bee-man

Man, I couldn't help it... there was a spring sale and I splurged. This saw is way overkill for my needs, but it was cheaper than the single 18V brushless saw. I'm just a home DIYer, but I love these teal tools. I'm such a tool poser, lol

Damn Jimbo. I think I would seriously go broke at your Homedepot. So many deals!

Saw this on another website: $399 Dewalt back pack blower with two 7.5ah batteries. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01B7OUMCI/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER Don't know if this would be categorized as a lightning deal, but I imagine this is an error that will be fixed soon. Whether they decide to honor the current price is another story.

This, bar none. Most used tool. Now comes with a short extension which can be used alone or combined with the longer extension.

Damn, once again a victim of "no shipping to Hawaii." Stinks!

Anybody in Hawaii (Oahu)? Woodcraft has the Makita XT328M brushless combo kit + two additional 3ah batteries + one bare tool for $399.

$299 for this Makita combo set... not bad. Don't think it'll last long. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Makita-18-Volt-LXT-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Combo-Kit-5-Tool-XT505/207051110

What the hell? I need this too !!! Xmas can't come soon enough! Agree, this essentially looks like the XFD11ZB with the chuck swapped for QR hex, which means additional weight savings and more control due to the shorter nose. I would primarily use this as a driver, but if you need to drill a quick hole, you can use hex shank drill bits. Much faster than loosening and tightening up a traditional chuck. I hope this makes its way to the US soon.

My opinion is that it would cost more in time and parts than just replacing the drill itself. These can be found on ebay for roughly $50, and even lower on craigslist. Again, my 2 cents.

* I learned, via Amazon, that there is a newer version USB charger with an on/off switch. * Their new hot (IMO) subcompact 18V drill and impact is already available at the local Homedepot... yet, it is not even mentioned on their website. * Last year, I received a "free" brushless paddle grinder as part of an in-store promotion before I even knew it existed or even before it was listed on their website. * The brushless reciprocating saw was a relatively big announcement that took what seemed like forever to hit shelves (not that I need one). I just don't understand the way Makita announces and releases new products, at least for the US.

Thanks Makita_2233. I guess the US version is blacked out. I suppose if I really wanted to shorten the length, I could replace the 1/2 chuck to a 3/8, but avoiding another charger in the garage and being able to utilize all my higher capacity batteries is much too appealing. On a side note, is the battery protector an aftermarket or OEM product?

Not sure if this has been posted, but I had the opportunity to put my paws on these, and it is slick! I was previously eye balling the 12V CXT line for the smaller size, but no need anymore - now I can continue to stay with my 18V platform. http://toolcraze.net/new-black-makita-18v-brushless-compact-drill-impact-driver/ http://www.coptool.com/makita-18v-brushless-subcompacts-are-12v-killers/

I have the Makita XRH05Z which is the US equivalent, I believe. I only used it once to break a 4 inch slab, but boy was that fun. I know what you mean about the kick... it's strong, but watch the videos on youtube and you will see it is normal. It's really unbelievable how a cordless tool can have so much power... in hammer only mode, I remember hitting rebar with my chisel tip and watching sparks fly. The only sad part about my rotary is that it remains a trophy in my toolbox and not used enough... can't wait for my next demolition.

