![Milwaukee M12 Digital Torque Wrench Top and Side Views]()
We recently posted about the new Milwaukee M12 Fuel cordless torque wrench, and there was some confusion. When someone says torque wrench, my mind usually defaults to thinking about automotive applications. Depending on the context, I might also think about bicycle maintenance and machinery assembly tasks.
This new digital and motorized torque wrench from Milwaukee is something different. This torque wrench is designed for electricians, mechanical pros, and other such users.
Yes, you can use it for some automotive maintenance tasks, but that’s not what these new torque wrenches are for.
I was very confused about this, but luckily Eric Rusch, Group Product Manager at Milwaukee Tool, was willing to hop on a phone call to talk more about their new torque wrenches.
A More Detailed Look at Milwaukee’s New Cordless Torque Wrenches
As you might recall from our previous post, the new torque wrenches, available in 3/8″ and 1/2″ sizes, are motorized, meaning the tool spins fasteners down to the “ballpark” of your torque setting, and you then you use it manually to tighten the fasteners to your pre-set torque. When used manually, the digital torque wrench will give you feedback, helping you stop when you’ve reached the preset torque.
Milwaukee’s goal is for users to only have to turn fasteners 1/4 turn or less to reach the desired torque. The amount you’ll have to turn the tool depends on the target torque and application.
If the rundown torque is too aggressive for smaller fasteners or user preference, you can turn it down from 100% torque to as little as 20%. Basically, a built-in strain gauge is responsible for shutting down motor power before the desired torque is reached. It tries to get you in the “ballpark” of the preset torque, but you can lower the rundown torque if you need to.
![Milwaukee M12 Cordless Torque Wrench in Crimped Cable Connection Application]()
The motor can drive fasteners to ~60 to 70 ft-lbs in hard-joint-type applications. Keep in mind that the 3/8″ torque wrench can be set up to 100 ft-lbs, and the 1/2″ wrench maxes out at 150 ft-lbs. In soft-joint applications, the motor turns off sooner, at ~30 to 40 ft-lbs. These are unofficial values, and it’s also worth mentioning that cordless drills and drivers are often rated similar, with higher hard-joint max torque specs and lower soft-joint specs.
A hard-joint application would typically involve metal-on-metal connections. Soft-joint connections typically involve a compressible material, such as copper wire cables that are being secured in a commercial panel via screw-down clamp terminal. Some applications are not strictly defined and fall between the two main types of fastener connections.
For electricians, most applications call for torque specs between 20 and 50 ft-lbs.
![Milwaukee M12 Cordless Torque Wrench in Wiring Application]()
What this means is that the motor can rundown fasteners most of the way and close to the desired torque for most targeted users’ applications, but the tools do also have higher max torque ranges for manual use. If setting a fastener (or crimped wire connection) at say 50 ft-lbs of max torque, either tool (3/8″ or 1/2″ drive) will do most of the work to rundown the fastener. If you have a soft-joint application at 140 ft-lbs, the (1/2″ drive) tool will do some of the work, but you’ll have to apply a little more elbow grease than for the more common applications these torque wrenches were designed for.
If you’re using traditional tools instead of the new Milwaukee M12 Fuel cordless torque wrenches, you’ll need a motorized tool to run down them down fastener – either a cordless ratchet, drill, or impact tool – and a manual torque wrench.
![Milwaukee M12 Cordless Torque Wrench in Large Pipe Mechanical Connection Application]()
Why are Torque Wrenches Needed in Electrical Work?
Milwaukee provided me with some background on the NEC code requirements:
Research has shown that up to 90% of electrical failures occur at connections. As such a critical part of the process, it’s not surprising that the National Electrical Code (2017) states that “listed and labeled equipment shall be installed and used in accordance with any instructions included in the listing and labeling” in installation standard 110.3(B).
A new addition in 2017 provides further clarification in regard to torqueing by requiring “where a tightening torque is indicated as a numeric value on equipment or in installation instructions provided by the manufacturer, a calibrated torque tool shall be used to achieve the indicated torque value, unless the equipment manufacturer has provided installation instructions for an alternative method of achieving the required torque.” (NEC 2017 110.14(D))
In other words, if manufacturers specify a torque range for connection or installation products, a calibrated torque tool must be used.
Some examples of where a torque wrench might be required include work on transformers, switch gear, panels, and anywhere wire is being terminated.
While primarily aimed at commercial electricians, the torque wrench can be used in mechanical applications as well. During our call it was also mentioned that these tools could be of benefit in solar panel installations and in datacenters.
Typically, I am told, electricians use an impact tool to run down fasteners and then a manual torque wrench, or they simply use a torque wrench by itself in a more time-consuming process. Milwaukee tool says that such methods can lead to overly-tightened connections or even repetitive motion injuries over time.
