Every Makita 18V and 14.4V LXT Lithium-Ion Industrial Power Tool is thoroughly inspected and tested before leaving the factory. If you are not satisfied with Makita 18V and 14.4V LXT Lithium-Ion tool within 30 days of purchase, return it and Makita will provide a replacement or refund. Every Makita 18V and 14.4V LXT Lithium-Ion tool is warranted to be free of defects from workmanship and materials for the period of THREE YEARS from the date of original purchase. The Makita LXT Lithium-ion battery has a limited one-year warranty. Should any trouble develop during the three-year period, return the COMPLETE tool, freight prepaid, to one of Makita's Factory or Authorized Service Centers . If inspection shows the trouble is caused by defective workmanship or material, Makita will repair (or at our option, replace) without charge. This warranty does not apply to Makita Accessories, like flashlights.

NEW!! LXT Compact Driver-Drill (BDF452HW)

The Makita LXT Compact Driver-Drill is the power tool industry's first lithium-ion compact driver-drill offering the best power-to-weight ratio in its class at only 3.5lbs. Packing more power per pound and 2 times the battery life of its nearest competitor, the BDF452HW fits like a glove with a true ergonomic grip that feels great and reduces hand fatigue. The Rapid Charger charges 1.5Ah li-ion batteries in 15 minutes, 4 times faster than conventional chargers! LXT COMPACT gives the end user an opportunity to experience the technological advances that have been made in cordless power tools at an affordable price.

FAQ's

Q: What is the difference between LXT and LXT Compact?

A: The benefits of Makita Lithium-Ion technology are shared between the two features, i.e.- Less Weight, Better Fit, More Power, More Work. Since there is only one LXT Compact product, the driver-drill, a dimensions and weight comparison between the driver-drills of both platforms shows that the LXT Compact version is 1 lb, or 21%, lighter and 1-3/8", or 14%, shorter in length. The compact battery (BL1815) is 0.5lbs, or 37% lighter than the BL1830. From a performance perspective, the LXT Compact Driver-Drill is 110 in. lbs. less in torque than the BHP451 or BDF451.

Q: Why was an LXT Compact version made?

A: Since the introduction of 18V+ lithium-ion power tools last year, the average price of a lithium-ion driver-drill has been above $300, making Makita's finest and latest technology out of reach for many entry-level professionals. The LXT Compact 1/2" Driver-Drill has been introduced to reach a broader range of professionals across all trades.

Q: What are the core applications for the BDF452HW?

A: The core applications are repetitive tasks that benefit from super compact tool size, maximum power, and less weight to reduce fatigue: finish work, assembly, cabinet installation, and mechanical work. (TEK screws, Course drywall wood screws, Drywall Metal Framing, Door hardware, Long Roofing screws, sheeting)

Q: For whom did Makita design the new LXT Compact?

A: The key end-users are Residential Contractors, Finishing Specialists, Cabinet Installers, Commercial Electricians, Mechanical Contractors, Sprinkler Contractors, and HVAC shops and installers.

Q: What are the top three features of the BDF452HW?

A: The top three features are:

1. Best Power-to-Weight Ratio of any Compact Driver-Drill on the Market (450 in.-lbs. of torque / 3.5 lbs net-weight)

2. Fastest Charger. Charges 1.5Ah batteries 4X faster in only 15 minutes / 2X faster for 3.0Ah batteries

3. More Work. 2X Charge Cycles with a Makita Lithium-Ion Battery (1,400 charges) & the Optimum Charging System

Q: What advantages does Makita's LXT Compact Driver-Drill have over other Ni-Cd compact driver-drills?

A: The LXT Compact Driver-Drill packs the same torque with 2 lbs., or 32% less weight, than some models. With more power and less weight, the BDF452HW also has a better ergonomic fit with your hand making it easy to pick up yet tough to put down since it reduces hand fatigue. Finally, the fast charger allows for continuous use of the tool with no down time while DeWALT's model requires over 30 minutes of down time since its charger cannot actively cool down the Ni-Cd battery before charging. The capacity of many competitor's batteries is 1.7Ah vs. 1.5Ah for Makita.

Q: How does the BDF452HW compare with the competition in basic tests?

A: Test 1: Drove 3 x 6 lag bolts into a layer of two 1.5 thick SPF stock in high speed mode.

Test 2: Drove 3 x 9 lag bolts into a layer of two 1.5 thick SPF stock in low speed mode. For both tests, Makita and others performed at the same speed but the BDF452HW drove 10% more lag bolts.

Test 3: Drilled holes through 1.5 SPF stock with 7/8" spade bit in high speed mode.Makita and the competition drilled the same number of holes but Makita was 5% faster.

Q: Will the fast charging capability of the DC18RA reduce the battery life like other fast chargers on the market?

A:No. The same Makita Optimum Charging System technology is employed in the DC18RA. By controlling temperature, voltage, and current, the DC18RA can charge the battery fast and not compromise battery performance and life. This is just one of the features of Makita's exciting new LXT technology.

Q: Why does the BDF452HW come with 1.5Ah Makita Lithium-Ion batteries (BL1815) instead of the existing 3.0Ah battery (BL1830)?

A: The BDF452HW kit comes with the 1.5Ah lithium-ion batteries to make both the tool and the battery compact. Makita's rapid charging system eliminates charging down-time since one battery is always ready to go when the other has been fully discharged. The current best-selling driver-drill on the market has at least 50 minutes down-time. If longer battery life and higher performance is required, Makita has that already covered with the top line LXT PRODUCTS.

Q: Does the BDF452HW accept 3.0Ah Makita Lithium-Ion batteries?

A: Yes. We expect that the end-user will step-up to the 3.0Ah battery when it is time to get replacement batteries since it offers the big advantage of twice the run-time as the 1.5Ah with just 0.5 extra pounds.

Q: Does the BL1815 battery fit the LXT series of products? Why?

A: No. The BL1815 battery is keyed differently because it is designed to complement the LXT Compact Driver-Drill. Makita's premium LXT lithium-ion power tools are used in applications that generally require longer run times that only the 3.0Ah batteries can provide.

Q: How fast does the DC18RA charge Makita 1.5Ah and 3.0Ah lithium-ion batteries?

A: The DC18RA can charge a Makita 1.5Ah battery in 15 minutes or less and 22 minutes for a 3.0Ah battery. Please note: When one can sense that the power of the tool is decreasing, it is always better for both the tool and the battery to stop using the battery and place it on the charger. If a battery is completely discharged, especially under load, the charge times can be 10 minutes or more. The charge time will still be shorter than with the existing charger and even shorter for conventional Ni-Cd/Ni-MH battery chargers.

Q: What kind of batteries can be charged with the DC18RA?

A: Any Makita slide-type battery from 7.2V to 18V can be charged. With the Makita Interchangeable Adaptor ADP04, pod and stick type batteries can be charged from 7.2V to 18V.

Q: Why does the DC18RA have musical tones but does not have volume control?

A: The new charger has musical tones as well as a beep to alert the end-user when the battery is fully charged. It does not have a volume control because it was not designed to compete with job site noise. The music is completely optional and one can choose the quiet mode.

Q: Will replacement1.5 AhBL1815 batteries be available?

A: Replacement 1.5 Ah BL1815 batteries will be available in October, 2006.

Q: Will the LXT Compact BHP452HW come with the same 3 year warranty as other LXT tools?

A: Yes. The LXT Compact Driver-Drill comes with the same 3 year warranty as all of the other LXT tools.