Photo: Makita
What We Like
- Fast cutting speed (7800 RPM)
- 2-in-1 trimmer and edger design
- 5-position adjustable head for easy fitting in tight spots
- Telescoping shaft (48.5 to 56.5 inches)
- Adjustable loop handle for comfortable use
What We Don’t Like
- Relatively small cutting diameter (10.25 inches)
Bottom Line
A fast cutting weed eater that is highly adjustable and operates very quietly due to its cordless battery-powered design.
Introduction
Weeds and grass need to be trimmed regularly to keep your compound looking neat and beautiful. For this, you need a machine and the most popular ones are weed eaters, which are also called string trimmers.
Makita’s XRU02Z is one such tool and it is a high-performance weed eater that cuts at quick speeds. The tool is battery-powered and has some very impressive features, which are explained in detail in the review below.
Makita XRU02Z Review
Photo: Makita
Performance: Fast Cutting Speed
With an 18V electrical system, Makita’s XRU02Z is fitted with a powerful motor that spins the cutting string at a no-load speed of 7800 RPM. This fast rotation enables you to cut at a quick pace so that you can cover your whole compound in no time.
That said, this motor delivers its rotational force to a nylon cutting head, which is a single string trimmer head with a bump and feed mechanism. As the name suggests, this mechanism requires you to bump the head to the ground while the motor is running to feed out the nylon cord.
As the cord extends outwards, it will be automatically cut to the proper length by the guard’s cutter. However, if it does not feed outwards, then it’s time to wind a new nylon cord on the spool, which is a simple process that is explained clearly with diagrams in the user manual.
It is important to note that you should not bump the head to a concrete or asphalt floor because these are very hard and might damage the tool. Bump it on the lawn as you cut the weeds/grass.
Other features include a lock-off button that must be pressed first before pressing the trigger for safety purposes and an indicator lamp that shows the tool’s status.
If the lamp blinks red, the battery is low and needs to be replaced for recharging. If it lights up continuously in red, either the battery is too low or the motor is overloaded. In either case, the tool stops immediately.
Design: Highly Adjustable
This weed eater is very adjustable and this is done on 3 sections. The first is on the shaft, which has a telescopic design. This can be extended from 48.5 inches to 56.5 inches and back to allow you to set it to the most optimum length that suits your height.
The trimmer also has an adjustable loop handle that enables you to hold it in the most comfortable position. Combined with the rear ergonomic handle, these two give you a firm hold for easy use.
Lastly, the head pivots to 5 different positions and this is important because it allows you to adjust the cutting angle as you head towards tight spaces. The head can also be rotated 180º, which gives you a 2-in-1 design because it turns the trimmer into an edger.
Portability: Relatively Lightweight
With a powerful motor and a highly-adjustable design, the Makita XRU02Z still manages to have a lightweight body that weighs only 6.4 lbs. with the battery attached.
Read More: The Best Lightweight Weed Eaters
Additionally, its telescopic shaft allows you to compress it to a compact size while the two handles make it easy to carry.
To top it all off, the tool is battery-powered, and therefore, you can use it almost anywhere, so long as the battery is charged. All these features make the trimmer easily portable and easy to handle.
Noise Level: Runs Quietly
One of the major benefits of cordless machines is that they run very quietly and this weed eater is no different. The difference is clearly noticeable if you compare it to a gas-powered trimmer, which produces a lot of engine noise.
The sound level is not given but the only noise that will hit your ears is from the nylon cord chopping the weeds/grass.
Battery: Widely Compatible
Though a battery is not included with the trimmer, there are four options that you can fit in. These include 2Ah, 3Ah, 4Ah, and 5Ah LXT 18V batteries, which are also compatible with other Makita tools.
Therefore, if you already have a Makita cordless tool, you can use the same battery to power this unit.
That said, each of these batteries has different charge times from zero to full, with the 5Ah battery taking 45 minutes, 40 minutes for the 4Ah battery, 30 minutes for the 3Ah battery, and 25 minutes for the 2Ah battery.
Even though the 5Ah unit is larger, heavier, more expensive, and takes longer to charge, we highly recommend it because it holds more power. This means it can run the XRU02Z for a longer time, which, according to the manufacturer, is 1 hour under continuous use.
With that in mind, the string trimmer is equipped with Star Protection Computer Controls, which is a communications technology that exchanges data with a chip in the battery.
This data exchange enables the system to protect the battery from overloading and over-discharging. It also monitors the battery’s temperature and stops the tool automatically if it gets too hot because high temperatures damage batteries.
Makita chargers are also smart devices because they communicate with the battery’s chip when plugged in to control the voltage, current, and temperature. This optimizes the charging process to enhance the battery’s lifespan.
Additionally, they have built-in fans to keep the batteries cool as they charge. You can opt for a single port charger (Makita DC18RC) or a dual-port unit (Makita DC18RD) to charge 2 batteries at once.
Note: You need to ensure that any Makita battery you buy has a star symbol, which indicates star protection inside.
Price: Mid-Range
With a price tag of slightly over $100, this weed eater model is neither too affordable nor too expensive. As compared to other trimmers, it sits in the middle of the price range.
That said, Makita manufactures many other weed trimmer models but the one that comes close to the XRU02Z is the XRU12Z. This is more expensive but is run by a more efficient brushless motor.
Though the motor delivers a top speed of 6000 RPM, the tool gives you 3-speed settings (4000, 5000, and 6000 RPM) and has automatic torque drive technology that shifts between these speeds automatically to increase power or extend run time.
Verdict
A quick 2-in-1 cordless weed eater that is highly adjustable and is ideal for operators of any height.
With a cutting speed of 7800 RPM, Makita’s XRU02Z is very quick and this enables you to cover your whole lawn in a short time.
Additionally, the tool’s head is adjustable and it can be rotated to convert it into an edger. The shaft is also adjustable with a range of close to 10 inches, which makes it flexible enough to be used by operators with different heights.
Specs
- Product Name: Makita XRU02Z
- Product Brand: Makita
- Power: 18V (cordless)
- Speed: 7800 RPM
- Cutting Swath: 10.25 inches
- Shaft: 48.5 to 56.5 inches (telescopic)
- Weight: 6.4 lbs.
- Warranty: 3-year limited
Key Features
- Fast 7800 RPM motor.
- 180º rotating head converts the trimmer into an edger.
- 5-position adjustable head for easy fitting in tight spaces.
- Adjustable loop handle.
- Easy-loading bump and feed trimmer head.
- Reinforced metal bump head.
- Star Protection Computer Controls.