I know a lot of you have been eagerly waiting for Milwaukee to finally come out with M12 Fuel cordless right angle impact wrenches. Well, now they have!
Milwaukee has announced new cordless right angle impact wrenches in 3/8″ (2564) and 1/2″ (2565) sizes, with both being touted as the most powerful right angle impact wrenches in the industry.
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Press materials emphasize 3 takeaways:
- 4-mode drive control
- More access in tight spaces
- Up to 220 ft-lbs of nut-busting torque
Let’s start by talking about the Drive Control. Both right angle impact wrenches have 4 settings:
- Low speed: 0-1550 RPM
- Medium speed: 0-2300 RPM
- High speed: 0-3000 RPM
- Special mode
- Auto shut-off mode – prevents overtightening in the forward direction
- Bolt removal mode – provides more control after bolt breakaway
Makes sense? In an impact wrench (or driver), RPMs, impacts, and torque are directly related. So, the low/medium/high speed modes are also low/medium/high torque modes.
Consistent with Milwaukee’s other 4-mode Drive Control impact wrenches, the auto shut-off and bolt removal modes are very straightforward. In the forward direction, the special 4th mode should act like an e-clutch. In the reverse direction, the motor will slow down after the fastener is loosened, to prevent uncontrolled spin-off.
Fact sheets say that the auto shut-off mode limits torque to no more than 15 ft-lbs.
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The new M12 Fuel right angle impact wrenches are just 2.8″ long, giving them a low profile.
You can’t see this, but I have had to correct a mistake I made numerous times. These are right angle impact wrenches, but the geometry of the new tools has me calling them cordless ratchets or cordless impact ratchets.
Milwaukee came out with new extended reach ratchets in late 2019, following the launch of a trio of more compact M12 Fuel ratchets. These new impact wrenches have bulkier drive heads, but they’re not much longer in either direction.
What’s surprising to me is that, at least on paper, Milwaukee’s M12 tools bests Ingersoll Rand’s 20V right angle impact wrenches, with respect to speed and torque values.
These new Milwaukee impact wrenches are said to deliver up to 220 ft-lbs of max torque. I know that IR’s 20V impacts are rated to 180 ft-lbs, but it’s never clear which tools are being references as the “cordless competitor.” Usually it’s the market leader, although IR’s 20V tools are not the ones referenced in the above size comparison. IR’s impacts have 2.2″ long drive head lengths, compared to 2.8″ for these new Milwaukee impacts.
Update: Milwaukee has informed me that IR’s measurement for drive head length does NOT take into account the anvil. These new M12 Fuel impacts measure 2.2″ without anvil, or 2.8″ including it.
The low profile drive heads allow these impacts to be used in tight spaces in automotive applications.
The geometry seems convenient for use under vehicles as well, where there might be ample space to access a fastener but awkward body angles required to do so.
They can be used in the engine bay, of course.
And also deep into hard-to-access spaces.
Here’s another example of an application where you can use a standard impact wrench, but it might be more ergonomic or convenient to use a right angle impact.
Applications extend beyond the automotive and vehicle maintenance industry. In this product photo, the ratchet is used in a commercial or industrial space to set large-gauge electrical crimp connectors.
There are 3 new models:
- Milwaukee M12 Fuel 3/8″ right angle impact wrench with friction ring (2564)
- Milwaukee M12 Fuel 1/2″ right angle impact wrench with friction ring (2565)
- Milwaukee M12 Fuel 1/2″ right angle impact wrench with pin detent (2565P)
Usually, a friction ring (also sometimes called a hog ring) is used for quicker socket changes. A pin detent tool is preferred when used at heights or when unintentional socket removal would be problematic or highly undesirable. Pin detents usually require a tool for socket disengagement.
Milwaukee M12 Fuel Right Angle Impact Wrench Specs
- 220 ft-lbs max torque
- 3,000 RPM max speed
- 3,600 IPM
- 4-Mode Drive Control
- 14.17″ length (w/CP2.0 battery)
- 2.8″ drive head height
- 2.32″ width
- Weighs 3.25 lbs w/ CP2.0 battery
Pricing
- Milwaukee M12 Fuel 3/8″ right angle impact wrench with friction ring
- Kit (2564-22): $299
- Bare tool (2564-20): $199
- Milwaukee M12 Fuel 1/2″ right angle impact wrench with friction ring
- Kit (2565-22): $299
- Bare tool (2565-20): $199
- Milwaukee M12 Fuel 1/2″ right angle impact wrench with pin detent
- Kit (2565P-22): $299
- Bare tool (2565P-20): $199
The kits come with 2x 2.0Ah batteries, a charger, and carrying bag.
