Milwaukee M18 FUEL SURGE Hydraulic Driver

Decibels and Hearing Protection
The Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) has determined safe noise levels and has made recommendations that specific ear protection devices be worn within sound levels of 85dB.

The simple truth is construction sites are noisy places. Trucks, jackhammers, impact drivers are all loud tools.

M18 FUEL SURGE 1/4" Hex Hydraulic Driver

Milwaukee did some field research and determined that they could reduce their impact driver’s noise by shifting their impact drivers to hydraulic technology.

Hydraulic drivers are small, compact, and quieter.

This oil impulse technology uses pulses of hydraulic oil to create the impact and the hydraulic fluid powertrain reduces the metal on metal impact resulting in less wear and tear and less vibration.

The hydraulic impact is 50% quieter, and operates at 76 dBA, well below the OSHA recommendation for hearing protections.

Our first impression when we used this tool was how “smooth” it was, quiet was only noticed later when compared side by side next to the Milwaukee 2753-20.

Their research also showed that 90% of impact driver fastening in most trades is for screws and small to medium lags – 6 to 8 inches long.

Based on this research Milwaukee designed the Surge hydraulic impact driver. Milwaukee sees this technology overtaking the traditional impact technology over time.

Milwaukee M18 FUEL SURGE Hydraulic Driver

M18 FUEL SURGE - Longer sustained Torque

One fear that Milwaukee has is that users will look at peak torque numbers without understanding what it all means. The old, “bigger is better,” theory does not work here.

The Surge weighs 2.1 pounds, and has 450 in/lbs of longer sustained torque. The result is that it delivers equal to, or faster driving speed than Milwaukee’s standard 2752-20 impact driver when driving small to medium fasteners.

The standard impact has 1800 in/lbs of torque, and delivers short peaks of higher torque and then drops well below the Surge. So guess what, bigger is NOT always better – at least not here!

Milwaukee M18 FUEL SURGE Hydraulic Driver

SURGE™ (Red Line)

Peak Torque Sustained Longer

SURGE™ Reaches Peak Torque Faster
SURGE™ Holds Peak Torque Longer
SURGE™ Impacts Faster at 4,000 IPM
Standard Impact (Grey Line)

High Peak Torque Rapidly Falls Off

Standard Impact Creates Brief High Torque
High Peak Torque, But Not Sustained
Impacts at 3,000 Impacts Per Minute (IPM)
What Do MOST Contractors Need?

Remember that 90% of applications for impact drivers are for small to medium fasteners like deck screws and TimberLok fasteners.

As a builder and remodeling contractor, here are some torque stats needed for fasteners:

#9 – 3”deck screw: 40 in/lbs
¼” x 3” lag bolt: 53 in/lbs
3/8” x 3” lag bolt: 160 in/lbs
#10–16 x ¾”Tek screw: 10 in/lbs
5/16” Bolt: 324 in/lbs
Milwaukee M18 FUEL SURGE Hydraulic Driver

What about the “other” 10%?

Users who perform hard joint fastening like lug nuts or 6” victaulic flanges on water pipe and sprinkler assemblies, would be better served with an impact wrench. Seems like everyone wants to put a socket on their impact drivers these days, but is that really the proper application? Not really, because they are wearing out their tools faster and should be using an impact wrench, like the Milwaukee 2755-20.

Milwaukee M18 FUEL SURGE Hydraulic DriverSo Why Not Make a SURGE Hydraulic Impact with 1800 in/lbs Torque?

The answer is simple, the tool would have to be larger, and heavier, which goes against everything users have been asking for.

The Surge driver can provide us with a lighter, quieter and equal or better driving power, for most if not all, of the fastening we encounter. Plus 3x less vibration!

Cost

In the end the Surge will cost approximately $20 more than the standard impact driver, see below.

2760-20 M18 FUEL™ SURGE™ 1/4" Hex Hydraulic Driver $149.00
2760-22CT M18 FUEL™ SURGE™ 1/4" Hex Hydraulic Driver CP Kit $249.00
2760-22 M18 FUEL™ SURGE™ 1/4" Hex Hydraulic Driver XC Kit $329.00
2899-22 M18 FUEL 2-Tool Combo Kit $429.00
Milwaukee M18 FUEL SURGE Hydraulic Driver

The Final Impact

For me, I prefer working smarter. That means using the right tool for the application at hand. Using a lighter, quieter tool that has less vibration makes sense.

