Makita has finally launched an XGT cordless oscillating multi-tool, model TM001G.
The new Makita XGT oscillating tool features a Bosch/Fein type Starlock Max blade interface, 3.6° oscillating angle, and 20K max speed.
As with other oscillating tools, the Makita XGT OMT can be equipped with a wide variety of blades and accessories to suit different cutting, scraping, grinding, or sanding applications.
Advertisement
The Starlock Plus blade change mechanism is tool-free, but lacks the quick-connect design of Bosch and Fein models. Instead, it works with a pin-based blade clamp, similar to the older 18V model.
Blade changes won’t be as quick as with other Starlock tools, but at least there aren’t any hex screws to contend with.
Makita says the new XGT Starlock multi-tool will feature IPX4 water resistance, and the battery by itself has IP56 dust and water resistance.
The tool features an LED worklight and AVT anti-vibration technology.
It’s shown in the product images with an XGT 40V Max BL4025 battery, which is about the same size and weight as an 18V 5Ah battery.
Makita has not yet provided details about a dust collection adapter, or whether the tool will be compatible with their existing 18V oscillating tool accessories.
Advertisement
USA availability has not yet been announced, adding to the growing list of Makita XGT cordless power tools that have yet to launch in the USA.
Here are some of the XGT tools we’ve been waiting for:
Farkleberry
I don’t understand the appeal of star lock if you have to use the separate pin rather the super fast and convenient Bosch expanding clamp system.
I get that the pin MAY provide more clamping force, and thus less vibration, but it’s less convenient for sure.
I understand that star lock are stronger than OIS, etc. I seriously doubt anyone is destroying the interface of the blade before the cutting edge, even for a scraper etc. OIS is obviously much more available and affordable. Since this is probably going to cost $350, I guess the handful of buyers won’t care about blade cost.
Multi tools can be real life savers. If there’s any other saw or sander that will do the job, they are usually far preferable to a multi tool. Thus, multi tools tend to be used infrequently and for short duration.
This is another tool that’s often much nicer to use with a compact 5 cell size battery, like compact drills and impact drivers. Alas, this is currently impossible with XGT.
Vards Uzvards
Maybe the pin is needed for a Starlock *Max* OMT? The StarlockMax blades tend to be larger than StarlockPlus blades.
A
nope, festool + fein starlockmax does not need the pin
Jronman
Milwaukee claims that Starlock Max is not needed for higher demand blades but the OIS interface Milwaukee uses doesn’t have auto ejection or auto attachment
Stuart
This doesn’t have auto ejection or auto attachment either.
Goodie
First impression: XGT 40v for OMT seems like bringing a howitzer to a knife fight. Big, heavy and unwieldy battery tool where OMTs are about being light and handy problem solvers.
fred
I agree – but think that is more about filling out the XGT lineup than providing something that one-ups the competition. Maybe a glass shop or someone doing lots of grout removal might like this tool. Before there were cordless OMTs – In our remodeling business we used corded Fein Multimeters. But in our fabrication business we used Fein Supercuts – good for disassembly work where we had to cut out lots of sealant and gaskets.
CMF
I know what I am saying has been covered many times, but Makita’s lack of foresight in NOT making a backward compatible system, such as Flexvolt and 20v max, is the problem here.
If they had devised something compatible with LXT, they would not need to replicate impact driver, drill ,OMT, and other tools where 18v is more than sufficient, but forced to make them so any XGT owner can have one if need be.
Dewalt has not come out with many Flexvolt tools because they did not have to. Without the backward compatibility, their FV users would be clamoring for an OMT, as well as any tool that is only available with 20v max.
Imagine an OMT with a 6ah FV battery! Well this is what Makita has been forced to do with XGT.
Stuart
How many Makita 18V users use the OMT with 1.5Ah or 2Ah batteries? Makita really needs to come out with compact high output batteries.
fred
That certainly seems like one of Makita’s problems. They have good long-lived batteries but not enough choices. Milwaukee may have some batteries that overheat and may not last as long as you might wish – but they sure know something about responding to the market and offering more choices. I can understand that Makita probably wants to phase out LXT – so that’s why they might not bring out new 18V batteries. But why are they so slow to bring the newer XGT batteries (like the 4040F) to the US market?
Andrew
Agreed. However it wont much matter the 18v version is heavy and clunky. I honestly prefer makita, except for this tool almost every brand would be preferred.
Munklepunk
the old model is clunky, the new one is nice
Liang
I made that mistake on getting the Makita 18v version and thought it was good tool to use on removing the grout in the shower, I did not enjoy using it one little bit, it was big and heavy but I made it work.
