Battery operated 1/2 inch Impact

[Uncle Gump]

So packing to move into the new house (seriously down sizing)... My big air compressor is going to end up in storage until I buy the forever place back in Michigan. Two reasons really... I have no room and there is no 220V in the new to me single car garage. For the most part I can get by without it for the year or so I will be there... except I can't imagine life without a 1/2 inch impact at the ready.

I still have and use my Dewalt 18V tools (Hammer drill, small impact, sawzall, skillsaw. grinder and flashlight)... but at some point the batteries will expire. I know they make 20V battery adapters for the 18V tools... but the reviews I've seen aren't super good. But it makes sense to me to go with the Dewalt 20V impact with a couple new batteries and take my chances with the adapters to keep my 18V tools alive.

On the other hand... I can't help but look at the Milwaukee stuff... and wonder if I should just start the switch over process in that direction starting with the 1/2 inch Impact I need. Then just replace my Dewalt tools as needed.

I know there is no guarantee Milwaukee won't change their platform tomorrow but I just want to head in the right direction with the new purchase.

My hopes is they will run a good Fathers Day sale soon to ease the pain of either way I go. They sure don't give these away!

What would some of you fellas do?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Im kind of glad i bought into Ryobi when they were the only ones to sell tools without chargers in every set. They havent changed battery profile since they started. The battery chemistry has improved and kept up with the latest and greatest of any other brand. But some of the tools arent great. But they do keep improving. I picked up a bunch of brushless tools that were on sale for $100.00 each. I spent $500 on five tools. That would have bought me one brushless, maybe two, tools of another brand. I use these in my construction business and they work fine. As far as 1/2 impact, i use a breaker bar and my 1/4" hex impact driver with adapters bought from Princess Auto. (Harbor Freight clone)

 

[sgtsandman]

I would research the crap out of what is out there and any reviews on the different models.

I’m pretty sure Project Farm just did a video or two on them not that long ago.

I have DeWalt products and like them. Since you already have some, one of their models might make sense. That being said, DeWalt isn’t what they used to be.

Milwaukee seems to to held well over the years. Anyway, read some reviews and see what thwy have to say.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I bought my daughter and future son in law several of the Ryobi tools for the very same reason you got into them. It's getting harder for me to remember what I've already bought them though. Worked great for gift giving at Christmas/birthdays etc...

I can't knock them because I have limited experience with them. I was also looking at RIDGID brand...

 

[bilbo]

I have both red and yellow. My work has mostly Milwaukee and they abuse those tools in about every way possible, and they seem to keep working. At home, I've found them both to be very good. I also have a few of the old DW 18V tools that I use with the adapter. They work well too. I've only noticed that the batteries will slowly discharge if left plugged into the adapter. Other than that they're great and I wouldn't hesitate to go that route. My wife finds old DW tools at garage sales and stuff for next to nothing and with the new batteries they keep chugging away.

Also, I got into those brands by chance. We had a Milwaukee jacket that used the 12v batteries and we just kept rolling with that; I'm certainly not fiercely loyal to those brands. From what I've seen Ryobi has a fairly impressive offering and if I had to start over I'd be seriously looking at them if I could get them locally (I can't). A guy at work has them at home and he calls his arsenal the Green Army.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I would research the crap out of what is out there and any reviews on the different models.

I’m pretty sure Project Farm just did a video or two on them not that long ago.

I have DeWalt products and like them. Since you already have some, one of their models might make sense. That being said, DeWalt isn’t what they used to be.

Milwaukee seems to to held well over the years. Anyway, read some reviews and see what thwy have to say.

I honestly have zero complaints with my Dewalt tools. I've used them pretty regularly for 10 years now... never as a contractor tough.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I have both red and yellow. My work has mostly Milwaukee and they abuse those tools in about every way possible, and they seem to keep working. At home, I've found them both to be very good. I also have a few of the old DW 18V tools that I use with the adapter. They work well too. I've only noticed that the batteries will slowly discharge if left plugged into the adapter. Other than that they're great and I wouldn't hesitate to go that route. My wife finds old DW tools at garage sales and stuff for next to nothing and with the new batteries they keep chugging away.

