Milwaukee is coming out with 2 new M18 Fuel brushless 1/2″ impact wrenches, 2860 and 2861. The 2 new “Mid-Torque” impact wrenches are designed to bridge the gap between their brushless compact and heavy duty impact wrenches.
It looks like the M18 Fuel Mid-Torque impact wrenches are designed to be capable of handling heavy duty fastening applications, while being more compact and lighter than the most powerful and capable models.
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Milwaukee says that the Mid-Torque impacts are up to 2″ shorter and 2 lbs lighter than competitive tools in the High Torque class, which allows for greater access into tight spaces and helps to reduce user fatigue.
The 2 new impacts are similar, with the difference being in the square drive anvil. The 2860 has a 1/2″ square drive with pin detent, and the 2861 a 1/2″ square drive with hog ring.
In the image gallery that accompanies the press release, the 2860 is shown in commercial and industrial fastening applications, and the 2861 in automotive maintenance and repair applications.
Both impacts can deliver up to 450 ft-lbs of fastening torque, and 600 ft-lbs of nut-busting (reverse direction) torque.
Here’s a specifications and “typical applications” table that helps shows how these new Mid-Torque impact wrenches fit between 1/2″ compact and heavy duty models:
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Torque Comparison
- Compact Fastening Torque: 220 ft-lbs
- Mid-Torque Fastening Torque: 450 ft-lbs
- Heavy Duty Fastening Torque: 600 ft-lbs
Length Comparison (Friction Ring)
- Compact: 6.1″
- Mid-Torque: 6.7″
- Heavy Duty: 9″
Weight (Friction Ring)
- Compact: 4.2 lbs
- Mid-Torque: 5.3 lbs
- Heavy Duty: 7.2 lbs
Specs for the pin detent models are similar, except for the heavy duty model, which is 8.75″ long and weighs 7.0 lbs.
Both new impact wrenches have 3-mode Drive Control electronic speed and torque settings.
The friction ring model is shown to come with a removable protective boot.
Milwaukee says that:
Similar to other M18 FUEL™ Impact Wrenches, these solutions have a specialized rubber overmold material that provides ultimate comfort during prolonged use while lasting longer against corrosive materials.
Specifications
M18 Fuel Mid-Torque Impact Wrench with 1/2″ Pin Detent (2860-22)
- 450 ft-lbs Fastening Torque
- 600ft-lbs Nut-Busting Torque
- 2400 RPM
- 3000 IPM
- 6.7″ length
- Weighs 5.3 lbs with XC 5.0Ah battery
Kit: 2860-22
Bare Tool: 2860-20
M18 Fuel Mid-Torque Impact Wrench with 1/2″ Friction Ring (2861-22)
- 450 ft-lbs Fastening Torque
- 600ft-lbs Nut-Busting Torque
- 2400 RPM
- 3000 IPM
- 6.7″ length
- Weighs 5.3 lbs with XC 5.0Ah battery
Kit: 2861-22
Bare Tool: 2861-20
Pricing
$189 for the bare tool
$299 for the kit
ETA: Feb 2017
Pricing appears to be the same for pin detent and friction ring models.
The kits come with (2) 5.0Ah battery packs, an M12/M18 multi-voltage charger, a carrying case, and belt clip.
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Buy via Acme Tool: Hog Ring Kit, Hog Ring Bare Tool
Buy via Acme Tool: Pin Detent Kit, Pin Detent Bare Tool
First Thoughts
I don’t see a downside to these new impacts – they seem to fit perfectly within Milwaukee’s brushless impact wrench lineup.
Will the new Milwaukee M18 Fuel Mid-Torque impacts cannibalize sales of the compact impact wrenches? Maybe. But while these new impacts offer much more power than the compact models, and are only 0.6″ longer, they’re 1.1 lbs heavier.
They’re around 26% heavier than the compact impacts. The heavy duty models are between 32% and 36% heavier than the Mid-Torque impacts, depending on whether you’re talking about pin detent or friction rig models.
Milwaukee offers some “top applications” details to help steer you in the right direction. I’ll try to update the post with the 2 lower speed and torque setting specs, as these levels are often set depending on the most common applications Milwaukee product managers think the impacts will be used for.
Bob
Looks like what I have been waiting for -more compact impact with over 300 ft-lbs of reverse torque.Anxious to see a review.Pricing for the Kit is $399.I wish it was $299.
Noah
Anxiously waiting for an M12 pulse driver.
Nathan
If I was in the market for the team red product – I think I’d pass on the compact in favor of the mid-torque model.
one thing – tool length isn’t the only concern on access. So if the compact is smaller in diameter up top, or if that angle of departure was much greater – then I might re-consider. That’s a spec they don’t seem to list so I guess I’d have to hold them both. The weight difference if fixed with a battery swap or well I don’t care about a lb or so difference in this case.
Like the cover.
How does this compare to team yellow or team blue’s devices.
Jason
Yellow and Blue don’t really have that many impact wrenches compared to Milwaukee, so not much to compare against. This wrench is similar to the brushless Ingersol Rand that was released a few months ago. Dewalt only released a brushless compact impact wrench recently. Milwaukee seems to be going after the auto trade tools more than the other tool brands.
fm2176
DeWalt’s lack of automotive-specific cordless tools could be due to a decision not to encroach on Mac’s market share. Since they can share the same batteries Mac would probably lose a fair amount of sales to potentially cheaper (and much more widely available) DeWalt versions. If I still worked in a shop I’d probably choose Mac cordless tools over Snap-On for the ability to stock up on DeWalt batteries during the holidays. Likewise, I’d most likely choose Mac over Milwaukee simply due to convenience (the Mac truck comes to you) as well as feeling as though Mac belongs in the service bay while Milwaukee belongs on the job site. I know that’s no longer the case, necessarily, but when I worked on cars for a living, cordless tools were not seen in the shop.