I wish it was half the weight and thinner, thinking of which the Bosch 12v multi-tool might be the ideal, thinking back.
John S
A smaller 40v battery would make me very happy. I recently bought the chainsaw with the 5.0aH battery, so now I have at least one of each and the glaring flaw is the lack of a compact battery. Especially with the impact driver. I still reach for the XDT19 more often because of this.
Goodie
Your responses make sense, but unless I’m doing the sort of work Fred mentioned, I’m grabbing a 12v OMT.
Adam
I don’t quite understand, why makita has bought out a 40 volt oscillating multi tool, when the 18 volt has plenty of power for that particular tool, I think 40 volt is good for bigger tools like circular saws and miter saws.
Stuart
Because the XGT is the better cordless power tool system.
When buying into a new system, Makita 18V is the worst choice compared to Milwaukee M18, Dewalt 20V Max, Bosch 18V, Metabo HPT MultiVolt, and others. XGT has a chance of being competitive.
James
I strongly disagree that LXT is the worst choice of those listed. I’m flabbergasted you would even say that? I have tools in all the systems listed (and some others), but if I could have only one cordless system I’d almost certainly go with LXT.
Also, there is a nearly identical LXT version of this tool.
MM
In my opinion there is absolutely nothing wrong with the quality of Makita’s tools, but rather the problem lies with the battery configuration decisions which basically force a serious user onto both platforms.
LXT has a very broad catalog of tools and they are generally excellent quality. BUT: no battery larger than 6ah. XGT has bigger batteries & more power making it excellent for the higher power tools, but it has the opposite problem: no small batteries, and a limited selection of smaller tools. This means one of two things for someone buying into Makita: if they buy only LXT then they’re stuck with that 6ah battery limit while other brands have much better batteries. Or, if they want that higher power, they have to buy both LXT and XGT, whereas with Dewalt, Milwaukee, Metabo HPT, etc, you can run everything from a compact impact driver to a big saw all on the same platform.
If Makita brings more small tools and smaller batteries to XGT then they can solve this problem.
Farkleberry
Not sure they can make smaller 40v batteries. Obviously with cylindrical cells the 10 x 18650 is the smallest practical size.
It seems to someone with little battery knowledge (me), small pouch or prismatic? 40v packs should be possible, but I remember Stuart talking about engineering limitations mentioned to him. The cells can only be so thin practically, and with Li-Ion chemistry you need 10 of them for 40V.
The other option is some kind of multi volt system, a la Metabo HPT. There is so much product similarity, cross pollination and, it seems, outright borrowing between the Japanese companies, I’m shocked they didn’t go this route.
I’m not saying they needed to make it backwards compatible with LXT. They’ve widened and lengthened the battery support rails for XGT, which is great. Just make new 18V XGT tools and batteries.
Perhaps there are patent implications, but with Flex volt, there is obviously a way to make it happen.
XGT should be a no compromises platform. It should run all typical carpentry tools and with the most ergonomic battery pairings for the application (lightweight VS power and runtime).
Makita have already molded their high ah/ low current draw LXT batteries to not fit into high draw tools.
Makita should’ve redesigned their LXT x 2 tools years ago with space for two 21700 packs. There’s no time like the present to correct this. Don’t people expect, no demand, innovation? Are they upset their Ford Pinto has been outclassed by the latest technology?
I imagine there was at least one engineer at Makita when LXT x 2 was being introduced who said, “You know there are these 21700 cells that are only a little bigger but have much more energy. They’re not that popular yet, but are growing fast.”
Even if 26650 cells had taken off they would fit a 21700 width.
Evolutionary and revolutionary battery platform changes can be cataclysmic for existing owners, the goal should be maximum performance and flexibility for as long into the future as realistic planning allows.
Currently, LXT and LXT x 2 owners can only use some batteries in some tools. LXT falls farther and farther behind, not being able, no UNWILLING, to design more powerful tools to leverage the globally dominant battery size.
This reminds me of Ryobi and their ridiculous vintage stick top batteries. Why not just make some modern batteries that are efficient and easy to store and offer an adapter for old tools?
Is Makita excited that I’m reminded of Ryobi when I think of LXT batteries?
Actually Ryobi should be insulted because they actually have 21700 packs, some big ones too.
CoBlue
> Farkleberry
> I imagine there was at least one engineer at Makita when LXT x 2 was being introduced who said, “You know there are these 21700 cells that are only a little bigger but have much more energy. They’re not that popular yet, but are growing fast.”
It looks like the first LXT x2 tools were released 3 years before the first 21700 cells were released, so probably not, but it’s not like they’ve done anything since then.
