Milwaukee has come out with a new M12 Stick Transfer Pump, model 2579, for removing water from trenches, storm drains, water meter boxes, and other such types of difficult-to-access areas.
The new Milwaukee cordless stick pump has a 36-inch submersible aluminum barrel for easier reach.
Milwaukee says that the M12 stick pump eliminates the repetitive strain that’s associated with traditional manual pumps, which also require two hands to use.
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The M12 pump can be used with one hand, which frees up users’ second hand to redirect the outlet hose.
Milwaukee says their new HydroPass filter tech maximizes water flow in heavy debris to effortlessly pump up to nine gallons of water per minute (when equipped with an XC 4.0Ah).
The inlet is described as having a 360° filter design to help reduce clogging.
The male-threaded outlet is compatible with standard 3/4″ garden hoses.
With a 15-foot max head height, the transfer pump is said to deliver the power to push water out of pits, basins, and over walls.
The pump features an on/off switch for one-handed operation, as well as a 4-LED battery fuel gauge.
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Key Features & Specs
- 9 gallons per minute max flow
- Pumps up to 275 gallons w/ M12 XC 4.0Ah battery
- 15′ maximum head height
- 36″ aluminum barrel inlet
- 3/4″ standard garden hose thread outlet
- Weighs 4.2 lbs (without battery)
- 48.8″ length
Pricing & Availability
Price: $149.97 (tool-only, 2579-20)
ETA: May 2022
At the time of this posting, Acme Tools has free shipping over $199, Tool Nut has free shipping over $99.
Paul
So let’s say hypothetically one has M18, M12 and Ryobi 18V batteries and wanted to say, create a water feature from the reservoir up the artificial beach to better terraform sandcastles. Is there an ideal pump? Asking for a hypothetical friend.
James
I have used the Ryobi transfer pump to fill sandcastle moats, as well as coolers for hauling clams
Jared
This M12 unit pumps faster than Milwaukee’s M18 transfer pump?
It says 9 gallons per minute, but your article on the M18 says 7.5 gallons per min. That’s interesting.
I like this form-factor. If you could also attach a hose to the sucking end, it would make the other style redundant – but either way, this version seems more useful in most applications I’d use it for.
Stuart
Let’s say you need to drain a water heater from a basement.
The M18 has up to 18 ft of lift and 75 ft of head height. It also has threaded hose connections and can be placed on the floor. The M12 must be handheld.
Blythe
M18 is rated for 18 foot of lift and 75 foot head height.
M12 is 3ft of lift and 15 ft head height.
So slightly less flow but capable of moving water much farther
Franck B.
It would be useful if they gave the specs at a max head as well. If the max head is 15′, I presume at 16′ you will get 0 gpm. But at 15′ you probably get some usable flow, but how usable?
Regardless, this is kind of cool for its limited application… but that application can be useful for a lot of people.
The Ryobi transfer pump isn’t as portable and only gets around 5.5gpm max (and the specs don’t list the head), which might be more suitable for a playing. For your friend.
Franck B.
Sorry that went to the wrong person, should have been @Paul.
fred
I wonder how much the earlier (and pricier) Reed Pump Stick influence this release.
The Reed comes with a coupling plate to use a Bosch 18V battery – but also can be converted to use Dewalt, Milwaukee or Makita batteries.
https://www.acmetools.com/search/?q=reed+pump+stick
The Reed uses a magnetic ring to attach its discharge hose – which comes in 2 lengths. They also offer some auxiliary strainers and a long handle.
Mike S
Perfect for getting the crud out of my hot tub without completely changing the water. I tried to make something like this with a drill pump but the pump piece kept burning out.
Andrew
Seems like a pretty specialized tool. For your average DIYer I think you’re better off with a wet/dry shopvac, or renting a tool.
fred
You are probably right unless you have some special recurring circumstance that is not amenable to some better fix.
