impact driver/drill

[spud]

im after a new battery drill and impact driver but i could also do with a angle grinder to so any recommendations ? been told milwaukee are good but never had anything from them

[Joepublic]

I changed from Mikita to Milwaukee 4 years ago, no real issues, batteries last well, I wouldn’t go back now

[spud]

Jul 23, 2021 21:49:54 GMT 1 Joepublic said:

I changed from Mikita to Milwaukee 4 years ago, no real issues, batteries last well, I wouldn’t go back now

few people have said that so i think ill get myself a set

[valhalla]

The Milwaukee M18 Fuel equipment is now the industry-standard. Even on the angle-grinder, the 5.0Ah battery delivers a decent grind for 20mins on my older set. Drills and drivers just go all day in the workshop.

I, too, would never go back to my previous Makita's. I have given most of it away now, just have a cordless drill for nut-running work, and frankly it sucks at that these days. 4hours to charge, about 10mins of use......

[remmington]

I too have bought into to Milwaukee M18 Fuel recently for the workshop.

Couple of 1/2 impact wrenches. One big one little. 2x 5amp batteries last a long while/charge fast.

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I am still using Makita 10.8v 1/4" impact drivers - I like these (white edition). I have three of these - they don't make them anymore. Super little tools which I use as screwdrivers. They are all getting tired - when the time comes I will buy a couple of compact 12v Milwaukee 1/4" impact drivers.

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I am still using lots of air tools and 240v corded drills and grinders in the workshop.

I personally do very little outside/site work. Plus I am not a great lover of battery tools.


Most builders I know have bought into Dewalt. I went for Milwaukee impact wrenches based on two things - I used a high torque one at a mates garage and was impressed with the power. Plus you could buy rubber boots for Milwaukee wrenches but not for Dewalt.

I don't even have a battery drill at home. Still using a blue Bosch 240v hammer drill.

[voicey]

I am moving our tools from M12 to M18.  I prefer the M12 tools because they are smaller and lighter but the tabs on the batteries are rubbish and will snap off.  Fine if the battery is under warranty but not when the warranty runs out.  The M18 batteries are a much better design.

[remmington]

Jul 24, 2021 8:45:42 GMT 1 voicey said:

I am moving our tools from M12 to M18.  I prefer the M12 tools because they are smaller and lighter but the tabs on the batteries are rubbish and will snap off.  Fine if the battery is under warranty but not when the warranty runs out.  The M18 batteries are a much better design.

Not seen a M12 battery close up - will look at the issue you have raised.

[Joepublic]

Here






The battery goes into the charger then needs a little shove, I suspect if the shove became a slap with the palm it could bend the connections? If one continuous motion it would less likely give issues?

[remmington]

Attachment Deleted

voicey - So I will want to be buying a M18 impact driver with a low amp 18v (light weight battery)?


I wanted a compact impact driver without "the huge sqaure ish battery" on the bottom. Compact!

See photo of two makita ones above I been using out of three we have got.



Oh yes... That is how anal I am - every wheel bolt socket in the workshop is marked up - Blue 17mm - Yellow 19mm - Red 21mm (tape or spray paint). See photo...

[trickydicky]

It's a tough call!!!!

They are mostly all made in China nowadays

It depends on how much abuse the tools and specifically the batteries are going to get

You can "invest" in high end stuff like Milwaukee or Hilti and be stuck with them when they upgrade to the latest model

Or

Buy the cheap stuff and replace it annually

I've had my fingers burnt buying into the Ingersoll Rand cordless platform (on the strength of old air tools)

I personally think DeWalt is a sensible middle of the road option and they share batteries with Facom/USAG/MAC tools

For ultra cheap the WORX brushless 20v stuff on ebay isn't bad (same batteries for every tool)

[valhalla]

My mate who visits each Xmas has given me his old Makita's - everything to go with the set he bought at the same time as I bought mine, including the nice case. So I have two lots of broken cordless equipment!

