Milwaukee
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2880-20 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder Paddle Switch No-Lock (Tool Only)
$229
Best Angle Grinders · head-to-head
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2880-20 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder Paddle Switch No-Lock (Tool Only) vs Ridgid R86040B 18V X4 4-1/2 in. Cordless Angle Grinder (Tool Only)
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Ridgid R86040B 18V X4 4-1/2 in. Cordless Angle Grinder (Tool Only) is cheaper at $99. Every spec and price links to its source.
Which is better: the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2880-20 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder Paddle Switch No-Lock (Tool Only) or Ridgid R86040B 18V X4 4-1/2 in. Cordless Angle Grinder (Tool Only)?
The Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2880-20 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder Paddle Switch No-Lock (Tool Only) wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Ridgid R86040B 18V X4 4-1/2 in. Cordless Angle Grinder (Tool Only) is the cheaper at $99. Get the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2880-20 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder Paddle Switch No-Lock (Tool Only) for the stronger spec sheet, the Ridgid R86040B 18V X4 4-1/2 in. Cordless Angle Grinder (Tool Only) to spend less.
See Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2880-20 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder Paddle Switch No-Lock (Tool Only) on Amazon See Ridgid R86040B 18V X4 4-1/2 in. Cordless Angle Grinder (Tool Only) on Amazon
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2880-20 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder Paddle Switch No-Lock (Tool Only) |  Ridgid R86040B 18V X4 4-1/2 in. Cordless Angle Grinder (Tool Only) |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $229 | $99 |
| Brand | Milwaukee | Ridgid |
| Released | — | — |
| Disc size (in) | 5 in | 4.5 in |
| Power source | cordless | cordless |
| Amps or voltage | 18 V | 18 V |
| Max (rpm) | 8500 | 9000 |
| Brushless | Yes | No |
| Switch type | paddle | slide |
| No volt release | — | — |
| Weight (lb) | 3.1 | 4.5 |
Sources — Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2880-20 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder Paddle Switch No-Lock (Tool Only): milwaukeetool.com (verified 2026-06-20). Ridgid R86040B 18V X4 4-1/2 in. Cordless Angle Grinder (Tool Only): homedepot.com (verified 2026-06-20).
What's the difference between the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2880-20 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder Paddle Switch No-Lock (Tool Only) and Ridgid R86040B 18V X4 4-1/2 in. Cordless Angle Grinder (Tool Only)?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (5 of 8). Matching specs are omitted.
- Disc size (in): Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2880-20 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder Paddle Switch No-Lock (Tool Only) 5 in vs Ridgid R86040B 18V X4 4-1/2 in. Cordless Angle Grinder (Tool Only) 4.5 in
- Max (rpm): Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2880-20 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder Paddle Switch No-Lock (Tool Only) 8500 vs Ridgid R86040B 18V X4 4-1/2 in. Cordless Angle Grinder (Tool Only) 9000
- Brushless: Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2880-20 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder Paddle Switch No-Lock (Tool Only) true vs Ridgid R86040B 18V X4 4-1/2 in. Cordless Angle Grinder (Tool Only) false
- Switch type: Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2880-20 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder Paddle Switch No-Lock (Tool Only) paddle vs Ridgid R86040B 18V X4 4-1/2 in. Cordless Angle Grinder (Tool Only) slide
- Weight (lb): Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2880-20 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder Paddle Switch No-Lock (Tool Only) 3.1 vs Ridgid R86040B 18V X4 4-1/2 in. Cordless Angle Grinder (Tool Only) 4.5
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2880-20 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder Paddle Switch No-Lock (Tool Only)
Only one whitelisted tester, Pro Tool Reviews, covers the exact 2880-20, and only inside a Milwaukee lineup comparison rather than a standalone bench test. Editors endorse its runtime and safer paddle-switch design, but every performance figure (135 rebar cuts, 11A, 8,500 RPM, $199) is Milwaukee's own claim, not independently measured. (1 sourced review.)
Praised: Paddle switch gives a safer setup for shorter grinding and cutting bursts; Editors endorse the runtime (Milwaukee-claimed 135 cuts in 1/2-inch rebar per XC6.0 battery).
Flagged: Coverage is a lineup buying-guide, not a standalone bench test, so there is no independently measured performance for this exact model.
Ridgid R86040B 18V X4 4-1/2 in. Cordless Angle Grinder (Tool Only)
Only one whitelisted tester, Pro Tool Reviews, hands-on tested this exact R86040B. PTR scored it 8.2/10, praising cordless mobility and strong cutting torque, but flagged fast battery drain (6-7 cuts per charge) and a single fixed speed with no variable control. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Cordless mobility and freedom from tangled cords; Strong torque that pushed through steel without backing down; Handy overload-indicator LED and easy tool-less guard adjustment.
Flagged: Fast battery drain; two or three batteries effectively mandatory (6-7 cuts per charge); Single fixed speed with no variable-speed control for precise work; On/off switch tricky with thick welding gloves; spanner wrench not stored on the tool.