This October, Milwaukee Tool is coming out with an M12 Fuel right angle die grinder. We got a first look last week at Milwaukee NPS19, their 2019 New Product Symposium.
A right angle die grinder like this is commonly used for surface rust removal, gasket removal, grinding, deburring, and polishing. The right angle head makes it easier to get the tool into tight spaces and can be more comfortable for some tasks like rust removal and polishing than an inline die grinder.
The brushless motor in this new M12 Fuel die grinder is rated at 0.3 HP, giving it 20% more power over standard 0.25 HP pneumatic right angle die grinders. Milwaukee also claims that their new cordless right angle die grinder is quieter than comparable air tools.
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The die grinder features 4 speed settings and a variable speed trigger. The speed is selected by a push button on the end of the tool. Pressing the button cycles through the 10K, 15K, 20K, and 25K RPM settings (modes 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively). What this means is that the stated RPM is the highest you can achieve with the variable speed trigger in that particular mode.
Rather than a trigger switch, the M12 Fuel right angle die grinder has a traditional air tool throttle lever-style switch.
Milwaukee claims that with a fully charged 2.0Ah battery, the die grinder can grind over 250 linear feet of 3″ wide gasket — the equivalent of doing 5 transmissions.
The tool is small enough to fit into the drawer of your metal storage cabinet or bench. It comes with a collet for 1/4″ shank tools, but they said it can also use a 1/8″ collet.
ETA: October 2019
Price: $169 bare tool (2485-20), $259 for the kit (2485-22)
Buy Now(Bare Tool via Tool Nut)
Buy Now(Kit via Tool Nut)
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An inline model of this die grinder may follow in January of 2020.
Below I’ve linked to the NPS presentation of the M12 right angle die grinder, cued to their demo that’s supposed to show how much better the M12 die grinder performs under load than a pneumatic 0.25 HP die grinder.
Discussion
Milwaukee kept saying this was the first cordless die grinder on a major battery platform. They must have meant right angle die grinder because Milwaukee, Dewalt, Bosch, and Makita all currently have 18V inline die grinders. I did a bit of searching and could only find one other cordless right angle grinder, and it was from an obscure company that no longer exists.
While those 18V-class inline die grinders are designed for a range of metalworking applications, the new M12 Fuel right angle grinder is specifically targeted at auto mechanics and transportation maintenance applications. The Milwaukee M12 Fuel right angle die grinder will likely be useful outside of automotive repair work as well.
The stated 5 transmissions-worth of gasket removal on a 2.0A battery wasn’t really a metric I understood, so I asked how many linear feet of metal it could shape with a rotary burr. The presenter said they didn’t have the numbers, but it should be able to far exceed 250 feet, since a rotary burr cuts so quickly and is much smaller in diameter than the accessories used for gasket removal.
Of course you can always use a higher capacity battery, or multiple batteries to extend the run time.
Many die grinder accessories have maximum speed ratings. With a pneumatic right angle die grinder you need to feather the trigger and guess what speed you are running the tool. Having a mode with a set maximum RPM limit might make this a safer option and might also make your accessories to last longer, helping to offset the cost of the tool.
This tool is definitely larger than a 0.25 HP right angle pneumatic die grinder, and so there may be some situations where a pneumatic version would fit where this cordless tool wouldn’t. However, not having to worry about being attached to an air line can be a big advantage.
Will this new Milwaukee M12 Fuel cordless right angle die grinder supplement or replace your pneumatic right angle die grinder? Or will you keep your trusty pneumatic?
Altan
Nice design, DeWALT should make a similar one.
DrewM
1/8″ collet eh? This might out “dremel” their M12 “dremel”.
At first, I thought 0.3hp was pretty wimpy but that would mean that at 12v it was pulling about 20A from that M12 pack which is actually quite a lot of current for a Samsung 30Q.
Benjamen
I asked about the collet size and was told that it was 1/4″ and it would accept a 1/8″ collet. He did not tell me if that would be part of the kit, and additional purchase, or if you had to find one yourself.
That last one seems unlikely as 1/4″ collets seem to vary somewhat manufacturer to manufacturer.
Jeff
It is not my favorite way to go but there are split sleeve reducers that will take any 1/4″ collet down to 1/8″.
Nathan
continuous runtime would have been a better metric I think
interesting device though – seems well thought out. still can’t help but think a 18V class tool would be better suited due to the runtime power capacity. and more volts – smaller motor can for same torque output – might might a smaller power head.
