We take a look at the strongest drill bits available in our best cordless hammer drill review article. Makita just happens to make one of the few cordless drills that breaks the 1,000 inch-pounds of torque barrier. The Makita XPH07T Impact Drill makes the list with 1,090 inch-pounds of thrust.
Several of Makita's most powerful cordless tools use the 18V X2 LXT platform powered by two 18V batteries. The 18V X2 LXT Circular Saw is one that we reviewed and really liked. However, to get that much torque out of their heavy-duty hammer drills, it's just a matter of pairing a battery with the BL brushless motor.
Makita XPH07T rotary hammer first impression
Before I had a chance to unbox the Makita XPH07T, the first thing I noticed was the length of the side handles. This is easily the longest I've ever used. Makita has been intentionally adjusting the ratio of torque to handle length for better control of the tool. hey i'm fine. While this might be a bit disconcerting, even a joke, it does make for a more consistent drilling experience under load.
Picking up a hammer drill for the first time, I considered the weight. It's not heavy for its size, but it's not compact and lightweight either. I attribute this to the durability of the all metal gears and gearbox. The rest of the ergonomics on hand are as good as expected. Installing a 5.0 amp-hour battery creates a well-balanced tool. The handle fits the size of my hand perfectly, and the rubber overmolding helps with comfort.
After just 45 minutes of charging the battery with Makita's Rapid Optimum Charger, I installed the side handles and got to work.
Makita XPH07T impact drill performance
After testing other heavyweights in the cordless drill world, the Makita will get the same treatment. That means testing with a spade drill and a hole saw. The stress-treated pines were the victims of the day.
I started with a 1" spade bit with a Makita XPH07T on high speed mode. Most drills I've used can handle 1" thread spade bits before going to low speed, so this is a pretty good baseline to start with. As expected, the impact drill drilled through 2x material with ease and without any issues.
What stands out right away is how fluid the acting is. Just tested another drill that had no appreciable runout but had appreciable vibration transfer and it was a pleasant finding. Even without the side handle support installed, it's still smooth. This was a common experience across all of our tests.
Tested with a 1-1/2″ spade bit
Continuing with the 1-1/2" spade bit, I went into low speed mode. Again, no issues chewing through the PT. Drilling time was slightly longer than other bits we've used, but still very smooth compared to others.
hole saw drilling
For the hole saws, I go straight for the 4-1/4 inch big boys. It's worth mentioning that the Makita XPH07T is only available for 3" hole saws. We know we've gone beyond the scope of the advice and I've certainly incorporated that into my opinion. As we experienced, the hammer drill cuts smoothly. Although I was able to get through the cut, it stopped several times along the way.
So why can't a drill with 1,090 inch-pounds of torque cut? It's in transmission optimization. With such a wide range of possible applications, you must pick and choose how to deliver power through your transmission. The good news is, you'll love this hole saw drill up to 3 inches. While it's beyond the recommended range, we think you can increase it to 3-1/2 inches with premium accessories.
Since we don't really want to tear up our shop floor, I haven't tested hammer drill performance – not yet. We'll be introducing some concrete specifically for this in our Heavy Drill Wars, so keep an eye out for it in the coming months!
in conclusion
While it's no longer the highest torque drill on the market, the Makita XPH07T kit really stands out for how smooth it is for drilling and boring applications. Just like we found in their compact miter saws, this is a feature that started to define our Makita experience. We really like that Makita has equipped this unit with a pair of 5.0 amp-hour batteries. Extra long handle, although I haven't run out of single liners, it does work.
One area where some users might like to see improvements with hammer drills is weight. At 5.9 pounds, it's heavier than some of its competitors. But if it means I have to trade off some durability or smooth drilling, I'll live with the extra weight. The Makita XPH07T is a solid premium kit that is definitely aimed at professional users. If you're already on the system, you can pick it up bare-bones for $149. If you've had it for a while, you'll get a couple of 5.0 amp-hour batteries and a Rapid Optimum charger with the kit.
Makita XPH07T 1/2″ Hammer Drill Kit Specifications
- Capacity (Masonry/Steel/Wood): 5/8 in | 1/2 in | 3 in
- No-load speed: 0 – 550 / 0 – 2,100 RPM
- Blows per minute: 0 – 8,250 / 0 – 31,500 BPM
- Maximum torque: 1,090 in-lbs.
- Battery: 18V LXT lithium-ion battery
- Overall Length: 8-1/8″
- Net Weight: 5.9 lbs.
- Kit Warranty: 3-year limited
- XPH07Z bare metal price: $149
- XPH07T kit price: $349
Makita XPH07T 1/2″ Hammer Drill Kit Includes
- 18V LXT BL 1/2″ Hammer Drill (XPH07Z)
- (2) 18V LXT Li-Ion 5.0Ah batteries (BL1850)
- 18V Li-Ion Fast Optimized Charger (DC18RC)
- Depth gauge (122576-8)
- Tool belt clip (346317-0)
- toolbox
- XPH07 side handle (126413-8)