Makita 18V Scanner Provides Best-In-Class Accuracy Up to 7″ Deep
Before you go drilling into that wall or floor, you’ll want to know what kind of surprises await you beneath the surface. That’s where the Makita DWD181 18V Wall and Floor Scanner, comes in handy. This cordless multi-material scanner detects objects in concrete and masonry surfaces up to 7″ deep, helping you safely pick your spots for cutting, drilling, and coring. Of course, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen this tool—but our experience with these products makes us glad Makita has brought the DWD181 to market.
10-Second Summary
- Model: Makita DWD181
- Detects objects in concrete and masonry up to 7″ deep
- Provides object localization in concrete, block, drywall, and wood
- Detection accuracy of +/- 3/16″
- Interface displays center, edge position, relative width and depth of enbedded objects
- Multi-Detection mode scans in up to 3 parallel positions for detecting objects running diagonally
- Laser guide
- 4″ illuminated color display
- IP54 rating
- Up to 28 hours runtime with 6.0Ah battery
- Warranty: 3 years
- Price: TBA
No Surprises
The Makita Floor and Wall Scanner is the ideal choice for MEP, HVAC, drywall, ceiling, and general contractors. It can detect a variety of embedded objects, including metals, wood, plastic, and shielded electrical wire, up to 7″ deep. As we mentioned, this tool isn’t unique to Makita. We saw similar solutions in the Bosch D-Tect 150 Wall Scanner and again with the discontinued DeWalt DCT419 12V Wall Scanner. We do like, however, that it uses the company’s 18V LXT batteries.
This tool also doesn’t just work with concrete. It can locate embedded objects in cinder block, drywall, and wood, showing you where not to drill or cut.
Makita tells us that this Floor and Wall Scanner provides the best-in-class accuracy. It has a detection accuracy of +/- 3/16″. Makita includes a Multi-Detection Mode that allows you to scan in three parallel surface positions, ideal for detecting objects running diagonally or for detection affirmation.
Unlike those other wallscanners, the Makita DWD181 features a laser guide that allows for straight travel across the scanned surface and a vertical center position for increased accuracy. A 4-inch illuminated color display shows you the center, edge position, and relative width and depth of embedded objects.
Final Thoughts and Conclusions
Clearly, with a tool like this, accuracy matters most. We need to get this in for review and test it out on a variety of materials. With that said, we like what we see. The laser guides are a spot-on feature. The DWD181 scanner also gets some solid runtime off a charge. With a 2.0Ah battery, you can expect up to 9 hours of continuous runtime. That’s way more than a full day or work since you don’t use a tool like this nonstop. For many, that could equate to a week or more between recharging. If, for some reason, you need more time, a 6.0Ah battery more than triples the runtime to 28 hours.
The Makita Floor and Wall Scanner is water and dust-resistant, carrying an IP54 rating. We also noted rubber overmolding to protect against the typical wear and tear you can expect on a jobsite. The Makita DWD181R1J scanner kit with 2.0Ah battery and 18-volt LXT charger sells for $1,549. That makes it one of the most expensive—and most capable—wallscanners on the market.
Makita 18V Wall Floor Scanner Specs
- Kit Model: Makita DWD181R1J
- Battery: 18V LXT Lithium-Ion
- Depth/Localization Accuracy: 3/16 in.
- Minimum Detectable Distance Between Objects: 1-9/16 in.
- Auto Shut-Off: Yes
- Net Weight: 3.1 lbs. with battery
- Overall Length: 12 in.
- Warranty: 3 years
- Price (w/2Ah battery and charger): $1,549
