I've been using Makita tools for the last 15 years. I have over a dozen different 18v tools that work fantastic and have taken years of abuse. Hopefully you all jump aboard the latest and greatest so I can pick up some cheap deals.
Two of my 4amp 18v batteries have lasted over 8 years of daily use. I've had a few fairly new 5ah die on me though - I'd be concerned to swap to a new platform if batteries aren't what they used to be.
@@vamboroolz1612 Agreed. As a serious DIYer, I have to consider the battery ecosystem. I can't justify having $2000 worth of tool batteries so that I can have at least two or three from each brand. Instead I have six 18V Makita batteries and I only buy Makita tools. Since they're not intercompatible, switching from Makita 18V to Makita 40V Isn't any different from switching from Makita 18V to Dewalt Flexvolt. I recognize how much higher voltages can improve tool performance, but with the advent of brushless motors and using two 18V batteries in a 36V tool when needed, I don't see the need for 40V. As long as Makita keeps making 18V/36V tools, I'll keep buying them.
@@peteydynamite8794 The makita batteries are worth the price they last the longest. I'm run six years on two 5 amp 18 volts. I tried others and they won't run as long. I started with a 12 inch electric miter saw in 1990 and for me Makita is best. Second tool was 36 volt string trimmer bought in 2016. It still runs great.
Upgraded from an older 18v kit. ruclips.net/user/postUgkxW1vOBRCMrgTCDEijzpVzDWsgI-Jm2iQv I independently chose the drill and impact tool, before I came across the kit.I like the 3 speed impact gun. It seems more powerful than my older one, and it can be set to be really gentle. The drill is more appropriately sized for my use. I used to have a hammer drill, but I did not like that it was so big and it was not a great hammer drill. I rather have a smaller drill like this, and then get a corded hammer drill for the odd case I need that.
I'm a builder with 20 years experience. I started with Makita, went to Hitachi, tried Dewalt. Back to Makita then Milwaukee now back to Makita. One thing I should have done is stayed with the tools you rely on and never let you down and that is Makita. "Give me my Makita back Mac" Great video
A lot of other companies come out with a lot of stuff, throw them out there, if half survive, they are fine with it. It makes them look like they are staying on cutting edge, when they are really just putting a lot of garbage out there that is being bought on hype, and then you have to buy the NEW AND IMPROVED version, and so on... Makita is conservative, but their stuff lasts a long time, and even on the rare occasion they don't do something right, it is still not bad. I don't think you can go wrong with Makita
@@travisjazzbo3490 a lot can be said for Makita longevity. I've had the same cordless 18V Makita set for over 10 years. They're beat up but work everyday, no issues. My Milwaukee fuel stuff on the other hand, after 3 years of regular use, I've replaced the sawzall, and hammer drill and one of my circ saws overheats quickly and has a trigger problem so that's probably also going to be replaced or just tossed and I'll use my corded skilsaw for the time being.
I found Makita hammer to not live long enough. It was a hefty and a pricy one and used only for the heaviest concrete jobs. Fixing it solved the problem for a while. In the end, the drill simply died. I started a different approach with Hitachi hammer - smaller and way cheaper. I worn it till it died, picked a new one, this one died as well. I think I'm using 4th and fifth now. This strategy paid off around twice as much when compared to the previous approach to the latter. I mean investing in a Makita pricy tool and fix (overhaul in fact), against 2,5(-ish) less powerfull cheaper hammers from Hitachi. The Makita hammer was of course a great and durable machine - had no issues with it at all. It's the other factor that decided. Apart from this case I never had any better tools than Makita. The cordless drills and flex angle grinders (125mm). I still use two 6281D drills with a red battery pack Ni-Cd in 14,4V. Now I'm in the 3rd and 4th pair of batteries for these. Would love to try Ryobi, heard a lot good about it. Kinda sad when I tried the less powerful drill and I was able to nearly stop in with my hand. For a drop saw, I have a small production run model of a Metabo. It's kinda like a custom tool cuz I haven't seen such in any other place. It runs like new after 15 years of use. Meanwhile, my friend used to death a regular catalog Metabo - from purchase to the trash can 11 years I guess.
if you like the 40v over the 18v, I reckon you should try the 110v or maybe even the 240v system. I'm sure it will catch on. A ton of power, chunky and never ever runs out of power- ha
A little electrical theory: Remember the WAV. Watts = Amps x Volts. Electrical motors run on watts. More volts in the battery have no direct bearing on motor strength. Also, Makita has gone to labeling these tools based maximum voltage, not nominal voltage. So Makita 18v could also have been labeled 20v in this theory, which is what DeWalt does. Same batteries. Same potential energy. Different marketing. The Makita 36v (18x2) tools are theoretically using the same motors as the new 40v platform. The motors consume a certain amount of watts by drawing a certain voltage, which requires a certain Amperage of current flow. An 18v tool motor can be just as powerful as a 40v motor, but it requires more amperage of current, which requires larger conductors and electrical engineering to deal with the higher current. A 40v (36v) motor is able to consume the same wattage as an 18v motor with lower amperage current, requiring simpler and smaller electrical conductors and engineering. Scott says in this video that he is experiencing better run time on the impact driver. Based on theory, this is not due to the 40v feature. It is due to improvements in the motor efficiency and the battery charge density from older Makita components to newer components. Also, the batteries will have some degrading of charge density over time, including these new 40v batteries. Further, all else being equal, a 40v 4Ah battery can provide equivalent energy to an 18v 8Ah battery. Makita doesn't make an 18v 8Ah battery. 6Ah is their biggest, so the 40v just has more capacity in this regard. The 40v 2.5Ah produces equivalent energy to the 18v 5Ah battery, all else being equal. The 40v system from Makita represents two things: 1) A condensing of components from the 36v (x2) line for lighter weight. Same motors work in theory. All else being equal, the 40v sawzall with a 4Ah battery has LESS energy capacity (watts available/power, amp hours/run time) than the 36v sawzall with two 18v 5Ah batteries. 18v 5Ah x 2 = 40v 10Ah. But the 40v is more compact/potentially lighter. 2) Makita is putting out their latest tech in the 40v system, so you get the most efficient motors, best storage density batteries, etc. All this is just to help ground the discussion and clear away the Marketing lingo. The 40v system looks great. I am a construction pro and am heavily invested in the 18v system in the states. 40v isn't here much yet. If I switch over, it won't be because 40v is better than 18v. It will be because the 40v system is where Makita is producing their best new innovations of design and motor efficiency.
Well said. Also, Makita has a reputation of not forcing their customers out of a battery platform onto another one, and then another one... etc.... They are awesome that way.... and in many other ways
@uncle reeler Well, I am sure they are looking to have extremely high power tools coming, that will have two of these bigger batteries and so on. Its for the next level of power needs. It if funny hearing how DW people like having big batteries and small batteries and such, while with Makita, they, to this point, have only had ONE BATTERY to do everything on a job site, with the only change, adding a second one (X2) for the heavier applications... but you can still use 16 year old batteries if you want on today's tools or use today's batteries on your 15 year old Makita tool - that is probably still working, because it is a Makita. A true one battery system... It makes a lot of sense if you are managing a job site. Yes, I can do without all the safety stuff, but as you know, 90% of people that use tools, aren't real professionals like yourself... Surely you know that if you are still in the field with a lot of these buffoons out there.
Exactly. So small power motors like in drills gain almost nothing from a 40V system but a high power motor in a drop saw gains a lot by being able to run with lower amps. It's possible that Makita will continue to improve their motor to tighter tolerances and higher power making more and more tools feasible as cordless types.
When I first saw the announcement of 40v coming, I thought they would do the same thing Dewalt did with the 54volt system, making it cross compatible. Being able to run an 18v tool with the higher capacity battery means you dont have to choose between the two. Lost market on Makita for not doing the same thing.
Like dewalt's battery better .. you can buy one battery for large powertool and also use same battery on 18v, not to mention charge both batteries on same charger without adapters. Only place where they lacking is the venting holes on battery, you can charge makita in 30 min, where dewalt is 2-3x longer - and as they are vented/cool during use and charge mine does not suffer any significant capacity degradation over years of use
@@michalhudek makitas fast charging is okay for the larger batteries, 5Ah and 6Ah. But they slam the same 9 amps of current into the poor 2Ah batteries and they barely last 300 cycles before being completely useless. For the lifespan of batteries its best to not charge them faster than 100% in one hour. 30 minutes is alright in a cool environment with a cool battery. But the 15 minutes they do for the 2Ah batteries is just making them suffer.
Really appreciate how transparent you are about sponsorships or gifted products! Makes it way more authentic and convincing. Overall I always feel like you’re really giving your honest opinion, even if it might be distorted by the fact that you’re gifted some of the products! :)
Scott's always honest about how he got the tool and it doesn't seem like it has an impact on his opinion. He's pretty straight forward with his pros and cons and whether he would keep the tool or not. He obviously has a relationship with Makita yet he still gave a pretty negative review of their newer miter (drop) saws.
@@adamfehr1994 So whats that, about $399 USD? LOL I am not going 40v until such time as my 18s quit and then probably not. I am a home gamer and do not need them. I might consider a double battery type platform like two 40v batteries on a chainsaw or similar.
Ya well I’m a carpenter so it’s justified to spend that much on a tool that’s going to last me 10 years+. You can stick with your ryobi level tools because that’s all you need, I get it
as a DIY homeowner i’m about as deep into 18v as I can be: drill, impact, multi, tracksaw, lawnmower, even got the weird couple shaft with a weed whacker, articulating hedge trimmer, and paddle sweep. i’m hoping the 40v will just drive down the price of the 18s so that I can just keep growing haha (like I hope they offer that drop saw in 18)
Jokes on you... I bought EGO outdoor equipment (carbon fiber trimmer, self propelled select cut mower, brushless 24 inch hedger), much better in almost every way compared to the makita line. The latest Makita lawn mowers don't even fold for storage, but cost almost double the EGO stuff...
@@patrickobrien6648 don’t need any folding capability and I started with makitas regular power tool line and branched out to their outdoor stuff which all works just fine.
Hi Scott, Perhaps one of the reasons Makita are still staying with the 18 volt option is to service the home handyman market and to provide an on going service to the customers who have previously purchased 18 volt gear. Loving your work ,bloody proud of you. Uncle Andy.
Hi Scott I am 4 months into my carpentry apprenticeship at 17 years old I am new to the channel love you videos. I am currently doing site work in England (uk) but I eventually would like to make my own company and do refurb work like you.
Good on you John. After being in construction business for nearly 20 years advice i would give you is.. Customers like trades people who neat and tidy . Polite and punctual... if your too busy to do a job tell the customer. They might be diassapointed but will appreciate your honesty. The most valuable asset a business has is its reputation. Good luck and don't take chances with your safety its not worth it.
@@AbcdEfgh-zp1sn I echo that . As soon as I see someone is messy I assume their work might be . The best carpenters I've seen are always organised , neat and tidy. At 17 you have many years ahead. Most important now is patients and good attitude .
My first Makita was a 12 volt drill. I bought this to drive sheet rock screws on an overhead sheet rock job. Bought in 1986 and used it till the battery couldn't be bought any more. Second was black and decker and wore it out. Third is 18 volt Dewalt drill. Now I want 18 or 40 driver drill. Big improvement over just using any drill for screws and lags. Thanks for your channel.
I remember back in 2003 when i was starting out. I bought my first drill driver, it was a makita 9.6v with 1.3ah nicd batteries. I also bought a 7.2v makita driver, the one with the long batteries that fitted inside the handle.
I've got alot of the 18v makita, one of the main reasons ill not get the 40v is just the price , I can't justify paying the price just for longer run time
completely agree, would love to swap over but straight up can not afford to, plus my 18v gear is still solid, just purchased 3 new 5amp batts and its all go again... plus I have the dual batt 36v circular saw and it is a beast, rips down the guts of wet 8x2 and the like as if its a hot knife through butter... "go the mighty 18v"..!!