Sorry for the delay guys! OK, so apparently, the grass is not always greener… So as you can see, I purchased the Makita XBU02Z blower back in October with roughly 9 months of ownership. I used it mainly to sweep my garage and other tasks like sidewalks, drying cars and occasionally leaves. It did a fantastic job, but when are we ever satisfied? I really wanted to stay with Makita for all my OPE, but they do not have a 36V mower readily available in the US. EGO, on the other hand, has one of the slickest cordless mowers along with a compelling product portfolio with great reviews. When they released their 2nd gen 530cfm blower earlier this year, I was convinced that it would be the end all for my blowing needs, and I could tolerate a second battery platform dedicated to OPE. When EGO had their promotion a few months ago, I couldn’t resist and purchased the blower and trimmer to start my slow migration. There was no way I could justify 2 blowers so I sold the Makita… but prior to the sale, I had about an hour to compare both so for my first quick test, I told my daughter to stand 20 feet away and tell me which blower felt stronger - the Makita subjectively came out on top. I continued to blow different items for comparison, and in general found that the Makita could more efficiently push smaller items. Not saying the EGO couldn’t do it, I just had to increase the speed a lot more. Still in somewhat denial that the highly acclaimed EGO was inferior, I eventually conceded that it could still meet my requirements so I sold the Makita. Now that I have been using this EGO blower daily for roughly 2 months now, I can honestly say that I miss my Makita. At first, I didn’t know why, but then I felt compelled to identify the differences and reasons why the Makita offers a better user experience for my needs - repeat, for my needs. Do not read further if all you care about is performance - it will bore you. But the following (in order of importance) is why I have come to appreciate the design of the Makita XBU02Z. Air velocity/focus - EGO has been boasting CFM, and I don’t doubt that it’s important for leaf blowing, but the energy of the Makita seems to be more focused, like a flashlight that throws. On low, the Makita blows small rocks with less effort, and would create havoc on shoes, slippers, and other items near the garage entry. I don’t get that same effect with the EGO unless set to at least medium speed – in fact, any speed less than medium and it feels like I’m carrying a carpet dryer. Could the extra claimed air velocity of the Makita make that much difference? Observations: 1) the business end of the Makita is smaller in diameter than the EGO, 2) the Makita has 3 aggressively angled turbine blades as opposed to the EGO’s 12, and 3) RPM. Actually, when you look at the turbine on both blowers, it’s hard to believe something so small can generate so much force, but whatever it is, the Makita seems to be able to push small rocks more efficiently than the EGO – again, both can do the job, but the speed on the EGO needs to be increased at the cost of noise, which leads me to my next point. Noise – All the crap that blows in during the day gets blown back out before I close my garage at dusk. Well, this is where my neighbors hate me even more now. Both blowers are relatively loud, but the tone on the EGO, in my opinion, is perceivably louder with an element of high frequency that is more piercing, shrill, and fatiguing (and this is on low speed). This may be attributed to the fact that it has an open intake design which is great for airflow, but exposes the turbine more than the Makita, and hence the noise. The turbine on the Makita is enclosed deeper within the shell, and the inside of the intake appears to be lined with foam, likely in place to help reduce noise. At higher speeds, things only get worse for both blowers, but the high frequency on the EGO is harsher to my ears. Trigger response – the EGO has both a start and stop delay that is too long. IMO, it’s not even a soft start – it’s a start delay. To make matters worse, the EGO continues blowing after the trigger is released for a debatable amount of time, and can be annoying because there are times where you just need to cut power immediately, like when things unexpectedly get blown or toppled over. I have since learned to release the trigger and point the EGO in a different direction if this situation arises, but sometimes other things get blown. I cannot think of any reasonable explanation why it was designed this way. On the other hand, the Makita trigger behaves much like its power tool cousins – start response is almost instant, and releasing the trigger immediately cuts power to the motor (sorry, no electric brake). Variable speed - Adjusting speed on the EGO requires two hands, whereas the Makita has a thumbwheel speed dial. I did not realize how much I used the variable speed on the Makita until I found myself constantly reaching for the speed lever on the EGO. In addition, the trigger on the Makita is also variable albeit sensitive; therefore, you have the ability to set the maximum speed with the thumb dial, and the ability to control that maximum speed with one hand. Makita’s motto should be, “Control beyond belief.” Sorry, couldn’t resist. Speed selection – The EGO has a variable speed lever from low to high; however, there seems to be a considerable jump between high and turbo. The Makita has 6 equally spaced speeds. Using the same scale on the EGO would yield speeds 1 through 4 for the adjustment lever, and speed 6 for turbo. There is no speed 5, which at times I seek. This makes me wonder how many users actually find the high setting on the EGO adequate for leaf blowing. I mostly observe turbo used when reviewers are demonstrating leaf blowing capabilities. Winning points on the EGO: 1) The open air intake design, tends not to suck my clothes in as much as the Makita, which could be partially due to the horizontal support that runs towards the battery area… or because the CFM ratings are not correct. Makita was constantly sucking my shirt/shorts, but that’s my fault for wearing baggy clothes. 2) The push or thrust back feels less on the EGO, which means less fatigue on your arm and wrist. Maybe this is due to the intake design, but from what I remember, the Makita felt as though it would be more fun on a skateboard. 3) The LED on the EGO battery (even though facing backwards) acts as a useful light when blowing in darkness. *Idea alert for Makita – incorporate LED on front of blower! 4) The turbo button is very convenient for quickly dislodging stubborn items. 5) EGO is a great value that includes battery and charger – the value of the Makita is terrible, no explanation necessary. I do not use blowers for extended periods so I cannot comment on the weight and balance. I didn’t notice anything considerable, so I suppose that’s a good thing. Am I saying Makita is better than EGO? Absolutely not. Both will get the job done, but with the Makita, I felt more connected and in control of the tool. Perhaps I would not have noticed the nuances of the EGO if I actually used the blower for what it was intended to do – blow leaves during the day. Also, I would think that the EGO with its wide and massive air movement would outperform the Makita on a smooth surface, but what about leaves on grass? Does the extra speed of the Makita offer any practical advantage? So now the Makita XBU02Z blower is back in my Amazon cart. If the price drops enough, I’ll have big blue/teal in my garage again, and this time, I will test the performance of both blowers to see if the extra speed trumps the extra CFM. But in the end, I hope this breakdown helps another person with their decision if they are shopping both blowers.

