Milwaukee 2888-20
By Milwaukee · Angle Grinders · Power Tools
- M18 FUEL
- Wheel 4-1/2 in / 5 in
- 5 speed settings, 3,500-8,500 RPM
- RAPIDSTOP brake stops most wheels in under 2 s
- Paddle switch without lock-on
Lowest price seen
~$279.00 (approx.)
from $279.00 at Amazon
- Amazon ~$279.00 (approx.)View at Amazon
- MilwaukeeView at Milwaukee
- eBay (used) eBay: used, open-box, refurbishedView at eBay (used)
- eBayView at eBay
- Tool NutView at Tool Nut
Prices are snapshots. Check the current price with the store.
Summary
A cordless 4-1/2" / 5" angle grinder for Milwaukee’s M18 FUEL brushless platform, aimed at owners who already run M18 batteries. It is sold bare, so check that you own an M18 battery and charger before you buy.
Strengths
- POWERSTATE brushless motor on the M18 FUEL platform, compatible with all M18 batteries.
- RAPIDSTOP brake stops most wheels in under 2 seconds.
- Five speed settings from 3,500 to 8,500 RPM, with tool-free guard and accessory changes.
- Paddle switch without lock-on, plus an included side handle.
- T1 clip-on guard for faster installs, alongside the standard T27 guard.
- Metal housing and a removable dust screen for durability and cleaning.
Weaknesses
- Sold bare: the battery and charger are not included, so the real outlay is the tool plus M18 power you may not own yet.
- No ONE-KEY tracking — sibling grinders 3672-22 and 3674-20 are on the ONE-KEY list, this model is not.
- The 11A corded-equivalent power figure is a manufacturer claim; no independent test has measured it.
- No independent instrumented review of the 2888-20 exists, so power, brake and run-time numbers are all manufacturer figures.
- Weight, dimensions and spindle thread were not published on the manufacturer page.
- No owner feedback was reachable, so durability and common failure modes are undocumented.
Verified specifications
| Model | 2888-20, bare tool — battery and charger not included. |
|---|---|
| Platform | Milwaukee M18, 18 V lithium-ion; works with all M18 batteries. |
| Motor | POWERSTATE brushless; manufacturer claims 11A corded-equivalent output. |
| Wheel size | 4-1/2" / 5" (115 / 125 mm). |
| Speed | 5 settings, 3,500–8,500 RPM, set by a dial at the end of the handle. |
| Brake | RAPIDSTOP — stops most wheels in under 2 seconds. |
| Switch | paddle, no lock-on. |
| Electronics | REDLINK PLUS intelligence. |
| Guards | T27 guard with tool-free adjustment; T1 clip-on guard included. |
| Side handle | included. |
| Accessory change | tool-free. |
| Housing | metal, with removable dust screen. |
| ONE-KEY | not compatible. |
| Warranty | 5 years on the tool; most M18 lithium-ion battery packs 3 years. |
| In the box | grinder, side handle, T27 guard, T1 clip-on guard. |
Full research notes and sources
Who this is for
The 2888-20 is a bare tool. The box holds the grinder, a side handle, a T27 guard and a T1 clip-on guard — no battery, no charger. If M18 batteries are already in your shop, this is how you add a FUEL grinder without buying a kit. If you are new to the platform, the real outlay is the whole kit — tool, batteries and charger — and that total has to be weighed against competing cordless grinder platforms.
Brake, speed and guards
Five speed settings span 3,500–8,500 RPM; the dial at the end of the handle sets a maximum speed. ToolGuyd’s 2022 editorial article uses this grinder as its example when explaining adjustable versus variable speed — it is a terminology piece, not a performance test. The RAPIDSTOP brake stops most wheels in under 2 seconds.
The paddle switch has no lock-on. The T27 guard adjusts with no tools; the T1 clip-on guard is the newer option for faster installs. Accessory changes are tool-free, the housing is metal, and the dust screen can be removed for cleaning.
One caveat on numbers: the 11A corded-equivalent power figure is Milwaukee’s own claim. No independent instrumented test of this model was reachable during research, so treat power and brake figures as manufacturer data until tested.
Warranty and repairs
Milwaukee warrants the tool for 5 years against defects in material and workmanship. Registration is not required; the date code on the tool settles warranty status if there is no proof of purchase. In-warranty service is free repair or replacement, but normal wear parts — chucks, brushes, cords, seals — and damage from misuse, alterations or accidents are excluded. Out-of-warranty tools can be serviced through Lightning Max Repair.
Battery packs are a separate matter: most current M18 lithium-ion packs carry a 3-year warranty.
Which model this is
This page covers the bare tool 2888-20 — paddle switch, no lock-on. Milwaukee also sells kit versions such as the 2888-22 with batteries; that is a different purchase. The 2888-20 is not ONE-KEY compatible: it does not appear on Milwaukee’s ONE-KEY compatible-tools list, while the larger 3672-22 and 3674-20 grinders do. If tool tracking matters, those are the models to look at. The Amazon listing for this exact model is ASIN B0CDQQMY6Q.
Is it worth it?
If your shop already runs M18 batteries, the 2888-20 adds a brushless grinder with a sub-2-second brake at bare-tool outlay. If you are starting from zero, the entry cost is the whole M18 platform, and with no independent tests and no owner feedback on record, long-term reliability is unproven. Buy it for the battery compatibility, not for any verified performance edge.
Sources
Manufacturer:
- Milwaukee Tool — M18 FUEL 4-1/2" / 5" Variable Speed Braking Grinder, Paddle Switch No-Lock (2888-20)
- Milwaukee ONE-KEY — Compatible Tools & Equipment
- Milwaukee Tool — Registration & Warranty
Independent reviews:
No independent instrumented test of the 2888-20 was reachable. ProToolReviews has covered sibling Milwaukee grinders (3672, 3676, 2883, 2686) but not this model — its site search for “milwaukee grinder” returned no 2888-20 review.
Owner reports:
- None gathered: Reddit, forums and retailer Q&A were inaccessible during research because of search rate-limiting.