Makita’s new 18V sub-compact brushless 3/8″ impact wrench, XWT12ZB, seems to be dropping soon.
This little guy features a brushless motor, 3/8″ drive size, compact design, 130 ft-lbs max torque, and 2 speed and torque settings. It also has a special “reverse rotation auto-stop” mode, which stops rotation and impact action when a fastener is adequately loosened.
The new sub-compact brushless impact measures 5-5/8″ long and weighs 2.7 lbs with a battery pack (not included). From the looks of it, and what we know about Makita’s other sub-compact brushless tools, it will pair best with a compact 2.0Ah battery pack.
Makita shows the new 3/8″ impact wrench being used in heavy duty applications, such as on lug nuts as shown here.
It’s a little surprising, but welcome, that they opted to make this a 3/8″ wrench, and not just 1/4″.
Price: $159 for the bare tool
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Makita’s 18V sub-compact lineup so far includes a drill, impact driver, rotary hammer, and reciprocating saw.
First Thoughts
130 ft lbs converts to 1560 in-lbs, which is very competitive with full-sized compact impact wrenches.
What are the downsides? The best user experience will likely require pairing the tool with a compact battery pack, which could mean an extra expense for some users. But is that really a downside?
Looks to me like a nice effort by Makita to expand their 18V sub-compact lineup with another useful tool.