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LXT Lithium-Ion battery and optimum charging system produces 280% total lifetime work with 2x more cycles. Compact design at only 9 7/8in. length and weighs only 4.9 lbs. for less operator fatigue. Cordless: Yes, Volts: 18, Rated RPM: 0 - 1,700, Variable Speed: Yes, Torque (in./lbs.): 560, Hammering Modes: Hammering ONly, Hammering with Rotation, Chuck Size (in.): 1/2, Tool Length (in.): 9 7/8, Tool Weight (lbs.): 4.9, Battery Included: (2) 18V LXT Lithium, Charger Included: Yes, 45 Minute, Case Included: Yes
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Technical Details
- LXT Lithium-Ion battery and optimum charging system produces 280% more lifetime work with 2x more cycles.- 3-speed design produces 25% faster working speed with more efficiency-inch a wider range of applications
- Shift Lock Driver System quickly shifts from in hammer drill-inch to in driver-inch mode with one touch
- Ergonomic shape fits like a glove with even pressure and easy control
- Compact design at only 9-7/8-inch length and weighs only 4.9-pounds for less operator fatigue
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By Peter Mitchell
The Makita BHP451 is the top of the Makita 18 volt lithium-ion powered hand drill lineup and despite its 2 speed gearbox should provide great performance. Overall it is a very good drill but the chuck is not the best (compared to Bosch or DeWalt) and the speed ranges are also less than optimum. It has 0-450 and 0-1700. For most tasks a 0-600, 0-1000, 0-2000 options like the DeWalt DCD970/940 drills works much better. The Makita BHP451 has in effect a low ranges and moderate high range.
The drill chuck has significant runout for a new drill and not nearly as good as those from DeWalt, Milwaukee, or Bosch with Bosch being in a league of its own. The chuck tends to hold drill bits well so long as they are smaller than 3/8" or 10mm. When using larger drill bits or hole saw arbors if there is any vibration the chuck will loosen to the point that the bit or arbor falls out. This is when the DeWalt self-tightening chuck makes a real difference as it never lets go.
The second side handle can be rotated to any position like the DeWalt and Bosch drills and this makes it a lot more valuable when you really do need two hands to control the drill. The 90 degree side mount of the Milwaukee and Ridgid drills provide a lot less support for the drill.
I like the integrated drilling depth stop of the Makita. This is something that should be standard for all hammer drills but is usually omitted entirely -- you cannot even add one later if you want to with the hammer drills from DeWalt and Milwaukee).
The batteries charge in roughly 30 minutes on average and this is in the middle range as far as the other lithium-ion batteries and charger combinations from other manufacturers. A lot is made of how fast a battery recharges which misses the point. If the drill and battery are up to the task the battery will last and not require frequent recharging during the day. Faster charge times are likely to shorten the useful life of the battery so I for one would rather wait 10 more minutes and get an extra year or two of use out of the battery. Makita recommends that their 3 Ah batteries be charged and then left on the charger of another hour to cool them down before reusing them.
Battery charge life is greatly influenced by the hole cutter that is used - much more so than most people realize. I did a quick test by first charging the drill to 100% and then cutting a single 2" hole in 1-1/8" plywood and then timed how long it took to get the battery back up to full charge. By the time the hole has been cut, which took about 45 seconds, the wood was smoking. It took more than 20 minutes to get the battery back to a full charge. Using the Makita drill and a Blue Boar TCT hole cutter (my favorite hole saws) I cut a second 2" hole in the same board and it took only 4 seconds and the battery charge was hardly affected at all.
There are what my own experience has shown to be exaggerated claims on available drill torque and battery charge times while at the same time the manufacturers without exception don't appreciate how much the right hole cutter will improve the performance of their drills. They will rate their drills at 2" maximum hole saw size in wood or 1-7/8" with a self feed drill bit while missing entirely that the drills can make 6" holes with a modern big gullet hole saw (like the Blue Boar TCT or Milwaukee Big Hawg or Bosch TCHS) or even 10" diameter holes in TJI or wood with an adjustable hole cutter (like the ones from Hole Pro).
