A new line of Makita 40V Max XGT cordless power tools are launching this month in the USA, following the lineup’s international launch a couple of months ago. A reader (thank you Trevor!) sent us a tip that Makita has already started to expand their XGT product selection with a new cordless brad nailer design.
Learn More: Makita 40V Max XGT Cordless Power Tools USA Launch Details
Note: The new Makita 40V Max XGT brad nailer has only been announced overseas and has NOT yet been announced in the USA. Since the 40V Max platform is just launching here, the brad nailer won’t be immediately available, although I do expect a tool like this to be on the USA roadmap.
Makita’s XGT cordless brad nailer can work with nails 15 to 40mm in length (~5/8″ to ~1-1/2″). What’s interesting is that the maximum nail size falls short of the specs for Makita’s 18V cordless brad nailer, which is said to be able to drive nails up to 2″ long.
However, the new XGT brad nailer appears to be much more compact than the 18V nailer. In fact, it more closely resembles the size and ergonomics of Makita’s 18V cordless pin nailer than their brad nailer.
Makita’s 18V brad nailer was announced internationally in August of 2014, and so the XGT model benefits from nearly 7 years of cordless tech advancements. The new XGT nailer also (of course) features a brushless motor.
The XGT brad nailer is said to be ultra-compact and lightweight, weighing 2.6 kg (~5.73 lbs).
Makita says that a counterweight mechanism offsets the rebound force for a high quality finish. This should help to prevent the nailer from bouncing off the worksurface and then impacting it again, after firing a nail and before the user can release pressure.
It also features adjustable driving depth, a 100 nail magazine with capacity monitoring window.
Key Features & Specifications
- 18 gauge brad nailer
- 5 nail sizes, 15 – 40mm nail range (~5/8″ – 1-1/2″)
- Weighs 2.6 kb (5.73 lbs) with 2.5Ah battery
- Counterweight mechanism to reduce rebound force
- Spring drive motor
- Drives over 5,000 nails with 2.5Ah battery
- Depth drive adjustment
- 100 nail magazine capacity
- Anti-dry fire mechanism
- LED worklight
The runtime seems especially impressive.
Makita’s 18V nailer (XNB01) is said to be able to drive up to 1,660 nails per 5.0Ah battery charge. Their 40V Max XGT 2.5Ah battery has the same energy capacity (watt-hours), and can drive over 5,000 nails. This is a huge difference!
The 18V version also weighs 7.7 lbs with battery, and so with the 40V Max version Makita managed to shave off 25.6% of the weight. Or, looking at things from the other direction, the existing 18V brad nailer is 34.4% heavier than the new XGT nailer.
To sum things up, the Makita 40V Max XGT series cordless brad nailer is more compact than the 18V version, it’s appreciably lighter, and it boasts improved runtimes.
The 18V nailer’s runtime is for attaching plywood to Douglas fir with 5/8″ to 2″ nail. There are no details for how the 40V Max nailer’s runtime claims are determined, but given the brushless motor a runtime efficiency boost is expected.
There is a tradeoff as the 40V Max XGT brad nailer can only drive brad nails up to 40mm in length (~1-1/2″).
40mm could possibly translate to a maximum driving depth of 1-5/8″ rather than 1-1/2″, but it’s still not the 50mm/2″ capacity of the 18V nailer. However, the size, weight, and runtime benefits more than make up for that for users that don’t quite need to be able to sink 2″ brad nails.
Bare Tool: FN001GZ
Kit: FN001GM102
The kit comes with 1x 2.5Ah battery, rapid charger with LXT adapter, and Makpac 3 tool case.
It’s interesting that the kit comes with the XGT to LXT charging adapter, although it’s probably baked into the price. This way, if an 18V LXT user buys the kit, they’re ready to go without having to hunt down the accessory as an add-on.
There’s no word as to the price.
One last time, this new Makita XGT brad nailer was NOT announced in the USA, it has only yet been announced overseas. Still, it presents a clue as to the direction the XGT is heading, at least with respect to handheld cordless power tools.
See More: Makita 40V Max XGT Cordless Power Tool News
Here’s an intro video by Makita Japan:
