Most drills I’ve used can handle the 1″ threaded spade bit before being dropped into low speed, so it’s a pretty good benchmark to start with. As expected, the hammer drill bored easily through the 2x material with no issues. Indicates the largest size full-shank tool (twist drill bits on power drills) that a drill’s chuck can hold. Common sizes include .375 inch (3/8 inch) typically for general usage, and .5 inch (1/2 inch) for drill intended for heavy duty jobs. Fixed 1/4 inch hex chucks only accepts 1/4 inch screw bits or special drill bits. It seems that this is why the drill doesn’t ship with an auxiliary side handle, because it doesn’t deliver “a full 970 in-lbs” of max fastening torque.
The charge will show on the product detail page of applicable products. The new XPH17 has a torque rating of 1,250 in-lbs, which is 160 in-lbs more than the previous model, the XPH07. After charging the batteries, which only takes 45 minutes from dead flat with Makita’s Rapid Optimum Charger, I installed the side handle and got to work.
Where some users may want to see the hammer drill improve is in weight. However, I’ll take the extra weight if it means I’d have to trade off some of the durability or smooth drilling. The Makita XPH07T comes across as a solid premium kit that’s definitely aimed at pro users. If you’re in the system already, you can grab the bare tool for $149. If you’ve been in for a while, you’ll score a couple of 5.0 amp hour batteries and a Rapid Optimum Charger by going with the kit.
Makita UK lists the same specs – 73 Nm and 40 Nm max hard and soft joint fastening torque, respectively. As the drill doesn’t ship with a side handle, and I can’t think of a reasonable explanation as to why, we need to take a closer look at Makita’s torque specs. The new Makita XPH16 18V hammer drill doesn’t ship with a side handle. Any cordless drill with a torque-to-handle-length ratio above a certain value must ship with a longer side handle in order to meet UL safety guidelines. As expected, it also did very well with the standard wood screws.
This Makita did very, very well, earning it a top-tier score. Our testing process started by rating and ranking the drilling performance of each of these cordless tools. The drill’s features, combined with its compact size and power, make it an all-around great drill driver.
Makita USA does not reference the drill’s maximum fastening torque in any product brochures or specs tables. Makita’s 18V brushless compact hammer drill delivers a maximum lock torque of 60 Nm (~531 in-lbs) and maximum hard tightening torque of 54 Nm (~478 in-lbs). Here is the new XPH16 hammer drill, which is advertised as delivering 970 in-lbs max torque. Its handle grip does not look to be noticeably longer – it looks like a typical makita angle grinder. This is the Makita XGT compact cordless drill, with a 585 in-lb max torque rating.
Makita new Zealand’s product spec sheet lists the 18V hammer drill as delivering 125 Nm max fastening torque, and 141 Nm peak torque. Makita UK lists the same hammer drill as delivering 130 Nm max hard fastening makita angle grinder torque, the same as given in Makita AUS’s spec sheet. The drill is advertised as delivering 141 Nm of peak torque, or 1248 in-lbs. This value is 8.46% higher than the drill’s max fastening torque.
Our next round of tests rated and ranked how each cordless drill was driving in fasteners. For this metric, we used 5-inch long, ½-inch lag screws and standard wood screws, scoring each tool on the ease and speed at which it drove the different screws in. The Makita XFD14Z did exceptionally well, earning one of the best scores of the entire group. makita cordless drill The 18V LXT® Brushless Cordless ½” Hammer Driver-Drill (XPH14Z, tool only) breaks new ground with a full 1,250 in.lbs. Of Max Torque for the most demanding drilling and driving applications and 0-31,500 BPM for faster hammer drilling into masonry materials. The XPH14Z is positioned at the top of the LXT line-up of hammer driver-drills.