I believe that my ex-compatriots in the plumbing business bought a few of the Reed ones for use with M18 batteries. Who knows – but they might try out one of these too.
In our remodeling/gc business we had several gasoline-engine trash pumps for dewatering pits and excavations – but could see using something like this for dewatering small pits. The extra reach provided by the 2 foot extension handle on the Reed might make the typical job easier with less bending.
Jared
Depends what you’d use it for.
I remember last summer being at a campground out in the boonies that had water, but only a manual pump. I don’t usually travel with my trailer’s tank full, but I wanted to put some in so I could have a shower.
My solution was to pump it into a big rubbermaid and then attach a funnel to the trailer’s inlet and pour it in. That worked, but was a lot of effort (a rubbermaid full of water is a heavy lift).
With one of these, I could have just manual pumped it into the rubbermaid and M12 pumped it into my trailer.
For another example, I have a drain at the bottom of the staircase that leads into my basement. It’s just hole though, doesn’t lead anywhere. I have to pump out water that makes it way there.
I had it installed after I bought the place and my first spring there the rapid snow melt flowed down the stairs and threatened to flood my house (had I not noticed in time and started pumping it out). I did some landscaping and drainage modifications to the area too to prevent it happening again, but that drain at the bottom is a nice place to pump from in case of emergency.
M18 would work for that too obviously, but this m12 looks like it would get the job done.
Bonnie
Milwaukee has such a broad line of tools that this is kind of the inevitable state. But it’s also probably amazing for the people who do need such a tool that it’s available on a standardized and well supported platform.
fred
One might argue that the Reed tool has an edge in that it offers interface plates that let you power it with the 4 most popular 18V batteries (Dewalt, Milwaukee, Makita and Bosch). I have thought that it would make sense for other manufacturers – whose primary focus is not cordless power tools – to adopt a similar strategy – rather than trying to create a whole new battery platform – or to tie themselves to a single one. The Reed price, however, is not competitive with this new Milwaukee.
TomD
Once you realize that Milwaukee (and the others) are *battery* and *motor* companies, and the plastic bits are just fluff around those components, it becomes much clearer.
In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if the total number of different motors across the lineup is quite small, compared to the number of tools they have.
Collin
This tool isn’t really cost-prohibitive though, so it could make sense for the average DIYer, even if they only use it a few times a year.
King duck
People who say use a shop vac for removing water have never used a shop vac for removing water! What a mess and pain in the ass.
SamR
I wonder if the new M12 can be used to transfer fuel from car/truck tanks?
MM
It looks much too large a diameter to fit down a standard fuel neck, and I’m sure that if it were rated for solvents or flammable materials they’d mention that in the description. I’m sure this is water only.
fred
Sounds like a fire or explosion waiting to happen. Most of these sorts of utility pumps admonish the user that they are for water only. Trying to pump volatile liquids like gasoline (much higher vapor pressure at room temperature than water) will also teach you something about NPSH and cavitation.
Stuart
No. This is specifically described as being for water.
Never transfer fuel in or using anything that’s not specifically designed for it.
Jon
My local Home Depot has seemingly accumulated an excessive Packout inventory. Anyone aware of a Packout sale in the imminent future?
MM
Father’s day is coming up in a little over a month, and that’s always a good time for tool sales.
Stuart
Maybe for Father’s Day?
Matthew
Cannot wait for this. Clearing out post holes for decks if it rains. I also have a sump that goes off every 10 seconds so if we lose power or my battery back up fails I’ll be able to use this to keep the crock and drain tile from backing up.
I don’t see myself using this all the time but it certainly is a nice emergency tool.
Gregg
I own (5) 55 Gallon Blue Tight Head Plastic Drum, 2″ NPS & 2″ Buttress Fittings.i keep these full of water. I may pick up one up. I have a hand pump they make for these but battery powered is a win win.
Koko The Talking Ape
At first I was impressed by the 15′ head height, but then I realized that’s 15′ from the bottom of the hose to the top, not necessarily 15′ from the GROUND. (I don’t use these tools myself.)
