Makita Addiction Thread

[Todd.Brock]

Does anyone have an opinion on the 18v versus the 36v leaf blower ? The CFM and MPH specs don’t look radically different. I intend to use this to blow off leaves, mulch and grass clippings off our pool deck and covered porch.

I had a stihl BG 86 leaf blower that locked on me last fall. I have a Stihl BR600 for fall clean up. I used the handheld for pool duty mainly.

I didn’t want to spend a fortune and I don’t really need any more batteries. I think I’m up to 11 or 12 from those different circ saw deals, lol.


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[Steverino]

I bought an XBU02 (36v) last fall and love it. It has both a variable speed trigger and a power dial that allows you to set the maximum speed available. It has plenty of power in my book. Running flat out you will go thru batteries, of course, but I have two sets and that has been adequate.

I can't compare to an 18v unit as I've not used one, but if you only have a relatively small area and it is mostly hard surfaces, I could imagine that the 36v might be more than you need...

FWIW

 

[anavrinIV]

I have used the 36V and own the 18V version of the blower.

For general leaves and things you should have no problems with the 18V. It will run on a single 5ah battery for 30mins or better and has plenty of power to clear large leaf piles and grass clipping no problem. The trigger is variable and if you want to lock in a certain power level there is a thumb lever that will hold the trigger at a certain spot, including full power. The main selling point, if you will be using it a lot, is that it is a whole lot lighter than the 36V which is quite a beast to lug around for long periods. You may want an extension for the tube which is rather short (I'm 6'3 and getting scattered leaves to go where I want can be a chore) but those are available, as are flat nozzles. I need to pick up both.

 

[Todd.Brock]

Good point on the weight.I’ll try the 18v and if it blows, lol, I’ll swap out for the 36v.


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[engineer2]

I have the 36V with two 5 AHr batteries. Suburban 0.2 acre lot. I can run the XBU02 one or two times for fall leaves and 3 times for lawn clippings before having to recharge it. I highly recommend the 197889-6 flat nozzle.

I also use it for:
Blowing snow off the cars when we get those little 1 inch snowfalls.
Blowing leaves and twigs off the roof of my shed.
Cleaning dust out of my garage and shed.
Getting a stubborn fire going in the fire pit (low speed only!!)

 

[Amnashaikh]

Just bought Makita AN453-R from ebay in 140 bucks. When it comes to power tools, Makita always outperforms others

 

[simnil]

My name is Simon and I have a problem =)
Just stumbled on this thread and had to giggle, I've got the addiction!

I currently have
456 18V Drill
481 18V Drill
251 18V Impact
506 18V Angle grinder

0815 230V Miter saw with WST01 table
3070 230V Recipro saw
5030 230V Angle grinder

Never been disappointed in a Makita product, if anything I wish the miter saw table would have been higher.

 

[IndyGarage]

Anybody have an opinion on the 40V tools Makita just announced?

In my opinion they are probably overkill. I can't imagine needing more power than my 18V or the 18 x 2's.

 

[Iron Beaver]

I heard a rumor of a 40V mag drill.

 

[VT Tool Man]

I think it’s going to be a looooong time before they dump the 18v line.
Didn’t Makita have new tools come out last year for the 18v line? It feels like they keep upgrading/improving 1/2” impact wrenches every few months.
They just released new 18v grinders last month lol.

Almost all of my cordless tools are Makita. If I were starting over, I might have chosen Milwaukee, but almost every 18V Makita tool I have tried has been satisfactory. I actually started with a 10.8V kit that consisted of a drill/driver and an impact driver, both with a 1/4-inch shank. The case, charger and a pair of batteries were included. I've had them for well over 10 years now and they've served me very well around the house. So, when it came time to get some 18V cordless tools, the decision was easy to stick with Makita.

But when I got the 1/2-inch impact wrench about three years ago? Man, what a galactic disappointment. Weak torque and crappy construction. I thought it might have been defective, but a replacement from Amazon was no better, so I sent it back for good. I got a sweet deal on a Dewalt and that remains the only yellow tool in the cabinet and it works great for my needs. Much better than the Makita.

So, I do hope they are improving their 1/2-inch impact wrenches. They couldn't get much worse.

 

[IndyGarage]

Almost all of my cordless tools are Makita. If I were starting over, I might have chosen Milwaukee, but almost every 18V Makita tool I have tried has been satisfactory. I actually started with a 10.8V kit that consisted of a drill/driver and an impact driver, both with a 1/4-inch shank. The case, charger and a pair of batteries were included. I've had them for well over 10 years now and they've served me very well around the house. So, when it came time to get some 18V cordless tools, the decision was easy to stick with Makita.

