Author Topic: Festool or Milwaukee Impact driver? (Read 4079 times)

jussi · « **on:** June 16, 2020, 10:00 AM »

Looking to upgrade my impact driver. I was leaning towards the Milwaukee surge model but just noticed Festool was coming out with their version. Any opinions on both?

six-point socket II · « **Reply #1 on:** June 16, 2020, 10:31 AM »

Festool of course.

Kind regards,
Oliver

threesixright · « **Reply #2 on:** June 16, 2020, 10:43 AM »

If you ask on both forums, change you end up with both [big grjn]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Alex · « **Reply #3 on:** June 16, 2020, 11:16 AM »

I think the Milwaukee might perform better as they have lots of experience making impact drivers.

Festool has close to zero experience in making impact drivers. They only made one before, and though it's not that bad (I have one), the way they marketed and packaged it was a complete failure.

In the end you might ask yourself what's the most compatible battery platform for you.... if you have lots of other cordless Festools or Milwaukees already you might stick with that.

TwelvebyTwenty · « **Reply #4 on:** June 16, 2020, 11:25 AM »

I don't think an impact driver is the sort of tool that should decide which system you buy into in isolation.

If you want a cordless track saw, for example, in the future get the Festool impact/batteries - because Milwaukee don't make a track saw (let alone a cordless one). Similarly if you want a more serious heavy duty cordless SDS drill, or 'hole hawg', or chainsaw - get the Milwaukee impact driver/batteires, because Festool don't make those tools. In short choose the best system for you, not just this one particular tool.

If you already have both systems then I'd go with Milwaukee as probably cheaper and they have a proven track record with impact drivers.

Peter_C · « **Reply #5 on:** June 16, 2020, 12:01 PM »

M12 Surge is a winner! Small, light, and drives large screws home without an issue. Plus it fits in my tool vest pocket perfectly. The M18 Surge is nice, but gets 10% the usage of the M12 Surge. Can't comment on the Festool, but I am sure it will be good.

denovo · « **Reply #6 on:** June 16, 2020, 12:18 PM »

The Milwaukee impacts are powerful but the variable speed trigger isn't that variable and eventually starts working intermittently. After a year of daily site use the brushless motors seem to give up the ghost as well. At least in Canada Milwaukee will not honor the warranty if the impact shows signs of excessive use (they consider it abused). Therefore if it's a shop drill you shouldn't have a problem with the warranty but a site drill essentially doesn't have one.

I ended up switching from Milwaukee to Hilti after getting frustrated with the unreliable trigger and lack of warranty. I'm also invested in the Festool battery platform so I'll be getting a Festool impact once they are released.

Dan C · « **Reply #7 on:** June 16, 2020, 02:18 PM »

I run a mix of Milwaukee and Festool around the house and for impacts, I have both the M12 and M18 Surge Milwaukees. They are super quiet and the drive speed and control is much better than anything else I have used. I have the Fuel non-surge impact and I use it only once in a while if the surge cant drive something (very rarely can it not).

I have tried the Festool drills in a couple varieties and I do not like them for some reason.

Banana · « **Reply #8 on:** June 16, 2020, 03:06 PM »

I have a bit of Milwaukee tools as well but I thought this was interesting, or maybe not so much considering the Kobalt is a higher voltage. When the Makita 40v stuff starts to dribble out I will be watching closely.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBDcPfCHBw4/

fshanno · « **Reply #9 on:** June 16, 2020, 06:43 PM »

Quote from: Banana on June 16, 2020, 03:06 PM

I have a bit of Milwaukee tools as well but I thought this was interesting, or maybe not so much considering the Kobalt is a higher voltage. When the Makita 40v stuff starts to dribble out I will be watching closely.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBDcPfCHBw4/

These store brands have been upping their game lately. This 24v lineup is interesting.

jussi · « **Reply #10 on:** June 17, 2020, 12:31 AM »

Thanks for the replies guys. I used to be in the camp of buying into the same ecosystem but it seems like manufacturer sales have gotten so good now that it kind of evens out the playing field. The savings you get from being able to use the same battery on several tools aren't that great when companies will throw in free batteries (or even starter kits) with a bare tool purchase. So for me I'd rather get the best tool (in my budget of course) rather getting one that's the same color as the ones I already have. Plus I already have 4 different branded cordless tools anyways.

