Makita XAD01Z 18V LXT 3/8-in Right-Angle Drill (Tool Only) review

Makita’s XAD01Z is an 18V LXT right-angle drill sold as a tool-only configuration. The exact U.S. page says battery and charger are not included, but it lists a chuck key and holder. The drill’s headline interface is a 3/8-in keyed chuck, and its 2-5/8-in head-height claim is not the same as a measured head length. This documentation-based assessment does not claim ownership, field use, testing or independently measured output.

Check the Z package, not the nearby XAD01 kit

The related XAD01 kit page names one XAD01Z drill, two BL1830 3.0Ah batteries, a DC18RC charger, chuck key and holder, and a tool bag. Those batteries, charger and bag belong to the XAD01 kit’s written list; the separate XAD01Z page labels its package tool-only and excludes the battery and charger. It also lists a chuck key and holder. A seller may offer a used, incomplete or bundled item, so the exact model number and actual written package inventory still matter.

Makita’s tool-only photo shows the drill with a side grip attached, but the XAD01Z page’s Includes section lists only the key holder and chuck key. Its manual discusses a side grip and says to install it securely for operation, while listing it among optional accessories. The photograph is not proof that every tool-only box contains the grip. Confirm whether the exact offer has the manual-recommended grip and obtain the correct approved accessory if needed.

The 3/8-in keyed chuck sets the bit boundary

The manual describes tightening a round-shank bit with a chuck key through each of the chuck’s three holes. Makita specifies a 3/8-in steel-drilling capacity and a 1-in wood-drilling capacity; neither figure means every bit or material is suitable at that diameter. Most importantly for fit, the chuck’s 3/8-in maximum does not accept the questionnaire’s required 1/2-in-or-larger shank. XAD01Z is therefore a poor match when that larger chuck interface is essential, even though it is physically a right-angle drill.

The published drive is single-range variable speed, 0–1,800 rpm, with a reversing switch and trigger control. The page describes a brushed four-pole motor and a 121 in-lb maximum-torque claim. Those are manufacturer statements rather than results of a test. The sources do not specify hammer mode, a second speed gear or an adjustable torque clutch. Stop the tool before changing direction, as the manual instructs.

Angle-head height is not a short-head measurement

The 2-5/8-in angle-head height is useful context for tight work, but it does not provide the head’s front-to-back length or the working envelope with bit installed. Makita lists 12-3/8 in overall length; the manual agrees. Neither source gives the exact head-length field used for the finder’s six-inch cutoff, so this model cannot be confirmed to satisfy that requirement. Consider the drill body, chosen bit, battery, hand clearance and approach angle together at the actual work location.

The manufacturer lists 4 lb with a battery, and the manual distinguishes 3.3 lb with a BL1815N cartridge from 4.0 lb with BL1830. No bare-tool weight is established by those figures. The manual’s standard-battery table names BL1815N and BL1830/BL1840, while the current product page also refers broadly to star-marked 18V LXT and Compact batteries. Since these sources differ in age and level of specificity, verify the exact pack against current instructions rather than assuming every later suffix is approved. A compatible charger is likewise a separate purchase; the package page does not identify one for the Z tool-only SKU.

Use and shortlist limits

The manual cautions that added pressure will not speed drilling, requires small workpieces to be secured, and calls for a firm grip. It advises a center-punch start and cutting lubricant for most metal, with iron and brass drilled dry. It also warns that breakthrough or a stuck bit can produce sudden reaction; the recommended side grip and safe workholding are particularly relevant in a restricted posture.

XAD01Z is worth comparing if an existing, manual-approved LXT pack is available and the task suits a 3/8-in keyed angle drill. Choose the kit sibling instead if batteries and a charger are essential in the package. For a 1/2-in shank, compare a model with a documented 1/2-in chuck; for an exact short-head constraint, request a verified head-length drawing rather than relying on the 2-5/8-in height or total length. The product page confirms its configuration and published features, not seller stock, condition, price or actual working clearance.