Power Tools Reviews
Makita BTD140 LXT 18 Volt Lithium-Ion Impact Driver Kit
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 4+ ...Awesome little unit, but it can get HOT ! Piggy backing on the other reviews (weight, speed, torque, easy bit change [albeit it will only take the med length or longer hex bits, or adapters, as it locks in the bit like a ball bearing lock shackle does], etc), I'll just mention my own experience. First off, let me say this is near the very top of all my tools. I was driving in several dozen stretches of 2x2 redwood slats on top of a patio cover project, and my old 9.6v kit just couldn't hack it. 1/2 of the 3" gold deck screws either stripped out long before getting set in, and/or the bits were getting shredded. And only 20-25 screws a charge. It was pure aggrevation. Ordered the LXT-600 kit which comes with one of these drills (yeah, I already own all of these tools corded, but lithium cordless...just needed an excuse). Like a prayer answered! Roughly 75-100 screws per charge, and only lost a few. In no time, like butter. Blew up a couple of Dewalt bits...just shattered them in half (use Apex, much better...this is what the carpenters who work at the school district with me use. More expensive, but...). I demo'd this baby to a buddy at work, and drove the same 3" screw nearly all the way through a 4x4. BUT, a warning (why the 4 1/2). After quick, long periods of shooting screws, this unit gets hot in the web of the thumb (if right handed). I had to wear a glove to keep going on the deck project. The other day I was using it to drive self-tapping screws to hold a wood deck down to a trailer (probably better done with a driver drill, I realized later, or pilot holes), and after running straight for 1/2-1 minute a few dozen times, I had a blister on my hand which turned into a 3/16 wide x 1/16 deep divet (now healing). I hope makita makes a snap-in deflector plate or cover for this area. I plan on calling them about it (sure they know already). A thin neoprene or fingerless glove (at minimum) would stop the problem. Other than that, this is a great tool.  Dad loves it! My Mom and I purchased this for my father for Father's Day and it has gotten a lot of use putting in my new kitchen cabinets. He couldn't believe that we actually picked out the one he would have picked out and he loves it. He especially likes the light that comes on as it helps to see in tight, dark places like under cabinets! really drives screws I've been using this impact driver on a major deck rehab project, and it is worth every penny. It will drive a screw non-stop into anything. Hit a knot? Who cares? Just let it ratchet away on it for a while. And all without breaking your wrist with torque. Much less finicky than a driver drill with bit and screw head alignment and pressure as well. It's also fantastic at backing out old screws. Screws I couldn't budge with my driver drill, or just starting stripping the head on, back out with no fuss. However, it isn't a replacement for a regular driver drill. There is no stopping at a particular torque setting. Forget using it on small screws. It's basically for larger screws only. You need to pay attention or it's very easy to overdrive a screw too deep or strip the hole. With a little practice it's not hard to feather/blip the trigger and get it right. But don't let your attention wander. The transition between fast spin in on screw starting and the slower impact driving also takes a bit of getting used to. It's also loud. A half dozen screws won't make you deaf. But more than than that and you'll want hearing protection. (My neighbors keep wandering over to see what is making the strange racket.) The snap/impact action also plays tricks on your eyes. You often get a wagon-wheel effect where it looks like the screw is turning backwards as you're driving it in. Kind of disconcerting. Overall though, I would buy this driver again in a heartbeat. I am very satisfied with the power and handling. WHAT THEY SAID... AND the case. The case has room for all the things you have to go with this great tool. So, you just finshed a 12 hour day and have picked up your tools in the dark. As you are leaving you see off in a corner a green glow and reconize it as your Makita impact driver! Yes, it glows in the dark and the next guy there tomarow morning doesn't get a free one! Like twisting the heads off of screws? Then this is the driver for you. Of corse, you don't HAVE to twist the heads off, just be carefull, the hammer greatly adds power to the torque. | |||||||||
