In the Tool Talk Podcast #38, a caller asked about replacing the chuck on his Skil hammer drill. Though Chuck and Sean weren’t able to answer his questions on the spot, I found some answers at eReplacementParts.com, which boasts the Internet’s largest selection of power tool diagrams and replacement parts . By looking at a diagram on their site, I found that the chuck in question is standard-thread and removable. Also, before you can remove the chuck, you have to remove a securing screw that goes down the middle of the barrel.

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The AVT in Makita’s AVT line of tools stands for Anti-Vibration Technology. The AVT tools work on the same principle as a boxer engine in a motorcycle: a mechanism inside the tool propels a counterweight that balances the force of the tool’s stroke. In addition to giving the user a much smoother experience, the technology also increases the efficiency of the tool, because it isn’t jolted all around while it’s cutting or pounding or whatever. Toolmonger has featured the AVT jackhammer — and of course, we’d all love to use a jackhammer at least once. But now the AVT technology is also available in a tool your average Toolmonger can get some use out of, a recip saw.

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When I’m doing heavy grinding, I hate having to stop and change over to a flap wheel for the finishing work, so this is the perfect deal for me. Home Depot’s offering a two-pack of Makita 4-1/2″ grinders for $80. Most comparable grinders cost $80 for just one, so when I spotted this combo package while wandering through Home Depot’s tool corral, I couldn’t pass it up. But it’s in-store only, so keep your eye out!

Makita Grinder (In-Store Only) [Home Depot]

Makita’s “Experience More” Tour continues to roll around the country this year. The black and blue semi still has plenty of planned stops left to go — they’ll be doing demos in the Florida area in the near future.

The Makita website says the mobile event and training trailer is geared to professional tradesmen who use power tools to make their living. It showcases 125 trade tools along with hands-on demo stations, engineering exhibits, and touchscreen displays with interactive video. And on occasion, the Makita girls will appear at the events.

You might be asking, “What do hot chicks with power tools have to do with cordless drill performance specs?”  That’s up for debate — but if you’re into it, check out the schedules on the Makita site.

“Experience More” Tour Event Dates [Makita]

Meet the new 18V 1/2″ LXT lithium-ion hammer drill/driver kit from Makita. I know, I want one too. This baby’s four-pole torque motor delivers up to 560 in-lbs of torque, which is a lot of power considering the Makita is only 9-7/8″ in length and 4.9 lbs. It drives in three speeds, and with Makita’s shift-lock system you can quickly shift it from hammer into driver mode.

The lithum-ion battery gives the tool a longer running time with 5x lower self-discharge; the battery also sports 16 firm-holding contact terminals for constant high-power output. The fan-cooled charger can charge the battery in 45 minutes and has three active controls for current, heat, and voltage, to optimize the charging capacity of the battery.

The tool comes in a carrying case and includes two batteries, a charger, screwdriver bits, and Makita’s standard three-year warranty on the tool and one year on the battery. The lowest price I found was $266 over at Tool Plus.

BHP451 [Makita]
Makita BHP451 Kit [Tool Plus]
Street Pricing [Google Products]

Lithium-ion batteries are allowing tools usually limited to cords to break out into cordless versions — Makita’s concrete pencil vibrator is one of these tools.Makita’s 18V Li-Ion concrete vibrator improves the finish and strength of your freshly poured concrete by vibrating it at 13,000 VPM.

Makita makes two models, with either a four foot or eight foot extension depending on how big the job is. The Li-Ion batteries will only run for 25 minutes of continuous vibration under load, but the batteries can completely recharge in 45 minutes, so downtime is limited.

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One of my favorite tools, the angle grinder oozes testosterone, with its metal-grinding noise and showers of sparks. This Makita 18V cordless LXT lithium-ion grinder offers the same macho experience, except it’s smaller at 12″ in length, lightweight at 5.4 lbs., and portable with its 18V lithium-ion power-pack.

The included Makita Optimum Charger charges the battery in 45 minutes — it also communicates with the battery to optimize the charge and increase the battery’s life by 280%. The battery powers the grinder to 10,000 RPM. The grinder features a built-in overload protector and a sliding power switch with lock-on.

Makita protects the tool with a three year warranty and covers the battery with a one year warranty. All2ools is selling the grinder for $310.

BGA452 Angle Grinder [Makita]
Makita BGA452 [All2ools]
Street Pricing [Google Products]

If you think a chain mortiser looks like a cross between a chainsaw and a drill press, you’ve just about pegged it. These tools speed up post and beam construction, and they look bad-ass.

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The poorly-named TD020DSEW is Makita’s entry into the flourishing li-ion screwdriver market.  But it packs a punch: it’s an impact screwdriver.  Powered by a removable 7.2V li-ion battery pack and tipping the scales at just over a pound, it delivers a whopping 177 in-lbs of torque.  Holy crap, that’s a lot of grunt. 

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TM reader RSCoats writes: “This is what happens when the tool section of Amazon.com gets mixed up with the DVD section!  What can I say?  The film was on TV as I was carrying the old, busted drill to the trash, and I got inspired.  With some paint and a quick mash-up label, voila! — a power tool worther of a Jeopardy category.”

You’d be amazed how much of this kind of stuff goes on around the Toolmonger shop.  We’ve got stuff like this hanging all over the walls.  One thought, though: be sure to salvage the motor and chuck if it’s the battery that died.  That stuff comes in seriously handy later!

Fans of Makita Tools who live in New York, Wisconsin and Colorado will be stoked this month: at Makita “Experience More” Tour stops you can gawk at over 125 trade tools.  You can also (temporarily) lay your mitts on some Makita tools at demo stations and learn more from engineering exhibits.

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Here’s another compressor deal from Ace Tool, this time a Makita.  Ace lists the Makita MAC700 at $150 down from the regular $288.  This compressor has a 12.4A, 2 HP, 2-1/2 gallon oiled single “hot dog style” tank and delivers 3.3 CFM at 90 PSI.  Ace Tool also offers free shipping on this unit which beats out all other vendors I could find — including Amazon!

Makita MAC700 [Makita]
Makita MAC700 [Ace Tool Online]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
Via Amazon [What’s this?]

Amazon currently lists the Makita 2012NB at $282.87, which is the cheapest I could find by about $120.  It’s a 12″ portable planer with automated head clamps, a 15A, 8500 RPM motor, a 13″ x 30-3/8″ table, double sided knives, and dust collection ports.  And at 83 dB, it’s (relatively) quiet, too.

Makita 2012NB [Makita]
Via Amazon [What’s this?]
Street Pricing [Google Products]

I have a Milaukee model, and there’s always Porter Cable’s oft-mistaken-as-the-tool’s-real-name Porta-Band.  Now Makita’s offering an 18V cordless model: the BPB180.  Seriously, if you don’t yet own a portable band saw of one model or another, you should.  Read on for more about this one.

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Here’s one unusual little belt sander: it’s designed for sanding/filing in tight spaces with a belt that’s as narrow as 1/4″.  With variable speed via a control dial — ranging from 980 to 5,600 feet per minute — this looks like an incredibly useful tool that’d dramatically simplify detail sanding work.

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The Makita Shear Wrench is a 10-pound screw-snapping monster.  It applies over 600 ft./lbs. of torque to shear off extra bits of fastener up to 7/8” in diameter all day long.  Is it cool?  You bet.  Do we need one?  Not really – then again that’s never stopped us before.

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This (relatively) new 70-pound breaker hammer from Makita features a counterbalance system that reportedly reduces vibration to only 8 m/s^2 — significantly lower than that of competitors.  The result: it smashes more concrete and less of your arms and shoulders.

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