Cutting hydraulic pipes in confined spaces? Often not an easy task. The Milwaukee multi-material cutter offers a solution. We put it to the test.
With tool lengths of up to 40cm, the conventional cordless angle grinder with a 125 mm cutting disc can be pretty unwieldy in tight work spaces. Furthermore, they often require both hands for operation.
A more compact alternative is the FCOT-422X cordless cutting tool from Milwaukee’s M12 Fuel series, designed for one-handed operation. It is available online from £99 (without batteries and charger).
It is approximately 23cm long and 10cm wide at the head, so it can be fitted with the likes of a 76mm diameter cutting or diamond cutting disc (width: 1.0 to 3.2mm) with a 10mm inner hole. This allows for a maximum cutting depth of 16mm. In our example, we used a 4Ah M12 battery (12V). Under normal use with short breaks, this gave us around an hour of working time before needing a fresh battery.
Areas of application
With an idle speed of up to 20,000rpm, clean cuts can be made, easily severing 12L or 15L hydraulic pipes.
A useful feature is the forward and reverse function, which can be switched using a thumb switch, similar to the one on a cordless screwdriver. Depending on the operating conditions, this allows you to control the cutting direction and the amount of chips and sparks.
The small cutter reaches its operating limit with longer cuts in materials 5mm or more. Also worth noting, unpleasant vibrations can occur, which are then transmitted to the user’s hand. Alternatively, the device is also available with a dust extraction system and height guide plate.
Alexander Bertling
For more up-to-date farming news click here and subscribe now to profi and save.