Eric
Run time is hard to measure on devices like this. It’s all going to depend on what kind of load your putting on it. It’ll run a whole lot longer just spinning free than if your really bearing down on a sanding disc. And of course there is a lot of room in the middle of that range to change the run time you get.
18v is the wrong class for a tool like this. It needs to be as small as possible for the automotive industry. I would much rather swap batteries a couple times a day and get it anywhere I needed it. It doesn’t matter how much longer the battery lasts or how powerful it is if I can’t get it to fit where I need it to.
Nathan
Well I mean an 18V 2-3 AH compact battery will still have 1/3 more avaiable power. Not saying anyone would run this with a 6AH Max pack.
And usually higher voltage means smaller motor. I’d like to see what the trade off would have been – maybe another 1/2 inch smaller motor can – which I would think would have been a better product.
Yes runtime is hard to pin down if you’re not bearing down on this will all your weight will making steel dust. I get that too.
on a different front since they make that light and ratchet off the 12 line – mechanics invested in that – have an easy sell.
Eric
Look at the M18 die grinder, that thing is huge. I’m guessing not many mechanics want to try and use that monster. Most mechanics that are invested in one are probably also invested the other. M12 for ratchets, small impacts, lights, polisher, etc. They’re also in M18 for the bigger impacts.
fred
In our fabrication shop, we tried out a Makita 18V die grinder – quite a few years ago. I do not believe that it had a brushless motor – but size was just as much an issue as runtime and power (wimpy). We thought it might have been useful for touch-up work – but the guys hated it based on its clunky size and lack of power compared to our pneumatics.
Mark A.
Best comment here
DrewM
A higher input voltage *might* result in the motor being the exact same size because, for the same output rpm, would mean a lower kV wind which would mean a larger motor for the same power. However, the higher input voltage would mean they could use slightly smaller gauge wire for the windings.
My point being, most crude motor assumptions don’t really quite work for brushless motors since it is a more complicated beast.
TonyT
100% correct; higher voltage isn’t magic.
Ted
I’m a diesel mechanic and I have been waiting for this for years. Everyone in my shop uses cordless tools more then air now and the only thing we haven’t had is a right angle die grinder. Is it October yet? Because I want this now!
Eric
The only big thing that’s left is an air hammer. If they can work that out we’ll only need a compressor for tires and blowing things off.
hangovna
They have the M12 tire inflator and M18 blower! No need for a compressor!
Ted
And I guess a hammer drill on hammer mode only could qualify as an air hammer. We are set! Air compressors are a thing of the past!
Eric
Not even close my SDS plus hammer drill doesn’t hit anywhere near as hard as an air hammer. One of the giant SDS max drills might come close, but they’re so big you could never fit it in anywhere. The other problem is no one makes the kinds of bits you use in an air hammer for an SDS style chuck.
Eric
While the M12 inflator is nice for topping off tires, it’ll never replace a compressor for filling tires up from flat. And it sure won’t set a bead on a rim. As for the blower, the current blowers will blow off an area, but there isn’t anything like a little nozzle that will blow out a small hole.
Jordan Brown
The m18 2 gal vacuum works well for blowing out small areas
Timothy E Smith
Hell ya
And your correct about the need for battery powered die grinder .
And in 12 v makes sense for size.
I have both 18v & 12v Milwaukee tools & I use the hell out of them .
They just keep getting better .
I just lost my house & my shops in northern CA.
So dragging air tools around isn’t really an option & I need serious tools that flat perform rite now.
Can’t wait to get this die grinder .
Know any short cuts to get one ?
Milwaukee Rocks !!!
Doc John
Looks like a cool tool
Ergonomically, does the paddle trigger not allow a firm tool grip. Specifically. It kind of seems that where you firmly need to hold the tool is also the same location where you operate the trigger, so therefore tool control is always at odds with speed control. It appears that you may be able to get your index finger around the upper portion of handle, however over longer-term use wouldn’t holding the tool by essentially only ones’ index finger and thumb become fatiguing?
