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Makita Addiction Thread

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BigLeagueSmoes

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That's one thing I hate about my current multi tool, how loud the thing is. If you say that new one is a lot quieter, well dang it now I'm really tempted to go look at one. Is there any difference in the Japanese vs north American ones besides the colour?

I hear what your saying about the country of origin but I've learned it really depends on the company. China is certainly known for producing enough cheap ****, but if the company has a good focus on quality they can make a decent product over there. Makita seems to be one of those companies, they pretty well have to be in china for competitive reasons but they keep a tight control on quality. I'd certainly prefer a Japanese or north American built tool, but I'm not afraid of a Chinese built Makita.
To my knowledge there’s no other differences between the two except for color. Size, weight, performance specs all claim the same. It really is super quiet when it’s running. Cutting can obviously depend on what you’re cutting and what it’s connected to/how much the material amplifies the sound. But the noise when you turn it on is so quiet. Can hold it in my hand with it running and carry on a normal volume conversation with people around me. Very pleased about that aspect of it.
 
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bdbecker

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NORTON'S SHOP

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Home Depot has a nice deal going on right now... two 5ah batteries w/charger and a free bare tool (six options) for $199.


Of course I would see this deal a few days after I spent all my 'fun money' stash...
That's a great deal. I need batteries. Three 5Ah batteries for $199. If anyone knows of a better deal, please let me know.
 

Voi

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Home Depot has a nice deal going on right now... two 5ah batteries w/charger and a free bare tool (six options) for $199.


Of course I would see this deal a few days after I spent all my 'fun money' stash...

Thank you for posting this. In case anyone else is looking, do note that the bare tool options in the picture on the ad do not exactly match the options when you go to your cart.

Most notable differences are that the jig saw option is not brushless and there is a router option.

The link is giving me trouble on both Chrome and mobile so I may have something wrong. My local dealer often has sales on the days that Home Depot does. I'm going to swing by there over lunch and if they're not matching it I will probably be getting a ratchet and router to add to my Makita collection.
 

Voi

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That's a great deal. I need batteries. Three 5Ah batteries for $199. If anyone knows of a better deal, please let me know.

I'm having trouble with the link but when I added to starter kit to my cart, the extra battery did not come up as one of the options.

Let me know if you're seeing something different.
 

NORTON'S SHOP

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I'm having trouble with the link but when I added to starter kit to my cart, the extra battery did not come up as one of the options.

Let me know if you're seeing something different.
Click on the free box.

1698763976322.png

This page will pop up to show the free options.

1698764042150.png
This worked for me.
 

Dakotadadv8

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My first Makita tool:

53175932230_125ddd2c55_h.jpg

I am firmly in the Bosch cordless environment, but their range is less than half of Red, Yellow and Teal. Yellow was out for me based on previous personal experience. I spent a fair bit of time looking at Red and Teal and decided I generally liked Makita better. Fit, finish, feel, sound all seemed half a click better, in my opinion, than Red. I've used both in a work setting and feel performance is a wash - both having stars and average players in different categories.

I imagine there will be more Makita tools in my shop now that I've embraced their battery platform.
If you have time provide feedback for this tool. I am a Dewalt and Makita user depending on the tool, was debating but went with the Dewalt 20v oscillating multi tool. May get the Makita as well as a second tool, I have both battery platforms. Makita makes quality tools just don't buy the cheap ones.
 

engineer2

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Santa came early. Couldn't resist the deal.
Wife is happy about not having to set the choke and pull the starter rope anymore. I mow 90% of the time, but sometimes she feels like doing it.
Makita XML08PT1 18V X2 (36V) LXT Lithium‑Ion Brushless Cordless 21" Self Propelled Lawn Mower Kit with 4 Batteries (5.0Ah)
$575 from Amazon. Four 5.0 batteries worth $300+. A double charger I can sell for $50, and a $100 rebate from our village, and maybe get $25 for my old mower next spring.
IMG_6192.jpg
 

Snapped-off

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Santa came early. Couldn't resist the deal.
Wife is happy about not having to set the choke and pull the starter rope anymore. I mow 90% of the time, but sometimes she feels like doing it.
Makita XML08PT1 18V X2 (36V) LXT Lithium‑Ion Brushless Cordless 21" Self Propelled Lawn Mower Kit with 4 Batteries (5.0Ah)
$575 from Amazon. Four 5.0 batteries worth $300+. A double charger I can sell for $50, and a $100 rebate from our village, and maybe get $25 for my old mower next spring.
IMG_6192.jpg
Awesome deal.
 

Outahere

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1/2" heavy duty Makita DP4002 drill, from Amazon-US ($209). Manufactured in Japan, not China. 7-amp motor spinning at 0-700 rpm. Is packaged in a plain white box, instead of the typical colorful retail box. There is also a model DP4000, that spins at a higher speed of 0-950rpm.


