MAKITA 40 VOLT: Should You Ditch Your 18 Volt Now?

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Disclaimer:
These videos are intended to provide information and inspiration only. If you choose to imitate, duplicate or copy anything you may have observed in these videos, you do so at your own risk. Scott Brown Carpentry Ltd does not take any responsibility for any action taken as a result of the information or advice on this YouTube channel and shall not have any liability in respect of any injury or damage that may result.

[kym]

I'm a builder with 20 years experience. I started with Makita, went to Hitachi, tried Dewalt. Back to Makita then Milwaukee now back to Makita. One thing I should have done is stayed with the tools you rely on and never let you down and that is Makita.
"Give me my Makita back Mac"
Great video

[robbieg]

I've been using Makita tools for the last 15 years. I have over a dozen different 18v tools that work fantastic and have taken years of abuse. Hopefully you all jump aboard the latest and greatest so I can pick up some cheap deals.

[jeffbarrett]

A little electrical theory:
Remember the WAV.
Watts = Amps x Volts.

Electrical motors run on watts. More volts in the battery have no direct bearing on motor strength.

Also, Makita has gone to labeling these tools based maximum voltage, not nominal voltage. So Makita 18v could also have been labeled 20v in this theory, which is what DeWalt does. Same batteries. Same potential energy. Different marketing.

The Makita 36v (18x2) tools are theoretically using the same motors as the new 40v platform. The motors consume a certain amount of watts by drawing a certain voltage, which requires a certain Amperage of current flow.

An 18v tool motor can be just as powerful as a 40v motor, but it requires more amperage of current, which requires larger conductors and electrical engineering to deal with the higher current.

A 40v (36v) motor is able to consume the same wattage as an 18v motor with lower amperage current, requiring simpler and smaller electrical conductors and engineering.

Scott says in this video that he is experiencing better run time on the impact driver.

Based on theory, this is not due to the 40v feature. It is due to improvements in the motor efficiency and the battery charge density from older Makita components to newer components. Also, the batteries will have some degrading of charge density over time, including these new 40v batteries.

Further, all else being equal, a 40v 4Ah battery can provide equivalent energy to an 18v 8Ah battery. Makita doesn't make an 18v 8Ah battery. 6Ah is their biggest, so the 40v just has more capacity in this regard. The 40v 2.5Ah produces equivalent energy to the 18v 5Ah battery, all else being equal.

The 40v system from Makita represents two things:

1) A condensing of components from the 36v (x2) line for lighter weight.
Same motors work in theory. All else being equal, the 40v sawzall with a 4Ah battery has LESS energy capacity (watts available/power, amp hours/run time) than the 36v sawzall with two 18v 5Ah batteries. 18v 5Ah x 2 = 40v 10Ah. But the 40v is more compact/potentially lighter.

2) Makita is putting out their latest tech in the 40v system, so you get the most efficient motors, best storage density batteries, etc.

All this is just to help ground the discussion and clear away the Marketing lingo. The 40v system looks great. I am a construction pro and am heavily invested in the 18v system in the states. 40v isn't here much yet. If I switch over, it won't be because 40v is better than 18v. It will be because the 40v system is where Makita is producing their best new innovations of design and motor efficiency.

[PixelSchmiede]

Really appreciate how transparent you are about sponsorships or gifted products! Makes it way more authentic and convincing. Overall I always feel like you’re really giving your honest opinion, even if it might be distorted by the fact that you’re gifted some of the products! :)

[andykinghorn]

Hi Scott, Perhaps one of the reasons Makita are still staying with the 18 volt option is to service the home handyman market and to provide an on going service to the customers who have previously purchased 18 volt gear. Loving your work, bloody proud of you. Uncle Andy.

[deathdeny]

When 40v price goes down, I'll consider switching over, it's just a bit too expensive in Canada right now

[ExodusNZ]

When I first saw the announcement of 40v coming, I thought they would do the same thing Dewalt did with the 54volt system, making it cross compatible. Being able to run an 18v tool with the higher capacity battery means you dont have to choose between the two. Lost market on Makita for not doing the same thing.

[nap]

as a DIY homeowner i’m about as deep into 18v as I can be: drill, impact, multi, tracksaw, lawnmower, even got the weird couple shaft with a weed whacker, articulating hedge trimmer, and paddle sweep. i’m hoping the 40v will just drive down the price of the 18s so that I can just keep growing haha (like I hope they offer that drop saw in 18)

[sammartinez]

My first Makita was a 12 volt drill. I bought this to drive sheet rock screws on an overhead sheet rock job. Bought in 1986 and used it till the battery couldn't be bought any more. Second was black and decker and wore it out. Third is 18 volt Dewalt drill. Now I want 18 or 40 driver drill. Big improvement over just using any drill for screws and lags. Thanks for your channel.

[chefsteven]

A word of appreciation to Makita for helping out the SBC crew. Tools are quite the investment, & when a company steps forward, by providing a valuable product, it says job well done. Congratulations guys.

[genep.]

I have mostly 18 volt tools. I love them for work around the house and yard, they do what i need them to do, so ill be staying with 18 volt for now . I don't feel like i need 40 volt for what i do here at home. I do have a 40 volt lawn mower and i love it, it mows my entire yard on one charge. Another great episode, thanks.

[joefowler]

I remember back in 2003 when i was starting out. I bought my first drill driver, it was a makita 9.6v with 1.3ah nicd batteries.
I also bought a 7.2v makita driver, the one with the long batteries that fitted inside the handle.

[daverossy]

I think Makita missed a trick not allowing backwards compatibility.

For example, all the 54v dewalt stuff you can use 54v batteries on 18v tools with no adapter, so you can start to move to the 54v stuff but not have to change every tool and battery you own at once.

[christopher]

The Canon analogy perfectly illustrates how planned obsolescence combined with hyper-materialism can be a cash cow for corporations. I’m sure all this consumption and waste will have a positive impact on the environment.

[garrettthornton]

I upgraded from craftsman to makita 18v about a year ago and use them for renovations around my house and they work great, so wont rebuy them all again anytime soon. I can see why a pro builder would want to upgrade. Thanks as always for sharing!

[markkaren]

Hi Scott, I like the idea of the 40volt, but if I'm to change my Makita 18volt system over then all of the brand's are now open for consideration! It takes longer enough to build up a tool range as it is, I'm staying with my 18volt until most of it dies. Great vids mate👍

[mickromer]

I'm a diesel mechanic who uses Makita aswell as have a lot of garden Makita for home.. untill they give us mechanics a few more 40v gear I'll have to stick with 18v especially since they just launched the grease gun.. love your vids btw man have been watching for about a year now love seeing all the Makita gear I don't get to use haha

[johnlovell]

Hi Scott I am 4 months into my carpentry apprenticeship at 17 years old I am new to the channel love you videos. I am currently doing site work in England (uk) but I eventually would like to make my own company and do refurb work like you.

[carlreed]

if you like the 40v over the 18v, I reckon you should try the 110v or maybe even the 240v system. I'm sure it will catch on. A ton of power, chunky and never ever runs out of power- ha

[MD-enzm]

I’ve gone the other direction in many ways. I started with 18V, but recently added 12V. I use both - depends on which tools I’m using. The smaller size is really nice for some things. There isn’t really any advantage to higher voltage for low power draw tools. For some tools though, I do use higher voltage - I have some 60V DeWalt and 36V Metabo HPT as well as Makita 36V (2x18V). For things like larger angle grinders, circular saws, etc., the extra voltage gives you more power and/or longer run times.

The Makita coffee maker runs off 18V (or 12V) - wish that one would use 40V too since it eats batteries at 18V.