Makita
Makita 18V X2 LXT XRJ06 Recipro Saw
Makita's flagship LXT recip saw is an X2 tool: it gangs two 18V LXT packs for 36V of power (hence voltage listed as 36 — it still lives on the 18V LXT platform with no new charger or batteries needed). The 2-speed brushless motor drives a long 1-1/4 in stroke at up to 3,000 SPM, and a refined crank mechanism keeps vibration and blade deflection unusually low. Tool-less blade change, electric brake, XPT weather sealing, and an LED with preglow/afterglow round it out.
Specifications
Features
Pros
- ✓Corded-class demolition power from two 18V LXT packs you likely already own — no new battery platform buy-in.
- ✓Outstanding runtime — Makita rates up to 155 cuts in 2x10 SPF per charge on two 5.0Ah packs, and owners report cutting for hours with charge to spare.
- ✓Refined crank mechanism noticeably tames vibration and blade deflection — one of the smoother full-size recips to run all day.
- ✓2-speed brushless motor (0-2,300 / 0-3,000 SPM) lets you match stroke speed to metal versus wood work.
- ✓Tool-less blade change gets consistent owner praise for being genuinely quick and easy.
- ✓Electric brake plus an LED with preglow/afterglow are standard, and XPT sealing with Star Protection guards against dust, water, and overload.
- ✓Pro Tool Reviews gave the XRJ06 the top value score in its 'Super Saw' class — near-flagship performance for less money than 36V rivals.
- ✓Retractable tool hook secures the saw between cuts.
Cons
- ✗No orbital action — the straight-only stroke gives up wood-demo speed to orbital rivals like Milwaukee's Super Sawzall and DeWalt's FlexVolt saws.
- ✗X2 means two charged packs to run — one dead battery sidelines the whole saw, and packs drain in pairs.
- ✗10.2 lbs with batteries is a workout overhead or in tight crawlspaces.
- ✗Raw cutting speed trails the newest 36V/60V flagships in head-to-head tests — competitive, but not the fastest.
- ✗The design dates to 2016; Makita's newest recip-saw engineering has moved to the separate 40V XGT platform.
- ✗Bare-tool street price has crept from about $219 at launch to $274-$294 in mid-2026.
- ✗Most buyers opt for the cheaper single-battery XRJ05 instead (retailers estimate 5:1 to 10:1), making the X2 premium hard to justify for occasional use.
- ✗Thin retailer review base (25 reviews on Home Depot's bare-tool listing) compared to rivals with thousands.
Common Questions
Do I need to buy into a new battery platform for the X2?
How long does it run per charge?
Why doesn't it have orbital action?
Should I get the XRJ05 or the XRJ06?
Is a 2016-era design still competitive?
Compare the Makita 18V X2 LXT XRJ06 Recipro Saw
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Flex's full-size flagship pairs a sensor-free 24V brushless motor with a long 1-1/4 in stroke at 3,000 SPM and selectable orbital action. Pro Tool Reviews scored it 9.2/10 and found it out-cut most of the cordless field, and Bob Vila named it the top pick of seven saws tested — with vibration damping that reviewers consistently single out as best-in-class.
Milwaukee
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The only cordless super saw that also runs corded: Metabo HPT's 36V MultiVolt flagship accepts batteries or the ET36A AC adapter for unlimited runtime. In Pro Tool Reviews' February 2026 head-to-head it scored 9.8/10, finishing within hundredths of a second of Milwaukee's M18 Fuel Super Sawzall in wood while posting top-tier vibration scores from its dual-counterweight User Vibration Protection system.