Agreed. For the price I can get a lot more 18v batteries, and swapping over is not a huge time killer; especially as it's so easy to tell when the battery is running low.
For the price better off going to another brand, the power you get from 40v not worthed, runtime aint so great onsite what they show on paper or in some videos out there not so accurate, better off staying with 36v atleast have batteries
I have mostly 18 volt tools. I love them for work around the house and yard, they do what i need them to do, so ill be staying with 18 volt for now . I don't feel like i need 40 volt for what i do here at home. I do have a 40 volt lawn mower and i love it, it mows my entire yard on one charge. Another great episode, thanks.
I’ve gone the other direction in many ways. I started with 18V, but recently added 12V. I use both - depends on which tools I’m using. The smaller size is really nice for some things. There isn’t really any advantage to higher voltage for low power draw tools. For some tools though, I do use higher voltage - I have some 60V DeWalt and 36V Metabo HPT as well as Makita 36V (2x18V). For things like larger angle grinders, circular saws, etc., the extra voltage gives you more power and/or longer run times. The Makita coffee maker runs off 18V (or 12V) - wish that one would use 40V too since it eats batteries at 18V.
I upgraded from craftsman to makita 18v about a year ago and use them for renovations around my house and they work great, so wont rebuy them all again anytime soon. I can see why a pro builder would want to upgrade. Thanks as always for sharing!
Shame makita didn't make the 40v system backwards compatible like dewalt did then maybe it would have been more attractive to us to buy knowing that we could use the new batteries on our existing tools and then buy the newer tools as and when we choose to upgrade our tools 😉
There are trade-offs to anything. I’m sure the lack of components required to make it backwards compatible make the design simpler and less expensive. I trust Makita to make the right call
@@ridgewoodgardens6253 If DeWalt can do it then makita should have also To trust a manufacturer to do the right thing is like asking the wolf to only eat your arm when their hungry! They are in the business for profit, not for you
The problem is the new battery packs use 21700 cells which makes them too wide to use on the 36v tools. I am invested in the lxt series but leaning towards m12 now, especially like their fuel multi tool.
Even hitachi / hikoki are backwards compatible 18/36v. This is the main reason I may start buying DeWalt, if I need a whole new system and batteries I may as well update older 18v as needed to a DeWalt as well and only need the one battery.
I’ve only been a carpenter professionally for just over a year and invested in makita 18v for my main cordless tools (I have a few other random ones where I just found an insane deal or whatever) but drill, driver, circular saw, multi tool, and a radio lol all makita 18v, so it is disheartening to hear about all this, can’t help but think they are just going to let the 18v range die and any new tool they make will just be 40v :/
Hi Scott, I like the idea of the 40volt, but if I'm to change my Makita 18volt system over then all of the brand's are now open for consideration! It takes longer enough to build up a tool range as it is, I'm staying with my 18volt until most of it dies. Great vids mate👍
Hi Scott, Just some thoughts and musings on these 40v batteries, they call them 40v max (36v under load) in the same way dewalt calls their 18v range 20v max in the US, 20v being the no load voltage, with that said the 2.5ah isn't much an upgrade at all on the 5ah battery, i'll do my best to explain why, to make an 18v battery they join 5 cells in series, if these cells are 2.5ah each then by joining them in series you produce a 2.5ah 18v battery, by adding another row of cells in parralel you end up with a 5ah battery, the maximum power deliverable by the battery is equal to the voltage multiplied by the discharge capability (assume a sony vtc5A and 35A) multiplied by the number of rows in parralel thus a 5ah battery can theoretically ouput 18v x 35A x 2 = 1260W. The 40v (36v under load) has instead of 5 cells in series and two rows in parallel; 10 cells in series and 1 row in parralel the maximum deliverable power now being 36v x 35A x 1 = 1260w.... exactly the same, there is an advantage to using higher voltage and lower current to achieve the same power, the wiring can be thinner, there is less voltage drop through the wiring and they tend to run a bit cooler. As for the big boy batteries they are wired in the same fashion 10 in series and 1 row in parralel (10s 1p) but will (probably) use the much larger cells most likely the 21700 cells, assuming they use a reputable brand such as samsung then the most likely cell is the Samsung INR21700-40T 4000mAh - 35A this being a 4ah cell with a maximum discharge current of 35A, that gives a maximum output power of 1260W hmmmmmmm, so you are entirely correct when you say that the only advantage to the larger batteries is longer runtime, Dewalt's flexvolt system uses a switchable battery that can run at 18v or 54v at 18v they run 5s 3p and in 54v mode they run 15s 1p the 9ah battery uses 3ah 20700 cells most likely the samsung again with a max discharge current of 35A (in the same family of cells it's a general rule that the larger the capacity the lower the discharge capability and vice versa but between the 3ah and 4ah samsung cells the discharge capability seems the same) so at 54v and 35A the maximum output power is 1890W.... however some of the tools are rated close to 2400w so they must be able to handle a peak output of nearly 45A temporarily, applying this this to the Makita Batteries (1.27 x dicharge current) allows a maximum power across all batteries of 1600w in bursts, oh and the Dewalt Dcs 579 absolutely dominat es for ripping, full depth soaking wet pressure treated timber and it just chew it up and spits it out, give it a try if you can!
Interesting read, thanks! There are a few things I'd like to comment on though. The Makita 18v batteries use Samsung 25r cells, rated at 20A max continuous draw. Not the highest in the market but they are loved for their high cycle life. That's the 5Ah battery, I believe the 3Ah ones did use a Sony cell. The Sony cells you use in the calculation are rated at 25A continuous, 35A only when using forced cooling.. I haven't seen a teardown of the new 36V batteries yet, but if they indeed use cells that allow such a high continuous draw then I'm very curious why Tools&Stuff got perceivably more power out of his tools when using the 2,5Ah (18650) over the 4Ah (21700) batteries. C'mon RUclipsrs, who's gonna be the first to dare open one up?! :-) And one last correction. (I'm sorry if I sound like a jerk (!), I'm really just sincerely interested though..) The wattage that DeWalt puts on its tools is Unit Watts Out, and has nothing to do with the actual electrical wattage of the tool. They came up with the calculation for it and as such it really doesn't mean anything. If the motor would indeed use 2400 Watts then with a 9Ah battery it would have a runtime of just under 4 minutes.
@@sigi9669 thanks for your input, part of the perceived power gain is possibly down to lower losses from using less current 35A is achievable front the vtc5a without forced cooling for short bursts but you are right otherwise, alos its worth poointing out that no tool would run at full power under normal circumstances, I only quote that for a direct comparison between tools
I dont understand why they haven't brought dewalt 20v max to Australia because there is alot of tools we miss out on, ive ended up ordering online some tools and turns out cheaper even with shipping, but they call this 40v max and allow here
Dewalt for framing onsite even fixout dominates onsite, my co-worker got the makita 40v kit don't get me wrong its nice compared to 36v having 2 batteries but it doesn't have the runtime or power.
I'm a diesel mechanic who uses Makita aswell as have a lot of garden Makita for home.. untill they give us mechanics a few more 40v gear I'll have to stick with 18v especially since they just launched the grease gun.. love your vids btw man have been watching for about a year now love seeing all the Makita gear I don't get to use haha
The dropsaw handle placement is very relevant for left handers also. Saws and I guess power tools in general are not really available in many left handed options, so I have to be ambidextrous, that center handle is a great option. For anyone who doesn't get it, think about how you'd cope if your angle grinder rotated in the other direction, which direction it kicks in a grab, and where the sparks go. Generally tools are designed to operated safely for being held in right handed orientation, and rotation directions putting force against your stronger muscle direction.
Hey Scott, love your videos! I think Makita will keep both platforms just like Dewalt has with their 20v/60v in the USA and 18v/54v in all other countries. I personally think the 18v lines will always have a market with homeowners for small projects that only use the tools once or twice a month. Meanwhile the 40v Makita or 54v/60v Dewalt will be more appealing to professional builders that want to frame walls for 8 hours a day 7 days a week without a cord.
@@chriswhite6882 i am not saying you can’t. I just think Makita will keep both voltages available and target tradesmen with the 40. Lots of pros around me still use 18v with great results.
homeowners dont really go for makita or the big brands or DIY people they are going for ryobi and rigid and they are getting better and more attention so Miami might not stay in that, but that's more into the future
The Canon analogy perfectly illustrates how planned obsolescence combined with hyper-materialism can be a cash cow for corporations. I’m sure all this consumption and waste will have a positive impact on the environment.
New higher voltages are a massive improvement for heavy duty applications. I rock the 54v 4amp flexvolt worm drive circ. Rips non-stop. All day. Err day.
All down to price, I'd rather pay less and just charge every day or every other day. If there's a decent power difference then fair enough but I reckon the combi drill and impact driver will work the same
@@tommyobrien9480 same here, I have 4 & 2 A/HR batteries and normally use the 2amp unless I know I'm going heavy on the drill or driver that day 🤷🏼♂️ always have a spare on charge anyway so it's kind of pointless
I love my dewalt and there flexi system is crazy good, best thing about that is the new 56v battery will auto switch and work on an older 18v system giving crazy runtime, I am shocked makita have limited themselves to creating a stand alone 40v system that can't be utilised across older stuff,
I think Makita will keep the 18V system for the DIY guys and the 40V system for the professional. I'll stick to the 18V system. It would be foolish to throw away the 20+ tools that I have, just because there is something newer (I'm not a pro). Nice video Scott! Greetings from The Netherlands.
I invested basically all the Stihl 40V yard equipment and it's amazing how long those tools run. I get 4-6 ours of continuous work with the hedge clipper, pruning saw, cultivator, whatever. In other words, I'm sold on 40V. Great review!
Cheers for the plug at the end Scott. I'm loving the 40v stuff. I don't grab the 18v stuff much now either. As you say, why would you once you have the 40v. I'm looking forward to trying out the droppy!
@@ToolsAndStuffOFFICIAL like your channel too, but I’ve found myself always reaching for my 12v tools (Bosch & Metabo) unless I’m already using another 18v (Bosch, DeWalt or Makita) tool. It’s hard to justify grabbing 18v tools when you grab something
@@thetruth5210 Thanks. Depends what you mostly do I guess. A 12v is rarely up to what I want to use an impact driver for, and I am so used to the extra 1/2kg that it doesn't bother me. I tend to only use a 12v if I have a lot of small screws or I am working in confined spaces. But I also have impact drivers laying around everywhere so it often comes down to which one is closest and has a battery already on it.
You were across the makita 40v stuff before makita were pushing it! Not surprised you are reaching for it. New is always more exciting to reach for. Unless new is crap!
I can see the advantage of both systems...the 40v looking more towards the trade side of things for day in day out usage, and the 18v system to target the DIY market and trades that use cordless tools on a more infrequent basis. Great reviews and honesty as always, keep up the great work!!!! Cheers from Aus!!!!
I have yet to try the 40v stuff, but I use the 36v 7.25" circular every day for work. It's an awesome saw. My work rig is outfitted with tons of corded and cordless tools, but of all the saws my 36v (dual 18v battery) circular is mine and my coworkers favorite.
@@kimchee94112 I agree, my point was based on lower cost and the home owner not needing extended run time when compared to a builder or construction worker.
If the home owner is after a good tool for cheap they shouldn't be on a cordless platform, they just eat up so much money and if you're only working around the house corded tools are cheap and there's heaps of power around
Milwaukee guy here. All the high demand battery's 3amp,6amp,9amp and 12amp work on all my tools and all the tools that i will buy in the future. Gotta love a platform that doent make you buy a whole other set of tools when they decide to upgrade their battery systems.
