What is the BEST cordless power tool combo kit that we’ll see for Black Friday 2019 this year? That’s easy, it’s the Makita 18V XT505 5-tool combo kit.
If you’re looking to buy a modern 18V Li-ion cordless power tool combo kit, there are a LOT of different options this time of year.
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So which brand to go with? Which kit to choose? What tools are best?
If you have a good idea of what you will want and need, look at Home Depot’s FREE bonus cordless power tool promo. With this deal, you buy a starter kit or cordless tool combo, and then you pick one or two more tools, batteries, or accessories as free bonuses. This is easily the best option for a lot of people because you can hand-pick exactly what you get.
The downside to the “free bonus tool” promo is that you have to spend more to get two bonus tool choices. You get better tools, but what if you wanted something a little more compact? Or more value-oriented set?
I should also point out that Lowe’s Black Friday 2019 tool deals are out now, as the flyer was made available online a couple of days ago. They have their own version of a “free bonus tool” offer, but I don’t find the brand selection as compelling as Home Depot’s. However, Lowe’s has three choices for the Dewalt base kit, one of which is a compact brushless drill and impact driver kit.
With the Lowe’s deal, I’d get the Dewalt 20V Max compact brushless drill and impact driver combo kit, and choose their brushless 5″ random orbit sander as the free bonus.
So why did I start off the post with a mention of Makita’s XT505 cordless power tool combo kit? Quite frankly, this is the best kit for users who aren’t quite sure of what they want.
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Let’s say you’re a new homeowner, DIYer, or apprentice. This Makita 18V kit gives you a hammer drill/driver, impact driver, circular saw, reciprocating saw, xenon bulb flashlight, (2) 3.0ah batteries, charger, and fuel gauge.
According to Makita, the charger is their “Rapid Optimum Charger,” and the model number in imagery seems to confirm this.
So what is “cheapened” in this kit – maybe the flashlight? You don’t get a slow charger. The batteries aren’t 1.3Ah “holiday season specials.” The saws are standard sizes. You don’t have to hunt down convenient accessories, such as belt clips for the drill and impact, separately.
Yes, this is a holiday season special buy.
But, if you can pardon my language, it’s a no-bullshit special buy.
If you have a $300 budget for a cordless kit, and don’t want to sort through the seemingly endless options of “special buys” and other deals we’ll be seeing this year, this Makita XT505 kit is a very good choice. If you can, do some research, make some decisions. But if you’re looking for a good deal that comes easily, this is it.
Price: $299
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Question to ToolGuyd regulars – do you agree with my recommendation? Is there a different cordless combo kit deal you’d recommend to someone on a $300 budget?
Cr8on
I actually agree, for a $300 budget there is a lot going on here! I could easily recommend this kit.
Aaron
More of these starter kits should feature a jigsaw or OMT. Those should be higher use saws for homeowners than the deathtrap that is a circ saw or the primarily demolition or plumbing oriented recip.
I grew up with the 7.2 and 9.6v Makita stick batts and my first big tool purchase was 14.4 pod style. I feel like they do a great job on quality.
One of those key indicators is when you go into the rental shop and realize that the stuff they trust to last through multiple bruising rentals is Makita.
I don’t have any these days but that’s more timing than a judgement.
Koko The Talking Ape
Oh, I don’t know. The recip is good for trimming branches and such.
The circ saw is a death trap? I could see it taking a finger, but that’s not really life-threatening.
Stuart
As someone who owned a jig saw for a lot longer than a miter saw or circular saw, it’s far easier to make straighter cuts on a circular saw.
I use a reciprocating saw on branches and to cut down things like palettes, or for rough cuts to fit project 2x4s and pipes in my car.
I use cordless jig saws given to me/ToolGuyd for review purposes, but as a homeowner I don’t see a need to upgrade from my corded jig saw to a cordless.
Circular saws are not “deathtraps” if you read the user manual regarding safe use and exercise care.
Aaron
Skill saw the blade has momentum and can bind and kickback, not all have braking. Sawzall,jigsaw,OMT if you release the trigger when the tool hits your flesh you’ll walk away with an adrenaline rush. Table saw or miter saw the blade moves in a controllable way but not a skill saw. A worm drive maybe had the weight to minimize loss of control, and a piddly 5.5″ might not have enough power to jump out of your hands, but really it is the least safe of the power tools people but as starters. Obviously this can all be trained (one of the things I do for work) I just don’t feel like it is the right saw for beginners.
Never hurt myself with one but had some safety check/emergency pants/finger count moments in my youth. Personally most of my injuries are razor knives, Phillips bits in the thumb or stepping on air.
Your point in sawzall for brush is very well taken. For folks scared of chainsaws (or small projects) the sawzall is a great way to get work done.
