M12 stubby has got to be the best overall 3/8 impact for most people

Was genuinely confused for a second if it was Friday lol. 2 videos in 1 week is awesome.

At this point, the big cordless manufacturers have all got their youtube set for alerts whenever you put up a new video. Imagine the incredible thought and effort and expense that goes into a new model, and then having it all come down to a youtuber's unbiased, scientific assessment. In the home laboratories, there will naturally be some unconscious bias built into the testing protocols and the testing equipment chosen, so when a tool lands on your bench it really is judgment day. After watching for a couple years I am really impressed that there seem to be a couple teams of engineers / designers / visionaries who consistently put out tools that are priced reasonably yet always seem to finish in the top tiers of testing and, more importantly, gain favor in the long run with professional end users. I'm just a DIYer, but if I were to suddenly become young again and go into auto mechanics, I know what tools I'd have in my shop, thanks to this channel!

I have the 3/8 Milwaukee.. it’s definitely a beast.. rarely have to bring out my 1/2 inch high torque on day to day work at the shop

An important feature for 3/8 impacts is trigger control. I live in rust country and I use the my little 3/8 DeWalt all the time, as a screwdriver for small rusted 8mm body bolts, to small cars lug nuts occasionally. Having the control to not snap a tiny bolt is what makes small impacts so valuable

I have a Makita xwt16z 3/8 impact that I had to order because the tool guys didn't even know it existed and its a beast I love it.

TTC back at it again answering the important questions!

I also think it’s very neat that the average prosumer can use the beans on whatever they please, it’s only right.

Great video thanks for sharing

I have a 1st gen M18 mid torque in 1/2”. I’ve got dozens of Milwaukee tools now but this was my first impact wrench. I currently have 6 impacts and it’s tied for the most useful. The other one I think is equally awesome is the 3/8” M12 stubby. The mid is the “just right” size impact for most jobs.

Bauer from HF has a 3/8s too. I'm not sure how it compares but I use one around my home shop and I'm happy with the results for a 100 dollar tool.

You should test tool lights like ones that run off 18v batteries

Uploads on Sunday from TTC is PROOF that I am loved! 😍

I keep waiting for a r3eason to replace my Ryobi 262. Got it on sale for $130 in a state without sales tax. Probably my most used tool. A lot of smaller 3/8 stuff I don't even need the stubby m12 for, often I can break them loose and remove using an electric ratchet of some type, and then might as well remove them. It's why I'm so glad you do test the capabilities of those ratchet handles to failure point, because in terms of workflow max torque might not be common, but using them to break stuff free so you don't need to re jigger your extensions and sockets to get to bolt X with an impact or breaker bar is what makes them really awesome. I use my HyperTough cheasy extended one the most often believe it or not, despite having basically zero breakaway ability- the small tool size and gentle not so finger mashing lack of torque is enough to turn out most everything 8-13mm I've used it for. It is often the ONLY powered tool that fits into some spots. The bolts that hold in the bearing/hub assembly for example on my Challenger- axles weren't removable- long story that ended in buying my neighbor some more acetylene- so the spot was a super weird at an angle thing weaving between brake line, 5 control arms, CV, etc etc. Basically anything I can fit a normal 3/8 handle on, I can fit the HT. So I come up with something that just barely works, break it free if needed, and let er rip tater chip... might take 10-20 seconds of removal but hey, my hand isn't cramping or bruised. For the same reason I have ratcheting hand wrenches, I can always justify I reason to have another variety of tool. I'm trying to justify a Bosch freak at the moment because... well, I love the idea. My daily "painting" and carpentry impact is my Ryobi brushless and well let's be honest- it works fine.... But I really like the idea of driver that can do both, wish it was available in a beefier model for driving lags and larger deck screws all day. 1/4" drive just doesn't seem to be enough to be honest, they get beat up pretty bad (the chuck/bits) and the bits move around a bit more. Plus the larger diameter chuck/heavier bit means more torque transfer too no?

