MotorWeb: Make it Easy with Milwaukee

31 December 2025

Make it Easy with Milwaukee

Let me be upfront with you all right now. I’ve never owned a Milwaukee tool, but I sure have dreamed of it.

Tool guys will know the famous American brand that garners a partisan following, just like cars. You’re either a Ford, GM or Chrysler guy, and so it is with high-end power tools.

In the red corner, we have Milwaukee, in the yellow corner, DeWalt and in the green corner, Makita. My cousin, who runs a motor mechanic shop, is diehard DeWalt, while my pal’s dad, who is a builder, won’t look at anything other than Makita. Motorcycle riding pal, Kev, also a builder and all-round handyperson, is unshakable from the Milwaukee brand and not because Wisconsin is the home of Harley-Davidson.

You can never have too many Milwaukee tools (supplied)

“It all goes back to a time when a bunch of us were trying to get a rusted on nut from an old gearbox,” he recalls with enthusiasm, “we tried everything. Soaked it in WD40. All the tools we had on hand, including long extension bars on sockets. The works. Then one of our guys turned up with this big red cordless wrench, ‘let me try’ he says, and it came off like child’s play. I went straight out and bought one.”

Kev didn’t stop there. His shed is a Milwaukee shrine with more red than Santa’s cave.

When I told him about these new Sub-Compact Impact Wrenches for the M12 Fuel battery system, his eyes lit up.

Tight spaces are no issue for this little dynamo. (supplied)

From a practical point of view, these little rascals can get into tight places under the bonnet, into the wheel well or transmission tunnel while still delivering the bolt-busting torque Milwaukee tools are famous for. Up to 305Nm in fact.

The Milwaukee people tell us the little M12 FUEL™ 3/8” Sub-Compact Impact Wrench is a game-changer for automotive pros. It's super compact (114mm long x 51mm wide) so you can get into tight spots under the hood without hassle. Powered by Milwaukee's POWERSTATE Brushless Motor, it packs a punch with up to 305 Nm of nut-busting torque and 270 Nm of fastening torque – all in a lightweight 700g package.

The wrench features a variable-speed trigger and 4-Mode DRIVE CONTROL, so you've got precision power at your fingertips. The AUTO SHUT-OFF kicks in at 20 Nm for hand-tight applications, preventing over-tightening. Plus, the bolt removal mode slows down when the bolt's free, so you don't chuck bolts and washers everywhere. One-handed mode switching makes life easier, making this tool a top pick for automotive pros.

Plus, you can add the optional Protective Boot, which shields both the tool and surfaces from corrosion and damage without adding bulk or weight. As part of the proven M12™ System, you’ll also have seamless compatibility.

See the Sub-Compact Wrenches in Action (video supplied by Milwaukee Tool)