When it comes time to make your decision between Milwaukee and DeWalt, most of us compare them based off in the field. Their lineup cover everything from heavy construction to light automotive work and they both dominate cordless market. When you’re using one of these tools you don’t want to feel fatigued and you certainly don’t want stripped fastener at the end of the day.
This is important. If you buy the wrong impact wrench, you might struggle to break loose structural bolt or lug nut when you should of been finished several hours ago. Now, I’m not saying this is all a horsepower battle of raw numbers on a piece of paper.
If you’re not familiar with how both torque and rotation speed affect application then those number don’t mean much. While one may appear better on paper, the other may feel more smoothly through a long shift. Take away the marketing jargon, think about what’s important when you’re trying to remove a rusty wheel stud or tighten down a flange.
Comparing DeWalt And Milwaukee Impact Wrenches
Matching Tool Power to the Job
It depends on what type of tool we are talking about. You aren’t going to get as much out of a lightweight DeWalt compared too a high torque Milwaukee FUEL model no matter what side of the fence you are on. Again, that’s where it boils down to matching the right amount of power to the job at hand.
For something like light framing and occasional car work, you is narrowing the field quite a bit. For heavy industrial application, you have opened up the field substantialy. Torque tends to be king of the hill on the M18 FUEL lineup from Milwaukee.
Milwaukee FUEL High Torque Performance
Their 1/2 inch high torque impact wrench puts out some number similar to your old pneumatics. When you’re wrestling with massive truck and ag equipment tire, that becomes important. Their FUEL brushless motor technology let them maintain power throughout the entire rotation without slowing down.
So if you run into a resistant fastener, you’ll get that added oomph from the wrench when it encounter resistance. It’s more of a brute force approach which fit well for those stubborn fastener.
DeWalt Atomic Compact Design
You will like what DeWalt have offered with their Atomic line if your goal is saving time and weight while still getting job done right.
Contractors love this line because they can get the job done fast without sacrificing to much weight. It’s also worth noting that sometimes a DeWalt won’t have quite as much torque as a Milwaukee at its highest level, but most of the time, it’s going to feel lighter and more compact. That make a big difference if you’re working in cramped quarters or doing some overhead work.
Rotation Speed and Work Throughput
Of course, there will be days where you want to switch to bigger DeWalt to make sure you have plenty of power. A second key aspect most people don’t think about is speed. Some DeWalt tool claim to spin at higher RPMs in certain mode, so they can quickly drive through many fastener in a row.
That’s perfect if you’re on a team where throughput matter more then torque on each individual fastener. The increased speed let you keep working rather than waiting around longer than necessary. A hundred nut in an hour?
Efficiency rules.
Battery Ecosystem and Sustained Power
Surprisingly, it is the battery eco-system that factor into how much power we perceive. The RedLithium batteries from Milwaukee are known to hold their voltage even when a lot of power are required.
In other words: they give you power throughout the job from start to finish on first nut to the last. Their Power Stack battery are doing a great job of catching up fast, both offering better output and density. Great system all around but the original battery chemistry from Milwaukee still has them ahead slightly in sustained performance when pushed realy hard.
Choosing the Right Platform for Your Workflow
Finally, go with what you have. Buying batteries and charger for a different platform will add up fast if you don’t already have them. For instance, if you’re rocking the DeWalt drill/saw combo, it also make practical sense to use their impact wrench.
Marginal power difference won’t make much difference; it’s nice having one battery system throughout your shop. Keeping things consistent clean up your space and makes troubleshooting easier. So when do you buy?
That depends on how you mainly use it. If you’re a mechanic, working with high torque specification, go with the Milwaukee FUEL line. If you’re looking for something more portable with some mid-range muscle, DeWalt is a great choice.
It offer a good mix of portability and power for general construction, remodeling, or framing. It’s not a one-size-fits-all world. Grab the tool that feel good in your hand and works well within your work flow.
Invest in the platform that meets your day-to-day need and run with it.