Earlier this week we posted about the new Milwaukee M12 Fuel extended reach ratchets, and yesterday we posted about how it’s not recommended that the tool be used for final tightening by hand.
Chad commented this morning:
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Seems to me there is a potential perfect product here. An electric ratchet that is strong enough to be used manually for final tightening and with built in strain gauges that will announce at preset torques.
Actually… Milwaukee is coming out with an M12 Fuel cordless torque wrench with One-Key.
The new Milwaukee M12 digital torque wrench is advertised as delivering up to 50% faster installation speeds. Basically, it uses a motor for fast-turning of loose fasteners, and then you turn the ratchet manually (unpowered) to drive fasteners to their desired torque.
So, the motorized torque wrench gets you in the ballpark of your set torque value, and then a little elbow grease gets you the rest of the way. The tool indicates that you’ve reached the set torque value both visually and audibly, with a large green LED and a tone. It will also notify users if the applied torque exceeds the set value.
As of NPS19, accuracy was said to be ±2%.
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One-Key connectivity allows for reporting.
Milwaukee will offer two sizes of M12 Fuel digital torque wrenches – 3/8″ and 1/2″.
Torque ranges:
- 3/8″ drive: 10-100 ft-lbs
- 1/2″ drive: 10-150 ft-lbs
Milwaukee displayed a cut-away of the motorized torque wrench at NPS19.
What you should notice in images of the cross-section is that the new Milwaukee motorized torque wrench has a metal body. There’s overmolding and some plastic parts, but the tool largely features a metal housing. Metal = strength, which is why you can use it to set final torques of up to 100 ft-lbs and 150 ft-lbs for the 3/8″ and 1/2″ drive torque wrenches, respectively.
Thanks to the computerized controls and digital display, Milwaukee says that you can use 4 different types of torque units with the torque wrench:
- Foot-pounds (ft-lbs)
- Inch-pounds (in-lbs)
- Newton-meter (N⋅m)
- Kilogram-centimeters (kg⋅cm)
It’s also interesting to note that Milwaukee has said they are setting up for in-house calibration service for fast turnaround. Calibration should be done once a year, as is true for other torque wrenches.
Pricing: $599 for the bare tool, $749 for the kit
ETA: November 2019
Buy Now(via Tool Nut)
Purchasing Options
- 3/8″ torque wrench bare tool: 2465-20
- 1/2″ torque wrench bare tool: 2465-22
- 3/8″ torque wrench kit: 2466-20
- 1/2″ torque wrench kit: 2466-22
Full specs and details won’t be available until the official press releases go out, but I thought you’d still appreciate a brief teaser post.
In the meantime, here’s a video of Milwaukee’s NPS19 tool show presentation, courtesy of our friends at Coptool:
Corey
Is there a size difference between the 3/8” and 1/2”?
Stuart
Unfortunately, I don’t know. I only remember there being one size at NPS19.
Mark Lee Shelton
Ouch. Spendy. What do you think street price will be. I can’t imagine they will sell many at that price point.
Emilio Gonzalez
Very expensive indeed when you think about Snap ons TechAngle torque wrench for comparable price.
Chris Thomas
Will they be coming out with a 1/4 inch one? Able to do inch./lbs. For doing transmission valve bodies?
logan
1/8th
Nathan
Someone else makes one on the market now but the name escapes me. Quite expensive.
I like the idea and if I did alot of work I would want something like this. I can see some of our hangar tool rooms looking at these or counterparts.
One thing they need to include – or might as well include for all the extra bits in the box. Have it also count your angle displacement too. That would be super nifty on most new veichles.
Many bolts on a newer car are meant to be turned __ ft lbs, and then ___ Degrees to final set. Now not to rant on how this doesn’t make the bolt a TTY use but that’s a longer rant. Reasoning you see more and more of this in shop manuals is because more and more bolts are being used with light thread lock. and thread lock on a bolt causes very inaccurate torque readings. So they have to be final passed using angular displacement. Thread pitch, bolt diamter and angular displacement is the most accurate applied fastening force method. Regardless of bolt, use of threadlock, grease, oil, dirty threads, etc.
