I’m trying to justify the 1/2” so I don’t have to take a generator and air compressor with me to pick up my new blazer.
CK5
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had to make the move...
- Thread starter ryoken
- Start date
while i wasn't impressed with the 18v 1/2" drill compared to my makita.. the 1/2" impact is pretty stout... the waukee drill chuck/clutch sucks IMO...
I only have a few Mil tools, and I use my 3/8 impact the most, not that it compares to daily use, but letting them sit for extended periods does them no good either. I have a few 5.0 batts and a couple 6.0’s Over the last 3 yrs. and all are working great for life and power output.
The Fuel 1/2” impact is a beast. The balancer bolt on my Duramax is supposedly 650ft. Lbs and although it worked for 30-40 seconds it broke it loose. Many a story of having to use a 5’ cheater bar on the socket to get them loose.
I have a couple Dewalt drills/impacts, that have held up great for 6+ yrs. The batts haven't given up anything either.
The Fuel 1/2” impact is a beast. The balancer bolt on my Duramax is supposedly 650ft. Lbs and although it worked for 30-40 seconds it broke it loose. Many a story of having to use a 5’ cheater bar on the socket to get them loose.
I have a couple Dewalt drills/impacts, that have held up great for 6+ yrs. The batts haven't given up anything either.
So pro tip, those stubborn, bolts that are in things that rotate. Wether air or electric, grab a deep impact socket, and medium size slip joint pliers ( aka channel locks, or water pump pliers)
Gun in socket, socket on bolt/nut, slip joint pliers grabbing barrel of socket in desired direction, keep tension on pliers and hit trigger. Fastener will come off easy. One such bolt we would use the big spline drive air impact 5/8" hose, could be done with 1/2" Ingersoll 3/8" hose with this method.
Gun in socket, socket on bolt/nut, slip joint pliers grabbing barrel of socket in desired direction, keep tension on pliers and hit trigger. Fastener will come off easy. One such bolt we would use the big spline drive air impact 5/8" hose, could be done with 1/2" Ingersoll 3/8" hose with this method.
I personally love the die grinder. Might get another one so I don't have to switch from the carbide grinder bit to the wire wheel so often.
I use my 1/2 impact ALL the time. Just used it yesterday to take down a bulk bin. I would think it would be easy to justify.
Martin
Martin
I went Milwaukee for two reasons:
1: we have them here at the mill and they are TOUGH. I know what the drill in my buggy has been through and I was impressed.
2: I wanted all one battery platform and at the time, Milwaukee made the weedeater with a pole saw attachment and DeWalt didn't.
I have a lot of stuff now. There's a 1/2" impact and grinder waiting on me at home I ordered this weekend. I have the 7 1/4" circular saw, palm sander, 3/8" ratchet, two drills, sawzall, jigsaw and M12 grease gun. I'm nothing but happy with it all and when I pull the trigger, I know it'll get the job done.
FWIW, Milwaukee, Rigid, Ryobi and Walmart's Hart are all made by the same parent company, TTI.
1: we have them here at the mill and they are TOUGH. I know what the drill in my buggy has been through and I was impressed.
2: I wanted all one battery platform and at the time, Milwaukee made the weedeater with a pole saw attachment and DeWalt didn't.
I have a lot of stuff now. There's a 1/2" impact and grinder waiting on me at home I ordered this weekend. I have the 7 1/4" circular saw, palm sander, 3/8" ratchet, two drills, sawzall, jigsaw and M12 grease gun. I'm nothing but happy with it all and when I pull the trigger, I know it'll get the job done.
FWIW, Milwaukee, Rigid, Ryobi and Walmart's Hart are all made by the same parent company, TTI.
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I started buying the Milwaukee cordless stuff 10 years ago with a 1/2" impact purchase. I wore that one out; it just doesn't hit as hard anymore. Bought a new one last year and the newer models are even better yet. I always have a 1/2" impact in the truck when we go wheeling; that's where the old one lives now.
I haven't had any of the batteries fail yet, but I'm not a daily user either.
I think I about have all the tools I want. The only one I'd really like to buy but can't quite justify is the deep cut band saw.
