I recently tested Milwaukee M12 Gen II Stubby 1/2-inch Drive Impact Wrench. The size/power ratio absolutely blew me away. It’s extraordinarily powerful for its size, yet small and light enough that you can take it anywhere and use it all day without a hitch. But as good as it already is, Milwaukee could have made it even better.

Milwaukee M12 Gen II Stubby Impact Wrench Seriesexpanded with the addition of the 3/8 inch drive version. He sent one for review alongside the 1/2 inch model. Although you can quickly erase the differences, the smaller disk has a major advantage. This is what I consider the perfect impact wrench for a road kit or any job that takes you out of the workshop.

The essentials

Specifications

The only thing that separates Milwaukee Gen II Stubby 3/8-inch Drive Impact is the size of the anvil. This means that everything good continues. Again, this includes the absolutely wild power output despite its compact size.

The M12 Gen II Stubby delivers an incredible 550 foot-pounds of takeoff torque. That’s a lot of snot for a tool that’s smaller than most impact drivers and weighs next to nothing. It weighs 2.2 pounds without a battery and 2.7 pounds with a 2.5 Ah battery. Installing the 5.0 Ah battery brings the total weight to 3.2 pounds.

The 4-mode driving control is also retained. Modes one through three are simply gradual increases in speed and power, with the fourth being the auto-off mode. Selection of modes is carried out as by setting the variator to neutral and pressing the trigger twice. THE 3/8 inch Gen II stocky also shares the same $199.00 retail price with its 1/2-inch counterpart.

Count on the Milwaukee Gen II M12 Stubby Impact Wrench

Performance tests of the M12 Gen II 3/8″ Stubby Impact Wrench was to use it for a variety of jobs around and outside the store. I recently started disassembling the 4.7L V8 from my 2003 Ram 1500. This allowed me to do a lot of the work alongside the 1/2 inch version. I also did some suspension work and took it with me on a trip to the junkyard.

In the case of the 3/8-inch drive model, this maximum power is nice but is not always necessary. You will almost never come across a fastener that this tool is intended to work with that requires nearly 550 foot-pounds of torque. For the most part, I leave it in second power level mode. This setting is more than enough for most bindings, but isn’t so powerful that you have to worry about breaking things. The third mode is mainly for special occasions.

Yet this compact size pairs well with extreme power. When working under a car or in an engine compartment, you don’t have much, if any, space to fit an impact bar or larger cutter bar. It has no problem getting in and going to work. A weight of just three pounds is also easily manageable over long periods of time. And that kind of power means you don’t need to stop and change tools, even when you have room to do so. This will be the only impact wrench you need for many jobs, and that really adds value.

The insane power-to-weight ratio is also a great feature outside of the store. When building a roadside kit or take-home tool kit for junkyard trips and other remote jobs, the key is to keep things simple but effective. You want to carry as few tools as possible and will probably build your selection around 3/8 inch sockets. This allows you to add an impact wrench into the mix which is actually able to handle lug nuts and other larger fasteners. As I walked around the junkyard, I barely noticed the extra weight in my tool bag. And although I was lucky enough not to need it on a recent road trip in my Charger Project ’69the small size allowed me to build a fairly lightweight and space-saving trunk tool kit. Even though I have plenty of trunk space to work with, it’s nice to have space available for cargo and other supplies.

The verdict

Overall, the Milwaukee Gen II 3/8-inch Drive Impact Wrenches are a big win for Milwaukee. They’re almost a cheat code for minimalists because they work so well for so many occasions. Even the prices aren’t that bad. $199.00 for the tool alone and the accompanying batteries will bring the total investment close to what you’ll pay for some high torque impact wrenches— or even more in some cases. However, the power to weight ratio really adds a ton of value to it. Weighing 3.2 pounds, it’s a tool you can use all day and can easily be stored in a tool bag. The ability to deliver 550 foot-pounds of torque makes it an excellent choice as a primary impact wrench in both professional and DIY environments. Again, you’ll rarely, if ever, be calling on the max power of this thing. Still, this is a suit you’ll realistically use more than many full-size models.