The Milwaukee 2967-20 M18 FUEL 1/2 in High Torque Impact Wrench with Friction Ring is a cordless high torque impact wrench built for heavy-duty fastening and stubborn fastener removal. This is a high torque impact wrench designed for demanding mechanical, automotive, and industrial fastening work. Model Number: 2967-20. If you need serious cordless torque without dragging out an air hose, this is the kind of tool that earns its keep fast.

Milwaukee built this model around a POWERSTATE brushless motor and the M18 battery system, giving it the output needed for lug nuts, suspension hardware, anchors, equipment maintenance, and large structural fasteners. The headline numbers matter here: up to 1,200 ft-lbs of fastening torque and up to 1,600 ft-lbs of nut-busting torque when paired with an M18 REDLITHIUM FORGE battery. That means this is not a light-duty shop tool pretending to be a heavy hitter. It is made for jobs where smaller impact wrenches stall out.

What makes the 2967-20 especially useful is that Milwaukee kept the body compact at 7.6 inches long. On paper that sounds like a simple dimension. On the job, it means better access between frame rails, around machinery guards, behind wheel assemblies, and anywhere a full-size high torque impact wrench usually gets awkward. If you work on trucks, heavy equipment, plant maintenance, or rusted hardware in tight areas, that shorter housing is a real advantage.

The 1/2 inch friction ring anvil is the right setup for users who swap sockets often. It keeps changes quick without adding a pin detent step every time you move from one fastener size to the next. That makes sense for tire work, equipment service, and repetitive assembly or teardown where time gets lost on constant socket changes. The premium anvil material also matters because high torque tools put a lot of stress into the drive end over time.

Milwaukee also gave this cordless impact wrench the control features that separate a strong tool from a usable one. The 4-Mode DRIVE CONTROL system gives you multiple speed and power settings for different fastener sizes and materials, while AUTO SHUT-OFF control limits torque to 50 ft-lbs to help prevent over-tightening on forward applications. Bolt Removal mode is equally practical: it breaks the fastener loose, then slows the tool after the bolt backs off so you are not sending hardware across the shop floor.

Visibility and jobsite handling are also well thought out. The Tri-LED lighting system is there to reduce shadows around the anvil and socket, which is exactly where you need to see when working in wheel wells, under equipment, or inside dim mechanical spaces. Milwaukee also calls out a patented battery isolation system that helps secure the battery connection and reduce vibration transfer. That matters on a high-output impact wrench because hard-hitting tools can be rough on both packs and hands over long service intervals.

System compatibility is straightforward. This bare tool runs on the Milwaukee M18 platform and is compatible with all M18 batteries and chargers. For users already invested in M18, that makes the 2967-20 easy to drop into an existing setup. For new users, it means access to one of the deepest cordless tool platforms in the trade, with battery options that can be matched to runtime, output, and overall weight.

Who should buy it? Mechanics, fleet techs, industrial maintenance crews, heavy equipment service techs, and contractors dealing with large fasteners will get the most out of it. Serious DIY users working on trucks, trailers, or equipment will also appreciate the power, but this is clearly a pro-grade fastening tool first. If your work regularly involves rusted bolts, high clamp loads, or limited access, the Milwaukee 2967-20 M18 FUEL 1/2 in High Torque Impact Wrench with Friction Ring is the right kind of cordless impact wrench to move to.

Milwaukee 2967-20 M18 FUEL 1/2 in High Torque Impact Wrench with Friction Ring is the one you grab when the bolt is not asking nicely

This is a compact high torque cordless impact wrench that brings real removal power without getting clumsy in tight spots.

• Who it's for: Pros working in automotive, fleet, industrial, and equipment service who need cordless torque for large or seized fasteners.
• Why it stands out: The mix of short 7.6 in length, serious torque output, useful control modes, and M18 platform compatibility makes it more practical than big brute-force tools that are hard to position.
• Worth knowing: This is a bare tool, so plan on adding a battery and charger if you are not already on M18. To get the stated peak torque numbers, battery choice matters.

• Is this a brushed or brushless impact wrench? It uses a POWERSTATE brushless motor.
• What battery platform does it use? This tool is part of the Milwaukee M18 system and is compatible with all M18 batteries and chargers.
• Does it have multiple speed or control settings? Yes. It features 4-Mode DRIVE CONTROL, including AUTO SHUT-OFF control and Bolt Removal mode.
• Is ONE-KEY enabled? No. Milwaukee lists this model as not ONE-KEY enabled.