Makita launched 2 new sanders as part of their XGT cordless power tool system.
You don’t have to look too closely to see that there’s something very different about them.
The new tools are part of the Makita XGT cordless power tool system, although they’re not exactly cordless.
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Both sanders have tethered off-the-tool battery sources, making them more accurately described as battery-powered tools.
The Makita XGT sanders’ battery power adapters are designed to clip to the user’s belt, offloading the attached battery’s size and weight from the tool.
This makes the XGT sanders much more compact and lighter than traditional cordless battery-powered sanders.
There are two versions of the battery connection – one with a 1.6 m (~5.25 ft) cord length, and the other with a 5.0m (~16.4 ft) cord length.
The longer cord length allows for more convenient use with dust extractors, or otherwise where the user doesn’t want the battery hanging off their belt.
Product details suggest that the two lengths of battery adapters are sold separately. It’s unclear whether either is included with the sander.
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The new XGT sanders are also AWS-compatible, for wireless activation of compatible Makita dust extractors. The necessary module is presumed to be sold separately, which is the case for other AWS-compatible tools.
There are two new sanders – a random orbit sander (B0001CG), and a finish sander (B005CG).
Rather than simply featuring a different sanding pad, the finish sander has a narrower housing.
Makita outlines numerous benefits over the brand’s existing 18V cordless sanders.
To start, the new Makita XGT random orbit sander is considerably shorter than their 18V sander.
Makita product literature also gives attention to a new low-profile brushless motor that’s presumably specifically engineered for the two new sanders.
The XGT sander also beats the 18V sander on weight, shaving off nearly half off its weight.
This is undoubtedly thanks to Makita engineers moving the battery power source off the tool.
Makita says that the XGT sanders also deliver improved performance and work efficiency.
According to a translation of their claims, the XGT random orbit sander delivers an increase in work efficiency by approximately 70%, and the XGT finish sander approximately 60%, compared to their 18V tools.
The tools are rated to IPX4 dust and water resistance standards.
The B0001CG random orbit sander has a 125mm (5″) pad size, and 5mm orbit diameter. The B0005CG finish or detail sander has an 80 x 130mm pad and 3mm orbit diameter.
Both pads have hook and loop abrasive connections. An adjustable dial allows for speeds from 6,000 to 10,000 RPM.
Makita has announced the new tools to the international market; there has not yet been any news of USA details or availability.
Discussion
This brings to mind Festool’s 18V hybrid-powered sander. Festool’s hybrid sanders can be powered via battery or AC power cord. In either case, the battery or AC adapter is attached right to the tool.
Festool’s focus was on allowing for battery or AC power. Makita’s focus seems to be on reducing tool size and weight for an improved battery-powered sanding experience.
Festool hybrid sanders have a smaller and ergonomically shaped battery that is separate from their 18V cordless power tool system, and it only works with their sanders. The new Makita sanders work with the brand’s XGT batteries.
The new Makita sanders look to have a proprietary connection, but it seems there could be the potential for an AC adapter if there’s enough demand for it.
Maybe there’s also the potential for an 18V or 18V X2 adapter? It doesn’t seem like it would take a lot of engineering work to produce 18V battery-powered versions of these tools.
Still, Makita seems intent on driving customers to their newer XGT system, giving rise to doubts that we’ll see 18V versions of the same sanders. Makita’s 18V random orbit sander launched more than 10 years ago, and a finish sander came out more recently.
While having a belt-mounted battery pack might seem clunky, and maybe even more so with the longer battery adapter, this means that the user experience should be independent of power considerations.
Whether you have a compact battery or Makita’s biggest and highest capacity battery, there shouldn’t be any noticeable changes to the sander’s ergonomics or control.
Then again, if you’re dealing a power cord, it might be easier and more economical to use an AC-powered corded sander, of which there are plenty of excellent low-profile options on the market.
