Over the last couple years, we’ve really seen the cordless industry take off, in many cases, turn into a dirty backyard brawl.

12V is so compact, lightweight, and appeals to the masses; they have really become the last stand of the cordless industry.  Some companies have just tried to replace their old Ni-Cad tool line-up, where others have really taken the baton and ran with it.  The 12V Li-Ion form factor is great because there is a very impressive amount of energy stored inside such a compact cell.

Milwaukee’s spent the most resources on this category because TTI, their parent company, have other tool brands they can flush these out through (Ryobi and Rigid).

One of the most interesting and unique offerings from Milwaukee in this line is the new M12 Cordless 1/4″ and 3/8″ ratchet.  Thanks to the size of the battery and advancements in motor technology, this ratchet performs remarkably well and can fit into very small places, like under a dash or inside an engine compartment.  With its 35 ft/lbs of torque on the 3/8” version and 25 ft/lbs of torque on the 1/4″, it has enough power to loosen many bolts and will definitely speed up the process.  It also has variable speed at the trigger, runs at 250 RPM, has a built-in LED light so you can see what you’re doing in dark places, and like most other Milwaukee 12V Max tools, has a built in fuel gauge.