Milwaukee Tool has announced a new M18 Fuel 14″ abrasive chop saw (2990-20/21), described as being the industry’s first 18V-class tool of its kind.
The new Milwaukee M18 cordless abrasive chop saw is designed for “the toughest metalworking applications” and is said to deliver the performance of a full-sized 15A corded saw.
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When equipped with an M18 HD High Output 12Ah battery, the new saw can deliver up to 200 cuts per charge in 3-5/8″ 20-gauge steel studs.
The saw features a RAPID STOP blade brake that stops the blade within 3 seconds after you release the trigger switch.
It has tool-free blade change design and also a tool-free fence adjustment.
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The fence has a maximum miter capacity of 45°.
It’s hard to say, but it looks like the vise has a quick-release material clamp.
The saw weighs 42.5 lbs and has a top handle for portability.
It also features include an overload indicator that lights up when users are applying too much pressure. When this happens, users should ease up a little to guide the saw back to its optimal cutting speed.
In other words, the machine will remind users to “let the tool do the work,” where additional force can be counterproductive.
As you might be aware, abrasive chop saws are typically used for cutting rebar, bar stock, angle iron, and other such materials.
It can also cut bundles of steel studs to size, which I am guessing is a very good reason to go with a cordless 14″ saw compared some existing cordless metal-cutting options.
Key Features and Specs
- 14″ abrasive wheel
- 4,000 RPM
- Blade brake
- 5″ cutting capacity
- 10.2″ length
- 11.5″ width
- 16.5″ height
- Weighs 42.5 lbs
- Tool-free blade change
- Tool-free fence adjustment
- Spindle lock
- 1″ arbor size
- 45° max miter capacity
Launch ETA: June 2021 for the kit (2990-21), Fall 2021 for the bare tool (2990-20)
Price: $599 for the kit, $399 for the bare tool
Buy Now: Kit via Tool Nut
Buy Now: Kit via Ohio Power Tool
Buy Now: Bare via Ohio Power Tool
Discussion
This seems like an inevitable release for the red team.
Milwaukee says:
By harnessing the power behind our M18 FUEL Technology, we are now able to bring a cordless chop saw that delivers corded power to our users.
We have been seeing more and more corded-equivalent tools in recent years, and more are on the way.
What’s next? Oh, I really hope it’ll be a 14″ multi-material chop saw, which can handle cutting materials not quite ideal for am abrasive chop saw.
Would (or will) this new addition to the M18 and M18 Fuel cordless power tool system benefit your work?
Comparison
Some of you might be aware that Makita has an 18V X2 cordless chop saw. Since that’s really a 36V saw that requires (2) batteries to function, Milwaukee’s claim of being first to release an 18V cordless 14″ abrasive saw holds true.
Compared to the Makita, the Milwaukee M18 Fuel has a faster motor.
PETE
Now we just need a welder
Jared
Ha. 😄 …except that doesn’t seem as outlandish as it once did. 🤔
Steve
Channeling Pawn Stars: Best I can do is a Ryobi 18V soldering iron, sorry.
ca
I seem to recall DeWalt was selling a rebranded cordless welder several years ago.
Kentucky fan
It was a rebranded fronius. They work decent for what they are. But they are stupid expensive
Stuart
https://toolguyd.com/dewalt-cordless-welder/
https://toolguyd.com/dewalt-cordless-welder-additional-info/
Jared
Geez. I didn’t even know such a thing existed! That’s neat.
Maybe a new version could come out using those brand new 15ah Dewalt batteries?
PETE
Yeah i know they had the rebranded cordless welder. I want one from milwaukee on the MX line! I mean the welder could also act as a power bank as well.
Tom D
Oxyacetylene is technically cordless I guess.
MFC
“We have the first 18v Chop saw”.
Big whoop-de-doo.
I want to know how much stronger/faster/smarter/better a tool is. Not whether it’s a different voltage. Specs are just scribbles til they’re tested.
Their 9″ cutoff saw and 12ah batteries totally failed at 18v (overheating, short runtime and zero torque). Now they’re trying to power a 14″ blade.
Unless they made some serious changes, this one will overheat with any real use as well (giving a cut quantity on 20 gauge metal studs tells me I’m probably right).
Once non-shill companies start reviewing it, we will find out.
XRH07
all HO solutions that border on being light equipment (ex: SDS Max, 9″ Demo Saw, Chainsaw and now this) are plagued by overheat in demanding applications. Just par for the course when you’re stuck having to push nearly 90A-100A into a BLDC motor to get 15A/120V equivalent power. There’s a reason why you never see their SDS Max getting demo’ed against Dewalt (who already had a cordless 2″ hammer out by the time Milwaukee finally released a cordless SDS Max that wasn’t a complete embarassment)
They’re not really the first to use 18V power tool batteries to power a 14″ chop saw anyways. And this thing likely won’t be any different from the rest of their upper end HO solutions as far as the overheating thing goes.
Chris
Cordless is cordless. I’m sure it will work fine for what it’s intended for.
philip s john
It’s not true. 18v brushless not the same as 54v brushless. This is why some application have 2 x 18v for 36v. Even the 9 amp bat is a mistake with 18650. Chainsaw and 1 inch impact overheat too.
Only super sawsall is good.
philip s john
The fix. A new 40v line. With new tools. It will be a multivolt. The battery will be 40v at 4amph but can split for m18 at 8amph. New mx tools will come with adapter to fit 2 of the new 40v bats. Now 80v at for 2 amph.
