Makita XRH04Z 18V LXT® Lithium-Ion Cordless 7/8" Rotary Hammer

Overview

The Makita XRH04Z is an 18V LXT cordless 7/8 inch SDS-Plus rotary hammer, sold tool only, with three operating modes covering plain drilling, hammer drilling and chiseling in masonry and concrete.

The 3-mode switch is the reason one reviewer, installing a catch basin, used the same tool to drill and then chisel through 2 inch concrete knockout walls on the same job. It's cordless, so runtime depends on the battery you pair with it, and several reviewers specifically recommend stepping up to a larger amp-hour battery for a full day of drilling.

• 0-1,200 RPM and 0-4,000 BPM variable speed
• 3-mode switch: rotation, hammer with rotation, or hammer only
• Torque-limiting clutch protects gears if a bit binds
• Accepts SDS-PLUS bits

Who it's for

Contractors and serious DIYers drilling into masonry, brick or concrete regularly, especially anyone who also needs light chiseling. Not the pick for someone wanting the lightest possible cordless drill or only drilling light masonry occasionally.

What buyers say

From Amazon customer reviews.

Reviewers say it clears holes for concrete anchors far more easily than a standard hammer-drill, and one used the chisel mode to break through 2 inch concrete knockout walls on a catch basin install. The one complaint on record is size and weight, with one buyer wishing for a smaller model, and multiple reviewers suggest a larger battery for high-volume drilling days.

Strengths and trade-offs

Drawn from this product's published specifications.

Performance notes

A torque-limiting clutch disengages the gears if a bit binds, and the 3-mode switch lets the same hammer act as a plain rotary drill, a hammer drill, or a chisel. That range is why one reviewer used it for both drilling anchor holes and breaking through concrete knockout walls on a single job, and another says it clears concrete anchor holes far more easily than a standard drill's impact setting.

Specifications