Anyway – point is. If I have a device that will run a bolt a 6 inch bolt down – and I can ratchet on it till I beep out at ___ ft lbs (N-m, Kip-cm whatever) then I’d also like to be able to set another marker for ___ degrees. Or and this would be super duper nifty – beep once at ___ ft lbs, then dual beep or tone at __ degrees past.
Either Way – I’d be interested in one. ALso see this Dewalt/SBD – make this stuff too please and go a head and use the 20V battery system when you do.
Stuart
Why would you prefer an 18V/20V Max sized battery on a tool like this?
This kind of hand-tool-replacement application is ideal for 3-cell M12/12V Max-sized battery packs.
Nathan
That’s milwaukee’s battery form factor. Dewalt/SBD however uses the flat row of cells – so the 12V and the 20V basically use the same space and will stick below the handle as a slide pack. This weight, balance, handle shape/size would be the same. In most automotive/aircraft/assembly operations that would have this tool – would also have the impact wrenches and maybe the driver. Specifically the mid torque impact wrench – which is an 20V tool.
So for SBD/Dewalt they should just put theirs on the 20V tool and make them the same.
Interesting side point – look at the IR tools of the same category. They are 20V and note their battery placement is inline with the handle but still a side pack. I’ve used the IR ratchet and it is a nice piece of kit.
Koko The Talking Ape
Interesting! I didn’t know that. What kind of precision is called for? Is plus or minus ten degrees okay? Twenty? If its the first, you might need some kind of inclinometer built into the tool. If the latter, then you could probably just eyeball it, no?
Nathan
It depends on the maker and the bolt. More often than not since Auto bolts are hex headed you’ll turn it 2 flatts (1/3rd).
Occasionally you’ll see something like 20degrees +- 5. or something like that. Nothing quite as granular as 1 degree. Or I haven’t seen that yet.
aerodawg
That’s a nifty tool that I could use, but I don’t have $599 worth of use for it….
Greg
I’m curious, so they don’t recommend final tightening with the other ratchets, but it’s ok with this one? other than the torque sensors/computer boxy part, it looks rather similar, so what makes this one good to go where the others are to be used more gently?
Stuart
Yes, because this one is specifically designed for that kind of use and has a metal-walled housing.
There are other structural differences as well, such as how the battery is recessed within the housing to ensure that pressure is applied to the tool and not the battery connection.
uin
in short; the ratchet handle is made of plastic, but this torque-ratchet is metal head-to-toe.
Lance
$599 bare tool? Wow, I guess it costs $450 to add a torque sensing feature to an existing $150 powered ratchet design. No thanks!
uin
what? no; this one has metal all the way down to the handle. they worry that the plastic handle of the cheaper ratchet might crack under torque (aka get abused by a wrench monkey).
hangovna
Hey bud remember that digital torque wrenches are in the $2-500 range alone, plus a powered ratchet is $150, so really you’re getting a more useful tool for less.
ca
$2 doesn’t sound so bad.
Diego
Wish the 1/2” went up to a higher spec, but I imagine they aluminum body can only take so much force.
Nathan
I looked and the 1/2 torque wrench I have caps out at a 150 ft lbs measurement too. So comparing to a calibrated torque wrench – 150 is a good number. For automotive and most aircraft work. Note those are 10-150 ratings. similar to this.
I do have another 1/2 torque wrench that runs 50-250 and it’s longer, heavier and honestly I’ve used it twice on a tractor motor overhaul. For my cars I use the other one at 10-150 ft lbs.
taras
To go to a higher spec, the tool would have to jump up in range. Torque wrenches have an operating range that is based on the spring in the adjustment. This also means that torque wrenches are least accurate at the extremes of their listed ranges because the spring constant is maxed out because of compression. To change the range requires changing the spring and recalibrating the wrench. So you might have multiple 1/2″ drive torque wrenches with overlapping ranges (10-150ft/lbs, 80-200 ft/lbs, 150-300ft/lbs…)
Brian A
Powered it has the same ft-lbs as the regular Fuel ratchets right?
