Makita XRJ04M 18V LXT Recipro Saw Kit (4.0Ah, Discontinued) review

Makita · earlier 18V LXT reciprocating-saw kit · 4.0Ah · XRJ04M

XRJ04M is an earlier Makita 18V LXT kit built around the XRJ04 reciprocating saw. Makita’s exact U.S. product page marks this SKU discontinued and names XRJ04T as its replacement. The model-specific XRJ04M flyer lists two 4.0Ah BL1840B batteries, a DC18RC rapid charger, one saw blade and a tool case. Those records describe the package when sold; they do not establish current availability, condition or the contents of an unverified used listing. This is a document-based assessment, not a hands-on review.

What the shared XRJ04 manual documents

Makita’s family manual lists an 18V DC cordless saw with a 1-1/4-inch stroke and a no-load range of zero to 2,800 strokes per minute. The U.S. product documentation gives a 19-1/8-inch overall length and maximum capacity labels of 10 inches for wood using a 12-inch blade and 5-1/8 inches for pipe. These are published machine specifications and stated limits, not a guaranteed cut through every stock shape or material. The manual’s weight table is battery-dependent: it lists 7.6 and 8.3 pounds with different named battery cartridges. It does not state the bare saw weight.

Setup is part of the fit decision. The manual requires the correct compatible battery, fully seated installation, proper blade insertion and a pull-check of the clamp. Remove the battery before fitting or removing a blade. Support and secure the workpiece, keep the shoe firmly against it, maintain clearance behind the cut and use a blade intended for the material. The two included 4.0Ah packs do not eliminate the need to inspect the battery condition on an older unit or to follow current battery guidance.

XRJ04M versus the replacement XRJ04T

The exact M flyer identifies two 4.0Ah BL1840B packs; the current XRJ04T page and flyer specify two 5.0Ah BL1850B packs. Both packages name a DC18RC rapid charger, a saw blade and a case. The capacity numbers are different package facts, not a measured endurance ranking. The manufacturer’s stated replacement relationship should not be stretched into a claim that a used M kit is equivalent to a new T kit, or that its batteries remain serviceable.

When an earlier-model filter is enabled, XRJ04M becomes an option for someone willing to investigate an older package. Without that opt-in, the current-only library keeps it out of the finder. Makita’s exact page says discontinued, so the assessment does not imply ordinary current retail stock. If a marketplace listing is considered, request clear photos of the tool label, two batteries, charger, case and blade; check battery condition and serial/model markings, verify seller terms and compare against the XRJ04T package. The XRJ04T review addresses the replacement’s 5.0Ah kit, while the XRJ04Z review covers the bare tool.

Controls, weight and unknown features

The exact family specification lists a brushed motor, a variable-speed trigger, electric brake and tool-less blade change. It explicitly says there are no orbital settings. The reviewed sources do not establish an adjustable shoe-position setting, a work light, an included hook or a lock-on switch. A lock-off button in the manual is a different safety function from a lock-on running control. The family manual says to maintain shoe contact, but that instruction is not proof of a projecting or repositionable shoe.

Weight is another important boundary: 8.3 pounds is a battery-installed figure, not bare-tool weight and not the complete M kit’s total. The two batteries, charger and case add items to carry, but no complete kit weight is specified. A hard bare-tool ceiling cannot be checked from shipping weight or from the battery-on figure. If tool weight is central to the decision, ask for an exact manufacturer measurement or weigh the exact tool configuration rather than treating unknown as a pass.

Who should consider this discontinued kit?

XRJ04M belongs on a shortlist only when the buyer intentionally includes earlier or discontinued models and values the documented 4.0Ah two-battery package. It may be less suitable when current model status, unverified battery health, a bare-tool weight limit, one-handed access, orbital cutting or an adjustable shoe is essential. Its long 1-1/4-inch stroke, 2,800 SPM ceiling and LXT compatibility may be relevant to the right work, but none is a stand-in for confirming a particular unit or safe setup.

Before considering an older tool, confirm the exact SKU rather than accepting a family-name listing, inspect the included batteries and charger, review warranty and return terms, and follow the exact manual. Do not assume that an old kit’s image or package description guarantees what a secondhand seller will ship. No retailer price, current inventory, used-item condition, personal use, cut-rate test or recall clearance is established by this assessment.

Makita XRJ04M exact U.S. discontinued page · Makita XRJ04M flyer · XRJ04 family instruction manual