These are the tools I would rate as my must haves or the tools I'm the most pleased with:
These are the tools I bought that haven't really worked out.
I haven't had any of the batteries fail yet, but I'm not a daily user either.
I think I about have all the tools I want. The only one I'd really like to buy but can't quite justify is the deep cut band saw.
These are the tools I would rate as my must haves or the tools I'm the most pleased with:
- 1/2 impact
- Angle grinder*
- Circular saw*
- Grease gun*
- M18 drill
- Right angle drill
These are the tools I bought that haven't really worked out.
- Heat gun: takes a long time to get hot enough for shrink tube and eats batteries doing it.
- Hacksall: just doesn't seem to cut well
- Fan: nothing wrong with it, I just don't use it as much as I thought I would
- 1/4 impact driver: doesn't do anything that can't be done with the drill. Tends to break screw heads.
I know Kert uses them at his shop.
Also thats his powersource on the dragcar. 6-18v 5.0 batteries, can get 3 passes out of them with power left, but usually change every 2nd pass.
Also thats his powersource on the dragcar. 6-18v 5.0 batteries, can get 3 passes out of them with power left, but usually change every 2nd pass.
It's a sickness....
it's funny how different tools are important to different people... grease gun? not so much for me... the freakin fan??? for a marine mechanic in frying pans all day?
the angle grinder is pretty low on my list, only cuz I have 3 corded Dewalts that I slaughter at the LAB™. and i honestly don't use em much at work.. tho, the irony is I had to bring one back at lunch to cut a shaft out this afternoon...
that only happens maybe 3, 4 times a yr tho...not sure if i would want the 18 or 12 in right angle drill... i would lean toward 18, as sometimes space isn't the concern as much as snot..
originally i was gonna do the straight die grinder.. but a dedicated right angle roloc machine is more important in cordless.. i have 4 straight air ones and 2 cordless dremels already... plus a HF corded straight at work... a straight cordless would be a luxury..
i think the stubby 3/8 impact would be my next or even the 1/4 ratchet maybe... I'm in love with the 3/8 already..
but any other purchases are WAY down the road.. i'm done for a while... that was like close to 15 hunge in a yr and a 1/2 or so..
oh, and been making it a point to nut up and try to buy better bats.. my 18's are only 5's.. but my 12's are 3.0 in the compact and the 6.0 EL..
The grease gun was kind of a fluke thing. I have a pneumatic grease gun I got on sale at TSC and it's been great to have. Well the grease hose blew on it the other day and it's a cheap one anyways so the trigger blows air and it's just not ideal.
Then there's the fact that it's tied to my compressor, which is fine if I'm working in the driveway but not so great if I'm working in the yard to on a trailer or something like that. So I opted for the M12 grease gun and after using it to service the 4 wheelers this weekend I'll say I'm happy with it. Got it for a deal on eBay.
My shop is small and full so I have to do a lot of maneuvering to get to some of my tools. The cordless stuff makes it nice to knock out a quick task without a much dragging out. With the grinder, if I need to make a cut or clean up something I can just grab it and get the job done without dragging out cords and such.
The impacts and such the same way. I find that I'm more likely to do a small project of I don't have to do as much to get the tools out and put them away. Lazy? Yeah probably. But things like this help me accomplish tasks so I value that.
Then there's the fact that it's tied to my compressor, which is fine if I'm working in the driveway but not so great if I'm working in the yard to on a trailer or something like that. So I opted for the M12 grease gun and after using it to service the 4 wheelers this weekend I'll say I'm happy with it. Got it for a deal on eBay.
My shop is small and full so I have to do a lot of maneuvering to get to some of my tools. The cordless stuff makes it nice to knock out a quick task without a much dragging out. With the grinder, if I need to make a cut or clean up something I can just grab it and get the job done without dragging out cords and such.
The impacts and such the same way. I find that I'm more likely to do a small project of I don't have to do as much to get the tools out and put them away. Lazy? Yeah probably. But things like this help me accomplish tasks so I value that.
