Milwaukee has announced an expansion to their M18 FUEL brushless cordless tool lineup to include 3 new compact impact wrenches. Technically there are only two new impact wrenches – a 3/8″ model and a 1/2″ wrench, but we feel that different anvil styles might warrant separate distinction.
These new 3/8″ and 1/2″ square drive cordless impact wrenches will all features the same speed and torque controls as Milwaukee’s brushless impact driver. With the 3/8″ friction ring impact, maximum torque is 200 ft-lbs and max speed is 0-2400 RPM. The 1/2″ wrenches top out at 210 ft-lbs and 0-2400 RPM. This allows users to adjust the tool’s max power and speed depending on the application.
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With the 1/2″ wrenches you have the option of square drives with pin detents or ball detents.
All of these impacts will be available as complete kits or bare tools. There will be two 3/8″ brushless impact kits – one with compact batteries (2654-22CT) and one with high capacity packs (2654-22). The 1/2″ impact wrench kits (2655-22, 2655B-22) each come with two high capacity battery packs.
Pin Detent vs. Ball Detent?
The 1/2″ impact wrench with ball-detent anvil is typically recommended for tradesmen that do ground-level work. Users who often work overhead will want to opt for the pin-detent version, as this style offers best socket retention.
2.0Ah and 4.0Ah Battery Packs
All of the kits will feature Milwaukee’s new higher-capacity 18V battery packs. The new packs are said to offer best in-class performance in extreme jobsite conditions. Users who work in warmer weather will still appreciate the better runtime.
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Additional Features
As with Milwaukee’s other M18 FUEL brushless cordless tools, including their drill/driver, hammer drill, and impact driver, these new wrenches feature LED work lights and come with removable belt clips. Fuel gauges are built into the battery packs.
These new compact impact wrenches will be available starting in March 2013.
Coming Soon: new Milwaukee M12 FUEL brushless drills, drivers, wrenches!
Specifications
M18 Fuel 3/8″ Compact Impact Wrench Kit- XC Batteries (2654-22)
- 3/8″ Square drive with friction ring
- Volts: 18V
- Torque: 200 ft-lbs. / 75 ft-lbs / 30 ft-lbs Max
- RPM: 0-2400 / 0-1600 / 0-900
- Max IPM: 0-3100
- Length: 5.9″
- Tool Weight (w/ battery): 3.8 lbs
- Includes 2654-20 3/8″ Compact Impact Wrench, (2) M18™ REDLITHIUM™ XC 4.0 Battery Packs, M12/M18 Multi-Voltage Charger, Belt Clip & Carrying Case
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M18 Fuel 3/8″ Compact Impact Wrench Kit- CP Batteries (2654-22CT)
- 3/8″ Square drive with friction ring
- Volts: 18V
- Torque: 200 ft-lbs. / 75 ft-lbs / 30 ft-lbs Max
- RPM: 0-2400 / 0-1600 / 0-900
- Max IPM: 0-3100
- Length: 5.9″
- Tool Weight (w/ battery): 3.2 lbs
- Includes 2654-20 3/8″ Compact Impact Wrench, (2) M18™ REDLITHIUM™ Compact 2.0 Battery Packs, M12/M18 Multi-Voltage Charger, Belt Clip & Carrying Case
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M18 Fuel 3/8″ Compact Impact Wrench- Tool Only (2654-20)
- 3/8″ Square drive with friction ring
- Volts: 18V
- Torque: 200 ft-lbs. / 75 ft-lbs / 30 ft-lbs Max
- RPM: 0-2400 / 0-1600 / 0-900
- Max IPM: 0-3100
- Length: 5.9″
- Tool Weight (w/o battery): 2.3 lbs
- Includes 2654-20 3/8″ Compact Impact Wrench & Belt Clip
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M18 Fuel 1/2″ Compact Impact Wrench Kit w/Pin Detent- XC Batteries (2655-22)
- 1/2″ square drive with pin detent
- Volts: 18V
- Torque: 210 ft-lbs. / 120 ft-lbs / 80 ft-lbs
- RPM: 0-2400 / 0-2000 / 0-1700
- Max IPM: 0-3100
- Length: 6″
- Tool Weight (w/ battery): 3.9 lbs
- Includes 2655-20 1/2″ Compact Impact Wrench, (2) M18™ REDLITHIUM™ XC 4.0 Battery Packs, M12 /M18 Multi-Voltage Charger, Belt Clip & Carrying Case
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M18 Fuel 1/2″ Compact Impact Wrench w/ Pin Detent- Tool Only (2655-20)
- 1/2″ square drive with pin detent
- Volts: 18V
- Torque: 210 ft-lbs. / 120 ft-lbs / 80 ft-lbs
- RPM: 0-2400 / 0-2000 / 0-1700
- Max IPM: 0-3100
- Length: 6″
- Tool Weight (w/o battery): 2.4 lbs
- Includes 2655-20 1/2″ Compact Impact Wrench & Belt Clip
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M18 Fuel 1/2″ Compact Impact Wrench Kit w/Ball Detent- XC Batteries (2655B-22)
- 1/2″ square drive with ball detent
- Volts: 18V
- Torque: 210 ft-lbs. / 120 ft-lbs / 80 ft-lbs
- RPM: 0-2400 / 0-2000 / 0-1700
- Max IPM: 0-3100
- Length: 6″
- Tool Weight (w/ battery): 3.9 lbs
- Includes 2655B-20 1/2″ Compact Impact Wrench, (2) M18™ REDLITHIUM™ XC 4.0 Battery Packs, M12 /M18 Multi-Voltage Charger, Belt Clip & Carrying Case
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
M18 Fuel 1/2″ Compact Impact Wrench Kit w/Ball Detent-Tool Only (2655B-20)
- 1/2″ square drive with ball detent
- Volts: 18V
- Torque: 210 ft-lbs. / 120 ft-lbs / 80 ft-lbs
- RPM: 0-2400 / 0-2000 / 0-1700
- Max IPM: 0-3100
- Length: 6″
- Tool Weight (w/o battery): 2.4 lbs
- Includes 2655B-20 1/2″ Compact Impact Wrench & Belt Clip
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Jerry
Isn’t 210 ft. lbs. Kind of low for an 18 volt 1/2 drive impact? My 3/8 air impact is well above that.
