Makita Cordless XGT Sanders

[Tom the Remodeler]

I want to share what I think is a rather clever design Makita came up with for their 40V XGT line of sanders. Specifically, it's an adapter that connects the tool to the battery via a length of cord (either 1.6m or 5m), meaning that the tool feels/handles like a traditional corded sander (without the weight/bulk of a battery pack), but with the benefit of using any size of the Makita 40V XGT batteries, presumably even the 8Ah battery, if you were so inclined.

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The sanders also feature the AWS bluetooth chip, so they'll automatically trigger the Makita vacuum (corded or cordless).

Makita had these sanders on display at Fensterbau-Frontale back in March, though it doesn't appear that they've been released for sale yet.

Here is the promo video from Makita:

Anyways, I thought it was a clever way to produce a cordless tool with specifically ergonomic/handling needs, without resorting to a proprietary battery platform or other compromise.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Clever yes but I’d like to know more about dust extraction.

 

[smorgasbord]

When I look at them, all I see is Makita put the cord back onto a previously cordless tool. But, maybe there’s some overall weight savings not having the AC-DC converter.

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

When I look at them, all I see is Makita put the cord back onto a previously cordless tool. But, maybe there’s some overall weight savings not having the AC-DC converter.

Hi Smorgasbord,

It is my understanding that these are brand-new tools specifically designed for use with the 40V batteries, rather than a repurposed corded tool. What I think is clever is that rather than shoehorning the battery onto the tool, they simply use the battery as a remote power supply with no meaningful downsides.

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

Clever yes but I’d like to know more about dust extraction.

Hi Michael,

Based on what I saw at Fensterbau, dust collection was on par with the current generation of Festool and Mirka sanders. The demo machine was connected to the Makita GCV04 40V cordless vacuum via a 28mm hose.

 

[smorgasbord]

It is my understanding that these are brand-new tools specifically designed for use with the 40V batteries, rather than a repurposed corded tool.

Well, first, I actually said they put the cord back on a cordless tool, not that they changed a corded tool to have a different cord.

But, either way, you gotta see the humor in this to some degree, no? It's Makita going full-circle: going from a corded tool to a cordless tool, then adding a cord back to the cordless tool because the battery is too heavy.

What's next? Taking out the cord they put back because they found a way to make the battery smaller/lighter?

Everything old is new again, etc. etc.

 

[six-point socket II]

It’s a neat way to not have to worry about balancing/ countering the weight of the battery. Still work - to some extend - “cordless”, and even with the largest batteries.

Probably not exactly mass market focussed, but will definitely find it’s users.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[squall_line]

It's almost like the Milwaukee DC -> AC adapter, but tool-specific.  Not sure how I feel about that either way.

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

Hi Smorgasbord,

My bad, I had assumed it was a typo.

Yes, it is funny how things can come full-circle.

Years ago I was terribly skeptical of cordless tools, particularly their cold-weather performance since I was often stuck working outdoors in conditions where the batteries would fail or have prohibitively short usable life.

These days, I'm incredibly fortunate to be primarily working in my Shop, so corded/cordless is a non-issue there.

However, when I'm on-site, cordless is becoming a real benefit. Much of the work I'm producing these days is round/arch/elliptical-top wood storm doors, which usually means I'm working on old homes that, if they do have an exterior electrical outlet, it's in the back yard, so I'd wind up stringing 200' of electrical cord to get to the front of the home. In that situation, cordless can really be an asset.

Another example would be last week, where my indoor work coincided with the electrician randomly disabling different circuits as he replaced all of the existing ungrounded outlets with grounded. If I had been counting on corded tools, I would have needed to jockey extension cords trying to find a live circuit, or run my generator outdoors and feed an extension cord into the home.

Anyways, everybody is going to have different needs/wants, and this particular solution obviously wouldn't be correct for everybody, but I think it's clever nonetheless. I've been really happy with my Makita LXT battery tools, looking forward to adding their XGT line to the inventory, starting with the GCV-04.

 

[rvieceli]

I can see the advantage and keep the sander lighter and more ergonomic. The addition of two different lengths on the battery pack cable is also well thought out. the 1.6m is nice for clipping to your belt and the 5m corresponds to a vac hose length so you can pop it next to the vac.

Sort of reminds me of the battery and filter packs for PAPR helmets/hoods

Ron

 

[Cheese]

That's certainly an interesting idea... [smile]...unfortunately, Milwaukee tried that approach 51 years ago and it wasn't very well received.  [sad]

Here's a page from the Milwaukee Tool catalog circa 1973. This battery powered, portable tool concept was introduced at least several years earlier.

