Angle Grinder

$169

Makita

Makita 18V LXT XAG04 Angle Grinder

Name: Makita 18V LXT XAG04 Angle Grinder
Brand: Makita
Price: 169 USD
Availability: InStock

Makita's long-running brushless LXT grinder with Automatic Speed Change: it drops RPM and raises torque under load to keep the wheel moving. The slide switch with lock-on suits continuous grinding; a paddle-switch sibling (XAG09) covers no-lock jobsites.

Bare Tool

$169

Kit

$259

Platform

Makita 18V LXT

Weight

5.6 lbs (with battery)

Best for: LXT owners who prefer a slide-switch grinder with lock-on for long, steady cuts

Specifications

Features

Electric BrakeAutomatic Speed Change

Pros

✓Automatic Speed Change torque management keeps the wheel from bogging in deep cuts — owners call the power delivery unusually smooth.
✓Slide switch with lock-on is the preferred format for long weld-grinding sessions where paddle fatigue sets in.
✓Street price around $169 makes it the value pick among the pro-brand brushless grinders.
✓Extreme Protection Technology sealing has a strong track record in dusty metal-shop use.
✓Runs on the giant LXT battery ecosystem, and dual-battery LXT grinders exist if you need more power later.
✓Electric brake stops the wheel quickly for a slide-switch design.

Cons

✗8,500 RPM and 18V power now trail the DeWalt Power Detect and Milwaukee Fuel on peak output.
✗Lock-on slide switch is banned on some commercial sites, forcing the paddle sibling instead.
✗At 5.6 lbs with battery it is the heaviest of the three flagship grinders here.
✗The design dates to the late 2010s and lacks the anti-kickback electronics rivals now fit — a real safety-feature gap.
✗No variable speed.
✗Makita's US promo cadence is thin, so the street price moves less than Milwaukee/DeWalt deal pricing.

Common Questions

What is Automatic Speed Change?

Makita's load-sensing system drops RPM and raises torque when you lean into a cut, keeping the wheel moving where a fixed-output grinder would bog. Owners call the power delivery unusually smooth in deep cuts — it's the feature that defines this grinder despite the dated platform specs.

Is the lock-on slide switch a problem on commercial sites?

It can be — some commercial jobsites ban lock-on grinders outright, and for those Makita offers the XAG09, the paddle-switch no-lock sibling of this same tool. If you grind long welds in a shop, though, the lock-on slide switch is exactly the format you want.

How does a 2017 design hold up against newer grinders?

The fundamentals are still solid — brushless motor, electric brake, proven Extreme Protection Technology sealing in dusty metal-shop use — but 8,500 RPM and 18V output now trail DeWalt's Power Detect and Milwaukee's Fuel on peak power. The bigger gap is safety electronics: there's no anti-kickback shutoff, which rivals now fit as standard.

Why buy it over the newer flagships?

Price and platform: at around $169 street it's the value pick among pro-brand brushless grinders, and it runs on the giant LXT battery ecosystem with dual-battery LXT grinders available if you need more power later. Makita's US promo cadence is thin, though, so don't expect deal pricing to move much.

Does it have variable speed?

No — it's a single-speed 8,500 RPM tool, so flap-disc finesse and polishing work aren't its strength. The Automatic Speed Change system manages torque under load automatically, but you can't manually select a lower wheel speed the way you can on Flex or Metabo HPT's variable-speed models.

Compare the Makita 18V LXT XAG04 Angle Grinder

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