Tommy
Exactly same design as the pneumatic grinder everyone has been using forever
Michael L Daidone
Me too, and it’s inline brother
Adam Smith
Diesel mechanic here…I’m joining you in this purchase for sure but just an FYI matco offers a cordless right angle die grinder on the 16.6 platform currently and has a pneumatic style head. I use mine daily and love it. Certainly doesn’t do or claim 25,000rpm but is a torque monster. I hog out holes at times but primarily clean flanges and faces. Ask your tool truck when he comes. Don’t know why they don’t advertise them because they’d sure sell out.
fred
Its a bit bulkier then the pneumatics – but no tail (air hose) to deal with. It should appeal to medium/light-duty tasks like engine work. Depending on the run time and power it might also have some place on the shop floor. I’m not convinced that it will replace the pneumatic Dotco’s that we used on production runs – but it looks like a welcome addition to the M12 lineup.
Nathan
since this is more marketing to automotive uses I think it fits a right spot. Body shop guys aren’t using these to fit panels or finish sand (other than maybe some details)
but for the guys taking off oil pans – heads – etc and need to burnish the gasket area – makes a lot of sense. I hope this is setup so the motor fan blows out of the front holes towards the disc – to keep metal dust out of the motor.
hangovna
Theres metal screen on the air inlet/outlets just like the big M18 grinders to keep the dust out.
Brian A
Probably the most desired tool from NPS19. Should of made this a long time ago.
Doug
I have no air tools, and have never even used a die grinder, right angle or otherwise. But I want this tool…
I’m sure I can find some uses for car repair, and looks like it can replace a Dremel. Also love the minimalist, functional design.
Vlad
I really like those props Milwaukee had at NPS19: like oversized drill bits and drivers. Would be cool to have few in my office ))))
Stuart
The props were really well made! Things were strange though… the drill bit model felt lightweight while the Matrix Carbide model felt like it was made from a much denser material.
If they were 3D printed, I don’t even want to know how much they cost to make, especially if done using stereolithography.
Benjamen
Maybe they used the big SLS printers that they showed us in the prototyping room. The ones that cost 10’s of thousands of dollars to fill with printing liquid.
Jared
Looks quite good. I think I would prefer this shape over an inline die grinder.
Daniel
YES YES YES. This is absolutely perfect for cleaning surface areas oil pans engine deck differential pans axels brake rotors this thing was made specifically for the auto industry we use this tool non stop in all light to heavy duty fleet applications 🙂 this is the second to last pneumatic tool left to be replaced now for that air hammer! Mechanics seem to always have the m12 and the m18 series 🙂
Matt_T
Ingersoll Rand introduced straight (GS25) and right angled (GR25) cordless die grinders 12 years ago as part of their 14.4v IQV line. So I’m not buying Milwaukees claim to any kind of first.
Benjamen
Yes but they qualified it with: “on a major battery platform.” If you add enough qualifiers you can be first in anything.
Thanks, I missed the IQv line in my search. I did find some other right angle die grinders by buffalo tools and AC Delco:
https://buffalo-tools.com/products/cordless-mini-angle-die-grinder
https://www.amazon.com/acdelco-tools-arg1214-li-ion-grinder/dp/b00e654q3m
I think the AC Delco was the one I thought wasn’t made any more, because I found one retailer that said it was discontinued.
I’m not a fan of hype either, that’s why we try to explicitly state when it is a claim and separate it from specifications and features, but we’re not always perfect. So if you find evidence contradicting a claim please keep letting us know.
fred
That’s like the fine print on documents – that if not meant to deceive – are at the very least meant to overstate to positive and downplay everything else.
Why not let the tool and its introduction speak for itself? Are we (the tool buying public) so enamored with buying the first-of-a-kind, only the biggest, most powerful etc. that we need to be constantly hyped? I understand that The Milwaukee Team may be proud of the new products that they are introducing and don’ want to keep their candle hidden under a bucket (as the old adage advises) – but they are losing credibility. Its good to know that the Toolguyd Team is a bit circumspect about these sorts of claims.
Adam Smith
Matco currently offers a right angle die grinder on their 16.6v platform yet they don’t carry them on the tool trucks and most sales drivers haven’t even seen one in person. After months of looking for one as a mobile diesel mechanic I found it on the inter web. Called my matco guy and said get it to me to try. Specs are way off on their website and makes it look weak. Happy to say it’s a beast though. And the head is a standard pneumatic profile which is not as bulky as the new Milwaukee.
Don’t get me wrong though. I’m already signed up to be a preorder on the M12 angle die grinder through the fan page. Mostly because of the 25,000r speed and the awesome factor.
Steve Fedor
It should be a winner I’ve been using there m12 mini buffer for 3 years as a right angle grinder to do body work with no problems at all
glenn
Similar here. I use it to clean up aluminium for polishing as well as stripping paint. And happy with it so most likely wont buy this new one.
