A 4-pole motor manufactured by Makita produces 480 in.lbs. of maximum torque and 290 in.lbs. of peak torque.
The variable 2-speed (0-400 & 0-1,500 RPM) motor can be used for a wide variety of drilling and driving tasks.
At only 7-9/16″ in length, this design is both compact and ergonomic.
Reduces operator fatigue by weighing only 3.8 lbs. when equipped with a battery.
The work area is illuminated by an integrated L.E.D. light with an afterglow.
Designed for a wide range of drilling and driving applications, the Makita 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 1/2″ Driver/Drill (model XFD01) offers increased power, improved performance, and improved ergonomics in a compact package. The 18V Lithium-Ion series, powered by an 18V Lithium-Ion slide-style battery, is part of Makita’s growing 18V Lithium-Ion product line, which includes the world’s largest cordless tool line-up. The Makita 18V LXT battery has the quickest charge time in its class, allowing the battery to spend more time working and less time charging while on the job. A 4-pole Makita motor with larger front end ball bearings powers the XFD01, which produces 480 in.lbs. of max torque and 290 in.lbs. of PTI torque at full load. XFD01’s planetary gear system and transmission are engineered for increased durability while remaining in a more compact size, resulting in an overall length of 7-9/16″ and a weight of only 3.8 lbs (with battery). The XFD01 has 16 clutch settings and a 2-speed all-metal transmission (0-400/0-1,500 RPM), allowing it to be used in a wide variety of situations. Increased comfort on the job is provided by an improved ergonomic design that includes a new rubberized soft grip, and the built-in LED light illuminates the drilling surface for applications in dark spaces and close quarters. The XFD01 is designed for a wide range of drilling and driving applications, and it is particularly well suited for HVAC, electrical, plumbing, remodeling, woodworking, and other similar tasks and projects. The combination of power and performance in a small package makes it an excellent choice for any tool user who requires a best-in-class engineered cordless driver-drill that is lightweight and portable.
This is an excellent drill. My drill came equipped with two 3.0Ah batteries as well as a convenient charger. The drill has a lot of torque, especially when used at a low speed setting. Despite the fact that it is not particularly lightweight (4lbs), it is well-balanced and feels comfortable in my hand. It is “taller” than some other drills I have used (9.75″), which is primarily due to the battery size (adds nearly 2″). It is significantly shorter than most drills (7.5″ from the face of the chuck to the back of the housing). The battery life is excellent, and the charger is lightning fast, so you should never have to worry about having to wait for a battery to charge.
I really didn’t want a drill with a keyless chuck in the first place. Most of the time, I find that they do not grip a round shanked bit sufficiently. Due to the fact that I was unable to locate an equivalent drill that had a keyed chuck, I decided to gamble on this Makita XFD01. That said, I must say that this keyless chuck is quite good. A small V-groove is cut into each of the three jaws of the chuck, resulting in a total of six “ridges” of contact between the jaws and the drill shank. With its large grip area and the fact that the drill motor does not spin when the chuck is tightened, you can get the chuck quite tight without exerting too much effort.
The light is in working order. It is placed in such a way that the tip of the bit is less than 2″ from the face of the chuck, and as a result, the bit tip will be in shadow.
The only thing that bothers me is the wobble. The chuck, or the shaft on which it is mounted, may be to blame, but when you chuck up something as small as a 6″ spade bit, the tip of it engraves a circle with an approximate diameter of 3/32″ when the bit is chuck up. Even though this isn’t a huge deal, it is disconcerting to see such a lack of precision in what otherwise appears to be a very well-made drill.
