We’ve talked about quite a few of the new Milwaukee tools that were revealed at their recent media event, and there are still quite a few more to talk about. One of their more interesting brand new tools is this 4-1/2″ and 5″ M18 Fuel braking grinder (2783-20, 2783-22), which will complement the models released in 2013.
As you might have assumed, the new grinder will be powered by a brushless motor. Thanks to the greater efficiency of the brushless motor, you could probably expect for greater power and runtime compared to brushed motor cordless grinders.
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But what about that braking part? According to Milwaukee, this will be the world’s first cordless braking grinder solution, and that it will stop cutting and grinding accessories in under 2 seconds.
Milwaukee had a couple of the new M18 Fuel braking grinders at the recent media event, but there wasn’t really an opportunity to use them. Hopefully we can get our hands on one for testing later on when it’s available.
Here’s a quick video clip I took that shows how fast the new braking grinder comes to a stop, compared to a random corded grinder.
The grinder is also equipped with a non-locking paddle switch.
There is also a FIXTEC nut, which provides for tool-free wheel changes. The FIXTEC nut has a fold-down half-ring that can be hand-loosened and tightened for accessory changes.
Additional features include the same metal housing and gearing system that’s found in Milwaukee’s high performance corded grinders. I don’t know what the inside of their corded grinders look like, but thanks to this cut-away tool, we have a glimpse inside the housing of the new M18 Fuel braking grinder.
In addition to the braking action, there’s a kickback-reducing clutch, Job Site Armor screen that prevents motor debris contamination over time, and an anti-vibration handle.
Features & Specs
- No-lock paddle switch
- 8,500 RPM
- 5/8″-11 arbor size
- Wheel size: 4-1/2″ and 5″
- FIXTEC nut for tool-free blade changes
- 15.25″ long
- Weighs 6.1 lbs
The 2783-22 kit comes with the (2) M18 XC 5.0Ah Li-ion batteries, an M18/M12 multi-voltage charger, (1) FIXTEC nut, a type-27 wheel guard, a type-1 wheel guard, and a carrying case. A bare tool version, 2783-20, will also be available.
ETA: July 2015
Pricing: $219 for the 2783-20 tool, $449 for the 2783-22 kit
First Thoughts
To start, I just want to say that I’m pleased to see that Milwaukee is including both type-27 and type-1 wheel guards with the grinder. This means you can use grinding wheels or cutting wheels with it. Some brands don’t offer cutting wheel guards with their cordless grinders – at all – and others make it an optional accessory at extra cost. Speaking as someone who uses angle grinders more for cutting than grinding, this is a huge plus.
One of the interesting points about the tool is how it’s designed to come to a stop in under 2 seconds. They could have made it stop even quicker, but not without risking self-loosening of the arbor nut.
Milwaukee isn’t shy about emphasizing how this is a 100% tool-free grinder. Guard adjustments and changes, as well as wheel changes, are all tool-free. That’s right, there are no hex keys or wrenches to keep track of.
Another interesting point is how this is said to be a 4-1/2″ / 5″ grinder. I had been assuming that there would be separate 4-1/2″ and 5″ grinders, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. It seems that this is a dual-size grinder, something I don’t think I’ve encountered before.
I have used 4-1/2″ grinders and seen 5″ grinders, and always considered them to be 2 different sizes of tools. But that doesn’t seem to be the case here, as as official Milwaukee materials describe this as an M18 FUEL 4-1/2″ / 5″ Braking Grinder. Am I less familiar with angle grinder options than I thought, or do you find this to be a little unusual as well?
Update: I asked for clarification, to which Milwaukee added:
The guards we provide with the tool are acceptable for both 4-1/2” and 5” accessories. No guard change is needed due to size. We do provide both T27 and T1 guards so users can use the appropriate guard for their T27 and T1 accessories.
Overall, this looks to be a nice new grinder option to me. But I also tend to prefer paddle switch grinders over those with slide switches. Being able to let go of an angle grinder – whether intentionally or accidentally – and have the motor slow to a stop, or a rapid stop as with this new brushless model, is a great safety feature.
What do you think? And no, Milwaukee doesn’t plan to release a slide-switch version of the braking grinder, as that kind of defeats the safety benefits of the quick braking action.