If you’ve resisted buying a leaf blower because they are noisy and smelly, check out these cordless battery-powered leaf blower kits from Makita. You may decide to put your rake away after all. Let’s take a look at all three offerings to see which one will be the best for you. (Hint: one of them includes a cordless chainsaw, too.)
Makita XBU02Z 18V X2 LXT Lithium-Ion (36V) Brushless Cordless Blower, Bare Tool Only
The Makita XBU02Z cordless blower comes as a bare tool only. That means there are no batteries or charger in the box. But since it runs off two 18V LXT lithium-ion batteries, you could save some money. These batteries are commonly used to power other Makita cordless tools like drills and drivers.
Makita says if you run this blower off BL1850 18-volt 5.0Ah batteries, you’ll get about 29 minutes of operating time. Of course, the batteries included in the kit are 4.0 amp-hours, not 5.0. Users have commented that you can expect at least 15 to 20 minutes’ runtime if you don’t use it the whole time on the highest power setting.
There are 6 power settings total that you control with a dial and the variable speed trigger. Use the lower speeds to blow dry grass clippings. Crank up the power to a maximum of 120mph wind or 473cfm to move leaves. Even when it’s working hard, the blower only generates about60.2dBA of noise. That’s about the same amount of sound during an animated conversation.
The quiet, efficient power of the XBU02Z comes from its brushless motor. Brushless motors run cooler and longer on one charged than carbon-brushed motors. They also have a longer lifetime overall.
The XBU02Z is safe from dust and moisture because it has Makita’s XPT protective seals inside. It weighs only 9.9 pounds with batteries onboard and it measures 38-3/4 inches long. You can extend the nozzle for pinpoint focus or collapse it down for storage.
More features of the Makita XBU02Z cordless blower:
- Covered by Makita’s 30-day money-back satisfaction guarantee and 3-year warranty
- Bare tool only, no batteries, charger, or other accessories included
Makita XBU02PM 18V X2 LXT Lithium-Ion (36V) Brushless Cordless Blower Kit
In the prior review of the bare tool XBU02Z blower, we mentioned that it runs for about 29 minutes on two BL1850 18-volt batteries. With the XBU02PM, you can test that yourself. It’s the same blower, but it comes in a kit with two battery packs and a dual port charger.
If you don’t have 18V battery packs, or yours are already busy powering your other Makita cordless tools, this kit is a nice deal.
Lithium-ion batteries are a great choice for power tools. They are lighter in weight than earlier generation nickel metal hydride batteries. They don’t suffer from memory effect so you can top them off when you take a break. You don’t have to run them dry first. They tolerate the cold well, but need to be protected from too much heat. The Star Computer Protection Controls in the battery, the tool, and the charger help condition the battery packs to avoid over-discharging and overheating. Combined with the brushless motor in the blower, you’ll get the longest runtime possible.
More features of the Makita XBU02PM cordless blower:
- Covered by Makita’s 30-day money-back satisfaction guarantee and 3-year warranty plus 1-year warranty on the batteries
- Comes with two 18V 4.0Ah batteries and a two port DC18RD charger
Makita XT274PM 2 Piece 18V X2 LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Combo Kit
If you want a cordless chainsaw as well as a leaf blower, the XT274PM kit may be exactly what you need. It combines the X2 saw with the same blower we reviewed in the section above. Plus, it includes two 18V 4.0Ah lithium-ion batteries and a two-port charger.
The X2 chainsaw uses 36V of power from the two batteries together. It spins the chain up to 1650 feet per minute for cutting limbs and clearing brush. The guide bar is 12 inches long, perfect for lots of small jobs around the yard.
Even though it’s a power saw, the XCU02Z only makes 89dB(A) of noise, quite a bit less than the average gas-powered chainsaw. The blower is even quieter with just 60dBA of sound pressure.
The x2 chainsaw has a rubberized soft grip handle that reduces vibration to tire you less as you use it. The chain brake activates with pressure on the front hand guard for safety and the electric brake stops the chain when you release the trigger, too.
The saw weighs just 10.1 pounds even with the batteries onboard. The blower weighs a little bit less. What they don’t offer in power they make up for in portability and convenience.
While you’re working hard, the Star Protection Computer Controls keep the motors on both the blower and the saw from burning out on tough jobs. The same system is embedded in the batteries and charger to extend the lifetime and runtime of your batteries.
The X2 saw and the blower are both protected from dust and moisture by Makita’s XPT, or Extreme Protection Technology. This sealed system shields sensitive electronic components inside the tools.
More features of the XT274PM kit:
- Covered by Makita’s 30-day money-back satisfaction guarantee and 3-year warranty plus 1-year warranty on the batteries
- Comes with two BL1840 18V 4.0Ah batteries and a two port DC18RD charger
Recommendation
If you want an all-in-one yard care setup, you may appreciate the convenience of having both a chainsaw and a blower in the Makita XT274PM kit. It comes with the batteries and charger you need to power it. It’s perfect for yard cleanup after storms, after mowing, almost all year round.
If you already have at least two 18V LXT lithium-ion batteries from Makita, you could save money by purchasing the bare tool XBU02Z kit. It contains the cordless chainsaw and no accessories. But keep in mind that if your batteries are more than a couple years old, or of a smaller capacity than 4.0Ah, you’ll probably have a short runtime.
You may end up saving yourself money and frustration by getting the XBU02PM kit that contains both the saw as well as new 4.0Ah battery packs and a two-port charger. The charger can refill both batteries at the same time in under an hour.
Click here to purchase Makita XBU02Z on Amazon.com!
Click here to purchase Makita XBU02PM on Amazon.com!
Click here to purchase Makita XT274PM on Amazon.com!