Bremon

Bosch or Mikwaukee depending on your priorities; size or power, respectively.

Yeah I started with 18 as well, "I need real tools, not toys". Turns out the "toys" kick some serious ass. My M12 is almost on par with my M18 collection now.

This comment is laughable. Milwaukee *has* invested this kind of money into their tools, and do make seriously good professional power tools. Maybe you haven't been paying attention but TTI has done the opposite of what most people thought they would; they've funneled serious resources into revitalizing the Milwaukee brand. I'd rather use a 2654 than a Hilti impact any day. Plus warranty is longer than most brands and in my experience is basically no questions asked. With regards to the impact especially, the buttons are on the tools, with the speed selector you can tune in four specific settings for your most common tasks and jump between them as necessary. This is the type of thing you would set in the morning and go. Then when you have different tasks, say 8 screws that use a different setting, you still have your variable speed trigger to feather them in properly. As I said earlier, this tech won't benefit me much on the tool side of the equation, but for the production guys getting paid piecemeal I cn see it being a real benefit, and the future implications for this tech across Mileaukee's lineup is immense. Might as well get used to it, sounds like it's coming to Makita soon, and one day even Dewalt will stop dragging their feet and have electronic controls. Of course, let us know how you enjoy your Metabo, if memory serves Dwain had great things to say about their hammer drill in the OTT shoot out, and as a member of the crew, give us a link to your eBay listings if you follow through on selling your M18.

I don't personally see myself using this much. As I said before, maybe the One Key version of the 2754 is in my future if it means I can ditch my torque wrench. Otherwise I'll get the standard 2704, 2753 and 2754. I can see myself using the inventory app at work if it isn't crap though. We have a few dozen people and tools and supplies grow legs all the time, not necssarily stolen, but certainly forgotten on sites. Even something as basic as $25 tape measures add up.

New F150 or Sierra to replace my Silverado. I'm a simple man with simple needs haha. Car side of things probably a new Corvette Z06 or Camaro ZL1.

They have stated they are offering both One-Key and No-Key versions. There will be a small premium for it. Haha so true, this retroactively makes all Fuel tools terrible. You should just give them away, no one would pay for this junk. Incidentally, let me know if you would like my mailing address. Nalu also has a growing hunger for Fuel, and Proto would probably lose his cookies if you sent them his way.

It's $50 for the combo kit, so hopefully it will only be $25-30 for single tools.

Mike I think that says more about how pedestrian DeWalt's underwhelming batteries are than how exciting One Key is.

The only tool this has me excited for is a 2754 with customizable torque. And only if it can get me close enough to torque spec for mine and the SO's vehicles so I no longer need my torque wrench. Otherwise I dunno, maybe I will stick with 2704 rather than 2706. Plus mid-August is closer than January so it will be harder to wait haha.

I disagree with this. When you're comparing things that weigh less than 5 lbs, even a 1 lb difference is noticeable, and adds up at the end of the day. Maybe that opinion comes from being 30 lbs less than most guys on the job site but I think most trades would agree the less you carry the better.

This right here. Certifications exist for a reason.

Scan receipts and save them digitally. Manuals are available online, recycle them. Either download the manual or just trust it will be available on the website. One quick skim of a manual is usually enough anyway I find.

Nice purchase TO, expected you to be first in line for the release of the Makita nailers haha.

I still don't see the trend. I see the trend of tablets and phones integrating into better convenience and productivity on site. They are becoming more common with the Clipboards on site, I am one part of the time. I don't see them being more common with ground level field workers. They are just one more thing to break. Plans will be more common on phones etc., IKEA style instructions and advice on how to do the job is something I hope not to see in my lifetime, as it means no one should have any faith in the person building this stuff. The tool lockout for grinder with no guard or saw with the guard held back is also unlikely to happen. With saws, it makes plunge cuts easier. Tool companies tout how they increase user productivity and ease of work. What you're talking about is like taking tools *out* of a persons pouch/repertoire. It is an interesting topic to discuss though, and I can see how this could be a talking point among the grey beards on site who, as usual, don't see anything wrong with the status quo re.; brushed vs brushless.

M18 still outperforms the M12 Fuel. That said, with a compact on the M18 and XC on the M12 the M12 would likely win on run time depending on how tough the job is, while still being lighter.

Why not M18 if you are looking at other manufacturers 18v lines?

Frankly, I would be shocked at that. There are already disclaimers etc. to protect manufacturers from liability. What you're describing sounds like a dystopian nightmare Big Brother state. Plus, phones aren't reliable enough for that. Project costs would skyrocket due to tools being useless because of cell phones losing service or dying lol. Could function on Bluetooth or something though (oh crap, I shouldn't give Big Brother ideas!).

I didn't even realize they had a 1/2" M12, I thought just 1/4" and 3/8". Great purchase, jealous of that circular saw for sure (that goes for you too Nalu!). Let me know your thoughts on that SDS, been keeping an eye on it but haven't got off the fence yet.

Touché haha. I would like to see Bosch come out and really wow us as well!

Plus for the carpenter looking to fit an extra workout into his day, Milwaukee has a 65lb boat anchor of a mitre (as if mitres weren't heavy enough to begin with) lol. DWS780 seems to be the most common I see.

Technically the M18 Fuel impact still has more power. I am envious of the Makita's cute size though . On the drill side of things, the ball will be back in Makita's court in the fall when I get a 2704 in my hands haha. Then the never ending game of one-up will continue. Speaking of one-up, isn't it Team Yellow's turn to be best-in-class yet? Come on Dewalt!

In the vicinity of 1500 in-lbs I think Proto. Luckily impacts don't break wrists. TO, is that chrome bit impact rated? Life will be easier for the anvil and drive of the impact if you make sure you use impact-rated bits.

Nalu makes a great point. Johnny Homeowner needs a backwards compatible platform that isn't going to change before his tools die, at a price that won't break the bank. Realistically, that's Ryobi. That said, a trip to the big box tool store of your choice will show you there's always some type of impact/drill/2 battery combo kit at a fire sale price just waiting to be your color-coded gateway drug of choice.

The Lion, the Witch and the One Key. Sort of rolls off the tongue.

Just the nature of the platform. The slide pack means the battery/electronics housing is compact. The nature of the stem pack means the M12 base is basically the size of the light housing, and because the tool needs to be able to stand with the compact stem pack, just like the Bluetooth speaker, it has a tripod design. At least with the typical design of a speaker it isn't so noticeable, but the m12 light could benefit from being more compact. The footprint of an XC M12 pack would realistically be as big as I would want to see the base of the M12 light. Minor complaint overall, but the awkward angles really detract from it in my opinion, whereas the M18 housing for the light represents a much greater percentage of the tools surface area. Opposite side of this spectrum is I think the M12 stick light is perfect in every way for it's intended use, while the M18 is big and gangly lol. Just picky I guess, but when most of their lights cost $90 Canadian and up, I think we have the right to be.