Ultimately the construction industry must bear the burden of worker hearing loss due to long exposure to loud noise. But, if you work construction, don’t wait, take steps on your own and purchase the best noise protection device you can, and use the best tools you can.

Work smarter, and protect yourself, no matter how loud it gets at work.

[michaelvila]

Hey Rob, thanks for reinforcing why you should use the right tool for the job even if it's not as cool as the Surge. And for explaining the inch per pound torque for different fasteners as it applies to the Surge, awesome video. And yes, yes, yes, ear protection is a must, on a job site, you're rarely running just one tool.

[scouser]

Just got one for Christmas. Cant wait to put it to work after the holiday break

[joshodmo]

I've been on the fence about the hydraulic impact dude to the lower lbs of torque. But know seeing the sustained torque in action, i too am sold. Great video as always, and nice job doing that demo with a drill in both hands!

[softwarephil]

Note: If you use the self-tapping screw setting, you MUST pull the trigger all the way (or at least past 1/2) to activate the automatic stopping. If you try to drive a self-tapping screw slowly with less than 1/2 trigger pull, it operates in conventional impact mode and strips the screw every time.

[Cryohh]

Honestly thinking about buying this now, as the Hammer Drill/Impact is what I use day to day
Great review.

[mastermetalshredder]

I really like how you point out using an impact wrench for larger bolts/ lugs/ lags. I've seen too many guys just abusing their impact drivers on huge bolts for no reason other than ignorance and/ or avoiding a trip to the truck for the impact wrench. Good stuff Rob!

[tomoaktree]

Great video, especially regarding hearing protection.
I just purchased the hydraulic driver as after using a standard driver, the noise got to me very quickly. I always went back to using a drill.
I continuously preach to my girlfriend to wear hearing protection anytime she is using a leaf blower or running her lawnmower.

[dogfood]

Bravo! You really did your homework on this video. I am getting the Surge thanks to you.

[michaelalbrecht]

I’m in the garage door biz and it’s nice having a quiet power tool

[frankmbood]

Just picked this up on your recommendation and can’t be happier! Smoother and quieter! Thanks for the great review!

[williambutler]

I've always wanted a quieter impact driver. I'm on the dewalt system though.

That's a really good point you brought up at the end. So many times companies over-do things or do things just because they can.

[natem]

This is a very honest review. Best I have seen. The importance of quiet and proper application should not be ignored.

[Lanninglongarmmowing]

Id love to see Milwaukee make a surge version of an impact wrench with a 1/2 inch square drive. Great video!!

[Dan-qkns]

Excellent review Rob, had to watch this again after upgrading my much quieter and like you does everything an impact should!

[DPacVV]

i bought mine yesterday and im looking forward to using it on the job every day.

[bmulls]

Thanks for the review. I almost regretted buying the surge, but this definitely cleared up my questions about the torque that I couldn't find anywhere else.

[TMFXLLC]

My Milwaukee 12v FUEL driver works for me all day running framing screws for renovation carpentry. I grab the FUEL M18 for Timberloks but I'd never go back to carting that physical format around in a holster.

[lifeisahaze]

I'm a general contractor (built 3 large decks this summer already) and I own several different impact tools and have owned even more. My old impact burned out so I decided to try the Surge. I can tell you with 100% certainty the surge is better for driving most fasteners than any standard metal anvil impact and will drive 4 inch lag screws easily and as fast as or faster than my other standard impacts, even ones with WAY higher torque ratings.

[hotfudgemoney]

I got this as a gift. Upon first use I wasn’t super impressed, but as time went on I came to love this thing. I actually don’t love it for deck screws or framing screws. I love it for cabinets, cabinet pulls, doors, door knobs, finish screws, etc. That balanced torque makes this impact sooo much more precise than a standard impact. It isn’t as quick as the fuel, but if you value precision as much or more than speed, this is for you.

[harleyrider]

Great advice and great video...I have this impact gun....it it pleasantly quieter!....worth the extra few bucks all the way around!