Popular Mechanics - USA (2020-05)

BEST IN TIGHT SPACES

MILWAUKEE M12 FUEL

Price: $169 Power: 12 volts

Motor: Brushless RPM: 3,300

IPM: 3,550 To r q u e : 1,300 in.-lb.

Shorter than most drivers and having

a compact head, the contractor-qual-

ity Fuel is a great tool to use when elbow

room is at a premium. And its single LED

light helps when those small places are

dark. Plus, it was capable of driving every

fastener in our test, including the lag

bolts, that the 18- and 20-volt models did

without a pilot hole. Not an easy or ideal

task for this driver, but it managed. The

M12 was also effective at removing fas-

teners, loosening the 5⁄1 6-inch bolts with

relative ease. We liked the simple selec-

tor for switching between the three

speeds and—another favorite feature of

ours—the self-tapping fastener mode.

That mode starts slow to cut down on any

walking, ramps up to drive smoothly and

quickly, then backs off the power auto-

matically as the screw finishes seating.

ASSORTMENT

MILWAUKEE

SHOCKWAVE / $30

There is a little “bit” of

everything, if you will,

in this set. It includes

screw-driving, nut-driving,

and drill bits, plus two

3⁄8-inch

/ $20

/ $26

spaces, and the magnetic

tip prevents nuts from fly-

ing away, never to be found.

SCREW-DRIVING

IRWIN IMPACT

POWER / $18

Forged rather than milled,

the durable bits in this

20-piece assortment are

designed to last up to three

times as long.

D R I L L

DEWALT IMPACT

READY TITANIUM

SET / $40

As we’ve mentioned,

impact drivers can drill, too.

These hex-shanked bits

feature pilot-point tips that

drill holes faster and help

prevent walking.

QUALITY

BITS

Now that you hopefully have

your ideal driver picked out,

time to get impact-rated

attachments for it.

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LT

May/June 2020 79