Milwaukee Tool has launched a new M12 Fuel cordless nibbler, 2476-20, which they say features the same cutting capacity as competitors’18V models.
The new 12V-class nibbler was designed for fast, clean cuts in 16-gauge mild steel. It also has the power to cut 22-gauge spiral duct seams.
As an M12 tool, the nibbler is also described as being compact and lightweight.
Advertisement
The nibbler features a brushless motor and can cut through mild steel up to 16 gauge, stainless steel up to 18 gauge, and aluminum up to 12 gauge.
It has a variable speed dial and can cut at a rate of up to 7 feet per minute.
The tool allows for tool-free 360° die holder rotation, which means you can adjust the angle of the tool or cutting direction as needed.
Milwaukee emphasizes that the nibbler has the power to cut through tougher materials, such as 22-gauge spiral duct seams.
The 16-gauge variable speed nibbler can be used for a broad range of applications. It can make straight cuts, curved cuts, and can cut through corrugated metals panels.
The M12 Fuel nibbler is described as being lighter than competing 18V-class models, while providing the same cutting capacity. Milwaukee also says that their new cordless nibbler is ergonomically designed to be lightweight, balanced, and comfortable for continuous use.
Advertisement
Key Features & Specs
- 7 FPM max cutting speed
- Variable speed
- Cutting capacity
- 16 gauge mild steel
- 18 gauge stainless steel
- 12 gauge aluminum
- 10.7″ length
- 6.22″ height
- Weighs 3.5 lbs
- LED worklight
- Chip collection
- Belt hook
- 5-year tool warranty
The nibbler comes with a chip collection bag.
There are two accessories, available separately – a replacement punch and die set (48-44-0272), and a die holder extensions (49-72-0152). The chip collection bag has a part number (49-72-0153), suggesting that replacements will also be available.
Price: $229 (tool-only, 2476-20)
ETA: August 2022
Discussion
Reading Milwaukee’s press and marketing materials carefully, I notice that they specifically mention that the M12 Fuel nibbler matches the capacity of 18V models. They say that it has the “power to cut in heavy applications such as 22-gauge spiral duct seams.”
Milwaukee specifically shows the nibbler paired with an XC 4.0Ah battery, and I should note that it’s sold as a bare tool without battery or charger.
It seems that there are 3 notable benefits here. First, it’s lighter than 18V-class nibblers, at least all of the models I looked up for fact-checking. Second, it does look to have competitive cutting capacity. Lastly, it allows for tool-free 360° die orientation, whereas some other brands’ 18V models require a wrench or have limited adjustability.
What’s your take on it, especially if you use nibblers or shears for cutting sheet metal, stainless, or corrugated metal roof or decking panels?
Advertisement
Sean
Nibblers are great tools, and Milwaukee’s always on-point with their sleek tool designs. Though it’s disappointing that you’d have to drill a giant hole in your workpiece to get the nibbler in if you don’t have access to the edge (trailer wall, for example), I prefer the nibblers that only need a hole the size of the nibble/cutting width itself in order to start.
Jared
I think it looks great. If this performs as well as 18v options, what’s not to like?
It’s a bit expensive perhaps, but no more so than the competition. I was thinking of buying a powered shear, but this is interesting enough to bear consideration.
Jared
I like the chip collection bag too. The most annoying part about a nibbler vs shear is all those sharp 1/2 moon shaped pieces that get everywhere.
Josh
It’s the worst when you step in them too. There will be little pieces of metal on the bottom of your work boots forever lol.
MM
Maybe my uses were very different than that of a typical contractor, but when I used a nibbler years ago it was for thicker materials (i.e. 12 or 14ga) that a shear could not cut, so this tool wouldn’t have interested me at all back then–too low cutting capacity. These days the only nibblers I ever use are manually operated ones for making oddball cutouts in control panels.
This does look very useful for someone doing HVAC or otherwise working with 16ga or thinner material though!
The variable speed control is a nice touch. My old corded nibbler seemed like it was built on an angle grinder motor, and it had no speed control at all. It was either on full power or it was off. That meant it was quite tricky to use, of all the power tools I’ve used over the years that one had one of the higher learning curves. A variable speed dial would have been fantastic.
Paul C
My use case is the same and I have a hard time paying as much as Red wants for their beast 10 gauge nibbler, and the hole you have to drill out is enormous. For now I get by with saws. A saber saw is much slower but leaves a cleaner edge and a much smaller kerf. Just have to drill a small hole and pull it out and put back in the slot if you want to go backwards. My only issue at this point is that the 5” cold saw doesn’t hold up and the 7” cold saw costs as much as the nibblers and eats batteries like the super Sawzall.
