Choosing the Right Milwaukee Press Tool Jaws & Ring Sets

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Press technology has quickly become the standard for plumbing, mechanical, and HVAC professionals. It saves time, eliminates open flames, and creates reliable connections, but only if you’re using the right combination of press tool, jaws, and ring sets. Milwaukee offers a wide lineup of FORCE LOGIC press tools, and each one is designed with specific pipe systems and fitting sizes in mind. That’s where things can get confusing: copper, stainless, PEX, black iron, refrigeration, CTS vs. IPS, it all looks like alphabet soup until you break it down.

We’ll walk through the main Milwaukee FORCE LOGIC press tools, explain what each one is designed to do, and then match them with the jaws and rings they’re meant to use. That way, instead of memorizing a matrix, you’ll understand why certain tools are paired with certain accessories and avoid the headaches of mismatched fittings or voided approvals.

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Milwaukee FORCE LOGIC Lineup

Before diving into jaws and rings, let’s start with the tools themselves. Each Milwaukee press tool was built for a different application, and that’s the first clue to which jaws and rings it can accept.

M12 FORCE LOGIC Press Tool
(2473-20 & 2473-22)

Milwaukee’s compact press tool designed for residential and service work. It’s lightweight, maneuverable, and handles up to 1¼” copper and stainless fittings or 1″ black iron/gas (IPS). Because of its size, it works with smaller CTS-V and IPS-P jaws and rings. Perfect for tight spaces, quick repairs, and light commercial installs.

M18 Short Throw Press Tool
(2674-20C)

Built specifically around Viega PureFlow PEX, this is a niche tool in the lineup. It’s designed to quickly press ⅜”–1″ PEX connections. If your day is full of PEX, the Short Throw is a huge time saver because it reduces repetitive motion fatigue compared to manual expansion or crimping.

M18 FORCE LOGIC Press Tool w/ ONE-KEY
(2922-20)

This is the general-purpose M18 press tool, the workhorse in Milwaukee’s lineup. It can handle a wide range of jaws and rings for copper, stainless, PEX, black iron, refrigeration, and more. With ONE-KEY, you get digital tracking and reporting, a big deal for larger crews and compliance.

M18 FORCE LOGIC Long Throw Press Tool
(2773-20L)

The heavy hitter. Designed to press large-diameter fittings up to 4″, the Long Throw works with XL-C and XL-S rings for copper and stainless, as well as IPS-P rings for black iron. If your installs involve 2½”–4″ systems, this is the only Milwaukee tool built for that job.

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Jaws & Ring Sets

Now that you know the tools, let’s talk fittings. Different pipe systems require different pressing geometries, which is why Milwaukee, and fitting makers like Viega, Apollo, NIBCO, Streamline, RLS, and ZoomLock, specify their own jaws and rings.

M12 FORCE LOGIC Press Tool (2473-20 / 2473-22 Kit)

Designed for residential and service applications, the M12 handles smaller diameters up to about 1¼” copper or stainless, and 1″ black iron

Approved Jaws & Rings for M12:
Copper & Stainless (CTS-V):

Black Iron (IPS-P):

PEX Crimp (ASTM F1807/F2159):

PEX PureFlow (Viega):

HVAC/R (Streamline ACR):

HVAC/R (ZoomLock MAX & MaxiPro):

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M18 Short Throw (2674-20 / kit 2674-22P, 2674-22C): PEX-focused tool, fast cycle times.

M18 FORCE LOGIC w/ ONE-KEY (2922-20 / 2922-22 kit): Versatile, all-around press tool up to 2″ (and larger with XL rings).

M18 FORCE LOGIC Long Throw (2773-20L / 2773-22L kit): Heavy-duty tool for XL fittings 2½”–4″.

Approved Jaws & Rings for M18:

Copper (CTS-V):

XL Rings for Long Throw:

Stainless (CTS-V & IPS-IA):

Standard CTS-V jaws as above up to 2″

IPS-IA jaws:

Black Iron (IPS-P):

2½”–4″: M18 Long Throw with XL rings:

PEX Systems
(Viega PureFlow, ASTM F1807/F2159 Crimp)

PureFlow (⅜”–1″):

PEX Crimp:

Larger PEX (1¼”–2″):

HVAC/R Refrigeration
(RLS, ZoomLock MAX, Streamline ACR)

Streamline ACR:

ZoomLock MAX & Conex Bänninger MaxiPro:

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Choosing the right Milwaukee press tool is only half the equation, pairing it with the correct jaws and ring sets is what ensures a reliable, leak-free connection every time. Whether you’re running a compact M12 for residential service work or an M18 Long Throw on large, diameter commercial installs, Milwaukee’s approved accessories are designed to match the tool, the pipe system, and the fitting brand. By following the compatibility guidelines and selecting the correct SKUs, you protect your investment, meet manufacturer approvals, and guarantee the professional results your customers expect. At the end of the day, the right tool with the right accessory isn’t just about efficiency, it’s about confidence that every press you make will last for decades. Don’t hesitate to reach out at cs@ohiopowertool.com or 614-481-2111 with any questions, comments, or concerns, and be sure to follow us on all your favorite social media channels to stay in the know on all the latest announcements, deals, news, and more!