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When I conducted a specs comparison between Makita’s XGT and 18V LXT cordless hammer drill and impact driver combo kit two years ago, I missed something.
In that post, I reported:
Both 18V and XGT drills are said to deliver the same 1,250 in-lbs of max torque.
This is true. Makita USA does advertise both the XPH14 18V hammer drill and GFD01 XGT hammer drill as delivering 1,250 in-lbs max torque.
I also wrote:
The 18V and XGT hammer drills have the same max torque
However, as I recently learned, this does not appear to be true.
It has come to my attention that the two drills deliver different max fastening torque specs.
Power tool brands typically advertise their cordless drills according to max fastening torque, or at least this has been my long-time understanding.
Makita, however, seems to be advertising these two drills using a different “peak torque” measurement.
Here are more detailed torque figures for Makita’s flagship model 18V LXT and XGT cordless hammer drills, according to international brochures and specs tables:
| Makita 18V | Makita XGT | |
|---|---|---|
| Peak Torque | 141 Nm 1250 in-lbs |
141 Nm 1250 in-lbs |
| Max Tightening Torque | 130 Nm 1150 in-lbs |
140 Nm 1240 in-lbs |
I have seen the 18V LXT model’s max fastening torque listed at a lower value of 125 Nm in some of Makita’s product pages, but for the sake of this post we’ll use the higher value of 130 Nm.
This chart compares the max tightening torque and advertised max torque for Makita’s highest torque 18V and XGT cordless hammer drills.
Maximum fastening torque is usually measured using battery-powered drills and rundown adapters that simulate different types of fastening joints.
How is this other “peak” torque metric determined, if not by maximum fastening torque?
Why are both drills advertised here as delivering 1,250 in-lbs of max torque when different values are advertised elsewhere?
Makita Canada, for example, advertises their 18V hammer drill as delivering 1,150 in-lbs (130 Nm) max torque, and their XGT hammer drill as delivering 1,240 in-lbs (140 Nm) max torque. This agrees with specs tables from other international regions where Makita lists these same maximum fastening torque values alongside “peak” torque values of 141 Nm, (1,250 in-lbs).
To sum things up, here in the USA, Makita advertises their flagship 18V and XGT hammer drills as delivering 1,250 in-lbs max torque. But when you look at the more detailed torque specs that Makita advertises in other markets for the equivalent international model drills, the 18V LXT model has a lower max fastening torque than the XGT model.
Advertised torque specs of 1,250 in-lbs for both models suggest comparable if not identical torque capabilities. But outside of Makita USA’s product literature, this is shown to not be true, as the maximum fastening torque values are different.
The XGT drill’s max fastening torque spec (140 Nm/1,240 in-lbs) is very close to its advertised peak torque value (141 Nm/1,250 in-lbs). However, the 18V LXT drill’s max fastening torque spec (130 Nm/1150 in-lbs) is quite a bit off from its advertised peak torque value (141 Nm/1,250 in-lbs).
Why?