Buy Now
Buy Now via Tool Nut (Listings for all models)
Individual Model/SKU Links:
- 3/8″ Kit (2564-22)
- 3/8″ Bare Tool (2564-20)
- 1/2″ Kit (2565-22)
- 1/2″ Bare Tool (2565-20)
- 1/2″ Pin Detent Kit (2565P-22)
- 1/2″ Pin Detent Bare Tool (2565P-20)
A protective boot will also be available, for ~$29. The same SKU fits all three tools.
- Protective Boot (49-16-2564)
Release Date
The impact wrenches are expected to start shipping June 2020.
Q&A
Can the new Milwaukee M12 Fuel right angle impact wrenches be used manually, in the same manner as a cordless ratchet?
The M12 FUEL™ Right Angle Impact Wrenches use an impact mechanism rather than a ratcheting mechanism, therefore they will not be able to fasten manually.
Will the 2668 M18 Cordless 2-Speed 3/8″ Right Angle Impact Wrench be discontinued?
The 2668 M18 cordless 3/8″ right angle impact wrench will not be discontinued and will [continue to] be available for purchase.
Why do the 3/8″ and 1/2″ M12 Fuel right angle impact wrenches have the same torque rating?
Since we use high strength metal alloy material for these product’s anvils, the 2564 3/8” anvil can withstand the increased torque output by the tool. This is a testament to the advanced engineering and technology Milwaukee Tool incorporates in impact wrenches.
Will the M12 Fuel right angle impact wrenches be rated for use in High Voltage environments?
Yes, Both M12 FUEL Right Angle Impact Wrenches have a high voltage rating of 69kV.
Discussion
This looks to be a very exciting new release from Milwaukee. With the M12 Fuel brushless-motored ratchets released in recent years, it seemed that they were looking to provide cordless tools that replaced manual-use tools. With these new right angle impact wrenches, they’re going after higher-voltage cordless products and even pneumatic tools.
These aren’t the first M12 cordless power tools that set their sights on the pneumatic air tool industry, or look to expand Milwaukee Tool’s foothold into the automotive maintenance industry. Other new tools include:
- M12 Fuel straight die grinder and right angle die grinder
- M12 Fuel extended reach ratchets
- M12 soldering iron (mainly for installations)
- M12 inflator
- M12 underhood LED worklight
The new M12 right angle impact wrenches look to have decent torque specs, with Milwaukee describing them as the industry’s most powerful tools.
220 ft-lbs is 2640 in-lbs, which seems to be quite a lot for an M12 cordless power tool. It’s impressive.
The drive head height is low-profile, although not quite industry-leading, but that won’t matter as long as it fits where it needs to go.
While there are capable 18V and 20V Max – powered cordless right angle impact wrenches, I don’t think there are many that come close to being able to do what these new Milwaukee tools can do. My background research into competitive models is slow and tedious, as most models are low-powered, similar to Milwaukee’s M18 2668 impact.
It’s going to be a tough choice if it comes down to pitting one of these Milwaukee brushless impact wrenches against a competitive’s higher-voltage impact wrenches.
Taking the IR wrenches into consideration, they’re a little slimmer in front (see the update below for correction), but heavier in back. 18V/20V Max cordless power tool batteries can hold higher charge capacity than an M12 battery, but with added bulk and weight. But, some of the runtime or power efficiency benefits are going to be lost if the higher-voltage tool is powered by a brushed and not brushless motor.
Update: Milwaukee has informed me that IR’s measurement for drive head length does NOT take into account the anvil. These new M12 Fuel impacts measure 2.2″ without anvil, or 2.8″ including it. In other words, they head height is the same for these M12 tools as IR’s 20V.
I think the tools’ size, shape, weight, relatively low-profile drive heads, and especially their power are going to make them very popular.
The multi-mode feature is always a benefit, with low, medium, and high speed and torque settings, but the 4th mode is especially beneficial. In the forward direction, you have a torque limiter for quick and non-damaging assembly or re-installations, and on reverse you have the slow-down function to prevent successfully loosened fasteners from spinning away uncontrollably.
You can preoder right now, or wait for the June launch. I included a bunch of purchase links, above.
Thoughts? A very welcome solution, or who really needs a powerful cordless right angle impact wrench anyway?
