Milwaukee has a new M18 Fuel cordless rotary hammer, model 2916.
This is an SDS Plus 1-1/4″ D-handle rotary hammer with brushless motor and built-in One-Key.
Milwaukee says that their new cordless rotary hammer delivers 30% faster drilling of 3/4″ holes and weighs up to 6 pounds lighter versus SDS Max rotary hammers.
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The rotary hammer features an SDS Plus chuck, 3.65 ft-lbs of impact energy, AUTOSTOP Kickback Control, AVS anti-vibration system, and ergonomic handle.
The One-Key feature is used for inventory and management purposes, via their Bluetooth and cloud-based community tracking network.
(There doesn’t seem to be a non-One-Key version, and its use is optional.)
There are 3 modes of operation – rotary hammer, hammer-only, and rotary-only.
The new M18 Fuel rotary hammer can drill up to (25) 3/4″ x 4″ holes per charge with a High Output XC 6Ah battery.
The rotary hammer can be paired with Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel HammerVac 1-1/4″ dedicated dust extractor for OSHA Table 1 compliance.
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Milwaukee 2916 Key Features & Specs
- SDS Plus chuck
- 3.65 ft-lbs impact energy
- 810 RPM
- 4,650 BPM
- LED worklight
- AVS ant-vibration system
- Ergonomic D-handle
- 360°-rotating side handle with depth gauge
- Forward/reverse function
- 3 modes: rotary hammer, hammer-only, rotary-only
- Weighs 11.5 lbs with battery
- 19.6″ length with battery
The kit comes with a side handle, depth gauge, grease tube, carrying case, (2) M18 HO XC 6Ah batteries, an an M18/M12 Rapid Charger.
Price: $749 for the kit (2916-22), $499 for the bare tool (2916-20)
ETA: October 2022
At the time of this posting, use coupon code TOOLGUYD at Acme to save $10 off $79+. (The code can be used once per customer every 30 days.)
Discussion
This can drill 3/4″ holes faster than an SDS-Max rotary hammer?! Sounds good.
The new model (2916) looks to be a significant upgrade compared to the existing M18 Fuel SDS Plus 1″ D-handle rotary hammer, (2713). The 2916 delivers 3.65 ft-lbs of max impact energy, compared to 2.1 ft-lbs for the 2713. The new model is also designed with on-tool dust extraction compatibility in mind.
Milwaukee also has the compact SDS Plus 1-1/8″ rotary hammer with One-Key, model 2915, with very similar performance and runtime claims.
I’m curious – for those of you who use cordless rotary hammers on a regular basis, which do you prefer – compact or D-handle designs?
What about with on-tool dust extraction? D-handle vs. compact?
Kevin
It depends on the situation D-handles are nice when drilling on the floor or cieilings (less bending). But when drilling on walls the compact is also easier to manage and it can also do fine on floors if cieilings. But with an sds extension, compact can do it all
Adam
Those are two different designs, and the 2912-20 isn’t that old, I think less than a year. They have always had a D-handle style, along with several compact models. But as Kevin mentioned, extensions make getting one style over the other sort of moot.
While this new 2916-20 D-handle is nice, it almost doesn’t seem like it would replace the 2713-20 D-handle, just based on price alone. Existing tool was $199 a couple months back, now up to $249. This new one is $499. Hard to say it’s a replacement model at twice the price.
Adam
Meant to reply to Richard below. Though looks as if Stuart addressed in a more timely manner
Avi
Especially since the existing d handle one goes on sale for 150 every so often at home depot.
Richard
The SDS plus 1” is available for $217 if you return the free battery https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M18-FUEL-18V-Lithium-Ion-Brushless-Cordless-1-in-SDS-Plus-Rotary-Hammer-Tool-Only-2912-20/315444524. I’m guessing it was discounted to make way for this newer model.
That being said I don’t fully understand SDS sizing. The new one is 1-1/8” so it might not be a replacement or a new 1” might be coming soon as they try to clear backlog of stock.
fred
HD – has a deal on the Milwaukee 2509-22 Hammervac kit that Milwaukee says will work with any SDS-Plus rotohammer
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M12-12-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-HAMMERVAC-Universal-Dust-Extractor-Kit-2509-22/313536462
Stuart
That’s the 2912 with 2 ft-lbs impact energy, and there’s also the 2915, which is a 1-1/8″ SDS Plus with 3.6 ft-lbs impact energy.
This new model is a different form factor (D-handle), and so it’s not replacing either of those compact form factor model.
SDS/Plus/Max sizing is based on the largest-recommended drill bit size for the tool.
So, in theory, a 1-3/4″ SDS Max rotary hammer has a max capacity of drilling 1-3/4″ holes, and a 1-1/4″ SDS Plus rotary hammer has a max drilling capacity of 1-1/4″, and so forth.
