Makita XRJ04T 18V LXT Recipro Saw Kit (5.0Ah) review

Makita · 18V LXT cordless reciprocating saw · 5.0Ah kit · XRJ04T

XRJ04T is Makita’s full-size XRJ04 saw packaged as a 5.0Ah kit. The exact U.S. product page and model-named flyer list two BL1850B 18V LXT batteries, a DC18RC rapid charger, one reciprocal-saw blade and a tool case. This is materially different from the tool-only XRJ04Z, which excludes battery and charger, and from the discontinued XRJ04M 4.0Ah package. This review compares published documentation; it does not claim the saw was used, tested, measured or found in stock.

Shared XRJ04 saw specifications

Makita lists a 1-1/4-inch stroke, variable speed from zero to 2,800 strokes per minute and a 19-1/8-inch overall length. The maker’s maximum-capacity table gives 10 inches in wood with a 12-inch blade and 5-1/8 inches in pipe. These values describe the manufacturer’s stated capacity conditions; they do not say how quickly a particular cut will go or how long either included pack will last in a specific material. The 5.0Ah label identifies battery capacity, not an independently tested cut count.

The linked XRJ04 family manual supports careful setup: use an approved LXT pack and charger, fully seat the battery, insert a compatible blade to the clamp stop and pull-check retention. Remove the battery before servicing the blade. Makita also instructs the operator to hold the shoe firmly against the work and to secure and support the workpiece. A variable trigger allows the operator to start more gently, but no speed dial or orbital selector is documented; the product specification explicitly lists orbital settings as “No.”

Why the package can matter more than the family name

For an existing LXT owner, a kit may duplicate equipment. For a new user, the T package’s two batteries and rapid charger are real in-box differences that can make the configuration easier to deploy than a bare tool. The exact part numbers are valuable checks: BL1850B for each 5.0Ah pack and DC18RC for the charger. Confirm those identifiers and the saw’s XRJ04T suffix in the seller’s written box list. The image is illustrative of the kit presentation; the official product page and flyer, rather than the photograph, support inclusion claims.

Makita’s separate XRJ04Z assessment covers the tool-only SKU, which lists a blade but no battery or charger. The earlier XRJ04M package is marked discontinued and uses two 4.0Ah BL1840B packs, not the T kit’s 5.0Ah units. The T’s larger capacity marking is not proof of a longer runtime in any particular job, and shared XRJ04 family specifications do not make package IDs interchangeable.

Weight and capability limits

The product page states 8.3 pounds with a battery. The manual gives 7.6 pounds with one listed pack and 8.3 pounds with a different, heavier cartridge. These are battery-installed saw weights—not the bare tool, not total kit weight and not a measurement of the case, two batteries and charger together. No exact bare-tool weight was found in the reviewed sources. A shopper using a hard tool-only weight limit should therefore treat this field as unknown rather than assuming that the battery-on figure is an upper bound for a stripped tool.

The page documents a brushed motor, rubberized grip, variable trigger, electric brake and tool-less blade change. It does not establish selectable orbital action, a work light, an included hook or an adjustable shoe-position mechanism. The manual refers to a lock-off button, but that does not establish a lock-on switch. Makita’s language about reduced blade deflection and vibration describes the maker’s design claim; no independent comparative measurements were made for this assessment.

Fit and practical checks

XRJ04T is a plausible fit for a full-size reciprocating-saw buyer already committed to the Makita 18V LXT platform who wants the exact package to contain two named batteries, a charger, a blade and a case. It is not the compact one-handed form; compare the shorter, lighter-format XRJ08Z if access and grip style are more important, while noting that XRJ08Z is a tool-only package. The XRJ04T is a poor fit if the requested platform differs, an orbital selector is essential, an adjustable-position shoe must be confirmed, or a bare-tool weight ceiling must be documented.

Check the exact suffix and warranty terms before purchasing. Confirm that each battery and charger is compatible with the local model and that the box contents have not been altered by a third-party bundle. Inspect the work for hidden services and nails, select a blade appropriate to the material, maintain clearance beyond the workpiece and keep the shoe supported. A kit does not remove the need for safe blade installation or secure workholding. Makita’s product page states a three-year limited warranty, subject to its terms; no price, current stock or retailer condition is established here.

Makita XRJ04T exact U.S. kit page · Makita XRJ04T new-tool flyer · XRJ04 family instruction manual