Two things happened to cause me to make the shift from Makita : 1) They changed all the battery-pack designs, so I couldn't upgrade or repair anything old, as the packs do not translate back to my equipment, and 2) I found that the supplied chargers were just too "soft" for their battery-packs. What I mean by the latter "soft" description is, when the packs get electrically lazy, and the charge current is slightly too low, the chargers go into a soft float-mode, but this is not agressive enough to bring the pack back to a good state of charge, and the charge capacity just gets lower and lower, whilst the charge-times just get longer and longer.

The Milwaukee chargers seem to be much better designed to look after the batteries in old age.

My mate went for the DeWalt route for his replacements, and I have to say (based on the cordless drill/driver of his) I am very, very impressed by these units; smooth, high torque, easy to handle. I don't think he has an impact-gun from them, as I gave him one of my old, cheap ones for the occassional use he needs it for, so I have no experience of that side of DeWalt, but certainly a nice tool for a professional builder.

[voicey]

Jul 24, 2021 15:19:28 GMT 1 remmington said:

View Attachment

voicey - So I will want to be buying a M18 impact driver with a low amp 18v (light weight battery)?


I wanted a compact impact driver without "the huge sqaure ish battery" on the bottom. Compact!

See photo of two makita ones above I been using out of three we have got.



Oh yes... That is how anal I am - every wheel bolt socket in the workshop is marked up - Blue 17mm - Yellow 19mm - Red 21mm (tape or spray paint). See photo...

We use the M18FIW2F38-0X and M18FIW2F12-0X  guns (3/8" & 1/2" respectively).  For most use I like to have the smaller M18B2 (2Ah) batteries as it makes the tool easier to handle.  We have bigger batteries for when the extra capacity is required but the gun becomes bottom heavy...

[mfk]

Jul 25, 2021 0:09:02 GMT 1 valhalla said:

My mate who visits each Xmas has given me his old Makita's - everything to go with the set he bought at the same time as I bought mine, including the nice case. So I have two lots of broken cordless equipment!

Two things happened to cause me to make the shift from Makita : 1) They changed all the battery-pack designs, so I couldn't upgrade or repair anything old, as the packs do not translate back to my equipment, and 2) I found that the supplied chargers were just too "soft" for their battery-packs. What I mean by the latter "soft" description is, when the packs get electrically lazy, and the charge current is slightly too low, the chargers go into a soft float-mode, but this is not agressive enough to bring the pack back to a good state of charge, and the charge capacity just gets lower and lower, whilst the charge-times just get longer and longer.

The Milwaukee chargers seem to be much better designed to look after the batteries in old age.

My mate went for the DeWalt route for his replacements, and I have to say (based on the cordless drill/driver of his) I am very, very impressed by these units; smooth, high torque, easy to handle. I don't think he has an impact-gun from them, as I gave him one of my old, cheap ones for the occassional use he needs it for, so I have no experience of that side of DeWalt, but certainly a nice tool for a professional builder.

Would you mind sharing what spec Dewalt impact gun you recommended as I see TrickyDicky has suggested it too. I am only home use mechanic doing family cars so not permanent daily use but would like something strong enough for wheel nuts, crank shaft bolts type thing. Looking to buy 1/2" with ideally 2 x batteries.

Also if anyone has what Milwaukee (M18 seems to be the go too) they would suggest that would be great. Only have IngersollRand 3/8" & 1/2" air gun at present but never had a cordless / batter operated impact gun.

Am I looking at approx £350 or can I do better than that? Here's hoping!!!

Appreciate any advice.

[spud]

went with The Milwaukee M18 Fuel drill driver and grinder love the grinder best thing ive bought for a while cut through a kerb like it was nothing and so much better than trying to fire up the petrol saw for 1 cut !

[Karl]

blo*dy hell Remminington

Did I just hear right that he has cordless tools

Shocked


Milfuckie all the way regarding which cordless brand