I wish it had a higher torque setting 200-250. Ideally a powered torque wrench would get you the whole way to your setting, thats the dream.
Problem is that if powered it only gets to 50 ft lbs and your setting is 100 ft lbs, that is more manual ratcheting than I like to do. I like to get a bolt to about 80%+ tight before doing the final torque with the wrench.
Stuart
The M12 Fuel 3/8″ and 1/2″ ratchets max out at 55 ft-lbs and 60 ft-lbs respectively. These torque wrenches can be set to 100 and 150 ft-lbs for 3/8″ and 1/2″ sizes. I would imagine that the motor gets you most of the way there.
For metal-to-metal joints, the motorized ratchet component might only need to get an assembly finger-tight so that a partial rotation gets you closer. Where you might have springy materials, that’s where you might need more power.
We’ll have to wait until it launches to see how well it works and how much time or effort it saves.
Nathan
when I put wheels on a car I run them to 1/2 spec or nearly before I put my torque wrench on final spec. My main driver used 125 ft lbs. So I run to 65, then to 125. When I run the last pass I turn the lugs roughly 1/3 of a turn. It’s not much wrenching.
incidentally – that’s another place where a tool like this would shine in the shop. wheel installs for finicky cars. set the wheel, put the lugs on by hand – run down with this ratchet to snug, squares the wheel on the hub – then digital torque set – tighten to beep.
Doresoom
If I remember correctly, in addition to providing audio and visual feedback for reaching the desired torque, it also vibrates for tactile feedback. That may have just been in the event of an overtorque though, I can’t remember.
Stuart
Thanks – I thought I’d have to wait until the press release to find out what the vibration motor was for! (You can see it in the last photo, positioned midway between the switch and the battery.)
JoeM
*Backs Away Slowly* …That is just… WAY too much for my budget… I have zero doubt about its place in an Autoshop or on an Assembly Line… but that is NOT the Electric Ratchet I was hoping for…
MAYBE if it was one Ratchet, with exchangeable heads, and it came with all those sized heads… MAYBE it would be worth that to me… But… I’m sorry, no… I now feel like a complete and total idiot for even getting that fluttery heart thing over a Milwaukee item…
…First time I’ve EVER thought of a Milwaukee tool for part of my toolbox… SO disappointed… SO CLOSE!
And, I would agree with the in-line battery type slide on for a DeWALT version, but I think this might be the tool they drop down to the new 12V XR line instead, MAYBE 20V Atomic at max power… but… Milwaukee has really specialized this to a specific trade that can afford the investment. Good on them for the innovation toward the need, but… Yikes… That’s not going to convert very many from the other niches.
Nathan
remember that this is also a torque wrench not just an electric cordless ratchet. Hence the price difference. Their cordless ratchet costs about 1/2 this. or less.
ca
Too bad they don’t make their regular ratchets with metal reinforced handles.
JoeM
No no… I saw that… but a Torque Wrench isn’t worth $500 to me. Neither is an Electric Ratchet. If I had a business that could write it off, it would be worth investing in, but for what I’d be using it… it’s not worth more than $120-$150 Canadian. It would be easier to put an impact-ready flex shaft on an impact driver that can achieve 100-400 ft/lbs with the pull of the trigger. In fact, it would be easier to MAKE a ratchet bar with a 1/4″hex/ball retenition, 3/8″, or 1/2″ ball retention driver at the end, with the torque meter in the middle. Then you could snake that whole bar into tight spaces, OR use it in open spaces, then just slam an Impact Driver or Wrench in the end and get the job done instantly, no stopping to hand-torque anything.
But, I suppose this is more of a construction/DIYer thinking type of solution, not really a Trades type of thinking. Milwaukee DEFINITELY makes a good product, the quality and technology are NOT in doubt here… Just… Wow does that ever go over the head of a DIYer. Not helping to convert from Yellow on any of the multi-niche tools.