FYI, to use the torque setting on the combi drill (the turn dial on the front) you need to put the machine into screw mode. this will then unlock 62 different torque settings.
I’m on the dewalt platform for everything but The saws because I think makita are top of the class for Saws. I have the 36v rear handle and my chopsaw is 110v, I can’t wait to get that 40v cordless chop saw. That’s the only way I’ll get 40v tools, I want that saw 🤩 Keep up the great work Scot and the crew 👌
And even then, you can still get hold of third party compatible batteries for your 18v tools. To my mind it it is all about power output (irrelevant on a drill, vital on saws) and run time.
the 40v line looks great but for me a part time handy man 18v does the job just fine i bought a kit of 4 makita brushed tool and they served me well for over 6 years now
I was looking at the new 40v setup in the uk, the 40v drill set (combi drill, impact driver, charger, 2x 2.5ah battery and a toolbag) is £708. I can pick up a full 18v makita set (circular saw, jigsaw, sds drill, impact driver, combi drill, reciplicating saw, light, 3x ah battery, charger and bag for £800. especially as a young tradie in the UK, I would be alot more inclined to buy the 18v purely for the factor of price for what you get I can buy 3x sets of a combi drill and impact drivers for the price of 1 set of 40v drills I think for now I will be staying with the 18v kit just for the factor of pricing. I am sure the 40v is nice, but the question is, is it nice enough to spend that amount of money on such little Great video as always scott
For around home handyman and in my workshop a few hours the 18V is perfectly adequate. Runtime isn’t a primary decision criteria. Folks have different “better”. Better for me is smaller and lighter. This also applies to my photography tools.
I can't believe I missed this video for a month! Thanks for covering the new system. I was talking to a Makita rep at a local store and he pointed out that Makita has already been offering two platforms for tools, the 12v and 18v systems. Based on our conversation I think that the platforms are going to target different job types and users. 12v is already pushed as compact, lightweight, and very sensitive; so it is for fitness work where you don't want to risk damaging your work. 18v will be targeted at hobbyist, residential, and handyman work where you want the middle ground between power and fitness. And that leaves the 40v for contractors and other heavy usages where all-day non-stop usage is the norm.
I think Makita missed a trick not allowing backwards compatibility. For example, all the 54v dewalt stuff you can use 54v batteries on 18v tools with no adapter, so you can start to move to the 54v stuff but not have to change every tool and battery you own at once.
that's what i have. if they can make an adapter for plug power like the double one for the mitre saw they can get lot of things done. sometimes i need a skill saw powered.
That's what kind of bugs me about this. I am just a consumer, and I buy Makita because it's the only international brand available to me that's both solid and affordable. But the limit of what I can justify buying puts me in their lower range of tools, i.e. the old 18v 2.0Ah batteries. These batteries are small enough that being able to use them between different tools is almost essential, so the fact that I have multiple batteries and tools on that same platform means I can't just go out and spend more money on a new drill, either, as that would not fit into the system I have. Even if very inefficient to convert, it would be great to have some compatibility between them, just so that if one battery is flat I can just swap another in and it'll work, if only for a few minutes.
As someone who owns DeWalt Flexvolt tools and 18/20v max tools I don’t think I’ve ever used my Flexvolt batteries on my 18/20 max tools. I don’t like putting 5amp batteries on my drill, impact and/or cable stapler, so can’t imagine a reason to ever put one of those heavy beasts on a tool I carry around with me.
Hey Scott. Great vid. I’m just a home handyman. I really can’t see a compelling reason to leave the 18v system. I can’t really understand why a professional would need more from 18 apart from run time. Happy to be convinced otherwise. Cheers
A word of appreciation to Makita for helping out the SBC crew. Tools are quite the investment, & when a company steps forward, by providing a valuable product, it says job well done. Congratulations guys.
Makita aren't doing that out of the goodness of their heart. They're in the business of selling tools and this will help them do that. You think they would help out a crew that didn't have a social media presence?
I'm from Washington state in the U.S. and it's not sold over here yet and I already want to upgrade my 18v makita for the 40v system. Not a huge fan of the circular saw cause the blade is one the right instead of the left side lol idk feels weird 😅. Big fan. Keep up the good work man. I'm only 4 years into construction and I'm learning alot from the videos and my time at work! Cheers!
Yeah and it's barely noticeable when you're using them. I am not increasing any types of speed on my jobsites by upgrading to the 40 volt #facts. The only thing the 40 fold does is take into more profit margins and takes out of my pocket. Makita should have made these batteries universal.
Yep, don't forget you can get aftermarket 18V 9Ah packs which is 162Wh. It's just as big, heavy and powerful as the 40V stuff. The extra voltage is mostly a marketing gimmick.
@@tmmtmm Actually it isn't quite a gimmick otherwise we'd still all be using using 9.6 & 12v. The extra voltage will give extra grunt so could still be useful for those very high grunt tools like grinders, chainsaws, mitre saws etc.. It doesn't justify changing platforms imo and as you say the size and runtime will be just about the same as 18v/9Ah battery.
@@tonydaddario4706 negative, you can just wind the motor to draw higher current at the same voltage and get more power. If you ran these 40V tools on 18V they would be significantly less powerful than an equivalent 18V tool for the exact same reason. If voltage mattered, how come tools in 110V north america are just as powerful as the equivalents in 230V countries? Because the motors are wound differently. Sure higher currents mean you need fatter wires between the battery and motor, but I don't feel most 18/40V tools are reaching this point. Beyond being mostly a marketing gimmick, it seems just about all manufacturers relegate 36/40V for higher power tools (lawnmowers, gardening tools, large saws) and 18/20V for less powerful tools (small drills, impact drivers), since they don't offer small 40V packs it avoids disappointment when consumers buy a high powered tool and suffer a lack of performance because they paired it with a small wimpy battery pack. For some reason, the tool manufacturers have decided that instead of telling the consumers that they need to use a beefy battery to get optimal performance out of higher powered tools, they'd rather avoid the possibility of pairing high powered tools and low powered batteries altogether - there is some merit to this as small battery packs will be stressed out more than large ones at the same power level and perhaps this results in more battery failures. If you have 18V impact driver there's absolutely no reason to 'upgrade' as the 40V version will be no more powerful and in fact on 40V you will probably be stuck with using unnecessarily large and heavy batteries as the smallest 40V batteries tend to be the same heft as medium to large 18V batts. It's the exact same reason why even lower voltage tools exist - because giving consumers the freedom to pair a tiny battery designed for an electric screwdriver into a lawnmower is probably not the best idea. Lower voltage means less cells in each pack, which reduces complexity and cost and also means that you can make the packs physically smaller for the same capacity since there are less wires and circuit boards in them - this is important if price or compactness is a selling point. In an alternate universe, perhaps they use 12V and 6V instead of 40V and 18V, just as north america uses 110V mains while other places use 230V :) The choice of voltage is somewhat arbitrary until you get to the point where cables become physically enormous to handle the currents :)
hi from colorado very cold here today good to see about the tools i use makita tools for 25 years good tools i started out with a 7.5 drill long time ago
If I was still running Makita, I'd just change completely. I went over to DeWalt a few years back and don't regret it. The flexvolt system gives you the option to use the battery in both 18 and 56v tools. Maybe Makita should of made the battery backwards compatible also.
I’ve always been a makita man But I find it hard to change to 40 volt when there’s nothing wrong with my 18 volt Maybe because you had the tools for free is the reason you are using them I do agree though makita won’t keep the two platforms they needed to upgrade the power because dewalt etc had the 54 volt range and they needed to compete I don’t think the 18 volt will dissapear quickly but maybe 3 to 4 years Great videos Scott respect from the uk 👍
Used makita miter saws for several years. 8.5 and a 10. I think both were dropped and suffered the same misalignment as your dewalt. Switched to the dewalt - was much easier to calibrate and stayed true after many trips in any out of the van. Always preferred the makita and festool handle configuration.
I've seen these bigger batteries on Dewalt 52v range. Makes the tools so much heavier. Great for grinder or other really high drain tools but not a good replacement for most IMO
I have the Makita X2 36V Circular and Recip Saws. Both awesome tools and look nearly identical to what you showed here. Personally, I prefer those since they're interchangeable with my 18V tools.
Scott I'm very proud and happy for you to get more and more sponsors and support, I have been watching every video of yours for a year now and it's so cool to see you grow bigger
I'm glad to see Makita get some love in other parts of the world. Here in Canada I have never seen a single tradesman carry them. It's either DeWalt or Milwaukee. If this Makita 40v System keeps developing and they pay attention to Steamfitters and Plumbers I may take advantage of their platform.
Makita doesn't make enough relevant tradesman tools that's why. They're appearing to try to sell to home owners with trimmers chainsaws lawnmowers etc. All stuff that gasoline out performs meanwhile milwaukee is making pro press, wire crimpers, wire cutters. Sad.
Scott, I totally see your point with power hungry tools like saws. 40V makes totally sense there. But there are also 12V tools for a reason. I am downsizing a lot of tools, so they are friendlier to my body. I don't want to carry more power around than I need. Those 40V batteries look too beefy to me as a daily driver. But I'll wait... Maybe one day their new portfolio will convince me. Regards, Etna. P.S.: Honestly, I'd like to buy Metabo because of the hole Cordless Alliance System thing. One battery shared between different toolbrands. In theory, a dream come true. But even with partners is their portfolio just not strong enough to keep up with Makita, Dewalt or Milwaukee.
I like the look of the droppy with the forward rails, but after having many problems with my last 240V Makita droppy I got rid of it and all my Makita, I went to Bosch, I have the 220mm Bosch BiTurbo 18V droppy it's fantastic, cuts through anything including Australian hardwoods like butter, with a 12A battery will go for a week without a charge
Love your videos Scott been watching them since day one. But it’s all fair and well saying you would move over to the 40v system when makita are giving you the tools all day long and sorting you out for the publicity of there product, but as a carpenter myself and having forked out a lot of my hard earned money on makita tools on an 18v platform it’s not so easy to just make the switch. Keep up the good work fella and maybe if your making the switch you could donate your old tools to a struggling young carpenter in your area? Giving back.
I'm glad you kept it in, it's very similar, and think it reflects the companies are not always truthful or clear about stuff, we will stick with the 18v (because currently people have stock of 18v to sell, but when that's done, so are we with 18v). Axminster tools often drop prices in sales, then shortly after bring out an amazing new versions of machines, have learnt my lesson now, sales happen for a reason, and if your lucky that can be good but think about why it might be in sale and be cautious.
When you hear "40v" you think its going to have a lot more Power than the 18v , but when it comes to the Drill and Impact Driver it doesn't , I don't understand that , Why upgrade then ?? I mean I understand the 40v has a lot more run time but the batteries are also heavier than the 18v's , it doesn't make sense to me ....
It makes sense for all the other tools. The 40V 2.5Ah is identical in weight to an 18V 5Ah. But I'm staying with 18V and it is going to continue to be the biggest platform. I also prefer 2Ah batteries on drills/impacts and you can't have that on 40V as you must have 10 cells to get the voltage.
Yep... I wouldn't replace either. I could see having a more powerful hammer drill or driver in addition, but not as my go-to tools. Subcompact drill/driver for 95% of tasks.
Yeah Fekillix is right. I think in drills you dont really need a whole lot more power and so maybe using them you dont consider it but using the saws in the 40v is awesome!! Didnt know the boys were getting a drop saw, im jealous.
yes for tools that don't need that kind of power it makes sense to stay with 18v for weight reasons. The 36v or 40v systems cannot do slim batteries because you need to double the number of battery cells at a minimum to hit that voltage.
40V? Pffft... I'm gonna wait a bit longer until they come up with a 240V battery system. Until then, for stuff like drilling a 30mm hole through 15cm of concrete, or any tool above 500W i'll stay with the old angry pixies plumbing system.
