Makita went after the power-to-weight ratio with its new Makita LXFD01 18V LXT Cordless 1/2″ Driver-Drill. This Lithium-ion-powered drill is more-or-less based on the company’s BDF452 18 volt Lithium-Ion driver-drill, except that they altered three things. First, they made it more powerful, secondly, they cut off some weight, and third — they trimmed some off the length to make it shorter. How this worked out is that Makita was able to add 30 more in-lbs of torque, take off 0.2 pounds of weight, and reduce the length by 7/16 of an inch. Those numbers aren’t exactly stunning, but considering the popularity of its former tool, any improvement is going to be well-received by seasoned and professional Makita users.
Makita LXFD01 18V LXT Drive-Drill Kit Features
The Makita LXFD01 contains a 4-pole motor in its gullet, providing the 290 in-lbs of PTI torque (480 in-lbs max torque). The motor itself has been improved with larger front end ball bearings, and the new planetary gear system and transmission was redesigned to deliver increased durability. The final size? The Makita LXFD01 is just 7-9/16″ long and scales up at a trim 3.8 lbs.
The Makita LXFD01 keeps from being clutch-crazy, by limiting the settings to just 16 and it has a variable 2-speed transmission with all-metal construction. Low ranges from 0-400 RPM and High takes you from 0-1,500 RPM. The tool is simple to hold and the familiar Makita “Bleen” color (Blue/Green) is offset by new rubberized overmold soft grips that really make the tool easy to handle – even with greasy hands. We liked the built-in LED that did well to light up the work area with a minimal amount of shadow-casting.
In addition to a hard case and two (2) 18V LXT lithium-ion batteries, the Kit comes with Makita’s Energy Star-rated Rapid Optimum Charger, a fast and efficient 30 minute charger that will give you near-continuous use of the tool -especially when using two batteries. The LXFD01Z drill/driver also comes with a belt clip – a nice addition that the company included as a convenience feature. Pros who are already flush with Makita batteries and chargers can also purchase just the raw Makita tool (LXFD01Z).
Any of Makita’s LXT Lithium-ion tools are backed by Makita’s new 3-year warranty and are covered against repairs due to defective materials or workmanship.
