Providing users high performance, advanced ergonomics and legendary durability, the M18 FUEL 4-1/2 in. to 6 in Braking Grinder is designed to complete the toughest grinding, surface preparation and cutting applications with all 4-1/2 in. to 6 in. accessories. It generates the power of a 13 Amp corded grinder, brakes all accessories under 3-seconds and has 6 in. grinding capacity. The POWERSTATE Brushless Motor provides users with 9,000 RPM, delivering industry-leading performance. REDLINK PLUS intelligence protects the angle grinder from overload, overheating and over discharge. The M18 REDLITHIUM HIGH OUTPUT XC6.0 Battery delivers users with more material removed per charge and unmatched run-time in all applications. Tool-free accessory changes using the FIXTEC nut and tool-free guard adjustments mean users will experience less downtime as they work. The cordless angle grinder’s grinding wheel is sold separately. The kit includes two M18 REDLITHIUM HIGH OUTPUT XC6.0 Batteries.
- POWERSTATE brushless motor: built for the M18 FUEL 4-1/2 in. to 6 in. braking grinder to provide the power and performance of a 13 Amp corded grinder
- REDLINK PLUS intelligence: ensures optimal performance and provides overload protection to prevent damage to the tool and battery during heavy applications, maintains compatibility across the entire M18 system
- REDLITHIUM HIGH OUTPUT XC6.0 battery pack: provides 50% more power and runs cooler versus M18 REDLITHIUM XC battery packs, superior pack construction provides the industry’s best protection against jobsite conditions
- Rapid stop braking feature stops all accessories in 3-seconds or less
- Metal housing and Gearing system provides legendary durability
- 100% tool free: make all accessory changes and guard adjustments without a wrench for increased productivity
- Compatible with all M18 batteries
- Includes: 2981-20 M18 FUEL 4-1/2 in. to 6 in. grinder, slide switch, lock-on, two M18 REDLITHIUM HIGH OUTPUT XC6.0 batteries, type 27 6 in. guard, side handle, FIXTEC nut, backing flange, wrench
Rylee Lang (verified owner) –
Really has the power but chews through batteries when used like you’d use a corded grinder in a serious metal shop. It turns itself off if you put it in a serious bind but has never shut off due to over heating. Super convenient and the 6 amp battery definitely got me through a couple hours of normal use with a cutting wheel cutting AR sheet metal. Doesn’t replace a corded grinder but definitely close, I’d bet I bigger battery would put it up there with a corded unit.
Hailie Zboncak (verified owner) –
I love it. It feels super heavy duty and it is very powerful. I’m very impressed with the battery to. Only thing I’ve had a problem with is the charger makes a really loud high pitch noise and smells a little when charging
Tre Bogisich (verified owner) –
Great tool I have no complaints luv the top switch
Dorris Wisozk (verified owner) –
If you need an all-in-one kit for a medium sized cordless grinder, look no further. This Milwaukee M18 grinder is versatile in that it can be used with 4-1/2 up to 6″ blades and attachments. It comes with a XC 6.0Ah battery, rapid charger, toolless guard and a wrench to tighten and loosen the main nut. It offers plenty of power with the XC6.0 and will accept smaller and larger M18 batteries as well, if you have them or desire them. It all comes in a nice soft zippered canvas bag for storage. I used to like the hard cases but these bags care now my favorite. Besides being portable and versatile in size, another feature I love is the Rapid Stop system that stops the grinder from spinning in under three seconds after the switch is released. Not only does that save time from holding the grinder, waiting for it to stop spinning, it helps prevent an accident if someone happened to set it down while it was still spinning. I added a dollar bill in the picture for size reference. I wanted to do so because this is a slightly bigger grinder than the other 4-1/2″ grinders because it is designed for up to 6″ accessories. While that is versatile it may require some to use two hands when using the grinder, something that should be done anyway for safety. But worth mentioning.Whether you need a portable grinder for home use or need to use one professionally in the building trades, this grinder is for you.
Amparo Hills (verified owner) –
I received my Milwaukee fuel 18-volt brushless grinder today, and it comes with two 6.0 Ah batteries.I like that this cordless grinder will accept 4-1/2 inch or 6-inch accessories. The brake is another nice feature, and the grinder stop s in 3 seconds when you let off the slide switch.This Milwaukee grinder has a tool-free design in that you do not need any tools to change any accessories or the guard. After trying this grinder on some angle iron, I can say it is just as powerful as any of my corded grinders, and with the 6.0 Ah batteries, it will last a long time. Overall all this cordless Milwaukee grinder is more powerful and will accept a larger grinding wheel (6- inch) than my other brand of cordless grinders. This Milwaukee grinder will now be my go-to grinder for everything from welding to sharping mower blades. Another nice feature is it comes in a heavy duty large tool bag that is capable of carrying additional accessories.
Mervin Feil (verified owner) –
This Milwaukee FUEL M18, 18-Volt 4-1/2 in. – 6 In. Grinder with Slide Switch Kit is GREAT! I prefer the slide switch over a paddle for working in various positions, where the paddle can be a bit difficult to operate safely. This kit includes 2 XC6Ah battery packs, a 18V/12V Rapid Charger, accessory nut wrench and a good bag. I’ve had several 4/4-1/2 in. corded grinders, as well as a Milwaukee Industrial duty 7 in. grinder over the years. However, this will be my go-to grinder from now on. The first thing I noticed when I charged the battery packs was that the Rapid Charger “sings” while charging, due to the high amp output. It charges much faster than the other chargers. The grinder is well-balanced and easy to handle, with plenty of power. The Rapid Stop Brake is very good, stopping in <3 seconds from switch release. The very convenient FIXTEC nut works well and means no tools needed to change “most” accessories. The guard is very easy to adjust to 5 different positions with the press of a lever, again with no tools needed. Unfortunately, no one in Tucson has ANY 6 in. grinding wheels, or Milwaukee 6 in. cutoff wheels, so I used a 4-1/2” grinding wheel, and flap wheel to grind a couple of old weld beads off my bench, where someone decided to check their welder settings. Worked great, but 6 in. wheels would have been better to reach into the bottom of the 4 in. angle iron, not to mention that more surface area removes more metal faster. I went to HD and bought another brand of 4-1/2 in. sanding pad backer and pads for finishing that area (the nut for this required a different wrench). I bought two other branded 6 in. cutoff wheels for use in cutting the welds from the old axle and spacers off of my old tiller because the replacement wheels require a smaller diameter axle. All told, I fabricated several new pieces, as well as spacers to raise the engine, to make the axle work. In addition to the 5/8 in. axle and washers, I made a number of cuts in 1/8 in. x ½ in. angle iron and several cuts in 1/8 in. x 1 in. flat stock, and used the grinding wheel to square things up. This grinder worked quite well. I found that the XC6Ah battery packs run for about 30 minutes, and having the second one was good. In all, I went through 3 full charges. Given the 30 minute run time of the battery packs, I don’t think this grinder would be ideal for large industrial or fabricating work, but it sure is great for smaller jobs. Again, 6 in. grinding, wheels, flap wheels, and sanding disks would make the work go faster, and probably get more done on each charge. Hopefully HD will be stocking them soon.
Yvonne Klocko (verified owner) –
I like the tool, I’m just switching to Milwaukee from Makita and I used it today Tuesday 6th the first time … it’s slightly bigger then my old Makita grinder ( of course it’s a 6’’ one ) Otherwise i will see how it’s holds up in future.
Heath Reichert (verified owner) –
This has a lot of power and the 2 XC6.0 batteries provide it with good run time. Kit includes the grinder, 2 batteries, charger, side handle, accessory nut wrench and carry bag.It uses the FIXTEC nut which allows you to change accessories without using tools. Flip the black half circle ring up and you can use your hand. Works well even when using gloves. This has been around for a while but it’s the first time I’m seeing it.The switch locks in the on position which is nice since it sometimes feels uncomfortable to use.The brake is a welcome feature. It stops the blade spinning within 3 seconds. Blade guard is easy to adjust without tools.It’s easy to forget you’re using a cordless tool when you see how much power this has. The Milwaukee M18 batteries with REDLITHIUM batteries and the REDLINK Plus Intelligence perform incredibly well and last a long time. I haven’t had one fail yet and I’ve tried to make them overheat and overload.
Enrico Graham (verified owner) –
Nice grinder and great charger. I just got this over the weekend so I have not depleted one of the 6AH batteries yet but I am sure they will last a decent amount of time. I was really surprised by the charger, however. I have both 40V and 18V Ryobi batteries and chargers and they take a LOT longer than the Milwaukee charger. The Milwaukee charger whines a little while charging but I will take that to get a less than 1 hour charge on a 6AH battery! The assembly was minimal, just attach the handle and guard, both accomplished without tools. The guard position also adjusts without tools. I have a couple smaller corded charges but I am sure this will now be my favorite.
Hubert Welch (verified owner) –
Most efficient and effective Milwaukee purchase I’ve made…. sexy and very effective tool
Michele Oberbrunner (verified owner) –
Works awesome! Sharpen lawnmower blades with so far, goin to try cutting on something soon. Was impressed with the guard with its simplicity and how it can be moved where ever u need it.
Reanna Blick (verified owner) –
I love this grinder. I mostly use an angle grinder for wood carving. That usually means walking around the piece a lot. Which with a traditional grinder also means tripping over cords or constantly moving them out of the way so I don’t cut them. However my favorite feature here is the brake. I use chainsaw disks to carve. It’s fairly dangerous even when used safely. There is a constant kickback risk. The brake really mitigates that risk. I almost don’t feel safe using my corded Milwaukee grinder anymore.It has all the power of corded for sure, and comes with the 6ah XC battery. Because I am already invested heavily in the M18 ecosystem, I have a lot of batteries (including the big 9ah) at the ready so long carving sessions and running out of juice isn’t an issue. I also really like the tool-less arbor nut. The soft case is nice, but I’d personally opt for a hard case and will probably custom fit some foam in a Milwaukee Packout for this. This is a game changing tool. Especially for those who need a good, powerful grinder in the field away from a power source
Lenora Mitchell (verified owner) –
As powerful as any grinder I have used, is how I would describe this tool. It is solidly built and well designed while providing plenty of features. It uses a variety of size grinder or cutting discs from 4.5″ – 6″. The shield is easily adjusted by a spring mechanism allowing for rotation depending on the job. It does come with 2 batteries which are quickly recharged in the included charger.
Delilah McGlynn (verified owner) –
This is an awesome tool, not too big not too small.
Tyreek Mohr (verified owner) –
This thing is a beast! This battery powered braking grinder kit made by Milwaukee completely out performs every A/C powered angle grinder I have ever used. It doesn’t seem to spin as fast but the torque of the brushless motor in this grinder is amazing and more than makes up for it. The battery life is outstanding. This grinder seriously cuts twice as fast as my A/C powered one, and with this one, I don’t have to worry about cutting the cord off, or setting it down to fast because it stops spinning almost immediately after letting go of the push button. My one complaint with this grinder is the slide switch can be cumbersome to operate when using the grinder in certain positions. Milwaukees grinder kit will hold accessories from 4 1/2 to 6 in. I am currently using 5 in. The position of the guard can be rotated or removed tool free. The disks can also be changed tool free but if they happen to get to tight, Milwaukee provides the wrench to loosen it. The included charger is a fast charger that will charge both the M18 and M12 batteries. This kit also comes with a red lithium high output XC6.0. Everything included in this kit fits nicely into the tough bag it comes with.
Emie Mraz (verified owner) –
This tool cuts, grinds, & sands any metal you can throw at it with ease, makes life so much better..
Zena Bauch (verified owner) –
Great product
Robbie Lang (verified owner) –
Really powerful, replaces a corded model! The brake is a nice safety feature. Highly recommended!
Dallas Rodriguez (verified owner) –
The Milwaukee Brand, M18 FUEL 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 4-1/2 in./6 in. Grinder with Slide Switch and Kit, plus (1) 6.0 Ah Battery is a tool for the professional tradesman and avid DIY home owners alike. Really, there is absolutely no need for a corded angle grinder except for the biggest jobs that might be encountered with this Milwaukee, M18 FUEL 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless angle grinder. The lithium battery powering this grinder is big and long lasting. While not the largest battery Milwaukee offers, it is a good match for this angle grinder based on weight and balance verses battery life. This is such a versatile angle grinder, for cutting stone, cutting concrete roof tiles, grinding metals and sanding wall surfaces, it is likely the only grinder a contractor or DIY home owner may ever need. To say it is impressive, is to say it is just another good angle grinder. This grinder is really outstanding with one little frustration. Due to the very efficient and powerful permanent magnet motor of this grinder, it makes the spindle lock a bit difficult to use. Not impossible, just somewhat difficult. A very strong permanent magnet motor is employed in this grinder for power and efficiency, but moves past the internal magnets quickly and with force, making the spindle lock somewhat difficult to engage. Not impossible, just more difficult than a non-permanent magnet motor. The grinder comes with a storage bag, that I really like. Some DIY home owners might prefer plastic storage cases, however as a handy man, I prefer a bag as I can usually fit the other tools I need in the bag for a customer’s job. I am not a contractor, yet still I would prefer a bag if I were. I wish every tool in my tool box were “Milwaukee Red,” really, Milwaukee makes some of the finest tools anyone will ever own.
Jesus Gaylord (verified owner) –
Great 6 grinder for cutting and grinding in a pinch, were a cord would be hard to find. Eats through batteries very quick so have a few on hand