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Back in 2017, Milwaukee came out with new M12 Fuel brushless motor cordless ratchets. Now, they’re expanding their lineup of M12 Fuel cordless ratchets with two new extended reach models.
Sometimes you want the most compact tool you can get. Other times, you need more reach. The new Milwaukee M12 Fuel extended reach ratchets are designed for accessing fasteners in tighter spaces.
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For reference, this is what a standard M12 Fuel ratchet look like.
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The new Milwaukee ratchets will be available in 1/4″ and 3/8″ drive sizes.
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When Milwaukee launched their M12 Fuel brushless ratchets, they claimed that their then-new cordless power tools would compete favorable against leading air-powered models. The same should apply to these new models, although it should be noted that some brands of air ratchets are available in even longer lengths.
Milwaukee M12 Fuel 1/4″ Extended Reach Ratchet (2559)
- 1/4″ square drive
- 40 ft max torque
- 250 RPM
- 14.4″ length
- Weighs 2.5 lbs with battery
The 1/4″ ratchet will be available in a kit, 2559-21, for $339, and a bare tool for $239. The kit comes with a 2.0Ah battery, charger, and carrying case. A protective rubber boot is also available, 49-16-2559, for $29.
The optional rubber boot adds minimal size and weight to the tool, and is made of a durable rubber material that can withstand corrosive chemicals typically found in automotive maintenance environments.
Buy Now(1/4″ Kit via Tool Nut)
Buy Now(1/4″ Bare Tool via Tool Nut)
Milwaukee M12 Fuel 3/8″ Extended Reach Ratchet (2560)
- 3/8″ square drive
- 55 ft-lbs max torque
- 200 RPM
- 15.1″ length
- 3.1 lbs
The 1/4″ ratchet will be available in a kit, 2560-21, for $329, and a bare tool for $229. The kit comes with a 2.0Ah battery, charger, and carrying case. A protective rubber boot is also available, 49-16-2560, for $29.
Buy Now(3/8″ Kit via Tool Nut)
Buy Now(3/8″ Bare Tool via Tool Nut)
The ratchets are expected to start shipping this month (September 2019).
Discussion
In my opinion, this type of tool caters towards users who know they need it. In case there will be questions about whether one should buy the standard-length ratchet(s) or these extended length ones, I would remind everyone that there’s a reason why the standard-length ratchets came out first.
Milwaukee says that these ratchets have the most compact head profile size and extended neck in the industry, but there’s a small pool of cordless ratchets styles and sizes. I think that Milwaukee is offering these ratchets as an alternative to extended-length air ratchets, or at least mid-sized extended-length air ratchets.
Milwaukee says that power rivals pneumatic [capabilities]. If you use extended-length air ratchets, here are your 1/4″ and 3/8″ brushless-motor cordless alternatives.
The standard-length 1/4″ and 3/8″ M12 Fuel ratchets measure 11.18″ and 11.8″, respectively. Thus, the extended-length 1/4″ and 3/8″ ratchets are approximately 3.2″ and 3.3″ longer than Milwaukee’s M12 Fuel standard-length cordless ratchets, respectively.
If you’ve used their M12 or M12 Fuel cordless ratchets before, have you wished for a model with a little extra reach?
