Makita has quietly announced their new 18V cordless drywall sander via social media channels. The new cordless drywall sander, XLS01Z for the bare tool and XLS01T for the kit, works with 9″ sanding discs and is “AWS capable.”
It’s a direct-drive sander, with the motor positioned behind the sanding head. The Makita XLS01 features a removable dust brush, gliding wheels, a swivel head, and constant speed control. A variable speed dial allows for speed adjustment from 1000 to 1800 RPM.
Runtime is said to be up to 35 minutes with a 5.0Ah battery and using 120 grit abrasive discs.
To take advantage of AWS functionality, you need an optional Bluetooth transmitter (198901-5, $75 via Amazon), and an AWS-equipped Makita dust extractor vacuum, such as the XCV08Z (tool-only, $509 via Amazon as of the time of this posting, not including 2x 18V batteries.) The AWS functionality allows compatible Makita cordless power tools to wirelessly activate compatible Makita vacuums.
The 9″ cordless drywall sander has an adjustable extension pipe that can extend up to 16-1/2″. An optional extension handle add-on can extend the reach by an “additional 22-3/4.” The dimensions are listed as being 59-3/4″ x 10-1/4″ x 10-3/4″.
- Soft start
- 2-position soft-grip handles
- Weighs 10.7 lbs with battery
- 75 dB(A) operating sound level
- 1000 to 1800 RPM
- Flexible swivel head
- 8-1/4″ sanding pad size
- 8-hole soft sanding pad with hook and loop
- Medium and hard density sanding pads are available separately
- Carrying bag and tray are included for transportation and storage
Price: $509 for the bare tool, $699 for the 2-battery kit
Buy Now(Bare Tool via Tool Nut)
Buy Now(Bare Tool via Acme Tools)
Buy Now(Kit via Tool Nut)
See Also(AWS Transmitter via Amazon)
Compare(Festool Planex Drywall Sander via Acme Tools)
Compare(Porter Cable 7800 Drywall Sander via Amazon)
Discussion
After seeing Makita’s launch announcement on Instagram (I guess it’s not a big enough new tool for a press release?), Fred sent over a copy of Makita’s public newsletter (thank you Fred!), which describes the new Makita drywall sander as the world’s first cordless drywall sander. They advertise that users can increase productivity and mobility.
What I find curious is that the new Makita weighs more than the Festool Planex (single piece design). The Festool is said to have a 62.99″ length and 8.8 lb weight, compared to Makita’s 59-3/4″ length and 10.7 lb weight. It also weighs more than the Porter Cable 7800 corded sander, which is advertised as weighing 8.5 lbs.
These tools are designed to work with dust collection. So while you’re not tethered by a power cord, there will usually be a vacuum hose to contend with.
When you pair a corded sander with a dust vac that has a sensing power outlet, the vac will turn on automatically with the tool. Makita’s AWS system replicates this functionality, but requires an AWS-capable tool (which this is), an AWS Bluetooth transmitter module (not included but available for ~$75), and an AWS-compatible vacuum.
At the time of this posting, Makita has 3 AWS-compatible vacuums that we could find, the XCV10 18V X2 backpack vac with 1/2 gallon capacity ($419 without batteries via Amazon), the XCV08 18V X2 2.1 gallon vac ($509 without batteries via Amazon, also available as a kit), and the XCV16 18V X2 4 gallon vac.
I can see the benefits of having a cordless drywall sander. And, you don’t have to use Makita’s AWS vacuum system.
I’ve used Makita cordless power tools with a Festool CT dust extractor and their new Bluetooth remote. I can appreciate the solution that Makita came up with, but like the freedom of being able to use different vacuum systems. With Festool’s solution, you have to hit the remote to turn on the vac. It’s not as effortless as automatic activation, but it’s nowhere as clunky as having to reach over and turn the vac on and off.
If you want automatic activation, Makita offers it, but it’ll require buying an AWS-equipped Makita vacuum and an AWS Bluetooth transmitter module for the tool. For what it’s worth, I like that there’s only one SKU for the drywall sander. With the new Makita miter saws, you have to pay more for the AWS-capable model, and as per Makita USA’s product descriptions, that model doesn’t even come with the AWS module needed for wireless vacuum activation. With this new drywall sander, it’s AWS-capable, which means you only have to buy the transmitter if you want AWS activation.
