Tool retailers have announced that Makita USA will soon be launching an 18V version of their XGT 40V Max compact cordless duster, with model number XSA01Z.
The XGT cordless blower is quite the versatile tool, and it’s good to see an 18V one is finally coming out as well.
Makita USA has not yet made any announcements, and I sincerely hope this isn’t a result of their recent “company-wide reduction in force” layoffs. Read More: Makita USA is Cutting Jobs Company-Wide.
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Compact blowers exist, but this is one of the first available to the US market to have a drill-like pistol grip and stubby nose.
I’m not sure what is depicted in Makita USA’s product image – I hope the worker is wearing a dust mask!
I use mine for clearing small areas of sawdust and medium-sized dust and debris. For fine dust, I use a cordless vacuum, to avoid stirring up a cloud of lung-harming particulates.
Makita shows off the duster/blower inflating beach balls and air mattresses, but I haven’t tested mine for that kind of application yet.
The 18V blower looks nearly identical to the XGT 40V Max model (GSA01Z), aside from the absence of an XGT badge at the base.
The specs look to have been copy-and-pasted as well, which isn’t much of a surprise, as this isn’t a very powerful tool that warrants 40V Max (36V nominal) voltage or the high capacity battery cells Makita made available to the XGT platform and not 18V LXT.
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It delivers air speeds of up to 447 MPH and volume up to 39 CFM.
The XGT model claims runtime of up to 50 minutes with a 2.5Ah battery (18V 5Ah equivalent), and the new 18V model is said to deliver up to 55 minutes with a 6.0Ah battery (40V Max 3Ah equivalent).
That’s 10% longer runtime with a 20% higher capacity battery, suggesting the 18V model is not quite as energy efficient, but close enough. Specs for the 18V model with a 5Ah battery would have allowed for more of an apples-to-apples comparison.
The 18V model has a compact length at only 7″, while the XGT model has a compact length at only 7-1/8″. The difference is slight enough to be a conversion rounding error.
Makita promised that they would continue to launch 18V cordless power tools. Is this what they meant, slapping an 18V battery connection to their XGT tool after two years? If I were a Makita 18V cordless power tool user, I think I’d be cool with that.
Price: $190
ETA: mid-June 2023
The new blower comes with:
- 3 Dust Blower Nozzles
- Blower Nozzle, 3 mm (191X11-1)
- Blower Nozzle, 7 mm (191X13-7)
- Blower Nozzle, 13 mm (191X15-3)
- Pinch Valve Nozzle (191X17-9)
- Wide Angle Nozzle (191X19-5)
This should be enough for most users.
I did not buy the USA model of my XGT blower. I ordered my Makita 40V Max cordless blower from Amazon Japan, because they bundled it with more accessories for less money, even taking international shipping into equation.
I should caution you that buying tools from overseas could complicate warranty considerations.
The international version of the Makita cordless duster that I purchased came with a flexible clear extension hose (191X21-8), and a large diameter deflation hose (191X23-4) that attaches to the duster/blower’s intake.
Additional deflation accessories – a rubber attachment (191X25-0) and large attachment (191X27-6) – are also available separately.
If you buy the USA version – which I would recommend for most people – you can track down and buy the additional accessories separately as needed.
Even more accessories are available, such as a long-reach extension (191X78-9).
I would absolutely buy my Makita XGT compact blower again.
If you want to add this to your kit, consider taking advantage of retailers’ promos. Acme, for example, has a Father’s Day discount ($20 off $99+, $40 off $199+) that applies to preorders for the new 18V blower.
AP
I have a Ryobi inflator that I use for the same purpose as this Makita. Very handy to have around!
Eric
Same here. And with being able to get them for $10-$15 on DTO when they have one of their sales I don’t feel bad about having 3 of them spread around the house and shop.
Lyle
What is DTO?
Joe H
Home Depot has Deal of The Day sales…well Daily
Potato
DirectToolsFactoryOutlet
MM
I like the idea of these tools and I hope other manufactures start jumping on the bandwagon and we get more competition in the market. That said, I’ve tried out the XGT version and I don’t find it powerful enough for my needs, but that tool is the first of its kind. They will only get better with time. I view these a lot like the “gun” style cordless pressure washers: great idea, they just need a bit more power.
kent_skinner
That’s a great idea, but $150 is going to be a hard no for me.
I have the M12 compact blower for shop cleaning, but I’d use a pistol grip blower more. I bet the trade guys will all get one, especially if they are available in red or yellow…
Mark M.
Does it generate enough pressure to blow out condensate lines? I’ve seen AC techs carrying bottles of CO2 or nitrogen, curious if this could serve the same purpose.
JR Ramos
I had this question, too…..suspecting that it does not but if the opening can be sealed maybe it’s got enough to build some pressure and shoot out a wad of goo on smaller and/or shorter lines? If Milwaukee comes out with something similar I’ll probably pick one up.
