In this article, I am going to take a look at one tool that I have had loads of inquiries about. The Makita BTP140. People have really shown a lot of interest in this combination of an impact driver and a percussion drill.
Ever since Makita have released this Combi tool, other manufacturers have been on the back foot. Quickly scrabbling to get there own Impact Driver/Percussion Drill combi onto the market. Panasonic for instance, releasing the Li-ion EY7542 Multi Drill.
Now I have always been a big flag waver for Panasonic. I think their tools are amazing, and it always surprises me how little advertising Panasonic do for their power tool division, considering the size of the parent company.
Given the fact that I'm like mr Panasonic I think it is fair to say that I think the Makita is a better tool. I think in this shoot out though the Makita will probably win through.
What I did want to compare the Makita BTP140 with, was another Makita Impact Driver and a BHP451. The BHP451 is an excellent, modern little Percussion Drill, and I wanted to see how the new chameleon of a drill, matches up against this modern classic.
The BHP451 is self is a high efficiency Makita drill with high torque, its equipped with a high quality durable keyless chuck. Twin LED job light with afterglow. Most companies will sell you one of these with 2 batteries for under ?300.
The BHP140 is closer to ?350. The Makita hybrid, however, has the highly efficient 4-pole motor with bi-steel ball bearings. It has 140Nm of torque in impact mode and 2,300 to 27,600 blows per minute in hammer mode.
Another great feature on this tool is the all-metal, quick-change, hex bit chuck. Like a impact driver usually has. The chuck only accepts drill bits and driver bits that have a hex shank at the opposite end of, for example, a #2 Phillips driver bit. Which in truth these days you can get a huge range of drill bits with this shank. This really speeds up bit changes. There is an accessory Makita chuck that converts the quick change, hex bit chuck into the older style 3-jaw, so you don't have to throw away all your older drill bits.
Hopefully we'll be able to give you the full review next week as I'm still waiting to be sent the tool itself but, judging from the buzz hanging around this drill I think we'll all be quite impressed, or at least I hope so. Makita usually give us the good and I think they really could be doing with this little hybrid, combi.
