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.
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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)
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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.
Andrew
Now we got our coffee maker and a new fan maybe just maybe makita will come out with some decent work lights….
Hilton
This would be perfect in summer when the power goes out as I can’t sleep without a fan.
RD
Even as a Makita diehard, I find it hard to endorse their fan options. Pains me to say this, but Dewalt’s fan has better mounting options, and even can be plugged into an extension cord without the need for an additional AC adapter. Plus, with the recent sales on it, it comes in cheaper as well.
Chris
Why get the dewalt when you could buy multiple ryobi fans with the same budget. 120V goes directly to the back.
Cole M
My wife woke me up at 3AM a couple weeks ago. “Please go get some batteries out of your work van!” The power was out and her battery in her M18 fan was dead. Brought a second fan and 2 9.0s we were set for the night. She loves that fan
Charles Stopczynski
Question for Andrew. What do you want from Makita in lighting area?
I have a Makita, LXLM03, 18 volt LXT system. Have never had a need that has outlasted the battery life. I would like to have a Makita DML 808, I find it to be a bit pricey for a single LED.
Andrew
Jobsite lights are lacking. Dewalt DCL079B is one example. I got their flashlights to and nothing wrong with them my gripe, and many other makita users, is they do not produce higher powered lights for a whole room. But extension cords are cool still.
Charles Stopczynski
Andrew, Looked up the DeWalt light you referenced. Yikes, combined with tripod is very expensive.
Makita DML 805, light is $99, Tripod for same #GM00001281, is $60. Light is composed of 20 LED’s, so if one or two fail you still have most of your light.
Looks like a a real winning combination
Adam
Where was you upgraded fan this year Milwaukee?
Love just about everything on the Makita. looking at the base, it seems they could have balanced it out with having a 2nd optional battery port perhaps. Might make it more tri-pod friendly.
Only major gripe, is for professional tools, wtf is up with non-extension cord inputs? That’s what I expect from Ryobi, not Mwk or Makita. First, it’s just one more thing in the tool box, and second, it’s often that thin wire that I wouldn’t consider jobsite rated.
Big Adam
I have two of the Dewalt job site fans. My kids have them at the foot of their ‘high sleeper’ cabin beds to keep them cool in summer.,Safer than hooking up mains fans and combined with a 12Ah battery in each, I only need to switch out batts once a week.
Would love Team Yellow to come out with a room fan but doubt it’ll happen.
BTW – the small Makita fan has been available in UK for some time. There’s also a 101Z (10.8/12V) model which is new here.
Mike
Electronic pushbuttons are the worst thing they ever put on power tools they always break I rather have the manual switch
mla
+1
The What?
It would be great if all cordless fans and power tools that are capable of running both ac/dc had the direct extension cord plug in. But unfortunately they see it as an option accessory therefore they require you to buy the specific adapter for their products. They prefer that you keep buying their poorly made adapters or their high priced batteries. Instead of just making things easier for everyone by going with a universal solution, they’d rather it be complicated and bothersome for the folks that buy a tool and then have to buy the adapter for it. They’ve done an outstanding job of making it a PITA. Really shows how considerate they are for the customers that buy their products. Yes it is ridiculous and it is inconvenient. But at least makita included the adapter with this product which should be a standard practice for all brands that make ac/dc capable tools. However I’m not keeping my fingers crossed.
Vards Uzvards
Unfortunately, this is not an “AC/DC capable tool”. This is a “DC-only tool” which comes with an adapter (see link) which is designed for this tool, and this tool only.
https://www.makitatools.com/products/details/TE00000170
DeWalt DCE511B and Ryobi P3320 – these are truly dual-power items!
https://www.dewalt.com/products/gear-and-equipment/construction-heaters/11-in-cordedcordless-jobsite-fan-tool-only/dce511b
https://www.ryobitools.com/power-tools/products/details/18v-one-plus-hybrid-fan
If Makita would provide something like Hitachi (whatever’s the right name) MultiVolt AC Adapter – that would be something (useful, usable not only with the fan but with many other tools as well)!
https://www.metabo-hpt.com/us/main-navigation/item/et36a-36v-multivolt-ac-adapter
Maybe they do have something like that…
Julian Tracy
Previously, Makita made two 18volt fans: a smaller 8” folding body style and a much larger 12-14” oscillating version.
I had the smaller 8” one and it was a great form factor in that in could be used fully flat folded and it could be placed in a window opening and held in place by lowering the top window sash.
Problem with the fan was that even at very low speeds – there was a growl to the motor that precluded you from wanting to use it at low for a slight breeze at home or in your tent camping.
I ended up picking up the Dewalt 8/9” version and it’s much much quieter. No motor growl at all – and it has an infinite variable speed dial – much nicer than Makita’s stupid push buttons.
It’s on clearance at Lowes for about $79 bare tool.
Rory
I have the smaller version of this fan. Not the best jobsite fan BUT it is great around the house and even better while camping or if the power goes out. With the oscillation and the timer function – set the speed on low, oscillation and 2 hour time and im off to sleep.