Jerry
And don’t be fooled, a 1-1/4 bit takes a LOT more power to run than a 1″. A bit.more than 50% more.
BrianA
Holy cow $500 bare tool, the old 2713 didn’t sell like hot cakes at even $199 on sale., inflation can’t be that bad. Milwaukee needs to stop jacking up normal retail, I am tired of playing Kohls games with sales and promos.
Like the new airtip vac accessories, 33% off them if you buy 3 or more at HD. The retail price of the things is ridiculous, normal retail should be the 33% off.
Stuart
You can still buy the 2713 for $249 bare-tool.
Buy 3 or more, save some money? That’s not unique to Milwaukee or Home Depot.
I can buy one size of screwdriver for $5, or a 6pc set for $18. So why can’t I buy a single screwdriver for $3?
5 blades cost $5, 50 might cost $25. Why can’t I buy one for 50 cents?
It’s just how things are.
BrianA
If you just accept how things are it will never change. I think more lately people are growing tired of the old retail games of sales, promos and coupons. Hence why Kohls, BB&B, Macys, etc are struggling. Walmart is more resilient because you almost never have to consider if the price is fair, it might not always be the lowest but not far off.
Milwaukee’s retail pricing the past 1-2 years is bonkers.
Those examples are not relatable to the air tip buy more promo. I have almost all the air tip accessories, while some are nice, they are only worth 50-60% of retail price. The dust collector one is $50 for a piece of plastic. I stacked a HD 10% coupon on top of the 33% off promo and I still feel like I overpaid. Wouldn’t feel so bad if they worked with the backpack vac, surely Milwaukee will come out with an adapter in 1 year and charge me $80 for it. Also they don’t work with the Gen1 M18 wet dry.
TomD
Milwaukee’s retail pricing gets bonkers when you get closer to the tools that they don’t really sell through HD and friends (sure you can FIND one online, but it’s not stocked in stores, often).
Those high retail prices are for places like Ferguson or Fastenal or Grainger or whatever – those stores will actually charge retail or slightly below for the services they offer, and so they don’t want MSRP to be lower than what they charge.
The pricing on their drum machine camera is like $9k heh.
Ross
What does the inch size mean, max bit/hole?
Jerry
Yes, max recommended size in concrete.
JR Ramos
First…check out Hilti before plunking down the coin on Milwaukee, even if you’re already invested in the M18 batteries.
I think the compact is a great all-around choice and excels if you have to work on step ladders or work in smaller spaces. The d-handles have always seemed to be much more durable with regular use and generally have given more impact force, ounce for ounce. If you’re not doing it for a living there’s not a great argument for not getting the compact versions, imho. If you do use it a lot then most service centers will recommend the d-handle. All that said, my personal experience with the compacts is a bit limited and since I don’t work in a service center but just talk with a couple guys that do, I’m not sure if the impact mechanisms for the compact versions have improved, which is possible (as they have with impact wrenches).
The other thing if you use them a lot is turnaround time and/or parts *in stock* at your service center. Most outfits will have spare tools but if you can keep just one or two of those instead of more, you save money.
neandrewthal
At least with Milwaukee, the 1″ D just doesn’t seem to hit as hard as the 1″ compact. I own both. I’ve used the compact for thousands of holes.
Adam
The compact should hit harder. The D-handle is rated at 1.7 ft-lb blow energy & 4,400 BPM, where as the compact 2912 is 2.0 ft-lb & 4,800 bpm.
JR Ramos
Sorry for the late reply. You guys are talking impact energy only but I was talking more about durability of the working parts. Nosing around at the current offerings for compacts, they do seem to have improved in force, a little. Called a couple buddies who have a lot more experience on both ends with these and hope to chat with them soon about what they’ve observed in durability with both in recent years. I think the compacts are nice, personally, but honestly a good electric d-handle can often deliver more. Important to take the specs with a grain of salt sometimes, too (impact energy, hole capacity, etc)…and battery heat/life.
Corey+Moore
Compact, or L handle. I’m an electrician, though so cabinets and all that jazz. If it’s a big ass hole, or open air, I’ve got my 2″ 60v and I don’t see anything making that obsolete any time soon
OhioHead
I do not “typically” think of MKE making excellent rotary hammers (Hilti/Bosch come to my mind), does anyone know if MKE is leveraging AEG knowledge to bring better rotary hammers to the US?
AEG “branded tools” have not been available in the US for years (think back to the early 00’s when MKE sold “flip around battery” NiCad based cordless drills. AEG “tools” are available in the US primarily “branded” as Ridgid cordless tools.
Just wondering if in fact these new MKE hammers are “rebranded” AEG hammers (development in Europe, end user testing in the US)……..years ago a lot of DW’s rotary hammer development took place in Europe & manufactured in Europe.
Not trying to start a comment war, just asking a question.