Replies

1. 
   DonCanDo | Jun 13, 2007 05:41am | #1

   That looks like a typo.  The BTD140 impact driver has a 1/4" hex shank socket.  It takes impact bits which differ slightly from drywall bits in that they lock into the socket.  It looks like this:

   View Image

   Be sure to pick up extras because they do break.

   
   

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   Edited 6/12/2007 10:42 pm ET by DonCanDo

2. 
   rasconc | Jun 13, 2007 06:28am | #2

   Ditto, must be typo.  Here is the owner's manual.

   http://www.makita.com/assets_product/BTD140/owners_manuals/BTD140.pdf

3. 
   slykarma | Jun 13, 2007 08:19am | #3

   The other guys are right, the impact has a 1/4" shank socket. You said this was a combo kit; maybe 1/2" refers to the chuck capacity of the driver/drill that is the other part of the combo.

   You might also want to consider the 4-mode impact drill that Makita also offers. BTP130 (14.4V) or BTP140 (18V). This is a driver/drill, impact driver and hammer drill all in one tool. It's slightly bigger than the impact driver but much more compact than the driver/drill.  I've had mine - a 14.4V - for 3 months now and have been very happy with it. I use it mostly for driving screws but occasionally appreciate being able to switch to drill mode for more torque or driver mode for more control. I do a fair bit of door installation work and it's the only drill I need - even installing threshholds over slab on grade where the hammer drill gets used. Because of the LI ion batteries, it's as light as the old 12V Hitachi impact that preceded it.

    

   Lignum est bonum.
1. 
   daveinnh | Jul 08, 2007 04:12am | #5

   I'm looking for a combo kit and am looking at Makita.   Did you buy the BTP unit as part of a combo? If so, where?

   Follow-up: How could the BTP unit be smaller than the (plain) drill/driver?

   (My circa 1995 12V Bosch drill is on its last legs - it's been good, but can't see replacing batteries due to the cost).

    

1. 
   slykarma | Jul 08, 2007 07:19am | #6

   I'm not a tool designer so I don't know how they made the BTP smaller than the same Li Ion driver/drill, but it is. It's a bit larger than the regular impact driver.

   There was no point to buy this unit in a combo, it's a combo all by itself! If I was seriously interested in a cordless recip or circ saw, I'd have gone 18V combo, but for impact/drill alone, 14.4V is all I need and they weigh less. I don't use recip or circ saw all that much, my business is virtually all finishing nowadays. Plus I'm a lefty so prefer my circ saws blade right, and those are tough to find in cordless.Lignum est bonum.

4. 
   Stilletto | Jun 13, 2007 11:27am | #4

   You are looking at the same kit I just bought,  and the kit comes with both 1/4" and 1/2".  Amazing isn't it? 

   The drill is the 1/2",  the impact is the 1/4".