30November 2021
Today we are testing out some Milwaukee impact
wrenches to see what stubby is right for you! What's up everyone, I'm Nick with Ohio Power
Tool and today we are going to test and compare Milwaukee M18 FUEL impact wrenches. We're going
to use a skidmore machine for testing. What's a skidmore you ask? Well it's Wilhelm's hydraulic
tension calibrator, or bolt tension calibrator, and has been the industry standard
for testing high strength bolts since it was invented in the 1950s. I honestly don't know, I just
Googled it and that's what it said… but I do know that we're going to use it
to match some of the Milwaukee fastener ratings and how they perform using the
different models, so let's get started! Now, calibrations on the skidmore
machines may vary.
For this test, we use M18 6.0 batteries for each tool. First up!
The Milwaukee M18 1/2" Compact Impact Wrench with a Friction Ring–the 2855-20. This compact impact
is the smallest of the M18s we are testing today. We're getting a reading of just about 20,000, which is really good performance for such a
small design. Compacts like these are good for standard day-to-day use and tight jobs
where there might be a little less space. Next up we have the Milwaukee M18 1/2"
Mid-Torque Impact Wrench with Pin Detent–the 2962P-20. When we attach this to our skidmore
machine we got a reading of just about 28,000.
That's about a 40% increase in fastening
power from the compact and the size is pretty comparable to the compact, so you can still hit
the tighter spaces with a little extra umph! Onto the Milwaukee M18 1/2" Extended Anvil
Controlled Torque Impact Wrench with ONE KEY–the 2769-20. These guys are extended anvil
controlled torque impacts and are great option for tire technicians, as you can
eliminate the hassle of the hoses and still get up to 1,100 pounds of torque. You know, you
can even customize the level of torque with the handy dandy torque adjuster right on the tool.
This is great for vehicle applications from small cars and bikes to box trucks and larger
vehicles. When we threw it on the skidmore we got a reading of just about 34,000, so
about a 20% increase from the Mid-Torque and a 70% jump from the Compact in fastening
power. But that's why it's High-Torque, duh! Last, but not least, the Milwaukee M18 1"
D-Handle High-Torque Impact Wrench with ONE KEY–the 2868-20. Just like Covid, this
was released in 2020. This powerhouse when attached to the skidmore got a reading
of just about 65,000.
That is 91% above the High-Torque, 132% above the Mid-
and a massive 225% above the Compact. Great for rail workers, ironwork, utility
work, and large mechanical applications. So that's the gist of the
skidmore comparisons! But wait, there's more! We didn't talk about friction
ring versus pin detent! De-tent. De-detent. So a friction ring is a rubber ring that helps
keep the socket seated to the square base. Now, this is useful for applications
where you are needing to quickly get a socket on and off. This is primarily
used for a lot of horizontal applications, such as taking off lugs or tightening something
from the side. The rubber has some flexibility so it's a little looser, which makes it easy
for removal or change out of different heads. The pin detent on the other hand is
a spring-loaded pin that holds the socket on the driver.
When you are attaching the
socket to the driver there is a small indentation or groove that you can attach into for a firm,
solid grip. Now this is a tighter hold than the friction ring and is often used on applications
where speed of changeout is not the primary focus, but it'll help prevent the socket from falling
off when you're using the tool. It's great for overhead vertical applications or to help
prevent a bit from falling and hitting you. Milwaukee also offers their impacts
with ONE KEY so you can track, manage, and customize your tools, as well as
organize your data for them all in one place. So that's it for today! Shoot us a comment
if you have anything you'd like to see. Like and subscribe for more content
and we will see you next time!