MakitaPC01R3 12V max CXT® Lithium-Ion Cordless Multi-Cutter Kit (2.0Ah)

I got this to replace the Worx Snip Zip that I could no longer charge since the adaptor cord would not go in the charging socket after about charging it four times. The Makita has an external battery that is no problem to connect to the tool. They both work great but I had to upgrade to something that had a power source that I can rely on. Both the Worx and the Makita cut through cardboard with no problem.The "kit" comes with a durable case with room for the tool, the charger and one battery included. However there is room in the case for two optional additional batteries if you need them. The batteries are unique in that there are LED's which indicate the power level of the battery if you press a button.

I get a LOT of amazon boxes and they pile up like a mountain. I needed a quick go-to tool for cutting them down. I HATE using a utility cutter because its too easy to cut yourself while free-holding the boxes. In general, with a knife, you are ALWAYS cutting toward yourself because you need leverage to press the knife into the cardboard.This Makita multi-cutter solves this problem because by its nature you are pushing the tool away. Much safer. In fact, i'm not sure you actually could cut yourself with this thing. The power and speed are more than adequate. Battery life is fantastic. Cutting flat cardboard is very easy. Cutting the flaps off of boxes is a little harder because you have to maneuver the small "mouth" of this thing into the fold of the flap and the adjacent flap gets in it way, Once you cut about an inch it zips through the rest of the flap. It will only cut single layer cardboard (typical shipping boxes). It won't cut through double layer (appliance) cardboard.Ergonomically, this tool is a little unwieldy due to its length. The safety switch that you must hold in with your thumb could be better designed. There are switches on both sides for lefties.In addition, search for the CANARY Corrugated Cardboard Cutter (DC-190F-1). It works GREAT for SAFELY opening boxes and cutting the box tape while breaking boxes down. Amazon also stocks replacement Makita 198604-1 1-5/8" Multi-Cutter Blades

The media could not be loaded. Blades jump over each other and jam. Had it happen several times when the first few years I had it and just took it apart and reinstalled the circular blade. Eventually, I tried to bend the bottom blade so it would quit jamming and stretched the gap between the blades too far.Ordered brand new upper and lower blades. Just installed and turned on and blades immediately jammed together. Tried another two times and did again both times. I can see nothing else that could be wrong with the tool. I has been very lightly used cutting Amazon boxes at home.Hard to throw out a $140 tool by a well known company, but it is out of warranty. May buy a cheap brand from Walmart like someone mentioned in their review.

The media could not be loaded. Bought this to cut up all the cardboard we get thru Sam’s and Amazon and other orders. Couldn’t wait to start using after the holiday influx of boxes. Works great! Love makita products. No complaints so far.

Pros:Cutting and handles smoothly with confidencePrecision design, Smooth inner mechanism, comfort grip with safety releasel lock when handlingReplaceable & Rechargeable batteryCuts two to three layers thick of pizza box just fine (for example)Cons:For Makita fans, this is 12v battery tools series, not the typical 18v, so be aware you might have to get the complete kit.(But it does provide lesser overall weight)Summary:I recently bought another competing brand for it's cheaper price & popularity, I ended up returning that other because ...it's a day & night difference by comparison in every aspect. Long term investment

Exactly what I needed to get all those cardboard boxes cut for recycling. I highly recommend this tool for cutting cardboard. Much safer than a box cutter.

I bought this tool to cut cardboard boxes into pieces for the recycling bin. After some practice, it works fine for regular cardboard shipping boxes. I found that kneeling on the box while cutting it works well. The blade seems sharp enough, but it does take a little bit of effort to push through the cardboard. It's nice that the guard protects the surface you're cutting on (and the blade).I plan on keeping the tool, but may look for better options in the future.The tool breaks when used on thick (1/4") shipping boxes. The blade will get pushed out of alignment, requiring partial disassembly to fix, as it will not cut very far when out of alignment. Thankfully only a couple screwdrivers are required to re-set the blade (take out the two right-most screws to pop off the plastic guard), but this tool is not recommended if you need to cut 1/4" boxes on a regular basis.The safety trigger is appreciated, but is a bit awkward to use at first. It is not an off/on toggle -- it requires a continual grip, which puts some unneeded stress on the thumb joint. This tool is not recommended if you need to cut a lot of boxes for your job, but it's fine for amateurs with minimal grip issues.The battery appears to last for a long time. The charging experience is average.

I've cut about fifty boxes with this thing, ranging from small Amazon to heavy Costco and mattress boxes. It's saved me a lot of pain ripping things up by hand and you can use it for just about any single thickness box as long as you straighten it. This cutter cannot really cut corners, so to speak, just flat boxes. You need to flatten the box before cutting. Charge lasts a long time, I've recharged a few times but never ran out of battery. I do cut through corners but because of the blade guard keeping whatever media your cutting straight, as well as the battery sticking out, it is awkward and difficult to do so.The first cutter I got was doa and had obviously been opened and assembled previously.