The long-awaited Milwaukee M18 Fuel cordless air compressor has been on jobsites for a while now. Carpenters have put its 1,600 18-gauge nails-per-charge claims to the test. Some users have even tried this Milwaukee battery-powered air compressor with impact wrenches and for tire inflation. I’m a professional plumber by trade. While it may seem unusual for someone like me to review the 2840-20 compressor—I had several ideas. First and foremost, I could use it on jobsites with no power. Indeed, my team has now used it successfully to bleed heaters and air-test PEX on several repipes.

Pros

• Compact, tough, and convenient design with carry handle and roll cage
• Quiet operation at 68 decibels
• Saves time on jobs without power
• 135 PSI, 1.2 SCFM @ 90 PSI is sufficient for many light-duty tasks

• At 31.2 pounds, a bit heavier than several of its competitors

Check out our Best Air Compressors article for our top picks across a variety of applications and uses.

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Compact Compressor for Bleeding Heaters

Even on sites with power, we typically bleed heaters manually. With the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Compact Quiet Compressor, I can let it do all the work. The compact design and easy carry handle make it a great job site compressor. I also loved the protective roll cage that makes it exceedingly easy to stow in the van and move around the worksite.

I let a coworker “borrow” the Milwaukee cordless air compressor to pressure test a new sewer line. He used the 2840-20 instead of a hand pump. It worked perfectly—much more quickly, in fact, and with less effort than the old-fashioned way. He further endorsed it by making it very hard for me to get it back!

Milwaukee Cordless Air Compressor for Pressure Testing

Street water pressure is 75 PSI in our neck-o-the-woods. Because of this, we typically pressure test repipe jobs with a compressor at 150 PSI for at least 15 minutes. That assures us that the pipes are ready to go. Of course, that pressure far exceeds what’s necessary to test, but it provides extra peace of mind. At 135 PSI, the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Compact Quiet Compressor doesn’t quite make our max pressure test, but it easily satisfies rough-in PSI levels. We can achieve 150 PSI with our electric pancake compressor but if a jobsite doesn’t have power, the Milwaukee serves as a very close approximation.

To test pressure, we hook the pipe up to the Milwaukee battery-powered air compressor using a hose bib with a gauge. The 2-gallon tank provided plenty of volume for this task. We then pump it up and look at the gauge. Typically, we do this around lunchtime, so it has plenty of time to sit. When we come back to the job site, we look at the pressure gauge. If it reads the same pressure, we’re in business!

The cordless convenience and the ability to get work done on a jobsite with no power comes with a bit of a time tradeoff. It takes the Milwaukee M18 Fuel cordless air compressor north of 90 seconds to fill up. Still, that’s a lot faster than getting no work done at all!

Using the Milwaukee 2840-20 for Carpentry

Though a plumber by trade, I also do plenty of carpentry. I recently remodeled my kitchen into a “deliciousness factory” (my wife’s term). I used the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Compact Quiet Compressor on some of the trim work. The Milwaukee cordless compressor helped me easily drive 2-inch brads—the nailer never once outrunning the air supply.

It’s hard to overstate the convenience of using a truly quiet battery-powered compressor. Compared to a noisy pancake, the Milwaukee measured a whole lot less noise output. We measured just 72 dBA SPL using a decibel meter. If I were a professional carpenter, I’d want this on every trim job whether or not I had available power!

Price

You can pick up the Milwaukee battery-powered air compressor as a bare tool for $349. There are kit options for $548 (12.0 High Output Battery) and $598 (12.0 High Output Battery and Charger). Here’s a look at the competition.

• Ridgid 18V Kit only with (2) 2.0 Batteries and Charger (1-Gallon): $297
• DeWalt FlexVolt 60V Max Kit only with 6.0 Battery and Charger (2.5-Gallon) DCC2560T1: $299
• Milwaukee M18 Fuel Compact Quiet Compressor (2-Gallon) 2840-20: $349

Milwaukee Battery-Powered Air Compressor Bottom Line

The Milwaukee M18 Fuel Compact Quiet Compressor seems like the cordless tool Milwaukee fans have eagerly waited for. It’s quiet and powerful, especially with a 12.0 battery. It also takes up hardly any space and is easily portable. Carpenters will no doubt benefit from its features, but other Pros—like plumbers—can also take advantage of it as I did.

Specifications

• Models:
  • 2840-20 (bare tool)
  • 2840-20BAT (with 12.0 High Output battery)
  • 2840-20KIT (with 12.0 High Output battery and charger)
• Sound output: 68 dB(A) SPL
• Tank capacity: 2 gallons
• Max pressure: 135 PSI
• SCFM: 1.2 @ 90 PSI
• Pump type: Oil-free
• Regulator: Single turn
• Dimensions (LxWxH): 16.25 x 18.62 x 10.6 in.
• Weight: 31.2 lbs.
• Prices
  • 2840-20 (bare tool): $349
  • 2840-20BAT (with 12.0 High Output battery): $548
  • 2840-20KIT (with 12.0 High Output battery and charger): $598

The post Milwaukee M18 Fuel Cordless Air Compressor Review appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

The redesigned Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hole Hawg (2807-20) boasts more power and speed than its excellent predecessor with a shorter tool length and just a skosh (0.3 pounds) more heft. Our crew loves the Super Hawg we’ve used for years but having a smaller Hawg is certainly an advantage. Here are the details!

Pros

• Highly productive capability for 220 7/8″ holes per charge
• Faster work with 300 more RPM than its predecessor
• Small profile allows work in tight spaces
• 5 year limited warranty
• Just 7.7 pounds bare

• Caveat not a con: Requires a Milwaukee High Output battery in order to get the most power from the tool

Where the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hole Hawg Fits

At least until you get some seniority, there’s almost no getting around repipe work. More literally, there’s almost no getting around a sweltering attic while you’re doing it! Maneuvering between truss members, being careful not to damage the ceiling below—the last thing you want is a big, heavy corded drill for all those holes. While the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Super Hawg remains our top recommendation for 2-9/16-inch holes, the updated Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hole Hawg approaches the leader. It presents a smaller, lighter-weight, yet powerful drilling tool.

Even if you’ve never performed this type of work, it’s easy to imagine the advantages of this faster, more powerful Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hole Hawg. What may not be clear, however, is the benefit of being able to drill closer to exterior walls (where the attic narrows sharply toward the soffit) with a smaller tool. Our crew has enjoyed the power of competitor DeWalt’s Inline Stud & Joist Drill, for example, but its size prevents you from getting as close as this Hawg.

Max Power with High Output Battery Packs

To achieve maximum productivity from the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hole Hawg, be sure to use Milwaukee’s High Output battery packs. We started with regular packs and found we could move faster with the more muscular packs.

Also, when using the cordless Hole Hawg to drill 2-9/16″ holes for plumbing rough-ins, you must use a High Output pack. When testing the tool with 5Ah batteries the tool couldn’t quite drill those holes without stalling out. Even with that pack, this tool doesn’t hit those holes as hard as the cordless Super Hawg. If you spend most of your time roughing-in 2-9/16″ you probably want to step up to the bigger tool.

For everyone else, the cost-savings and reduced size make this a very compelling cordless right-angle drill with oodles of run-time.

How Much Run-time Do You Get?

Milwaukee claims this Hawg will create 220 7/8-inch holes per charge. We didn’t get to test that many holes at once, but it seems plausible. We spend nearly all of our time drilling larger holes. This tool certainly gets the job done—but those tackling 2-inch and smaller-diameter holes will see the most benefits. That’s okay, however. For 2-inch holes and below, this Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hole Hawg is quick!

