Milwaukee Tool has launched a new M18 Fuel dual trigger braking angle grinder with One-Key, model 3676-20.
This is a 4-1/2″/6″ grinder with 15-position permanent side handle.
Powered by a brushless motor, the new grinder is said to deliver 13A corded performance and can make up to 135 cuts in 1/2″ rebar on a single battery charge.
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Milwaukee says that their new M18 Fuel angle grinder was engineered for the most demanding applications, and purpose-built to deliver enhanced control and powerful performance.
The non-removable adjustable side handle has a secondary switch that is required for operation.
The grinder also features AutoStop tech for advanced braking and kickback control.
Why? Enhanced user safety. Some of you might be thinking “but I don’t want that!” From earlier conversations, I’m of the understanding that dual trigger activation tends to be a requirement or sought-after feature for larger construction companies. If this doesn’t sound appealing to you, Milwaukee has many other cordless grinders in their M18 Fuel lineup.
Milwaukee emphasizes that this and their other dual trigger angle grinder will not be replacing any models, and that they will continue to offer standard and enhanced safety options.
It also features One-Key for inventory management. Milwaukee says that One-Key helps professionals reduce downtime, prevent loss, and optimize fleet visibility across large jobsites or teams.
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This is being sold as a 4-1/2″/6″ angle grinder. According to the list of included accessories, it comes with 6″ guards – both Type 1 and Type 27.
Milwaukee recommends that this grinder be used with a FORGE 8Ah battery or greater.
M18 Fuel 3676 Specifications
- 4-1/2″/6″ angle grinder
- 5/8-11 spindle
- 3,000 to 9,000 RPM variable speed (4 settings)
- AutoStop prevents severe kickback
- RapidStop brake stops wheel in less than 2 seconds
- Electronic clutch for kickback protection
- Type 27 and Type 1 guards included (6″)
- One-Key app connectivity
- 15″L x 5.4″H x 3″W
- Weighs 5.5 lbs
The grinder will be sold in tool-only format, model 3676-20. While the grinder is also compatible with 4-1/2″ accessories, users will need to source the appropriately sized guards, which are sold separately.
Price: $429
No
I’m not much of an angle grinder user myself, being mostly involved in telecom and audio/video, but the dual trigger safety feature seems more impractical than lifesaving. I likely haven’t used an angle grinder enough to appreciate the obvious safety feature this is.
Is this a way to prevent clothing from catching the wheel by forcing your sleeve outside of the blade radius?
Stuart
I imagine it’s similar to dual trigger band saws – https://toolguyd.com/dual-trigger-cordless-band-saws/ – where commercial contractors are looking to avoid injuries.
Dual switches are about having to keep both hands on the tool.
Dave@Work
I sell stuff like that. Safety Managers love dual triggers. You can’t set it down with it running. It’ll have a brake so once you let it go it’ll stop super quick. It’s all about not having it run away. Plus, if you’re using a hand to balance yourself, you probably shouldn’t be using a grinder.
Adam
While loose clothing might be an issue, that still could be a problem using two hands.
I see it preventing the guy who thinks he can hold the rebar in one hand, and cut it with the other. Those type of situations.
In all the times that I recall using a grinder, I wanted the handle on for better use of the tool, not necessarily safety, but yet that is what it provides.
Cando
But, you can hold the rebar with one hand and cut it with the other…
MM
I don’t know this for a fact, but I think the point of the dual trigger is to prevent the operator using the grinder one-handed, and risking the grinder catching and then striking the operator’s other hand. Every grinder accident I have been around was caused by exactly that.
Personally I don’t care for the dual-trigger feature, but I love the fact that bind-up/kick-back protection is becoming standard now. There are a lot of electronic features which I think are closer to silly gimmicks than anything practical, but kickback and bindup protection are fantastic.
fred
Acme will give you 10% off (ends at 11:59CST) with code SPOOKYTOOL – or add more to push your buy over $499 and you get 12% off. Like many past ACME % off deals there is a $100 max on the discount.
fred
Perhaps not as good as this one – but I got some positive feedback from a nephew who received my gift of a Metabo HPT 6-inch grinder back in 2023
https://www.acmetools.com/metabo-hpt-36v-multivolt-6in-angle-grinder-paddle-switch-variable-speed-cordless-bare-tool-g3615dvfq6m/717709029002.html
I did not expect a lot – it was on sale for something like $186 on a BF promotion – but he does hardscaping work, and it apparently works for him
Jack
About 10 years ago at a trade show I spoke to the Fein guys about a cordless angle grinder that had this very feature, non removable grip (theirs swivelled round rather than flipped over like this). It also had braking and an accelerometer drop sensor which activated the brake as a backup.
It was a prototype which a large French construction firm requested, and they were going to manufacture a batch as the order was large enough.
I can’t see these features ever becoming mandatory for the home or small employee headcount company. But larger companies that provide large numbers of tools (to often short term, not highly skilled workers), well they want to get the accident statistics as low as reasonably practicable, and remove the chance for any legal action for providing “unsafe” tools where people have removed grips and handguards because they can and the tool still works (if the tool is inherently safe, then it can only be user error right?).
Andy
I’m glad they include both Type 1 and 27 guards. I had to track down a part number and buy a Type 1 guard for the M18 4 1/2” – 6” angle grinder I bought a few years ago since it only shipped with a Type 27 guard.
Stuart
You wouldn’t believe how many angle grinders only ship with a Type 27 guard. That wouldn’t be so bad if brands made it easy to source a Type 1 guard for use with cut-off discs, which most do not.
Mitherial
After being frustrated with smaller tools/needing to make “deeper” grinds, a while back I bought Milwaukee’s biggest grinder (7″/9″), and when it has a thick disk on it, it feels positively unsafe to use with the angular momentum / gyroscope effect pushing the tool up or down orthogonal to the plane of the spinning disk (a very counter-intuitive direction of force for an occasional user like me). Then add the fact that it is non-braking and probably non-kickback protected–I’m actually afraid to use it.
The current / new version at least has this double-trigger:
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/2785-20
MM
You might see if a “flathead” style 4-1/2 or 5″ grinder will give you the extra reach you need without the hassles involved with a 7 or 9″ model. A bandfile can also get into tight spots and would be a heck of a lot safer than a grinder.
Mitherial
^ Helpful comments — thank you!
Rey
I have been using grinders for 30 years now , corded and cordless for tiles and steel, one time while cutting rebar one handed the grinder kickedbacked and got away From me , I had taken off the shield and that thing almost got my me but missed by less than a 1/4 inch , whether it catches you in the hand artery or femoral or groin it can be lifechanging