Makita has come out with a new 12V cordless multi-cutter, model PC01R3. The new cutting tool, available in a kit with a charger, carrying bag, and 2.0Ah battery pack, can cut many different kinds of soft sheet materials, such as cardboard, carpet, leather, rubber, and vinyl.
This isn’t the first tool of its kind. There have been Bosch versions of this tool – available overseas but not in North America – and there’s an updated Skil iXO version currently on the market, for $40.
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The Makita cordless multi-cutter is said to weigh just 1.6 lbs, with battery, making it pretty darned light. Shown here, it’s being used to make clean and straight cuts in cardboard.
It’s 10-3/4″ long, and has an angled handle for ergonomic use. There’s a “built-in sight line,” for more precise cutting.
It can cut softish materials up to 1/4″ thick.
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The cutting had has a shelf=sharpening blade, for maximum cutting efficiency, not to mention the freedom of fewer maintenance concerns.
It operates at 300 RPM, but keep in mind that this type of cutter is less about speed than it is about user convenience, comfort, and improved cutting accuracy. 300 RPM should be fast enough.
Price: $120 for the kit
Buy Now(via Amazon)
See Also(Skil iXO with Cutter Attachment)
First Thoughts
If you need to make a lot of straight cuts in thin soft materials, and I say “soft” so that there’s no mistaking this as a plastics or sheet metal cutter, than this should be very suitable.
It’s not a new design, at least not the cutter head, but it seems to be new to Makita. I would swear that I wrote about a tool like this in the past year or so, but I can’t find anything in ToolGuyd’s archives.
Bosch’s 12V Max version was shown in product photos to be capable of angled cuts. Perhaps this Makita can do the same. For some reason, Bosch never released that tool in the USA. Then again, the same can be said about plenty of Bosch 12V Max cordless power tools.
It’s good to see Makita pushing forward with their new 12V Max CXT cordless power tool platform. Hopefully they keep it up!
Adam
A place I used to work had a variant of this for cutting wire mesh, I believe made by Black & Decker. It worked really well, but I’ve never seen one elsewhere.
fred
I recall a B&D SZ360 powered scissors – and there are still other similar ones sold under brands like Pink Power and Stawart .
fred
You wrote about this:
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/new-zipsnip-cordless-lithium-ion-cutter/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
https://www.amazon.com/WORX-WX081L-ZipSnip-Cutting-Tool/dp/B019CSHSW8/
Stuart
I didn’t forget about that one. I feel like I wrote about a similar tool within the last 6-12 months. I thought for a moment that it could have been about a similar tool for Makita’s previous/other 12V platform, but nothing turned up.
Tim
I’ll be picking one of these up, see how it does on thin carpet. Every year the robotics program I mentor with gets two carpet rolls for each competition, 6 weekends of competitions, and each carpet has to have at least one edge trimmed for about 60 feet, plus be cut to length. If this does even a slightly decent job, it’ll be the best thing since WiFi…
Kevin
I’ve had good success cutting astro turf with a cordless Milwaukee multi tool and a blade like this ->
https://www.google.com/search?q=Dremel+MM430
Might work for you too ?
Tim
I’ll have to try that and compare, pretty sure I have the Bosch equivalent blade… I’ll put a note in my robotics toolbox to take it and try it when we get to competition season!
Thanks for the suggestion!
PB
I’d like a head to head comparison of some of these similar tools.
I was just reading the past articles you did on these yesterday. Being this time of the year I have a ton of thick cardboard boxes that have been used for tool boxes, storage cabinets and kids toys.
I cross shopped mini table saws, that Rockwell tabletop saw, and jigsaws.
I’m still leaning toward getting one of these, or getting a jigsaw and using bosch knife edge blades.
To me the blades on these and their motors just seem like a weak point. Too nad there isn’t some brushless version.
After looking things over I just don’t know what to do. So I’m going to stick with my hackzall. I wish someone made a knife edge blade for that but I couldn’t find one.
fred
Skil used to sell a knife-edged reciprocating saw blade (#71071 – UPC 039725710710)
I can’t find it on the Internet – so its probably discontinued.
If you take a look at sewing tool suppliers like AllBrands ,Com you’ll see other alternative rotary cutters. Machines like some of the Eastman cutters (like the 548CC) are way too pricey for the casual user. There are also expensive foam rubber cutters like the Bosch 1575A. –
PB
Thanks for the info, those cutters are awesome. I remember seeing them on How it’s Made and I always loved watching them being used. They are pricey though, but maybe I can find one on ebay.
Jeremiah
Why not try grinding the teeth off a recip saw blade to make it like a knife edge. or sharpen the back and run it backwards. preferably a very thin kerf blade. Obviously need to be careful about overheating or re-temper the blade after. I know bandsaw blades for foam are smooth(toothless) with a wavy edge.
PB
That’s an idea. I’m not even sure a knife edge is best for cardboard. It would be for foam or for nice cuts of cardboard.
I noticed on a Home Depot blade FAQ that milwaukee said to use The Ax blade (large teeth, more mess, possibly more likely to snag and be dangerous but would probably be quickest for ripping) , but I need to do a comparison of it to the metal cutting blades (finer teeth, smaller powder)
glenn
We cut up a fair amount of cardboard on the job and so far my preference is a Hackzall with a metal blade. I find the small teeth cut effectively without the vibration and the cardboard flopping back and forth that you get with wood or plaster blades.
JMG
The cutting had has a shelf= LOL, must be that auto correct again, eh Stuart?
alex
Great tool.They should make an edge guide and an adapter for their rail. Would be great when installing vinyl planks flooring.
Chris
And the Bosch version? Getting dust being NAINA…
profesrgeo
Bought one, hoping it might make short work of chip board/crescent board.
Useless and way underpowered for that task. Cuts corrugated cardboard ok but does’t have enough juice for more dense materials.