Strut Cutter / Unistrut Shear Guide

“Strut cutter,” “strut shear” and “Unistrut cutter” cover different architectures

The generic intent is broader than one cordless tool. Milwaukee uses a dedicated battery-powered M18 shear. RIDGID’s STRUTSLAYR is a shear head driven by compatible press tools. Wilton’s ESP1100 is a portable 25-ton hydraulic cutter that uses profile-specific blades and a 10,000-psi power supply.

All three approaches can produce clean shear cuts, but their accessory compatibility is completely different. Start with the exact strut profile and workflow before selecting the platform.

Professional strut cutter comparison

Milwaukee: portable dedicated shear with a broad die family

The Milwaukee 2933 platform is the strongest fit when a crew wants one dedicated cordless strut shear and needs several common single-channel profiles. Milwaukee currently publishes nine die SKUs including 1-5/8 x 1-5/8, 13/16 x 1-5/8, 7/8 x 1-5/8, 1 x 1-5/8, 1-3/8 x 1-5/8, 1-1/2 x 1-1/2, 3/4 x 1-1/2 and two combination sets.

For the complete SKU table and 2933-20 versus 2933-21 package differences, use the Milwaukee Strut Cutter Guide.

RIDGID STRUTSLAYR: use an existing compatible press tool as the power unit

RIDGID documents STRUTSLAYR for its Standard Series/32kN press tools and specifically lists examples including RP 350, RP 351, RP 340, RP 330 and RP 342-XL. RIDGID states that the attachment is not compatible with 320-E or CT-400.

The published cutting capability is up to 12-gauge mild-steel strut in 1-5/8 x 1-5/8 or 1-5/8 x 13/16 profiles, with a dedicated die for each. RIDGID’s catalog sheet also states that it is not for stainless steel strut.

Wilton ESP1100: profile-specific hydraulic blade compatibility

Wilton’s ESP1100 documentation describes a portable 25-ton hydraulic strut cutter for mild-steel strut up to 12 gauge. The cutter connects to a 10,000-psi power supply and uses machined blade sets rather than a universal opening.

The compatibility chart is particularly valuable because it maps blade sets to named commercial strut profiles. ESP1159 is the standard Unistrut blade set for documented P1000/P4100-family profiles. ESP1160 covers a long list of B-Line B22/B24/B52/B54 variants, while ESP1161 and ESP1162 are for B-Line 4D21 and 4D22. Powerstrut and Superstrut families are listed with custom blade requirements in the manual.

Strut profile matters more than the brand nickname

“Unistrut” is often used generically, but cutters are shaped around physical channel profiles. Two products sold as 1-5/8-inch strut can have different depth, lip or geometry. Milwaukee handles this with a growing set of dimension-specific dies; Wilton goes further with brand/model profile matrices.

For compatibility, record the exact channel dimensions and, where available, the manufacturer series such as P1000, B22 or another catalog family before ordering a die.

Stainless steel is a repeated exclusion across these systems

Milwaukee’s die pages say not to use the dies on stainless steel strut. RIDGID’s STRUTSLAYR catalog sheet says the same. Wilton’s ESP1100 documentation excludes stainless and also excludes back-to-back strut for that model. This repeated boundary is a strong reason not to generalize “12 gauge” across materials.

Dedicated shear vs press-head vs hydraulic production cutter

Choose a dedicated cordless shear when portability, common single-channel profiles and battery workflow dominate. Choose a press-tool attachment when you already own a compatible RIDGID press platform and the two supported STRUTSLAYR profiles match your work. Choose a hydraulic profile cutter when repeat production, a back gauge and commercial profile-specific dies are more important than cordless portability.

This is a workflow comparison, not a ranking. The compatible profile and material boundary should eliminate unsuitable systems before price or brand preference enters the decision.

Technical sources used for this guide

• Milwaukee — M18 FORCE LOGIC Single Channel Strut Shear — dedicated cordless shear platform and jobsite features.
• Milwaukee — Strut Shearing Dies — current die SKU matrix, profile sizes, 12-ga limit and stainless exclusion.
• RIDGID — STRUTSLAYR Strut Shear Head — press-tool attachment architecture and supported strut profiles.
• RIDGID — STRUTSLAYR Catalog Sheet — press-tool compatibility, 12-ga capacity, dedicated dies and stainless exclusion.
• RIDGID Store — STRUTSLAYR Service Page — service/store status page currently labeling the head obsolete.
• Wilton — ESP1100 Strut Cutter Manual — profile compatibility chart for Unistrut, B-Line, Powerstrut and Superstrut families.
• Wilton — ESP1100 Product Sheet — 25-ton hydraulic architecture, 10,000-psi power source and 12-ga maximum capacity.