Milwaukee M18 FUEL 1″ D-Handle Extended Anvil High Torque Impact Wrench w/ ONE-KEY
Life Without the Air Hose: Day #1
Pneumatic tools are a staple for Trailer Technicians. Despite the limitations inherent with being tied to an air hose, the abundant power provided by an air compressor often gives pneumatics an advantage over battery-powered tools. But… times are changing.
While some tools don’t yet have a battery-powered version that competes with its pneumatic counterpart, some do. A perfect example is the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 1/4″ Blind Rivet Tool. We’ve had one in the shop for about a year and it has become an absolute favorite for the Technicians. Even with its impressive speed and pull force of 4,500 lbs, the riveter typically goes for days without needing a fresh battery. It has easily become our Technician’s choice for installing pop rivets (blind rivets).
Now that the shop has had a taste of air hose-free pop riveting, the Techs are totally on board with finding battery-powered tools that can reduce our dependency on air hoses. That brings me to the newest tool up for review, the cordless Milwaukee M18 FUEL 1″ D-Handle Impact Wrench.
Background
Milwaukee unveiled the world’s first cordless 1” D-handle high torque impact wrench in June of 2000. While that announcement certainly piqued curiosity in the shop, several of us were skeptical. Even though Milwaukee is certainly a tool brand that we trust, a battery powered 1″ drive torque wrench that lives up to the demands of a trailer repair shop seemed too good to be true. But now it has been 2 years since the Milwaukee D-Handle 1″ Impact was introduced, and it continues to accumulate positive reviews from those in the heavy-duty repair industry. It is definitely time to get this tool in the hands of our Technicians!
Impact Options
You have a few decisions to make when selecting your M18 1″ Impact. The tool is available in both Standard and Extended Anvil versions. Both versions can be purchased as the bare tool only, or as part of a kit that includes the tool, carrying case, charger, and 2 M18 batteries.
Our First Tire Changes with the Milwaukee M18 1″ Impact
Initial Thoughts
As expected, the Technicians were excited to put the Milwaukee M18 1″ D-Handle Impact to work. The video shown above provides a quick look at the shop’s first tire changes with the impact. While testing is ongoing, the first few weeks with the impact has been very encouraging.
Below are some initial thoughts that I think are worth sharing:
- Not being attached to an air hose is every bit as liberating as you would think! Efficiency and safety both benefit.
- At the time of this article, we are only 3 weeks into using the Milwaukee Impact. While I’m not keeping track of the actual quantity of lug nuts removed & attached with the impact, I can tell you that we’ve only encountered 2 lug nuts that the Milwaukee had trouble breaking. But, in all fairness, our pneumatic impact wasn’t able to break the lug nuts either. It took a couple minutes of soaking with penetrating oil before either impact was able to break the nuts loose.
- We have several Technicians, working at multiple shops. In addition, the Techs are frequently dispatched for mobile repairs. Being able to track the location and status of tools via Milwaukee’s One-Key system is very helpful.
- One of my biggest concerns with a cordless impact is battery life. However, the Milwaukee HIGH OUTPUT™ HD 12.0Ah battery packs mean business! So far, they have been proven to be more than adequate for the 1″ impact. In fact, I’ve started using these batteries on our Milwaukee M18 FUEL™ Blower and the results are amazing!
- The Contractor Bag that comes with the 2869-22HD is fine, but I would prefer a hard case. With a little help from the Milwaukee Packout line, I think we’ll have a great case setup to show you. Stay tuned…
Impact Features
- POWERSTATE™ Brushless Motor delivers up to 2,000 ft-lbs of Torque.
- Runtime to Remove & Install up to 120 Lug Nuts on a single HIGH OUTPUT™ HD12.0Ah battery
- ONE-KEY™ enabled Lug Nut Mode Prevents Over-Torque and More Control by automatically shutting off the tool
- 4-Mode DRIVE CONTROL™ provides greater control over output speed and power.
- ONE-KEY™ Compatible: Ability to Customize, Track and Manage tools for increased productivity and investment protection. Includes the ability to set a repeatable torque output for maximum control
- A patented battery isolation system manages high frequency vibrations, enabling battery movement that prevents damage and ensures a constant connection between the battery and tool when in use.
- Tri-LEDs deliver high definition lighting to increase workspace visibility with less shadows
- 360° adjustable and removable side handle
- Lanyard loop included allows for safer use and easier storage
- REDLINK PLUS™ Intelligence ensures maximum performance and protects from overloads, heating and over-discharge
- Premium rubber overmold withstands corrosive materials and provides increased comfort when in use
- Compatible with all M18™ batteries
Impact Specifications
- Wrench Type: High Torque
- Anvil Type: Friction Ring w/ Thru-Hole
- IPM: 1440 ipm
- Maximum Torque: 2000 ft/lbs
- Fastening Torque: 1900.0 ft/lbs
- Nut-Busting Torque: 2000 ft/lbs
- Tool Warranty: 2 Year Limited Warranty
- Power Source: Cordless
- Motor Type: POWERSTATE™ Brushless
- Material Composition: Aluminum
- Length: 23.24 in
- Weight: 23.65 lb
- Height: 8.3 in
- Width: 5.12 in
- Compatible Chargers: Compatible with all M18™ chargers
- Compatible Batteries: Compatible with all M18™ battery packs
- One Key Compatible: Yes
- Voltage: 18V
- Brushless: Yes
- Battery System: M18
- Chuck Type: Not Applicable
- DRIVE CONTROL: 4-Mode (Customizable)
- Maximum RPM: 1200 rpm
- Peak Torque: 2000 ft/lbs