Makita XRJ01T 18V LXT Compact Recipro Saw Kit (5.0Ah) review

Makita · 18V LXT cordless reciprocating saw · two-battery 5.0Ah kit · XRJ01T

XRJ01T is the 5.0Ah kit version of Makita's compact-bodied 18V LXT reciprocating saw. The exact U.S. page and its English flyer list two BL1850B batteries, a DC18RC rapid charger, a bag and two short blades, while identifying the saw body as XRJ01Z. The distinction matters: the tool-only XRJ01Z page does not include the battery, charger or bag, and the earlier discontinued XRJ01 kit used 3.0Ah batteries. This is a document-based assessment, not a claim of ownership, practical testing or measured performance.

Same compact saw, separately specified kit

The XRJ01 saw body is listed with a 1/2-inch stroke and variable speed up to 3,000 SPM. Makita gives maximum capacities of 2 inches in pipe and wood. This is a compact cutting format rather than the long-stroke profile of a full-size demolition saw. The numbers are manufacturer limits, not a guarantee that every two-inch material will cut quickly or cleanly; blade selection, material, support and access determine whether the setup is appropriate.

Makita calls the body compact, but the exact page does not call it a one-handed saw. Its dual-position controls let the operator choose a paddle lever or trigger; that feature should not be confused with a one-hand design claim. The finder treats it as a compact-bodied two-handed saw. A buyer whose priority is expressly one-handed control should compare the separately documented XRJ08Z instead of inferring hand position from this kit photo or the short 15-5/8-inch overall length.

What the 5.0Ah kit adds

The manufacturer lists two BL1850B 5.0Ah packs, one rapid DC18RC charger, a tool bag, a 4-inch 18-TPI metal blade and a 4-inch 6-TPI wood blade. That is a materially different purchase from XRJ01Z. The battery count and models come from the package list, not from the product image, which shows only one pack attached to the saw. Check an offer for the exact XRJ01T suffix and verify its actual box contents; a bare-tool listing or incomplete used package is not made into a kit by sharing a saw body.

For a user who already owns the correct LXT equipment, the incremental value of a kit's batteries and charger may be low, and a tool-only package may be a better fit. For a buyer building a system, two packs and a charger are relevant contents, but they do not establish what a seller charges or whether the package is currently stocked. Compare the full equipment list you need rather than using the word “kit” as a shortcut for total setup cost.

Blade, shoe and handling limits

Makita describes a tool-less blade clamp and an LED work light. In the family instructions, blade service begins with removing the battery. Chips or foreign matter should be cleared from the clamp, the blade inserted fully and its retention checked by pulling on it. The manual also says to keep the shoe against the workpiece; when cutting metal it calls for suitable coolant and hand and eye protection. A switch with two activation positions does not make a supported workpiece or a controlled blade path unnecessary.

The XRJ01 manual's “shoe adjustment” is lengthwise sliding with a hex bolt. It helps move contact to an unused section of blade edge, but the reviewed documents do not establish a pivoting angle or numbered pivot positions. The public adjustable-pivot requirement is therefore not counted as satisfied. Similarly, 3.9 pounds is Makita's battery-installed figure, not bare-tool mass. The family manual's values also include batteries, so the kit cannot be certified under a strict bare-tool limit from these specifications.

Who should compare it with a larger saw?

XRJ01T is a plausible package to investigate when a buyer wants the compact XRJ01 body, short supplied blades and a complete 18V LXT battery/charger set. Its published 2-inch capacity and short stroke are boundaries to respect. A larger wood member, pipe, nail-embedded demolition cut or job needing deeper reach may call for a different blade and a full-size saw; no claim here promises that this compact model will handle a particular material simply because the maker publishes a maximum diameter.

The page checked does not mark XRJ01T discontinued, but this does not prove present stock or seller condition. Before deciding, compare the exact package suffix, confirm both battery model numbers and charger, inspect the offered blade list, and check warranty and return terms. For an earlier 3.0Ah package, XRJ01 is a separate discontinued record, not a synonym for XRJ01T. The value of this kit turns on whether its supplied power system and the saw's compact operating envelope match the work—not on a guessed rating, price or claim of hands-on speed.