Makita Sub-Compact Review

Makita Corporation started as a company for electric motor sales and repairs, way back in the year 1915. Today, Makita is a global brand that is spread across the globe in over 80 countries. The headquarters of Makita USA, Inc., is located in La Mirada, California. Makita Corporation of America, located in Burford, Georgia is part of the 10 global manufacturing and assembly facilities of Makita products.

Makita manufactures high-quality, top-of-the-class products in its 10 manufacturing facilities across 8 countries. The durability and superior quality of Makita’s products are the result of the company’s very strong R&D, which has earned the trust of millions of users all over the world.

In order to deliver superior performance and enhanced battery life, Star Protection Computer Controls was created by Makita. This enables any tool or battery equipped with Star Protection to exchange real-time data and keep a check on the conditions while the tool is in use, to reduce the risk of overloading, overheating and discharging.

Makita believes in delivering performance, power and durability with products which have a compact build, produce lesser vibration and are easy and comfortable to use.

Makita Power Tools Warranty

Each and every power tool manufactured by Makita is tested before it leaves the factory. The purchase of a Makita power tool comes with a 30-day guaranteed return or replacement. The lithium-ion powered tool, the battery, and the charger come with a 3-year limited warranty for workmanship and material defects from the original date of purchase. If you have any problems with the tool, charger or battery during this period, you can send it to any authorized service center or to the factory and the company will replace or repair it free of cost. The limited warranty, however, is not applicable to the Makita accessories.

In-depth Review of Makita CX200RB Brushless Cordless Combo Kit

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The 18V Sub-Compact Impact Driver from Makita is a new range of compact tools. The most compact and lightweight tool in the 18V category, the Makita CX200RB Combo Kit gives you maximum value and allows you to do a lot.

The combo kit contains 2 super-compact lightweight brushless tools – an impact driver and a ½-inch driver/drill. The compact brushless driver/drill weighs just 2.8 pounds and the weight of the impact driver is just 2.6 pounds.

Although the size and weight of the tools are comparable to tools in the lower voltage category, the power and performance offered by the Makita CX200RB 18V LXT Combo Kit are comparable to 18V tools.

The tools are equipped with the brushless motors which are very efficient and the electronic control helps to optimize the usage of the battery and provide 50% more runtime. The electronic control also enables the motor to use the energy efficiently and it matches the RPM and torque according to the demands of the job. The brushless motor removed the use of carbon brushes, which helps the motor in running more efficiently and cooler thus increasing the motor life. The XPT or Extreme Protection Technology engineering of the tools makes them resistant to water and dust and allows efficient working even in severe conditions.

The kit has two 18V LXT compact batteries, which get fully charged in just 25 minutes when using the Rapid Optimum Charger. This connects with the chip which is built into the battery through the entire process of charging and helps to optimize the life of the battery by controlling the various factors such as temperature, current, and voltage. The Optimum Charger also has an inbuilt fan that cools the battery to enable faster and greater efficiency in charging. The battery is Star protected which helps to prevent over-discharging, overloading and overheating.

The 18-volt lithium-ion batteries from Makita are the fastest charging batteries in the entire category and allow you to work for longer periods of time without too much of time spent in charging the batteries. The batteries have an LED charge level indicator for added convenience. Any 18-volt battery belonging to an LXT tool of the 18V LXT Series can power the impact driver and driver/drill in this toolkit.

The ergonomically designed driver/drill reduces operator fatigue and has a 2-speed transmission. It is suitable for a large range of driving and drilling tasks. The impact driver is equipped with the A-mode or assist mode which removes the cross threading and screw cam-out by driving the impact driver at a very low speed till the tightening starts. This helps in more effective fastening.

The CX200RB 18V LXT Combo Kit is indeed a fantastic, value buy, which enables you to accomplish many jobs like drilling, fastening and driving and is especially a great tool if you’re working in tight spaces.

Features of Makita CX200RB 18V LXT Combo Kit

  • 12V handling, compatible with any 18V cordless system
  • Size: 11.1” x 12” x 12”
  • 18 volts, 36 watts
  • Limited Warranty: 3 years on the tools, the battery, and the charger
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Driver/Drill Specs:

  • Weight: 2.8 pounds (including battery), reduces operator fatigue.
  • Length: 63/8-inches, ergonomic and compact design.
  • Brushless motor produces 350 in. lbs maximum torque.
  • Mechanical transmission (2-speed) (variable, 0-500 & 0-1700 RPM) suitable for driving and drilling jobs.

Impact Driver Specs:

  • Weight: 2.6 pounds (including battery), reduces operator fatigue.
  • Length: 55/16-inches, ergonomic and compact design.
  • A-mode or assist mode drives at a very low speed till impact starts and eliminates cross threading and screw cam-out.
  • Variable speed suitable for several fastening tasks.
  • Brushless motor produces 1,240 inch-pound maximum torque.
Pros

  • Most lightweight and compact in the 18V category.
  • The lightweight of the drill/driver and impact driver helps to reduce operator fatigue.
  • Easy to handle and use.
  • Suitable for maintenance jobs and common construction tasks.
  • Ideal for working in constricted spaces.

Cons

  • Torque ring may be too small for some users.
  • Not suited for heavy-duty prolonged usage.
  • Some users find that the tools are not very powerful and don’t have sufficient torque to drive in screws.

So, if you are planning to buy power tools, then, we are sure that after reading our Makita 18V Drill Review along with the pros and cons, you will be in a clearer position to make your decision of how useful the tools will be to your applications and whether to buy one or not.

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