Eric
If your going to keep the polisher check out the adapter on ebay. It adapts the polisher to a 1/4″ and 1/8″ collet so you can run anything you would normally put in a die grinder.
DrewM
I’d never really looked at that tool before. I need to take a closer look at it.
Steve Fedor
Yeah it comes with a buffing pad attachment and also a roloc wheel setup I bought it with the intention of just using it as a buffer but i saw it had two modes buffing and sanding once I used it as a grinder I was super impressed. It has mostly served as a mini angle grinder ever since l hardly ever use my air powered mini angle grinder anymore
Jeff
They obviously saved power and cost by putting the motor in the head and eliminating the rt angle gears. I can’t tell from the pictures but I want to know if the head is smaller than the 2″ roloc that is mounted on it. If I can’t bring the 2″ disk up to a corner, that is a big negative for me. It already gives up a lot with a burr or stone over a smaller head rt angle pneumatic. I have been waiting for a tool like this, also. As I recall Delco and IR both had rt angle gear cordless at one time. Maybe an M18 would have allowed the use of a smaller geared head.
Corey Moore
Now that is badass ?
Chris
Don’t think I’ll give up my Aircat air grinder anytime soon
Mike
This will be one of the tools that change the way you do things. Either it will be your first right angle and you learn about the awesome world for Roloc (which could be a great post for a certain tool blog we all love)! Or you’ll retire your air grinder and find more uses as you aren’t tethered down. Maybe not a full-time body guy that grinds 8 hours a day, but for the rest of us, being able to easily bring the tool to the job, instead of the job to the tool can make things so much more efficient and even enjoyable.
Do we really need a 12v inline? I’ve got the 18v die grinder which handles anything you throw at it and the 12v rotary tool if you need the small size or lots of control. Totally just playing devil’s advocate, as I will buy both the day they come out.
Koko The Talking Ape
I’d been lusting for an air-powered woodworking shop ever since a read an article about it in Fine Woodworking. The tools are cheap, small, powerful, cool-running, and last forever.
It never occured to me that they can’t respond to load the way electronically controlled motors can. There are many electric tools that will increase their draw to maintain their RPMs under load. And for hand tools, they need that air hose.
No wonder people are moving to cordless away from air.
DWF
Pneumatic tools don’t spark and last thousands of hours when taken care of. Air tools are very light also. How safe are cordless tools in a dust and flammable environment? What is the life of a cordless tool?
Benjamen
A brushless tool shouldn’t spark either, but it may not be intrinsically safe. I have a vague memory of somebody saying a tool wasn’t intrinsically safe at the event, but I can’t remember if it was this tool. Anyway if it was intrinsically safe they would say so and if you needed a tool to be IS, you would or should know.
Good questions none-the-less.
TJ Cornish
The big difference is that air tools run cooler as they are used due to the air cooling as it is expanded through the tool (the opposite of this is why air compressors get so hot – compressing the air heats it) while electric tools generate heat in use.
Brushed tools arc at the commutator; brushless tools do not spark unless something is broken.
I think you can make an argument that with great maintenance air tools would have a longer life than electric tools, but it’s hard to ignore the convenience of not having a cord/hose.
I’m not a mechanic – I do woodworking. The last air tool I use is an 18-ga nailer. I’ve held off because the Milwaukee gen-1 18-ga nailer sucked. Now that gen-2 is on the way, I’ll pretty much only use the compressor on tires. No more inflexible air line, no more moisture to drain, no more compressor cycle noise.
Kevin Franklin
I have been waiting for this one! This tool will be extremely handy and should sell very well. Hopefully and an inline will soon follow
Kent
I wonder how well this would work as a right angle sander for cleaning up bowls on the wood lathe…
Nate B
I wish the speed settings were just labeled “10, 15, 20, 25” instead of “1, 2, 3, 4”.
That would make it quite a bit easier to set the speed for an rpm-limited tool. Otherwise I’ll have to print a little decoder label and stick it on the side somewhere.
Charles
I think I know the answer to this already but from the picture the battery looks very much like the Bosh 12 volt battery. Will this tool accept the Bosh?
Stuart
No. Milwaukee M12 cordless power tools only work with Milwaukee M12 Li-ion battery packs.
The Bosch 12V Max and Milwaukee M12 batteries share a similar geometry, but are not interchangeable.
Charles
Thanks for the information.