More Than Plumbing

So it’s not just us plumbers who can benefit from the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hole Hawg. There are lots of applications for carpenters and electricians, too. One thing seems certain—put a Hole Hawg in the hand of a guy doing rough-in, and he’ll move on to the next job pretty quickly!

Milwaukee 2807-20 vs 2707-20 Hole Hawg

The Milwaukee 2807-20 compares well to the 2707-20 it replaces. You get many of the same hole-drilling capacities—but with a few notable improvements. First, the speed increases dramatically to 1,500 RPM. Secondly, that speed supports greater drilling power—allowing the Milwaukee 2807-20 to tackle up to 2-9/16″ holes. This type of capacity brings the Hole Hawg up nearer to the work typically only tackled by the cordless Super Hawg. Possibly the best thing is that the price doesn’t change—this rolling update simply replaces the older tool.

Milwaukee 2807 Hole Hawg Pricing

The Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hole Hawg 2807-20 prices out at $279 for the bare tool and $579 for the kit. Here’s a look at the competition.

• Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hole Hawg 2807: $279 (bare), $579 (kit)
• Makita 18V X2 LXT 1/2 Inch Right Angle Drill XAD03: $359 (bare), $469 (kit)
• DeWalt 60V Max In-Line Stud & Joist Drill DCD470: $399 (bare), $549 (kit)
• Milwaukee M18 FUEL Super Hawg 2809/2911: $399 (bare), $699 (kit)

The Bottom Line

The Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hole Hawg’s second generation is a great success with more power and speed in a slightly shorter tool length and just a few tenths of a pound more. You MUST use Milwaukee High Output batteries in order to get the maximum power from this tool—but those XC6.0 batteries come with the 2807-22 kit.

Specifications Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hole Hawg 2807-20

• Models
  • 2807-20 (bare tool)
  • 2807-22 (kit)
• Chuck Size: 1/2-inch
• Chuck Type: Metal
• Length: 15.6 inches
• Weight: 7.7 pounds
• Warranty: 5 years
• Prices:
  • 2807-20 (bare tool): $279
  • 2807-22 (kit): $579

The post Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hole Hawg 2807-20 appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

Many tools accomplish their work with finesse and precision. In fact, that’s often why we choose to use them. Every once in a while, however, we need a tool that gets the job done with brute force. We need the big, mean, junkyard dog kind of tool. That’s the hawg—specifically, the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Super Hawg 1/2-inch Right Angle Drill (2809-20 or 2811-20).

Every guy has things that make him feel more manly. Maybe it’s chopping some wood, perhaps eating a rare steak bare-handed, or crushing an empty beer can on his forehead. Hey, different strokes, right?

But let me suggest another way: drilling some holes with the Super Hawg. It just might put some hair on your chest or cause you to start grunting like the Tim the Toolman Taylor himself.

Milwaukee 2809-22 First Impressions

I’ve reviewed quite a few excellent Milwaukee plumbing tools recently, but not one that I was quite as excited about as the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Super Hawg. The Hawg’s purpose is making holes in wood large enough to accommodate pipes (or conduit for electricians), which is most helpful for plumbers and HVAC guys. It’s powered by a Milwaukee M18 RedLithium battery pack. The kit I reviewed (2809-22) included two XC6.0 amp-hour High Output batteries as well as a charger. Milwaukee also offers a Hawg with a Quik-Lok chuck (2811-22), but I reviewed the standard chuck version.

Milwaukee M18 FUEL Super Hawg Performance

The Super Hawg is a beast. At 14 pounds it feels substantial, but don’t let that dissuade you. Anyone who’s ever done the work that the Super Hawg is meant to do knows that the weight is an advantage. It’s normally used in an attic or other tight spaces where you can’t gain the leverage on it to push through the hole – it’s heavy so gravity can help do the work for you. Generally, we want our tools to get smaller and lighter, but just as Daniel Elms recently wrote, a hefty tool is sometimes the best tool.

The Super Hawg can make holes up to 6-1/4 inches in diameter, but standard hole size for most work is 2-9/16 inches. Milwaukee claims that the 6.0 batteries can make 100 or more of them on a single charge! It boasts a brushless motor (that’s given away by the “Fuel” designation if you’re a Milwaukee rookie), Milwaukee’s RedLink Plus electronic communication system, low speeds of 0-500 RPM, high speeds of 0-1,550 RPM, a metal keyed chuck, a heavy-duty front handle, and a bright work light for dark attics and corners.

Re-piping with the Milwaukee Cordless Super Hawg

Although I plumb new construction, remodels, and retrofits, I find myself most often repiping a home. In fact, I average about 2 re-pipes a month with Curry and Co Plumbing. Of course, it feels like we predominately work on re-pipes during the blistering Florida summers. This makes attic temperatures downright infernal! We welcome any tool that can speed up the job.

I’ve been using a corded Milwaukee right angle drill for years, so it’s easy to imagine how the cordless Milwaukee M18 Fuel Super Hawg would be a huge improvement. Dragging a cord through an attic and having it snag 10 feet behind you on a truss isn’t a lot of fun. What’s more, metal trusses can cut through a cord and expose you to electrical shock. Cordless is definitely the way to go.

Milwaukee 2809-20 Power

This tool simply blasts through the wood. I used Milwaukee’s 2-9/16 inch SwitchBlade self-feed bit (not to be confused with a Forstner bit), and the studs and caps didn’t have a chance. The Super Hawg feels well-built, heavy-duty, and awesomely powerful. More importantly, it’s faster and more convenient than any other right angle drill I’ve ever used – including corded models. The weight does the work for you and helps control against twist injuries in a bind-up situation.

Safety

The Super Hawg not only has an easily-adjusted high and low setting but also a variable speed trigger. Some right-angle drills I’ve had were “binary”. They either went at full bore or nothing—making them very “torquey”. That’s bad news if you hit a nail or otherwise bind the bit because the whole tool can kick dangerously.

Such wrenching has even caused a plumber or two to get hit in the face with the drill. It’s much easier to start and safer to complete a hole with the variable speed trigger. I typically use low in an attic. High speed is great for mixing concrete—stick a paddle mixer in the Super Hawg and mix away.

Two safety features stand out to help you control that massive power aside from the weight. First, you can install the auxiliary handle on either side by screwing it in place. That’s in addition to the top handle that I end up using most frequently.

Internally, a mechanical clutch auto-engages in a bind-up situation—but only in Low speed. This is almost critical to saving your wrists and elbows when calling on all the torque the drill has to offer.

Sometimes the LED light on a cordless tool is more of an afterthought. That’s not the case on the Super Hawg. Milwaukee placed it perfectly to light up the immediate work area.

Run Time

The 6.0 amp hour RedLithium battery is exemplary. One charge usually lasts me through 2 re-pipes and many of those holes are double and triple caps. I just use a Milwaukee quick extension bit and pull the trigger.

The Bottom Line

There’s a lot of weight here at 14 pounds (12.5 pounds bare). That’s still a little lighter than the corded model. The weight works for you at times, considering gravity helps bore your holes—unless you’re working overhead or vertically. Because of the size and length, it’s not as easy for the torque of the tool to wrench your wrists and elbows. Don’t get me wrong though, I’ll happily take a lighter tool if they can maintain the safety and power of this model.

Run time with the included 6.0 amp hour batteries is outstanding. Cycling between the two of them should never leave you waiting for a charge. You get excellent runtime from the kit version which includes two XC6.0 amp-hour High Output batteries.

Milwaukee Super Hawg Pricing

I heartily recommend the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Super Hawg to other professionals. At about $399 bare and $699 for the kit I reviewed, it’s not a small amount of money. But I guarantee you that as you move cordlessly through an attic or around a jobsite to blast through headers, you won’t have any regrets. If you exclusively use 7/16-inch hex flat or groove shank bits, take a look at the Quik-Lok models. There’s no premium on the price to go with that easy-to-use chuck.

