Game changer tool?

My Cornwell guy just went to a tool show a week ago (haven’t seen him again yet), I told him to ask Milwaukee if they had plans to release something like this.

I guess they did!

Dang it, I really don’t neeeed one of these, but…
 
Wow, thanks for posting that. What a crazy circle. When I joined here the predominant tool was the Porter-Cable, which was a mass-market tool...except not as a car polisher, but as a (wood) sander. Then with the access to the Chinese industrial base, it became possible to design specific car polishing tools (UDM, GG6, etc.) for the niche detailing market. Which was then followed by foreign niche-market power tool manufacturers selling similarly task-designed detailing tools (Flex, Rupes), once it was demonstrated that detailers would pay the higher price for a niche-market tool. And now we`ve come full circle back to an American mass-market manufacturer, selling specific detailing tools, albeit with the help of today`s design tools and surely Chinese manufacture.

PS In my musings above I`m making a presumption that Flex and Rupes are niche players in their home markets, and not dominant players like Dewalt and Milwaukee are here in the US, but I could be wrong.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Wow, thanks for posting that. What a crazy circle. When I joined here the predominant tool was the Porter-Cable, which was a mass-market tool...except not as a car polisher, but as a (wood) sander. Then with the access to the Chinese industrial base, it became possible to design specific car polishing tools (UDM, GG6, etc.) for the niche detailing market. Which was then followed by foreign niche-market power tool manufacturers selling similarly task-designed detailing tools (Flex, Rupes), once it was demonstrated that detailers would pay the higher price for a niche-market tool. And now we`ve come full circle back to an American mass-market manufacturer, selling specific detailing tools, albeit with the help of today`s design tools and surely Chinese manufacture.

PS In my musings above I`m making a presumption that Flex and Rupes are niche players in their home markets, and not dominant players like Dewalt and Milwaukee are here in the US, but I could be wrong.
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Well, as I understand it, TTI owns both Milwaukee and Flex.
 
Is it brushless? Looks like a nice tool for sure. In these times it`s hard to justified such an expensive machine however! I rather buy some silver or gold!
 
noorth said:
Is it brushless? Looks like a nice tool for sure. In these times it`s hard to justified such an expensive machine however! I rather buy some silver or gold!
Click to expand...

Yup, they’re brushless.

It’s really sad how I don’t really have a need for either of these, but since I’ve barely been buying tools at work for the last few years (Turns out you mechanic for 20+ years and at a certain point you’ve pretty much got everything you need…) I’m really tempted to pick one up. Being able to look at it as a chance to support my tool truck guy, and to pretend it’s “only” $50 a week (tool trucks let you have a truck account where it’s no interest and you just make payments) definitely helps.

Plus, would be nice to have another couple M18 batteries and an M18 charger for home if I got the kit.

I should at least wait until some reviews get out in the wild…
 
Fun fact for anyone interested, you can get a look inside the tool if you go to the Milwaukee site and click on "Download Service Parts List".

The electronics portion is unique to the machine, whether 15mm or 21mm. Didn`t compare any other part numbers other than the backing plates - those are interchangeable between the two (documentation says that`s ok). The 15mm comes equipped with a 5" plate, the 21 comes with a 6" plate.

One part I haven`t found yet is if the listed weights of 5.16lb (15mm) and 5.61 (21mm) are with or without the XC60 battery that comes in the kit. That battery on it`s own is listed at 2.3lbs, so I`d figure that`s without?

I`ll have to look up weights on the Flex and DeWalt machines. Any other popular cordless long throws?
 
Looks like Milwaukee got pissed at flex getting into the polishing game. I’ve been watching some of the tool vs tools channels on YouTube
 
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