Milwaukee says that their new motorized digital torque wrench increases productivity during the overall torqueing process by delivering faster, more accurate connections. According to them, the M12 Fuel torque wrench can deliver up to 50% faster installation times, and with higher accuracy.
The accuracy is ±2% in the clockwise direction and ±3% in the counter-clockwise direction.
Users can set the target torque, such as say 40 ft-lbs, and a torque range, such as 10%. The torque wrench will then indicate that you’ve reached the desired torque. If you exceed the set range, it will indicate so as well, and you’ll have back out the fastener and try again.
If the same application is done with a click-style torque wrench, there won’t be any indication if you’ve exceeded your set torque and acceptable torque range, potentially leaving the fastener over-torqued.
One-Key
We also talked more about the One-Key and reporting features, which seems like almost as big a deal as being able to use the same tool for fast-spinning and final torqueing.
With a click-style torque wrench, reporting has to be done by hand in the field and then digitized later for record-keeping, or on an iPad or other tablet. Either way, I’m told that most users are now entering fastener torque logs manually.
With these new Milwaukee torque wrenches, the data is saved within the tool – up to 28,500 torque events – and can be exported and customized into reports through the One-Key app.
For each fastener, the report will contain a log of the i) preset target torque, ii) torque range setting, and iii) actual applied torque.
Milwaukee’s Philosophy
![Milwaukee Cordless Commercial Wiring Applications]()
Similar to how Milwaukee aimed to provide solutions for every step of a plumbing installation, they designed their new digital motorized torque wrenches to be a part of their electrical installation solutions.
Cables can be cut with Milwaukee cordless cable cutters, prepped with their cordless stripper, terminated with their cordless crimper, and now torqued down with these new cordless wrenches.
More Complete Features and Specs
Here’s our preview post again.
M12 FUEL 3/8″ Digital Torque Wrench w/ One-Key Kit
- Torque Range: 10 – 100 ft-lbs
- Tool Accuracy
- CW: ±2% of Full Scale
- CCW: ±3% of Full Scale (Range: 20% – 100% of Full Scale)
- Ratcheting Angle: 4.5°
- Anvil Size: 3/8″ Ball Detent
- RPM: 0 – 100
- Available Presets: 15
- Data Storage Capacity: 28,500 Events
- Calibration: 1 Year or 5,000 Cycles
- Measuring Units: ft-lbs, in-lbs, Nm, kg-cm
- Tool Length (w/ battery): 23.3″
- Weight (w/ battery): 5.5 lbs
- Warranty: 5 Years
- Languages: English, Spanish, French, Dutch, Italian, German
- Torque Notifications: LED Lights, LCD Screen, Sound, Handle Vibration
The kit (2465-22) comes with (2) 2.0Ah batteries, a charger, and carrying case. A bare tool (2465-20) is also available and comes with a carrying case.
M12 FUEL 1/2″ Digital Torque Wrench w/ One-Key Kit
- Torque Range: 12.5 – 150 ft-lbs
- Tool Accuracy
- CW: ±2% of Full Scale
- CCW: ±3% of Full Scale (Range: 20% – 100% of Full Scale)
- Ratcheting Angle: 4.5°
- Anvil Size: 1/2″ Ball Detent
- RPM: 0 – 100
- Available Presets: 15
- Data Storage Capacity: 28,500 Events
- Calibration: 1 Year or 5,000 Cycles
- Measuring Units: ft-lbs, in-lbs, Nm, kg-cm
- Tool Length (w/ battery): 23.5″
- Weight (w/ battery): 5.7 lbs
- Warranty: 5 Years
- Languages: English, Spanish, French, Dutch, Italian, German
- Torque Notifications: LED Lights, LCD Screen, Sound, Handle Vibration
The kit (2466-22) comes with (2) 2.0Ah batteries, a charger, and carrying case. A bare tool (2466-20) is also available and comes with a carrying case.
Pricing: $599 for the bare tool, $749 for the kit
ETA: November 2019
Buy Now(via Tool Nut)
Questions?
There are other torque wrenches and indicator tools that can be used, but Milwaukee says this is the first and only tool that can be used for fastener rundown and proper torqueing. From what I can tell, that’s 100% accurate.
It came as a big surprise to me that these new torque wrenches were aimed at electricians and other commercial trades, and not automotive users. But, it all makes a lot more sense now.
Do you have any questions we could try to answer?
And yes, I did ask whether Milwaukee would be coming out with M12 digital motorized torque wrenches designed for automotive users. They can’t answer that just yet, but they do know that automotive users and others would want a lot of what these wrenches offer, plus 1) an angular displacement sensor, and 2) higher torque range.