Available Models

• Milwaukee 2809-20 (bare) – $399
• Milwaukee 2809-22 (kit) – $699
• 2811-20 (Quik-Lok bare) – $399
• 2811-22 (Quik-Lok kit) – $699

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Super Hawg 1/2-inch Right Angle Drill Key Features

• PowerState Brushless Motor provides constant power under load to power through 6-inch Holes
• RedLink Plus Intelligence Ensures optimal performance and overload protection to prevent damage to the tool or battery during heavy applications
• Over 75 2-9/16-inch holes per charge with a RedLithium XC5.0 battery
• Up to 100 2-9/16 in. holes per charge with an XC6.0 battery

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Super Hawg 1/2-Inch Right Angle Drill Specifications

• Power: Milwaukee 18V RedLithium battery pack
• Length: 22 in.
• Weight: 14 lbs.
• Chuck: 1/2-inch metal keyed
• Speed: 0-500 / 0-1,550 RPM
• Wood drilling capacity: Up to 6-1/4″ inches (hole saw)
• Warranty: 5 years (3-year battery)

The post Milwaukee M18 Fuel Super Hawg Right Angle Drill Review appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

The Milwaukee M18 Fuel Cordless Pipe Threader proves capable of carving out threads in a matter of seconds on stainless, black iron, and RMC up to two inches. Keeping its promises, it beat the thirty-plus-year-old manual threader in our shop by a long shot. The side grip eliminates pushing on the spinning die—making it superior to other power threaders. We put a ton of pipe in the chain vise in our shop and put the 2874-22HD to the test.

Pros

• Side-grip eliminates the need to push on the die head for a square thread start
• AutoStop kickback control function protects the user from bind-up
• Universal (Ridgid 12-R and Reed R12+) die head compatibility up to 2 inches
• Support arm eliminates the need for a pipe stand

Cons

• No significant drawbacks

Milwaukee Cordless Pipe Threader Performance

Pipe Dreams

Even though I spend most of my time with PVC and PEX, quite often I need to thread pipe for industrial work. Our crew still uses the same manual threader it had when I was hired two decades ago! Now that we’ve got the Milwaukee M18 Fuel cordless pipe threader for black pipe, stainless, and rigid metal conduit, we may very well bid more of those industrial-type jobs. It’s a remarkable tool—and not just because we’ve been doing it the hard way all these years. Users of corded threaders will find it superior to their current tool for a variety of reasons.

Importantly, the Milwaukee cordless pipe threader uses universal dies. That means you probably already have the ones you need. They slip smoothly into the die head and are secured in place with a retention lock. Use the speed selector to choose the right speed for the diameter (more on that in a bit) and you’re nearly ready to thread some pipe.

(Don’t) Take a Stand

The Milwaukee M18 Fuel pipe threader’s cordlessness is its most visible benefit over the most common power threaders. But there’s more good stuff than meets the eye. Notably, the brushless motor actually cuts faster than most—if not all—of today’s corded threaders.

Next, a dedicated support arm clamps onto the pipe and eliminates the need for a pipe stand. It’s certainly easier to use one, but in a pinch, you can do without.

The AUTOSTOP kickback prevention works similarly to the bind-up safety features we’ve seen on an increasing number of rotary tools. The Milwaukee 2874-20 pipe threader doesn’t spin as quickly as a drill, but there’s still a ton of torque in your hands. Speaking of your hands—perhaps the “handiest” feature of the Milwaukee threader is its side grip. This grip eliminates the need to push on the spinning die for an accurate thread start. Contact with the spinning part of a tool really seems like a relic of a more dangerous time, anyway!

Thread or Die

Be sure you select the right speed for the die diameter range. This is actually very important. Use Speed 2 for pipe diameters less than 1-1/4-inch. Speed 1 tackles 1-1/4-inch or larger. It took us a couple of pretty ratty threads to realize our error. Once we selected the right speed, the Milwaukee M18 Fuel pipe threader began making perfect threads.

This tool is rather hefty, but its benefits well-outweigh any trade-offs. Plus, this tool is “smart”. You can have the peace of mind that Milwaukee One-Key management and tool-tracking allows via your mobile device. You can add it to your inventory, and even track it on the job site.

Price

At $1,399 bare and $1,699 for the kit, you can’t pick the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Pipe Threader up for chump change. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth it. DeWalt’s FlexVolt Pipe Threader DCE700 is the only answer to Milwaukee at the moment. Its similarly-priced kit (DCE700X2) includes a pair of 3Ah 60V batteries, but you’ll pay around $2,299 for the kit plus dies (DCE700X2K).

The Bottom Line

The Milwaukee M18 Fuel Pipe Threader is an impressive innovation for plumbers, electricians, and pipefitters. It eliminates the cord, the pipe stand (if you choose), and the need to push on the spinning die. With a die retention lock and simple speed selector, you can be carving threads in black pipe, stainless, and rigid conduit up to two inches in a couple of minutes. And you’ll be done faster than if you used a corded threader. It’s not cheap, but once you use it, you might consider it one of those tools you can’t afford not to buy.

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Pipe Threader Specifications

• Item Numbers
  • 2874-20 (bare tool with threading support arm, and case)
  • 2874-22HD (kitted with RedLithium HD12.0 battery, Rapid Charger, threading support arm, and case)
• Threads up to 2 inches
• Length: 26.3 inches
• Width: 4.8 inches
• Height: 8.5 inches
• Weight: 22.3 pounds
• Prices:
  • 2874-20 (Bare Tool): $1,399
  • 2874-22HD (Kit): $1,699

Shop Acme Tools

The post Milwaukee M18 Fuel Cordless Pipe Threader Review 2874-20 appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

DeWalt FlexVolt In-Line Stud and Joist Drill Packs Powerful Performance

The DeWalt FlexVolt In-Line Stud and Joist Drill shifts from its original form to a more elongated design to fit in tighter spaces. Despite the market’s insistence on calling this a DeWalt Hole Hawg, that’s really a Milwaukee name, but the designs are very similar for this model. The obvious comparison is between the new DeWalt DCD470 and Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel Super Hawg – we’ll take a look at them in both performance and design.

PROS

• Power and weight makes quick work of even the deepest holes
• DeWalt’s E-Clutch protects you in bind-ups
• Two variable speed ranges (0-400/ 0-1320 rpm) and Quick-Shift Speed Selector
• Tool Connect-ready for location tracking
• Reversible handle lets you get into tighter spots when you need and hold right above the chuck when you don’t

CONS

• More expensive than what you get from Milwaukee and Makita
• Taller head doesn’t get into as tight a space as Milwaukee

Performance

Shivering Timbers

Piping holes through wooden structural members for repipes, remodels, and new construction: that’s how we use the DeWalt FlexVolt In-Line Stud and Joist Drill. You almost hear the timbers shiver when we bring the drill out. This thing will bore through anything in its path, no matter how thick.

A triple top cap, roughly 4.5-inches thick, is the typical limit of what I ask the DeWalt DCD470 to do. It accomplishes that with such ease that I bet it can handle as deep a hole as you have bit length.

Clutch Performance

Many guys use a traditional, corded drill for this kind of work. I should know – I was one of them before I stepped up to the Milwaukee Super Hawg a couple of years ago.

The danger, of course, is a bind-up. But the DeWalt hole hawg’s E-Clutch system works flawlessly by catching bind-ups and shutting the tool down before I ever reach harm’s way. The drill’s variable speed makes it easy to avoid a bind-up, but it can still happen. When the E-Clutch engages, the red light on top of the drill kicks on. That way you know the drill’s not spinning due to the E-Clutch and not because the battery is dead.

