One thing’s for sure about Milwaukee Tool, they aren’t satisfied with putting the same tools out year after year. They’re constantly improving age old classics and leading in the innovation of new tool solutions. Their latest announcement is a variation on their extremely popular line of M18 tools.
SURGE, as the new concept is called, uses a FLUID-DRIVE Hydraulic Powertrain for its power tools, as opposed to the standard oil-impulse options they offer today. It’s not the first hydraulic system on the market, but it’s great news for those already on the Milwaukee system. The first SURGE tool will be available in the form of a 1/4" Hex Hydraulic Driver.
The new Milwaukee Tool M18 FUEL SURGE ¼” Hex Hydraulic Driver (2760-22) will offer increased durability and longer life, longer sustained torque, up to 3 times less vibration, and is around 50% more quiet than others in its class. The noise reduction is actually great news, because not only will it reduce hearing loss over long periods of time, but it actually drops the tool below OSHA’s requirement for hearing protection in most environments. That's also great news for occupants of buildings under remodel.
One of the other important differences is in the torque. While many other drivers offer a peak torque of up to 1800 in/lb, the new SURGE driver sustains 450 in/lb, but that may not be a bad thing.
“In our testing, users were blown away when we told them this tool had 450 in/lbs of torque because it is common for ¼” impact drivers to have up to 1800 in/lbs,” said Cole Conrad, Group Product Manager for Milwaukee Tool, in a press release. “The difference is peak torque vs sustained torque. In a standard impact, the tool reaches peak torque very quickly but only holds it for a brief period of time. With the longer sustained torque delivered in SURGE™, peak torque is reached faster and maintained for a longer period of time, allowing it to do the same amount of work at a lower torque rating (see graph below). The result is a superior fastening solution designed specifically for small to medium diameter fasters, which make up the vast majority of applications performed by MEP trades.”
Available in November 2016, the M18 FUEL SURGE ¼” Hex Hydraulic Driver will be compatible with the M18 REDLITHIUM batteries you already own. The bare tool will be sold for $149 (2760-20), the driver kitted with (2) compact 2.0 batteries for $249 (2760-22CT), and the driver kitted with (2) XC 5.0 batteries for $329. The new technology is only a $20 premium over Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel ¼” Hex Impact Driver (2653-20) ($129.55 on Amazon)
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