You can take things apart and put them together at any jobsite with these cordless combo tool kits from Makita. Drill and fasten, cut and grind, and do it all by flashlight if you like! You’ll inspire tool envy in all the neighbors. These kits are targeted at homeowners and do-it-yourselfers.Let’s look at these two kits and see which one will be the best for you.
Makita XT601 18-volt LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Combo Kit, 6-Piece
The XT601 is the newer version of the LXT601 kit described below. Everything is typical Makita-style: comfortable to use, durable, and well-designed, if a little underpowered compared to competitors’ tools.
Saws and angle grinders are very useful when it’s time to take things apart. This kit contains a 6-1/2-inch circular saw, a reciprocating saw, and a 4-1/2-inch cut-off angle grinder. The circular saw is Makita’s XSS02Z. It has a 2-1/4-inch cutting depth and it bevels up to 50 degrees. The reciprocating saw is the XRJ03Z with a 1-1/8-inch stroke and a top speed of 2900-strokes-per-minute. The angle grinder is the XAG01Z. It grinds at 10,000rpm and has overload protection to keep the motor from burning out on a tough job.
Putting things together is easy with the hammer drill and impact driver in this kit. The driver is the XDT04Z, with two variable speed settings from 0-2300rpm and 0-3200rpm, and up to 1420-inch-pounds of torque. This means it can drive a wide range of fasteners into many different materials without breaking a sweat. It comes with an on-board LED light, a nice touch that illuminates exactly where it’s working. The hammer drill is the XPH01Z, with a half-inch chuck, and two variable speed settings from 0-400rpm and 0-1500rpm.
The kit includes a final tool: a flashlight that lasts up to 4 hours on a charge. It has a super-bright Xenon bulb and a head that locks into four different positions. It is the same light as in the LXT601 kit described below.
More features of the Makita XT601 kit
- Contains the XPH01, XRJ03, XSS02, XDT04, XAG01Z, and BML185 tools, the DC18RC 30-minute rapid charger with STAR protection technology, and two BL1830 18V lithium-ion batteries
- The soft-sided contactor bag that holds all the tools has wheels as well as a shoulder strap
- Makita offers a 3-year limited warranty on the tools, batteries, and the charger
Makita LXT601 18-Volt LXT 6-Piece Lithium-Ion Cordless Combo Kit
Don’t knock this kit just because it’s been around for a few years. It may not have the latest tools but it does have a proven track record. Think “oldies but goodies” when you see what’s included below.
The hammer drill is the BHP452Z, with a chuck that accepts up to ½” bits and has two variable speed settings. The maximum torque is 450 inch-pounds and the maximum blows-per-minute are 22,500. It has an all-metal transmission and a built-in LED light aimed at where the drill is working. The variable speed impact driver is the BTD141Z. Its maximum torque is 1330 inch-pounds at 2300 rpm.It also has a built-in LED light. Both of these tools are XPT-rated resistant to moisture and dust.
As for the saws, the BSS611Z circular saw uses 6-1/2-inch blades and cuts 2-inch material at 45 degrees. The reciprocating saw is the BJR182Z which has a maximum of 2900 strokes-per-minuteand has a 1-1/8-inch stroke. It can cut up to 5-1/8” in pipe and 10” in wood. The angle grinder is the BGA452Z with a 4-1/2” disk that hits 10,000rpm. It has overload protection to keep the motor from burning out.
Of course, let’s not forget the flashlight. It goes for 4 hours on a charge and runs off the same batteries as the rest of the tools.
More features of the Makita LXT601 kit
- Includes theBHP452Z,BTD141Z, BSS611Z, BJR182Z, BGA452Z and BML185 tools, as well as two BL1830 18V lithium-ion batteries and the DC18RC 30-minute rapid charger with STAR protection technology
- The soft-sided contactor bag that holds all the tools has wheels as well as a shoulder strap
- Makita offers a 3-year limited warranty on the tools, batteries, and the charger
Recommendation
The older LXT601 kit has many reviews updated by owners who have been using the tools for years and are still satisfied with them. If you prefer to buy tools with lots of positive reviews, get this kit.
The newer XT601 kit includes all the same types of tools but with updated models. Oddly, it still contains the older batteries and charger that are in the older kit. If you like to have newer tools to avoid problems with servicing and parts replacement down the road, get this kit.
Click here to purchase Makita XT601 on Amazon!
Click here to purchase Makita LXT601 on Amazon!