That's a good point about Festool not having as much experience with impact drivers. I was kind of leaning towards Milwaukee anyways. Plus they have the M18 surge with starter kit for $200.

Peter_C · « **Reply #11 on:** June 17, 2020, 03:26 AM »

Quote from: jussi on June 17, 2020, 12:31 AM

I was kind of leaning towards Milwaukee anyways. Plus they have the M18 surge with starter kit for $200.

My preference for impacts is to use a 2.0Ah battery. Since I can drive screws for hours on a 2.0Ah battery, it is easy enough to take a break and swap batteries.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M18-FUEL-SURGE-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Brushless-Cordless-1-4-in-Hex-Impact-Driver-with-5-0-Ah-2-0-Ah-Battery-Charger-2760-20-48-59-1850TP/312776251

aloysius · « **Reply #12 on:** June 17, 2020, 11:26 AM »

Milwaukee have a bigger variety of tools available, better batteries, greater expertise & proven performance.

Banana · « **Reply #13 on:** June 17, 2020, 04:04 PM »

Speaking of deals I was in the 'orange' box store today and noticed they had an in-store deal on some of the Milwaukee 12v stuff that you can bundle with a 6.0Ah 12v batt for $179.

jussi · « **Reply #14 on:** June 19, 2020, 10:55 AM »

Sale had me spend a little more than I anticipated. Ended getting the surge plus grinder, 8 and 6 ah starter kit, and sawzall 🙄

Josh2 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 19, 2020, 01:15 PM »

If you care about noise at all, M12 Surge. For $200 you get the package with 2 small batteries. More than enough for most use cases. The noise difference compared to other impact drivers is huge!

rst · « **Reply #16 on:** June 19, 2020, 01:18 PM »

Josh is correct the surge is quieter than my drills.

Jiggy Joiner · « **Reply #17 on:** June 19, 2020, 05:47 PM »

Quote from: jussi on June 16, 2020, 10:00 AM

Looking to upgrade my impact driver. I was leaning towards the Milwaukee surge model but just noticed Festool was coming out with their version. Any opinions on both?

Festool or Milwaukee? I’d go Makita, they invented cordless drills, and theirs in my opinion are still the best, especially the top end models.

Same with Multi tools, Fein invented them, and their range is still the best out there, that why Festool approached Fein to make the Vecturo.

Obviously it’s still opinion based, but the Makita impacts are a hard act to follow.

Banana · « **Reply #18 on:** June 19, 2020, 11:24 PM »

Quote from: Jiggy Joiner on June 19, 2020, 05:47 PM

... Makita, they invented cordless drills, ...

Black & Decker.

Jiggy Joiner · « **Reply #19 on:** June 20, 2020, 05:03 AM »

Quote from: Banana on June 19, 2020, 11:24 PM

Quote from: Jiggy Joiner on June 19, 2020, 05:47 PM
... Makita, they invented cordless drills, ...

Black & Decker.

Well I’m not a historian but, all the information I’ve received say Makita first invented re-chargeable drills, then a step further with cordless drills. It was quite some time before other manufacturers followed suit. Probably because of patent.

I started out 40 odd years ago, never saw another cordless drill other than Makita.

Apart from De Walt, the two Black and Decker tools I owned, took a dive after a few months.
It was more of a joke or home owner brand over here.

Here’s one example of the many things I’ve received information about:

https://www.its.co.uk/blog/trade-gossip/makita-100-years-still-powering/

I once had a chat with a Makita representative from Tokyo, he also claimed this was true, and proudly parts of displays at Makita HQ.

ear3 · « **Reply #20 on:** June 20, 2020, 10:06 AM »

I just recently gave away my Milwaukee Fuel impact driver (purchased in 2014). I got the Makita version about 2 years ago, which I bought on sale more to get the batteries and charger to support the bare tool 23 gauge pin cordless nailer I had just picked up. But after testing the Makita and Milwaukee side by side, I found the Makita to be quicker and steadier. I didn't compare battery life, but since I generally don't use the impact driver in long stretches, that was not a consideration.

I still may get the TID at some point for purposes of mobility and efficiency when I'm working outside the shop.

Cheese · « **Reply #21 on:** June 20, 2020, 10:40 AM »

Quote from: Banana on June 19, 2020, 11:24 PM

Black & Decker.

FWIW...Black & Decker did invent the first cordless electric drill with ni-cad batteries in 1961.