Brian A
I find it hard to believe these things are faster or same speed than the M12 Stubby impacts, if they are then thats awesome. You say 3000 RPM for high, but the Milwaukee pic says 2700 RPM. 2700 is what the stubbies max out at. Makes me wish I didnt have all the Fuel ratchets now. Wonder if the actual power specs are truly on par with the stubby impacts.
You say “The new M12 Fuel right angle impact wrenches are just 2.8″ long, giving them a low profile.” wouldn’t it be 2.8″ high or wide or deep, not long?
D
When is 1/2 angle impact wrench available..
PlaneGrain
They look to be very useful for a lot of tight spaces. Nice that Milwaukee keeps bringing out these great products.
Matt
I’d imagine it won’t be long until these show up in the shop. I’m a Craftsman/Bosch guy but if there’s one company that’s won me completely over in the last year it’s Milwaukee. All due to their automotive geared tools (impact wrenches/ratchets), grinders as well. Leaving bright red for the dark side of red is always so tempting but at least I get to use them at work!
Nathan
That’s nifty – sort of makes me want one.
The IR one – which I’ve considered a few times – is listed at just at proof ANSI load for 3/8 drive sockets (non-impact) which is most often used in various automotive tight location settings. (and no not to get into that rant about impact vs non sockets on a tool . . . .)
In fact I think 3/8 impact socket ANSI load is still barely 200.
anyway point is – for that drive size most torque wrenches stop at 150 also – seems like a good figure. Having broken a few 3/8 extensions over the years I can see that being an issue. But note the IR product say “reactionless torque” so I really would love to see a side by side on these. OH and I’d be happy to test them for you if you’d like.
anyway nifty idea – figured it was coming. I sort of want one more than I would want the cordless torque wrench. Now SBD – note this carefully and make one.
Tojen1981
These look nice, but I still wonder why Milwaukee is dragging their feet on updating the m18 compact guns (2754/55/55b). Very popular gun, but in desperate need of a power upgrade considering their m12 impact guns are just as powerful or more.
Chris
Super cool! Not going to pay $200 for a bare tool though. And I don’t think I need a kit. But then again, I don’t think I need one of these. Haha. I’ll still want one of course.
Evadman
I am absolutely in for one, probably both. I wish there was a 1/4″ drive version.
They are not the ‘post powerful in the industry’ though. I have a tiny impact from onyx that’s 450 ft/lbs, and is invaluable for exhaust work where the bolts are just rusted to heck. That one is definitely thicker than the M12 though if the M12 is only 2.8 inches. That’s absolutely amazing.
This has nearly everything I want. 220 ft/lbs removal, reduced speed when free-spinning a bolt out, over-tightening protection, and all in the space of a air ratchet. I would prefer more torque, but that’s always going to be something I want.
I would probably keep it at low speed all the time so that the nut doesn’t go flying off into narnia when it leaves the thread. That’s an annoyance I have with my thundergun or any high speed impacts.
Power and control are more important than being able to spin a nut off in 2 seconds vs a quarter second IMHO. For example, a 3 inch long lug nut at 20 TPI would take 2.3 seconds removal at 1550 rpm or 1.16 seconds at 3000. A thundergun can do it in a third of a second; human reaction speed is also around a third of a second, so a thundergun works at the extreme limit of what a human can react to. 2 seconds is fine for everywhere except the pitbox.
Mosh
To big of a head at 2.8″
Need smaller…. for copper detail.
Lance
I’d give up a little torque for a more compact head.
Lance
Stuart, your update is confusing:
“These new M12 Fuel impacts measure 2.2″ without anvil, or 2.8″ including it.”
The graphic Milwaukee provided clearly shows the Milwaukee at 2.8” WITHOUT the anvil.
So who’s right, Milwaukee or Milwaukee?
Kizzle
“….but that won’t matter as long as it fits where it needs to go.” Amen brother. 🙂
John
Looks really cool. I wish dewalt would make stuff like this instead of coming out with a new tool that’s an old tool. Flexvolt/ power detect and atomic/ xtreme.
Chris
FYI. In sentence 3 you have the incorrect model numbers.
Chris
Welp, I fell for it again. 🙂
These model #s appear to be wrong as well.
“There are 3 new models:
Milwaukee M12 Fuel 3/8″ right angle impact wrench with friction ring (2654)
Milwaukee M12 Fuel 1/2″ right angle impact wrench with friction ring (2655)
Milwaukee M12 Fuel 1/2″ right angle impact wrench with pin detent (2655P)
“
Stuart
Thanks!
