Milwaukee M18 fuel 3/8” impact. A bit smaller but still packs a punch.
Here we are for Tool Tuesday or whatever day you are reading this on! With all the DIYs on the site I thought I would add a few tool reviews of what I use and why! This week we will start with one of my favorite and most often used electric impacts, my Milwaukee 3/8th Impact.
I started my tinkering with cars many years ago and I had been a hand tool guy for many years. Air compressors are great but if you don’t have a large garage it can be difficult to find room for it, let alone enough space for your car and projects. This is what brought me to to electric impacts and tools.
If you are a fan of my DIy’s you have seen this guy around. One of my all time favorite tools due to it’s power, size and precision. When there is a job to be done this is always by my side.
With the current line of Milwaukee electric tools out it is easy to go all electric and never look back. Not saying there aren’t time and places for air tools but for most DIY’ers you will find that these tools will get the job done and fit easily into storage cabinet. Now on to the review!
Tools hanging out in the sun. Milwaukee M18 3/8” impact and electric ratchet.
Don’t let the small size fool you, this thing can definitely get some work done! This is generally the first tool thrown in the take along bag. From lug nuts, to brake caliper bolts, intake manifold removal and suspension… this tool has the power but can be very manageable in the right hand.
It has 4 adjustable settings to help configure it precisely for the job you are tackling. Each setting allows for a maximum torque value to keep you from snapping off a delicate bolt. Even without the settings being adjusted the trigger is very easy to modulate and keep you from overdoing nuts and bolts.
All in the family! Here is the 3/8ths hanging out with its fam.
It’s compact size makes it easy to squeeze into tight areas where other tools can be problematic and the lack of needing an air hose makes it easy to use in many situations. But still enough power to crank off those Subaru lug nuts to get your wheels off and back on.
There are many times I wish I had two of these with different sockets on them. Which usually means I bring the Milwaukee electric ratchet out to play and sometimes even the Ryobi driver will make an appearance, allowing a different socket to be equipped to each and I don’t need to swap them out.
Hanging out under the car, getting ready to remove my trans mount. Thee are a great tag team for any DIY weekend warrior or everyday auto tech.
This impact is easily my favorite out of my Milwaukee electric tools. Small enough to get into confined areas and powerful enough to get the job done. It is quite durable I have used it over the last 2 years day in and day out as an auto tech and it has yet to fail me. The awesome five year Milwaukee warranty will take care of any failures, whether you drop it off a ladder onto the pavement or it has an unfortunate internal failure. You are covered with Milwaukee for a full five years!
Whenever there is a need for a 3/8ths sized tool, you will find my Milwaukee 3/8ths impact in the mix.
The only downsides to the electric versions of these tools vs their air counterparts is recharging the batteries, if you only own the one battery you are stuck waiting. I have two of each style of battery to help alleviate this. They also have a bit of heft when you are using the higher end full size, extra length batteries. But this is a small price to pay for the ready to go mentality and instant power of it/
Questions, comments, thoughts? Leave them below!
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Milwaukee m18 fuel 3/8 impact kit