Randy
So you need to both charge a battery, and drag a cord around? No thanks!
Jared
Ha. I was also thinking: “imagine connecting your cordless tools to a 5m long cord”.
The idea sort of makes sense – except if you’re not someplace without power, those same advantages would be realized with a corded power tool.
Stefan
Well without the battery being attached straight to the machine it makes it lighter and easier to hold and use. And you can just hang the battery from your belt so in my opinion it’s a pretty good design for what I might use it for. Just my opinion tho
Gordon
It’s clearly meant to be used with a dust collector, of which many are cordless. So the idea is not really that farfetched.
It would actually be pretty cool if the future dust collectors had extra batteries to power tools via the connected hose!
Joel David Romansky
It does seem counter intuitive but I recently bought a Graco proshot paint sprayer w the same concept- battery/ paint hopper attached to your belt w a short hose to the stinger- it is amazing- your tool is lighter and more versatile and you still have the ease of movement w out worrying about shore power
Andy
Looks pretty well designed. I’d expect it will have pretty good dust collection and low vibration.
If using dust extraction, I’d expect the extra power cord is barely noticeable. Seems like a great solution for job-site finishing work, where power may not be conveniently available. For dedicated shop use, there probably not as much benefit compared to using traditional AC power.
Scott
I get it for the sander where the extra weight would affect performance but why would you want it on the dust extractor?
frobo
I’d really like to know how they define “work efficiency “.
Stuart
I couldn’t translate all parts of the graph and am not perfectly confident about how to interpret it.
I double checked with similar characters used in Makita social media announcements, and “work efficiency” was again given as the translation.
I believe that this is an analog to improved power/performance and thus application speeds, and the brushless motors should also provide for longer runtime.
Maybe someone else can better translate and interpret the claims?
Makita USA has refused to answer product questions, let alone about Makita tools not available here; there’s no one there to ask.
MM
It’s been a while since I studied Japanese but from what I can read the graph is trying to show that the RPM on this new sander remains more constant while the RPM on the 18V model bogs down under load. The Y axis of the graph is rotational speed, the X axis is load. This is apparently while sanding some material called SPF, I’m not familiar with that acronym.
Stuart
SPF could be spruce-pine-fir, referring to the woods commonly used in wood studs, 2x construction lumber, and similar.
beto
I like it. More companies should release similar adapters. Certain tools would benefit from being lighter – but still being battery powered. Nailers come to mind. I love my cordless nailer. But its heavy. I wouldn’t mind a belt clipped battery that makes the tool 2 pounts lighter.
Kyle
I think Makita missed the mark on this. It would honestly be the best option, if not entirely resulting in ideal ergonomics, to allow the tool to be directly batter powered, or to be powered by a battery tether using the same footprint as a regular battery. I agree that for certain tools, or certain jobs, the tether would be a boon, but for other jobs, I could see the tether being a needless annoyance.
Harrison
What you propose basically already exists- Makita sells an LXT tether in some parts of the world.
While no doubt lighter, the ‘dummy battery’ end that slides onto the tool is still somewhat large and bulky, Nothing near as sleek as this design. Given the considerably higher output of XGT vs LXT tools, a universal XGT tether would be even worse.
Bosch has come the closest to selling a cordless low profile ergonomic sander with their new 12 and 18v models. However, you must still compromise between run time and ergonomics, as the weight of the heavier 18v batteries will upset the balance of the tool.
While these sanders are clearly not to everyone’s taste, I think Makita was smart in this instance to try something different. Shoot for the best ergonomics possible for the sanding unit, while still allowing a person to sand away from a power source.
Koko The Talking Ape
I agree. They just need to take the interface part of a battery, add a cord, then attach the socket from a tool to the other end.
Why doesn’t this exist already? You’d think the 3-d printing crowd could make and sell them pretty easily.
Saulac
This does, from Makita, at least for JDM.
Tim D.
They have something like this, but it’s a backpack designed for OPE.