Pouch cells could be used to make an extra small 40v battery, but there would be extra overhead. It seems like it’d be useful to me, but perhaps they don’t feel it’s worth the extra effort of dealing with pouch cells.
Farkleberry
Thanks for correction CoBlue.
It’s hard to predict the future to the millimeter, and it’s fascinating how technical and marketing decisions can cast the die for the futures of giant companies.
I think once 21700 became heir apparent for auto, etc., Makita should’ve designed all new LXT and LXT x 2 tools to accept them.
If they knew LXT was going to be a legacy line, they should’ve made XGT multi volt.
If they thought LXT was going to be competitive with 18650 size packs they were delusional. If they still do, they’re fools.
CMF
I disagree with your LXT assessment, but I guess I should not be surprised.
Jim
I have the Makita subcompact OMT (the black 18v one), and you know what? It’s really nice. VERY little vibration.
BUT, I got it before I bought into the M12 system. If it dies tomorrow there’s no way I’d pay the extra money to replace it over the M12 Fuel OMT.
Michael F
I’ve had both M12 OMTs (brushed and FUEL) and the black Makita 18V OMT you have now. Trust me when I say, the 18V Makita is BY FAR the superior tool. It’s not even close. The power, the reduced vibration, and even the size of the 18V Makita are superior. While the Makita is bulky, the M12 FUEL OMT is surprisingly long and it does end up leading to awkward angles.
The real reason I’d stick with the Makita is that the M12 FUEL OMT destroys M12 batteries. I had 2 separate M12 batteries die in the M12 FUEL OMT and refuse to ever charge again.
CMF
I also have the M12 OMT and then bought into a Fein Supercut. Much bigger, much more powerful, great in many aspects.
I can’t remember the last time I use the M12 OMT (not even sure where it is).
Alexk
Love my M12 fuel OMT. It lives in my Ridgid small case with a drill and driver. Saves me from carrying my other saws until I know I need them.
Which it had the Dewalt design to switch blades, but still easy and quick enough as it is.
Alexk
Wish…. not which…
I don’t use/abuse all my tools hard every day and all week, so maybe that is why ALL of my batteries still work. Or maybe I’m battery lucky? I didn’t write date of purchase on any, so I don’t know which of the Milwaukee and Ryobi batteries are over 10 years old, but haven’t had to toss a battery yet.
chip hershberger
If you have unlimited room to work with,it will be great.
The BL lxt model of this was the final straw for me to sell all Makita, except for the mitersaw.
The stupidly enormous head and battery end make it unusable for cabinetry installations.
The lxt is extremely quiet, with very little vibration,and uses long lastingMakita batteries.
It also has the annoying/infuriating activation button.
New Makita (lxt) are no longer ergonomic, unusable (size of omt) have the safety/activation no tradesman asked for.
My m12 will fit in 1/2 the space,and will cut 85% as fast…with 10% more vibration and noise.
Makita = great batteries, good lineup of lxt.
New tools not the same.
Milwaukee isn’t in the same tier as far as battery and tool life are concerned, but they offer a plethora of usable tools to complete my job.
In the last calendar yr,have sold 30 tools and 20 Batteries to divest myself of the teal headache.
A tool should bring about a little pleasure through the work day,the activation button timing out is not one of those pleasures.
fred
Funny how some Gen2 tools seem to get worse – or solve problems with Gen1 that did not exist. It’s good that manufacturers keep trying to tweak their products – presumably to make them better. But I wonder if their engineering design teams talk to real users to see what they think. Team Red apparently woke up after the released their anemic Gen1 M12 OMT (more a hand vibrator than a tool) – and their Gen2 version is much better.
Alexk
I’m holding on to my gen1 M12 OMT to one day give to my worst enemy. Actually, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.
NoahL
The 40v version seems identical to the 18 volt version, which was released in the US as black “sub compact”. It appears to have similar performance at first glance.
Source:
https://youtube.com/shorts/SvojU_9HqF0?si=o8SW5YAoQKS05utN
ToolsAndStuffOFFICIAL on YouTube
“Makita 40v multi-tool vs Makita 18v multi-tool”
In other words, not worth waiting for if you are already on the Makita 18v platform.
Stuart
Probably better performance, like they did with the compact router. The router looks nearly exactly the same, but delivers much greater performance.
dave
it has better performance with the high output batteries as shown compared to the 8ah battery in that video. They have a 4ah high output battery that is far smaller and lighter than that though.
TopShelfRemodels
Makita finally develops a new tool!? Wow it MUST be 2024! Too little, too late for me, I’ve already jumped ship. Plus, the M12 OMT is on my list, not a 40v OMT, what were they thinking!?