I prefer horizontal handle vs vertical handle on a miter saw. I own DeWalt, Festool and Milwaukee, so I have experience with both. Great video Scott. And good for Makita for taking care of a long time user with a gift of new tools. I am now very tempted by the Makita 40v.
I love the review of the Makita product, and in the background there is a DeWalt Tablesaw and a Milwaukee droppy 👍👍, good on Makita for helping out Paerau, so they should it cost's them nothing for all the free advertising you give them 👍👍🦘🦘
What I love about the DeWalt flex volt is the way that the 54v batteries can be used in 18v tools. I've just bought a DeWalt vacuum and that needs 54v batteries. From now on, I'm only going to buy 54v batteries but I would still buy 18v tools.
Have used the LXT platform exclusively for years have loads of different bits of kit however you have my attention with that chopsaw and have always preferred Makita and Festool pistol grip for mitre saws!!
I really hope they keep the 18 v system I just started my business and bought a lot of 18 v makita tools for me it would be a bad thing if they stop making and improving the 18 v range
Hi Scott, thanks for all your content, it is really enjoyed and informative. As a general contractor, "handyman in the UK". Cheap corded power tools suffice on site having to employ a laborer here and there, the most amazing thing is I have "Erbauer 12v" first "Screwfix" generation impact and drill and I can get 2 months of service out of a single charge.
Great video , 100% Makita guy , I'll be sticking to 18v , I have plenty of spare batteries and a spare charger even, can't see myself upgrading to be honest. Regards from England
Hey Scott. I've invested 1000's in the 18v system and am very happy with them. I might consider buying the 40v heavy duty power tools like a consaw or demolition hammer drill. 40v x2. (80v) Time will tell.
Got a 40v impact from Makita rep here in Canada where I live. Great tool- will definatly purchae 40v tool from now on if they intice with price dropping!
As a homeowner who needs to do homeowner stuff and hobby projects, 18 volt cordless drills/impact and other small tools + corded for things that need a high draw makes more sense. In fact, I have a 12 volt Bosch drill/impact that I reach for more often than the 18 volt. My interest in the 40 volt /2x 18 volt situation is the Makita lawn & garden tools. Knowing that 40 volt was coming out is part of why we've waited on buying the Makita string trimmer. Those batteries are a big investment, and I want to know how the lawn tool situation is going to shake out. Additional homeowner perspective: construction crews who are *not* running a gas generator to power their cordless tools are beautiful people who deserve nice things. I swear to god I'm going to start sugaring the gas tanks of the four man yard crews with their gas powered leaf blowers.
Fairplay to makita for supplying the gear . Ive always found there products very good no complaints. Not used the new system yet just be if the new battery is to heavy therefore out of ballance. Justin brickright 👍
Interesting topic, thanks for making it. However I'm most curious on how the power is and the weight. To be fair for most drill applications 18v works just fine and swapping a battery isn't an issue for me. What is an issue is power when it comes to saws and weight. I'd love more info on that. Att this point I see no reason to totally wear down my 18v system till 40v is grown up.
Hi, Scott Thanks for the great videos I really like your content and style, also it very refreshing to hear a Kiwi accent rather than all the normal American. I'm an electronics engineer travelling around NZ since the 1980s. I've been buying Makita power tools both for work and home use I only have Makita power tools now. I've just started to build my own house on a lifestyle block near Nelson, I been working on the property for 5 years and for many jobs I've had to carry a petrol generator to do some jobs. At the start of this year, I made the commitment to completely ditch all internal combustion engines by the end of 2021 and be completely electric and off-grid. I'm still using my first cordless 9.6-volt Nicad battery drill, I have some 12-volt tools just because they are lighter and when you are down a 30-metre vertical shaft and need power tools, weight is very important. I have over 40 tools that take 18-volt batteries most 18-volt some 36-volt. I have just bought a 40-volt 6 piece kit. I will be buying more power tools as I need them and they become available. So I will not be replacing all my old battery tools with 40-volt, instead, I will be running 4 different Makita battery systems but I will be able to replace all my AC power tools, with the 40-volt range.
Why invest in 40v when the 36v by 2x18v gives nearly the same power for the tools you really need it on and the convenience of being on 1 system. I understand circ saw, but do you really want the weight on an impact.?
@@TheAracoin It is just 36v. Many, perhaps most, companies are doing this trick. A freshly charged battery will get up to 40v but quickly drop to 36v but 40v looks better for marketing. Dishonest IMO.
@@apsilonblue Yup, I just found disassembly, it's 10 cells. I wonder why they claim 40V as max. I thought all Li-ion cells get up to 4,2-4,25V. "We are misrepresenting, but only up to 4V. 4,2V is too much". It takes advantage of uninformed customer, that just wants to buy a tool, not become electronics engineer. I wonder where is the line. I just checked dewalt website for 120V tools and there is disclaimer "Maximum initial battery voltage is 120 volts. Nominal voltage is 108." I bet most people won't read it...
I got sick of using corded tools (as a DIYer). Decided on Makita, and started with a hammer drill and impact driver kit. Got a bonus 5ah battery via a redemption. Got a 2x18v blower for the garden, bonus 5ah battery. Was going to buy some new tools last week, (router, circular saw) ryobi diy grade stuff, but the Makita 18v skins were an acceptable premium so i opted for those since i already had enough batteries. I couldnt justify the extra for a sliding mitre saw though since it will never move from the garage so that one is still corded. Conclusion: 18v platform is plenty good enough for the DIYer. There is still the 2x18v platform for stuff that needs extra power that doesnt need different batteries.
I'm a 18v and 12v user and I have to say, depending on your reasons for using the tools I think they all have their place in someones lineup. For me personally I need a bit more of a light touch so the 12v stuff is ideal. Light and very compact with a really good level of control. and when I want to just smash in large screws the 18V works too. A very underrated tool is there 12V SDS drill. really really light so if you're up a ladder putting in loads of holes for rawl plugs you really dont want a massive heavy drill. For you the 40V system is great as you always buy the top end versions but it'll be a long time before the range of tools they make for the 40v will catch up enough to allow everyone from DIYers through to pro tradespeople access them for all the different budgets. Got to say though the 40V Drop saw looks amazing and I'm seriously contemplating it even though I've always wanted the Kapex.
A couple of years ago I brought the 36v Blower, Chain Saw and Rotary drill and Makita dumped the 36v single battery for twin 18v Plus the 36v battery cost $280
One thing I like about the 18 V is you can have a much lighter battery. Soemtimes when running my multitool or grinder, I like have a lighter weight battery. Also helps with a space thing. I was using my multitool under a bathroom sink holding it over my Head. Arm fatigue is real.
@@NanneWielinga I use 18v tools and my brother is a huge 12v fan his biggest reasoning is for more compact tools, and the fact they're alot lighter than their 18\36\40v counterparts
I’m glad you’re busy enough to be able to switch platforms. I’m a home gamer and stuck on the DeWalt 20 volt platform. There are some things about it that irritate me, like run time, cost of decent size batteries, but not enough to sell tools that work at a substantial loss so I can spend more money on the latest and greatest.
Metabo HPT/Hikoki uses the 36V system and batteries can be used in both 18V and 36V tools plus you can get the AC adapter for your longer running tools like table saw, mitre saw, grinder, large hammer drills etc
Since I got my Kapex, I've come to appreciate the handle and why it's designed that way, but the ergonomics of the sideways dewalt style handle will always feel nicer to me.
@Scott Brown Carpentry . Thanks Scott for your opinions and experience with Makita's new 40V tools. I like to hear the opinions and experiences of people in the trades with tools especially long term. We all have different needs, expectations, and experiences and it may be that Makita wanted to wait and get things right in their mind before coming out with their 40V line. Makita 18V LXT is my main cordless platform but I also have tools from Ridgid, Dewalt, and Milwaukee. Here in the US, I hear we are spoiled with sales so I've been able to add to my tool crib as the various sales and needs come up. Hope you, Pareau, Rich, and your families stay safe and well.
This is where I am. I wanted good tools, but as a home gamer I don’t need, or want spend the extra for, 40v. I see this the same as there is 12v and the various “levels” of 18, you pick what you need and can afford for any given tool.
Nope, most pros still use 18v and will probably stick with them, especially the older guys who don't like change. The 18v will still build homes just fine and they have built a ton, I even use my makita 7.2v pin drives a lot, I have the driver and impact version, they are light and great for repair work, I upgraded the cells though.
I've been using Makita tools for the last 15 years. I have over a dozen different 18v tools that work fantastic and have taken years of abuse. Hopefully you all jump aboard the latest and greatest so I can pick up some cheap deals.
My thoughts exactly. I need justification to jump off one battery platform. Availability of 40 v is not justification.
100% on board with this.
Two of my 4amp 18v batteries have lasted over 8 years of daily use. I've had a few fairly new 5ah die on me though - I'd be concerned to swap to a new platform if batteries aren't what they used to be.
@@vamboroolz1612 Agreed. As a serious DIYer, I have to consider the battery ecosystem. I can't justify having $2000 worth of tool batteries so that I can have at least two or three from each brand. Instead I have six 18V Makita batteries and I only buy Makita tools. Since they're not intercompatible, switching from Makita 18V to Makita 40V Isn't any different from switching from Makita 18V to Dewalt Flexvolt. I recognize how much higher voltages can improve tool performance, but with the advent of brushless motors and using two 18V batteries in a 36V tool when needed, I don't see the need for 40V. As long as Makita keeps making 18V/36V tools, I'll keep buying them.
@@peteydynamite8794 The makita batteries are worth the price they last the longest. I'm run six years on two 5 amp 18 volts. I tried others and they won't run as long. I started with a 12 inch electric miter saw in 1990 and for me Makita is best. Second tool was 36 volt string trimmer bought in 2016. It still runs great.
Upgraded from an older 18v kit. ruclips.net/user/postUgkxW1vOBRCMrgTCDEijzpVzDWsgI-Jm2iQv I independently chose the drill and impact tool, before I came across the kit.I like the 3 speed impact gun. It seems more powerful than my older one, and it can be set to be really gentle. The drill is more appropriately sized for my use. I used to have a hammer drill, but I did not like that it was so big and it was not a great hammer drill. I rather have a smaller drill like this, and then get a corded hammer drill for the odd case I need that.
I'm a builder with 20 years experience. I started with Makita, went to Hitachi, tried Dewalt. Back to Makita then Milwaukee now back to Makita. One thing I should have done is stayed with the tools you rely on and never let you down and that is Makita.
"Give me my Makita back Mac"
Great video
Yeah, sometimes makita is a little frustrating because they're slower to launch new tools and features, but when they do, they usually do them right.
A lot of other companies come out with a lot of stuff, throw them out there, if half survive, they are fine with it. It makes them look like they are staying on cutting edge, when they are really just putting a lot of garbage out there that is being bought on hype, and then you have to buy the NEW AND IMPROVED version, and so on... Makita is conservative, but their stuff lasts a long time, and even on the rare occasion they don't do something right, it is still not bad. I don't think you can go wrong with Makita
@@travisjazzbo3490 a lot can be said for Makita longevity. I've had the same cordless 18V Makita set for over 10 years. They're beat up but work everyday, no issues. My Milwaukee fuel stuff on the other hand, after 3 years of regular use, I've replaced the sawzall, and hammer drill and one of my circ saws overheats quickly and has a trigger problem so that's probably also going to be replaced or just tossed and I'll use my corded skilsaw for the time being.
@@travisjazzbo3490 so true
I found Makita hammer to not live long enough. It was a hefty and a pricy one and used only for the heaviest concrete jobs. Fixing it solved the problem for a while. In the end, the drill simply died. I started a different approach with Hitachi hammer - smaller and way cheaper. I worn it till it died, picked a new one, this one died as well. I think I'm using 4th and fifth now. This strategy paid off around twice as much when compared to the previous approach to the latter. I mean investing in a Makita pricy tool and fix (overhaul in fact), against 2,5(-ish) less powerfull cheaper hammers from Hitachi. The Makita hammer was of course a great and durable machine - had no issues with it at all. It's the other factor that decided.
