Milwaukee M12 Cordless Rotary Tool Kit 2460-21 – Review

Wisconsin is widely known for its cheese, but some may say it’s also known for the birthplace of the rotary tool.  While Dremel may have wowed us with the 8200, Milwaukee has upped the ante with the M12 Rotary Tool 2460-21. Part of the ever popular M12 line up and mated with the new REDLITHIUM battery, the Milwaukee M12 Cordless Rotary Tool Kit 2460-21 is about to turn some heads.

The 2460-21 comes with a nice soft case, a 30 minute charger (the Dremel 8200 takes an hour), 5 cutting wheels and mandrel, a wrench and is powered by M12 REDLITHIUM battery.  It weighs in at 1.3 lbs, which is right in line with the Dremel 8200.  It has variable speeds from 5000-32,000 rpm, 2000 rpm faster than the Dremel.  The tool is well balanced, feels great in the hands and has an over molded grip that gives you a comfortable ergonomic feel.  The lock button has a rubber cover which makes it comfortable to hold when changing mandrels and also helps protect the tool by keeping dust out. The indents on the speed dial made it easy to set and maintain speed.

Another nice feature to note is that this tool does include Milwaukee’s safety cut off to protect the tool from overload.  Milwaukee wants this tool to last and that is why they have given this tool a 5 year warranty and added a seal bearing to protect it from drywall dust etc. The grinder-style exhaust ports effectivly cool the tool when working for extended periods. It also has one of the smoothest soft starts we have seen on a rotary tool.  As with all tools in the M12 line it also has a battery fuel gauge that allows you to instantly see your remaining power level.

For our tests, we decided to use the included metal cut off disks.  We cut through conduit and the 2460-21 cut it with ease.  We also pushed it to its limit and the safety cut off engaged to protect the motor. The tool was easy to hold and control while cutting the pipe. The 32000 RPM was noticeable as it sliced through the pipe.  As with any rotary tool, you can do a multitude of jobs from cutting, drilling and grinding to sanding, polishing and buffing.  This tool works with most all other manufacturers accessories.  For those of you who already own other tools in the M12 line, this is the perfect addition.  If you don’t own any of the M12 tools, the 2460-21 is a great way to get into the line. Now the question you all have asked Dremel 8200 or Milwaukee 2460-21?  The Milwaukee edges out the Dremel 8200 in power and warranty, the use of the M12 battery also gives you endless possibilities.

To sum up, the 2460-21 is a winner.  Milwaukee has done its research and created a professional grade power tool at a great price. Overall, we think this is the best cordless rotary tool we have seen in terms of power, ergonomics and performance.  There is a lot of competition out there in the rotary tool market rather than reinvent the wheel, Milwaukee focused on quality, power and technology to give this tool the edge over the competition.  The only thing we would have liked to have seen was a more diverse assortment of accessories rather than the 5 cutting wheels.

We always like to hear back from our readers on their experience with these tools – good or bad.  Do you have experience with these tools?  How has the long term use been?  What applications have you used the tool for?  Is this a DIY or professional grade tool?  Let us and other readers know.