Matt
I love it! Milwaukee is doing a great job for those of us who also do automotive work. I’m invested in the Craftsman platform and would like to think they have Serious automotive V20/V12 tools coming soon. I’d also like to think they’re going to fix the chintzy forward/reverse switches on their impacts and drills. I have to baby those switches and returned 2 new impacts with switches so sloppy and fragile right out of the box I was scared to even use them. The Black & Decker models have more solid switch gear. If I wasn’t invested in Craftsman, I’d be looking hard at Milwaukee.
Evadman
Based on the cost and onekey connectivity, this seems to be aimed at users that need to be able to certify torque settings used on specific fasteners, such as on aircraft. Seems similar to some of the linesman crimpers from dewalt that print out datetime and force used when crimping critical connections for logging purposes.
Ant
Snap On is cheaper and it goes to 300. Around $550 for complete tool.
Stuart
Some of Snap-on’s digital torque wrenches do go to higher torque settings, but they’re not motorized.
Chris
Sure it’s motorized but for that kind of money, unless your a real hardcore Milwaukee guy, who’s really going to spend that kind of money on a torque wrench? You can usually get a snap on for cheaper and much rather have that in my tool box then this…
Nathan
For a large number of auto and aircraft mechanics this would save minutes on a job, for multiple jobs a day.
IR makes a similar product but it’s more for assembly line work – so Ford, GM, Mercedes, Airbus etc. It can be set for preset torquing situations and you can lock it in. It’s the closest thing I see to this tool right now.
Motorized ratchet head – digital torque set – torque confirmation – logging – cordless.
Donna Gullion
What areas will your calibration facilities be located?
fred
I just got an email from ToolNut – they seem to be taking pre-orders:
https://www.toolnut.com/milwaukee-2466-20-m12-fuel-brushless-1-2-digital-torque-wrench-with-one-key.html
Stuart
Thanks!
Here are the other bare tool and kit options.
Joatman
Hey Stuart….not sure if you see comments posted on old topics but I’m in the market for a 3/8” torque wrench. I realize this is scraping the bottom of the barrel, but my budget is $100. I ordered the ever-so popular Tekton for about $40 but returned it (it looked used). Not much in the market in my budget….So I’m debating on the Gearwrench, Craftesman or Dewalt. Any experience with any of these?
Stuart
With a $100 budget, I’d likely look at Husky and Gearwrench first, although Gearwrench doesn’t seem to have many options under $100.
Craftsman has been focused on value pricing, and I wouldn’t think they could best Tekton quality.
Dewalt – I’ve never seen or heard of their torque wrenches being used, at least not since they were showed off at a media event. These could borrow from SBD’s more pro-oriented brands, I’m not sure. Dewalt hasn’t built their mechanics tool segment as much as they seemed to have wanted to, but it could also be that everything changed when SBD acquired the Craftsman brand.
If you stretch your budget, Wera is another option if you’re willing to order from Amazon DE.
I’ve had good experiences with Husky and Gearwrench, but this also isn’t a frequently used tool category for me.
(I get email notifications with every comment, and so I see everything regardless as to the age of the post they’re associated with.)
Joatman
Thanks for your reply. You hit the nail on the head when you said it isn’t a frequently used tool category. That’s exactly why I don’t want to spend too much….I probably won’t use it as much as I think I would. I have a classic muscle car….a truck….riding mower…and have gotten by for decades with out ever using one on anything I’ve ever worked on. I need to replace a tensioner pulley now on my truck and thought maybe it would be good time to get one. I’m leaning towards the Craftsman’s. I suppose the Husky and Craftsman may have a bit more credibility than the Dewalt in this category. Had I not received the Tekton all marred up, I probably would have stuck with it considering the reviews.
I’m surprised to see how few brands ( reputable) are out there for this. But then again….$100 budget? I shouldn’t be surprised at all……just like the cost of a good caliper, like Mitutoyo vs. General. Certainly worth it if you used it often enough. Thanks again for your response., Stuart!!