Customer Reviews

Makita ML100W 10.8-Volt Ultra Compact Lithium-Ion Cordless L.E.D. Flashlight (Tool only)

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

 

 

First, this is a very cheap looking and feeling flashlight. Also, as noted by another reviewer, this does not come with the battery and charger as pictured. This is very misleading.

From looking at the lens and looking at the supplied pictures (particularly the reflection off the wood 2x4s, you would be lead to believe that this LED flashlight has a nice white beam that has a usable broad beam for working in closed quarters like under the sink, in an electric box, under the dashboard, or under a car. As part of the tools line of Makita products and coupled with its small size, I expected this to be a good flashlight for close quarters.

Unfortunately, the beam pattern is a very tight spot light. It is terrible for working in tight spaces where you may want more of a flood-type beam. Usually, this is not a problem with other flashlights because they have a usable spillbeam. This product does not. Because you cannot tilt/pivot the head, aiming the small dot of light exactly at your work is difficult (and keeping it aimed). It is also more of a bluish-purple.

See my customer images comparing it to a standard Makita incandescent flashlight as well as a highly-rated Fenix LED flashlight. This may have good battery life, but it is a terrible flashlight. I will look at the Milwaukee M12 LED flashlight as a possible replacement after I return this one, but the Milwaukee product is significantly more expensive, and the matching impact driver and cordless drill have clearly inferior performance to the 10.8V Makita products. I may just end up sticking with my much larger Makita incandescent light, which I can more easily aim, but gets in the way due to its size.

My first impression of the light is it's considerable diameter. It just feels a bit large and back heavy. The form factor is identical to the rest of Makita's 10.8v products and is necessary because of the battery size. The light is plenty bright for most jobs and throws a wide spot with poor beam control. I'm not sure the exact model of LED used in this light but it's not nearly as bright a beam or tight a spot as my Fenix TK11. [...]The battery is also a little difficult to remove. Makita should design a better battery release for future models. They do a much better job on their 18v lithium battery.
When price is considered, this light is a great value for anyone who already owns products using this battery system. It's 9 hour run time means you'll only need one charge for a full workday. I'll need a beer before the light needs a new battery. Just buy it.

Piece of junk, 30 dollars, clip broke off, bad spill area as another commented. It is an ok light for 10 bucks but no more. The drill and impact are awesome though!

Have always used Makita products and this one is yet another great purchase for the tool box. Very compact, bright light and lasts a very long time on a single charge. A+

I really enjoy having this little flashlight as an addition to my Makita drill / driver kit. It fits right into the box, and works fine. I can use it around the house or yard -- or close up when working in a dark area. Unlike other reviewers with the price of the flashlight about half of a replacement battery, I wasn't surprised that it didn't come with a battery; the "tool only" in the description was a pretty good hint too. Probably not the perfect flashlight for any specific use -- just the perfect tool to add when you've already have tools using this battery.

Super light for cabinetry work, close quarters, deer hunting.
My wife uses it for walks in the woods at night.
Compact, lightweight, incredibly bright, energy efficient.

This flashlight is comfortable, compact, reliable so far so good. Great addition to my 10.8 Volt Makita Set. You should buy it only if you have a makita 10.8 battery and charger that came with your drill set. I had this flashlight ON for 6 hours straight when I was doing some wiring in the attic, it did the job well. Really does last long, Impressive. I do recommend it as a nice addition to your 10.8 Volt Makita Set.

This is probably the worst flashlight I own (and I own MANY). The 'spot' is weak, and the spill area around the spot is almost non-existent. No wonder that it can 'run' for so long...it hardly puts out any light. But fortunately, I bought it for a different purpose; as I use the 10.8 VOLT Makita impact driver infrequently, it's important to discharge the battery every couple of months, and then re-charge...to extend the battery's usable 'life'. So the flashlight is the best way to deplete the battery (...although I belive it says in the manual to NOT let it deplete completely before re-chargeing it.)

I like the light but the picture showed a battery so I was very disapointed when the light showed up.

Tom