I can see how the rigid wand would help you reach certain places, but I could also see how a flexible pipe could be useful too. I wonder if they considered having a rigid but removable supporting rod for the hose, in case you ever needed to bend the pipe.
Franck B.
Usually, head is from the pump to the discharge, and lift is from the water to the pump. But a some use “total head” which is to what you’re referring, and some use “suction head” instead of lift. It’s nice when the manufacturers call out the useful specs properly. Since pumps usually can push liquids higher than pull them up, it’s nice to have them separated.
But I suspect you’re right, because on this pump the suction level should never exceed the length of the tool, and they probably just added that on to what would normally be the “head” to make it sound better, Sort of like “reach” on ladders and tape measures.
While the tool is probably amazing for someone who travels around encountering water in small holes that needs to be evacuated quickly (for instance: water meter reader), most people’s needs are probably better served by a separate, powerful portable pump with attachments to the goes-into and goes-outta. (I use a couple Waynes with hose fittings and one that submerges.)
Koko The Talking Ape
Thanks for correcting me AND finding a way I could be right too! 🙂
Collin
Speaking of transfer pumps, and Milwaukee’s focus on the mechanical trades–especially their full-throated push into all sectors of the automotive world from repairs to detailing–I would like to see a Milwaukee-powered engine lube transfer pump.
Lots of cars are switching to top-side oil changes now, in which you pump the oil out instead of cracking open a drain plug. I’ve started doing top-side oil changes, too, just out of sheer convenience of not having to jack up a car or crawl underneath to change the oil. Just pump it out (manually) and on some cars, even the filter is located on the top-side of the engine, so 0 need to go underneath for an oil change.
A powered extractor would make things more interesting. It would likely boost productivity in the shop for those relying on manual extractors. But I guess the issue would be just how viscous some engine oils can be, especially when cold. I guess that issue is also partially mitigated by the increasingly thin engine oils in use today, such as 0W16 and 0W8. It would prob take a lot of power to move engine oil in an expedient fashion.
Collin
At the very least, a battery-powered one would further obviate the need for shop air. Shop air is already pretty much redundant with today’s impact wrenches. A battery-powered instead of a shop-air powered extractor would be interesting.
Franck B.
It would be interesting to see, but I don’t know how the performance will be with a battery transfer pump. I guess “hobbyists” aren’t really the target market, but the repair sector still services older cars. Nearly all of my cars, even 20 year old “classics”, mandate 0W40 oil and it’s pretty viscous when cold. That leaves me with a choice: Let the car warm up for 20 minutes and then drain for 15; or let the oil extractor run for 45 minutes. I usually let the oil extractor run longer as the oil has already been pooling in the pan. The increased run time is due to the viscosity of the cold oil. I use the same extractor for brake fluid and coolant, but those wouldn’t provide a challenge for current battery pump tech. Using different fluids in the same electric pump type tool might require priming so maybe it would be best suited as a vacuum tool although that would reduce efficiency.
Although I’ve pretty much replaced the air supply in my garage with electricity, I keep it around for a few reasons. One, I still use pneumatic tools in the field. Two, the vacuum fluid extractor. Finally, the high pressure air is great for cleaning things and drying washed cars, and battery powered blower don’t yet produce the same kind of concentrated blast.
Bill
Used something very similar from Harbor Freight to empty the water from the toilet bowl and tank when changing out a toilet.
Frank
I’m an irrigation tech and can’t wait for this to come out. Getting one as soon as it’s available for sale. I currently either use a hand pump which is fine when it’s not a lot of water or a submersible pump for bigger repairs. But it’s more of a hassle because I have to turn on the generator and run an extension cord. And at the end I still have to remove some water with the hand pump. This would make my job way easier. Plus I already use a lot of their m12 tools so I have plenty of batteries.
Willy Unger
Can the pump be used for pumping coolant ?
Stuart
Generally, only water.