Stuart
A little bit, but these are compact impact wrenches. Dewalt’s compact 1/2″ is rated at 1824 in-lbs vs. the FUEL’s 2520 in-lbs. Dewalt’s heavy duty model is rated at 300 ft-lbs, or 3600 in-lbs, but there is a significant size difference.
Also, remember that these are designed mainly for construction trades. They’re not mean to replace pneumatic impacts, although in some cases they can.
Michael Quinlan
Milwaukee’s 2663 model has a maximum torque of 450 in-lbs, but it’s similar in size to the DeWalt.
Jerry
I guess what I am getting at, is fasteners that would take sockets sized for 1/2 inch drive, would probably need more torque than this could deliver, and 3/8 sockets would be more compact, smaller, lighter, and more than strong enough to take anything this tool could dish out.
I work construction from time to time, and by far our favorite cordless impact is the 18V DeWalt 1/2 drive, full size model, with the forward/reverse rocker control switch. I could do 90% of what this could do, with a 3/8 square adapter, in my impact driver. I’m not doubting the quality of the tool, but whether it is really practical in a 1/2 drive.
Stuart
Uses that require 1/2″-drive sockets, yes, they might require a heavier duty tool.
In the same sense, consider Milwaukee’s new M12 FUEL drill drivers, which have 1/2″ chucks. Slap in a 1/2″ hole mandrel and small hole saw, no problem. Try to use the largest hole saw that fits the mandrel, and you will probably need to move up to an 18V cordless drill or possibly a corded one.
These are not Milwaukee’s first M18 compact 1/2″ impact wrenches – they have brushed models as well.
Quite frankly, if there wasn’t high enough demand for the brushed models, Milwaukee wouldn’t have come out with FUEL brushless models.
It’s up to individual users and buyers and their tool dealers to determine which impact wrenches are best for their needs.
Remember, we’re talking about the same company that now offers a 12V rotary hammer. Users don’t want larger, heavier, and more expensive tools when smaller, lighter, and less expensive models get the job done.
I would also consider these 1/2″ wrenches to be heavier-duty complements to 12V 3/8″ impact wrenches.
Jerry
True enough, if they wouldn’t sell, they wouldn’t keep making them.
Part of it might be my age. I’m younger than some of the other guys in the crew, and they tend to take ”just enough” tool to do the job. The younger guys like me, who don’t mind carrying an extra pound or two, tend to grab the one that will do the job a little quicker. I’m sure, as I get older, an extra pound or two, will start to weigh on me, as well. I hadn’t been thinking of it, from that angle before.
Michael Quinlan
That’s a big difference between the impact driver (max 1600 in-lbs) and impact wrench.
Also, I have the fuel hammer drill and it doesn’t come with a belt clip. This kind of annoyed me since the tool has an attachment point for it, the case is molded to accommodate it, and Milwaukee will sell the clip directly for less than $3. But with their minimum $30 order requirement, I looked elsewhere, and found it for a similar price, albeit with a $5 minimum order and $5 shipping.
Stuart
With the impact driver there might be a practical limit as to what impact-rated screwdriver bits and common screws can handle. That’s also why the FUEL driver and other brands’ newest drivers have 3 power settings – in a lot of cases they’re too powerful and cause damage to bits and fasteners.
Hmm, that’s odd, that only some of the FUEL tools come with belt clips and others don’t.
joe
here is a look at the drill hammers…
http://dewaltownersgroup.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=d230bf02e12ec093d12ed5089ffa53bd&topic=897.0
Evan Meyer
What is the advantage of this over the M18™ 1/2″ High-Torque Impact Wrench which has 450 ft-lbs of torque. I would have thought that a brushless version would have some improvement over this?
http://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/cordless/2663-20
Stuart
Smaller weight, electronic torque-limiting settings, possibly runtime.
If you need more than 200-210 ft-lbs, the 2663 is definitely going to be the better option.
joe
first, is the brushless tech which is more efficient than brushes (drop motor, or any other type of oil, on the carbon brushes and u mess them up). second, the batteries at 4.0ah. fourth, a lot of what is maintained in cars do not require high torque.
basically, this tool is good for doing light mechanic (200 ft-pounds is enough for lugs nuts too. even 150ft-lbs… well, unless your mechanic uses his powerful air gun, they might be over tighten. look at ur car manual specs) …
for changing differentials, u joints, crankshaft pulley, etc…you need the big guns.
lastly, the ft-lbs is solely based on the size of the hammer not the motor or batteries. the 450ft-lbs tool probably has a 3lb (guestimating) hammer while a 200ft-lb has a 9-10OZ (guestimating) hammer.
matt
Actually you can get lower torque impacts in pneumatics to. You dont just use the largest most powerful tool you can buy to do a job if your smart.. If a smaller and lighter tool is capable that is a better selection for the task.. Really the larger 1/2″ impact can more then likely be damaging your fasteners by over torquing them..