Apart from this case I never had any better tools than Makita. The cordless drills and flex angle grinders (125mm).
I still use two 6281D drills with a red battery pack Ni-Cd in 14,4V. Now I'm in the 3rd and 4th pair of batteries for these.
Would love to try Ryobi, heard a lot good about it. Kinda sad when I tried the less powerful drill and I was able to nearly stop in with my hand.
For a drop saw, I have a small production run model of a Metabo. It's kinda like a custom tool cuz I haven't seen such in any other place. It runs like new after 15 years of use. Meanwhile, my friend used to death a regular catalog Metabo - from purchase to the trash can 11 years I guess.
if you like the 40v over the 18v, I reckon you should try the 110v or maybe even the 240v system. I'm sure it will catch on. A ton of power, chunky and never ever runs out of power- ha
just wait for TSLA to make their 450v system
bwahahha
@@TauCu you mean 415v 3phase cordless torque wrench? Lol 🤣
You could go the other directions with that too. 0V tools. 🪚
😂
Stupid ideas all around. Here on earth 60 volt as as big as a sane person would think about
A little electrical theory:
Remember the WAV.
Watts = Amps x Volts.
Electrical motors run on watts. More volts in the battery have no direct bearing on motor strength.
Also, Makita has gone to labeling these tools based maximum voltage, not nominal voltage. So Makita 18v could also have been labeled 20v in this theory, which is what DeWalt does. Same batteries. Same potential energy. Different marketing.
The Makita 36v (18x2) tools are theoretically using the same motors as the new 40v platform. The motors consume a certain amount of watts by drawing a certain voltage, which requires a certain Amperage of current flow.
An 18v tool motor can be just as powerful as a 40v motor, but it requires more amperage of current, which requires larger conductors and electrical engineering to deal with the higher current.
A 40v (36v) motor is able to consume the same wattage as an 18v motor with lower amperage current, requiring simpler and smaller electrical conductors and engineering.
Scott says in this video that he is experiencing better run time on the impact driver.
Based on theory, this is not due to the 40v feature. It is due to improvements in the motor efficiency and the battery charge density from older Makita components to newer components. Also, the batteries will have some degrading of charge density over time, including these new 40v batteries.
Further, all else being equal, a 40v 4Ah battery can provide equivalent energy to an 18v 8Ah battery. Makita doesn't make an 18v 8Ah battery. 6Ah is their biggest, so the 40v just has more capacity in this regard. The 40v 2.5Ah produces equivalent energy to the 18v 5Ah battery, all else being equal.
The 40v system from Makita represents two things:
1) A condensing of components from the 36v (x2) line for lighter weight.
Same motors work in theory. All else being equal, the 40v sawzall with a 4Ah battery has LESS energy capacity (watts available/power, amp hours/run time) than the 36v sawzall with two 18v 5Ah batteries. 18v 5Ah x 2 = 40v 10Ah. But the 40v is more compact/potentially lighter.
2) Makita is putting out their latest tech in the 40v system, so you get the most efficient motors, best storage density batteries, etc.
All this is just to help ground the discussion and clear away the Marketing lingo. The 40v system looks great. I am a construction pro and am heavily invested in the 18v system in the states. 40v isn't here much yet. If I switch over, it won't be because 40v is better than 18v. It will be because the 40v system is where Makita is producing their best new innovations of design and motor efficiency.
Well said. Also, Makita has a reputation of not forcing their customers out of a battery platform onto another one, and then another one... etc.... They are awesome that way.... and in many other ways
@uncle reeler Well, I am sure they are looking to have extremely high power tools coming, that will have two of these bigger batteries and so on. Its for the next level of power needs.
It if funny hearing how DW people like having big batteries and small batteries and such, while with Makita, they, to this point, have only had ONE BATTERY to do everything on a job site, with the only change, adding a second one (X2) for the heavier applications... but you can still use 16 year old batteries if you want on today's tools or use today's batteries on your 15 year old Makita tool - that is probably still working, because it is a Makita.
A true one battery system... It makes a lot of sense if you are managing a job site.
Yes, I can do without all the safety stuff, but as you know, 90% of people that use tools, aren't real professionals like yourself... Surely you know that if you are still in the field with a lot of these buffoons out there.
Exactly. So small power motors like in drills gain almost nothing from a 40V system but a high power motor in a drop saw gains a lot by being able to run with lower amps.
It's possible that Makita will continue to improve their motor to tighter tolerances and higher power making more and more tools feasible as cordless types.
one mistake: 18v 5Ah x 2 = 40v 10Ah.
it is 18v 5Ah x2 = 180wh and 36v x 4Ah (NOT 10Ah) x2 = 288wh
Solid comment. Thank you.
When I first saw the announcement of 40v coming, I thought they would do the same thing Dewalt did with the 54volt system, making it cross compatible. Being able to run an 18v tool with the higher capacity battery means you dont have to choose between the two. Lost market on Makita for not doing the same thing.
Like dewalt's battery better .. you can buy one battery for large powertool and also use same battery on 18v, not to mention charge both batteries on same charger without adapters. Only place where they lacking is the venting holes on battery, you can charge makita in 30 min, where dewalt is 2-3x longer - and as they are vented/cool during use and charge mine does not suffer any significant capacity degradation over years of use
@@michalhudek makitas fast charging is okay for the larger batteries, 5Ah and 6Ah. But they slam the same 9 amps of current into the poor 2Ah batteries and they barely last 300 cycles before being completely useless. For the lifespan of batteries its best to not charge them faster than 100% in one hour. 30 minutes is alright in a cool environment with a cool battery. But the 15 minutes they do for the 2Ah batteries is just making them suffer.
They’re actually 36v not 40v
Really appreciate how transparent you are about sponsorships or gifted products! Makes it way more authentic and convincing. Overall I always feel like you’re really giving your honest opinion, even if it might be distorted by the fact that you’re gifted some of the products! :)
Might have more to do with he has to under New Zealand law, Doubt he's doing it because he wants to.
@@brendanmichaelwelsh6260 that's the point. That's not a courtesy - it's a requirement.
Scott's always honest about how he got the tool and it doesn't seem like it has an impact on his opinion. He's pretty straight forward with his pros and cons and whether he would keep the tool or not. He obviously has a relationship with Makita yet he still gave a pretty negative review of their newer miter (drop) saws.
This is literally, a commercial for the product.
When 40v price goes down, I'll consider switching over, it's just a bit too expensive in Canada right now
And UK
Ya my impact driver kit was $599 CAD😬
@@adamfehr1994 So whats that, about $399 USD? LOL I am not going 40v until such time as my 18s quit and then probably not. I am a home gamer and do not need them. I might consider a double battery type platform like two 40v batteries on a chainsaw or similar.
I will stick with my 18v tools.
Ya well I’m a carpenter so it’s justified to spend that much on a tool that’s going to last me 10 years+. You can stick with your ryobi level tools because that’s all you need, I get it
as a DIY homeowner i’m about as deep into 18v as I can be: drill, impact, multi, tracksaw, lawnmower, even got the weird couple shaft with a weed whacker, articulating hedge trimmer, and paddle sweep. i’m hoping the 40v will just drive down the price of the 18s so that I can just keep growing haha (like I hope they offer that drop saw in 18)
Jokes on you... I bought EGO outdoor equipment (carbon fiber trimmer, self propelled select cut mower, brushless 24 inch hedger), much better in almost every way compared to the makita line. The latest Makita lawn mowers don't even fold for storage, but cost almost double the EGO stuff...
@@patrickobrien6648 don’t need any folding capability and I started with makitas regular power tool line and branched out to their outdoor stuff which all works just fine.
there is already a miter/drop saw that runs on 18v batteries. the "36v" one takes two batteries
Hi Scott, Perhaps one of the reasons Makita are still staying with the 18 volt option is to service the home handyman market and to provide an on going service to the customers who have previously purchased 18 volt gear. Loving your work ,bloody proud of you. Uncle Andy.
If you think their lxt 18v line is a home diy level tool set your not very bright
@@jonathangarzon2798 Don't be rude. You're comment tells me of your own brightness.
@@jonathangarzon2798 what an idiot....
Hi Scott I am 4 months into my carpentry apprenticeship at 17 years old I am new to the channel love you videos. I am currently doing site work in England (uk) but I eventually would like to make my own company and do refurb work like you.
Glad my videos can be helpful, best of luck John 👍
Good on you John. After being in construction business for nearly 20 years advice i would give you is..
Customers like trades people who neat and tidy . Polite and punctual... if your too busy to do a job tell the customer. They might be diassapointed but will appreciate your honesty. The most valuable asset a business has is its reputation.
Good luck and don't take chances with your safety its not worth it.
@@AbcdEfgh-zp1sn I echo that . As soon as I see someone is messy I assume their work might be . The best carpenters I've seen are always organised , neat and tidy. At 17 you have many years ahead. Most important now is patients and good attitude .
My first Makita was a 12 volt drill. I bought this to drive sheet rock screws on an overhead sheet rock job. Bought in 1986 and used it till the battery couldn't be bought any more. Second was black and decker and wore it out. Third is 18 volt Dewalt drill. Now I want 18 or 40 driver drill. Big improvement over just using any drill for screws and lags. Thanks for your channel.
I remember back in 2003 when i was starting out. I bought my first drill driver, it was a makita 9.6v with 1.3ah nicd batteries.
I also bought a 7.2v makita driver, the one with the long batteries that fitted inside the handle.
I had one of those as well. Great drill
Love this channel, I got into 40 volt as this fella said they are good
I've got alot of the 18v makita, one of the main reasons ill not get the 40v is just the price , I can't justify paying the price just for longer run time
And replacing all of the tools in your collection I’m just the same
completely agree, would love to swap over but straight up can not afford to, plus my 18v gear is still solid, just purchased 3 new 5amp batts and its all go again... plus I have the dual batt 36v circular saw and it is a beast, rips down the guts of wet 8x2 and the like as if its a hot knife through butter... "go the mighty 18v"..!!
Agreed. For the price I can get a lot more 18v batteries, and swapping over is not a huge time killer; especially as it's so easy to tell when the battery is running low.
For the price better off going to another brand, the power you get from 40v not worthed, runtime aint so great onsite what they show on paper or in some videos out there not so accurate, better off staying with 36v atleast have batteries
I can't see many people buying into it for a while, most likely in a few years the price should drop and make more sense
I have mostly 18 volt tools. I love them for work around the house and yard, they do what i need them to do, so ill be staying with 18 volt for now . I don't feel like i need 40 volt for what i do here at home. I do have a 40 volt lawn mower and i love it, it mows my entire yard on one charge. Another great episode, thanks.
I’ve gone the other direction in many ways. I started with 18V, but recently added 12V. I use both - depends on which tools I’m using. The smaller size is really nice for some things. There isn’t really any advantage to higher voltage for low power draw tools. For some tools though, I do use higher voltage - I have some 60V DeWalt and 36V Metabo HPT as well as Makita 36V (2x18V). For things like larger angle grinders, circular saws, etc., the extra voltage gives you more power and/or longer run times.
The Makita coffee maker runs off 18V (or 12V) - wish that one would use 40V too since it eats batteries at 18V.
I upgraded from craftsman to makita 18v about a year ago and use them for renovations around my house and they work great, so wont rebuy them all again anytime soon. I can see why a pro builder would want to upgrade. Thanks as always for sharing!
