- Makita-built motor delivers 325 ft.lbs. of max torque,1,600 RPM and 2,200 IPM for superior fastening power
- Compact, ergonomic design at 10-1/2-Inches long, weighs 7.5 pounds
- Large rocker switch, built-in LED, large tool hook, shock-absorbent handle to protect the battery housing
- LXT lithium-ion battery, Energy Star 30-minute rapid optimum charger produces 430% total lifetime work, 2.5X more cycles
- 3-year warranty on tool, 1-year warranty on batteries and charger.
Cons: (1) Not variable speed, (2) a bit heavy, (3) still relatively big compared to the competition
Overall, it looks to me like this impact wrench might be outdated compared with what's out there today. Most of today's cordless impacts are variable speed. You have MUCH better control with variable speed, especially when you are trying to put nuts back on. With this Makita wrench, soon as you hit the trigger, it goes full speed.
The wrench seems somewhat powerful, but I found a couple of (maybe frozen?) lugnuts this guy could not take off. It was on a '03 Corolla (I think using 21 mm nuts), which is not even close to a tank. I don't know if the car's lugnuts were put on by impact guns before at a shop, but I had no problems with any of the other lugnuts on that car.
My other gripe about this wrench is the size and weight. I did some specs comparisons of the latest cordless impacts out there today (i.e. Milwaukee 2663-22, IR W360P, and Craftsman c3 19.2 cordless impact wrench) and the Makita is the longest as well as heaviest of the bunch. When you read the Makita product description, they mention how the tool is compact and light. I'm guessing it's when comparing it to electric impact wrenches at the time the tool came out. Those electric impacts are much heavier and bigger. But now today's latest cordless impacts are more compact and lighter than this Makita. Check out the specs for the 3 other wrenches I had mentioned and see for yourself.
I actually got the Craftsman c3 19.2 impact wrench with the lithium ion batteries to try out and honestly, I like it much better than the Makita. It has variable speed, is smaller, lighter, much cheaper, and feels just as powerful as the Makita even though it only has a rating of 200 ft lbs of torque. I did some tests like tightening a lugnut to 150 ft lbs and trying both the Makita and Craftsman on it. Both wrenches zipped off the nut very easily. When removing a standard 80 ft lb torqued nut on my Honda Civic, it really seemed like the Craftsman zipped them off easier compared to the Makita. I don't know if they overstated the torque on the Makita or understated it on the Craftsman, but both wrenches seem just as powerful, however the Craftsman felt a bit stronger. Though that is just going by my observation and feeling, so there is no scientific facts or hard numbers to prove it. I don't know if this is because the Craftsman has a faster IPM (impacts per minute) compared with the Makita. Anyway, since I only need an impact gun for my cars at home (I'm never going to working on big machinery), the Craftsman seems plenty powerful enough for me.
I will say the Makita LXT series has good batteries and chargers so if you already have an investment in them, maybe you have no choice but to go with this tool if you need something with more torque. I ended up returning the tool because of the cons, but I'm hoping Makita is working on some next generation high torque cordless impact that will address all the shortfalls I mentioned. As of now, I am sticking with the Craftsman I bought.
Buy Makita BTW450 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 1/2-Inch High Torque Impact Wrench Kit Now
I am currently in Afghanistan, at a FOB repairing battle damaged MRAPs. I just put this baby to the test and the results were exactily what I expected. I used it to fit the front engine compartment to the removed grill assembly. It actually pulled the armor to the grill, with no problem. Another thing that surprised me was the smoothness of the whole process and how quiet it was. Very nice, Thank Amazon for shipping to APOs and FPOs. Great all around experience. 2 weeks from beginning to end.I use it on a daily basis and wouldn't use anything else. Nothing else compares, and I've tried snapon, dewalt, and a few other brands.Want Makita BTW450 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 1/2-Inch High Torque Impact Wrench Kit Discount?
I bought this to replace my Dewalt heavy duty impact wrench 18v XRP set. I got sick and tired of everytime I needed it the batteries were dead. Right from the start I have been extremely impressed with this tool, the power is great, I have been working on vehicles and farm equipment for more then 40 years I used this to remove the 2 1/2" blade holding nuts from a large bush hog rusted and pacted with debris, it is hard to believe how fast and efficient this tool is. It is stronger then my previous air impact wrenches and much handier out in the field. Too bad I cannot give it more then 5 stars because it deserves it. With the 18v makita lithium ion batteries it is always ready to go even months after the last time it was charged.
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