Lithium Ion battery technology - Charges in only 15 minutes
1/2" Keyless Chuck with shaft lock for tighter securing bits for professional demands
Makita built 4 pole motor design for high performance lasts 5 times longer than competitive motors
Built in LED light to light up the work area
Editorial Review:
Experience the power and reduced weight of the new lithium-ion technology, without the high cost. Lithium-ion cordless tools provide more power with less weight. This cordless drill-driver is a more compact, lighter-weight version of the LXT 18 volt tool. It has a 1.5 amp hr battery, which is half the size of the LXT 3.0 Amp hr batteries. This is not a light-duty tool by any means; it kicks butt in the 18-volt category. It boasts 450 in./lbs. of torque! You can even use the longer run time 18-volt LXT 3.0 Amp-hr batteries in this tool (the higher the amp hr rating, the longer the battery will last before it needs to be recharged).
This cordless drill weighs only 3.5 pounds, the lightest yet of any professional 18 volt. It has a comfortable grip and excellent ergonomics, which is ideal for continual use. Located just above the trigger, are two "headlights." Headlights refer to small LED lights that provide light where you need it most. I was skeptical about this feature, thinking it was just another gimmick, but after using it for some time, I've come to depend on it. From lighting my way to the house in the dark, when bringing the batteries/tools on cold nights to providing light in a dark cabinet, closet, or under a desk, this a must-have feature. Rubber grips adorn the exterior of this tool and protect it during impact if it falls. For all that you get with this tool package, the price is unbelievably low. This 18 volt is perfect for the professional who needs a powerful cordless to use all day long.
This Makita drill also has the most advanced charging system available and it charges in only 15 minutes! Generically, it's called a "smart charging system." A computer chip inside the battery lets the charger know exactly how to optimally charge the battery, to completely charge each cell within the battery and for maximum battery life. Each battery is made up of smaller 1.2 volt cells. Often a battery will drain unevenly during normal use, at different rates within these internal cells. A normal charger will stop charging the battery when one cell reaches maximum capacity, not all of them. Once this happens once, it will continue to do so as long as you use the battery. What this means is your 18-volt battery is now a 16- or 17-volt battery and it can drop even lower. A "smart charger" will charge every cell independently until each cell is fully charged, so your 18-volt battery will remain 18 volts for its entire life. This charger has a fan in it and blows air through the battery to cool it down before charging so the battery can be charged right away, unlike other brands, where the charger waits until the battery cools, or even worse attempts to charge a hot battery pack and damages it or decreases the life of the battery. These Makita lithium-ion batteries will last longer than standard batteries and can be charged over 1200 times, as opposed to the standard of 600 to 800 times, which alone can justify the slightly higher price tag. -- Gabriel Shantara Ford
What's in the Box Driver drill; compact lithium-ion batteries (2); 15-minute Rapid Charger; carrying case
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
What a great product, but with one pitfall:
I've owned a 12v Dewalt drill for 10 years and although it still works great running on it's second set of battery's, I was looking for something with a bit more power,12v tools seem to run out of juice on larger heavier jobs so I was looking for an 18v drill. Did some research and came up with the the Makita BDF452HW and ordered it from Amazon. First impressions great ! What a beautiful well balanced tool, fits in the hand very well, extremely light, ratcheting chuck, LED light, lots of torque for... more info
better have a strong wrist:
This is a great drill. I first bought the 3ah version, BDF451, then bought this one because I hang a lot of drywall and wanted something lighter. I sometimes almost forget it's in my hand. It powers spade bits through joists no prob--in fact, the bit snagged once and the drill just about ripped my hand off my arm. It's smaller, it's lighter, and true, the battery lasts half as long, but there's no lack of power. Plus mine came with a rebate for a free third battery, so with two batteries cooking at any... more info
GREAT drill:
I am a serious DIYer and have done professional contracting in my past. I own two other cordless drills and this is by far my favorite. I chose it due to its light weight and smaller size over large hammer drill types that are heavy and wont fit into as tight a space. This is the one I reacy for 95% of the time. I would love to give this 5 stars but, like other reviewers, I have had both batteries fail in a matter of months (and now wonder if its because they were left on the charger). Makita replaced... more info
DHL:
Very nice product, preformed great on a huge deck project. The charger worked as advertized, charged fast and strong. I love this little,tough,and powerfull drill!
The light is a nice addition, too