Off topic, but I wish we had this kind of stuff when I was a mechanic. At the Cadillac dealership and tire shop it was easy to rely on pneumatic tools, but as a road tech for a forklift dealer it would have been great to be able to grab a cordless impact and a couple of batteries. All of the company’s trucks had air compressors, but a lot of locations precluded using them.
casey
Yo, I just got on ebay the
Mac-Tools-BWP050 for $110 bare tool and gotta say, with these specs, pretty stoked for the price,
Breakaway torque: 725 ft-lbs
Free speed: 1800 RPM
Blow rate: 2400 RPM
Weight: 5.2 lbs
Hog-ring anvil
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/mac-dewalt-cordless-impact-wrenches-ratchets-drills/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
I really think dewalt should help promote this line, as it would bring more mechanics to their platform.
Toolfreak
From what I’ve seen, the compact is great as a do-it-all for nuts and bolts you’d use a 3/8″ socket for. These “mid-torque” impacts are nothing more than a 1/2″ drive tool with more reasonable specs to get a lower price point. I suspect they will sell a lot of them, even just for use taking off lug nuts, but it’s not going to see the same use as the compact M12 unit would.
efg5195
Are these one-key? I feel like the one key feature would really make sense on impact wrenches where you can have pre-set options for various cars or applications.
Stuart
No.
Not yet?
Mike McFalls
Makita offers at least 5 different 18v impact wrenches.
XWT11 (3 speed brushless)- 200′ lbs of torque with 1/2″ anvil
XWT01- 325′ lbs of torque with 7/16″ hex anvil
XWT07- 780′ lbs of torque with 3/4″ friction anvil
XWT08- 740′ lbs of torque with 1/2″ square drive
XWT04- 325′ lbs of torque with 1/2″ square drive
XWT06- 155′ lbs of torque with 3/8″ square drive
Mike McFalls
That should read at least 6*
Jeremy neill
Where are the compact brushless DeWalt impact wrenches??! Waiting for it for a long time big D! The huge impact is great but it’s time to come out with a small or mid range like this Milwaukee. The Metabo mid range wrench though to me is worth lusting over. All of those speed settings on a small spinning dial is brilliance and should be standard on all other wrenches in my opinion.
casey
There is this in brushless too, http://www.mactools.com/en-us/Power-Tools/Cordless-Tools/BWP151-M2/20V-MAX-1-2-Drive-High-Torque-Brushless-Impact-Wrench-Kit
For the price, I personally am ok with the brushed one as I got it used and it offers plenty of power for the price.
Toolfreak
Ok, now they need to make these, but powered with an M12 battery.
I’d seriously like to see a 12V powered impact with a big body – it’d be perfect for taking off 16-24 lug nuts and occasional use loosening a stubborn fastener, but without having to get into the 18V platform just to get the higher torque.
Nathan
why would you want a less capable 12v model? ALso something that might not be easily seen – that larger battery on the bottom helps oyu offset the torque reaction. Which makes the tool easier to use.
now a lower torque – 1/4 or 3/8 drive sort of thing – at say 120 or so ft lbs – similar to some impact drivers.
in a 12v job – that might be a good fit.
Kevin
WHERE IS THE 3/8″ MODEL EVERYBOY WANTS????????????????????
Rich
Everybody wants? It’s in the compact form. 3/8″ is not suitable for this mid range torque.
Reggie Fisher
Every 3/8 air impact is right around this range should absolutely be a 3/8. 1/2 is to bulky this has to be a 3/8 for real mechanics the work with there tools everyday.
John
I think I will buy this one instead of the compact. You might be able to get away with one impact like this for working on a car. The one tool I am waiting on is a impact ratchet and a 90 degree impact. Milwaukee already has a 90 degree but it is only rated for about 60 ft lbs of torque. If they could make one with about 200 ft lbs of torque I will buy one. The 90 degree impact would be ideal to tight areas where a regular impact can not reach.
Rich
I think it’s interesting that they’re comparing it to the previous compact non-One Key 2755 vs comparing it to the current One Key 2759 instead. Is this a sign that One Key is going away? I really hope not as I do love the advantages it gives you. Plus, you get an additional mode which is extremely helpful. Or maybe they do a One Key version of these new impacts which, in my opinion, is a sign that they aren’t fully dedicated to the platform. In any case, I think these new offerings are a bad sign for the future of One Key, but I’ll keep my fingers crossed that I’m wrong.
Additionally, this article contains no information on the specs for the three modes. Would love to see what they are.
Michael
Does anyone know what the part number on the protective boot is?
I have found the boots for the high torque and the compact, but not this one.
49-16-2754 Compact Impact Wrenches, (2654-20, 2655-20, and 2655B-20)
49-16-2758 Compact Impact Wrenches, (2658-20 and 2659-20)
49-16-2763 High Torque Impact Wrenches, (2762-20, 2763-20, 2764-20)
Conspicuously missing from the product linup
Michael
And I found it. But it’s still weird. It’s not on the Milwaukee proper website.
The part number that I found is 49-16-2861. But the only distributor that I found for it is: http://www.outilspierreberger.com/en/cles-a-chocs/13863-boot-protect-impact-2860-20-2861-20.html
Not sure why it’s a single source item…