Peter Antonvich
My understanding is that the leads are reversed-and that people have changed their tool to support their battery type -I don’t have a link to prove that off the top of my head – lol
Oleg k
They should have made the first speed around 500rpm so it could also be used as a polisher, wouldn’t be a big deal for a tool this size, especially given them fact that no one will ever use it as intended because of its size and lack of real power.
Jeff
Milwaukee recently came out with a cordlss sander/ polisher that runs in the range you want.
SteveW
Don’t forget about the Snap-On surface prep tool. It’s been around a long time.
Eric
Can you use a 3″ cut off wheel on this? I use my current right angle grinder for cleaning surfaces and my inline grinder with a cut off wheel
Benjamen
I’d be very hesitant because there is not a guard, but if you can use a pneumatic 0.25 HP right angle die grinder to do it, the Milwaukee should be able to do it too.
Mike
Milwaukee has an m12 right angle cutoff tool with a guard. I think it is physically larger though.
Eric
Neither my right angle or in line grinders have guards and both spin at 25k so not concerned about that. But I’m guessing the attachments are the same
Ben Scheuer
How long is it? I am a auto mechanic and will be using it tho clean the inside of rims.
Mainly the spot where the rim makes contact with the hub. I want to know the dimensions in order to determine whether or not it would be a good tool for me. Also considering how much money Milwaukee won from their lawsuit against Snap-On I am sure they could make a battery powered “air hammer.” I wonder what they would call it? Maybe they would call it “Electric Hammer”. Anyways I need to know the dimensions.
Benjamen
I’m not sure, but I can estimate the size using the pictures and knowing the size of a battery.
An actual M12 battery is 40 inches long from end to the top of the spring tab. In the first photo it’s 25mm. the total length in the photo is 125mm.
So 25/125 = 40/x or x = 200mm or about 8″. Of course the photo is at a slight angle.
To double check I used the third photo which is straight on, but cuts off the top, so I have to estimate where it is.
33/160 = 40/x or x= 194 or 7-5/8″
Again this is approximate.
Jeff
I hope that motor head is smaller than a 2″ rolic disc. It looks close in the picture. For cost and loss of power they probably did not want to emulate the rt. angle gear drive on a pneumatic. The big head could definitely be a clearance issue with a burr or grind stone. I want a die grinder for more than gaskets. Maybe they could have gone to a smaller, gear drive , rt. angle head on a short shaft, with an 18 volt battery. It would be a bulky battery and motor pack with an extended neck with an angle drive. That is what I would have liked to have seen. More than 90 degrees would let you get in close. There are air grinders like that.
SPEW
I think Milwaukee has nailed it with this (if it works as stated) most of the people I work with (Heavy equipment technician) already have a bunch of batteries for whatever manufacturer’s tools they have. I think that that whole “How many transmission oil pan gasket surfaces blah blah blah…” isn’t the best measuring metric, because if we consider the application, a technician that is doing 10+ transmissions a day is either in a transmission shop, or at some sort of reman facility. 9 times out of 10 they will use a shop air supply.
Realistically, these will more likely be seen in a field service vehicle, getting dropped in mud, sand and puddles as well as falling from the top of an engine bay of some piece of heavy equipment or truck where they bounce off every hard, metallic surface possible on the way down. In my experience, the M12 batteries are not very forgiving to this kind of torture.
IMO, as long as the owner takes care not to abuse the tool, I think it will be a total game changer, as promised. That said, I’d like to see a more destructive test done, so we can find out if they’re made of glass or not.
Fredy
Hola buenos días me gustaría saber donde puedo comprar el milwaukee m12 fuel right angle die grinder
Stuart
It won’t be available in the USA for ~2 more months. I don’t know when it’s expected to ship to other countries.
Epiroc
Air powered tools are a thing of the past. T I hate airlines and will buy everything they comeout with to eliminate that stupid air hose. 9 times out of ten claim was completly false about techs using air over battery tooks. I work in a rebuild shop. Everyone has ditched the air hose. Milwaukee has invaded my epiroc shop and basically all underground mines. I havent seen a hose attached to an impact in a long time. 9 times out of ten. The grinder you can hear running in any underground shop or heavy duty surface shop is a milwaukee cordless grinder.i got out of bed at 1am because i couldnt sleep. I had to recheck when this grinder was comming out. These tools are like crack for mechanics.
Dr
Do these tools work well with 3” roloc discs? One post I read recommended the 2” but I like the 3” better.