According to retailers, the new Makita 18V cordless cut-off tool, XCM01, will be launching later this month, September 2023.
The Makita XCM01 is a 3″ brushless cut-off tool with forward and reverse operation, 20,000 RPM max speed, and LED light.
The cut-off tool also features an electric brake that stops the wheel in 2 seconds or less.
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It’s designed for one-hand operation.
A tool-less dust collection guard is included. With the guard attached, the tool can make cuts up to 5/8″ deep.
It weighs 2.6 lbs with battery (sold separately).
Price: $179 (tool-only)
COO: China
The XCM01 cut-off tool is compatible with Makita 18V LXT batteries.
Also Consider
At the time of this posting, the Dewalt 3-inch cut-off tool, DCS438B is $179 and eligible for a free PowerStack battery and starter kit promo.
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The Dewalt 20V Max cut-off tool also features a brushless motor, 20,000 RPM max speed, and forward/reverse cutting.
It ships with a removable dust shroud with Dewalt AirLock connection (the DWV9000 adapter might be required for connection to universal-style 1-1/4″ vacuum hoses).
Price: $179 (tool-only plus free starter kit)
There’s also the Milwaukee M12 Fuel brushless cut-off tool, 2522-21XC. The M12 kit is $229 at the time of this posting, for the kit plus an additional bonus tool (not shown).
MM
Nice to see more of these hitting the market, more competition is always a good thing. And this brings a very handy tool to LXT users. That said, I think that Dewalt has the best of these cutoff tools currently. Look closely and you can see that the blade spindle is offset from the motor in the Dewalt. This provides a greater depth of cut; it puzzles me that no other brand does this. It is also the most powerful, at least according to Torque Test Channel’s comparison of various brands.
Steve
My Milwaukee likes to cut out under a load. I don’t use it often, but it can be frustrating when I need it. Not sure they have fixed this at all. Hopefully, the Makita is better…
MM
I do not have any personal experience with the Milwaukee though I have other M12 tools. Its performance seemed disappointing when TTC tested it. It made .31 horsepower, coming in behind Ryobi (0.44 HP), Ridgid (0.6), and Dewalt (.67). It did manage to beat the Harbor Freight Bauer, which was only .23 HP. Milwaukee was one of the first to come out with this tool but I think that others have done it better. It will be very interesting to see where this Makita fits in the scheme of things.
Franco Calcagni
I also have a few M12 tools, and very happy with their excellent performance. I was looking to get the cutoff tool, but saw to many reviewers complaining about cutting out.
After seeing the TTC test, I got the Dewalt.
Fos
This tool was supposed to released in the first quarter of 2023… Not sure what the hold up was but we’re definitely ready. Based off of the testing that Tools and Stuff did it seems to be surprisingly powerful and fast for an lxt tool. 20,000+ rpm is refreshing to see.
Stuart
Yes – when they first announced this in late-2022, Makita USA provided a launch ETA of Q1 2023. Better late than never?
Franco Calcagni
From the first announcement till now, have there been any changes, or just usual delays?
Rog
I like that the Ryobi one offers a depth guide, I’m surprised none of the others do that.
Avi
I would assume ghey have it built into the dust shroud like picture for the dewalt shows.
Rog
The Ryobi has the depth stop build into the standard shroud, not a separate attachment
Koko The Talking Ape
The DeWalt has a depth gauge, which you can see in the picture. You can’t see one on the Milwaukee in its picture, but I think I remember one on the dust shroud. (I had one but it was stolen.) And… a quick look at the Acme tools website tells me this new Makita will have one too.
So I would guess that ALL of these cut-off tools have some kind of depth indication.
MKY
Stuart –
Clicking on the above Home Depot link for Dewalt DCS438B takes me to a page describing a 20V XR Cordless 3 in. Angle Grinder and 20V MAX POWERSTACK Compact Battery Starter Kit. The associated numbers are Internet #320315659 Model # DCS438BW034C. Under the Specifications tab the Motor Type is listed as Brushed. Pictures appear to match those for the 3 in. Cut-off tool. The price listed is $179 for the tool, battery and charger.
