Makita BHP451 LXT 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Hammer Driver Drill Review

BHP451 Did you ever pick up a tool and it just feels right? That's this drill. It sits properly in the palm of your hand, and has perfect balance-whether horizontal or vertical. This is a rare thing, and when you drive 1,000 deck screws with it you really appreciate the intelligent engineering that went into it. Oh sure it has the ability to knock out 25,000 hammer blows per minute at 1,700 rpm- but with the integrated electric brake you can just as easily drive drywall screws while sinking the screw head precisely where you want it. I've used it to drill in the concrete foundation of the house to anchor a toilet (making it much less of the thrill ride it used to be, thank you), and it did the job effortlessly. The drill is covered with a rubberized finish (Makita blue, of course), and when you sit it down it stays put, surviving the occasional bump that would send a lesser tool flying off the bathroom vanity and onto the floor.

There's an integrated belt clip by the battery- and of course it can be easily removed or switched to the other side. It's very easy to hang without looking on your belt, pocket or toolbelt, which has come in handy time and time again when I was convinced I needed three hands to get that sheet of drywall up. It also has a light, which I was sure was just a cheesy addon, but I've learned that you can actually see the screw head when you're upside down in the cabinet without holding a flashlight in your teeth.

And then there's the chuck. Growing up I lost a lot of chuck keys- much to Dad's great annoyance. There's no key! The chuck jaws ratchet down on the bit- no additional tools necessary. The side grip twists on and off effortlessly, and the depth rod makes repeated precision drilling a snap. The battery and charging system are computerized- it actually knows which battery is which and how to charge it to get the maximum life out of the already phenomenally long lived lithium ion cells. Take a look at Makita's flyer for more details on that. If you want to save some money and are considering an impact driver, take a look at Makita LXT202 BHP451 18 Volt Hammer Drill & BTD140 18 Volt Impact Driver Lithium-Ion Combo Kit- the impact driver is rock solid, and the battery on one can serve as a backup for the other in a pinch.
Manual for you here.

You can find it at Amazon here:

	Bare-Tool Makita BDA350Z 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 3/8-Inch Angle Drill (Tool Only, No Battery) List Price: $270.00 Sale Price: $129.65 Average Rating: