Milwaukee Electric - M18 Fuel. 4-1/2 / 5 Variable Speed Braking Grind

I think I'm in love with this grinder! I waited on the sidelines until Milwaukee had a good slide-switch grinder with variable speed like this Model #2889 unit. I've been using it quite a bit for 10 days or so, to get a feel of it's strengths and weaknesses. It's a real good overall grinder, but a particularly great tool for finesse grinding where you need or want to lock the trigger on, slow down the disc to do more precision grinds ...and detail-like work. That's where this shines in my opinion. Overall, here are some of the positives I've noticed so far: 1) Freedom. You're not constrained with a cord ....obviously, right? 2) Excellent build quality. Of course it's Milwaukee.... you get a top notch tool. Very nice accessory handle. 3) Rapid-Stop Brake. This is a feature all grinders should have. If you let off the trigger, the disc continues to freewheel...and if you decide you need to take a little more off, you can keep on grinder. But if you leave off the trigger for about 2 seconds it brakes and the disc stops immediately. You can then set down the tool and get back to work. It kind of speeds up workflow. My 120V grinder takes 15 loooong seconds to stop! 4) Variable Speed! There are many times you want to slow a grinder down, if you're trying to take just a little off here and there. Or if you're working on sheet metal and don't want to overheat and distort it. A guy can put a sanding flap-disc in and effectively sand off paint w/o burning the metal. I run mine on the slowest speed a lot. I wouldn't mind if they went even one notch slower. 5) Lock-on Switch! I wasn't going to buy a grinder until they came out with a decent slide switch. I almost always lock it on so I can be more precise in my grinding. If I need to grind big welds...or a lot of welds, the electric 120V grinder is the tool to use for that job. 6) Takes 5" discs! I've been using 5-ers for years. It's the way to go IMO. Especially for cutting. 7) Good battery life! I use primarily a 3AH high capacity battery which has the bigger 21700 cells. They say it does about what a normal 5.0 Red battery does. IDK ..?? But for intermittent use...like doing bodywork or other fabrication work, where you're going back and fourth...grinding, fitting, welding...dent pulling, making more detail fitment and grinds. The 3.0AH lasts me pretty much all day, sometimes into the next day on a single charge. That is... If I get into more major welds, I use a 120V grinder for taking down bigger welds and jobs on heavier steel. The 2889 for the more intricate grinding/sanding/cutting work. That's not to say you can't do heavy grinding or cutting with this 2889 grinder. When the battery does get low, the grinder just stops. There isn't really much if any ramp-down. Its good one minute, and stops the next. If a guy was doing much larger grinding work, a bigger 6ah battery would probably be the way to go. But then you have a big 'club' hanging at the end of the grinder!! 8) Vent Screen. That is a nice touch. It works too...to keep out paint dust and such. 9) Balance. The 2889 grinder is longer but the area where you hold onto it is nice and narrow, comfy. Good overmold grip. It's longer than a regular 120V grinder as you can see in my pic (attached), but the balance is good ...at least with the smaller battery I normally use. I haven't had issues at all with the battery being in the way (which I thought I would). If you get into tight quarters I imagine the shorter 120v grinder would be the way to go. 10) Shield. I don't normally rotate the guard/shield. But it works nice and doesn't 'rattle'. A lot of times I take it off. The shield is one of the positives AND negatives too (see below). I haven't needed the plastic clip-on cup...but I'm glad they supplied it, just in case I do. 11) It's a lot quieter! 12) The shaft on mine has ZERO side-to-side play...which is nice. Some electric grinders Ive used, the bearings have a micro-amount of freeplay in them. This grinder that I have doesn't seem to have ANY. Ok, here are some negatives or things I think Milwaukee could apply to improve this tool: 1) Disc mount ...it needs a 1/4" spacer!! Ok, to start with, the existing disc mount adapter ...the raised section which fits into a grinding wheel or cut-off disc ...has too much tolerance. When you center a disc...it doesn't fit very snug onto the disc center ...so its not as *centered* perfectly as it could be. That makes a difference when you switch between discs and you get one that skips b/c before it wasn't centered very well. Milwaukee should increase it's diameter just a little so a disc fits perfect. Also, the discs, in my opinion are TOO close to the head/machine as-is. And the spindle threads protrude past the 'nut' on normal discs and especially on cutting discs! So you can't get a disc level enough to do quality grinds or finish-work. Unless you remove the guard and even then you can't. And the disc is too close to your fingers. Especially if you are using a cutting disc. I would suggest buying a 1/4" spacer to go between the disc and the mounting flange. I machined a spacer (see pic) with *much* tighter tolerances that fit into disc bores perfectly with zero tolerance. Much better than Milwaukee's own adapter. Also...the 'nut' should almost be a little thinner profile. In my opinion. Get it tucked up inside a disc or flap wheel so you can lay the wheels flat to the surface. Milwaukee I hope you read that last part! 2) The guard is kind of tall. Unless you use a spacer, the disc is too far recessed into the guard and you can't get a very good angle on many grinds (basically what I said above). With a spacer it puts the disc about where it should be. 3) Adapter flange. On my grinder, I put a dial indicator on it....the flange isn't really 100% 'true'. There should be NO deflection in the disc mounting flange whatsoever! I might have to true mine up on the lathe. Get it 100% perfectly 'true'. The machine cuts and grinds fine overall though as-is. 4) One-key App. Not sure why this grinder didn't get Milwaukee's One-Key app feature. I would have liked that. C'mon Milwaukee!! 5) Slightly thinner nut so you could lay a disc more flat to a metal surface. 6) One more speed slower. 7) Variable Speed SLIDE SWITCH!!!!!!! If they made the slide switch like a drill's trigger where you could vary the speed from 0-normal speed as you push it forward, and full speed (as selected by the max-speed dial), when you lock it on ...it would be perfect! I hope Milwaukee reads THIS. This one feature would be killer and I hope is something they add in the future. Then you could use it for minor buffing or put a sanding disc on it and go slower. I've been doing bodywork-dent repair (dent repair...not actual refinishing) and light fabrication with this grinder... like cutting welds, pulling studs...some minor paint removal. It works great for that. Having a true variable speed would be great. 8) This isn't a negative per-se. But prospective buyers might note that the shield from a 6130 4 1/2" electric grinder won't swap to the 2889 grinder. The mounts are different diameters. Ok. That's about it. Those negatives are not show-stoppers. Just to inform other buyers and maybe Milwaukee people read these reviews?? It's a very good grinder. Top quality. Super smooth. Quiet, well-balanced, quick braking, versatile. It's definitely a winner in my book. I hope it lasts, I didn't buy the extended warranty! Note: See pictures: Parts and accessories. Next to a 6130 120V grinder. Next to a brushless oscillating tool, Example with spacer