The first two were… I don’t even know where those numbers came from. These were a simple swap. All have been fixed, thank you!
Nathan
Thinking it over a touch more. As a DIY’r I’ve been thinking about a new cordless impact wrench for a while now – I’ve been hard looking at the Dewalt mid torque models as I have yellow batteries and it has more that enough grunt for the jobs I do on the cars I own. Include LS3 crank bolt and it would fit in there.
If I had to only just one – the 1/2 drive of this might be a great compromise. won’t do the crank bolt but it would do nearly everything else. wheel lugs – highest I have are 150 ft lbs. Suspension joints – unless it’s really bad torque specs range in the 100 to 145 ft lbs. Engine mounts, diff housing, etc etc – all attaibable under 200 – not rusted tighter than dicks hat band – well I have a breaker bar for that.
again – nifty that it’s released.
Toolfreak
Sure would be nice if Bosch came out with stuff like this.
Diplomatic Immunity
Great torque numbers but that head should be smaller still.
Jon
It is always interesting to me to see the delta between bare and kit pricing. It’s the same two batteries, charger and bag but with one tool the difference is $50 (new installation driver*) but with this one it’s $100. Right now HD has a M12 drill, 2 batteries, charger, and bag for $99.
* Right now there is a separate promo the includes 2 additional batteries for free, so 4 total.
Stuart
Depends on… I don’t know. I think that maybe they’re anticipating higher demand for the bare tools?
The bare tool is definitely the better value. Maybe they’re hoping customers take the $100 different and putting it towards another tool kit, such as a ratchet kit?
Chris
I had an air powered right angle impact from IR a few years ago. They called it the hammer head. I was super stoked about it. Thought it would be bad ass. It really wasn’t though. Didn’t have enough power for a lot of things and since it’s an impact, you can’t manually break stuff free like you can on a regular ratchet. Milwaukee is claiming 40lbs ft more breakaway torque than that IR one had so it should be better. And the fact that it’s cordless is a huge plus. I work at a Chrysler dealership in Wisconsin so everything I see is rusted to hell. I’d like to try one before buying one to see what it can do.
Manuel Uribe
Dont believe this product will be any good 12v DC battery but its particle little device that Might get you out pickle with some luck or torch and as well where is Milwaukee gonna cheap out on the quality of parts becuase they always due in manufacturing
Rick Antonio
If you guys tried the ratchet n busted fingers imagine this one fingers are going to be smashed like tomatoes.
fred
I question this assertion.
Impact guns are better with torque reaction (finger busting) than are directly driven tools like drills or ratchets. When we had drilling tasks that had the potential for big torque reaction (like when the drill bit would breakthrough drilling a wideflange) – we’d prefer a magnetic drill press and rotabroach. But if we had to hand drill we’d pick a 1/2 impact gun – Jacobs chuck and twist drill. Similarly I find that my Milwaukee 2765-20 7/16Hex impact driver is great for drilling landscape timbers – with auger bits – very little torque reaction if any.
Rx9
Nope, that’s the magic of impact tools – reactionless (for the most part) torque. The impact mechanism provides torque far beyond what the motor is capable of in direct drive. The trade off is that the torque is high peak torque in a quick pulse, in other words, a hammer blow rather than a continuous push.
Nathan
I agree it should be nearly nothing especially with the length of handle you’ll have as your advantage to hold the impactor torque arm.
sorry in other words – look at the length of the smaller 3/8 drive impact wrench (pick a vendor) it’s based on a impact driver roughly so let’s say you have about a 7 inch arm (distance between mid hand – and center line of the anvil) to react against the impact jolt when met with resistance. (that little bump you feel in your hand when the impactor mechanism swings.
OK now this in 3/8 also has that same impactor line of action with maybe a touch more impact strength but you now have closer to a 12 inch arm for holding it still (again relative distance between mid hand and center line of the anvil.
If these had say 400 or more ft lb ratings I’d be concerned. under 250 – no so much. Again the IR model that is the only other one of these I know of – claims reaction – less torque. I suspect milwaukee can do that too
Stephen
Here is a question I always have with advertised torque values:
“UP TO 220ft-lbs of nut busting torque”
What is the thing that enables “up to”? Do you need the maximum capacity M12 battery to achieve 200ft-lbs of torque?
If so, when you use the 2.0Ah batteries (as shown in the press photos), what is the maximum achievable torque? I exchanged emails through Milwaukee tech support a couple years ago and we kind of went in circles. I didn’t get a clear answer.