Shame makita didn't make the 40v system backwards compatible like dewalt did then maybe it would have been more attractive to us to buy knowing that we could use the new batteries on our existing tools and then buy the newer tools as and when we choose to upgrade our tools 😉
There are trade-offs to anything. I’m sure the lack of components required to make it backwards compatible make the design simpler and less expensive. I trust Makita to make the right call
@@ridgewoodgardens6253
If DeWalt can do it then makita should have also
To trust a manufacturer to do the right thing is like asking the wolf to only eat your arm when their hungry!
They are in the business for profit, not for you
The problem is the new battery packs use 21700 cells which makes them too wide to use on the 36v tools. I am invested in the lxt series but leaning towards m12 now, especially like their fuel multi tool.
Even hitachi / hikoki are backwards compatible 18/36v. This is the main reason I may start buying DeWalt, if I need a whole new system and batteries I may as well update older 18v as needed to a DeWalt as well and only need the one battery.
I’ve only been a carpenter professionally for just over a year and invested in makita 18v for my main cordless tools (I have a few other random ones where I just found an insane deal or whatever) but drill, driver, circular saw, multi tool, and a radio lol all makita 18v, so it is disheartening to hear about all this, can’t help but think they are just going to let the 18v range die and any new tool they make will just be 40v :/
Hi Scott, I like the idea of the 40volt, but if I'm to change my Makita 18volt system over then all of the brand's are now open for consideration! It takes longer enough to build up a tool range as it is, I'm staying with my 18volt until most of it dies. Great vids mate👍
Hi Scott, Just some thoughts and musings on these 40v batteries, they call them 40v max (36v under load) in the same way dewalt calls their 18v range 20v max in the US, 20v being the no load voltage, with that said the 2.5ah isn't much an upgrade at all on the 5ah battery, i'll do my best to explain why, to make an 18v battery they join 5 cells in series, if these cells are 2.5ah each then by joining them in series you produce a 2.5ah 18v battery, by adding another row of cells in parralel you end up with a 5ah battery, the maximum power deliverable by the battery is equal to the voltage multiplied by the discharge capability (assume a sony vtc5A and 35A) multiplied by the number of rows in parralel thus a 5ah battery can theoretically ouput 18v x 35A x 2 = 1260W. The 40v (36v under load) has instead of 5 cells in series and two rows in parallel; 10 cells in series and 1 row in parralel the maximum deliverable power now being 36v x 35A x 1 = 1260w.... exactly the same, there is an advantage to using higher voltage and lower current to achieve the same power, the wiring can be thinner, there is less voltage drop through the wiring and they tend to run a bit cooler. As for the big boy batteries they are wired in the same fashion 10 in series and 1 row in parralel (10s 1p) but will (probably) use the much larger cells most likely the 21700 cells, assuming they use a reputable brand such as samsung then the most likely cell is the Samsung INR21700-40T 4000mAh - 35A this being a 4ah cell with a maximum discharge current of 35A, that gives a maximum output power of 1260W hmmmmmmm, so you are entirely correct when you say that the only advantage to the larger batteries is longer runtime, Dewalt's flexvolt system uses a switchable battery that can run at 18v or 54v at 18v they run 5s 3p and in 54v mode they run 15s 1p the 9ah battery uses 3ah 20700 cells most likely the samsung again with a max discharge current of 35A (in the same family of cells it's a general rule that the larger the capacity the lower the discharge capability and vice versa but between the 3ah and 4ah samsung cells the discharge capability seems the same) so at 54v and 35A the maximum output power is 1890W.... however some of the tools are rated close to 2400w so they must be able to handle a peak output of nearly 45A temporarily, applying this this to the Makita Batteries (1.27 x dicharge current) allows a maximum power across all batteries of 1600w in bursts, oh and the Dewalt Dcs 579 absolutely dominat es for ripping, full depth soaking wet pressure treated timber and it just chew it up and spits it out, give it a try if you can!
Thank you for this! I see no reason to swap to 40v before my 18v is wearn down.
Interesting read, thanks!
There are a few things I'd like to comment on though.
The Makita 18v batteries use Samsung 25r cells, rated at 20A max continuous draw. Not the highest in the market but they are loved for their high cycle life.
That's the 5Ah battery, I believe the 3Ah ones did use a Sony cell.
The Sony cells you use in the calculation are rated at 25A continuous, 35A only when using forced cooling..
I haven't seen a teardown of the new 36V batteries yet, but if they indeed use cells that allow such a high continuous draw then I'm very curious why Tools&Stuff got perceivably more power out of his tools when using the 2,5Ah (18650) over the 4Ah (21700) batteries.
C'mon RUclipsrs, who's gonna be the first to dare open one up?! :-)
And one last correction. (I'm sorry if I sound like a jerk (!), I'm really just sincerely interested though..)
The wattage that DeWalt puts on its tools is Unit Watts Out, and has nothing to do with the actual electrical wattage of the tool.
They came up with the calculation for it and as such it really doesn't mean anything.
If the motor would indeed use 2400 Watts then with a 9Ah battery it would have a runtime of just under 4 minutes.
@@sigi9669 thanks for your input, part of the perceived power gain is possibly down to lower losses from using less current 35A is achievable front the vtc5a without forced cooling for short bursts but you are right otherwise, alos its worth poointing out that no tool would run at full power under normal circumstances, I only quote that for a direct comparison between tools
I dont understand why they haven't brought dewalt 20v max to Australia because there is alot of tools we miss out on, ive ended up ordering online some tools and turns out cheaper even with shipping, but they call this 40v max and allow here
Dewalt for framing onsite even fixout dominates onsite, my co-worker got the makita 40v kit don't get me wrong its nice compared to 36v having 2 batteries but it doesn't have the runtime or power.
I'm a diesel mechanic who uses Makita aswell as have a lot of garden Makita for home.. untill they give us mechanics a few more 40v gear I'll have to stick with 18v especially since they just launched the grease gun.. love your vids btw man have been watching for about a year now love seeing all the Makita gear I don't get to use haha
The dropsaw handle placement is very relevant for left handers also.
Saws and I guess power tools in general are not really available in many left handed options, so I have to be ambidextrous, that center handle is a great option.
For anyone who doesn't get it, think about how you'd cope if your angle grinder rotated in the other direction, which direction it kicks in a grab, and where the sparks go. Generally tools are designed to operated safely for being held in right handed orientation, and rotation directions putting force against your stronger muscle direction.
Hey Scott, love your videos!
I think Makita will keep both platforms just like Dewalt has with their 20v/60v in the USA and 18v/54v in all other countries.
I personally think the 18v lines will always have a market with homeowners for small projects that only use the tools once or twice a month.
Meanwhile the 40v Makita or 54v/60v Dewalt will be more appealing to professional builders that want to frame walls for 8 hours a day 7 days a week without a cord.
I'm in the trades I use 18v day in and out.
@@chriswhite6882 i am not saying you can’t. I just think Makita will keep both voltages available and target tradesmen with the 40. Lots of pros around me still use 18v with great results.
homeowners dont really go for makita or the big brands or DIY people they are going for ryobi and rigid and they are getting better and more attention so Miami might not stay in that, but that's more into the future
idk the 18v line is beast still you just have to get the right model they have sgit lxt drill and they have the wrist snappers.
You can have shelter battery packs with 18v, which is good for drills. Not as heavy.
The Canon analogy perfectly illustrates how planned obsolescence combined with hyper-materialism can be a cash cow for corporations. I’m sure all this consumption and waste will have a positive impact on the environment.
Nothing RF gonna make me to sell my EF lenses, I can still take great photos with my 5DsR and a bag of top L lenses.
That is in fact a pretty bad analogy. New Canon lenses are NOT any better than the old ones. They may be more convenient because they are smaller
New higher voltages are a massive improvement for heavy duty applications. I rock the 54v 4amp flexvolt worm drive circ. Rips non-stop. All day. Err day.
All down to price, I'd rather pay less and just charge every day or every other day. If there's a decent power difference then fair enough but I reckon the combi drill and impact driver will work the same
Huge 40v batteries on small drills and impact drivers it's madness, I'm using m18 batteries and tempted to get a few 2amp just for convenience
@@tommyobrien9480 same here, I have 4 & 2 A/HR batteries and normally use the 2amp unless I know I'm going heavy on the drill or driver that day 🤷🏼♂️ always have a spare on charge anyway so it's kind of pointless
I love my dewalt and there flexi system is crazy good, best thing about that is the new 56v battery will auto switch and work on an older 18v system giving crazy runtime, I am shocked makita have limited themselves to creating a stand alone 40v system that can't be utilised across older stuff,
I think Makita will keep the 18V system for the DIY guys and the 40V system for the professional. I'll stick to the 18V system. It would be foolish to throw away the 20+ tools that I have, just because there is something newer (I'm not a pro). Nice video Scott! Greetings from The Netherlands.
I invested basically all the Stihl 40V yard equipment and it's amazing how long those tools run. I get 4-6 ours of continuous work with the hedge clipper, pruning saw, cultivator, whatever. In other words, I'm sold on 40V. Great review!
Cheers for the plug at the end Scott. I'm loving the 40v stuff. I don't grab the 18v stuff much now either. As you say, why would you once you have the 40v. I'm looking forward to trying out the droppy!
You deserve that. Your channel is awesome. I've learned a lot from you, and i have fun watching you 😁
@@TonchoTonev Cheers man, appreciate it.
@@ToolsAndStuffOFFICIAL like your channel too, but I’ve found myself always reaching for my 12v tools (Bosch & Metabo) unless I’m already using another 18v (Bosch, DeWalt or Makita) tool. It’s hard to justify grabbing 18v tools when you grab something
@@thetruth5210 Thanks. Depends what you mostly do I guess. A 12v is rarely up to what I want to use an impact driver for, and I am so used to the extra 1/2kg that it doesn't bother me. I tend to only use a 12v if I have a lot of small screws or I am working in confined spaces. But I also have impact drivers laying around everywhere so it often comes down to which one is closest and has a battery already on it.
You were across the makita 40v stuff before makita were pushing it! Not surprised you are reaching for it. New is always more exciting to reach for. Unless new is crap!
I can see the advantage of both systems...the 40v looking more towards the trade side of things for day in day out usage, and the 18v system to target the DIY market and trades that use cordless tools on a more infrequent basis. Great reviews and honesty as always, keep up the great work!!!! Cheers from Aus!!!!
I have yet to try the 40v stuff, but I use the 36v 7.25" circular every day for work. It's an awesome saw. My work rig is outfitted with tons of corded and cordless tools, but of all the saws my 36v (dual 18v battery) circular is mine and my coworkers favorite.
the 18volt will be great for the home owner that doesnt need extended run time and will cost less
Voltage alone does not determine run time.
@@kimchee94112 I agree, my point was based on lower cost and the home owner not needing extended run time when compared to a builder or construction worker.
If the home owner is after a good tool for cheap they shouldn't be on a cordless platform, they just eat up so much money and if you're only working around the house corded tools are cheap and there's heaps of power around
Milwaukee guy here. All the high demand battery's 3amp,6amp,9amp and 12amp work on all my tools and all the tools that i will buy in the future. Gotta love a platform that doent make you buy a whole other set of tools when they decide to upgrade their battery systems.
FYI, to use the torque setting on the combi drill (the turn dial on the front) you need to put the machine into screw mode. this will then unlock 62 different torque settings.
How can that be when there is nothing to indicate 1-62 😐
I’m on the dewalt platform for everything but The saws because I think makita are top of the class for Saws. I have the 36v rear handle and my chopsaw is 110v, I can’t wait to get that 40v cordless chop saw. That’s the only way I’ll get 40v tools, I want that saw 🤩
Keep up the great work Scot and the crew 👌
thanks for the review. Until my 18 volt batteries give up their magic smoke, I will be waiting on the 40v.
And even then, you can still get hold of third party compatible batteries for your 18v tools.
To my mind it it is all about power output (irrelevant on a drill, vital on saws) and run time.
