• Lithium Ion battery technology - Charges in only 15 minutes
• 1/2" Keyless Chuck with shaft lock for tighter securing bits for professional demands
• Makita built 4 pole motor design for high performance lasts 5 times longer than competitive motors
• Built in LED light to light up the work area
• 16 Position Clutch

Experience the power and reduced weight of the new lithium-ion technology, without the high cost. Lithium-ion cordless tools provide more power with less weight. This cordless drill-driver is a more compact, lighter-weight version of the LXT 18 volt tool. It has a 1.5 amp hr battery, which is half the size of the LXT 3.0 Amp hr batteries. This is not a light-duty tool by any means; it kicks butt in the 18-volt category. It boasts 450 in./lbs. of torque! You can even use the longer run time 18-volt LXT 3.0 Amp-hr batteries in this tool (the higher the amp hr rating, the longer the battery will last before it needs to be recharged).

This cordless drill weighs only 3.5 pounds, the lightest yet of any professional 18 volt. It has a comfortable grip and excellent ergonomics, which is ideal for continual use. Located just above the trigger, are two "headlights." Headlights refer to small LED lights that provide light where you need it most. I was skeptical about this feature, thinking it was just another gimmick, but after using it for some time, I've come to depend on it. From lighting my way to the house in the dark, when bringing the batteries/tools on cold nights to providing light in a dark cabinet, closet, or under a desk, this a must-have feature. Rubber grips adorn the exterior of this tool and protect it during impact if it falls. For all that you get with this tool package, the price is unbelievably low. This 18 volt is perfect for the professional who needs a powerful cordless to use all day long.

This Makita drill also has the most advanced charging system available and it charges in only 15 minutes! Generically, it's called a "smart charging system." A computer chip inside the battery lets the charger know exactly how to optimally charge the battery, to completely charge each cell within the battery and for maximum battery life. Each battery is made up of smaller 1.2 volt cells. Often a battery will drain unevenly during normal use, at different rates within these internal cells. A normal charger will stop charging the battery when one cell reaches maximum capacity, not all of them. Once this happens once, it will continue to do so as long as you use the battery. What this means is your 18-volt battery is now a 16- or 17-volt battery and it can drop even lower. A "smart charger" will charge every cell independently until each cell is fully charged, so your 18-volt battery will remain 18 volts for its entire life. This charger has a fan in it and blows air through the battery to cool it down before charging so the battery can be charged right away, unlike other brands, where the charger waits until the battery cools, or even worse attempts to charge a hot battery pack and damages it or decreases the life of the battery. These Makita lithium-ion batteries will last longer than standard batteries and can be charged over 1200 times, as opposed to the standard of 600 to 800 times, which alone can justify the slightly higher price tag. -- Gabriel Shantara Ford

What's in the Box
Driver drill; compact lithium-ion batteries (2); 15-minute Rapid Charger; carrying case

Never had a Makita before...had a Dewalt but the batteries finally died and VERY expensive to replace!
Thought this might be a good replacement...IT IS DYNAMITE!!
Has great power and IS LIGHT AS A FEATHER! Charges in minutes with fabulous quick charger.
My wife couldn't use the Dewalt....way too heavy. This is easy for women who aren't weightlifers to use!
Can't go wrong!

In two years light usage I have had two 1.5 Ah batteries show defective on the charger. Makita has stood behind the 12 month warranty and replaced the first battery at 11 months and when that battery read defective 10 months later, they replaced it free of charge. The drill itself is lightweight and an excellent medium duty drill.

Bought it after the new house closed escrow, as I knew I'd need one.

Short & sweet:

Handles great, perfect fit in my hand, my wife's hand, etc. Very compact, and still a powerhouse.
Keyless chuck: Solid, and very easy to manipulate.
The 15-minute charge? No joke.
LED light: More handy than I originally would have thought. Good flashlight in a pinch, as when the electricity is off in a dark work area.
Battery life? Suffice to say that it isn't an issue given the pair of batts and fast charger.
Durable: It's been dropped a few dozen times from 10' and under, on rock/concrete/grass, and hasn't skipped a beat.

Before buying this I asked around with people I trust regarding tools. No regrets.

The Makita BDF-452HW is a compact cordless powerhouse which rivals most mid-level corded drills. The lithium-ion battery charger truly charges the battery within 30 minutes by cooling the battery pack with its built in cooling fan when necessary. I've owned my drill for the past year and loved it so much that when it came time to purchase a new cordless drill for work, I immediately ordered this one.

In short, you owe it to yourself to give this drill a chance!

I bought this drill almost a year ago. I use it professionally (I'm a helicopter mechanic) and at home. This is a very powerfull and LIGHT drill. I replaced a dewalt 18v when I bought this one. There is no way I will go back to any other drill. I use it everyday, I even used it to put up a 12' X 21' metal building. Putting up the building did put a bit of a taxing on the drill, but that is a job that is meant for a screw gun not a cordless drill. It worked excellet though.