Makita XRJ01 18V LXT Compact Recipro Saw Kit (3.0Ah, Earlier) review

Makita · 18V LXT cordless reciprocating saw · earlier two-battery 3.0Ah kit · XRJ01

The XRJ01 is an earlier Makita compact reciprocating-saw kit, not the current-looking tool-only XRJ01Z page and not the later XRJ01T 5.0Ah kit. Makita's exact U.S. page marks XRJ01 discontinued and names XRJ01T as its replacement. The XRJ01/Z flyer specifies two BL1830 3.0Ah batteries, a DC18RC charger, 21-inch contractor bag and one 18-TPI bi-metal blade. Those are original package claims, not a description of what any used or remaining-stock seller still has in the box.

A compact body with a short stroke

The XRJ01 family has a 1/2-inch stroke and a variable rate up to 3,000 strokes per minute. Makita lists maximum capacity as 2 inches in both pipe and wood. Those are the manufacturer's figures, not an independent cutting test; stock support, blade length and tooth profile, material, access and battery condition all affect a real cut. The short stroke and compact label separate this body from the longer-stroke full-size Makita saws in the library. It should not be promoted as a high-capacity demolition tool based on the SPM figure alone.

Makita describes a dual-position on/off control that can be operated by a paddle lever or trigger. That provides two switch positions, but the exact page does not identify the saw as one-handed. Here the format is treated as compact-bodied and two-handed. The distinct XRJ08Z page uses an explicit one-handed description; that is a useful comparison when the job requires a one-hand form rather than merely a smaller saw.

The earlier package is not the same as XRJ01T

The original XRJ01 flyer gives two BL1830 3.0Ah battery packs, a rapid DC18RC charger, a 21-inch contractor bag and one listed 18-TPI bi-metal blade. The current XRJ01T package is different: it lists two BL1850B 5.0Ah packs and two blade types. The XRJ01Z tool-only configuration is different again: it excludes the battery and charger and includes two short blades. The shared XRJ01 body family does not make these package contents interchangeable. Verify the model code and each component with the seller, especially for an old package.

Makita labels the XRJ01 discontinued, so a buyer considering it should treat condition and completeness as open questions. The maker's original parts list does not prove that a current listing still has both batteries, an intact charger, the bag or the blade. Ask for the actual box inventory and model-label photos. Check pack condition and exact charger fit using Makita documentation, and confirm the seller's return and warranty terms. No present availability, price or remaining battery life is established here.

Setup features and their limits

The flyer describes tool-less blade change, and Makita lists an LED light. The XRJ01 manual shows a blade-clamp sleeve: remove the battery before blade service, clear chips from the clamp, insert the blade all the way and pull-check retention. It warns that a blade inserted too shallowly can be ejected. For metal it directs the user to wear suitable eye protection and gloves and use cutting oil; the shoe should remain firmly against the workpiece to limit bounce and twisting.

Although the manual calls the mechanism shoe adjustment, it instructs the operator to loosen a hex bolt, slide the shoe lengthwise and retighten it. That repositions the shoe to use an unused section of blade edge; it is not enough evidence to call it a pivoting shoe. The public pivot-shoe matcher therefore leaves this feature unverified. The XRJ01/Z shared-body page lists orbital settings as “No,” so buyers who require selectable orbital action should compare a model that explicitly documents it.

Weight claims need their battery attached

The older manual lists 3.4 pounds with a BL1815 and 3.9 pounds with a BL1830 or BL1840. Its footnote expressly says those weights include the battery cartridge. The product flyer likewise advertises 3.9 pounds with battery. None is a bare-tool mass, and none is the weight of the packed kit. A strict bare-tool ceiling cannot be satisfied from those numbers. Likewise, an additional battery in a particular package may change the carried setup, but the source's tool-weight figure should not be repurposed as a complete kit measurement.

XRJ01 is best considered by someone deliberately comparing the earlier 3.0Ah configuration and able to assess a specific offer. If a present-day package, known condition, long stroke, confirmed pivoting shoe, battery-free tool weight or higher capacity is essential, the available source record does not establish those needs. Compare the maker's later XRJ01T or other exact saw assessments, then verify the manual and workpiece setup. This review makes no claim of personal operation, performance testing, durability, customer satisfaction or present inventory.