New Milwaukee Stubby Impact Wrench Breaks Records, BUT High Speed Footage says..

Summary

The video tests the new Milwaukee Gen 2 M12 Stubby Impact (2562/2563) against its predecessor and top competitors, like DeWalt's DCF 921. Milwaukee's upgraded tool boasts impressive torque figures, claiming 400 ft-lbs fastening and 550 ft-lbs nut-busting. The review explores the tool's performance with various battery sizes, highlighting its surprising power, especially with the 5.0 amp-hour high-output battery. However, Milwaukee's new design comes with some trade-offs, including reduced battery life and compromises to its compact size. Ultimately, the tool breaks torque records, earning a top spot among compact impacts, but its performance is dependent on the battery used.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Milwaukee Gen 2 Stubby Impact 2562/2563 promises significant torque increases over the Gen 1 model, with 400 ft-lbs fastening and 550 ft-lbs nut busting claims.
• 😀 Despite a small increase in size, the Gen 2 stubby achieves a record-breaking torque output for a compact tool, surpassing the DeWalt DCF 921 in several tests.
• 😀 Milwaukee's marketing for the tool highlights impressive torque numbers, but the tool’s performance is highly dependent on battery selection, with significant drops in output when using smaller batteries.
• 😀 The tool has a new design with improved durability features, such as locktite on screws and extra air intakes, as well as enhanced battery retention mechanisms.
• 😀 Milwaukee’s new Gen 2 stubby has a more powerful motor with additional windings, but the motor design also leads to higher heat retention, which may impact long-term performance.
• 😀 While the tool delivers exceptional performance with the 5.0 amp-hour battery, users may not see the same results with smaller batteries, which result in noticeable performance degradation.
• 😀 The new design includes a more efficient PCB layout and LEDs integrated into the motor board, making space for a more powerful motor while maintaining the same compact size.
• 😀 The Milwaukee Gen 2’s performance is impressive but comes at a higher price point ($199), which includes the high-output 5.0 amp-hour battery.
• 😀 The tool’s new mode selector is activated by a double tap, which some users find unintuitive and inconvenient when working in tight spaces or engine bays.
• 😀 Despite its compact size, the Gen 2 Stubby is capable of outperforming larger tools, such as the Milwaukee M18 compact mid-torque impact, and challenges the best tools in the 12V, 18V, and 20V categories.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The video primarily focuses on testing the new Milwaukee Gen 2 stubby impact (2562/2563) against the claims made by Milwaukee and the competition, specifically comparing it to the DeWalt DCF 921 and Milwaukee's Gen 1 stubby impact.

What is Milwaukee's new torque claim for the Gen 2 stubby impact?

Milwaukee claims that the Gen 2 stubby impact can deliver 400 ft-lbs of fastening torque and 550 ft-lbs of nut-busting torque, significantly higher than the previous generation's 250 ft-lbs.

How does the new Gen 2 stubby impact compare to the DeWalt DCF 921 in terms of torque?

The new Gen 2 Milwaukee stubby impact exceeds the DeWalt DCF 921 in torque output, with the Milwaukee tool achieving higher performance despite being more compact.

What improvements were made in the Gen 2 stubby compared to the Gen 1?

The Gen 2 features several improvements, including the addition of locktite on screws, extra air intakes, a new battery retention system, and a more powerful motor with additional windings. The motor size is slightly larger but still maintains a compact design.

Why is the new battery retention system important for the M12 Gen 2?

The new battery retention system is designed to prevent M12 batteries from loosening and dropping out during use, which is a common issue with older models. This improvement enhances the tool's overall stability and performance.

What is the impact of battery choice on the tool's performance?

Battery choice significantly affects the performance of the Gen 2 stubby impact. The tool performs best with the 5 amp-hour high-output battery, but using smaller batteries like the 2.5 amp-hour or 6 amp-hour can result in reduced performance, including lower torque and slower impact rates.

What torque and impact performance does the Gen 2 stubby achieve with different battery sizes?

With a 5 amp-hour battery, the Gen 2 achieves peak performance, delivering over 400 ft-lbs of torque. Using a 2.5 amp-hour battery, performance drops to 305 ft-lbs, and using a 6 amp-hour battery results in slightly reduced performance compared to the 5 amp-hour battery.

How does the Milwaukee Gen 2 stubby compare to larger tools like the M18 or mid-torques?

Despite its compact size, the Gen 2 M12 stubby impact outperforms some larger tools, including Milwaukee's original brushless mid-torque (2861). Its high torque and smaller form factor make it a highly efficient tool for certain tasks.

What are some of the drawbacks of the Gen 2 stubby impact?

The Gen 2 stubby impact has some notable drawbacks, including the double-tap mode selector being unintuitive, the tool draining batteries quickly, and the fact that it requires specific batteries to reach its full torque potential. Additionally, the compact design is somewhat compromised by the need for larger batteries.

How does the Milwaukee Gen 2 stubby impact compare to air tools?

The Milwaukee Gen 2 stubby impact is advertised to compete with air tools, and in some cases, it performs better than many air-powered tools in terms of torque, while being smaller and lighter. However, this performance comes with compromises in battery life and the need for larger batteries.