Hey everyone! I'm setting up my DIY garage for working on cars as a hobby, and I could use your advice. I've already picked up an M18 Fuel Drill, Impact Driver, and a Mid Torque Impact. Now, I'm looking to fill in the gaps and pick up several more tools. The main tools I need are a ratchet, high torque impact wrench, hacksaw or sawzall, die grinder, rotary tool, angle grinder, circular saw, oscillating tool, and a sander or random orbital. While I plan to mostly use car-related tools, I'll also need some for home repairs and improvements occasionally. Money isn't a big issue for me, but I want to make sure I get what's necessary without overspending on tools that I won't fully utilize. Should I go for M18, M18 Fuel, or M12 for these tools? Thanks for your help!
2 Answers
If there's an M12 Fuel version available, I'd suggest going for that. They tend to be more compact, which is great for maneuverability, plus they still pack a punch for lighter tasks. For your needs, here's what I’d recommend from your list: get the M12 Fuel ratchet depending on the drive size you want, an M18 Fuel high torque impact wrench, an M18 Hackzall (definitely skip the M12 for this one), a M12 rotary tool, M18 Fuel angle grinder, and either a M12 or M18 circular saw (the M12 is surprisingly capable!). I'd also go with the M12 Fuel oscillating tool; it works well despite lacking some features of the M18. Lastly, the M18 Random Orbital sander is solid too!
Here’s my take: For the ratchet, go M12; for the circular saw, I'd say M18 is the way to go. The oscillating tool can go either way—my M18 has served me well, but I've heard the M12 has enough power. For the Hacksaw, I'd recommend the M18 while skipping the Sawzall for now. An M18 angle grinder is also a smart choice (the 2880-20 model with the paddle switch is awesome!). Grab an M18 high torque impact wrench too! For die grinders, I'd say M12 for the right angle and M18 for the straight one. The extra power of the M18 die grinder is worth it!