Elsewhere on the HD site is listed a “20V XR Cordless 3 in. Cut-Off Tool (Tool Only)” with associated numbers Internet #317267403 Model #DCS438B Store SKU # 1006472470. Under the Specifications tab the Motor Type is listed as Brushless. A free battery and charger is included in a special deal. This too is listed for $179.
Not sure if this only shows on my Home Depot listing or elsewhere also. Just wanted to bring this to your attention and possibly avoid some disappointment.
MM
One of the tools being listed as “brushed” seems like an error in HD’s website. Dewalt only has one tool like that and it is brushless. In fact you can see the word “brushless” on the handle of the tool in the photos.
Stuart
Yes. Home Depot tends to do this a lot – have duplicate listings for promos. I guess this is so that the promo bundles show in their search results rather than just showing a tool-only product.
Sometimes the descriptions are right and the images wrong. In this case, the issue has to be in HD’s specs table.
Stuart
The link I included above, and this alternate link, give you the same products.
With both, you look to get:
DCS438B
DCBP034C
I can switch the links if anyone prefers. Sometimes the bundle listings are easier than the separate “buy this get something for free” listings.
The DCS438 is brushless. I couldn’t tell you why the specs say “brushed” in one place, but the description is correct: Cut a wide range of tough materials with the 20V MAX XR Brushless 3 in. Cut-Off Tool
If in doubt, Dewalt XR brushless tools say “brushless” on their handles, as shown in the image included in the post.
To my knowledge, Dewalt doesn’t have a brushed version of this tool, and the DCS438 has always been brushless – https://toolguyd.com/dewalt-cordless-cut-off-tool-dcs438/ .
James
What do people use these for? As opposed to a zip cut on a grinder?
Jared
More precision I assume. It’s smaller and lighter than a grinder. I don’t own one. I don’t think you’d buy this tool unless you had a specific use-case or already had a cordless grinder.
James
Right. There’s also cutoff tools for a Dremel. Seems like a narrow use case. I’m a big fan of finding excuses to buy more toys, so I’m wondering what I’m missing…
bj
Hahaha, couldn’t agree with you more!
Stuart
I consider this to be a “you’ll know when you could use it” type of tool.
It’s kind of like an angle grinder with cut-off wheel, but one-handed and with better ergonomics for inline cuts.
MM
I mainly use mine for working on automotive projects or machinery repair where I have to cut a rusty bolt or clamp in tight quarters, basically as a replacement for the classic pneumatic 3″ cutoff tool. It’s very nice to have the light in tight spaces and it’s also nice that you can control which direction the blade spins so you can send the sparks in the safest possible direction. It’s also very controllable with the grip so close to the cutting area. I use a full-size angle grinder with a 5″ disc on it as well, and there’s no doubt that cuts faster, but this can fit in places where the full-size grinder can’t, and it’s a lot less sketchy to hold. The fact that it has a shoe makes it easy to cut along a straightedge as well, though you could achieve something similar with the appropriate blade on a circ saw.
I have also used it in a kitchen remodeling project for cutting outlet holes in cement backer board, it worked great for that job. Very efficient, and the 3″ disc is just about the perfect size for that job.
James
Great info – thanks!
fred
We had pneumatic versions (Dotco and Dynabrade) of differing configurations (angle, straight-line etc.) in our fabrication shop. I think they were used more in disassembly/repair work than fabrication – cutting sheet metal and composites – or slicing through metal strapping.
Rob
I’ve used my Milwaukee a lot with drywall repairs. The dust collector shroud actually works well and it’s easy to cut a nice straight line. It can bog down a bit but is great for this kind of work. When set to a depth just shy of the material thickness and the blade is set to spin in reverse, most of the dust gets captured and it’s quick. I also use it for cutting rebar occasionally.
James
My favourite tool for drywall is oscillating tool with a half moon drywall blade. I just run it along my laser or pencil line. Fast, effortless, very little dust.
However, being able to set the depth would be a nice touch in certain projects that the oscillating tool doesn’t provide.
MM
Some oscillating tools have a depth gauge or stop, my Dewalt came with one that has a roller tip on it, it’s super handy. I am quite sure that Milwaukee has a stop as well. Perhaps one is available as an optional accessory for your OMT?