I'm a filmmaker and when you talked about lenses on canon cameras I was so happy
I will gladly when they come to America, sometime around 2024.
They need to promote and sell all the old 18volt brushed shit to us Americans first!
That’s weird, its been in Canada for like 4 months now
😂😂
You guys can use all those Milwaukee overpriced shit
@@Leeroywantsrx7 Saying Milwaukee is overpriced just shows you're ignorant. Costs is always on par with Makita and DeWalt.
the 40v line looks great but for me a part time handy man 18v does the job just fine i bought a kit of 4 makita brushed tool and they served me well for over 6 years now
I was looking at the new 40v setup in the uk, the 40v drill set (combi drill, impact driver, charger, 2x 2.5ah battery and a toolbag) is £708.
I can pick up a full 18v makita set (circular saw, jigsaw, sds drill, impact driver, combi drill, reciplicating saw, light, 3x ah battery, charger and bag for £800.
especially as a young tradie in the UK, I would be alot more inclined to buy the 18v purely for the factor of price for what you get
I can buy 3x sets of a combi drill and impact drivers for the price of 1 set of 40v drills
I think for now I will be staying with the 18v kit just for the factor of pricing. I am sure the 40v is nice, but the question is, is it nice enough to spend that amount of money on such little
Great video as always scott
For around home handyman and in my workshop a few hours the 18V is perfectly adequate. Runtime isn’t a primary decision criteria. Folks have different “better”. Better for me is smaller and lighter. This also applies to my photography tools.
I can't believe I missed this video for a month! Thanks for covering the new system.
I was talking to a Makita rep at a local store and he pointed out that Makita has already been offering two platforms for tools, the 12v and 18v systems. Based on our conversation I think that the platforms are going to target different job types and users. 12v is already pushed as compact, lightweight, and very sensitive; so it is for fitness work where you don't want to risk damaging your work. 18v will be targeted at hobbyist, residential, and handyman work where you want the middle ground between power and fitness. And that leaves the 40v for contractors and other heavy usages where all-day non-stop usage is the norm.
I think Makita missed a trick not allowing backwards compatibility.
For example, all the 54v dewalt stuff you can use 54v batteries on 18v tools with no adapter, so you can start to move to the 54v stuff but not have to change every tool and battery you own at once.
that's what i have. if they can make an adapter for plug power like the double one for the mitre saw they can get lot of things done. sometimes i need a skill saw powered.
@@n3bux 100% mate I’ve got the flexvolt table saw and I feel like it needs a adapter sometimes
That's what kind of bugs me about this. I am just a consumer, and I buy Makita because it's the only international brand available to me that's both solid and affordable. But the limit of what I can justify buying puts me in their lower range of tools, i.e. the old 18v 2.0Ah batteries. These batteries are small enough that being able to use them between different tools is almost essential, so the fact that I have multiple batteries and tools on that same platform means I can't just go out and spend more money on a new drill, either, as that would not fit into the system I have.
Even if very inefficient to convert, it would be great to have some compatibility between them, just so that if one battery is flat I can just swap another in and it'll work, if only for a few minutes.
As someone who owns DeWalt Flexvolt tools and 18/20v max tools I don’t think I’ve ever used my Flexvolt batteries on my 18/20 max tools. I don’t like putting 5amp batteries on my drill, impact and/or cable stapler, so can’t imagine a reason to ever put one of those heavy beasts on a tool I carry around with me.
Ok
Hey Scott. Great vid. I’m just a home handyman. I really can’t see a compelling reason to leave the 18v system. I can’t really understand why a professional would need more from 18 apart from run time. Happy to be convinced otherwise. Cheers
keep everything up, your a great inspiration to people like me.
Hello
Set the drill to screw mode instead of drill mode to access the digital torque settings.
Great video, cheers!
A word of appreciation to Makita for helping out the SBC crew. Tools are quite the investment, & when a company steps forward, by providing a valuable product, it says job well done. Congratulations guys.
Makita aren't doing that out of the goodness of their heart. They're in the business of selling tools and this will help them do that. You think they would help out a crew that didn't have a social media presence?
I was a Milwaukee fan but this guy got me thinkin Makita BABY!!!
Makita needs to make a 40V blender for camping trips.
That’s Glamping not Camping. Lol
And a sandwich press!
I hope they don't
They need to focus on tools and not spread their r&d all over the place
They’ll need to make an entire cooking range for the upcoming RUclips series, MasterChef Paerau edition
I'm from Washington state in the U.S. and it's not sold over here yet and I already want to upgrade my 18v makita for the 40v system. Not a huge fan of the circular saw cause the blade is one the right instead of the left side lol idk feels weird 😅. Big fan. Keep up the good work man. I'm only 4 years into construction and I'm learning alot from the videos and my time at work! Cheers!
The stored energy in a 40V battery pack is higher.
40V * 4.0Ah = 160 Wh
40V * 2.5Ah = 100 Wh
18V * 4.0Ah = 72 Wh
Yeah and it's barely noticeable when you're using them. I am not increasing any types of speed on my jobsites by upgrading to the 40 volt #facts. The only thing the 40 fold does is take into more profit margins and takes out of my pocket. Makita should have made these batteries universal.
Yep, don't forget you can get aftermarket 18V 9Ah packs which is 162Wh. It's just as big, heavy and powerful as the 40V stuff. The extra voltage is mostly a marketing gimmick.
@@tmmtmm Actually it isn't quite a gimmick otherwise we'd still all be using using 9.6 & 12v. The extra voltage will give extra grunt so could still be useful for those very high grunt tools like grinders, chainsaws, mitre saws etc.. It doesn't justify changing platforms imo and as you say the size and runtime will be just about the same as 18v/9Ah battery.
They're more efficient too,. Less lots to hear do to lower amps
@@tonydaddario4706 negative, you can just wind the motor to draw higher current at the same voltage and get more power. If you ran these 40V tools on 18V they would be significantly less powerful than an equivalent 18V tool for the exact same reason. If voltage mattered, how come tools in 110V north america are just as powerful as the equivalents in 230V countries? Because the motors are wound differently. Sure higher currents mean you need fatter wires between the battery and motor, but I don't feel most 18/40V tools are reaching this point.
Beyond being mostly a marketing gimmick, it seems just about all manufacturers relegate 36/40V for higher power tools (lawnmowers, gardening tools, large saws) and 18/20V for less powerful tools (small drills, impact drivers), since they don't offer small 40V packs it avoids disappointment when consumers buy a high powered tool and suffer a lack of performance because they paired it with a small wimpy battery pack. For some reason, the tool manufacturers have decided that instead of telling the consumers that they need to use a beefy battery to get optimal performance out of higher powered tools, they'd rather avoid the possibility of pairing high powered tools and low powered batteries altogether - there is some merit to this as small battery packs will be stressed out more than large ones at the same power level and perhaps this results in more battery failures.
If you have 18V impact driver there's absolutely no reason to 'upgrade' as the 40V version will be no more powerful and in fact on 40V you will probably be stuck with using unnecessarily large and heavy batteries as the smallest 40V batteries tend to be the same heft as medium to large 18V batts. It's the exact same reason why even lower voltage tools exist - because giving consumers the freedom to pair a tiny battery designed for an electric screwdriver into a lawnmower is probably not the best idea. Lower voltage means less cells in each pack, which reduces complexity and cost and also means that you can make the packs physically smaller for the same capacity since there are less wires and circuit boards in them - this is important if price or compactness is a selling point.
In an alternate universe, perhaps they use 12V and 6V instead of 40V and 18V, just as north america uses 110V mains while other places use 230V :) The choice of voltage is somewhat arbitrary until you get to the point where cables become physically enormous to handle the currents :)
hi from colorado very cold here today good to see about the tools i
use makita tools for 25 years good tools i started out with a 7.5 drill long time ago
If I was still running Makita, I'd just change completely. I went over to DeWalt a few years back and don't regret it. The flexvolt system gives you the option to use the battery in both 18 and 56v tools. Maybe Makita should of made the battery backwards compatible also.
Makita pretty much did with the 36v series using the 18v batteries in pairs.
I’ve always been a makita man
But I find it hard to change to 40 volt when there’s nothing wrong with my 18 volt
Maybe because you had the tools for free is the reason you are using them
I do agree though makita won’t keep the two platforms they needed to upgrade the power because dewalt etc had the 54 volt range and they needed to compete I don’t think the 18 volt will dissapear quickly but maybe 3 to 4 years
Great videos Scott respect from the uk 👍
That's so cool they hooked the guy up, nice one Makita!
Can they hook me up too? Big fan of makita, i have almost 20 of their tools, but not one 40v 😁
Used makita miter saws for several years. 8.5 and a 10. I think both were dropped and suffered the same misalignment as your dewalt. Switched to the dewalt - was much easier to calibrate and stayed true after many trips in any out of the van. Always preferred the makita and festool handle configuration.
I've seen these bigger batteries on Dewalt 52v range. Makes the tools so much heavier. Great for grinder or other really high drain tools but not a good replacement for most IMO
Airlines
This is the max they allow to fly with.
Whereas DeWalts flexvolt is seen as 3 batteries, so can have higher capacity.
I have the Makita X2 36V Circular and Recip Saws. Both awesome tools and look nearly identical to what you showed here. Personally, I prefer those since they're interchangeable with my 18V tools.
Scott I'm very proud and happy for you to get more and more sponsors and support, I have been watching every video of yours for a year now and it's so cool to see you grow bigger
I'm glad to see Makita get some love in other parts of the world. Here in Canada I have never seen a single tradesman carry them. It's either DeWalt or Milwaukee. If this Makita 40v System keeps developing and they pay attention to Steamfitters and Plumbers I may take advantage of their platform.
Makita doesn't make enough relevant tradesman tools that's why. They're appearing to try to sell to home owners with trimmers chainsaws lawnmowers etc. All stuff that gasoline out performs meanwhile milwaukee is making pro press, wire crimpers, wire cutters. Sad.
Scott, I totally see your point with power hungry tools like saws. 40V makes totally sense there. But there are also 12V tools for a reason. I am downsizing a lot of tools, so they are friendlier to my body. I don't want to carry more power around than I need. Those 40V batteries look too beefy to me as a daily driver.
But I'll wait... Maybe one day their new portfolio will convince me.
Regards,
Etna.
P.S.: Honestly, I'd like to buy Metabo because of the hole Cordless Alliance System thing. One battery shared between different toolbrands. In theory, a dream come true. But even with partners is their portfolio just not strong enough to keep up with Makita, Dewalt or Milwaukee.
I like the look of the droppy with the forward rails, but after having many problems with my last 240V Makita droppy I got rid of it and all my Makita, I went to Bosch, I have the 220mm Bosch BiTurbo 18V droppy it's fantastic, cuts through anything including Australian hardwoods like butter, with a 12A battery will go for a week without a charge
Love your videos Scott been watching them since day one. But it’s all fair and well saying you would move over to the 40v system when makita are giving you the tools all day long and sorting you out for the publicity of there product, but as a carpenter myself and having forked out a lot of my hard earned money on makita tools on an 18v platform it’s not so easy to just make the switch. Keep up the good work fella and maybe if your making the switch you could donate your old tools to a struggling young carpenter in your area? Giving back.
I'm glad you kept it in, it's very similar, and think it reflects the companies are not always truthful or clear about stuff, we will stick with the 18v (because currently people have stock of 18v to sell, but when that's done, so are we with 18v). Axminster tools often drop prices in sales, then shortly after bring out an amazing new versions of machines, have learnt my lesson now, sales happen for a reason, and if your lucky that can be good but think about why it might be in sale and be cautious.
When you hear "40v" you think its going to have a lot more Power than the 18v , but when it comes to the Drill and Impact Driver it doesn't , I don't understand that , Why upgrade then ?? I mean I understand the 40v has a lot more run time but the batteries are also heavier than the 18v's , it doesn't make sense to me ....