I can’t recall the reason now, but our HVAC guys that service our chiller system use nitrogen for some specific advantage over just air or CO2.
Stuart
I’d say that would be highly unlikely. It’s a decent duster but is way too wimpy for blowing out any obstruction from a condensate line.
Jorhay
My wife really wants one to blow up inflatables, but I don’t know if I can justify that price compared to the Ryobi. I really enjoy having the jobsite blower in the garage, and this form factor would be more convenient. But that price seems ridiculous to me.
Nate
I bet Ryobi will have one relatively quickly. They are good about filling out their line.
Robert
Echo the Dewalt inflator. Very versatile . Once in a while you can find it for in the 90s bare tool. The only thing I worry about devices like these that depend on it sensing and displaying air pressure is how long it will be accurate and stay in calibration. Every so often I compare it’s reading to old school hand held gauges, but they could drift too.
Rog
Ryobi already offers a pistol grip stubby nose blower like this.
Nate
Yep, just saw it.
Adam
Try the DeWalt 20v inflator, I really like mine, super versatile and can blow up just about any inflatable.
MM
I love the Dewalt inflator, it’s just so useful. It has both a low-pressure high-volume section for inflatables and a normal compressor for things like tires. It can run on batteries or a 12V DC cigarette lighter plug out of the box, and it can run on AC with an optional extra cable. It has a built-in light, and the auto-shut-off feature is super handy too. Plus all the accessories store in the unit. It works well and it’s flexible handling everything from truck tires to sports balls to pool floats. The low-pressure section can even operate in reverse so you can use it to deflate things too.
Stuart
A tire-type inflator works better for such purposes. I’ve used blowers before and tried to use this for such purposes once, and maybe they’re best for very small and light inflatables.
Julian Tracy
I’ve been a Makita guy for over twenty years. Yet another dud release from Makita.
$190? What a joke!
Has Makita released a single must-buy tool in the last 4-5 years? I think not.
LK
“Has Makita released a single must-buy tool in the last 4-5 years? I think not.”
Has any other brand? I think not.
Mike
Their tracksaw are pretty close IMO. I have the XGT and it is a beast. I never had the X2 18v but only heard good things.
Bonnie
“Makita USA not yet made any announcements”
I think you’re missing a “has” in there.
Stuart
Sorry, thank you – *fixed*!
RD
I’d assumed the pricing on the 40V model had to do with the 40V tools being more expensive in general, but it seems they’re just swapping the source and keeping the price the same. Looks cool, but that’s a hard price to swallow even being in the Makita ecosystem.
Adam
Saw this a while ago on Instagram, great to see a release date, really looking forward to this one! I set my expectations too high for the M12 blower and was disappointed, really want something to clean off tools before put away.
JR Ramos
On the staffing issues, a Rockler store was to have one or two Makita reps at a weekend event and that portion was cancelled. Nobody had a reason to share but I would suppose those types of sales folks were the low hanging fruit to be cut first (maybe that shouldn’t be the case but it often is).
Mike
I have been eyeing this tool for awhile now but have not pulled the trigger due to the price. The Ryobi inflator is just $35 but how functionality is it? Stewart, up for any side by sides? In general I have found the Makita jobsite blowers to be underwhelming. I love my EGO blower but it is massive and not great to use in the workshop.
Stuart
If I’m filling something with air, Dewalt’s 20V Max is my go-to.
This duster is great for clearing dust or debris from equipment.
Inflators do their job hands-free but would take two hands for use as an uncontrolled blower. Duster/blowers take one hand for blowing, and the same for inflating, which isn’t ideal.
I’d say an inflator is more versatile, but there’s enough distinction for me to justify having both and using one over the other.
Using a leaf blower in a workshop or around equipment is very awkward to do, and with poor maneuverability, aiming, and control. That’s where this and blowers like it excel.
Philip John
A cordless leaf blower is great inside the entire house… when u have a cat and a dog.
I set up a fan at front and rear door also. Will look like it’s snowing outside.
Saulac
I assume you are single or have a very understanding spouse. I am not allow to do this, even in a room by room basic.
I want to bring back the “whole hose vacuum”, which has fallen out of fashion, with a twist. In stead of a small port in each room to attach the wand, I want big (at least heating duct size) port in each room, with very high suction. Turn that system on, then rip everything with a cordless blower. Anything that would be damaged/blowed away by the blower is not worth keeping. So it helps with organization too. Win win.
bj
I like this idea!
Saulac
I want to see a vacuum accessory/attachment. Something small cylindrical shape, not bigger than the head of the tool. If you need the blower for something…you likely also need a vacuum.
I have been using my M12 vacuum exhaust port as blower (per design). It works. But I understand the blower performance is greatly reduced by the filter.