That was an amusing post, Bremon - should have been a separate thread. Had my laugh of the day right there!

Sorry for not responding sooner, but I'm having trouble logging in from home on my Window 10 machine. I'm not sure if it's my browser, or if there is some sort of coincidental maintenance occurring. OK, glad I have an audience. It's a fairly lengthy review that nitpicks on some really small details between both blowers, and I just have to proof it a few more times.

So I did something bad... in my quest to blow, I sold my Makita for the new and improved 530cfm EGO blower. After about a month of use, I can honestly say that I miss my Makita. It took me a while to figure it out, but I have a huge write up between these two blowers, and why the Makita is more enjoyable to use... I'm just not sure where to post it, or if I should create another thread.

The first gen EGO mowers are on clearance at my local store for $399, but I have heard reports as low as $299. If anyone sees this mower on clearance at the $299 price, can you please take a picture and post it here? Thanks!

I could really use a cordless tire inflator (like the Ryobi). And I wish they would update their LED floodlight. I don't have it, but it looks way behind when compared to the competition. I may have put money on the cordless mower if it were here in the US, but a little too late for probably too much (cost of bare tool).

Dang, 6.0 batteries... I'm still on 3.0 and 4.0. Nothing like a brand new toy.

At 5 years old, you are better off just replacing the unit since these impacts can be found on ebay for roughly $50.

If this mower is really slated for the US, it will have to be competitively priced and have some innovative features for me to purchase one. They are a little to late to the game, but better late than never, I suppose. It looks like the front end could be a doubled as a handle so hopefully the design will allow it to be stored vertically.

Sounds like a similar situation I was in... I own a bunch of Makita batteries and tools, and was really hoping that Makita would come out with some good OPE that would allow me to leverage my batteries and keep my garage teal blue. Before I purchased my XBU02z I was contemplating the EGO 56V blower since the complete kit costs less than the Makita bare tool blower, but I didn't want to introduce another charger in my garage, so I purchased the XBU02Z, which has been great. However, if I could do it all over again, I would probably keep my tools and OPE platforms separate to Makita and EGO, respectively, for the following reasons: * 5 year warranty * EGO complete kits costs less than or roughly the same as the comparable Makita bare tool * Makita has no cordless mower for the US, and even the 36V mower offered elsewhere cannot come close to the features of the EGO mower. * Makita is not a fully dedicated OPE manufacturer. Yes, they may have been pioneers (with their 7.2V line), but the competition is just too tough. Sorry, I know you where asking about the blower only, but I just wanted to share my experience and wishful thinking. I am sure that the XBU02z is competitive with the older EGO 470cfm blower, but they just released a cool looking 530cfm blower with a larger battery. I hope I didn't sound like I was coming down too hard on Makita, but it is still my power tool of choice. I just think there are better options if you are somewhat more serious about OPE. Cheers!

I have the LXLM03, and would be interested how this worklight compares. I know, 750 vs 240 lumens, 20 LEDs vs 12 LEDs, reflector vs diffuser. I would think that the new worklight is using more efficient and higher output LEDs to achieve the 750 lumen rating. There are limited real world output photos in the dark and none of my local stores has this light for demo. I know "it's bright," but can anyone provide opinions or updates on the DML805's performance? Better yet, hows about a pic or vid with the light on in dark conditions outside? Thanks!