Depending on the nature of your job, you may benefit from having an angle impact driver that can work on close-quarter areas. The Makita 18V LXT Cordless Angle Impact Driver has an overall 4.8 rating on Home Depot (based on over 40 reviews) and Amazon (based on over 525 reviews). Rather than employing a trigger-grip design, this model has a long, straight body with a right-angle head at the tip that is just 2-⅛ inches in size, making it more suitable for harder-to-reach jobs. It weighs a little less than 4 pounds, so this altered shape doesn’t make it less maneuverable, nor does it lack the rubberized soft grip that makes Makita’s other impact drivers more comfortable to handle. Plus, it uses a large paddle switch that also has a soft grip for added convenience.
The variable-speed tool has two settings — zero to 2,000 RPM and zero to 3,000 IPM — and can produce up to 530 in-lbs of torque. The hammer and anvil are manufactured with high-quality steel and other raw materials, and Makita uses a unique heat-hardening process that gives the mechanism optimal fastening and driving power. The tool is also equipped with an onboard LED light and a 0.25-inch hex chuck for fast, simple bit changes.
The product also utilizes Makita’s Star Protection Computer Controls, which help prevent overloading, overheating, or over-discharging and can automatically stop the tool in its tracks before any damage occurs. If you only need an impact driver for straightforward jobs with no tight spaces, you’ll probably want to opt for a more ergonomic pistol grip option, which is also typically more affordable. Makita’s 18V LXT Cordless Angle Impact Driver, which has product code XLT01Z, is sold by both Amazon and Home Depot for $219.
