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.
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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)
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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)
Mike (the other one)
Seems pointless to me. Like you said, if you are tethered to a hose, what’s the point of it being cordless, especially with the short run time? A corded sander will be lighter and run as long as you need it.
And bluetooth features in power tools (which require additional hardware in this case) seem more like a gimmick than anything else.
fred
Probably this has some niche appeal. If you are working off staging – and reduction of fall-hazards (like electric cords) will have some appeal – but the vacuum hose will still be attached. I guess Makita will see how well (or not) it sells.
XRH07
This is about the only Bluetooth tech that isn’t a total gimmick. For cordless concrete dust extraction this system is pretty much unparalleled.
The only problem I see is that Makita is all over the place with how they ship it on their tools.
Ex:
1) Every 36v SDS Max (and the new SDS+, I think) comes with the module included and there’s no alternate nonAWS SKUs for you to buy.
2) The Miter Saws, subcompact circular saw, track saws etc all have AWS and non-AWS versions.
This makes their product stack a confusing mess and I think they should ship only AWS compatible tools. With the module as an optional accessory for those who want it.
Any nonAWS tools that were out before the modules were introduced should have been discontinued/replaced by AWS compatible versions.
Altan
Makita has a 36V cordless backpack vacuum also you can connect it to that, this is a very useful tool as cordless specially if you want to work on stair walls, you can have a few batteries in charge always, When Mr DeWALT is gonna make one?!
You have mentioned about the corded version of this tool from Festool and here is the link for new Festool Cordless Grinder:
Julian Tracy
I’ve used Porter Cable drywall sanders for over 20years. The new ones are made in China and have ridiculously fast rpms, but the older USA made models run slower and work great. I just did a huge repair and full skim coat in a dining room and sanded it with no mess or airborn dust to speak of.
The Makita cordless vac’s have a dual power switch arrangement so there’s a on off master twist switch, but also a huge foot switch on the lid that allows for simple on off without leaning down to switch it.
Considering the Porter cable sanders are available used all the time on Craigslist fur around $220, none of these new $500-1100 options have much appeal. Certainly they can’t be much better in terms of dust control as the PC unit is very good.
Every large basement job I’ve done ((180 sheets of drywall plus), all the sanding dust has left the premises in filter bags from my Festool vac (standard, not the AC version), Metabo or Makita vac.
I researched the Flex drywall sanders as part of that discounted HEPA vac deal, but again – not any reason to upgrade from the PC unit.
Btw – I just received the Flex Hepa vac, thinking I’d see if it was smaller and has better features compared to the Metabo deal I picked up a few months ago, but damn, the Flex vac is as large and as heavy and has a strange rubber hose tip and a few other things that aren’t as nice as the Metabo.
The filter cleaning is a nicer system as it’s a single filter that gets a burst of reverse air compared to the metabo’s dual filters that get vibrated. But I don’t care about that as I use a filter bag full time, so the filters will never get debris in them.
Doug
Good tip for the PC Sanders, and thanks for the thoughts on the Flex vacuum.
Julian Tracy
For $300, still an amazing deal for a hepa vac.
Nathan
UHM didn’t FLEX make a cordless drywall sander? Maybe I misread that.
ANyway only appeal I see of this setup is the guy doing final finish or touch up work. IE – hole in a living room – patch and fill – use this to sand smooth – get that first paint on without all the dust cleanup and contamination.
Hit up 3 or more other repairs in a house – and not have a mess to deal with. That I think would be a benefit.
Doing a install job in total – I just don’t see it
The What?
Typically when the job calls for the use of a drywall sander, there’s a lot more than 35 minutes worth of sanding to do. And every job that I’ve had to use one of these on had electricity or a means to power a corded sander. And unless you have 10 to 20 fully charged batteries and a charger capable of several batteries simultaneously which makita does not make, it would be a rather counterproductive use of time and money. And there aren’t many contractors that have that many batteries to spare for the use of one tool let alone own that many batteries in general. I would likely opt to use sanding blocks or a sanding pole before I would consider using one of these. At least I would know I could get the job done without having to worry about having enough batteries and charging them. And the Bluetooth aws thing doesn’t serve a beneficial purpose either as is the case for the majority of Bluetooth connectivity batteries and tools. Why should it require the use of Bluetooth in order to run a vacuum cleaner and a sander for any other reason than it being cordless. The porter cable sander I’ve always used doesn’t require it for it to do what it’s intended for. Why isn’t makita incorporating the aws crap into their corded tools?
Todd
Makita’s dual battery fast charger charges two batteries simultaneously, and I’m pretty sure they have a 4 port charger as well. At 35 minutes continuous use per 5ah battery, you could work all day with three 5ah batteries. Whether or not someone would want a cordless drywall sander is subjective and I’m sure it will be a money maker for someone. Sanding 50+ sheets in a house with easily accessible power is probably not something you would use this sander or a cordless vacuum for.
Most contractors I know who use Makita (or any platform for that matter) have 10+ batteries if they use cordless tools extensively. Cordless tools save huge amounts of time over their lifetime which equals money, so keeping them fed is important. Personally I’d pick use this thing over a pole sander or block in any situation I can think of.
The reason you need bluetooth for this and not for a corded Porter Cable is because you plug the corded sander into a corded vacuum. Cordless obviously lacking the necessary cord to trigger the vacuum. This is also the reason Makita doesn’t incorporate AWS into their corded tools, they don’t need it.
RandyM
Dustless Tools has been selling a “Cordless” drywall sander for almost two decades. Sure it is ugly, cumbersome, and fully dependant on the quality of the VAC attached; but there are definitely other options to spending over $1k to sand a wall. I’ve used mine on a few jobs that merited having to go a little slower in order to keep things clean. https://www.dustlesstools.com/productdetails/50001/SandingTools.php
Nick
The Worlds First relates to it being a cordless drywall sander running ‘Bluetooth’. So the Bluetooth feature makes it a worlds first, not just because it is cordless.
Maybe they are beginning to take their marketing points from Milwaukee, who love talking everything up.
Stuart
Makita is specifically describing this as the “World’s First Cordless Drywall Sander.”
Robert
That dustless sander looks pretty cool if it actually works. To me it looks way less cumbersome than any of the electrical sanders.
Do you have to keep light pressure on the wall or else it won’t oscillate? Does it replace a sanding pole for ceilings? I’m interested…
RandyM
In short, it’s the same difference between sanding a board with a sanding block vs a palm sander…
Totally different technique is required, but it works once you get the hange of it. The main thing to note is that it requires good suction from the vacuum. I always use the prefilter bags so my main filter is pristine and operates at peak. Drywall dust is a tough animal to capture hense why most of these vacuums are priced over $450+. Best of luck. I’d gladly loan you mine if you where near 84067.
Altan
Acme Tools Website says this tool is made in Japan, Makita’s Japanese made tools are very quality tools in general, $500 is good price for this tool.
kman
I have the porter cable for the last 15 years. Great tool. I can only think of one advantage to a cordless drywall sander. As a painting contractor sometimes we sand between coats of paint or prior to painting. This is to remove any nibs or dirt from the previous coat. For this application dustless is not needed. We often do not hook up to the vac. It would be great for this limited application.
Also, sometimes we trip breakers because of the vac and sander combined draw a lot of amps. Cordless would definitely help with this and potentially reduce the chance of a fire if the circuit is in an older home with outdated electrical service. The chances of this are low but what if it saved a house fire??
Also, this sander has many features compared with the porter cable. I would love to be able to sand into an inside corner. This sander claims to be able to do that. It would be a huge time saver and help with dust control. It also has extendable length and the pricing is competitive.
Overall I am not ready to upgrade to a new sander but I like to see some of the innovation Makita and other brands have added to the drywall sander market.
JohnAR
As someone who has used the PC for years, adding another two pounds (as in the Makita) would be a huge inducement not to buy. In the end, I’m still tethered to something, be it vacuum, electrical cord or both. What also concerns me would be the balance of this tool. The PC is reasonably balanced, the Makita’s motor, if I read correctly is in the head. If the increased weight in the head is offset by the battery pack in the tail, maybe. Or is most of that weight now in head? Not so good. As an experiment for those who don’t do drywall for a living, get a pole 8.5 lbs, hold it at one end with a vacuum hose attached and wave it up and down, back and forth, overhead too and see how long it takes you to get tired. That’s the PC. For the Makita, add 2.2 lbs, repeat.
Julian Tracy
You’re not kidding about the weight issue. At the start of sanding a huge basement full of new ceiling and wall drywall with the Porter Cable, it’s almost impossible to see how you’ll get thru it as you’re using all kinds of muscles not normally exercised.
You get over that hump soon enough, and power through it, but no way I’d want to use a heavier unit or one that was less balanced.
JohnAR
Exactly. I remember when the Porter Cable first came out and we decided we needed one. We quickly figured out there’s a learning curve to wielding it, getting the touch on the wall and the rpm’s just right so you didn’t go gouging the mud or burning the tape or the paper. After having to re-skim a few joints, we began to get it. When you’re sanding with one of these things, you’re pretty much supporting the full weight of the tool at all times. While it’s a time saver, it demands a certain amount of finesse. I’m older and creakier now and that extra 2+ pounds would cancel out some of that time saved…
The Finish Line
I have sprung for the New Makita Sander. I like the fact that you can get your inside corners done and I’m sold on cordless tools. They work pretty well these days. Electrical cord with a hose is problematic if you can get rid of the cord it’s just better. It’s amazing how much drag you have with a cord versus a non-corded machine.
JohnAR
Let us know how much better getting rid of a cord or two will be as you’ll still be tethered to a hose. It was/is never the cords which were/are cumbersome. It’s the sander dragging a hose dragging a vac which is problematic. When Makita or anyone else figures a way to move the dust from sander to vacuum minus the hose… Well, that will be something better.
Lenny Nelson
This would be good to use in a scissor lift