DSC01850.JPG

DSC01846.JPG

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Compared to my old 1/2" Milwaukee "Magnum Holeshooter" (4.5A, 0-850rpm)
DSC01867.JPG
 
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Ton ton

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1/2" heavy duty Makita DP4002 drill, from Amazon-US ($209). Manufactured in Japan, not China. 7-amp motor spinning at 0-700 rpm. Is packaged in a plain white box, instead of the typical colorful retail box. There is also a model DP4000, that spins at a higher speed of 0-950rpm.


DSC01850.JPG

DSC01846.JPG

DSC01872.JPG


Compared to my old 1/2" Milwaukee "Magnum Holeshooter" (4.5A, 0-850rpm)
DSC01867.JPG
Super interesting, the Makita drills I run have the forward/ reverse switch down by where the cord comes out of the drill. Learned something new today, thank you!
 

Outahere

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I like the location of the forward/reverse switch on the DP4002, in front of the trigger. On the other hand the location of the trigger lock is an ergonomic failure. It is a slide switch about 1.25" below the bottom of the trigger, and access to it is blocked by your fingers when you are operating the drill. A dumb design.

DSC01874.JPG
 
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All

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I have a lot of Makita tools, and switch design ergonomics has often been an area where Makita could find several opportunities to improve.

The young Stanley Black and Decker (SBD) junior executive fresh out of Northwestern University who blew the dust off of the nearly forgotten DeWalt brand at the tail end of the 80's, painted it yellow, and bought 20 feet of prominent retail aisle space in Home Depots during the dawn of the big box home improvement warehouse take over of the local hardware and lumber yard era... would hire younger college grad design engineers to go to actual job sites and watch every move that construction workers made with their tools... the end result of which turned DeWalt into the defacto brand in the United States when one thinks of power tools.

His leadership brought incredible success to SBD, and he was quickly promoted to almost, but not quite, the top spot of the company, where he felt (and understandably so) he belonged. An executive board power play ensued, which he lost, and so he left the yellow brand that he put back on the map.

A very wise owner of TTI watched this drama unfold, and invited the hot shot exec over for dinner. Next thing you know, hot shot exec is now running TTI's flagship brand of tools... Milwaukee. Now with a vengeance, an axe to grind, and a score to settle. Not only was he motivated to show SBD what they missed out on, settling that score with market penetration and sales... he also had to out do the legacy of his most formidable competitor... himself. He had to turn Milwaukee into a tool brand that out did what he did with DeWalt.

Hence, the same techniques that worked with DeWalt in the 1990's, he is doing with Milwaukee in 20 teens. More aisle footage of Milwaukee red (and HD exclusive Ryobi lime, also made by TTI, along with Rigid orange) in the tool corral than any yellow or teal. Partnership with HD.

But even more importantly for the tool user, this guy sent college grad designers back out into construction sites, but this time with a focus on specific trades, such as electrical and plumbing. This is why MIlwaukee has more plumbing trade specific battery operated power tools than any other common battery platform I am aware of. By designing tools that meet very specific needs in a specialty trade, those solutions become must haves, and thus the more common drills, drivers, and saws end up being bought for that battery platform also.

That same concept is why I switched back into Makita... only Makita made certain specialty tools that I needed at the time (I'm not a plumber, otherwise I'd have probably gone to Milwaukee). Not only did Makita have that drywall saw and more outdoor power tools (at the time), there were other companies that made highly specialized tools that were designed to run on Makita batteries, even though they were not related to Makita. Specialty tools are created out of need, from understanding the impediments to getting a task done efficiently, and tackling that problem.

With a new Makita USA president taking over, it would be good if Makita continued to study exactly how work is performed, so that they would readily see how placing a slide switch underneath one's grip of the tool is awkward.
 
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f121

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My latest Makita acquisition, 2008 era cold cut chop saw. As is often the way, I’ve wanted a chop saw for steel for years, finally bought one off a buddy this summer, then this one turned up for free. I sold it the same day, but it’s still kicking around in my garage, so used it for a mobile job today and now need to refund the guy who bought it because it’s brilliant and I want to keep it.IMG_3861.jpeg
 

jollygreengiant

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I have so many Makita batteries, I finally bought some battery storage holders.

I have one of those too!

bucket.PNG

:lol_hitti

Currently keeping them in a bucket in the house since my shop isn't heated and it's going to be below freezing for the next little while.

ETA: Have you had any issues running the generic batteries in your tools?
 

engineer2

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ETA: Have you had any issues running the generic batteries in your tools?
Not at all. I have 2 off-brand 6.0 batteries that are 5 years old. I mainly use them for my 36V leaf blower since it is a power hog at high speeds. Over the years Makita has had quite a few deals where you get extra batteries, so I have 20 now. I have a couple of 11 year old 3.0 batteries that still work fine.

OPE batteries are in the semi-heated garage for the winter. In the springtime they'll go back to the equipment in the shed.
 

