Milwaukee 2853-20 Review: A Good Impact Driver?

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Milwaukee 2853-20 Review: A Good Impact Driver?

Made with powerful torque and flexible drive control, the Milwaukee 2853-20 M18 Fuel Impact Driver is a tool that’s flexible for both weekend warriors and job site tasks, such as working with sheet metal screws. However, you might be curious: what exactly makes it stand out from the rest? Is it worth buying?

No worries – I’ve got you covered in this review. I’ve listed the impact driver’s features, specs, pros, and cons so it’s up to you to decide.

 

Product Review

Milwaukee 2853-20 M18 Fuel Impact Driver

A powerful and portable impact driver from Milwaukee. This flexible tool can accomodate both the household DIYer and jobsite tasks. With a compact and lightweight design, this tool has great portability and comfortable usability. On top of that, it has a max speed of 3,600 RPM and powerful 1,800-inch-pound torque.

 

As a cordless impact driver, the Milwaukee 2853-20 is built with a combination of power and portability in mind. If your tasks mainly revolve around sheet metal screws, this is a decent choice for the job.

Specifications

Made with a 4-mode drive control, it has up to 3,600 RPM of speed and an impact of up to 4,300 IPM. Because of its 1,800-inch-pound torque, it will be powerful enough for most metal sheet screw tasks. Since it is part of the Milwaukee M18 system, the sharing of batteries will make matters easier when working between different tools from the same brand and lineup.

Quality

Milwaukee Tools backs up their impact driver with a 5-year full warranty. To keep this impact driver’s long lifespan, it is powered by a brushless motor that lessens maintenance in the long run. What’s more, your tool and battery will be kept safe during heavy loads due to the REDLINK PLUS intelligence technology to prevent overload.

Usability

Usability is at hand with its 4.59-inch length that’s compact for tight spaces. Because it is only 2.55 pounds, it won’t be so much of a bother when using it for overhead projects, compared to other heavier impact drivers. Changing bits is also a breeze thanks to the one-handed bit insertion mechanism.

Installation time will be quicker as well, due to the tool’s self-tapping screw mechanism to reduce the stripping of fasteners. I also like the added LED that will illuminate your work area, particularly helpful in low-light conditions.

Milwaukee 2853-20 M18 FUEL 1/4" Hex impact Driver (Bare Tool)-Torque 1800 in lbs

Should You Buy the Milwaukee 2853-20 Impact Driver?

From its usability to its high specs, this impact driver is more than enough for simple sheet metal screws while also being portable to handle. It is best for the casual DIY person at home for making weekend repairs and the like.

If you are still unsure about the decision, go through the below list of the pros and cons of the tool.

Pros of the Milwaukee 2853-20

Let’s start with the positives.

It has an easily portable size.

At only 4.59 inches in its length, this impact driver is one of the most compact units of its class. Impact drivers are typically around 5 inches in length, but this one is so small that it will fit into tight spaces or areas that are normally unreachable with other similar tools.

A portable length will give you the advantage of handling and working with tasks that require you to be in an awkward position. The small length also reduces its weight, which is ideal for overhead screwing.

The speed is quite high.

With a max speed of 3,600 RPM, this impact driver has one of the fastest speeds among similar units. Having a fast speed is especially useful for saving time and effort so you can work on your next project or finish quickly.

The tool is lightweight.

Weighing only 2.55 pounds, it won’t be too bothersome to carry around the work area. This weight makes it suitable for overhead projects as well.

It has powerful torque.

The 1,800-inch-pound torque is powerful enough not just for sheet metal screws but also for a couple of lug nuts. Most impact drivers have only about 1,300 to 1,500 inch-pound torque so this is a big advantage.

Cons of the Milwaukee 2853-20

Even though the Milwaukee 2853-20 is a great tool, there are a few cons worth noting as well.

The forward and reverse switch is a little tricky.

It takes a bit of effort to use the forward and reverse switch with just one hand. I’m hoping that they’d redesign the tool to make it more user-friendly for single-handed operation.

Cleaning the housing is slightly cumbersome.

This is especially true with grease spills. However, the impact driver’s housing is still cleanable, nonetheless – just not that easy.

What Are the Alternatives to Milwaukee 2853-20?

Alternative to Milwaukee 2853-20 If the Milwaukee 2853-20 simply isn’t the tool you’re looking for, I have other similar alternatives, such as the following:

The Makita XDT16T 18V LXT Brushless 4-Speed Impact Driver Kit is a similar tool with a 3,600-RPM speed. This impact driver offers 1,600 inch-pounds of torque and also has LED lights for work visibility. Likewise, this impact driver has a brushless motor that makes maintenance a breeze, similar to the Milwaukee pick I mentioned above. A major difference, however, is that the Makita XDT16T is a little on the heavy side, weighing in at 4 pounds.

If you want an impact driver with higher torque, why not check out the Ryobi P239 Cordless 18V Impact Driver (read my review)? This one is at 2,000 inch-pounds of maximum torque and also features an LED for illuminating your work area. It also has a brushless motor for ease of maintenance and is lightweight as well at only 2.72 pounds.

For those wanting a lighter tool, the Festool 576479 TID 18 Cordless 18V Impact Driver is for you. This impact driver is only at 2.12 pounds and is for heavy-duty purposes due to its brushless EC-TEC motor. The only catch is that it has a lower torque of only 1,593 inch-pounds versus the Milwaukee tool I mentioned earlier. Nonetheless, this one has 4 speeds to choose from and has a max speed of 3,200 RPM.

For more alternatives, also check my list of the best impact drivers on the market.

Summary

To wrap it up, the Milwaukee 2853-20 is a powerful yet portable impact driver to consider for the usual sheet metal screw jobs. Whether you’re making home repairs, deck building, improvement, and the like, this tool is more than enough for typical weekend warrior tasks. Not only that – it is easy on the hands and will fit into tight spaces thanks to its small head size.

 

Product Review

Milwaukee 2853-20 M18 Fuel Impact Driver

A powerful and portable impact driver from Milwaukee. This flexible tool can accomodate both the household DIYer and jobsite tasks. With a compact and lightweight design, this tool has great portability and comfortable usability. On top of that, it has a max speed of 3,600 RPM and powerful 1,800-inch-pound torque.