Great Milwaukee quality that is well balanced allowing extended use without fatigue. Plenty of power compared with my corded DeWalt grinder.

Can’t compare It to the completion but works great for my uses. It’s always more dangerous to have a grinder that locks on, rather than a paddle switch. My first day using it I ended up in the ER getting stitches for a metal cutting wheel exploding on my and going about an inch deep in the back of my hand (through gloves). My fault though, no fault of the equipment. Just be safe out there and always wear your safety gear. If I wasn’t wearing my safety glasses who knows what would’ve happened.

I love this grinder. It’s perfect for me. I work in a metal fabrication shop. We cut stuff with laser , weld and so much more. Anyways, if I have projects at home I’m using it. I don’t need cords, so it’s just pick up and do what I gotta do. I use this thing everyday at work. All day long. It’s comfortable to use. Even using my giant M18 High output XC6.0 batteries on it. This thing is still just the right weight. It’s easy to use and maneuver around. Changing the wheels is easy. Just like any other grinder and stays secure. The changing of speed is one of my favorite parts about this grinder. No need to go full max every time like you do with a corded grinder. I have one little flaw and maybe being stupid. The part that holds your card in. Something just feels off about it. Seems loose in a way. I’m not quite sure how to explain it. Anyways, great purchase. Well worth the money..

Best Milwaukee grinder. Adjustable speeds are great for using it as a polisher or sanding. Full speed isn't always needed. Highly recommended.

My only cordless grinder. The others (all pro tools) are on vacation. A choice of break on or off would be a welcome addition. I prefere the tool to have a chance to run down , on it's own. This helps mitigate built up heat. A break can be handy and a safety bonus. However, if the devices are not tight enough, when the break engages, inertia will unscrew then, and away they GO! Hand tight may not be enough. So, drat, one more tool step. I find my self leaving the thing running, were I would traditionally let it spool down, say when changing positions.

Thank You, That's what I wanted

Buen producto

Excelente herramienta, totalmente nuevo y original, misma potencia (o más) que uno de cable, le ejercí fuerza al esmerilar para ver si perdia potencia y para nada, vale cada peso!

Der Artikel ist gut. Nur mit den Zustelldienst muss noch gearbeitet , deshalb 1Stern Abzug. Die Geschwindigkeitsregulierung ist Top.

Works well, had no problems yet. Nice to have a variable speed control.

Suficientemente fuerte pada cualquier trabajo.

Can’t go wrong with Milwaukee