CFC2

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Not at all. I have 2 off-brand 6.0 batteries that are 5 years old. I mainly use them for my 36V leaf blower since it is a power hog at high speeds. Over the years Makita has had quite a few deals where you get extra batteries, so I have 20 now. I have a couple of 11 year old 3.0 batteries that still work fine.

OPE batteries are in the semi-heated garage for the winter. In the springtime they'll go back to the equipment in the shed.
I have my Makita 5 Ah lithium batteries in an unheated garage. How cold can they be stored charged or uncharged? Probably will get to 30 degrees F here tonight.

I got a 18 Volt Makita leaf blower this last December from Home Depot. Free tool with the purchase of a fast charger and two 5 Ah batteries. I like the leaf blower. Glad I got it. But I was very surprised by how quick the battery lasts. 10 minutes at full speed. I’ve got four 5 Ah batteries now. I go thru all four before I can get one charged back up.
 

Ton ton

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I have my Makita 5 Ah lithium batteries in an unheated garage. How cold can they be stored charged or uncharged? Probably will get to 30 degrees F here tonight.

I got a 18 Volt Makita leaf blower this last December from Home Depot. Free tool with the purchase of a fast charger and two 5 Ah batteries. I like the leaf blower. Glad I got it. But I was very surprised by how quick the battery lasts. 10 minutes at full speed. I’ve got four 5 Ah batteries now. I go thru all four before I can get one charged back up.
The batteries will be fine @ that temperature.
 

bonneyman

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I have my Makita 5 Ah lithium batteries in an unheated garage. How cold can they be stored charged or uncharged? Probably will get to 30 degrees F here tonight.

I got a 18 Volt Makita leaf blower this last December from Home Depot. Free tool with the purchase of a fast charger and two 5 Ah batteries. I like the leaf blower. Glad I got it. But I was very surprised by how quick the battery lasts. 10 minutes at full speed. I’ve got four 5 Ah batteries now. I go thru all four before I can get one charged back up.
Yeah, the weak point of many cordless tools are the batteries. The old Makita 9.6 volt stick battery tools were bulletproof but the batteries were their achilles' heal.
 

Walkers

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Yeah, the weak point of many cordless tools are the batteries. The old Makita 9.6 volt stick battery tools were bulletproof but the batteries were their achilles' heal.
After I went to the newer platform I soldered a wire onto each battery terminal and put two alligator clips on the other end. The housing would hold about 15‘ of wire, so I could clip onto my truck battery and drill on the tailgate. The battery was never dead!
 

CFC2

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After I went to the newer platform I soldered a wire onto each battery terminal and put two alligator clips on the other end. The housing would hold about 15‘ of wire, so I could clip onto my truck battery and drill on the tailgate. The battery was never dead!
Great idea!
 

CFC2

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The batteries will be fine @ that temperature.
I moved them inside last night from the garage. Not sure this will last long before I move them back to the tool box in the garage. The Makita 18V lithium-ion fast charger manual doesn’t really mention storage temperature range. But it does state that charging should only occur above 0 deg C (32 deg F) or below 40 deg C (104 deg F). And charging will not start below 32 deg F.

Google was all over the place with different answers.
 

bonneyman

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After I went to the newer platform I soldered a wire onto each battery terminal and put two alligator clips on the other end. The housing would hold about 15‘ of wire, so I could clip onto my truck battery and drill on the tailgate. The battery was never dead!
10-4! I was alot more nerdy and converted an unused stick drill to run off of an old car battery charger I got for $5. Finished up the gutters on my house with it.
 

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Dave455

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After I went to the newer platform I soldered a wire onto each battery terminal and put two alligator clips on the other end. The housing would hold about 15‘ of wire, so I could clip onto my truck battery and drill on the tailgate. The battery was never dead!

10-4! I was alot more nerdy and converted an unused stick drill to run off of an old car battery charger I got for $5. Finished up the gutters on my house with it.
I’ve got the exact same drill as bonneyman, belonged to my Dad.

The batteries are long dead but I could never bring myself to throw it away!

And now, two great ideas in one afternoon!
 

bonneyman

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Actually, I shortened the handle on that drill for this mod. The original handles were admittedly a bit long to accommodate the battery, and converting it didn't need that extra length. So I cut it off the fit the hand. The old Makita's were ABS construction, so was able to strengthen and secure the cut pieces well with ABS scraps and ABS glue.
And the pesky clutch that always slipped and caused annoyance actually benefits now, as it slips when the amp draw goes up on a tight fastener and protects the internal circuitry of the old charger.
 

engineer2

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I’ve got four 5 Ah batteries now. I go thru all four before I can get one charged back up.
I have the 36V blower, plenty of batteries and dual chargers. I quickly learned not to use my blower on max speed. Like you found, maybe 10 minutes at max speed. It moves plenty of leaves and snow on medium speeds and the batteries last a lot longer.
It helps to take advantage when they have tool deals that give you four 5.0 batteries and a dual charger.
 
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