Milwaukee has come out with a new M18 brushless threaded rod cutter, 2872. It features 3 die sizes – 1/4″, 3/8″, and 1/2″, covering the most common threaded rod sizes used in construction and commercial spaces.
The Milwaukee M18 threaded rod cutter can cut mild steel (1/4″, 3/8″, or 1/2″), or stainless steel (1/4″, 3/8″).
Advertisement
Milwaukee says that their brushless threaded rod cutter can produce “nut ready cuts,” that don’t require filing or any other finish work.
The cutter cuts without sparks, burs, or chips. When paired with a CP2.0 battery it can make over 400 cuts of 3/8″ mild steel threaded rod per charge.
- Can cut 1/4″, 3/8″, 1/2″ mild steel coarse threaded rod
- Can cut 1/4″, 3/8″ stainless steel coarse threaded rod
- Four-sided upper and lower dies
- LED worklight
- Integrated lanyard hole
- Onboard Allen key storage
- 11″ length
- Weighs 8.7 lbs with battery
The M18 threaded rod cutter auto-returns after each cut, and also a built-in 1-1/2″ trim length.
Advertisement
It has a one-handed grip, for comfortable overhead use, and can also be rested on a flat surface for pre-fab cutting.
Price: $399 for the kit (2872-21), $329 for the bare tool (2872-20)
ETA: March 2019
The kit comes with a 2.0Ah battery, M18/M12 charger, and hard carrying case.
Buy Now(Kit via Acme Tools)
Buy Now(Kit via Tool Nut)
Buy Now(Bare Tool via Acme Tools)
Buy Now(Bare Tool via Tool Nut)
Compare(Dewalt Threaded Rod Cutter via Amazon)
First Thoughts
After I posted a teaser about the new Dewalt cordless threaded rod cutter that I spotted at a media event, emails slowly came in, asking for more information. The emails increased in frequency until Dewalt officially announced it a year later. I would not have guessed it, but their corded threaded rod cutter was immediately popular.
Milwaukee has had several years to develop their M18 brushless threaded rod cutter, which could potentially make it even better.
At the least, I am sure that Milwaukee users in certain trades are going to be extremely pleased with the new offering.
Bur-free, spark-free, chip-free, and nut-ready cuts in popular threaded rod sizes? What’s not to like?! The tool shears the rod while preserving the threads, which should make for much quicker work and better results.
Here’s Milwaukee’s promo video:
What I find interesting is that it’s a Milwaukee M18 brushless tool, and not M18 Fuel or built with a brushed motor. Dewalt’s DCS350 has a brushed motor and can handle up to 350 cuts of 3/8″ threaded rod per charge (it’s kitted with a 2.0Ah battery).
In addition to being more efficient, the Milwaukee is said to have the “clearest line of sight while making overhead cuts.”
Replacement dies will be available in a set, 48-44-2872.
fred
I can see my ex-compatriots in the plumbing business buying at least one of these to try out. They are already invested in M12 and M18 tools so this would fit into the lineup better than a Dewalt. We had used Hit22-TRC3812-3 manual threaded rod cutters – but this tool should make jobs a bit easier and possibly quicker. This would fit into what were small to mid-sized commercial jobs. On really big hi-rise jobs where we were subs – we’d probably set up a station for cutting unistrut and threaded rod – with a hydraulic cutter – with a Greenlee or other machine:
https://www.toolup.com/Greenlee-GLSSEHPKIT003-30T-Shearing-Station-EHP700L11-Pump-Hose-Single-Strut-Threaded-Rod-Die-S
This Milwaukee (like our manual Hit cutters) would still be useful for in-situ cutting and trimming.
Steven
As much as It is cool…400$ for a single purpose tool doesnt seem practical for me. My line of work ranges from residential rough in plumbing, light commercial plumbing, to boilers and gas installation.
I do love tools but I dont like hauling 5000 single use tools in and out of my van.
I use the m12 compact band saw for small cuts and have a corded deep cut band saw for larger (would enjoy the m18 deep cut if i came across for a good price)
Swag offroad makes a very cool portabandsaw table for doing repeated cuts and precision mitres.
For someone living there whole apprenticeship making hangers(joke) sure it might be practical.
Cutting overhead seems silly. I perform all cuts on ground level than assemble. So one hand operation isnt a huge sale.