I don’t know how I feel about the new sander, but then again I haven’t used a drywall sander before. In theory, losing a power cord is always nice. But for a tool that is almost always used with a vacuum or dust extractor
Festool has a [much pricier] Planex drywall sander (LHS 225/575219) that can be broken down, allowing it to fit in tight spaces and smaller tool boxes, but at the expense of greater weight compared to their single-piece sander. The new Makita XLS01 cordless drywall sander weighs a little more than that Festool Planex with one extension installed, and nearly 2 lbs more than Festool’s one-piece sander (LHS-E 225/571935).
I wonder if up to 35 minutes is sufficient runtime for a tool like this. But, I think Makita made the right call in making this an 18V tool rather than an 18V X2 tool, since as it is the new sander is around 2 lbs heavier than popular corded sanders.
Pros
- Cordless operation
- Adjustable extension tube
- Users can further extend reach with optional accessories
- Automatic vacuum activation is possible with additional Makita accessories and equipment
Cons
- Automation vacuum activation is only possible with additional Makita accessories and equipment
- Weighs more than popular corded sanders
- Limited runtime
Makita’s XCV08Z vac is rated at up to 40 minutes of runtime with (2) 5.0Ah batteries. The new drywall sander is said to provide up to 35 minutes of runtime with (1) 5.0Ah battery. For simplicity’s sake, that means you have to swap 3 batteries after 35 minutes of work.
At the time of this posting, I can’t find any Makita corded vacs with built-in AWS functionality, only cordless ones.
35 minutes might be enough to prep one room’s worth of drywall (right? wrong?), but is that enough for a job?
When moving around, you have the sander, which isn’t small regardless of brand, you have a hose attached to it, and you have a vac. Is having a cordless sander really that much better than a corded sander and corded vacuum combo where the tool is plugged into the vac and the vac into a wall outlet?
Makita has come out with some innovative cordless power tools before, such as their drywall cut-out saw. I’d like to think that their new cordless drywall sander is in response to user demands, and maybe it’s my lack of experience in this category that makes me wonder if it’s really better than a corded solution.
I’m a big fan of automatic-vacuum-activating power tool setups. In such configurations, a tool is connected to a vacuum so that dust can be captured as it’s created, and releasing the tool trigger or switch powers down the vacuum as well.
Which is the more appealing setup, a corded drywall sander with any compatible corded vacuum, or the new Makita cordless drywall sander (with optional AWS transmitter) paired with a cordless Makita AWS-compatible vacuum? How often is drywall sanding work done in an environment where AC electrical power is not available?
As mentioned, I can see the benefits of the Makita setup, but I find myself very strongly leaning towards thinking that a traditional corded tool setup might be better for most users. I should again mention that I don’t use this kind of tool to earn a living.
I find myself believing that the new Makita XLS01 cordless drywall sander almost requires that the user buy deeper into the AWS system. Of course you don’t have to, you can pair it with any properly-sized and featured vac, corded or cordless, but then you would have to manually operate any non-AWS vacuum. It’s been years since I’ve used an electric sander without automatic activation of my dust vac, except for when I’m testing cordless sanders in which case I still at least have remote activation at the end of the hose, and it’s not something I can easily give up. So, that’s why I keep focusing on the AWS and automatic vacuum activation aspect of the sander. This gives me somewhat of an “all or nothing” mentality.
If you use drywall sanders regularly, what’s your take on the new Makita? Could it replace your current sander?
Also, does anyone know if a single AWS transmitter can be easily swapped between one or more AWS-capable tools? Makita USA never responded to our questions about this. I’m thinking/hoping that perhaps a single transmitter can be rotated between tools that aren’t needed the same day, as the AWS transmitters are $75-$80 each, but from the product images I’ve seen the module doesn’t look to be easily extracted.
Price: $509 for the bare tool, $699 for the 2-battery kit
Buy Now(Bare Tool via Tool Nut)
Buy Now(Bare Tool via Acme Tools)
Buy Now(Kit via Tool Nut)
See Also(AWS Transmitter via Amazon)
Compare(Festool Planex Drywall Sander via Acme Tools)
Compare(Porter Cable 7800 Drywall Sander via Amazon)
