Milwaukee M18 FUEL™ 1″ High Torque Impact Wrench Review

Tool Box Buzz rating:

Milwaukee M18 1″ High Torque Impact Wrench

Model 2867-22

M18 FUEL™ 1" High Torque Impact Wrench w/ ONE-KEY™

4.5/5
Manufacturer: Milwaukee
Model number: 2867-22
Power source: 18V Li-Ion
Weight: 10.5 lbs (12.9 lbs w/ bat.)
The new Milwaukee M18 FUEL 1″ High Torque Impact Wrench has finally hit the market and we just finished reviewing it.

Pneumatic impact wrenches have been around very long time in heavy equipment garages where large diameter bolts are the norm. Until recently there were not many options available to mechanics and iron workers other than some electric impact wrenches. With all the advancements in batteries, brushless motors, and electronics, larger more powerful cordless tools are hitting the market. The result is providing excellent alternatives to traditional pneumatic and electric power tools.Milwaukee High Torque Impact Wrench

We recently got a chance to start using the new Milwaukee M18 FUEL™ 1″ High Torque Impact Wrench w/ ONE-KEY™. Weighing in at just over 10 lbs this isn’t your everyday impact wrench. The Milwaukee high torque impact wrench designed for the toughest jobs. Tasks like installing large diameter structural bolts high in the sky on steel erection projects or removing huge lug nuts on heavy equipment and big trucks.

2867-22 Features & Specifications

  • POWERSTATE™ Brushless Motor delivers up to 1,800 ft-lbs. Nut-Busting Torque
  • Up to 1500 ft-lbs of fastening torque
  • Integrated lanyard loop allows for safer use and easier storage
  • ONE-KEY™ Compatible: Ability to Customize, Track and Manage tools for increased productivity and investment protection. Includes the ability to set a repeatable torque output for maximum control
  • LED light to illuminate the work area
  • Compatible with all M18™ batteries
  • 4-Mode DRIVE CONTROL™ provides greater control over output speed and power
  • REDLINK PLUS™ Intelligence ensures maximum performance and protects from overloads, heating and over-discharge
  • Handle rotates 270 degrees and easily adjusts without a tool
  • Premium rubber over-mold withstands corrosive materials and provides increased comfort when in use

Power, Performance & Portability

Here at work we have a large shop for maintenance on dump trucks, excavators, loaders and lots of large commercial excavation equipment. Historically we’ve used very large 1″ pneumatic impact wrenches to bust loose large diameter fasteners. The large pneumatic impact wrenches require a substantial air supply from very loud compressors. Besides being loud the compressors are expensive to own and operate.

Milwaukee Impact Wrench

Powerful

The new Milwaukee M18 FUEL™ 1″ High Torque Impact Wrench w/ ONE-KEY™ has been impressive both in the shop and the field. The first question I’m sure you’re asking yourself is whether the new High Torque Impact Wrench has the power of a traditional pneumatic impact wrench of similar size. The feedback from guys using it has been very positive. The tool is getting the same tasks done that had previously been done with pneumatic tools.

M18 FUEL 1" Impact Wrench

Portable

The biggest advantage of the new Milwaukee M18 FUEL™ 1″ High Torque Impact Wrench w/ ONE-KEY™ is portability. Both in the shop and in the field the advantage of not dragging around a hose and not needing a compressor is a huge improvement. This is especially true for our mobile mechanics that work on equipment at remove jobsites where a compressor and generator are needed to operate older pneumatic impact wrenches.

This is a cordless tool that requires a serious grip, the power and torque can easily overtake a casual grip. It’s a total nut buster with plenty of power for the toughest jobs.

Around the shop, the reduced noise level by turning off the compressor is also a huge improvement. Our old large compressor is very loud making the shop a tough place to work with all the noise.

Great Run-Time

We tested the Milwaukee M18 FUEL™ 1″ High Torque Impact Wrench w/ ONE-KEY™ with a pair of XC8.0 Ah High Output batteries. Theses batteries provide excellent run-time and with two of them it was more than enough to keep up with the work. So far we’ve never had a point where one battery ran down before the 2nd one could be re-charged.

Features & Controls

The Milwaukee M18 FUEL™ 1″ High Torque Impact Wrench w/ ONE-KEY™ isn’t a flashy tool with lots of features. Unlike some cordless tools the LED light on this impact wrench was very impressive. The large support in front of the grip holds the LED light that shines brightly on the work area.

The large side handle is easy to position and provides much needed stability and control for a tool this powerful. I was skeptical at first of the “plastic” handle but it’s very robust and we’ve had no issues with durability.

As far as controls go this cordless impact wrench is like most others with a variable speed trigger, forward and reverse switch, 4 speed settings switch, and a comfortable grip area. In addition, this unit has the ONE-KEY™ feature which allows users to customize the speed settings for the 4 different speeds, help track the tool, lock it out from un-authorized users, and many more features for assigning the tool to crews and tool management.

The tool location feature is one of my favorites. While it doesn’t do real-time location it will tag the last known location where the tool was in the proximity of a device with the ONE-KEY™ app installed. With the growing number of tradesmen on our jobs that use Milwaukee tools the likelihood of the tool pinging a device is really high.

Overall Impression

The Milwaukee M18 FUEL™ 1″ High Torque Impact Wrench w/ ONE-KEY™ is a beast! From our experience using it over the last couple of months this tool can easily replace similar sized pneumatic impact wrenches without compromising on power and torque. It’s well balanced, lighter than traditional impact wrenches and far more portable. If you’re ready to cut that air hose and expand your cordless tool lineup with an extremely powerful impact wrench then look no further. This one is a home run and worth the investment!

 

About the author

Todd Fratzel

Todd Fratzel is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Tool Box Buzz, and the President of Front Steps Media, LLC, a web based media company focused on the Home Improvement and Construction Industry.He is also the Principal Engineer for United Construction Corp., located in Newport, NH. In his capacity at United he oversees the Residential and Commercial Building Division along with all Design-Build projects.He is also the editor of Home Construction & Improvement.

@tfratzelTodd Fratzel

All posts by Todd »

2 Comments

  1. Corey Moore

    What’s the sound level of the impact itself?

    1. Todd Fratzel

      Corey – We didn’t try to measure it, it’s similar in nature to other impacts. Really still need hearing protection. But way better than our old noisy compressor always running.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Disclosure

Product reviews on this site contain our opinion of a product or service. We will always strive for objectivity and transparency in our reviews. Our goal is to provide readers with honest, objective information based on our own experiences. We never have and never will accept payment in exchange for a positive review. Many of the products that we review are provided to us for free by a manufacturer or retailer. In some cases, we also have advertising or affiliate relationships with manufacturers and retailers of products and services we review. For additional information please visit our additional disclosure policies.