In part one of this series, I confessed that loud, gas-powered yard tools are one of my pet peeves, and leaf blowers make me downright ornery. Why, WHY are they SO loud, and why does the neighbor insist on blowing every single leaf all the way from the back yard to the street at 8 AM on Sunday? We were recently sent the Makita LXT X2 Blower (XBU02Z), and this quiet, powerful blower has rock-solid Makita 18V technology at its heart. Double batteries provide twice the power and lots of versatility. So can a battery powered blower cut it (or blow it in this case)?
Noise (or Lack Thereof)
The new Makita LXT X2 yard blower is quiet enough to make even the orneriest neighborhood curmudgeon smile, with a sound pressure rating coming in below even a lot of other electric models. The X2 blower runs at about 60 dB. Most of the smaller electric models from other manufacturers come in around 75 dB, and a gas two-stroke can easily run up over 100 dB. The LXT is quieter, if fact, than a Dust Buster handheld vacuum cleaner, which runs around 82.5 dB.
Makita LXT X2 Blower – Convenient & Easy
The LXT blower’s featherweight design (just under 10 pounds), push button and thumbwheel control and plentiful power makes it handy, even for smaller users. It features a six position variable speed selection dial, and the brushless motor delivers up to 120 MPH air velocity and 473 CFM of air volume. For any but the biggest suburban yards, this really should be a totally adequate alternative to the gas blower. The X2 comes with three blower nozzle tubes of varying lengths that can be stacked for a wide assortment of uses, from cleaning gutters to sidewalks to workbench tops.
The Beauty of X2 technology
For anyone who uses Makita’s cordless products, you know that they have made a serious commitment to the 18V platform and they REALLY have it dialed in. Last year they came out with the LXT lithium-ion 6 AH batteries, which have the same weight and dimensions as the lower-capacity 3.0Ah, 4.0Ah, and 5.0Ah LXT® batteries. The LXT batteries reach a full charge in only 55 minutes and have an onboard L.E.D. charge level indicator.
“When contractors search for a cordless replacement for a corded tool, voltage is only part of the story,” said Carlos Quintana, Sr. Product Manager, Cordless, Makita U.S.A. “Watt hours, the product of amp hours and voltage, measures the amount of work performed by the tool and is a better performance indicator. The new 18-volt six amp-hour battery will create new standards in cordless efficiency and productivity. With two six amp hour batteries, an 18 volt X2 tool can meet and exceed corded tool performance, but with the same fast-charging 18-volt batteries that contractors use on their core 18-volt tools like drills and impact drivers, as well as flashlights, fans, radios, and much more. For contractors, it’s one 18 volt battery platform and one solution.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself, Mr. Quintana! To allow people to use the same batteries in a wide range of tools, both at work and at home, not only makes sense, but it shows a lot of respect for the customer. That is the kind of philosophy that creates brand loyalty. You can pick up the Makita LXT X2 Blower, bare tool model, for around $219 online.
