headed for the gutter when TTI bought them, but we were wrong.

TTI laid down the money and vision it needed to put Milwaukee back on top. They have the best cordless line on the market right now IMO.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Milwaukee 2 reasons price and almost more importantly if it lasts you can buy battery's at Home Depot
No chance batts go on sale thru snappy
Not to mention the snappy could change next year and no avail batts that milwaukee system will be around a while

This is dead on. Milwaukee is sticking with their battery platforms, and have built an amazing amount of great tools for them. Snap-On, IR, etc are newer to the cordless tool market and can't stick with a setup for long before jumping to the next one.

I have been a die hard Dewalt user for years, and after getting into the M12 line couldn't be happier. The ratchet is one of my favorite tools I've bought in years, and there are regular sales on M12 batteries and tools.

 

[robe5000]

Thanks for the info
I'd probably grab a Milwaukee if there were some place that stocked them around here, but I sure do like the snap-on, we'll see

 

[Conductor562]

Thanks for the info
I'd probably grab a Milwaukee if there were some place that stocked them around here, but I sure do like the snap-on, we'll see

My HD has them

 

[FiendFX]

The snap on seems bulky. The milwaukee is cheaper and slimer. I believe the specs on the Milwaukee is 35ft-lbs.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

My HD has them

That's the first thing I thought. But I checked, and Homedepot.ca says "Sold Online Only" for the M12 ratchets.

 

[dodgemike]

Just bought the Milwaukee M12
3/8 drive. I have several of the M12
tools so bought it bare for $99 at
HD. The ratchet head size is comp-
arable to any manual ratchet. They
say 38 lbs./ft. of torque. I like it
so far.

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[DodgeMech]

Snapon one is junk, imo...so is the compact 3/8 impact gun...but the cordless screwgun is a gift from god

 

[techenthusiast]

I just used the snapon 18v lithium hammer drill yesterday on the drill setting with a half inch bit drilling through about 3/4 inch of metal. I was still on the first speed and it is an animal. Plus the hole was drilled at an angle while I was sitting on a bucket.

If any part of drilling that hole was weak it would be my wrist , I feel like my wrist would go out before the drill


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[Conductor562]

That's the first thing I thought. But I checked, and Homedepot.ca says "Sold Online Only" for the M12 ratchets.

Oops, didn't pay attention that he was in Canada.

 

[amlv20]

Snapon one is junk, imo...so is the compact 3/8 impact gun...but the cordless screwgun is a gift from god

I love my SO cordless ratchet,I'll agree the 3/8 impact compact cordless gun is worthless,the screw gun is awesome!and I just got the compact cordless drill which I thought might be a waste but I used it today and was pretty dang good!

 

[Skin]

Snapon one is junk, imo...so is the compact 3/8 impact gun...but the cordless screwgun is a gift from god

its only 7.2 volts, i dont understand what people think its going to do? It works absolutely fine for valve cover/pan bolts. I havent used anything in a compact 12v format thats much better. I like the Snap-On because it has a rocker trigger switch which you really dont see anymore and has better ergonomics and build quality. The cordless ratchet is no different, its just plain built better than the Milwaukee. Not worth the retail or pitiful sale price but little Snap-On sells is.

Funny you make it out like the screw gun is something special though. Milwaukee, Bosch, DeWalt all make a nice 12v screw gun.

 

[Ruger_556]

its only 7.2 volts, i dont understand what people think its going to do? It works absolutely fine for valve colver/pan bolts.

I agree ^^^ It's fantastic for transmission pans etc... If I need more power I'm not reaching for a cordless anyway.

 

[T_Roze]

I love the snap on 7.2v screw gun. I retired the 1/4" 7.2v impact because it didn't hold a candle to my Milwaukee... Which is a 12v so that's not fair, but it is what it is. But that screw gun is fantastic.


Back on topic, I'm happy to see all the positive reviews on the Milwaukee. I have been eyeing one up for a while, and think I will pull the trigger. To the guys in Canada, look up bc fasteners online. Great smaller company out of BC that sells everything Milwaukee. They'll get you what you need at a really competitive price.

 

[techenthusiast]

What would you rather have the 7.2 impact or the 7.2 screw gun both snap on if u could only have 1?


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[Zeroek]

Got the Milwaukee 3/8". I love it. Use it everyday almost. The rubber is wearing off it though.

 

[joedodge]

Ya the rubber on my m12 is trashed from diesel fuel, oil, and trans fluid but it keeps on ripping them bolts out

 

[DodgeMech]

I agree ^^^ It's fantastic for transmission pans etc... If I need more power I'm not reaching for a cordless anyway.

Mine won't loosen hardly anything I put it to, even on a fresh battery...even had it sent out to be gone through before the 1 year warranty was out...came back just as ******...

What would you rather have the 7.2 impact or the 7.2 screw gun both snap on if u could only have 1?


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Screwgun hands down...I've put so much torque on that poor fucker I'm surprised it ain't fell all to pieces in my hands yet...a year and a half of hard use means the poor thing screams and belches smoke occasionally, but it keeps going...

 

[SteveMorris]

I have so 3/8 milwaukee 3/8 and 1/4 the so is faster and more powerful the only thing i like better about milwaukee is 1/4 is smaller so i use it sometimes to get in tighter spots. As far as impacts and screw guns the so 3/8 is more powerful with 14.4v than non fuel m12 and smaller more comfortable to use .The on screw gun is better also

 

[amlv20]

What would you rather have the 7.2 impact or the 7.2 screw gun both snap on if u could only have 1?


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Screw gun! And they just released a 14v version with two speeds pretty awesome.

 

[techenthusiast]

I'm in diesel mechanics school and companies bring in live projects... I also work on my own cars at home. Honestly I can't think of times when I've been screwing in a lot of Phillips or flat head screws enough to need a screw gun... Can someone give some examples?

The only thing I can think of right now is hose clamps


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[ihateminimumwage]

I'm in diesel mechanics school and companies bring in live projects... I also work on my own cars at home. Honestly I can't think of times when I've been screwing in a lot of Phillips or flat head screws enough to need a screw gun... Can someone give some examples?

The only thing I can think of right now is hose clamps

Hose clamps and if you do a lot of under dash/interior work. I bought a M12 screwgun and re-sold it since it was longer than my M12 hex impact, which defeats the purpose in cramped spaces.
The screwguns with the rocker switch are the way to go.

 

[robe5000]

Well, I was pretty dam close to getting the snap-on
But I'm glad I held off, Milwaukee factory outlet just opened!
Factory recon for $135 CAD, yup

Didn't have a chance to put it through its paces, seems alright so far
Thanks for the input

 

[PC PaiN]

I have the milwaukee and one of the guys at work just bought the SO off the truck today. I prefer the feel and size of my milwaukee over the SO. It also helps I got it for free with my fuel screwdriver kit and that SO set was $400