When Makita recently introduced the 18-volt XT255M 18V LXT combo kit for fastening and routing drywall, I couldn’t wait to give it a test drive. I’ve used cordless drywall screw guns and routers before, but they weren’t powered by lithium-ion batteries. The kit includes the model XSF03 screw gun and the XOC01 router, powered by 4-amp-hour batteries. Both tools have reinforced my opinion that going cordless can give drywallers a huge boost in productivity.
XSF03 DRYWALL SCREW GUN
Like conventional corded screw guns, the brushless XSF03 has an inline grip on the motor housing, a two-finger trigger with a lock-on button, a magnetic insert-bit holder that prevents screws from falling off the bit, and a nosepiece that works as an adjustable depth stop and pulls off for extracting screws or driving in tight places.
The tool also has the usual spring-loaded clutch that isolates the bit holder from the motor until you push a screw tip against the drywall, allowing you to feed screws onto the bit with the trigger locked on. But the XSF03 adds a unique “Push Drive” mode. When you pull or lock-on the trigger in this mode, the motor doesn’t even run until you push the screw tip against the drywall. This makes your jobsites quieter and saves battery life.
The tool also has an LED headlight, which is nice for working in closets. You can turn it off if you don’t need it. Like other screw guns, the tool has a belt hook up top, but it also comes with an extra hook that can mount to either side of the base, another feature that I really like.
The XSF03 is comfortable, well-balanced, and pretty quiet. According to Makita, in internal testing, it drove 1,800 screws through 1/2-inch drywall into 20-gauge steel studs on a single charge. I didn’t test this claim, but I’ve installed drywall with the tool almost all day and haven’t had to change batteries.
A fuel gauge on the base of the tool helps you avoid a sudden loss of power. The batteries fully recharge in about 40 minutes. Thankfully, they’re easy to swap. This might not seem important, but I’ve found that the batteries on some cordless tools can be difficult to remove after they’ve been exposed to drywall dust.
XOC01 DRYWALL ROUTER
I haven’t used a cordless drywall router since I owned a Senco model years ago. When that died and the model was discontinued, I adjusted to using a corded model again. Until I started testing Makita’s new XOC01, I hadn’t realized how much I missed the cordless freedom when cutting outlet, door, and window openings.
The XOC01 spins drywall bits at the industry-standard 30,000 rpm, so it has plenty of speed. As for runtime, Makita claims that the tool can cut the openings for 100 single-gang outlets per charge. I didn’t count, but that seems like a reasonable estimate. To install or remove a bit, you can simply remove the adjustable shoe and use it as a collet wrench (see photo, page 82, top right). That’s really important to me, because when a bit breaks I want to be able to replace it quickly. A longer wrench is also included with the kit in case you need more leverage.
On the downside, the router, unlike the screw gun, doesn’t have an LED light or a battery fuel gauge. I also wish it (and other drywall routers) had a belt hook so I could alternate between fastening and routing without having to set the tools down.
Makita sells an optional vacuum attachment (part number 193455-7) for this tool, but I haven’t tried it.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Both of these tools have the power and runtime I need to get the job done, along with some slick user-friendly features. But the tools are normally used together and waiting for one of the two batteries in the kit to recharge is not an option. If you buy the XT255M kit and plan to do big jobs, you might want to buy an extra battery or two. The kit costs $400 and also includes a charger, two Phillips insert bits, two drywall bits, the collet wrench, and a contractor bag. Makita provides a 3-year warranty for the tools and a 1-year warranty for the batteries. Both tools are also sold in their own separate kits and as bare tools.
Myron Ferguson is a drywall contractor in Middle Grove, N.Y., and presents the Residential Drywall clinic at JLC Live.