Also for a point of clarification: from what I have picked up on, “nut busting” torque specifically mean it achieves that torque in the clockwise (loosening) direction. Tightening torque may not always be the same.
ca
“Up to 220ft-lbs of nut busting torque” just means that under some specific and contrived set of testing criteria they were able to loosen, with this impact wrench, a nut tightened to 220 ft-lbs.
I’m other words, it’s just marketing.
Paul C
Wow. This equals the medium range impact wrenches. My only complaint is that SO FAR I’ve stuck with the M18 platform. On the M18 platform we have the high impact torque wrenches. Out of all the product lines out there when it comes to large industrial equipment, that wrench in my mind is the “gotta have it” wrench, the big reason for choosing Milwaukee M18 over M12, yellow, blue, etc. The stubby is shorter but only by a small amount and I’m not an automotive mechanic so it’s not enough to make it worthwhile buying a battery set for a tool that I would rarely use. This one changes that.
The ratchet is 55 ft-lbs. So it’s kind of like the “cordless screwdrivers” you see around Christmas time that look like real drill/drivers but can’t drive anything bigger than a tiny screw for a battery cover, not even a drywall screw in fresh pine. It is so ridiculously underpowered that about all that it is good for is snugging up a nut. Then after that you have to remove it and use a hand wrench so you don’t overtorque the wrench. So it wastes all your time just swapping wrenches.One guy on our crew tried to use it for about a month. I mean he really, really wanted it to be useful. And it looks really, really cool at first, a sort of hybrid electric/manual wrench. Then it broke and he exchanged it. Then it broke again and he just got the refund when he realized the limitations in “manual” mode meant switching back to manual wrenches. It might be OK if all you ever work with is 1/4-20’s but by the time you get to 1/2″ fasteners, it has outlived it’s usefulness. I mean you can tell the Milwaukee guys probably really, really want it to work well too but it’s just too underpowered and that’s probably a design limitation, something you can’t fix. Because if Milwaukee could have made it 150+ ft-lbs., they would have made it 150+ ft-lbs., and it would be a good tool.
This one is a horse of a different color. A real impact wrench with a fairly short headspace. It matches my M18 medium torque impact wrench.
Only thing is I definitely hope it comes with the button to change torque settings. On the M18 220 ft-lb. impact if you are doing something noncritical like running 1/4-20’s snug on a large electrical panel even with the lowest torque setting about 25% of the time the bolt heads pop right off. I bought a 3/8″, 150 ft-lb. wrench specifically because after doing this repeatedly it got really aggravating really quickly so now that’s my daily driver for the smaller fasteners.
Rx9
” I know a lot of you have been eagerly waiting for Milwaukee to finally come out with M12 Fuel cordless right angle impact wrenches.”
You better believe it, Stuart! This is the best news I have heard all day. Thank you.
I am gonna pick one of these things up, for sure.
I avoided the old m12 right angle impact because 60 ft-lbs was just abysmal. At 220 ft-lbs, now we’re talking!
Stuff like this makes me glad I bought into the m12 system.
fred
You can pre-order either of these today at Acme – and get 10% off using code 4LEAF
Charles
So I need one, as working on engine bays and underneath cars, this is going to be my new favorite tool.
Which one should I get? 3/8″ or 1/2″
Stuart
I asked and was told that 3/8” is probably going to be more popular.
Patrick
Glad I didn’t but their non fuel m18 right angle impact. I will definitely buy this for car work.
Charles
I preordered back in March. The wait is killing me. I have so many uses for this working on cars everyday.
RKA
When I first saw this posted I laughed. The head was too big to be useful. Fast forward to last week and I decided to “splurge” and try the 1/2” version of this tool. I helped my neighbor with a brake job using this and tested it on my lug bolts. Nothing was torqued to more than 100 ft lbs, but it didn’t hesitate to break them free with barely a rattle. Impact sockets were used of course, to get the most out of the tool and I had a 6ah battery on it. But the head didn’t fit into every space I needed it to fit. I think you really need a set of impact swivels to get this most out of one of these. Most pros will have that in their toolboxes, DIYer’s maybe not. That said, I wish I had one of these years ago. It would have spared my hands some abuse and saved me some time. And thankfully the directional switch is accessible (unlike their ratchets) when you back it into something and need to reverse. This is a great tool!
Minh
What the torque for each mode?
Stuart
Milwaukee didn’t provide this information with press materials. It should be proportionate to the speed settings though, with 52% and 77% speed settings corresponding to 52% and 77% of max torque.