In addition to the traditional drill’s bind-up danger, you’ve got the pain-in-the-neck issue of dragging a 100-foot cord through an attic. We have a fairly cordless jobsite nowadays, but I still remember that annoyance. So the DeWalt FlexVolt In-Line Stud and Joist Drill’s cordless, beastly power is still notable.

The Big DeWalt DCD470 Deal

DeWalt’s biggest issue with their design is the total height of the powerhead compared to Milwaukee. You can take the top handle off and flip it to give you more clearance. That helps, but it’s still about 1.5″ taller from chuck to top than Milwaukee’s Super Hawg.

If you need to drill through the top plate of a wall near the soffit, you’re out of luck in most cases. I even tried it in an attic with a steep roof and couldn’t get enough clearance.

Similarly, the powerhead is so tall with the handle that drilling a hole close to the intersection of a ceiling joist and strut is challenging. If you can make it work, you have to go in at an angle. That’s only a viable strategy only when there’s a single top plate. Anything thicker is a problem.

In a recent remodel, I drilled holes through 2x studs against the unfinished side of the wall. Here, the powerhead’s length out from the chuck makes it tricky to go into the stud at 90º and on center. There’s no problem with less common 2x6s, but you’ll need to pivot the drill down to get into 2x.

That’s not to say that Milwaukee’s design is perfect. It just gives you that little bit of extra clearance to reach a few more places than you can with this.

More Muscle for New Construction

The DeWalt FlexVolt In-Line Stud and Joist Drill is an absolute beast for new construction. When you have the room, I doubt there’s a more powerful, faster option. But you’ll have to decide if the increased power justifies the size over the Super Hawg or even the Makita XAD03 for your work.

One other thought – you can slide a relatively small Milwaukee battery into the Super Hawg in a pinch, but the smallest FlexVolt you can use with this DeWalt hole hawg is a fairly large 6Ah. With that handle and battery, the tool weighs in at 18.4 pounds. That’s about 4 pounds heavier than the Super Hawg and I really notice it when I have to drill above shoulder height.

Additional Features

Speeds

The first variable speed range is 0-400 RPM while the second is 0-1320. Chances are that I’ll do most of my work in the low range. The switch has an unusual placement on the bottom of the tool rather than the top.

Tool Connect Tag Ready

DeWalt’s Tool Connect offers some peace of mind for tracking and locating expensive/critical tools. You’ll need to install a Tool Connect Tag (sold separately) – it’s probably a good tool insurance policy.

Price

DeWalt’s FlexVolt system is exceptionally capable. If you’re already on the platform, the bare DCD470 will set you back $399. If you’re not – or you could use another battery – the kit is $560. Here how it stacks up:

• Milwaukee M18 Fuel Super Hawg (with or without Quik-Lok chuck)
  • $349 bare
  • $549 2 x 5.0 Ah kit (180 watt-hours)
  • $649 2 x 9.0 Ah kit (324 watt-hours)
• Makita XAD03
  • $359 bare
  • $469 2 x 5.0 Ah kit (180 watt-hours)
• DeWalt FlexVolt In-Line Stud and Joist Drill
  • $399 bare
  • $559.99 9.0 Ah kit (162 watt-hours)

If you’re already using the FlexVolt platform, adding the bare tool or an extra battery with the kit is definitely the way to go. But if you’re not, Makita sits real pretty in the value category and Milwaukee’s 2 x 9.0 Ah kit gives you a ton of battery capacity for the price. Where DeWalt is going to rise above the other two is with sheer power. If that’s your biggest priority, the DeWalt hole hawg is the way to go.

The Bottom Line

You won’t find a more muscular right angle drill than the DeWalt 60V Max In-Line Stud and Joist Drill – it just demolishes holes. But all that strength comes with a cost in size: it can’t fit in tighter spaces. That makes it hard to perform complete repipes in tight spaces like attics. But for new construction, it’s the top dog.

DeWalt FlexVolt In-Line Stud and Joist Drill Specifications

• Item Numbers:
  • DCD470B (Bare)
  • DCD470X1 (Kit)
• No-Load Speed: 0 – 400/0 – 1320 RPM
• Height: 6.95 inches
• Length: 21.3 inches
• Weight: 14.2 pounds bare, 15.2 pounds with handle, 18.4 pounds with handle and battery
• Prices:
  • DCD470B (Bare): $399.00
  • DCD470X1 (Kit): $549.00

Shop Amazon

The post DeWalt FlexVolt In-Line Stud and Joist Drill Review DCD470 appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when those upstanding Pro Tools gents texted me from the 2017 Milwaukee New Product Symposium. They told me that I’d soon have some interesting new plumbing tools to review. Now I’ve thought of tools as useful or helpful but…interesting? I had to see what that was all about. But even if they’d told me it was a novel drain snake, I’m not sure I could have envisioned the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Switch Pack Sectional Drum System. It really is a sight to see: a modular, M18 Fuel-powered backpack that includes a belt drive component and separable drum housing operated with a foot pedal.  It’s designed for easy transport, simple cable size switching, and mess containment.

If any company is capable of introducing bold, successful designs, it’s Milwaukee Tool. I should know, as I’ve reviewed quite a few of its fine products right here on these pages. And because clogs are the most common plumbing service call, it makes sense that many of those designs are dedicated to unclogging pipes. The M12 Drain Snake was a great one as was the more recent Trapsnake. So I have little reason to doubt the Switch Pack’s concept and lots of reasons to use it. So let’s go clear out some lines!

Key Features

Motor, Electronics, Battery

Milwaukee’s Fuel system consists of a powerful trifecta: the PowerState Brushless Motor, RedLink Plus intelligence, and RedLithium batteries. Brushless – or electronically commutated (EC) – motors are known for lasting longer than brushed motors. But they offer another important advantage: they provide for tool intelligence or smart tools. In other words, wheres other tools mindlessly follow the orders of the trigger or switch, a smart tool’s motor and battery constantly communicate to protect against thermal overload that results in damage to both. It’s like having a tool assistant. RedLink Plus is Milwaukee’s name for tool intelligence. The signature RedLithium batteries complete the team as its efficient powerplant.

Powered Base and Drum

The Milwaukee M18 Fuel Switch Pack Sectional Drum System’s modular backpack is pretty ingenious. As I alluded to above, there are two main components: the red, backpack strapped powered base housing the belt drive system and the black drum housing the cable. The powered base and drum housing hold fast to one another with beefy clamps.

But the components also separate for two reasons. First, for transport: the system is meant to be transported with the powered base on the user’s back and the drum’s large handle in hand. Milwaukee discourages wearing the Switch Pack as a complete unit as the nearly 30-pound apparatus can throw off your balance. I’m sure some plumbers will be tempted to disregard that advice for the sake of convenience, but it really is a safety issue.

But the second reason the powered base and drum separate is really the hook of the whole system. Each cable can have a dedicated drum so there’s seamless interchangeability between cable size and the powered base. Have a small waste arm that only calls for 5/16-inch cable? Just grab the drum with the 5/16-inch cable and attach it to the powered base. Clog in a large diameter drain line? Grab the drum with the 5/8-inch cable and go to town.

Cable Guy

Specifically, the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Switch Pack Sectional Drum System accommodates a 5/16-inch x 75-foot Inner Core Cable, a 3/8-inch x 50 Inner Core Cable, a 1/2-inch x 50-foot Inner Core Cable, or a 5/8-inch x 50-foot Open Wind Cable. You can interchange and connect cable drums up to 100-feet. The system also accepts other brands of cable.