While I don't think it would break any records I think this is the perfect opportunity for you guys to try some Masterforce tools from Menards. They have 3/8 and 1/2 impacts, impact drivers and even lots of battery sizes. I know you don't have a Menards near you in Cali but they are in about 15 states last time I checked and the prices on all of the tools are in that ballpark of the homedepot and Lowes budget tools

My first thought when I saw the thumbnail was “huh, surprised he’s testing out low end Black and Decker impacts”.

I think a comparison of the house brand impacts and maybe other power tools from auto parts stores would make for a cool video. DieHard from Advance, Power Torque from O'Reilly's, and Duralast from AutoZone.

Woohoo, more love for the XWT16Z!

The led issue is an overtemperature problem. That could be excessive heat from the hammer/anvil while blasting something rusted AF OR a bad led driver (-design) that drives 'em at too much current. Basically premature degrading of the yellow phosporus layer leaving the UV or blue led chip partialy uncovered or thinner covered => colder white. Ultimately you'd end up with a blue or UV light output.

Absolutely lovey matco midtorque

Bauer has one, just got it last week. It seems ok but for tough nuts I'm grabbing my xgt anyway.

Finally got one of these in 1/2 inch. Home Depot is finally starting to include these on ridiculously cheap special buys, which usually means they're about to release its replacement. Sounds about right, seeing as how it's been 4 years. I paid $70 for mine brand new after I resold the extra tools in the kit it came with. Gotta love Pro Special Buys of the Week lol.

I think you should add in a breaker-bar and rubber mallet to the mix. You can even sing some ugga-dugga noises with your mouth to make it more 'authentic'.

Fascinating!

Although not really a mid torque I have one single dewalt tool, a impact Dcf923b with two powerstacks 5ah. I literally don’t even use my Milwaukee 3/8 stubby anymore and barely gotta bring out the Milwaukee high torque. I was gonna buy the m18 mid torque to add to my massive fuel collection, I’m glad I didn’t. the Dcf923b is definitely powerful little guy.

If you guys had the funds, I've love to see you guys rag on Norbars electric torque wrenches, but they start at $8000.

I bought this 3/8’s mid torque a while ago and I’ve been blown away by it. Hardly ever reach for the high torque at all.

I recently bought the air 3/8 Matco gun and it rips. Seems like the exhaust is a strong suit very open pushing that high shop air pressure

once again milwaukee comes through with the 3/8>1/2 inch what special sauce r they cookin with overthere, thanks ttc 👍

when I think 3/8 I think compact. I like my M12 3/8 stubby, and my sons Dewalt 3/8 compact. They aren't for tire changes (although they can do them) instead they are for portability and engine work.

Ingersoll Rand W5133 550 ft.-lbs. of nut busting torque and 365 ft.-lbs. of MAX torque

i really wish you'd include more bosch stuff in these lineups, specifically when doing 12v comparisons

I have the 1/2" mid torque pretty damn awesome I can adapt down to avoid breaking sockets

you can use those sockets for removing fuel filter and oil filter on international engines

Would you guys want to test the new Dewalt swappable anvil ratchet (DCF510B)? I have been using mine for a week or so after it showed up from Acme, would be happy to send it your way if so!

Thanks

I love my M18 mid torque. Perfect for Jeeps.

How about a test using the battey conversation set ups and see what happens with battery and tool if the converter dose bypass a saftey issue

I have the Harbor Freight Hercules medium size 1/2" and like it for most of the impact work I do. I bought the 3/8" version because I have a better selection of 3/8" drive sockets. The 1/2 inch can run the bigger 1/2" drive sockets. As far as I can tell they are both built on the same tool just one is 1/2" and the other 3/8". I also bought the Hercules full size ultra 1/2" impact for when the medium size tool isn't enough. Having two of the 1/2" impacts on some stuck bolts where I have access to both the nut and bolt head I can put an impact on both ends. I know there are stronger tools to own, I just like having them all use the same batteries. I started with Harbor Freight and have had good luck with them. Changing brands means another set of batteries and chargers. Those in the larger A/H ratings get expensive.

I have an idea for a Frankenstein torque gun. Use the motors from electric lawn mowers of different brands to make impacts. But first see how much power each lawnmower brand has.