It makes sense for all the other tools. The 40V 2.5Ah is identical in weight to an 18V 5Ah. But I'm staying with 18V and it is going to continue to be the biggest platform. I also prefer 2Ah batteries on drills/impacts and you can't have that on 40V as you must have 10 cells to get the voltage.
Yep... I wouldn't replace either. I could see having a more powerful hammer drill or driver in addition, but not as my go-to tools. Subcompact drill/driver for 95% of tasks.
Yeah Fekillix is right. I think in drills you dont really need a whole lot more power and so maybe using them you dont consider it but using the saws in the 40v is awesome!! Didnt know the boys were getting a drop saw, im jealous.
yes for tools that don't need that kind of power it makes sense to stay with 18v for weight reasons. The 36v or 40v systems cannot do slim batteries because you need to double the number of battery cells at a minimum to hit that voltage.
40V? Pffft... I'm gonna wait a bit longer until they come up with a 240V battery system. Until then, for stuff like drilling a 30mm hole through 15cm of concrete, or any tool above 500W i'll stay with the old angry pixies plumbing system.
I prefer horizontal handle vs vertical handle on a miter saw. I own DeWalt, Festool and Milwaukee, so I have experience with both.
Great video Scott.
And good for Makita for taking care of a long time user with a gift of new tools.
I am now very tempted by the Makita 40v.
haha thanks for the Skillshare shoutout
wow, did not expect to see you here!
Same
Mcdonalds ads on tv aren't 'shoutouts' and neither is this, they're paid ads.
I love the review of the Makita product, and in the background there is a DeWalt Tablesaw and a Milwaukee droppy 👍👍, good on Makita for helping out Paerau, so they should it cost's them nothing for all the free advertising you give them 👍👍🦘🦘
The 40v should be interchangeable with the 18v. Just like the flex volt are on DeWalt
And Multivolt is to... whatever that company's name is at the moment, lol.
But then makita would have to compromise somewhere, it’s like when canon changed to EOS system, a completely new system is better in the long run.
What I love about the DeWalt flex volt is the way that the 54v batteries can be used in 18v tools. I've just bought a DeWalt vacuum and that needs 54v batteries. From now on, I'm only going to buy 54v batteries but I would still buy 18v tools.
Keep up the sick work man i watch all of youre viids im an apprentice from england but still love the vids 💪💪💪
Have used the LXT platform exclusively for years have loads of different bits of kit however you have my attention with that chopsaw and have always preferred Makita and Festool pistol grip for mitre saws!!
I really hope they keep the 18 v system I just started my business and bought a lot of 18 v makita tools for me it would be a bad thing if they stop making and improving the 18 v range
They wont. Atleast not in the near 10-15 year. The sign for this is that they are continuing to release new tools in 18v series
Hi Scott, thanks for all your content, it is really enjoyed and informative. As a general contractor, "handyman in the UK". Cheap corded power tools suffice on site having to employ a laborer here and there, the most amazing thing is I have "Erbauer 12v" first "Screwfix" generation impact and drill and I can get 2 months of service out of a single charge.
Great video , 100% Makita guy , I'll be sticking to 18v , I have plenty of spare batteries and a spare charger even, can't see myself upgrading to be honest. Regards from England
Less finger amputations.
Hey Scott. I've invested 1000's in the 18v system and am very happy with them. I might consider buying the 40v heavy duty power tools like a consaw or demolition hammer drill. 40v x2. (80v) Time will tell.
The 40 could replace 18 amongst professionals, with the 18s becoming the new prosumer/consumer option.
Got a 40v impact from Makita rep here in Canada where I live. Great tool- will definatly purchae 40v tool from now on if they intice with price dropping!
Yeah Stoked Paerau got new tools top man Scott and makita. Who owns the 40v chop saw?
As a homeowner who needs to do homeowner stuff and hobby projects, 18 volt cordless drills/impact and other small tools + corded for things that need a high draw makes more sense. In fact, I have a 12 volt Bosch drill/impact that I reach for more often than the 18 volt.
My interest in the 40 volt /2x 18 volt situation is the Makita lawn & garden tools. Knowing that 40 volt was coming out is part of why we've waited on buying the Makita string trimmer. Those batteries are a big investment, and I want to know how the lawn tool situation is going to shake out.
Additional homeowner perspective: construction crews who are *not* running a gas generator to power their cordless tools are beautiful people who deserve nice things. I swear to god I'm going to start sugaring the gas tanks of the four man yard crews with their gas powered leaf blowers.
Holding out for the 120v
Fairplay to makita for supplying the gear .
Ive always found there products very good no complaints.
Not used the new system yet just be if the new battery is to heavy therefore out of ballance.
Justin brickright 👍
Interesting topic, thanks for making it. However I'm most curious on how the power is and the weight. To be fair for most drill applications 18v works just fine and swapping a battery isn't an issue for me. What is an issue is power when it comes to saws and weight. I'd love more info on that. Att this point I see no reason to totally wear down my 18v system till 40v is grown up.
Hi, Scott Thanks for the great videos I really like your content and style, also it very refreshing to hear a Kiwi accent rather than all the normal American.
I'm an electronics engineer travelling around NZ since the 1980s. I've been buying Makita power tools both for work and home use I only have Makita power tools now. I've just started to build my own house on a lifestyle block near Nelson, I been working on the property for 5 years and for many jobs I've had to carry a petrol generator to do some jobs. At the start of this year, I made the commitment to completely ditch all internal combustion engines by the end of 2021 and be completely electric and off-grid.
I'm still using my first cordless 9.6-volt Nicad battery drill, I have some 12-volt tools just because they are lighter and when you are down a 30-metre vertical shaft and need power tools, weight is very important. I have over 40 tools that take 18-volt batteries most 18-volt some 36-volt. I have just bought a 40-volt 6 piece kit. I will be buying more power tools as I need them and they become available.
So I will not be replacing all my old battery tools with 40-volt, instead, I will be running 4 different Makita battery systems but I will be able to replace all my AC power tools, with the 40-volt range.
Why invest in 40v when the 36v by 2x18v gives nearly the same power for the tools you really need it on and the convenience of being on 1 system. I understand circ saw, but do you really want the weight on an impact.?
I suspect literally the same power. Probably they just rounded up 36 to 40 the same way some manufacturers round up 18 to 20.
@@TheAracoin I think that's right, I bought a Makita 36 volt sds around eight years ago.
@@TheAracoin It is just 36v. Many, perhaps most, companies are doing this trick. A freshly charged battery will get up to 40v but quickly drop to 36v but 40v looks better for marketing. Dishonest IMO.
@@apsilonblue Yup, I just found disassembly, it's 10 cells. I wonder why they claim 40V as max. I thought all Li-ion cells get up to 4,2-4,25V. "We are misrepresenting, but only up to 4V. 4,2V is too much".
It takes advantage of uninformed customer, that just wants to buy a tool, not become electronics engineer. I wonder where is the line. I just checked dewalt website for 120V tools and there is disclaimer "Maximum initial battery voltage is 120 volts. Nominal voltage is 108." I bet most people won't read it...
I got sick of using corded tools (as a DIYer). Decided on Makita, and started with a hammer drill and impact driver kit. Got a bonus 5ah battery via a redemption. Got a 2x18v blower for the garden, bonus 5ah battery. Was going to buy some new tools last week, (router, circular saw) ryobi diy grade stuff, but the Makita 18v skins were an acceptable premium so i opted for those since i already had enough batteries. I couldnt justify the extra for a sliding mitre saw though since it will never move from the garage so that one is still corded.
Conclusion: 18v platform is plenty good enough for the DIYer. There is still the 2x18v platform for stuff that needs extra power that doesnt need different batteries.
I’ll switch to the 40v system when my 18v impact driver dies. I’ve had it 10 years and it’s still going strong, I haven’t even gone brushless yet...
You'll be amazed at the difference when you do upgrade
I'm a 18v and 12v user and I have to say, depending on your reasons for using the tools I think they all have their place in someones lineup.
For me personally I need a bit more of a light touch so the 12v stuff is ideal. Light and very compact with a really good level of control. and when I want to just smash in large screws the 18V works too.
A very underrated tool is there 12V SDS drill. really really light so if you're up a ladder putting in loads of holes for rawl plugs you really dont want a massive heavy drill.
For you the 40V system is great as you always buy the top end versions but it'll be a long time before the range of tools they make for the 40v will catch up enough to allow everyone from DIYers through to pro tradespeople access them for all the different budgets.
Got to say though the 40V Drop saw looks amazing and I'm seriously contemplating it even though I've always wanted the Kapex.
Hi Scott - Whilst I do like the Makita - I have found the 'oompf' in the DeWalt 54volt range to be pretty impressive.
I have used both and own makita products I agree with you there’s is more ‘oompf’ with Dewalt but makita is very smooth and reliable
A couple of years ago I brought the 36v Blower, Chain Saw and Rotary drill and Makita dumped the 36v single battery for twin 18v
Plus the 36v battery cost $280
Hey Scott I Love 2 watch you, its very interessting how u build Houses diffrently against germany ;)
U do a nice job :)
One thing I like about the 18 V is you can have a much lighter battery. Soemtimes when running my multitool or grinder, I like have a lighter weight battery. Also helps with a space thing. I was using my multitool under a bathroom sink holding it over my Head. Arm fatigue is real.
Think I'll stick with the 18v for me, 40v is way to expensive at the moment.
Also what I was thinking, they already had 12v, if anything is going away it would be that one. Looks like 40v is more for the professionals
@@NanneWielinga I use 18v tools and my brother is a huge 12v fan his biggest reasoning is for more compact tools, and the fact they're alot lighter than their 18\36\40v counterparts
I’m glad you’re busy enough to be able to switch platforms. I’m a home gamer and stuck on the DeWalt 20 volt platform. There are some things about it that irritate me, like run time, cost of decent size batteries, but not enough to sell tools that work at a substantial loss so I can spend more money on the latest and greatest.
At least with the Dewalt you can move across to the Flexvolt system and still use your 20v tools.
I'll switch as soon as Makita sends me a pallet of 40's I'm broke:-)
Metabo HPT/Hikoki uses the 36V system and batteries can be used in both 18V and 36V tools plus you can get the AC adapter for your longer running tools like table saw, mitre saw, grinder, large hammer drills etc
Since I got my Kapex, I've come to appreciate the handle and why it's designed that way, but the ergonomics of the sideways dewalt style handle will always feel nicer to me.
@Scott Brown Carpentry
. Thanks Scott for your opinions and experience with Makita's new 40V tools. I like to hear the opinions and experiences of people in the trades with tools especially long term. We all have different needs, expectations, and experiences and it may be that Makita wanted to wait and get things right in their mind before coming out with their 40V line. Makita 18V LXT is my main cordless platform but I also have tools from Ridgid, Dewalt, and Milwaukee. Here in the US, I hear we are spoiled with sales so I've been able to add to my tool crib as the various sales and needs come up.
Hope you, Pareau, Rich, and your families stay safe and well.
Maybe 18v is the “new” consumer level while the 40v is the new professional level.
My thoughts exactly. I want to DIY using very good tools, but not necessarily top tier ones.
This is where I am. I wanted good tools, but as a home gamer I don’t need, or want spend the extra for, 40v. I see this the same as there is 12v and the various “levels” of 18, you pick what you need and can afford for any given tool.
Depends on the tool. A drill can be best at 12v for professional. Maybe instead look for Dewalt flexsystem.
Nope, most pros still use 18v and will probably stick with them, especially the older guys who don't like change. The 18v will still build homes just fine and they have built a ton, I even use my makita 7.2v pin drives a lot, I have the driver and impact version, they are light and great for repair work, I upgraded the cells though.
@@The_Story_Channel That doesn't change anything mikethk just said...