Veteran plumbers will quickly see the other advantage of this drum system – its full enclosure. There might not be another tool with the potential to make such a repulsive mess as a drain cable as it retracts on its way back into an open drum design. But as the Switch Pack retracts its cable, it goes neatly back into the drum with only a short length that’s exposed between it and the pipe.

That’s going to greatly reduce the mess in customers’ houses – and that’s excellent. Needless to say, the drum will still have to be cleaned, but you can do that back at the shop.

Foot Pedal, Brake, Other Notable Features

The user controls the Switch Pack with a large foot pedal. This leaves both hands free to guide the cable gently back and forth to break up the clog as well as to start and stop rotation without missing a beat. A small compartment on top of the switch pack neatly stores the pedal for transport and a rubber strap secures its cable.

The brushless motor spins the cable at 250 RPM which seems just right to break up clogs but protect pipes. Milwaukee claims the integrated drum brake slows the drum up to 5 times faster than other systems.

I like the onboard accessory attachment for various cable heads and 5-year warranty, too.

Performance

Totally Modular

Now that I’ve had the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Switch Pack Sectional Drum System out in the field for a couple of months, I’m familiar with its capabilities and limitations. Before all that experience, I predicted that you’ll want to use the 5/8-inch cable and that turned out to be accurate. It’s easy to add the 5/8-inch cable to the mix because of the modular design. Simply release the drum latch and swap it out.

You’ll also want to consider the size – this isn’t the unit you want to bring in for kitchen sink clogs that are only a few feet down the line. That’s why you’d use the M12 Drain Snake. Even the AirSnake is designed for clogs 20 or 30 feet down the line, but I haven’t reviewed that tool. You’ll want to save the Switch Pack for more substantial clogs.

Capabilities and Limitations

Over the course of the review, I was able to clear many medium- to large-sized clogs that a smaller auger couldn’t handle. Still, you won’t get the Switch Pack to clear the most stubborn blockages, and that’s not a big surprise. I wouldn’t ask it to try cutting through roots, for instance. The tool excels the middle-of-the-road plumbing problems, especially because it’s cordless, much easier to transport, and much cleaner than the big cable machines that would be overkill for many clogs, anyway.

https://www.facebook.com/protoolreviews/videos/10155631423278003/

But there are a couple of caveats and points of improvement that I hope Milwaukee will address in the next generation. I’d like to see some markings on the cable itself. There’s value in knowing how far down the line a clog is. For repeat service calls, it helps us identify a chronic issue that may require further investigation or repair. On a typical cable, we piece together sections and know how many we’ve put down to give us an idea.

Plumbing Shark

The Milwaukee M18 Fuel Switch Pack Sectional Drum System’s biggest need is a set of jaws that hold the cable as it comes out of the drum. Many larger augers systems have this – let me explain why it’s so important. When the cable head runs into tough resistance in the clog, its ability to turn is constrained. The cable begins to twist and bind up which isn’t a huge problem because it’s supposed to put more pressure on the clog. But without a clamp or jaws that force the cable’s pressure toward the head, the binding follows the path of least resistance – which is backward and right into the drum.

I knew I’d maxed out the Switch Pack a few times when opened the drum to find a rat’s nest of cable. Of course, someone might argue that the Switch Pack simply wasn’t made for that type of clog, but I’d say that power wasn’t the problem in these cases. The auger had the muscle, it just didn’t have the grip. It would be capable over a wider range of clogs if the torque could be directed toward the head.

The Bottom Line

It’s hard to overstate the convenience of the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Switch Pack Sectional Drum System. Still, you have to keep its capabilities in mind. Sink stoppages and other small to medium clogs are right in its wheelhouse. It won’t handle a main line, although it could if its PVC. But if it’s a 50-year old cast iron main with roots in it, that’s just not going to happen. And that’s fine since it’s never what the Switch Pack claimed to do.

I suggest that you grab the 5/8-inch cable to go along with the unit. But the modular design is pretty ingenious, so you can choose the right diameter for the job. The Switch Pack is easily portable, keeps the work area clean, and simple to use. In the next generation, I hope Milwaukee will add jaws to the outfeed so the cable won’t bind inside the drum. Otherwise, as part of a clog-busting team with the M12 or M18 Drain Snake, TrapSnake, and AirSnake, Milwaukee is making some excellent progress in plumbing.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in November 2017. It has been updated now that it has has more time in the field. Normally, we give all Pro-level tools a rating. However, this is unique in the space and there are no direct competitors to rate it against.

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Switch Pack Sectional Drum System Features

• PowerState Brushless Motor delivers maximum power 100 feet down the line
• RedLink Plus Intelligence ensures maximum performance under load and improves control throughout the entire process
• RedLithium Batteries power through multiple jobs on a single charge, the first to bring cordless mobility, safety, and power supply to the drain cleaning industry
• Interchange and connect various cable drums up to 100 feet
• Built-In Backpack Straps: Easiest Transport
• Integrated Drum Brake: Electronically slows drum up to 5 times faster than competitor drum machines
• Electronic Foot Pedal With Non-Slip Grip: Maximum Durability
• Fully Enclosed Drum: Best Protection and Mess Containment

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Switch Pack Sectional Drum System Specifications

• Voltage: 18V
• Accessory Attachment Storage: On-Tool
• Back Pack Straps: Yes
• Drain Line Capacity: 100-feet x 1/2-inch
• Inner Core Cable: 100-feet x 5/8-inch Open Wind Cable
• Integrated Drum Brake: Yes
• Drum Capacity: 5/16-inch x 75-foot Inner Core Cable; 3/8-inch x 50-foot and 1/2″ x 50-foot Inner Core Cable; 5/8-inch x 50-foot Open Wind Cable
• Spin Speed: 250 RPM
• Warranty: 5-Year Limited Warranty
• Length: 15.75 inches
• Weight: 28.10 pounds
• Height: 17.75 inches
• Width: 15.00 inches
• Tool Warranty: 5-Year Tool/2-Year Cable/3-Year Battery
• Accepts Other Brand Cables: Yes
• Price:  $1,379.00 (Kit)

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The post Milwaukee M18 Fuel Switch Pack Sectional Drum System appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

When most people picture a plumber’s wrench, they probably think of the long-handled, hook-jawed version associated with the trade for generations. Of course, they’d be correct – it’s still right tool for installing and removing pipes and fittings. But it’s certainly not the only wrench a plumber uses. We run into plenty of smaller hex nuts and bolts that a “normal” pipe wrench would too cumbersome and sometimes useless! We need a handy adjustable wrench for those situations. But even a traditional adjustable wrench can be too thick, too shallow, or too long to get the job done easily. The Proferred Adjustable Plumbing Wrench aims to assist us in those tight spots by being thinner, deeper, and shorter than those normal wrenches. Can it turn a difficult job into an easy one?

That’s what we’re going to find out.

Key Features

Head

You’ll immediately notice the Proferred Adjustable Plumbing Wrench’s very thin head. The head of a typical adjustable wrench of comparable length is at least 3/8″ thick. But the Proferred is a slender 1/4″ or so. It’s easy to see how much easier it would be to use in tight and narrow spaces.

Jaws

You’re gonna need a bigger boat! The wrench’s capabilities continue with jaws that open to about 1-1/2″, much wider than the 7/8″ of a normal adjustable wrench in this size. Proferred says it opens 55% wider than the competition… and the math checks out! It means you can do more jobs with fewer tools which is usually a win – if it’s effective.

Depth

Do you avoid those shallow wrenches that are petty gossips, always surrounded by drama? Me too. Fortunately, the Proferred Adjustable Plumbing Wrench is much deeper than those wrenches – 30% deeper, in fact, the company claims. I didn’t measure the depth as I did the width, but it looks to be accurate, as well. I’m rarely this eager to try out a new hand tool, but this one is promising.

