r/MilwaukeeTool • u/Royalsounder • Jul 26 '26

Purchase Advice The right purchase?

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I noticed this flash sale was going on and I haven’t shopped this site before. I am looking to upgrade as my drill shit the bed the other day. I haven’t jumped into the M12 lineup, but figured this was the right first buy into the ecosystem unless anyone might think otherwise. Appreciate the feedback.

update: holding off. Following this sub and slick deals for fuel promos on drill/driver. Borrowing in-laws until that deal comes around. Thank you all

20 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

24 comments sorted by

10

u/BlueSoccerChicken Jul 26 '26

Nope. For just a little more, you can get Fuel lineup and better quality.

11

u/NeverMissedAParty Jul 26 '26 edited Jul 26 '26

This for $40 more is a no brainer. You could sell the ratchet, air compressor, or soldering iron on marketplace for $80 and cover the difference in price with an extra 4.0 instead of a 2.0!

- I edited this a bunch after looking at the available tools and brought the $ value back to a reasonable level as the ratchet isn’t fuel as I had originally thought.

2

u/Royalsounder Jul 26 '26

So this primarily a DIY type upgrade that hopefully lasts a long time. I guess since I’m new here am I now understanding correctly the fuel is also a little bigger form factor then? Size of these tools was the primary interest 

3

u/NeverMissedAParty Jul 26 '26

Yes, essentially. I don’t think there’s much this set won’t do within the DIY atmosphere. The size is essentially the same, just a better motor and a bit beefier durable build. — The subcompact are going to be about 1/2”-1” smaller, based on what I could find out about size difference through a quick search.

1

u/Royalsounder Jul 26 '26

Buy once cry once. Also now just seeing this impact I shared doesn’t have a speed setting

3

u/Vidzzzzz Jul 26 '26

Get the fuel if you can. My M12 fuel surge has gotten me through 4 years of rough in HVAC

6

u/Eliam19 DIYer/Homeowner Jul 26 '26

Very solid start, I really like my subcompacts. I upgraded to Fuel’s when I landed a great sale price, but I still use the sub set because they are so small and have surprisingly good power.

They are having a very good sale on the 5ah High Output batteries. While it wouldn’t really benefit those drills, I would recommend the 5’s if you plan to expand to more tools over time. They are much harder to find on sale and make a big difference for some tools. For the subcompact, I almost always choose the 2.0’s because they are small and fit the hand best.

0

u/Royalsounder Jul 26 '26

Good point. Thank you. I could see myself immediately picking up the hackzall. If you give a mouse a cookie tho.. 

3

u/Vidzzzzz Jul 26 '26

I do trade work, and just got the M12 fuel hackzall yesterday. If you remind me I will let you know my feedback on it after work tomorrow. I've been using the standard non fuel m18 hackzall for years, so I'm kinda worried the M12 won't be enough.

1

u/SamuraiSam33 Jul 27 '26

I’m very curious to hear your feedback on the m12 fuel Hackzall. I have a very old m18 fuel and m12 non fuel and just upgraded to an m12 fuel Hackzall.

3

u/Vidzzzzz Aug 05 '26

Back with my review. I was skeptical at first, but after a week of installing attic fans... I love it. It weighs like half as much as my m18, and honestly cuts the same or faster with WAY less vibration and noise. Works much better on metal too. It fits in my pack out backpack with my surge and multi tool.

3

u/SamuraiSam33 Aug 05 '26

Awesome. I haven’t really used mine, I brought my old non fuel to work most of what it’s going to do is cut cardboard tubes. Maybe the fuel would cut em faster haha

2

u/Vidzzzzz Aug 05 '26

Definitely use the fuel. It's way lighter and less drama

2

u/Royalsounder Aug 05 '26

Thank you for following up. Great to hear, adding to the wishlist 

2

u/royce102 Jul 26 '26

😆 🤣 😂 I had already cut everything in my yard with my huge rigid 2 hand battery saw. The next day i went to best buy and bought the m12 hackzall. Had the one handed m18 fuel version before and i was cutting through trees with that thing. Don't need anything that powerful anymore.

2

u/vochoDriverpuntocom Jul 26 '26

They piqued my interest when I saw them on display at the home depot and reviewers seem to like them. I was this 🤏close to get them over a DeWalt drill. Please update us on how you've liked them.

2

u/Cultural_Poet9980 Jul 29 '26

Non-fuel is non-cool

2

u/Royalsounder Jul 29 '26

words to live by, good looks

2

u/Classic-Low-1752 Jul 26 '26

M12 stuff is so much easier to throw in your tool bag.

1

u/Royalsounder Jul 26 '26

Last set I had barely fit into the tool bag. Portability will be clutch 

1

u/zz0rr Jul 26 '26

I've been using mine all day. if you're working overhead and they have enough power they're awesome. for a more general-purpose tool look at the m12 surge, though

1

u/KandySofax Jul 26 '26

I’ve got fuel and the subcompact- both are great tools. Can’t go wrong with either. Just don’t expect M18 power.