Makita has finally launched an 18V cordless 1/4 sheet finish sander, model DBO480 (intl).
The new Makita cordless finish sander has a similar design and geometry to their 18V XOB01 random orbit sander, which launched 10 years ago in October 2012.
The new 1/4 sheet sander features a 1.5mm orbit diameter (just under 1/16″).
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There are two speed options – 11,000 and 14,000 orbits per minute.
- Works with 1/4 sheet sandpaper (4-1/2″ x 5-1/2″)
- Sanding pad measures 112 x 102mm (~4.4″ x 4″)
- 1.5mm orbit diameter
- 11K/14K OPM
- 22K/28K SPM (sanding strokes per minute)
- Weighs 1.1 kg (~2.43 lbs) tool-only
- Weighs 1.7 kg (~3.75lbs) with battery
- Includes dust box
- Vacuum-compatible
- Includes square and triangular sanding pads
Makita product flyers say that their engineers redesigned the balancer to reduce tool vibration down to 2.9 m/s^2.
The brand also says that the new sander can deliver higher work efficiency than the AC equivalent in rough finish sanding applications.
It ships with two sanding plates, the dust box with paper dust bag, an abrasives sample pack, and 1/4 sheet punch plate.
The sander appears to be built with a brushed motor, with the same being true for the new Milwaukee M18 cordless finish sander. Dewalt’s 1/4 sheet cordless finish sander has a brushless motor.
Users familiar with Makita’s 18V random orbit sander should feel right at home with the ergonomics of the new sander.
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The Makita DBO480 sander is now available in Europe, Australia, and other markets. USA availability has not yet been announced or confirmed.
If you can’t wait, you can buy it from Amazon Germany for ~$128 including shipping* for the tool-only (DBO480Z), at the time of this posting.
There is also the DBO481 and DBO482, which seem to differ from the DBO480 in slight ways (the online manual shows differences in the plate).
* Approximate price is accurate using exchange rates at the time of this posting, international transaction fees might also apply.
I have had great experiences ordering bare cordless power tools from global Amazon stores, but there’s always the risk of a hassle when it comes to returns. Also, don’t count on being able to get global models warrantied or repaired in the USA.
I can’t guarantee the DBO480 is perfectly-suited for USA market. If anyone can shed light on whether it will work perfectly here, or how it differs from DBO481 and DBO482 models, please chime in!
James
The XOB03 ⅓ sheet finish sander that was released last fall (and is brushless) is great. Will be interesting to see how this sander compares.
Tim D.
I personally don’t care for the Makita LXT orbital that I have. I feel like the battery is constantly smacking the dust collector on its way in and out, and the dust collector is already kind of hard to keep on. This looks to be keeping the same design as that, so I’m not too excited about this one.
Kingsley
I wonder if there will there be a 40V version for their 40V range?
Stuart
Maybe, but they’d have to design it to fit all XGT batteries, such as this one: https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/makita-xgt-8ah-battery/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Mateo
They’ve already made the puzzling decision to make tools that don’t fit all xgt batteries. The radios don’t fit the 8s, several compact circ saws don’t even fit 5s, and the top handle chainsaw doesn’t fit the larger ones either… I pointed this out when their social media claimed all batteries fit all tools and got crickets…
In more positive news they’ve got a few new tools confirmed at least abroad that we’ll hopefully see here. 18v one handed recip and 40v barrel grip jigsaw among them.
dave+jones
sanders don’t use much power so you won’t get any extra performance.
Kingsley
Yeah I agree, but if you’ve bought into their 40V system and have the batteries, chargers etc. you’d want to get a 40V sander too.
So if you want a Makita sander, you’d have to buy into another battery system, the 18V.
You might as well just buy another brand’s system.
DeWalt have the 12V, 20V & 60V but the difference is that you can use the 60V batteries in pretty much any 20V. The 12V DeWalt system has very few unique 12V tools, these tend to be very small tools.
Most of them have an 20V equivalent and the chargers charge 12V/20V/60V.
Of course I’ve not mentioned that Makita also now have a 64V system too.
I think it’s a real shame because Makita do have some impressive tools and some quirky ones, but they’ve dropped the ball on the battery systems. It doesn’t seem very clear what direction they are going in.
Harrison
I don’t think it’s that complicated. XGT is for expensive, high demand, flagship tools. They just happen to sell some drills and a few other things to round out the system.
An XGT charger will charge 18v batteries no problem with a simple adaptor, so you can still run a fleet of 18 & 40v tools and only have to own ONE fast charger.
But seriously, who cares? There is no tool brand that makes a perfect version of every tool- If you want and need the best, you’re going to have to mix it up. For me, that means I have batteries from Milwaukee, Makita, Fien, Hilti etc.
If you are using all of your tools frequently on a daily basis (professional) you’re going to need at least 2 batteries for most of your tools, and you’re going to need lots of chargers. Who cares if they’re all the same colour and system? In fact, I actually find it easier to keep track of everything on a job-site if they DONT match.
Anyways- Even just one good tool is enough reason to invest in a system. I have M18 and M12 batteries for Milwaukee’s fantastic framing nailer, and PEX-A pipe expander. Makita XGT was an easy sell for access to arguably the best and most complete line of circular saws on the market.
Julian Tracy
I have big hands, and many sanders, but the ergonomics of Makita’s first cordless 5” RO sander were horrible for me. After 5-10 minutes of using it , I could barely move my hand from being cramped up. The Dewalt 20V version I replaced it with is so much better designed as well as being much shorter. This new Mak sander doesn’t look much better than their first one.
MM
I was going to comment about the ergonomics of the sander but I held off because I didn’t think it was fair to complain about it without actually having tried to use it. But it doesn’t look very comfortable to me, especially the way the housing curves up where the battery fits, I would really want the battery to be lower down where it’s not in the way of gripping the top of the sander.
Harrison
End of the day it’s a $100 sander.
The big brands have never really taken sanders seriously, and this just looks like more of the same. Dewalt’s versions are brushless at least. The Makita and Milwaukee models are awful, especially if you’re ever used something nice from Mirka or Festool.
Hopefully Bosch can finally bring their new GEX18/12 sanders to market and the other brands will take notice, but you know… Bosch.
I’m honestly surprised Makita never got around to copying Festool or Mirka, even for a corded tool. They do a decent enough job with their tracksaws.
I suspect Milwaukee will be the next to release an 18v sander with the ergonomic Mirka-style form factor. The new 12v RO detail sander looks like good design practice.