Customer Reviews

Bare-Tool Makita BDA350Z 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 3/8-Inch Angle Drill (Tool Only, No Battery)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you've already bought into the Makita 18-volt LXT lithium-ion battery system, the BDA350Z makes a decent right-angle drill. There are a few problems to be aware of, however...

The first is that the drill will not work with the Makita BL1815 18-Volt 1.5 Ah Compact Lithium-Ion batteries. If you've purchased one of Makita's popular "compact" cordless combo kits, you'll need to acquire one of the larger 3.0 Ah batteries to power this tool. The downside of these larger batteries is that they increase the weight of the tool. If you have to use the tool overhead, you quickly start wondering whether you should attempt to file down the small plastic ridge that prevents the 1.5 Ah batteries from attaching to the tool...

The other problem I found with this tool is that it doesn't have a clutch and the trigger is a bit sensitive. It's easy to have the drill running at full-speed with high torque or low-speed with little torque, but if you need something in between it can be a bit tricky. The trigger on my Makita BDF452HW 18-Volt Drill seems much more linear; I can easily keep that drill moving at exactly the speed I want. Running the drill at full-speed when using larger diameter bits, hole saws, etc. may cause them to wear more quickly than desirable.

On the plus side, and it's a big plus, the head of this drill is incredibly compact! The Makita BDA350Z will squeeze into places that other right-angle drills can't touch. Whether you're underneath the car trying to drill holes for your latest aftermarket part or attempting to move electrical boxes around without damaging too much drywall, the BDA350Z will squeeze in and get the job done if anything can...

I am a new homeowner and have been trying to purchase quality tools for DIY projects. I'm not a Pro. I needed to drill through studs with very little clearance. This tool has enough torque to not only drill through one 2x4, but three sandwiched together! I had to do this a few times using a 3/4" self feed spade bit.

This has a delightfully low profile for getting in tight spaces. It seems to have plenty of speed and torque on tap. The speed is variable and with a light trigger pressure I had no problem driving screws. It does not have a speed selector switch which would make this task a bit easier.

If you notice, the kit version of this tool has two batteries. I can vouch for the need to have more than one. I already had two LXT batteries so I opted for the bare tool shown here. This is one of the most power hungry Makita tools I have (next to their LXT jigsaw). Seems to sap faster than my hammer drill.

I'm an Audio/Video Installer which means I install all types of flat screen TVs, speakers, home theater systems, whole house audio, in residential and commercial properties. I have many MAKITA drills about 5. All for different purposes. Before buying this close quarter drill I considered the Milwaukee right angle drill. The Milwaukee is a great tool, just too large for my purposes. I needed something small, powerful and cordless. I climb in all kind of tight spots and sometimes a dangling cord can be a hazzard when working in a customer's home.

The Makita is solidly built, I like like the large trigger and it does the job. Makita should have supplied a rubber screw on handle it would minimize vibration. This thing does vibrate when drilling through a wooden stud. I also wish it had two speeds Slower speeds deliver more torque. If your driving screws or making small holes it works like a charm.

I bought the (tool only) because I have 3 (3amp Lithium ION batteries. Good tool. Sturdy and well built.

I'm pleased.

I bought this drill mostly for drilling holes in studs to run wiring. It's been absolutely perfect. Very powerful, lightweight, fits into almost any space easily. The handle placement is a little awkward, but with the speed and power this drill can put out, you don't have to hold it for very long before you're done. One of the things I really love about the Makita LXT line is the slow-dimming LED. One tap on the trigger and the LED lights up and stays lit for a good 10 seconds, even without the tool running. This is a great feature I haven't seen on anyone else's tools. A light doesn't do you much good if it's only on when the tool is running. You need to be able to see where to PUT the tool before you fire it up, and Makita thought of that. I'm very pleased with this drill and I'm going to get a lot of use out of it.

Great drill-- no issues with performance or battery life. Great power and easily maneuverable.

One safety concern is the placement of the "trigger" when chucking a bit. The trigger is so convenient that it gets in the way and can become accidentally depressed while chucking a bit. The trigger takes up about 50% of the grip and it's difficult to hold on to the drill and not push it down. Make sure you put the drive direction selector in the middle position to lock the trigger before attempting to chuck a bit.

For all the times I tried other brands of cordless right angle drills ( dewalt, bosch,etc) and this Makita was right in front of me all that time...I have had the Li 18volt Makita system when it first came out several years ago and could have got this Makita rt/angle drill when it was available.
All I can say is this is a quality piece! I really like the feel and balance with the 18volt LiOn pack attached. The power and the compact head is a real plus too. I'm in the home improvement business and I need the right tools for the job....this is just another right tool for my tool box. My next purchase will be the Makita right angle impact 18volt LiOn!

I bought this drill thinking I might someday need to get into tight places. I'm a DIYer that appreciates good tools, hence my investment into the Makita LXT cordless lineup.

This drill's compact body and tiny right angle head led me to believe this was a drill I would only use in tight spots; it didn't look like a rugged, powerful relative of my main 3-speed drill. Wow, was I ever glad to be wrong! Looks can be decieving, and this BDA350 is no exception.

The trigger is responsive, maybe a little too sensitive for driving screws full time, but man does this thing drill! 3/4" spade bits are no problem for this thing, it feels as though it could handle much larger but I haven't tried yet. There's a reason some of the LXT tools cannot use the smaller 1.5AH battery packs - I doubt they could keep up to this drill's power requirements.

This tool is solid quality. Everything about it feels right, from the way it balances in the hand to the way it blasts up to max speed and then stops on a dime. Very fast, very smooth. The handle could have used a rubber covering for better grip (like the great handles provided with the larger drills), but this is nit-picking.

I wouldn't hesitate to reccomend this drill to anyone. With it's power and super low profile head, if it's possible to do with a drill this one can do it. All power tools should be this good.

This makita is great for hard to reach places and it has lots of torque, I used on my kitchen remodle and used in cabinets and to install a huge celing exhaust hood to drive 3 inch wood lag bolts to the rafters. No problem

I have never been disappointed with Makita brand. This tool is well made and has a good feel when holding it. Label says MADE IN JAPAN. Having a light in this drill was another excellent idea by Makita. This drill works well and has plenty of power.

The Makita Angle Drill provides plenty of power to drill holes through 2" by x studs. I already had the batteries from another Makita product so just needed the tool.