Check out the 48-11-0050 battery, it was rated at 32 amp hours which equals 384 Wh, or the equivalent of 4 each 18V/5.2 Ah batteries. So that single lead acid battery did power the tools for a full day of work.

The photo of the worker using the RA drill and the Sawzall, looks to me like it was taken in the mid to late 60's. So maybe we're actually pushing 60 years ago. Interesting at any rate...how everything repeats.

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[Tom the Remodeler]

That's certainly an interesting idea... [smile]...unfortunately, Milwaukee tried that approach 51 years ago and it wasn't very well received.  [sad]

Here's a page from the Milwaukee Tool catalog circa 1973. This battery powered, portable tool concept was introduced at least several years earlier.

Check out the 48-11-0050 battery, it was rated at 32 amp hours which equals 384 Wh, or the equivalent of 4 each 18V/5.2 Ah batteries. So that single lead acid battery did power the tools for a full day of work.

The photo of the worker using the RA drill and the Sawzall, looks to me like it was taken in the mid to late 60's. So maybe we're actually pushing 60 years ago. Interesting at any rate...how everything repeats.

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[attachimg=3]

Hi Cheese,

"Everything old is new again", right?? I'd suggest that the Milwaukee product you linked strikes me as more of a generator replacement than anything.

Interestingly, Milwaukee (and most of the other major brands) are taking another swing at the portable power supply you linked, with the Milwaukee products being marketed as "Carry-On" power supplies. The M18 version takes 4x 18V batteries, and delivers 1800W continuous 120V AC power (3600 watts peak): https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Batteries-and-Chargers/Power-Supplies/2845-20

Makita has a similar system, with an inverter that clips to the Systainer/MakPac system, and in turn accepts power from a few battery sources to produce portable power. I usually haul around a Honda 3000watt generator, would love to swap it out for one of these battery options....

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[smorgasbord]

There are lots of "battery generators" around, but it's got to be inefficient to convert DC battery voltage to 110 AC only to have the tool convert the AC back to its internal DC. Makita's external battery solution has to be both lighter and more efficient.

And I'm sure they'll eventually have a waist pack you can wear with the battery that plugs into an upcoming variety of different "cordless" tools.

They just need to change the name from "cordless" to "AC cordless" or something....

 

[glass1]

Cool idea. Makita should take it a step farther. The dust collectors should be built in “battery banks” Plug the cord and dust collection right into them. The cords are not just the issue in the usa its the available power that’s limited on jobsites with a packed jobsite. I like this idea. Make all new tools dc voltage.  The dust collector/battery bank is 18/36 volts out. It has an ac plug that feeds thru when there is power and also charges the batteries. This could be achieved especially with the battery ban in a systainer than rides on top. But…. Not a built in battery to make sense it would have to run off the current xgt batteries, so one could use your batteries from the your tools.

 

[smorgasbord]

New video (from Down Under) just dropped on these Makita sanders:

BTW, Look at that XGT battery on its belt clip!
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[Kev]

Waiting for these to hit Oz. I avoided the cordless Festool sanders when they came out as I figured that needing a vac made them worthless to me at the time. Now that I'm living rural I'm often away from mains juice and have feathered my tool range with a lot of Makita gear (including grunty cordless vacs) so cordless sanders are getting interesting.

They're available on Amazon.jp but I like to at least run my hands over one of them to see what they're like.

The really crazy part of me is tempted to buy one from Aliexpress.com for $~200 and see if they are knockoffs (probably).

 

[Michael Kellough]

[member=13058]Kev[/member] We’ve missed you! Seven post in about six years? What are you up to these days?

 

[Kev]

[member=13058]Kev[/member] We’ve missed you! Seven post in about six years? What are you up to these days?

Life has been ... complicated! We made a rural change a while back and things were going good until one of our severely off the rails kids turned our lives into a living hell for most of the last 5 years. Barely getting things back together now. Still kinda hunting for my mojo. In reality I'm only just starting to put myself back together now.

Thanks for reaching out

 

[rmwarren]

[member=13058]Kev[/member] ditto, welcome back.

Saw your compressor post and thought "Huh, it's been a while" so I went looking and noticed Michael's message confirming my recollection.

Good to see you back amongst us again.

RMW

 

[Kev]

[member=13058]Kev[/member] ditto, welcome back.

Saw your compressor post and thought "Huh, it's been a while" so I went looking and noticed Michael's message confirming my recollection.

Good to see you back amongst us again.

RMW

Thanks Richard, good to be back among friends.