Makita XDT11Z Cordless Impact Driver Review
Editor Rating: 4.4/5
Great
Makita XDT11Z 18V LXT Cordless Impact Driver Review
Reviewed by: Timothy Henderson
Published on: December 11, 2018
Last modified:
- Design
- Functionality
- Price
Makita XDT11Z Review Summary:
An impact driver is a valuable tool for both novices and professionals alike. It allows you to screw and unscrew with a single push of a button without any effort invested. It comes in handy in the vast majority of situations, especially if you’re looking to get a battery-powered one. Makita is a well-known brand that manufactures all kinds of different tools, including cordless impact drivers. In case you’re looking to make your experience better and your job a lot easier to cope with, a battery-powered impact driver is a must-have. Whether you’re an avid professional or perhaps a complete novice, eliminating screwdrivers from the equation will certainly improve your overall experience and make your current project much easier to conquer.
XDT11Z Specifications:
- Weight – 2.8 lbs
- Variable speed – 0-2900RPM, 0-3500IPM
- Power – 1460 in-lbs of max torque
- Built-in LED
- Overall length – 5-3/8”
- Power source – 18V battery
Makita XDT11Z 18V LXT Cordless Impact Driver – The Basics
The XDT11Z model boasts enough power to drive through various materials including wood and metal. It’s fairly simple to use and it doesn’t require any previous experience. Therefore, it doesn’t matter whether you’re an avid professional or a complete beginner, you’ll get the gist of it pretty quickly.
The durability aspect is probably one of its main advantages. The all-metal housing offers sturdiness as well as resilience meaning you don’t have to worry about the lifespan of your new tool too much. It’s made to last for years as long as you maintain it in good condition.
This model is a part of the world’s largest cordless tool line-up powered by the Makita’s 18V slide-in battery. As far as the battery goes, it boasts one of the fastest charging times on the market thus spending more time working and less time charging.
Makita XDT11Z Features
Design
Compactness and durability are the two main advantages of the XDT11Z’s design. This model is the first in its category with the new Makita’s improved ventilating window that offers better cooling performance when under load. As we have mentioned, the all-metal housing provides increased durability and also ensures stability. It’s also equipped with StarProtection communication technology between the tool and the battery that protects against overload, over-discharge, and overheating. The rubberized soft grip offers comfort and ensures a solid and stable grip throughout the application. In other words, it decreases the vibrations significantly thus offering less operator fatigue.
Battery
This model uses the well-known 18V LXT line of batteries that have been a part of Makita’s lineup for quite a while now. This particular line of batteries has the fastest charge time in their category. For example, the 3.0Ah ones have a 30-minute charge time before they are full and ready for operation. As you can tell, the downtime is significantly reduced in comparison to some other models that need more than an hour to finish the charging cycle. If you’re particularly worried about downtime, we would recommend getting a pair of batteries because that way you can charge one while using the other without any downtime whatsoever.
Power
The XDT11Z model is equipped with the innovative 4-pole brush motor that delivers up to 26% more speed than the previous models. On top of that, it is able to deliver up to 1460 in-lbs. of max torque which is enough for a vast array of applications including driving through metal and wood.
Pros:
Powerful tool
Ergonomic and lightweight
Reasonable price
Cons:
The battery is not included
Questionable trigger sensitivity
Things we liked about it
The consistency in operation, as well as the sheer power of this unit, is its two main advantages as far as we are concerned. Its ergonomic design allows you to operate the driver without worrying about the accompanying fatigue. Therefore, it’s a great choice for people who are looking to fix or screw something promptly without having to hassle with cumbersome corded units. On top of that, the fact that it’s battery-powered ensures good portability, and of course, less hassle.
The chuck is made of metal which is a significant upside because it ensures long life and less wear. While some people don’t care too much about the chuck itself, it’s an important element, especially if you’re planning on using the tool in the next couple of years.
Things we didn’t like
The speed control and overall trigger sensitivity are lacking. If you’re looking to do particularly precise work with this driver, bear in mind that it doesn’t offer a super-sensitive control of the torque output. It’s not a major downside per se, but it’s definitely worth mentioning.
Other than that there aren’t many inherent downsides. The fact that it comes without the battery included may be slightly disappointing to some people, but getting your hands on the 18V LXT battery isn’t going to be a complicated endeavor.
General Impressions
Most people who have bought this particular impact driver are satisfied with its performance. Some individuals have had certain issues, but nothing that would seriously jeopardize the overall efficiency of the model. As far as our general impression goes, this tool seems to be a good choice for both experts and novices alike thanks to its fairly simplistic design and ease of use. However, if you’re planning on tackling a bigger project, bear in mind that this unit is battery-powered meaning it has certain disadvantages over corded ones when it comes to pushing through the project of larger scale.
Conclusion
It’s safe to say that XDT11Z is a viable choice in most circumstances. As we have mentioned, it’s probably not the best option for massive projects, but it’s definitely a good option for home repairs or even for building decks and patios. It’s compact, resilient, and sturdy enough to cope with external influences and it’s made to last for years as long as you maintain it in good condition. Luckily, maintenance is a breeze.
See Our Paint Sprayer Picks
Different Types of Paint Sprayers
Most Read Reviews
Bosch PS31-2A
Dewalt DCD777C2
Makita XPH102
Makita XT269M Review
Milwaukee 2703-22
Follow Us