I’m getting to be the same way. The thought of plugging my dremel in fills me full of dread.
i ended up with 2 of the best cordless dremels... my issue with them is, it's dainty work.. and tooling is expensive and not durable.... they don't get used much...
you've all seen the LAB™ these days... I generally have a couple cords permanently laying around on the floor...
and I am grateful to have a bit more room these days for fabbing...
you've all seen the LAB™ these days... I generally have a couple cords permanently laying around on the floor...
and I am grateful to have a bit more room these days for fabbing...
I could not disagree more with this statement.
This is my go to number, one use cordless tool. I have four of them. I hate having to use my drill, I feel it is pure garbage in comparison.
Martin
Ditto on that.
Back at the dealership, all my techs were making the switch to the waukee stuff. Even the die hard snappy guys were trading out snappy cordless stuff for the fuel brushless tools. I borrowed them and was impressed, but didn't have the funds to support the addiction myself.
I got lucky and a car got towed in with a waukee drill and 1/4" impact each with batteries. I had to wait for us to get the bill of sale when the driver never claimed the car, but you can bet those two tools came home with me. Just had to buy a charger for it. Though the car had sat there for 4 months and the dang batteries each had at least 3/4 charge still left on them. Impressive.
I did end up buying a 1/4" m12 impact from an independent tool truck. It's half the size of the 1/4" impact driver and easy to throw in the bag with the rest of the tools for a junkyard run. That little SOB is ballsy for 1/4" drive stuff. It won't take off lug nuts, but for smaller stuff in tight spaces, it's golden. It's a handy little tool for sure. I do need to get some 1/4" drive impact sockets as that little guy set to kill has cracked a few sockets already. Destroyed a couple of universal joints too.
The m12 right angle die grinder is on my shortlist to buy. A buddy has one and it's really a trick tool to clean up on different jobs. By the sounds of it, the 3/8" ratchet should be on my list along with the 1/2" impact too.
I got lucky and a car got towed in with a waukee drill and 1/4" impact each with batteries. I had to wait for us to get the bill of sale when the driver never claimed the car, but you can bet those two tools came home with me. Just had to buy a charger for it. Though the car had sat there for 4 months and the dang batteries each had at least 3/4 charge still left on them. Impressive.
I did end up buying a 1/4" m12 impact from an independent tool truck. It's half the size of the 1/4" impact driver and easy to throw in the bag with the rest of the tools for a junkyard run. That little SOB is ballsy for 1/4" drive stuff. It won't take off lug nuts, but for smaller stuff in tight spaces, it's golden. It's a handy little tool for sure. I do need to get some 1/4" drive impact sockets as that little guy set to kill has cracked a few sockets already. Destroyed a couple of universal joints too.
The m12 right angle die grinder is on my shortlist to buy. A buddy has one and it's really a trick tool to clean up on different jobs. By the sounds of it, the 3/8" ratchet should be on my list along with the 1/2" impact too.
I’ve had the m12 3/8 ratchet for 5 years now and I’ve pulled my hand ratchet maybe a dozen times since. The hand ratchet only gets pulled when I’m nervous breaking a bolt loose with the m12.
And this thread sucks. Bought a 1/2” mid torque impact because of it.
And this thread sucks. Bought a 1/2” mid torque impact because of it.
I would have to stop and think what I all have. Just 20 volt stuff, gave my remaining 18 volt stuff to my old man who still uses 18 volt.
1/2" impact
1/2" hammer drill
1/2" hammer drill
1/4" impact driver
1/4" impact driver
1/4" impact driver
1/4" impact driver
right angle drill
sawzall
sawzall
circular saw
oscillating tool
angle grinder
radio
flashlight
grease gun
weed trimmer
vacuum
I'm sure I am forgetting something
Martin
1/2" impact
1/2" hammer drill
1/2" hammer drill
1/4" impact driver
1/4" impact driver
1/4" impact driver
1/4" impact driver
right angle drill
sawzall
sawzall
circular saw
oscillating tool
angle grinder
radio
flashlight
grease gun
weed trimmer
vacuum
I'm sure I am forgetting something
Martin
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I forgot to mention that I also love the air compressor (not the m12 one, the m18 with tank). Easy to fill a tire in the yard without having to bring it to the garage. And also handy on road trips where air costs quarters (if it's not out of order).
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