Mike
I see dewalt going with 60v for this tool because of overheating, voltage doesn’t mean more power but it definitely runs more efficient with higher voltage, another thing speed doesn’t mean more power it’s good if it can its speed up once it’s cutting you can have one going 6000 rpm the other 5000 rpm and the 5000 will cut faster because it has a lot more torque
Nathan
that overload meter idea is a good idea for any chop saw. I’ve not seen one that has that before now but it would be nice to see.
otherwise great idea – surprised it took this long. waiting for the Dewalt X2 Flexvolt kit that does the same but also has a ac adapter. that’s be awesome for this you know like a miter saw.
meanwhile still a good idea all around – will be interesting to see how it holds up based on the comments about milwaukee batteries overheating.
XRH07
Makita has had them on most (maybe all) of their brushless grinders and circular saws the past 5-6 years.
Milwaukee had one on the 9″ Demo saw. Probably on a few other tools as well. Just can’t think of any off the top of my head atm.
Ruslan C
I have a hard time to believe in 200 cuts. I have the 9″ cut off saw and it takes just 3-1/2 concrete blocks to cut in half, to kill 12 Amp battery. I love the way it cuts bricks though. If this chop saw is using similar gear design, then it would be a nightmare to keep up with batteries
philip s john
Yup. You end up walking to charger a crazy about of times to manage all the overheating batteries. It’s a horrible line at HO. Chainsaw 1 inch impact all the same.
They made big claims about battery tech to achieve HO 18v.
I really feel they should buy the tools and buy bats back. Because they will build another line at higher voltage.
Corey Moore
42 lbs, oof. Cool they made it, I guess. If one absolutely needs a cordless solution and only had Milwaukees I’m sure it’d be invaluable, but I’d like to see how it compares to Makita’s. I’d bet money that the Dewalt power station with any decent corded model would win in a performance contest with both. Likely cost double, but I think most people would resonate with verbiage like “best performance” rather than “technically first even though there’s two other ways to use 18v batteries to power one of these.” Maybe I’m just tired as it’s 3am, but this seems kinda neat at best for me. And holy crap, a 42 lb 18v tool…
philip s john
Need a new line. At 40v tools and 4 amph battery . A multivolt battery that can split in half for m18 at now 8amph. New mx tools would come with an adapter to receive 2 of the new 40v bats now at 2 amph. Just need to get around patent of multivolt and or flexvolt
fred
I start to wonder about how many light-duty tools masquerading as replacement for their heavy-duty counterpart we really want or need, I bought a 2786-20 back in March for a small hard-scaping project. It was not up to the task of cutting more than a few pavers at a time. I ended up with dusting off and tuning up (to get it to start) my old Makita engine-driven saw. The Milwaukee also seemed to have an issue with dealing with water management. I had high hopes – but I gave it away.
Milwaukee seems to be pushing the limits on 18V batteries – but maybe there are enough light-duty applications to justify them pushing a bit further.
SAM
I wonder if the Evolution Power Tools 14BLADEST Steel Cutting Saw Blade, 14-Inch x 66-Tooth, or the 15″ can be used on the new M18 Saw?
Stuart
Probably not? Generally abrasive and multi-material saws are designed a little differently. At the least, the speeds won’t match up. A cold-cutting or multi-material saw might operate at 1300 RPM. This saw operates at 4000 RPM.
The Evolution blade you mentioned can only be used up to 1600 RPM according to its Amazon listing. https://www.amazon.com/Evolution-Power-Tools-14BLADEST-66-Tooth/dp/B001QF9VRG/?tag=toolguyd-20
Harrison Gregoire
I’d echo other users here questioning the utility of an 18v abrasive saw. I get that Milwaukee is all in on their 18v HO, but there’s a reason it needs the overload light. Lean in too hard, and you’ll quickly overheat the battery.
I rented a brand new M18 1 3/4” SDS Max to replace the foundations at an off-grid cabin. Using the chisel to break up the failing block and soft mortar masonry, I found I could only work for about 5-10 min at a time without the 12aH batteries overheating. At one point it took about 2 hours for one of the batteries to cool down enough to take a charge- I thought I’d bricked it for sure. Wasn’t looking forwards to explaining that at the rental desk!
To the rotary hammer’s credit, I found the drilling to go much smoother, but I was only using a 3/4” bit.
Definitely a reality check for me on the limits of battery tech, especially at 18v. There’s a clear amperage ceiling that Milwaukee is pushing against, I don’t see how much longer they can keep claiming that their 18v tech keeps up with competitors 36, 54 and soon 72v tools.
MM
I agree. And what’s puzzling here is why Milwaukee didn’t make that a dual-battery tool, or use a higher voltage platform–like MX which they already have.
I have the Flexvolt 9-inch cutoff saw and one of my coworkers has the M18. I have used both side-by-side working on a steel fabrication project and the Dewalt can work much harder than the Milwaukee can. It also has an overload light, but honestly you have to get on it really hard before the light triggers while it’s rather easy to trigger the light on the M18.
philip s john
Yup. The issue can get exponentially worse. Milwaukee m18 HO you end up over heating all bats and are at the charger more than the tool.
But with dewalt 60v… you are twice as more capable with more bats
philip s john
Lol. They want 800 CAD for this. Plus it’s not that capable at HO.
You can get a dewalt selfdrive lawnmower for 600. With 2 10 amph batteries