But when I got the 1/2-inch impact wrench about three years ago? Man, what a galactic disappointment. Weak torque and crappy construction. I thought it might have been defective, but a replacement from Amazon was no better, so I sent it back for good. I got a sweet deal on a Dewalt and that remains the only yellow tool in the cabinet and it works great for my needs. Much better than the Makita.

So, I do hope they are improving their 1/2-inch impact wrenches. They couldn't get much worse.

I think they make more than one cordless 1/2 inch impact. The Makita I have is awesome. Way better than the Milwaukee I had which was the best one you could buy 10 years ago.

 

[goforbroke]

Anybody have an opinion on the 40V tools Makita just announced?

In my opinion they are probably overkill. I can't imagine needing more power than my 18V or the 18 x 2's.

This guy on YouTube “tools and stuff” has done a lot of reviews and direct comparisons between Makita’s 18v line and the new 40v line. I personally have no plans on upgrading anytime soon. My 18v & 36v tools are more then sufficient for my automotive and welding needs.

 

[goforbroke]

Almost all of my cordless tools are Makita. If I were starting over, I might have chosen Milwaukee, but almost every 18V Makita tool I have tried has been satisfactory. I actually started with a 10.8V kit that consisted of a drill/driver and an impact driver, both with a 1/4-inch shank. The case, charger and a pair of batteries were included. I've had them for well over 10 years now and they've served me very well around the house. So, when it came time to get some 18V cordless tools, the decision was easy to stick with Makita.

But when I got the 1/2-inch impact wrench about three years ago? Man, what a galactic disappointment. Weak torque and crappy construction. I thought it might have been defective, but a replacement from Amazon was no better, so I sent it back for good. I got a sweet deal on a Dewalt and that remains the only yellow tool in the cabinet and it works great for my needs. Much better than the Makita.

So, I do hope they are improving their 1/2-inch impact wrenches. They couldn't get much worse.

I wonder which 18v impact wrench you bought 3 years ago? I experienced a similar situation with my 18v impact wrench, the construction and build quality were good but it lacked torque. It would seriously struggle to remove lug nuts or anything near 100 ft lbs torqued. That was model XWT11Z it’s decent but I regret buying it.
I upgraded to model XWT15Z which is virtually the same size they probably just upgraded the driver in it, but it seriously has a lot of torque 580 ft lbs to remove whatever I need.
I do have the BIG boy 1/2” impact model XWT08Z which is a brute and I love it but it’s usually overkill......until I need it for that stubborn bolt or nut.

 

[Voi]

This guy on YouTube “tools and stuff” has done a lot of reviews and direct comparisons between Makita’s 18v line and the new 40v line. I personally have no plans on upgrading anytime soon. My 18v & 36v tools are more then sufficient for my automotive and welding needs.

Thank you for posting that.

I watched the 40V vs 36V blade right circular saw comparison. A track compatible version of that is the one tool I still want but probably don't need that bad.

The slightly better performance of the 36V wouldn't be enough for me to give up the convenience of the X2 system.

I have three X2 tools. Their early mower, the blower and the 14" brushless chainsaw.

The only one I'd really hate to give up or not have a replacement for if mine dies is the chainsaw. If the X2 system were phased out and I needed another I'd then open up my search to basically every cordless brand. But the convenience of using the same battery that I use in anything from a portable light to a vacuum has been great for us.

I hope Makita sticks with the X2 system.

 

[IndyGarage]

This guy on YouTube “tools and stuff” has done a lot of reviews and direct comparisons between Makita’s 18v line and the new 40v line. I personally have no plans on upgrading anytime soon. My 18v & 36v tools are more then sufficient for my automotive and welding needs.

I didn't see much performance difference between the 40V and the 18V in that video.

I just don't see how they are going to sell this unless they discontinue the old stuff - which they may be planning to do.

 

[dutchgray]

The impact driver is rated at 220Nm and the 18v one is 180Nm, I think its pretty much the same tool as the high end 18v just with the 40V motor and electronics, its really a tool that exists for those that have bought into XGT to get so they don't need to keep using 18v, since impact drivers are one of the most used tools in many trades.

The batteries are also physically bigger as they use larger cells, one of the reasons for these new platforms is they couldn't bring out a larger cell lxt battery with more capacity as there are plenty of tools where a larger battery wouldn't fit, so they are stuck with what they can get out of 18650 cells for lxt.
The bigger batteries are a disadvantage with an impact driver IMO, its a tool I am always trying to shove somewhere it doesn't really fit to save having to use a bit ratchet.

Its the big high power tools in the xgt range that really make sense, the sds max rotary demo hammer that takes 2 batteries, 9" cordless grinder etc, sliding mitre saw etc.
The XGT range is very small currently and expensive.