Stuart
There’s a balance to uni-taskers like this. Too little use, and it won’t earn a place in your kit. But with greater needs or use, it’ll definitely be worthwhile by way of saved time and effort. Or, it can earn its investment if you have special requirements, such as needing to modify hangers or assemblies that are already in place, or working in a space where saws and chips are undesirable.
Corey
I remember when DeWalts came out, and I thought that I couldn’t justify getting one because I already owned two portabands. Seeing this today, I’m still holding the same opinion. I think the only thing that sway that would be if it were M12 and super compact. Since it’s not though, all I’m left thinking is that bandsaws cut just as fast if not faster, also leave “nut ready cuts,” can achieve a flush to nut cut unlike these, and are generally much more versatile in more than just this single application. I’m sure that portabands do create some dust/debris, though it’s so little I can say that I’ve never really seen it, but this would be a no-brainer if one was working in an environment requiring FOD tools. I also appreciate that there were no claims of reinventing all thread lol
Bill Strobel
I wonder if it also cuts rebar?
Doresoom
I think using it on rebar might risk damaging the dies. If you look closely the dies are threaded too in order to provide nut ready cuts.
Jim Felt
I’m an admitted toolaholic but this is something I can’t rationalize in either blue or the two reds. Just too single purpose.
And I’d like too. Dangitall.
John S
I still don’t understand why there isn’t say an M12 sized or at least smaller version for just screws in multiple sizes (not just standard 8-32 or 6-23 like on linesman tools). I know you can get that in a bolt cutter or even some suggested something some manual threaded bolt cutters. But after a while that really is tough on old hands particularly how bolt cutters totally just mess up the threaded end and you have to then rethread it with a nut afterwards.
fred
Maybe you’ve got Milwaukee thinking about a new tool – but thy would probably need to offer a die-cutter set for each different thread size. Or they might be able to design a powered version of the wire stripper/screw cutter hand tool.
Many of the wire stripper – screw cutters seem to handle 5 or 6 popular screw sizes – and are good for applications where you need to cut only a few machine screws.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JNNWQ2/ref=psdc_553398_t1_B005W0Z3SW
When running lots of pipe hangers – like in new hi-rise construction or retrofitting sprinklers – we might be making hundreds of threaded rod cuts – hence the desire to use a powered tool. I don’t recall the crews saying that they had a job where they needed to cut hundreds of machine screws to size – and if they had such jobs they probably would have opted to buys some boxes of the correct length screws.
BTW – in my home shop I have a vintage Stanley 84-205 cutter – that does a decent job on cutting several sizes of screws and bolts with minimal effort:
https://www.ebay.com/p/Steel-Screw-Soft-84-205-Threaded-Jobmaster-Cutter-Bolt-Stanley/1401768454
John S
Yeah I don’t disagree they may have to offer a bunch of dies but thats the tradeoff for the time and pain savings. Its not much different than the punch out tools or hole cutting sizes. If they made a replaceable standard die set and even pick and choose which you want or need I don’t think that would be a bad thing.
John S
I meant to add that these hand cutters like that Irwin I never have the option for metric screws like M3 – M8 which in electrical and computing I go through a ton of those.
fred
Maybe NWS, Wiha, or Knipex make ones for metric screws – but here’s one (of several) listed on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Techni-Tool-Strip-Crimp-Tool-Metric/dp/B000PDQ3UI
Mike
Buy a screw organizer and buy all the sizes you’d ever want. Faster and easier than cutting them. In those small sizes, a box of 100 is usually only a couple bucks. Spend 1/4 of the price of the cutter and you’d have a great custom screw assortment built for your needs.
Avi
If you want metric, you just have to get in from outside North America, for instance Milwaukee’s electrical pliers here have 6-23, 8-23, but their ones in Europe have have m4, m5, or maybe it is m3, m4
Joe framer
More efficient on paper..while dewalt usually has claims a little under what the performance is.. Milwaukee will take the highest one time reading…test usually prove dewalt is better or close to Milwaukee claimed numbers.
…also looks like the rod almost rubs up against your hand (thumb) while dewalt has a handle up top
..both cut the same diameter rods and as said above, the small band saw does a great job quickly and can cut larger diameters.
.. standard size threaded rods in construction is 5/8-1″ not 1/4 -1/2″..
Chris
5/8-1″ may be standard for you, but in my commercial and industrial experience, I’ve only ever used 1/4″, mostly 3/8″, and 1/2″.
fred
Structural tie down threaded rod (e.g. Simpson Strong Tie) seems to start with 3/8 and runs up to 2 inch.