Performance

How Much Can You Wrench?

So in my toolbag went the Proferred Adjustable Plumbing Wrench. And it proved its usefulness almost immediately. I had to tighten a small hex nut under a sink. Those nuts usually come with a tube wrench of some sort from the factory, but there wasn’t one to be found. I was able to get the wrench’s thin head in the space and just turn the nut with the jaw tips. The wrench bailed me out before my first coffee break.

Here’s a welcome surprise: the Proferred Wrench’s increments are actually correct. Even if you happen to have an adjustable wrench with increment markings, they’re often off. Sometimes that’s a factor of the wiggle you find in the jaws of most models. Other times, it’s just inaccuracy.

It just goes to show that quite often a plumber doesn’t need the leverage of a long-handled pipe wrench as much as he needs a wrench to simply fit in tight spaces.

Feel & Action

We’ve all had adjustable wrenches that are adjustable in name only. The worm screw is either hard or impossible to turn and annoying. Well, the Proferred Adjustable Plumbing Wrench’s worm screw is smooth as could be. Dialing in the jaws to the appropriate width is easy. It all seems to point to fine craftsmanship.

Wiggle It

In addition to the smooth action, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the rest of the Proferred Adjustable Plumbing Wrench’s build quality. The moving jaw of just about any other adjustable wrench you pick up will have some play – back and forth, side to side – even when it’s new. It probably doesn’t affect the performance right away, but we all know that ill-fitting parts, use, and time will wreak havoc on a tool. But the Proferred Wrench doesn’t have any of this play – the parts fit together precisely.

The Bottom Line

It might not be possible to get all jazzed up about a new wrench, but if you can, then the Proferred Adjustable Plumbing Wrench will probably be the one. It has a greater jaw capacity – depth and width – that similarly sized wrenches. Its thin head can access tight spaces. Increment markings are accurate, the worm screw is smooth, and the parts fit together tightly. I’m not sure what more you could ask for in a hand tool. It’s always nice to review a tool that’s so good that it will be on every job!

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Proferred Adjustable Plumbing Wrench Features

• 55% Wider Jaw Capacity
• Super Thin Head for Improved Access
• 30% Deeper Jaw
• Black Phosphate Finish
• Ergonomic Grip
• Ideal for Automotive, Plumbing, and Gas Industries

Proferred Adjustable Plumbing Wrench Specifications

• Item Number: T08001 (6-inch)
• Also Available In:
  • 8-inch (opens to  1-1/2-inches)
  • 10-inch (opens to 1-3/4-inches)
  • 12-inch (opens to 2-1/4-inches)
• Price: $22.97

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Find out more about Proferred Tools here.

The post Proferred Adjustable Plumbing Wrench Review appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

Isn’t it satisfying when you haven’t seen someone in a while and their first question is, “Have you been working out?” Way back in April 2016, I reviewed Milwaukee’s M12 Drain Snake and found it clears small stoppages like waste arms really well. It easily maneuvers into small cabinet spaces, it’s cordless, and the enclosed drum keeps the workspace relatively clean. Well, It looks like the Drain Snake has been watching its macros and hitting the gym because it’s all beefed up! The Milwaukee M18 Fuel Drain Snake with Cable Drive recently swaggered into the Curry & Company shop and started bragging about how much it could bench.

Ok, not exactly, but it certainly looks like it’s capable of doing more work than its smaller iteration. And it’s not just a more powerful tool – it has some important feature improvements that I’m ready to test on site.

Drain clogs are by far and away the most common plumbing service call. Sure, sometimes they happen because little Johnny or Susie threw some LEGOs in the toilet. Or sometimes grease that can’t pass through the trap finally builds up too much. But quite often, we find a pipe that’s been compromised by age restricting the flow. Time and sludge have cooperated to block the line. Veteran plumbing Pros won’t be surprised – but a lot of homeowners are – when the tiniest root senses moisture and grows through the joint of a galvanized pipe. Whatever the cause, the first line of defense is a cable that can break the logjam and get water flowing freely again. Let’s see if the Drain Snake’s M18 version is up to the task.

Key Features

Motor, Electronics, Battery

Regular readers and avid tool fans will recognize the three horsemen of Milwaukee’s Fuel system that powers the new Drain Snake: a PowerState Brushless Motor, RedLink Plus intelligence, and RedLithium batteries. What’s significant about all that? First, brushless motors last longer and require less maintenance than brushed motors. Mechanical contact inside a brushed motor produces friction and wear. But brushless motors not only last longer, they can make a tool smart. Milwaukee’s intelligence – Redlink Plus – allows the battery and motor to communicate, optimizing performance and preventing damage from thermal overload.  The RedLithium batteries round out the trifecta as the powerful fuel source.

Cable Drive and Cables

The original M12 Drain Snake had a slide action cable lock mechanism but you still had to pull out the cable manually. Perhaps the most significant improvement the company’s made with the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Drain Snake is    the patented Cable Drive. It’s a self-feeding and retraction mechanism that eliminates the need to manually push or pull the cable. No touching a “goopy” cable? Sounds good to me. And it looks to feed and retract quickly. You might have seen videos of the M18 handily beating a competitor’s corded drain snake at the 2017 Milwaukee New Product Symposium. Of course, the demonstration was in nice, clean pipe – but it’s likely still faster all things equal. In short, Cable Drive is designed to allow the user to feed, twist lock, and retract the cable into the enclosed drum without touching it.

But Cable Drive isn’t the only cable-related improvement. Whereas the M12 held 25 feet of 1/4- to 5/16-inch Inner Core Cable, the M18 can double that. It holds 50 feet of 1/4-inch Inner Core Cable, as well as 35 feet of both 5/16- and 3/8-inch. Both the M12 and M18 accept other cable brands.

Variable Speed Trigger

Both Drain Snakes feature a variable speed trigger for 0 – 500 RPM. But Cable Drive allows the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Drain Snake to feed up to 8-inches per second. The manual feed of the M12 had no such measure.

Enclosed Drum and Bucket

Traditionally, it seemed as if clearing a clog was the focus and mess containment was an afterthought. But as a practical matter, keeping customers’ homes as clean as possible during the job is important. It saves you time and leaves a good impression. Milwaukee accomplished mess containment with a fully-enclosed drum in the M12 and of course, it’s the heart of the M18, too. Moreover, I suspect automatic retraction of the Cable Drive will keep it even cleaner because less dirty cable will be exposed in the process.

So what happens to all the sludge in the drum? Well, ultimately you’ll need to remove the drum and clean it at the shop. But for the distance between the customer’s house and the shop, the Drain Snake is itself contained in Milwaukee’s specially-designed bucket. The M12 came with a regular 5-gallon bucket, but the new M18 fits like a glove into what looks like a slick Milwaukee trashcan. In fact, some of my fellow plumbers asked me where I bought the cool trashcan! The Drain Snake fits nose-down in the bucket. There’s even a plastic tool bin that sits over the Snake’s handle under the lid, which then latches closed.

Other Notable Features

I’m going to have to put both of these snakes on scale because I’m not sure there’s an apples to apples comparison in the weight specs. The bare M12 specs show 10.25 pounds and the bare M18 specs show 10.0 pounds but I don’t think that can be correct. Of course, the overall weight will depend on the cable used, but the bigger tool almost certainly weighs more.

The LED work light made the transition from the original to the new Milwaukee M18 Fuel Drain Snake with Cable Drive. I also like the 5-year tool, 3-year battery, and 2-year cable warranty.

Performance

The Milwaukee M18 Fuel Drain Snake with Cable Drive looks so promising that I couldn’t keep my initial impressions to myself. With some limited testing, it certainly looks like a winner. But I haven’t had enough time with it in the field to give you a really thorough report. So stay tuned – my thoughts on its performance are imminent!