My milwaukee 3/8 mid-torque has all but replaced my 1/2 high torque. Only problem i have is it chews through sockets 14 17 19 21 22 are constantly getting replaced, finally found true value in snap on tools 😅

I would love to see the comparison between sbd matco and Milwaukees m12 stubby impacts

I have a 3/8 drive but I guess it’s a “sub-compact” any not really a mid torque XWT12ZB Mikita 18v that isn’t a huge power house but it has their easy off setting so it doesnt sling the nut nut into the next bay and the hi-lo setting.

Id like to see the snapon 3/8ths 18 volt impact on this chart.

So when are you going to Frankenstein the DCF 891 I find a Anvil to fit it and go up against these two impacts that are only offered in 3/8 drive as far as mid torque platform

I have the Milwaukee model that is used in this video and while it might be plenty strong enough it is hands down one of the most annoying impacts I have ever used due to the grip angle. Most of the vehicles I work on have deep dish wheel's and with the Milwaukees grip angle the battery just get's in the way even when using long length impact sockets. Using a Extension most of the times just kill the torque output so 9/10 I have to resort to a different impact gun to get the job done.

I really need a graphical representation showing the torque ranges each impact would be most useful (high and low). I don't want redundancy when purchasing my impacts, as i have other things i need to purchase. It's hard not knowing whether they have multiple speeds which might make them more or less effective at different ranges, etc.

Snap on has a new 3/8 stubby as well, CT9038

Man, I was about to send you my Matco 3/8.

Would love to see some ingersoll rand tests against the big companies

What was the pice holding the battery to the Milwaukee gun couldn’t I’ve been looking for one forever

Nice

DC823 is what I still use when I need a 3/8" battery powered gun. It is extremely low performance to what is out there today.

Those 2 lights on the Matco actually look significantly dimmer, not so much warmer. LEDs burning out already?

I have the Bauer 3/8. Would love to see how it stacks up.

oil filter sockets are 3/8 shallow i have them in metric 20mm to 38mm impact

You should do a test on the EWORK 3/4” impact wrench. It claims 1500ft LBS

You should review the new Dewalt dcf510

Have you guys ever tested what the torque difference is if you grab the socket with your hand and hold torque on the socket in direction of rotation? I know it makes a difference because when using DTI washers a milwaukee 1" impact won't crush a 1" DTI washer but if you add torque with your hand like I said it will. I've always been curious what the actual ft lb gain is, as your taking 2 points of slack out of the impact, one between the arbor and socket and the other between the socket and nut.

would you consider doing a Dewalt power detect vs flexvolt video? basically pitting a DCD998 w/ 8Ah XR bat and DCD999 w/ 6ah or 9ah flexvolt bat against each other.

6:12 great info

I think the lack of 3/8" models for some brands is as much about model/complexity/inventory control as anything. I went 1/2" on the Milwaukee Gen2 to keep a single set of impact sockets in my DIY garage that included nice big sizes for stuff like axle nuts, and because the thing is so short that the height of 1/2" sockets are fine, even on my Mini.

I'm not sure it's relevant, or been tested. But I recently purchased the new high performance Mac 3/8" impact. I believe they say it's 700ft lbs breakaway? Not sure if it does anywhere near that, but I will say it's quite the fast hitting monster

I use a kobalt 3/8ths all the time, they dont offer a xtr model sadly. It isnt terrible though as most of the time i use it for top of engine quick removing stuff and like how it isnt that powerful. those 10mm bolts wouldnt handle a high torque impact hammering away at them lol. it can remove lugs but really isnt meant for it, thats when the bigger boy comes out .

Some reason kobalts 3/8’s impact wasn’t included? I know it’s not considered a “pro” brand, but they do at least have an offering in an otherwise barren field. And it’s not terrible. I use it at home for some side jobs, red all the way at work. Love my m12

As a Canadian it would be great to see some Canadian house brands like MasterCraft and powerfist

You should do butterfly impacts!!!

I'd love to see you test the new earthquake XT ultra torque against the Thor.