Aside from the half moons you also end up with a very ragged toothed and razor sharp edge unless you touch the whole thing up with a grinder which sort of limits its use outside of demolition or edges that will be covered.
This thing is typical of all powered light duty bubblers. Hoping Red comes out with their 10 gauge nibbler in an M18 format. Now THAT would be a tool. And I guess the Unitec killer would require an MX battery and a hand cart to move it around!
TomD
I find it very strange that they chose the XC4.0ah battery, if they wanted to talk about runtime is the 6.0ah really that much *heavier*? And if they wanted to talk about weight, is the 3.0ah really that much lower runtime?
Stuart
The XC 4.0Ah is a much more common capacity.
I also believe that batteries with 3Ah 18650 cells are there for users that want them, but they might not deliver max performance compared to battery packs with lower charge density.
There’s a reason why 18650-based 3Ah and 6Ah batteries are a scarcity, even with the brands that do offer them.
JR Ramos
Probably to reinforce the notion that this tool likely runs best on packs that can maintain voltage under heavier loads like this. The 6Ah is about the same as the 4Ah in that regard just with more capacity. If people want to use the small packs then I might assume (totally assume) that the tool may be best suited for lighter sheet like guttering and such.
Doug N
It seems to match the specs of 18v Makita and Hitachi nibblers, but the Hilti can cut 14ga steel and 16ga stainless. Although the Hilti is higher voltage and costs twice as much.
fred
I suspect that the cordless tools are aimed at the more common light-duty work on things like ductwork. In our plumbing business we had a rash of oil-tank removal jobs – and used Kett and CS Unitec corded nibblers that (I believe) were rated for up to 10 gauge. Nibbling was a safer alternative in many situations than torch cutting – but boy did it leave you with a pile of little oily discs to clean up. I visited a few of those jobsites to gauge customer satisfaction and could sometimes spot some errant debris that had escaped the brooms, magnets and vacuums.
Michael
Finally, when doorman showed the patient for this tool years ago that was what Finally pushed me into m12
MFC
Lol, Doresoom? Was google helping with that one?
Michael
Apparently lol
taras
Doresoom. Or Mooserod?
JR Ramos
I don’t have a whole lot of use for this anymore but if it proves to be a worthy tool I may pick one up. I’d like to see how it actually performs with 18 and 16 gauge steel, and with stainless…and how the punch and die hold up with use. Probably like everyone, I’d also like to have some idea of run time with various pack/material combinations. If this can really sail through spiral duct seams I can see it being a huge hit with that crowd and it looks like it could have a user base in guttering and body repair/restoration, maybe even aviation techs and home builders.
Phranq
I’ve been burned by their claims before about a 12v tool having 18v performance.
Never again.
I love a lot of my M12 tools, but I’ve also returned too many of them due to this bogus assertion on their part.
SamR
I am on the fancy! I wonder how it will perform in a car’s junkyard. I will keep my eyes open until I see some YouTuber test it out. Until then, I can not justify the high price tag!
Thanks for the detailed info. Others did not have such depth analysis!
Stuart
Thanks, I appreciate it!
I’m not sure this would work ideally in a junkyard, but it depends on what exactly you’re looking to do.
Nathan
I guess I’m confused as to why you’d use this vs a modern jigsaw and modern metal blade. seems like it would cut as fast or maybe faster and cleaner. at least that’s what I would reach for often. since there are alot of placement concerns for getting a nibbler to work.
Neat they make one – but I wonder if they would have done better to go smaller on the head and make it a more nimble tool vs cut capacity?
Jared
Sheet metal is thin and can easily be distorted by the up-and-down movement of a jigsaw blade if unsupported. Maybe less concerning for 16ga, but try holding a sheet of 22ga in one hand and your jigsaw in the other.
That’s not to say you can’t get by with a jigsaw for occasional use, but a nibbler or shear have specific benefits. Placement too – a jigsaw protrudes deeper than a nibbler.
Stuart
I sometimes use shears and nibblers because they make less of a mess than jig saws.
Sometimes jig saws are completely inappropriate, such as cutting corrugated metal. It can also be more difficult to track a jig saw on curved materials or to make tighter curved cuts.
Press materials describe the nibbler as being a good solution when shears are tricky to use.