And a few years before that, Milwaukee came out with the first portable hand drill which was tethered to a large lead acid battery. It definitely stretched the definition of portable.

xedos · « **Reply #22 on:** June 20, 2020, 11:11 AM »

Quote

In the end you might ask yourself what's the most compatible battery platform for you.... if you have lots of other cordless Festools or Milwaukees already you might stick with that.

This ^^^

and if you want one for a 12v battery platform, then Festool is out.

Quote

FWIW...Black & Decker did invent the first cordless electric drill with ni-cad batteries in 1961.

For NASA I believe.

Cheese · « **Reply #23 on:** June 20, 2020, 11:33 AM »

Quote from: xedos on June 20, 2020, 11:11 AM

Quote
FWIW...Black & Decker did invent the first cordless electric drill with ni-cad batteries in 1961.

For NASA I believe.

That would make sense as the time frame would be proper.

Also B&D did design an impact wrench for NASA.

Banana · « **Reply #24 on:** June 20, 2020, 01:10 PM »

https://www.nasa.gov/offices/ipp/home/myth_tools.html

ear3 · « **Reply #25 on:** June 20, 2020, 01:42 PM »

I didn't realize NASA's role. I'm trying to imagine an astronaut on a space walk getting spun around by the drill as he's trying to unscrew a panel from the shuttle.

The development of tools for space would make a awesome spin-off movie to the Right Stuff. Instead of test pilots, we get the story of daring, buzz-cut tool testers doing zero gravity simulations of drilling during high altitude descents.

Quote from: Banana on June 20, 2020, 01:10 PM

https://www.nasa.gov/offices/ipp/home/myth_tools.html

Jiggy Joiner · « **Reply #26 on:** June 20, 2020, 07:15 PM »

After some renewed research today, I read that it’s an age old argument but, from what I can gather, Black and Decker were approached by NASA, to come up with some portable tools for astronauts.

Bearing in mind no gravity etc. There was a drill submitted that was “portable” very big and heavy, and ran off a large power supply. Apparently the supply didn’t last long in power, and took a very long time to charge.

So it was a commissioned item, no use whatsoever to a builder or anybody in construction or DIY. In fact no use to anybody apart from astronauts. It was still technology though.

A few year later, Makita brought to the industry, a lightweight completely cordless drill, that had a removable rechargeable battery. This had never been done before in this set up, size and design. So it was the first truly cordless drill/driver offered to the masses.
They did have the patent, and cornered the market for a few years.

So it depends on what we term as a cordless drill? The astronaut drill wasn’t marketed, as it had not much, if any use outside of the space program.

Svar · « **Reply #27 on:** June 20, 2020, 08:06 PM »

Quote from: Jiggy Joiner on June 20, 2020, 07:15 PM

... Makita brought to the industry, a lightweight completely cordless drill, that had a removable rechargeable battery. This had never been done before in this set up, size and design. So it was the first truly cordless drill/driver offered to the masses.
They did have the patent, and cornered the market for a few years.
So it depends on what we term as a cordless drill? The astronaut drill wasn’t marketed, as it had not much, if any use outside of the space program.

Exactly. Makita first came up with a marketable product. Just like Edison with his light bulb, which was actually invented decades before him.

Cheese · « **Reply #28 on:** June 21, 2020, 12:05 AM »

Quote from: ear3 on June 20, 2020, 01:42 PM

I'm trying to imagine an astronaut on a space walk getting spun around by the drill as he's trying to unscrew a panel from the shuttle.

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction......something us earthlings have not experienced...but it'd be way cool to do so.

Michael Kellough · « **Reply #29 on:** June 21, 2020, 12:47 AM »

Quote from: Cheese on June 21, 2020, 12:05 AM

Quote from: ear3 on June 20, 2020, 01:42 PM
I'm trying to imagine an astronaut on a space walk getting spun around by the drill as he's trying to unscrew a panel from the shuttle.

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction......something us earthlings have not experienced...but it'd be way cool to do so.

“ The first cordless power tool was unveiled by Black & Decker in 1961. In the mid-1960s, Martin Marietta Corporation contracted with Black & Decker to design tools for NASA. The tool company developed a zero-impact wrench for the Gemini project that spun bolts in zero gravity without spinning the astronaut.

AEG built “a custom-made cordless drill screwdriver for NASA Space Shuttle missions. In 1984, astronaut Bruce McCandless made use of the screwdriver on one of his spacewalks, 350km above the Earth.”