Can you guys test the milwaukee 3/8mid vs the milwaukee 1/2 stuby. Im having a hard time deciding between the 2

Hikoki have their mid torque wrench in japan with a 3/4 anvil. Not available in 1/2 in Japan

i definitely don't have any accurate data on it. however when i worked at a dealership of which all vehicles had the same wheel lug torque spec I had the snap on full size 3/8 impact and it couldn't take off the lugs (90 ft/lbs torque spec) however when my coworker bought the brushless snap on 14.4v impact in 3/8 drive with the dual trigger it could with ease. Overall too it seemed that the 14.4v impact had way more than snap ons 3/8 full size 18v impact

You need to test Harbor Freight’s 3/8 impacts.

I have rarely needed more power on a 3/8 socket than my dcf923 with a Powerstack.

Can you test the metabo ssw 1750

Yall need to test the Snap On MG325

My impact wrench are always at full bean so the no speed setting is not a big deal

Icons are good tools. Torque Test Channel and Project Farm put them to the tests and prove it. They're on par with tool truck brands. Yes, even Snap On

I bought a craftsman v20 3/8” impact and I’m not thrilled with it. I already have the 1/2” which actually has beans so I was expecting more

Where did you get those custom large 3/8in sockets? I get tired of always losing my adapters or having to weld the adapters onto the sockets.

i wonder how my old Dewalt 18-volt 1/2 impact would do in your tests compared to all these new tools.

I use the dewalt 3/8 dcf913, it’s great because it’s compact and has some torque, what I need for smaller bolts that my electric ratchet can’t handle

It shows you how bad tool trucks are, when MATCO has been selling Milwaukee tools for awhile now.

The led on my matco have stopped working and been warrantied 3 times. They currently do not work. Otherwise i do like the impact.

Matco also recently signed a multi-million dollar deal with milwaukee, so I'd imagine that Matco branded power tools are on their way out.

I HAVE A 3/8 TORQUE RIGID COMPACT SHES GOT BALLS

The Mac truck sells all the good Dewalts 👌

Milwaukee pressroom watching this vid for conference day

Ingersoll rand W5133?

Surprised the Mac MPF990381 isn’t here.

Gotta ask where's the Ingersoll Rand?

I wish there were more mid torque 3/8 impacts. I bought a set of 3/8 sockets to use with my ryobi impact driver for the occasional nut I have to deal with. Its rated at 150 ftlbs, and their 3/8 wrenches are rated for 160 and 220. Which yeah is 50% more but I just don't feel its worth it for how rare I would run into something that those wrenches can do that my driver wont. If they made something in the range of 3-400+ ftlbs I would happily buy it. But if I'm gonna spend the money on a half inch set of sockets, I'm also gonna buy the biggest half inch they make for no good reason and probably break stuff

These are indeed some stellar guns, but my Ridgid loyalty keeps me happy with the stubby 3/8

I really want to see ryobi's high end torque wrench with the brand new HP 12ah amp battery that they claim has 2700 cells

My matco truck has started selling and heavily peddling the Milwaukee tools and discontinued some of their 16v An all of their 12v seems like they’re trying to go away from infinity tools I ordered an infinum sealed head 3/8 electric ratchet in the beginning of June and it won’t be here till late October but they would sell me a Milwaukee ratchet for 300 somn dollars no battery that day

Im only a beleiver in snap on in their: torque wrench, some pliers including a pipe wrench, ratcheting screw driver and thats it. I cannot justify spending more on bulk wrenches when the competition is better and cheaper

Seesii has a 3/8 compact.

Even though Matco has there own cordless tools, they really like to push Milwaukee tools. There fliers usually have a full page of Milwaukee.

MOAR POWR seems to always be the topic, but what interests me more is where do we reach diminishing returns or what makes the most financial sense. Or what's the best overall \ best overall value family (brand) of tools. Most powerful is cool, but if I'm maxing out a 3\8 for my needs, I'm probably going to step up to a 1\2 inch tool. Just thinking aloud. Love the channel and all of your efforts in sharing data.

I would bet that your m12.0 batteries have a set of cells in them that have gotten unbalanced over time. If you took it apart and checked voltage on each set of cells I bet you would find one set at a higher voltage than the rest.. I've had a few tool batteries only charging to 3 bars. And each time that was the case.

Just want the New MILWAUKEE M18 POUCH CELLS BATTERIES HOPEFULLY they come out by YEARS END