We don’t do a lot of copper and steel pipe pressing, but we know plenty of high-end plumbers who do. For them, pressing tools are either laborious hand tools that take a lot of effort or expensive solutions that bolt onto existing tools or come in oversized packages that are less than ideal for repetitive use. Milwaukee interviewed a lot of plumbers and then delivered what we believe to be one of the (if not “the”) smallest, lightest tools for copper and steel pipe press connections. Milwaukee is calling the new tools their Milwaukee ForceLogic Press Tool line. We’ll explain the “Logic” part later, but the tools all feature a one-handed, in-line design, so they are super-easy to wield. For offset piping, the inline design is also indispensable. And that “logic” part? Milwaukee also designed an intelligent press solution that delivers exceptional accuracy and reliability.
Editor’s Note: Check out our Milwaukee M12 Force Logic Press Tool review that really gives you a personal look at this new tool.
Milwaukee Force Logic Press Tool Features
Experienced plumbers will know that pressing copper and steel pipe is more than just mashing together two handles, you need to know the press is right – that it’s been sufficiently shaped and that there are no deviations from the maximum applied force. Too hard or soft and you deviate from the design, risking a leak (of course if you stare at copper pipe you risk having it leak, but that’s another story). Utilizing Milwaukee Tool’s Redlink electronics, the ForceLogic Press Tools monitor the force output to ensure quality connections through the use of visual identifiers for a secure connection. The tools shows ‘green’ when you’ve sufficiently pressed the pipe fitting. If you, for some reason, release too soon, the light indicates ‘red’ and you can go back and re-press it to finish the work. The tool also indicates when it is in need of calibration.
Speaking of calibration, the new tools only require service every 40,000 crimps. This allows users up to 4X more connections between services, so the tools (and you) stay productive on the jobsite (making money) up to 4X longer than competitive units. We wonder if this might spur a new shift to press fittings for copper. It would seem that using the M12 Copper Tubing Cutter and an M12 Force Logic Press Tool would yield a plumber who could, for instance, swap out a water heater much faster than a competitor who opted to drain a system and use solder connections.
M12 and M18 Press Tools
Since the new ForceLogic Press Tools are powered by Milwaukee’s M12 and M18 batteries, they are compatible with full lines of product designed with the professional tradesmen in mind. Additionally, the jaws for the 2673-22 and 2473-22 are designed to work with press fittings provided by Elkhart, Viega, Tyco, and Nibco, while the 2673-22XL provides more force for heavier press applications and is designed to work with Grinnell Mechanical’s G-Press stainless steel press system.
Milwaukee Force Logic Press Tool Specifications
Milwaukee M12 Force Logic Press Tool 2473-22
- Capacity: 1/2” – 1-1/4” CU
- Press Force: 5400 lbs
- Cycle Time: Approx. 5 seconds
- Tool Weight With Battery: 3.8 lbs
- Length: 12.6”
- Width: 2.75”
- Jaw Sizes: 1/2”, 3/4”, 1″, 1-1/4”
- Includes 2473-20 M12 ForceLogic Press Tool, (2) RedLithium M12 Batteries, 1/2” Jaw, 3/4” Jaw, 1” Jaw, 30-Minute Charger & Hard Carrying Case
Milwaukee M18 Force Logic Press Tool 2673-22
- Capacity: 1/2” – 4” CU, 1/2” – 1” SS
- Press Force: 7200 lbs
- Cycle Time: Approx. 5 seconds
- Tool Weight With Battery: 8.0 lbs
- Length: 16.8”
- Width: 4.8”
- Jaw Sizes: 1/2”, 3/4”, 1″, 1-1/4”, 1-1/2”, 2”
- Ring Sizes: 2 1/2”, 3”, 4”, Ring Jaw
- Includes 2673-20 M18 ForceLogic Press Tool, (2) RedLithium M18 Batteries, 1/2” Jaw, 3/4” Jaw, 1” Jaw, 1-1/4” Jaw, 1-1/2” Jaw, 2” Jaw, Multi-Voltage Charger & Hard Carrying Case
Milwaukee M18 Force Logic Press Tool 2673-22XL
- Capacity: 1/2” – 4” CU, 1/2” – 2” SS
- Tool Weight With Battery: 8.6 lbs
- Jaw Sizes: 1/2”, 3/4”, 1″
- Ring Sizes: 1-1/2”, 2”, Ring Jaw 2
- Includes 2673-20XL M18 ForceLogic XL Press Tool, (2) RedLithium M18 Batteries, Multi-Voltage Charger, Hard Carrying Case and Jaws
The Milwaukee 2473-22 and 2673-22 Force Logic press tools will launch in August 2012, while the 2673-22XL will be made available October 2012. Pricing has yet to be determined.