Blythe
This class of cordless saw doesn’t really have the torque or blade speed to kick back really hard. The top tier cordless and most corded saws can be very dangerous for the inexperienced, but the one in this kit is a capable and safer starting point
Joe R
Great kit at a great price. Very similar to my first Makita 18V which included a grinder but was $599 – twice the price over 7 yrs ago. So yes, this is a great deal for the first time DIYer.
Ray CR
I always read all the 1 star and 2 star reviews on cordless tools over at Amazon. I buy the ones that have the fewest poor reviews .
What do I find? Makita usually has the least poor reviews. The above rental shop observation further confirms this. I guess they
appreciate the metal gears also.
Corey Moore
I used to do that, but found myself infuriated at how ridiculous most of the low ratings are justified, even digging deeper. People being upset that they ordered a bare tool, or that USPS/FedEx was late on delivery, and plenty of it not being able to do something it was never advertised as being capable of. I make a point to avoid Amazon reviews these days. Too much stupid.
Rob Potson
I don’t see how this is a deal. 3.0 batteries are small, the whole kit is brushed (not that it means they’re junk) but it means its all their older models/older technology. All their new LXT stuff is brushless, and they have 4.0, 5.0, 6.0 batteries out which are the norm in sizes now. Seems fairly priced for what it includes, but its no buy me now.
For 269.99 (check hardware sales inc on ebay) you can buy the makita kit that has the brushless drill, brushless impact, brushless recip saw, 2 – 4.0 batteries, charger, and makita ba. I would consider that a better deal especially since it doesn’t include the outdated flashlight.
Oflannabhra
I prefer the smaller batteries in my drills and drivers. I’m glad my set came with some.
James
I agree on smaller batteries for many tasks, but…all the makita batteries 3.0ah through 6.0ah are the same size and weight, so if you’re using a 3ah you might as well use a 5 or 6ah.
The compact 2ahs are awesome though.
The What?
I think it depends on which grade of tools you want. As we all know, the combo kits that are available from any manufacturer are the tools at the bottom of the totem pole. Your not going to get the best impact, drill, saw, etc that the manufacturer makes. You won’t even be getting the 2nd or 3rd best tools that the manufacturer makes. Which is a disenchantment considering the cost of some manufacturers combo kits. Especially if they are over $500. Just look at the batteries that they include. It’s the same lowest amphour batteries included across the board. However I will say that this particular makita kit is an excellent deal and nobody else will be offering something like this for this price. So if I were just starting to buy tools and I wanted something better than the craftsman garbage or something a little better than ryobi or Bosch, I would definitely buy it. And I think it would be a good idea to get some better batteries to accommodate the tools. But unfortunately batteries are something that doesn’t go on sale and especially from makita. So you may end up paying more for some decent batteries than what you paid for the kit. I suggest going on Craigslist to find the best price for the batteries. I just bought two 5ah Dewalt batteries for $120 from a seller on Craigslist here in Atlanta. You ain’t gonna find that price from a retailer anywhere.
Stuart
Amazon has the Dewalt 20V Max 5.0Ah battery 2-pack for $123 right now. It’s just a hair over $120, but you get full warranty since it’s from an authorized dealer.
Adam
I believe the end of the paragraph, talking about what is “cheapened” in the kit, was truncated of some sort.
Stuart
Thanks!
I stopped there, did some fact-checking about what I was going to say, decided to keep things simpler and not go there (it was going to be a remark about a particular competitor). But then I forgot to remove the first part of the sentence. Fixed it now.
Oflannabhra
Last year, I was stuck between this kit and the XT333X1 3 piece + 2 combo for $399.
I ended up going with the upgrade and I’m glad I did. All brushless and better selection.
Jason
Anyone know of anr Makita kits that have regular drill drivers – not the hammer drills (I don’t need/want the feature or the extra weight).
Stuart
Yes, they have non-hammer drill/drivers. But with combo kits, you sometimes don’t get to choose.
James
You may never see yourself using the hammer feature, but there isn’t much of a downside (the non hammer version is 3/8″ shorter and 0.1 lbs lighter) and if you need to do some light masonry drilling you have the capability. Sometimes the smaller holiday special kits come with drill drivers instead of hammer drills, but generally the bigger kits like this will come with the hammer drill.
Hans
This is a lousy kit. 3AH batteries powering non-brushless saws? Fun way to frustrate a DIYer. They’ll be fine for a few years, sure. But, five years from now when said DIYer embarks on their second or third project since buying the kit—they’ll be looking to buy new batteries—and it won’t be black friday when they need them. So they’ll be looking at paying $99 for one lousy battery to under-power their sad brushed circular saw that could barely rip 6’ of a 2×4 on it’s best day. These tools are designed for the landfill after a quick pit stop in the garage or basement. A name-brand corded circular saw or reciprocating saw can last two generations of average homeowner use and probably still build a sub-division. Extension cords are not a problem. Cordless means disposable. If the connivence of cordless is making you money get 5AH batteries in your brushless kit. I think it’s irresponsible to get the average christmas shopper excited about this set.