MacLean Flood
Makita continuing to price themselves out of the prosumer market.
-Mac
Greg
for this kind of cash, I think I’d rather just double down, and get the new makita xgt 2 gallon quiet compressor and an air gun for the end of the hose. At least overall it’s a more versatile use of the money. Grant, it’s almost twice the cost… but either way it’s out of reach at the moment.
Eliot Truelove
I’ve been wanting this for awhile, and just missed the Acme tools $40 off father’s day sale, and $190 is a tough pill to swallow. $140-160 seems like it would be a better price. But the ends justify the means, and I can imagine it would be a great tool.
Blocky
Just yesterday, I was speaking w a colleague about canned vs compressed air vs bulb blowers for delicate applications. A painting had been damaged by using canned air to remove dust. The cold had introduced condensation which discolored the surface.
Sometimes cleaning large to-scale models makes hose management a challenge and even a small compressor can be a destructive amount of psi to have in the travel of an air trigger.
When I worked in a frame shop, we would sometimes use a full pressure line split off from the spray booth to clean small photographs and works on paper – a little harrowing to manage in a controlled manner and not the best solution.
I can imagine a few other solutions, but this form factor and portability seems excellent. I would be interested in an intake shroud for filtering particulates— when not in a clean-room.
Price seems fine for what it should deliver. Canned air is a crazy expense for businesses that use it daily.
Jim Felt
Costco loves those Case(s) of Canned Air monthly buys. I doubt our environment does however.
bj
Long awaited. I was tempted to jump to the 40v platform for this tool alone. I currently have the large (x2 batt) and small 18v Makita blowers in the garage, and they are by far the most used tools. This compact duster will outperform and relieve many of the tasks that I do with the smaller blower. Cleaning power tools, dusting car interior, computer keyboards, drying car (door handles, grill, trim), dusting engine compartment, dislodging spider webs/nests, cleaning bike, cleaning lawn mower to name a few, lol.
Bob
Looks like a hair dryer for men lol.
Seems a little pricey for what it is but maybe it’s good. Never really understood the use of these mini blowers. You can’t blow out concrete dust out of drilled holes any more because OSHA. I suspect this thing would be great at that. Cheaper inflators for blowing up pool toys are available. The air blast is not as powerful as compressed air. Etc. So what do people use these for? I know Dewalt and Milwaukee have mini blowers to, so somebody’s using them for something.
Franco
I don’t think it was mentioned and in case some are not aware, just some clarity that I learned haphazardly.
My guess is many know the difference but for those who don’t, the difference between an inflator (like a compressor = LVHP) & a blower HVLP.
I bought a pool in 2008 (at my last house) and if the fall, not knowing what to do, I called the pool company to do the closing of the pool and see what needs to be done.
Working wear the pump was located, they used a blower to blow out the lines and replace it with the pink antifreeze for pools. Subsequent years, having seen what they di, I closed the pool every fall using my blower (leaf blower). It worked fine but to get the water out and have the pink liquid coming out took 5-6 times of blowing and adding antifreeze.
After many years, I thought I would try my compressor instead. I thought the small volume of air would get lost in the lines, even with a wet rag at the opening to not lose air going in the line.
To my surprise and shock, 1 time and it completely blew out the lines…even the furthest line which was about 50ft away. For the remaing years I had the house, the compressor was the way to go.
I had tried at times blowing dirt and leaves from the edge of my garage door, and the compressor was pretty useless because the air would disipate, with nothing to hold it in. But in the pool lines and with the end I insert the air, closing the end with a rag, boy what a difference.
So blowers are great at moving large volumes of air, even at a distance, just not much pressure behind it if anything is terribly heavy.
Inflators or air compressors do not move large volumes of air, very small amounts compared to a leaf blower. But when it builds up, it has very strong pressure. Like when you inflate tires, pool toys or footballs. You can make them rock hard and actually pop them. A leaf blower would never pop any of these and probably get you football at best, half inflated…like Tom Brady’s!
Hope that helps for those trying to do clean up with inflators.
Stuart
The same is true for water. You want high volume to fill a watering can, and high pressure to cut through metal.
Droid
Is makita coming out with pouch cell batteries? I ran across the battery bl 1440f that supposedly had more power and different type of cells than the bl 1440 although it didn’t specify what kind of cells.
Droid
On their Japanese website.
Stuart
I can’t find it, but I’d be surprised. They could have just updated the cell tech as Milwaukee did with recent M12 batteries.
I would also assume Makita would bring pouch cell tech to their 18V LXT or 36V XGT platforms first; their 14V line isn’t as popular.
Their 18V battery tech is now years behind the competition, and Makita seems to be positioning XGT as the premium and high power system.
Droid
Oops I go the wrong model number I meant bl 4040f