The first time I saw a Makita Lithium at the tool store, I picked it up and just assumed it was a display model and didn't have a battery. It was so light! It had been my experience that you needed a heavy 18 volt tool to do the job. I really like the way the tool felt and then realized, it did have the battery in it and what's more it was an 18 volt!
There is no question that the Makita Lithium line has really been at the forefront of lithium power tools. Their Makita LXT series continues to be one of the best selling lithium drills in the market.
Why would you get rid of your old cordless tool and switch to a Makita Lithium tool? Well for starters, who doesn't like shopping for tools? But these new lithium tools offer real benefits for anyone who spends time working with cordless tools. The very first benefit you will notice is the weight. Because the lithium battery is able to hold the same amount of energy in a smaller package, you have a large weigh savings right away. Don't under estimate the value of a lighter weight tool. You may not notice the difference if you drive in two screws and then put it away, but if you use the tool all day, that weight will add to fatigue. Try this, hold a 3 pound tool at arm's length and a 2 pound tool in the other hand at arm's length, you will get the point in a couple of minutes. Now, how many minutes a day do you use that tool?
Lithium tools in general including the Makita Lithium tools have some other benefits. With the ability to hold more energy, you can not only get longer run times, but the run times will be more useful. How so? A typical NiCad battery will start losing power as it starts to lose it's charge. You have probably noticed this if you have been driving a lot of deck screws or lag bolts, you still have juice but the tool is driving slower and may not even have enough power to drive the screw home. This becomes even more evident as your battery packs begin to age. With a lithium battery, the battery will maintain it's power for almost the full charge. All of a sudden, it will stop and it's time to charge, but you maintained full power through the cycle.
Another benefit that the Makita Lithium tool will offer you is the battery itself has more life cycles than you Nicad battery will have. You can check out the various manufactures, I have some numbers that show the batteries having considerably more life cycles (charge up and run down) which is a real plus.
The most common complaint on lithium tools including the Makita Lithium is the cost. I thought the same thing at first, but check again, the price has really started to drop on the lithium tools.
In conclusion, if it is time for you to consider a cordless tool, consider trying a lithium tool. The above mentioned benefits are real and tangible that you can use the first day on the job with a lithium tool.