But for pipe hangers, in my experience – using 3/8 rod is common for up to 2 inch water and steam pipe, 1/2 inch for 2-1/2 to 4 inch pipe, 5/8 for 6 inch pipe, 3/4 for 8 to 12 inch and 1 inch for 14 to 18 inch pipe. Local codes may vary as may spacing requirements for the hangers. Rod material (e.g. stainless steel) may also push up required rod diameter.
Chris
I guess I should have stated, my hangers are used in the electrical field up to 4″.
I hope to never lift 5 or 6″ RMC 🙂
https://steeltubeinstitute.org/steel-conduit/types-of-steel-conduit/rigid-metal-conduit-rmc/
Joe framer
Min threaded rod through an HDU16 and drilled a min of 8″ into the foundation and epoxied is 5/8..but usually 7/8 -1″…houses are secured with threaded rod from the 3rd floor to the cellar foundation….lots of them
BenB
I would think a mini portaband (Dewalt or Milwaukee) and a deburring tool would be much more useful and cost effective. Since most contractors have the portaband and a drill. Cut it, deburr it, install it. You’re going to be sad when someone (theres one on every job) tries cutting rebar with it or something else and it’s broken $$$ junk.
Get a deburring tool like this one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07MMVRW2G/ref=sspa_mw_detail_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Corey
Portabands seldom require cleaning thread, if they do the easiest way to do it is to run a nut up it with your drill or impact?
fred
Or you can buy a pricey threaded rod chaser:
https://www.amazon.com/MCC-Threaded-ABCH-430-improperly-threaded/dp/B00OS424OY
BTW MCC also makes threaded rod wrenches
https://www.amazon.com/MCC-THREADED-threaded-damaging-Ratcheting/dp/B00COOQYDC/
Nathan
Why would you want an M12 version of this and expect it to be more compact. Do you realize the energy it takes to cut 1/2 inch diameter thread rod. even using a band saw or grinding vs shearing. Lots of power needed.
Meanwhile – if this is more compact than the dewalt that might be a swaying factor – I think the dewalt will be cheaper but only because it’s been out longer.
Doesn’t the dewalt have a seperate die set for cutting rebar or other rods? Maybe I assumed that.
Anyway I could see this or the dewalt modified to where you have interchangeable heads for a bit more flexibility.
Glad to see they have something – competition is always good
evadman
According to a response by dewalt here: https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-20-Volt-MAX-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Threaded-Rod-Cutter-Tool-Only-DCS350B/206525643 the dewalt version can’t cut rebar.
Nathan
Both companies could easily make a die set for these that would cut rebar – if the machine had enough torque to do so
fred
The Makita cordless rebar and rod cutters have a different form factor. One is a flush cutter ($944 at Home Depot) – and the other looks like a cordless drill with a cutter in place of a chuck ($1723 at Home Depot). The look a bit like the corded one that I used to see from BN – and I think BN now has one based on a Hitachi cordless drill.
Corey
I’ve got an M12 cable cutter that’ll do #2. Gearing is a wonderful and extremely capable mechanism
Paul Wagner
I think this is a great idea and I am a Milwaukee freak. However… I can’t afford the room in my van for another cordless tool when I already have the M12 bandsaw which cuts thread rod perfectly every time. Any size…
Craig Tate
Nice idea for sure…I am sure there are those who can use it…when I was doing commercial work we would often cut a bundle of rod at once with a portable bandsaw…obviously we had to be careful about how we clamped the rod, and good straight cutting… but all it takes was an old rag or heavy cardboard in the jaws of a chain vice and we were golden…
Julian Tracy
Please tell me they’re not serious chain-vise clamping a section of what looks like maybe 5/16 or 3/8” rod just to cut it? Ought to be able to hold it with your hand, cut it and get back to work. Overkill much?
Stephen
Personally, I would rather just use a bandsaw. Im an HVAC Mechanic, and if im 50 feet in the air on a lift building UniStrut trapezes to suspend ductwork, the last thing I want on the lift taking up space is a tool that can only perform one solitary function. Bandsaw can cut Unistrut, threaded rod, and just about anything else within reason. I get the thread rod cutter makes clean cuts, but so can I with a bandsaw. To each their own but i think its a waste of money
Sb224
I just saw the Dewalt one on Amazon for $180 bucks for the bare tool…$300+ seems right steep even for the brushless motor. That being said the Milwaukee looks more convenient to use.