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Drain Snake with Cable Drive Features

• PowerState Brushless Motor delivers maximum power 50-feet down the line
• RedLink Plus Intelligence ensures maximum performance under load and improves control throughout the entire process
• RedLithium Batteries power through multiple jobs on a single charge, the first to bring cordless mobility, safety, and power supply to the drain cleaning industry
• Cable Drive Locking Feed System maintains selected feed speed, and auto-adjusts to compatible cable sizes for the best cable grip when feeding and working the clog
• Fully Enclosed Drum: Best protection and mess containment
• LED Light: Illuminates work area underneath sinks and other dark spaces

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Drain Snake with Cable Drive Specifications

• Item Number:
  • 2772A-20 (Bare)
  • 2772A-21 (Kit A)
  • 2772B-21XC (Kit B)
• Voltage: 18V
• Cable Lock: Yes, Twist Lock
• Feed Lock: Yes, Twist Lock
• Powered Cable Feed and Retract: Yes, Cable Drive
• Variable Feed Speed: 0 – 8 inches Per Second
• Variable Spin Speed: 0-500 RPM
• Warranty: 5 Years Tool, 2 Years Cable
• Cable Locking Mechanism: Yes, Twist Lock
• Length: 19.5 inches
• Weight: 10.0 pounds
• Height: 11.25 inches
• Width: 10.00 inches
• Inner Core Cable Capacity:
  • 1/4 inch x 50 feet
  • 5/16 inch x 35 feet
  • 3/8 inch x 35 feet
• Tool Warranty: 5 Year Tool, 2 Year Cable
• Accepts Other Brand Cables: Yes
• Prices:
  • 2772A-20 (Bare): $329.99
  • 2772A-21 (Kit A): $379.99
  • 2772B-21XC (Kit B): $659.00

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The post Milwaukee M18 Fuel Drain Snake with Cable Drive appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

Although we’re often impressed by the latest and greatest technology, there’s something charming about a design that stands the test of time. The spirit – or bubble – level comes to mind, basically unchanged from the mid-1600s. It’s an idea so good that not even the industrial revolution and inevitable march of technology could replace it. It’s cool to think that you’re working just as craftsmen and tradesmen have worked for hundreds of years. Not quite as old, but perhaps just as impressive, is the band saw. The earliest known conception came in 1808 and practical use started half a century later. It’s simple but ingenious: a thin, continuous blade under tension provides very smooth cuts with little friction. Technology has improved the original design such that the band saw is now cordless and portable. Today, we’ll get Hitachi’s take on the tool with the Hitachi 18V Brushless Band Saw.

You can think of a band saw as an endless hacksaw. But to achieve a band saw’s endlessness, the saw pulls the blade across the material in one direction. Milwaukee secured its legacy in tool history with the motorized hacksaw in 1951 with what’s generally known as a reciprocating saw. But whether manual or motorized, the reciprocity of the hacksaw’s blade creates a jerky motion that by necessity can’t be as smooth as a band saw’s constant pulling motion. How smooth? Well, that’s what we’re about to find out.

Key Features

Motor and Speed

If there was any doubt, the term brushless in the name of the Hitachi 18V Brushless Band Saw refers to the motor’s design. Regular readers will know that brushless motors offer benefits – like longer life and overload protection – that brushed motors don’t offer. Thanks to the electronic controls a brushless motor requires, Hitachi adds a couple of other benefits attached to them with a soft start and overload protection.

A soft-start function improves a users control of the tool as the trigger’s pulled. There’s an ambidextrous safety switch although the saw certainly favors right-handers (more on that later). The trigger isn’t variable speed, however, a speed dial allows the user to select among six speed modes. Modes 1 through 5 adjust the blade’s speed from 260 to 640 SFPM (Surface Feet Per Minute) and an Auto Mode automatically adjusts from 395 to 640 SFPM. Hitachi claims this doesn’t use as much battery power and also reduces the noise.

Blade and Cutting Capacity

The Hitachi 18V Brushless Band Saw blade measures 35-7/16- x 1/2- x 0.020-inches and are described as high-performance. No tools are required to change the blade, just an adjustment of the Quick Tension Lever and opening both hatches of the plastic body.

An adjustable guide plate requires loosening two screws with the onboard Allen wrench. Cutting capacity is roughly mid-range for its peer group at 3-1/4-inch external diameter for round materials and 3-1/8-inch for square materials.

As the features suggest, the band saw is designed for cutting conduit pipes, steel pipes, power cables, aluminum frames, and plastics.

Other Notable Features

I suspect the Hitachi 18V Brushless Band Saw will be easy to operate with one hand as it only weighs about 6.5 pounds bare. Even so, it has a removable side handle that complements its elastomer-coated main handle for two-handed operation.

There’s a bright LED work light and an onboard battery indicator because Hitachi’s batteries don’t feature gauges on the packs. This isn’t unheard of, but it does require the user to put a battery in a tool in order to see the discharge status. And don’t expect to get too much detail with the status – there are only two battery indicator lights instead of a more common three or four.

Performance

Cutting It

I used the Hitachi 18V Brushless Band Saw on several one-off pipe cuts but then on a larger job where I cut all thread all day for hanging sewer pipe in the basement of a large church. Well, it might not be Barbara Streisand’s voice, but the Hitachi 18V Brushless Band Saw is like buttah (for you 1990s SNL fans!). It was just smooth as silk as it cut through the metal. You simply don’t get all the chatter that’s part of using a reciprocating saw. It’s quick and easy.

But the advantages go even further. It’s easy to use the saw over your head with one hand – something you’re not likely to do (safely or wisely, at least) with a full size reciprocating saw. Sure, there are some one-handed recip saws nowadays, but you’d still get the chatter. The Hitachi is steady and smooth no matter what.

I mentioned earlier that the safety is ambidextrous but the saw is for right-handers. That’s due to the placement of the removable, auxiliary handle which necessarily puts the trigger in the right hand and handle in the left hand. But of course, if you’re in a position to use it one-handed, a lefty can probably use it just as well as a righty.

Room To Move

For as much as it’s easier to use the band saw in place of the reciprocating saw, you might run into the problem of space. The band saw’s large frame – like all handheld band saws – prevents the blade from reaching all the places that the recip saw can get to.

And speaking of the frame, the major concern I have is what appears to be the vulnerability of the Hitachi’s plastic frame that houses the blade. As other reviewers have pointed out, the materials keep the weight low but do they set it up for failure over time? We’ll just have to see. In the meantime, I feel like I needed to be mindful of how I set the tool down and stored it. Of course, that’s not a bad idea no matter how beefy the tool, but you still don’t want to worry about it.

Other things equal, however, I’d grab the Hitachi 18V Brushless Band Saw before the recip saw. The battery lasts all day, too, which is a bonus despite the shortcomings of the onboard fuel gauge.

The Bottom Line

The Hitachi 18V Brushless Band Saw makes a very respectable effort in the middle-depth range of cordless, portable band saws. It excels in smooth, easy cuts in pipe up to about 3-1/4-inches and other materials like threaded rod.

It could use some improvement with more LEDs on the onboard battery gauge and the durability of the plastic blade housing, even it means adding slightly to the weight. I’d also like to see a true variable speed trigger, although the variable speed dial works well and Auto Mode is helpful.

At $259.99 for the bare tool, Hitachi just might entice folks already on its 18V platform deeper into its line. It’s in the middle of the road with both less and more expensive models available among major manufacturers.  Will it make those who’ve yet to adopt the platform take another look? With the strength of some of Hitachi’s other 18V tools – like the triple hammer impact driver and cordless finish nailers – I think it could.

