What’s the angle on Makita’s new cordless fan? It oscillates! Sorry, I figured it’d be least offensive if I started off with the bad pun.
Makita has come out with a new 18V cordless fan, model DCF203Z. It’s a 9-1/4″ fan with 3 speed settings, oscillation selector switch, and 3-stage automatic timer.
Makita says that their new cordless fan is a powerful and portable solution for painters, contractors, and more.
- 9-1/4″ fan size
- Oscillates 45° left and right
- Manual tilt angles 90° up and 45° down
- 3-stage power-off timer with 1 hr, 2hr, 4hr duration settings
- Low/medium/high speed settings
- Runtime of up to:
- 19 hrs at low with 6.0Ah battery
- 15.5 hrs at low with 5.0Ah
- 9.5 hrs at medium with 5.0Ah battery
- 6 hrs at high with 5.0Ah battery
- 16-1/2″ tall x 13″ wide x 5-1/2″ deep
- Weighs 4.2 lbs without battery, 6.92 lbs with battery
- Top handle
- AC Adapter
- Fan cover can be removed for cleaning
Makita says that the fan can be powered using 18V LXT batteries or an AC adapter, which is included.
Price: $99 for the bare tool (battery and charger are sold separately)
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Buy Now(via Ohio Power Tool) – best price as of the time of this posting
Buy Now(via Acme Tools) – second best price as of the time of this posting
Makita also has a smaller cordless oscillating fan, model DCF102Z, priced at ~$80-$85
See Also(Makita 7-1/8″ Oscillating Fan via Amazon)
See Also(Makita 7-1/8″ Oscillating Fan via Tool Nut)
Discussion
In a design like this, there are distinct pros and cons. For the pros, the fan oscillates, which I’d say gives you much more fan coverage than most if not all other cordless jobsite fans. Jobsite fans are small and often have narrow coverage ranges and don’t move a lot of air. With a 90° oscillation range, this fan will give you wider coverage.
Most cordless fans can be easily adjusted or repositioned, but it seems convenient to be able to work in an area and not have to walk back to a fan every time you stray from its narrow aim.
I like the idea of a timer, which might save you from unintentionally depleting a battery you’ll need for something else later in the day. Or, I guess it can be convenient if you are lightly drying an area or ventilating a space.
An AC adapter is included. For something like this, it’s better to have one and not need it, than to need one and not have it. The AC adapter is a wall transformer-style device, and the online user manual shows the fan with 15V DC barrel jack port.
As for the cons, the fan seems to have very limited mounting options. The online product page, flyer, and user manual don’t mention any keyhole slots, hooks, or anything of the sort. So, the fan is most likely meant to be operated on a flat surface.
However, the online user manual shows that, in addition to being able to pivot the fan head up 90° or down 45°, you can also turn it 90° left or right. The oscillating range is still only 45° left and right for a total coverage span of 90°, but you do have quite a bit of flexibility in how the fan is angled and aimed.
Makita’s smaller oscillating fan, DCF102Z, does have a tripod mount on the bottom. But, it’s also considerably smaller than the new DCF203Z fan. The manual for the new fan does not mention a tripod mount or anything of the sort.
Makita does not provide speed or airflow specs for the new fan. They do say it’s designed for reduced wind noise level for quiet operation, which is likely a product of its larger size and lower fan speeds (presumably, and compared to fans with smaller blades). Usually, you can’t step up to a larger fan size and not expect there to be some compromises.
Price-wise, $99 seems fairly reasonable. The price is unsurprisingly a little higher than for Makita’s smaller oscillating fan. In addition to a larger fan size, this new model does come with an AC adapter. If you buy the smaller fan, an AC adapter is not included but is available as an optional accessory.
Overall, it looks like Makita has come out with a convenient new fan that their 18V users might find appealing. But, even if you didn’t buy into Makita’s cordless power tool platform, the AC adapter can get you going in the meantime.