BLUE BOAR 3" (76mm) Super Duty Universal TCT 2-1/4" deep tungsten carbide hole saw cuts more materials faster than any other hole saw. Hard RA 90-91 carbide teeth for faster cutting and longer life, ultra deep side gullets for faster plug removal
Hole Pro X-230 Kit: 1-7/8" to 9" Infinitely Adjustable Twin Blade Hole Saw Cutter 3" 4" 5" 6" 7" 8" 9" Hole Wood Sheetrock Plaster Fiberglass Plastic MDF Cement Board. Use ¼ Torque of Hole Saw to Cut Twice As Fast
Milwaukee 49-56-9050 4-5/8-Inch Big Hawg Hole Cutter
Bosch HTC300 3-Inch 76mm TCHS Hole Saw
Many of the complaints about cordless drill performance are based on real experience but often without the user realizing that they were not using the drill so as to get the most performance possible from the tool. Cordless drills that depend upon a battery for power cannot be used the same way as a corded drill plugged into an outlet and get the same level of performance. The drawbacks of using a cordless drill can be largely overcome by using them with a bit more finesse and using modern hole cutters. I can make a larger hole in inch thick subflooring using an 18 volt cordless drill like the Makita BHP451 than I can using a bi-metal hole saw with a 15 amp corded stud drill.
People should focus less on "what is the best cordless drill" and more on what are best hole cutters to use with a cordless drill. They would save themselves money and time and aggravation. There is no best cordless drill as there are strengths and weaknesses with every manufacturers products and it is really a matter of what features are most important and which flaws you can easily overlook. Fortunately there is intense competition and as a result all the cordless tools keep getting better and better. For light duty use the Milwaukee 2602 (not the 2602CT) is a great drill and for heavy duty use the DeWalt drills cannot be beat but for Makita fans and light to medium jobs the BHP451 is a good performer.
By Sandman (USA)
Had a plethora of brands and models available from a group of volunteer crew (fathers) over a month-long set-building project for our kids' musical.
I'm an Engineer, and do a lot of projects on the side, but had never invested in a true 'construction' quality drill. My $50 B&D finally stopped holding much of a charge after a year or so of hard use so I took advantage of the opportunity to borrow and use every other drill present.
The friend with his "contractor-quality" Makita was quite proud of the price tag on his new Lithium driver, and I'll admit based solely on the battery tech and ergonomics, and reputation for eventually fixing problems within warranty - which he'll apparently need - I give it a hearty 3-stars.
That's about where it ends, though.
It continually lost grip in the chuck on drill bits and drivers with quick changes.
I tend to work fast once I'm 'in the zone' and had need to rapidly kick into reverse and back into drive, and the Makita transmission kept making grindy noises and not wanting to quickly engage.
Basically, it was frustrating to have a drill that promised so much and turned out to be less than it could be, and felt like it wasn't quite as polished and solid as a professional-level tool should be.
Comparatively, the cheaper B&D's, a Craftsman 18V, and a generic NiCad were all noticeably of a bit less hefty and quality build, but performed about the same as this Makita other than the obvious longer legs of the Lithium battery and extra power from the bigger motor, I'm just not sure the extra $300 is worth it until they do a line redesign. Feels like they rushed things a bit to get out the door with a Lithium model.
*BTW - The clear winner of the bunch during our project was a year-old Panasonic NiMH that just kept on working like a tank, and had a solid grip on any bit, instant response to exactly where you pull the trigger, quick change of direction with no noises or loose feel anywhere. In fact, I need to search for that drill on here and write up a 5-star review for it while I'm online. I am looking forward to seeing what the newer Lithium-Ion power can do for that dependable Panasonic design.
By L. Svardal (Sacramento, Ca)
While not used in a contractor setting, used pretty much daily building decks and such. After two years the transmission/clutch went out. Makita wouldn't warranty as I could not find the original invoice, only the credit card statement from Mastercard. The quality is just not there and with other better alternatives would not buy Makita again.
By Buddyjay
I do contracting work and have had many power drills in the past. This one's the best so far.
I had a DeWalt for many years and it was a good drill. But this one had the li-ion batteries and is a little lighter mainly because of the li-ion battery.
Charges fast and I can interchange the batteries with other Makita power tools.
Great purchase.
By M Benson (chicago)
I run a small construction company in the Chicago area. My DeWalt 18V hammer/driver passed away(6yrs old) and I needed a new drill pronto. I purchased this drill from a local box store about 3 years ago. I use the drill daily on the job. Since I purchased the drill it has been in for service 3 times!!! All 3 times the transmission and the clutch were replaced. B4 Christmas, once again, the transmission burned up. The battery charger sounds like a 747 taking off; I later learned the noise is present due to the charger being defective. The molded case is one of the worst I've seen in 16 yrs in the construction industry. My case is literally held together with duct tape. This tool will probably suffice for the weekend warrior but for a professional it sucks (unless you like to wait 3 weeks out of every year to have it serviced)!! I picked up the new Panasonic 21.6V and must say it is far SUPERIOR to the makita.
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