You need more than a little drill/driver to put holes in concrete and brick. These two hammer drill kits from Makita contain one of the best hammer drills on the market. Let’s look at both kits and see which one will help you finish your next project.
Makita XPH07T 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 1/2-Inch Hammer Driver-Drill Kit
The XPH07Z hammer drill in these two kits has 300 inch-pounds more torque than either of the competitor models in its class. That’s the reason why it comes with a side handle. Use it or your wrist is going to complain. This is not a little consumer drill for putting screws into drywall. This is a beast with a professional-grade brushless motor.
Why does a brushless motor matter? Because it will last longer and run more efficiently. The batteries perform better and the motor needs no maintenance.
More signs that the hammer drill is professional quality are its metal ratcheting chuck and all-metal two-speed transmission. The two speeds are 0-550rpm and 0-2100rpm. It hammers out a maximum of 31,500bpm. That makes quick work of pressed wood, steel and masonry.
The XPH07Z has Makita’s XPT protection against moisture and dust. It also has a convenient LED work-light mounted under the chuck. This light will flash to warn you when the battery is getting low.
The batteries are part of the 5.0Ah LXT 18V Lithium-Ion lineup. That’s the largest capacity Makita offers right now, so you’ll have the longest runtime possible.
The batteries have built-in LED indicators to show how much charge is left. Since they are Li-Ion, they can be recharged even when they aren’t fully discharged. In fact, they will have a longer lifetime if they are not run all the way down. They take 45 minutes to fully recharge.Give them a rest on the charger while you take a break, too.
More features of the Makita XPH07T kit
- Comes with a 3-year limited warranty
- Drills up to ½” in steel, 5/8” in masonry, and 3” in wood
- Over 19 clutch settings for fine control
- Kit includes the variable-speed hammer drill, DC18RC charger, two 18V BL1850 batteries, side handle, depth gauge, tool belt clip, and a case
- Hammer drill weighs 5.9lbs with the battery installed
Makita XPH07M 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 1/2-Inch Hammer Driver-Drill Kit
The big difference between this XPH07M kit and the XPH07T kit is just one thing: the batteries have a different capacity.
This kit contains the 4.0AH capacity batteries while the kit above has the larger 5.0AH batteries. The ones in this kit charge a little bit faster, in just 40 minutes instead of 45. But the 4.0Ah batteries won’t run as long as the 5.0Ah ones.
The amp-hour (Ah) rating doesn’t translate directly into “hours of use.” The operating time depends on how much current the tool uses. Four amp-hours would mean about 4 hours of runtime for a tool that needed only 1A of current. But a corded drill, for example, uses 6A or more. You can see how a cordless hammer drill under heavy use will drain a battery. Fortunately, each kit includes two batteries so you charge one while you use the other.
Back to the main feature of the kit—the XPH07Z hammer drill. The section above contains the details why this cordless hammer drill is one of the best you can buy. It’s very powerful for its size and weight, and comfortable to hold and use. Its top torque is rated at 1090in-lbs. Check out the full description above.
More features of the Makita XPH07M kit
- Comes with a 3-year limited warranty
- Drills up to ½” in steel, 5/8” in masonry, and 3” in wood
- Over 19 clutch settings for fine control
- Kit includes the variable-speed hammer drill, DC18RC charger, two 18V BL1840 batteries, side handle, depth gauge, tool belt clip, and a case
- Hammer drill weighs 5.9lbs with the battery installed
Recommendation
The Makita XPH07Z hammer drill has plenty of value for its price. The main decision to make is how much runtime you need.
For maximum drilling time between battery swaps and recharges, get the XPH07T kit with the 5.0Ah Li-Ion batteries. (They are model number BL1850.)
If runtime isn’t as important, save a few bucks and go with the XPH07M kit that has the 4.0Ah batteries.
Click here to purchase Makita XPH07T on Amazon!
Click here to purchase Makita XPH07M on Amazon!