Makita PDC01. It’s the only way I’m aware of that you can use LXT batteries to power XGT tools.
eddiesky
Since many use a hepa vac or attached vacuum, why not have the battery pack IN the vacuum, that feeds up integral to the hose to the tool connected? And if the vacuum is AC powered, let it charge the battery too.
JJ
I’ve been waiting for someone to try this innovation. Other tools that often run with dust collection could obviously use this setup. I could even see Makita releasing an adapter that plugs directly into the dust extractor and provides an alternative to AWS (“Auto-Start Corded System”?)
Any handheld power tool could benefit from offloading the weight of the battery to the belt: a subcompact drill or recip saw could cut its weight by 30-50%, and for heavier tools a couple pounds difference could really help with fatigue.
Jared
An alternate approach is to make small, lightweight but powerful batteries – that’s the direction the industry seems to be going. I.e. Powerstack and Forge.
Stuart
What makes you say the Forge battery is small?
Jared
You’re right, it’s not. My comment makes sense for powerstack, but not forge until they come out with a smaller version.
I was just thinking it’s part of that same development stream. XGT is obviously chasing that top-teir power delivery, but they can’t do that while also being compact – so the workaround is a cord. Forge is perhaps an alternate route, albeit not yet.
Stuart
Thinking like an engineer, offloading the battery makes the tool smaller and lighter, and allows for more focus on user ergonomics and tool control.
The XGT system has multiple physical battery sizes, with even the second-smallest being relatively large and heavy to be right on top of a sander.
Remove the battery from the tool, and the user experience is the same regardless of the user’s choice of battery.
Let’s say you have a Dewalt sander designed specifically for the compact PowerStack battery. It’s not going to get a lot of runtime from that 1.7Ah capacity. The 5Ah battery has a balanced size, but I’m not sure I would consider it “compact” without qualifications.
I think the sander should also have an AC adapter option, otherwise why not go for a Mirka or similar? Well, you get the auto battery activation, and the ability to use the tool anywhere.
Festool has a small and lightweight battery for their hybrid sanders, and I think that direction is logical but completely different.
If I had to choose one battery powered sander, and the choice is Festool’s hybrid 18V sander, any brand’s sander with on-tool battery, and one of these new Makita XGT sanders, it would be one of these. Of course, that’s ignoring other considerations such as performance, pricing, and battery compatibility.
WastedP
I don’t understand why the manufacturer of a cordless dust collection vac wouldn’t use it as a sort of off-grid power station for tools that are connected to the vac. Maybe a snap-together hose and cord that functions like an umbilical to the tool. If you need to use just the tool, dust collection be damned, then plug a battery into it and go.
Rog
Makita will release a separate wall adapter 3 years from now and it will cost $299.
Michael F
I’m in the market for a dedicated orbital sander. If this were available in the US, it would be a difficult decision between the Festool cordless line with the ergo batteries or these XGT sanders.
Alexk
Love the idea of light tools powered by a battery. Battery on hip, and maybe a retractable cord, but I’d prefer to design a way for the cord to go up my side, clip by my shoulder and run down my arm with a couple of clips so cord won’t get snagged. Unplug cord, clip tool to belt or pocket and go up or down ladders. Full arm motion, and the plug would be by my watch, ready to quickly plug in. I’ve thought of it before, but my tools are ergonomically designed to be balanced with battery attached.
This would be safer and more convenient than a tool with a cord going to an outlet which can snag, trip someone or just be faster to go around a work site.
I’ve used my m18 inverter on my belt and carried a box fan to a co worker to show my working portable, battery powered fan for fun, but I suppose I could use that with a corded tool if the amps are low enough. Hate the weight of a battery jigsaw. A lighter OMT would be nice as well.
Saulac
And the plug on the tool end should be (super) quick connect. No metal contact like electric toothbrush or magnetic attachment like on some clothes iron.