James
https://www.acmetools.com/bosch-oscillating-tool-depth-stop-kit-osc004/000346459838.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7qCK_NOcgQMVyf3jBx3Thg0UEAQYAyABEgIlZfD_BwE
Huh. I had no idea. Added to my Amazon cart. Reviews are somewhat iffy due to durability of build and some practical concerns. But, I know that it’s the kind of thing that will sit around in my accessories bag on my truck until one day I’m going to need exactly that and be stoked to have it.
Unfortunately this probably gives me one more reason to not buy the 3” cutoff 🙂
Thanks for the heads up!
Franco Calcagni
The one thing I have used them often for is cutting polycarbonate corrugated panels. Every blade type I used on a circular saw caused chipping. These saws with the blade you see on the right, of the 2 additional blades with the Dewalt pic above, makes cutting these panes easy and fast.
This Makita (and Dewalt & Ma2) ares very similar to the Rockwell…
https://www.amazon.com/Rockwell-RK3441K-Compact-Circular-Saw/dp/B00GTEU0M4/
I have one but it is much older; it did not have the lime green Rockwell logo yet.
I also have the Dremel version…
https://www.amazon.com/Dremel-US40-04-Ultra-Saw-Tool-Kit/dp/B08LZZDQD3/ref=asc_df_B08LZZDQD3/
Again, mine is at least 10 or more years old. The body is all grey, not black.
These cordless versions are 3″ blades versus the corded ones I have which are 4″ – 4 1/2″
They advertise them a lot for cutting wood where a standard circular can not get into as easy.
Myself, I haven’t used them that much on wood. But for any kind of “plastic” type panel, they work great. On any metal that is not super thick, they will be more precise than a grinder, but still use a grinder for something like angle iron…or my Evolution saw.
Saulac
Another compact cutter with this awkward form factor. I understand this is “required” by the motor, but it does not have to be. I am looking forward to the first brand that would step up and create a true compact angle cutter by adding a worm drive (?). The pneumatic 3″ angle cutter is a must have for metal fabricators.
MM
Having a gearbox to offset the motor would certainly be nice. A worm drive is theoretically possible but are impractical at the kind of speeds this would need to turn. Bevel gears or hypoid gears would work though, same thing that’s in an angle grinder. At least one company, Snap-On, has a die grinder that works like this where it has a 90 degree gearbox head instead of the motor mounted inline. It could be used as a cutoff tool by using an arbor to mount the abrasive blade. However despite its sky-high price it’s not all that powerful.
I wonder if any specialty Aircraft related brands have a tool like this? I remember browsing catalogs years ago and seeing a huge variety of pneumatic tools, this style included, for access in tight areas doing aircraft repair.
Michael F
I use my M12 Cut Off Tool way more than I thought I would when I bought it. Probably one of my most used tools!
Peter Fox
I have the Milwaukee M12 version and love the ease of use and convenience. Its definitely good to see more options on the market.
Hopefully it will help push Milwaukee to release a M18 version as well. The M12 is good but it doesn’t have an excess of power.
The best recommendation I can make with this class of tools is buy the best cutting disk you can get. I have seen a significant difference in performance between low cost generic aluminum oxide disks and the more premium ceramic abrasive disk from 3M. I have been using the Silver series ones for almost two years and will not even consider cheaper ones ever again.
Julian Tracy
The M12 version is handy, but relatively anemic. The dewalt 20v is so much more powerful. Easily the handiest tool I own. Great for cutting tile, dust free, and much more simpler to cut off rusty bolts compared to a 4.5” cutting disc on a standard cordless grinder.
Clay
I picked one up on the labor day sale and am digging it so far. I have an older Dremel SawMax I hoped this would replace and it is looking good so far.
I am sure I could have done the things I am doing with it with a OMT or angle grinder, but it is easier to use than either.
If I had one gripe, it is that the handle is just a hair too short and is not as comfortable as it could be. I have largish hands and I am not sure I could use it with gloves on. A rare miss on Dewalt’s exceptional record of ergonomics.