I'm thinking about getting a new M12 impact driver, but I'm a bit confused. I always thought that if a tool has a brushless motor, it would be categorized as Fuel too. Can someone explain why there are brushless M12 impact drivers that aren't labeled as Fuel?
3 Answers
Good question! Brushless tools have become so common that not all of them fit into the Fuel category anymore. The non-Fuel brushless models are usually less powerful than the Fuel ones, but still offer better performance than brushed motors. It's all about the balance of power and price!
Milwaukee has a three-tier system: brushed (the most basic and weaker), brushless (middle tier with decent power), and Fuel (top-tier, strongest, and priciest). Not every tool falls under all three categories. The new brushless M12s are smaller replacements for the older brushed versions but won't match the power of the Gen3 Fuel tools. Just check the specs to find what fits your needs!
Yeah, there have been non-Fuel brushless tools for a while now. The latest M12 subcompacts are getting some good buzz, even though I haven't tried them yet. They're super compact, which is great for tight spaces!
True, and the new ones also lack some features. For instance, the latest impact has a collet style that's pretty basic, plus you can't adjust the speed or power settings like you would on the Fuel models.