Also, I got into those brands by chance. We had a Milwaukee jacket that used the 12v batteries and we just kept rolling with that; I'm certainly not fiercely loyal to those brands. From what I've seen Ryobi has a fairly impressive offering and if I had to start over I'd be seriously looking at them if I could get them locally (I can't). A guy at work has them at home and he calls his arsenal the Green Army.

Yep... draining the batteries is really the number one complaint... that and the adaptor is a pain to switch batteries.

 

[sgtsandman]

I honestly have zero complaints with my Dewalt tools. I've used them pretty regularly for 10 years now... never as a contractor tough.

All I have is DeWalt except for a sawzall. They work for me and I’m already committed on the battery. They do the job for me but I’ve heard others do better.

 

[Shran]

I have almost all of the 18v DeWalt impacts (1/4, 3/8, 1/2 compact ones, the big 1/2, and a corded 1/2.) They are very durable brutes but not very powerful. There are adapters out there to run either 20v Dewalt batteries or 18v Milwaukee batteries, I have run both, the tools work much better with better batteries but not even close to what modern tools will do.

I am now mostly converted over to Milwaukee. As far as impacts go, I have the 1/4 Fuel, Fuel Surge, and 3/8 stubby in the M12 line plus 1/4 Fuel, Fuel Surge, mid torque 3/8 and 1/2, big 2767-20 1/2 and the 2864-20 3/4 drive impact in the M18 line. They are all really good tools. I probably use the mid torque 3/8 and the big 1/2 the most. The high demand 6/8/12ah batteries really wake them up.

Quality wise I feel that Milwaukee is "pretty good," not quite on par with the old DeWalt 18v tools, but very close. They are IMO a huge step up from 20v and 12v DeWalt, which kind of feel like toys anymore...DeWalt quality has gone way downhill and it seems like they are just trying to play catchup instead of breaking new ground with their tools.

 

[Snoranger]

We have Milwaukee m18 stuff at work and never have issues.

That’s saying a lot since it’s a government “it’s not my money, I don’t care” truck shop. Tools are free and replaced with no questions asked, just hand the pieces of the old one in. We only work on F250s and bigger, up to tractor trailers.

 

[RonD]

I have used Dewalt for alot of years, no complaints

There is a local "battery shop" that rebuilds these battery packs, opens them up and puts in latest rechargeable versions, definitely improves use time from originals

Problem is the newer tools may not use the same battery pack, so if the tool goes bad and can't be fixed...................

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I looked into getting the battery rebuilt for my old drill, it cost the same as a new battery.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I wish they would have had all these tools when I was young. In that era it was all about air tools... and I bought a bunch over the years. Still have many of them and they work well... with my big compressor sucking down my electric meter.

 

[Roert42]

couple years ago I bought the biggest M18 1/2" impact they had. I have not been able to find something that can stop it. The only perk of an air impact vs an electric at this point is the air impacts are lighter/smaller. Still have zero interest in an air impact.

On the other hand.
I also have a M12 ratchet, non fuel, it works nice for running things in and out, but it's weak. can't use it to break stuff loose, and struggles if the threads are buggered up. Would much rather have an air ratchet. Problem is they are loud and the hose is always in the way.

 

[Blmpkn]

Im kind of glad i bought into Ryobi when they were the only ones to sell tools without chargers in every set. They havent changed battery profile since they started. The battery chemistry has improved and kept up with the latest and greatest of any other brand. But some of the tools arent great. But they do keep improving. I picked up a bunch of brushless tools that were on sale for $100.00 each. I spent $500 on five tools. That would have bought me one brushless, maybe two, tools of another brand. I use these in my construction business and they work fine. As far as 1/2 impact, i use a breaker bar and my 1/4" hex impact driver with adapters bought from Princess Auto. (Harbor Freight clone)

Man.. we use ryobi at work.. and I have to say I'm less impressed with their tools every time we need to buy new guns. The quality seems to be declining. Especially with the basic 1.5 or 2ah batteries.. they seem to be total junk now. The bigger 3ah and 4ah ones are solid though.