Hitachi 18V Brushless Band Saw Features

• Covered by Hitachi’s Lifetime Lithium Ion Tool Warranty
• Available as Tool Body Only (battery & charger sold separately)
• Tool body compatible with all Hitachi 18V Lithium Ion slide-type batteries for added convenience and versatility
• Brushless Motor Technology for higher efficiency, increased runtime and longer tool lifetime
• 3-1/4-inch cut capacity cuts materials like conduit pipes, steel pipes, power cables, aluminum window frames and various plastics in electric, plumbing, and mechanical work applications
• Variable speed dial- that operates from 260 to 640 SFPM and allows for setting the blade speed to suit the work material
• Auto mode: operates from 395 to 640 SFPM and automatically adjusts the blade speed to the work material resulting in noise reduction and less battery consumption
• Overload and overheat protection automatically shuts off the motor in a possible current overload situation to help prevent damage to the saw
• Soft start function reduces noise and recoil at startup
• On-tool LED to illuminate dimly lit workspaces
• On-tool battery charge indicator to monitor the status of the battery and reduce downtime
• Convenient tool-less blade change makes changing out blades quick and easy
• Elastomer coated handle can absorb vibration and provides better control in overhead applications
• Removable side handle can be attached for additional control and maneuverability
• Impressively lightweight at 6.45 lbs (without battery)

Hitachi 18V Brushless Band Saw Specifications

• Item Number: CB18DBLP4 (Bare Tool Only)
• Voltage: 18V
• Blade Size: 35-7/16 x 1/2 x 0.020 inches
• Motor Type: Brushless
• Battery: Slide-Type Lithium Ion
• Max Cut Speed: 640 SFPM
• Variable Speed: 260-640 SFPM
• Auto Mode: 395-640 SFPM
• Max Cut Capacity: Round Pipe 3-1/4″
• Max Cut Capacity: Square Pipe 3-5/32″ x 3-5/32″
• Soft Start: Yes
• LED Light: Yes
• Battery Charge Indicator: Yes
• Weight (without battery): 6.45 lbs
• Warranty: Lifetime Lithium Ion Tool
• Price: $259.99

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The post Hitachi 18V Brushless Band Saw appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

Just as Electricians must constantly cut wire as a matter of course, Plumbers find the most repetitive task of the trade to be cutting pipe. Traditionally, we’ve used a hacksaw, a reciprocating saw, or a ratcheting hand cutter. But those first two require a large working area with no wall or other obstruction behind the blade, they can result in a rough cut, and they leave a mess of pipe shavings or dust behind. The ratcheting hand cutter doesn’t need a lot of space, leaves a clean cut and no mess behind, but it’s a slow and tiresome process if you have a lot of cuts to make. The Milwaukee M12 Plastic Pipe Shear is the answer to all the objections to the usual cutting methods for Schedule 80 pipe up to 2 inches in diameter.

I’ve reviewed several of the company’s plumbing tools and generally find them to be excellent. Today, I get to see if the M12 Plastic Pipe Shear is similar or just money down the drain.

First Impressions

One of the things to keep in mind with the M12 line is that much of the focus is on creating power solutions for hand tools. So in function, the Milwaukee M12 Plastic Pipe Shear is a replacement for your ratcheting pipe cutter.

Because of that, the pipe shearing tool has a jaw and blade design that resembles ratcheting pipe cutters. The comfortable, over-molded handle has two triggers – one for cutting and one for a quick blade return during serial cuts.

Importantly, there’s a trigger lock since the damage the sharp, stainless steel blade and the aluminum jaws’ 1,900 inch-pounds of pressure can cut a lot more than PVC. It’s helpful to keep in mind that the tool isn’t just for PVC – it can also handle CPVC, PEX , BlazeMaster, ABS, non-metallic conduit, and rubber hose. Milwaukee claims the Shear can cut over 200 times on a charge, so I’m going to do all I can to check the company’s math!

Shear Luck

As I climbed inside the cabinet under a kitchen sink to begin to fix the…well, let’s say “mess” of a plumbing job of an ambitious but inexperienced homeowner, the benefit of the Milwaukee M12 Plastic Pipe Shear was thrown into stark relief.

There wasn’t any room for a hacksaw or reciprocating saw blade to move without endangering another pipe, supply line, or wall. And in the contorted and uncomfortable position in the cabinet to use a ratcheting hand cutter would be miserable. But using the Shear resulted in safe, easy, and quick cuts to this installed pipe. It was a “Where have you been all my life?” moment!

Of course, the Shear also makes life easy when you’re preparing new pipe for installation. The cuts are quick, clean, and the only manual effort required is pulling a trigger. Serial cuts are a snap – there’s a button that quickly returns the blade to the open position after the cut, so you can be ready immediately for the next one.

And if you’re wondering, the blade cuts through PEX like butter, too.

But the cuts aren’t the only thing that’s quick and clean. There’s no PVC dust, shavings, or other mess to clean up with this tool. You’ll notice that the cutter momentarily squeezes and deforms the pipe during the cut. This will probably be more pronounced if you’re cutting ABS. But that will happen more dramatically when the blade dulls – so it’s great that the blade is replaceable and the wrench for making the change is held onboard.

Pro Tip:

Always be sure to use eye protection because old, brittle, or just cold pipe can crack and shatter during a cut!

The Bottom Line

The Milwaukee M12 Plastic Pipe Shear is a replacement for a ratcheting pipe cutter and it performs this function beautifully. The biggest advantage is the ability to make quick cuts in existing pipes without endangering surrounding pipes, supply lines, or appliances. It’ll make your life easier cutting pipe on a new installation as well.

It really seems to give you the best of all worlds – a quick, burr-free cut in tight spaces that doesn’t endanger surrounding work and leaves no mess. It’s also easy on your body as you don’t have to repeatedly squeeze a ratcheting cutter or use a hacksaw. The Shear goes with me to every job now, and it’s made those jobs much easier!

While I haven’t tried cutting any pipe that’s already in the ground, irrigation Pros should find this model to be a solid win for them as well.

A ratcheting pipe cutter starts a little over $10 and can run close to $100 for the top models. The M12 will run a little more at $139 bare or $199 if you need batteries and a charger. You’ll still have blades to replace, but the convenience is worth the premium in my opinion.

Milwaukee M12 Plastic Pipe Shear Features

• Patented Shear Mechanism: Allows for cuts up to 2-inch Schedule 80 PVC
• Razor-Sharp Pierce-Point: Burr-free cuts on PVC, CPVC, PEX Tubing, BlazeMaster, ABS, Non-Metallic Conduit, and Rubber Hose
• Quick Blade Return: Increases productivity in repetitive cuts
• RedLithium battery pack delivers over 200 cuts per charge
• Stainless Steel Blade and Aluminum Jaw: Impact, water, and rust resistant

Milwaukee M12 Plastic Pipe Shear Specifications

• Model Numbers: Milwaukee 2470-20 (Bare), Milwaukee 2470-21 (Kit)
• Voltage: 12V
• Battery: M12 RedLithium
• Charger: 12V charger
• Battery Warranty: 2 Year
• Length: 14-3/8-inch
• Weight: 4.7 pounds
• Switch Type: Two-Action Variable Speed with Reverse
• Torque: 1,900 inch-pounds
• Capacity: 2-inch Schedule 80 PVC
• Blade: 3mm Reinforced Stainless Steel
• Material: PVC, CPVC, ABS, BlazeMaster®, PEX Tubing, Non-Metallic Conduit, Rubber Hose
• Tool Warranty: 5 Years
• Prices: $165.99 (Bare), $199.95 (Kit)

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