 

[paulsomlo]

Regarding string trimmers XRU23Z and XRU12Z; does anyone know if there's a difference in power? The XRU12Z weighs 2 pounds more. I asked Makita, but all they did was email me the comparison data that I'd already seen on the web, which was inconclusive.

 

[mslim]

Another question about Makita cordless string trimmers. The wife wants one. I tried to steer her to the 2X 36V one but she says it will be too heavy for her. I hate gardening so I want to get one that works for her. Are there any single 18V models that would sufficiently handle light edging? She's so meticulous that she goes in after the lawncare guy is done, and touches any areas that don't meet her standards.

 

[Rabid Badger]

Another question about Makita cordless string trimmers. The wife wants one. I tried to steer her to the 2X 36V one but she says it will be too heavy for her. I hate gardening so I want to get one that works for her. Are there any single 18V models that would sufficiently handle light edging? She's so meticulous that she goes in after the lawncare guy is done, and touches any areas that don't meet her standards.

I have the 18V brushless model (XRU04) and I've never had trouble clearing anything that didn't have a woody stalk. Certainly more than adequate for lawn duty.

 

[Rabid Badger]

I've been hoping Makita would continue to support the 18V line and replace the XPH07. My patience has been rewarded, and the XPH14 looks like a beast.

 

[pl_silverado]

I thought Milwaukee would be where it ended for me after my Makita 3.0 battery ordeal years ago, but I bought back into Makita last week. Needed a cordless fiber cement shear, they made one. Bought the oil impulse impact and the rear handle x2 circular saw from home depot that came with 4 - 5.0 batteries. I'm not ditching all my milwaukee stuff by any means, but I do prefer the feel of the Makita drills & impacts. Not a big fan of the saw, as I've been using Skilsaw's cordless 48v worm drive for the last year building my garage / house so it feels a bit underpowered.

 

[Voi]

Another question about Makita cordless string trimmers. The wife wants one. I tried to steer her to the 2X 36V one but she says it will be too heavy for her. I hate gardening so I want to get one that works for her. Are there any single 18V models that would sufficiently handle light edging? She's so meticulous that she goes in after the lawncare guy is done, and touches any areas that don't meet her standards.

I bought both the XRU08z and XRU13z for my tiny wife and boys to use due to their short length and light weight. Started with the XRU08z first and was so impressed with it we purchased the XRU13z when it was released.

Unfortunately our last property didn't require any edging so the only time I tried it was to see if it would work. My new property has rock beds up the sidewalks so I haven't edged here either. However, I think they're up to the task of light edging/cleanup after your lawncare guy is done.

Main reason I'm posting is to let you know Makita makes trimmers with both LH and RH threaded arbors. I think it is the RH thread that is considered better for edging but you should double check that.

I know a lot of people avoid curved shaft trimmers like the XRU08/13 models but since the Makita trimmers are direct drive there isn't the torque loss from the flexible drive shaft.

 

[engineer2]

Yes, the 2x18V string trimmer is heavy. As said, the single 18V should be adequate for smaller yards and touchup.
I put a nylon shoulder strap form a gym bag on the heavy string trimmer and it helps a lot.

 

[GrantCee]

Yes, the 2x18V string trimmer is heavy. As said, the single 18V should be adequate for smaller yards and touchup.
I put a nylon shoulder strap form a gym bag on the heavy string trimmer and it helps a lot.

Huh? My 68-year-old wife handles the 2x18v for an hour at a time with no problem — and no shoulder strap.

You folks really need to hit the gym more often.

 

[engineer2]

Huh? My 68-year-old wife handles the 2x18v for an hour at a time with no problem — and no shoulder strap.

Sounds like a sturdy woman!

 

[anavrinIV]

Huh? My 68-year-old wife handles the 2x18v for an hour at a time with no problem — and no shoulder strap.

You folks really need to hit the gym more often.

My wife is a few years younger (almost 40 of them) and also has no problem with our X2 trimmer. Honestly I get more of a workout with the 18V blower than the 36v trimmer since I can't use the blower with 2 hands

 

[GrantCee]

My wife is a few years younger (almost 40 of them) and also has no problem with our X2 trimmer. Honestly I get more of a workout with the 18V blower than the 36v trimmer since I can't use the blower with 2 hands

The 36v blower on "high" is tough to control with one hand!

 

[SteveH-CO]

Question - I just bought a $229 kit at Home Depot (Makita XT281S) with a Makita 18v impact (XDT13) and 18v drill (XFD13).

The impact claims 1500 in-lb torque (125 lb-ft) and I applied it to a nut, and later removed the nut with my beam type torque wrench. I saw 35-40 lb-ft. Is that all this Makita is good for? I repeated this home-brew torque test again with the same result.

Sadly, the Makita drill chuck was hard to tighten (it's small) and slipped on drill bits that do not slip in my ancient 18v DeWalt drill. The LEDs on both the drill and impact cast an unfortunate shadow that makes them less useful.

