There are many ways to create small round holes in sheet metal, but when dealing with larger holes sizes you pretty much have two choices – hole saws or knockout punches.
With knockout punches, you can use manual tools, hydraulic tools, or even electric tools to drive the punches.
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Greenlee makes a couple of electric knockout punch drivers, such as the LS60 (which starts at $2800 via Amazon), and Gardner Bender and Maxis make knockout driver adapters that allow for cordless drills and drivers to step in for elbow grease.
Now, Milwaukee is stepping into the fray with their M18 Force Logic high capacity knockout tools and kits.
Features
- Powerful enough to punch holes up to 4″ wide in 12 gauge stainless steel
- Quick connect alignment system for easy setup
- Exact punches and dies with cross-hairs for accurate holes
- Compatible with competitors’ knockout accessories
- Weighs 9.21 lbs
- 7-5/8″ long
- Output force of 10 tons
- Comes with 7/16″ and 3/4″ draw studs
Kit Options
Basic Kit (2676-20)
Small Punch Kit (2676-22) – includes 1/2″ to 2″ Exact punches and dies
Large Punch Kit (2676-23) – includes 1/2″ to 4″ punches and dies
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Kits come with (2) XC high capacity lithium ion battery packs, M18/M12 multi-voltage charger, carrying case, quick connect accessory, and the (2) draw studs.
Pricing: $1349 for the basic kit, $1549 for the small kit, $1899 for the large kit
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
First Impression
Milwaukee’s new M18 cordless knockout punch driver tool looks fairly compact, and has the potential to disrupt the market if the kits are priced right.
Hopefully Milwaukee is considering coming out with new hand-driven knockout punch sets as well. (Pretty please?) Update – Yes they did!
Jason
I don’t really have a use for a tool like this, but if they are including a bunch of dies at that $2400 price then its a really good deal. If its just a bare tool with no dies it’s still abetter deal than whats out there right now but not as great if that price included dies. The trade specific tools Milwaukee seems to be concentrating on is really working out for them.
LORDDiESEL
That’s a beast of a tool!!
Go red team!
KenZ
Question: will it come bare tool only, and will it be compatible, or is there an adapter, to Greenlee hydraulic punches, of which we already own two sets? Since their M12 rotary tool works with all existing Dremel items, I’m going to hope that their punches work with Greenlee? Any idea????
Stuart
It looks like there’s a basic kit option, but no bare tool, unless there was an error in Milwaukee’s introductory product descriptions.
Since there’s a basic kit option, and Milwaukee says that the tool will be compatible with competitive accessories, I imagine that it *will* be compatible with Greenlee punches. The tool comes with 2 drawbars that will probably need to be used in lieu of those that are typically used with Greenlee punch sets.
Robert
Looks good. The hydraulic knock out kits run around $1500 for 1/2-4″.
One benefit is that it would use regular milwaukee batteries. The greenlee looks like it uses Makita batteries.
I use the hydraulic Greenlee kit primarily the 1/2, 3/4, 1″ and 3.5 ad 4″ punches for popping holes in panels, disconnects and meter boxes. (commercial)
It doesn’t take long to punch the holes with the hydraulic tool. The issue is the pilot hole to get the tool on the panel. Spinning the die on and off isn’t too bad and it looks like the Milwaukee tool eliminates that step with the drawbar.
I have more of a need to drill pilot holes fast than to increase the speed of hole punching.
If you don’t have either one and the milwaukee wasn’t much more than the hydraulic units I’d go that route although hydraulic never runs out of power and just works no matter what.
Boyce Oliver
do you sell the tool only ? dont need the whole kit
Stuart
The least you can buy is the tool-only 2676-20 kit, which comes with:
M18 FORCE LOGIC 10T Knockout Tool Kit(2676-20)
M18 REDLITHIUM XC Extended Capacity Battery (48-11-1828)
M18 & M12 Multi-Voltage Charger(48-59-1812)
7/16″ Draw Stud(49-16-2680)
3/4″ Draw Stud(49-16-2681)
Adaptor for Other Major Brands of Punches and Dies(49-16-2685)
EXACT Rapid Reset 3/4″ Draw Stud Set(49-16-2703)
Ball Stud
Carrying Case
Coupler
Quick Connect Collar
Bill
I just received an email about the new Dewalt DCE600D1K2 20V MAX* Hydraulic Knockout Tool Kit. While there are similar tools that have been on the market for a number of years, the Dewalt unit has a rotating head that I haven’t seen before. It looks to be an interesting tools that could provide access into tighter spaces than other designs.