I was hoping to be more impressed with this Makita kit. I would like an impact wrench with a true 125 lb-ft of torque. What should I buy?

Thanks - Steve

 

[Rabid Badger]

Disregard

 

[Voi]

Question - I just bought a $229 kit at Home Depot (Makita XT281S) with a Makita 18v impact (XDT13) and 18v drill (XFD13).

The impact claims 1500 in-lb torque (125 lb-ft) and I applied it to a nut, and later removed the nut with my beam type torque wrench. I saw 35-40 lb-ft. Is that all this Makita is good for? I repeated this home-brew torque test again with the same result.

Sadly, the Makita drill chuck was hard to tighten (it's small) and slipped on drill bits that do not slip in my ancient 18v DeWalt drill. The LEDs on both the drill and impact cast an unfortunate shadow that makes them less useful.

I was hoping to be more impressed with this Makita kit. I would like an impact wrench with a true 125 lb-ft of torque. What should I buy?

Thanks - Steve

So you want an impact wrench instead of an impact driver? And you need 125 ft-lb of tightening torque?

The Makita sub-compact impact wrenches produce 130 and 155 ft-lbs of tightening force in the 3/8" and 1/2" drives respectively.

There are also other compact impact wrenches in the 18V line that produce considerably more than that.

I assume the test you did was with a socket and a 1/4" hex to square adapter? If so you might be noticing some torque loss with the adapter. Or it may also be that the torque specs of your driver may be breakaway torque.

 

[Torque Test Channel]

The new Makita 40V XGT 3/4" impact wrench GWT01Z that just came out in the U.S. is basically the best thing since forever. Buy them now before they are sold out, I've warned you

 

[SteveH-CO]

Thanks for the thoughts/advice. I have a real impact wrench (pneumatic), but want a small impact for light duty jobs like removing skidplates from my trucks before oil changes.

During my torque test, I let the impact rattle for a bit on the nut until I saw no more rotation, and just expected that this Makita would come somewhere near the rated torque value, and it simply clattered away and sounded mostly like a toy. Yes - I used a 1/4" to 3/8" square/socket adapter (Makita brand, no less). Shouldn't the tightening and loosening torque be essentially the same? In this guy's tests, they were pretty close in both directions:

 

[Torque Test Channel]

Project Farms my boy, but he does call reverse "loosening torque" there, when he's not measuring loosening; which you can't really do and why companies get away with so much on nut-busting figures.
He's measuring max torque in forward and reverse with those left hand and right hand threads, which is what we do as well.

Loosing a bolt on average is about 20% easier.
Also, most tools we've tested do not make the same in FWD and REV, they usually have a bias. Cordless usually FWD air usually REV.
Last, the adapter you're using does cause a loss from the tool, in our FS2 episode we saw a 15-16% loss when removing that from the eqation altogether.

 

[Rabid Badger]

I can confirm that an impact driver becomes a much more effective automotive tool when you swap the 1/4 hex anvil for a square drive.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/too-many-impact-drivers.408941/

 

[Walkers]

Here are my latest toys. I have been using makita since the old 9.6v days. But these new tools are heavy hitters. The sub compact hammer drill has all but replaced my old Hilti. The 36v saw can really cut, quick and easy. The angle grinders have been a great addition. I almost dont have to drag out extension cords anymore. I go through a drill/impact combo every two years, through very hard use, best soft face hammers ever!
FWIW, these are daily use tools for my metals contracting business.

 

[SteveH-CO]

Update: I flogged that Makita impact wrench a LOT harder last night and got the gear case almost too hot to touch in my testing. The battery still showed a full charge.

In any case, I was able to determine (on a 4Runner lug nut) that it reaches the max torque of 125 lb-ft. in both directions. This is the factory spec. It takes it ~5 seconds of pounding to loosen the 125 lb-ft., which seems ok to me.

It will not loosen a 135 lb-ft nut in a reasonable amount of time and I'm ok with that. Maybe it just needed breaking in/flogging.

Steve

 

[engineer2]

My 120ft-lb 3-speed Makita impact drive works for 95% of automotive and household jobs.
I use it so much it's starting to look like one of those beat up contractor tools you see on CL.
The other 5% is handled by the XWT08

 

[speed88]

Anyone here use or own the new Makita Xrw01z electric ratchet? I’ve been thinking about picking one up and was curious if anyone has used one and how they like it?

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[KnurledNut]

I use it so much it's starting to look like one of those beat up contractor tools you see on CL.

You should see my XWT07...

 

[Iron Beaver]

Anyone here use or own the new Makita Xrw01z electric ratchet? I’ve been thinking about picking one up and was curious if anyone has used one and how they like it?

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I've been thinking the same