Makita DRT50 LXT Brushless Router

The Makita DRT50 Router/Trimmer represents the manufacturer's first cordless router in the 18-volt LXT battery system, delivering brushless motor performance up to 10 percent faster than the corded RT0700C model it was designed to complement and eventually succeed in cordless applications. This compact router features a brushless motor spinning collets at 10,000 through 30,000 revolutions per minute across five electronically controlled speed settings, accepting 6-millimeter and 8-millimeter shank router bits for edge trimming, profiling, grooving, and general routing operations. The tool accommodates four interchangeable base assemblies—trimmer, plunge, tilt, and offset configurations—each optimizing the router for specific applications while maintaining full compatibility with bases designed for the RT0700C and RT0701C corded models. Weighing 1.8 to 2.1 kilograms depending on battery capacity attached, the DRT50 combines professional routing capability with cordless convenience, eliminating power cord interference during furniture construction, cabinetry, and architectural millwork.

The brushless motor eliminates carbon brush maintenance while operating cooler and more efficiently than brushed equivalents, translating battery capacity into approximately 50 percent longer runtime per charge. Electronic speed control maintains constant rotational speed regardless of cutting load, preventing bogging and ensuring consistent surface finish quality across varying wood densities and grain patterns. Soft start function ramps motor speed gradually during startup, reducing sudden torque that could jerk the tool from operator grasp or damage delicate workpiece edges during initial contact. Dual LED job lights illuminate the bit and cutting area, maintaining visibility of router paths and bit position during operation in poorly lit conditions or when operator positioning blocks ambient lighting.

Technical Specifications

The DRT50 operates exclusively on Makita 18-volt LXT lithium-ion slide-type batteries spanning capacity options from 1.5 through 6.0 ampere-hours, with compatible models including BL1815N, BL1820, BL1820B, BL1830, BL1830B, BL1840, BL1840B, BL1850, BL1850B, and BL1860B designations. The brushless motor architecture achieves maintenance-free operation through electronic commutation replacing physical carbon brush contact with stationary and rotating electrical components. This design reduces internal friction, eliminates brush-generated electrical noise, and removes the primary motor wear mechanism, substantially extending service life compared to brushed motor routers while improving energy conversion efficiency for longer battery runtime.

Variable speed control adjusts motor rotation from 10,000 revolutions per minute minimum through 30,000 revolutions per minute maximum via a five-position dial located for thumb operation while gripping the tool body. Lower speeds accommodate larger-diameter bits where peripheral speed increases with radius, preventing burning in wood or bit overheating. Higher speeds provide cleaner cuts with small-diameter bits and when routing abrasive materials like medium-density fiberboard or particle board. The constant speed control system monitors motor load and automatically increases current delivery to maintain selected rotational speed under varying cutting resistance, preventing the speed reduction and associated burning or chatter marks that occur when routers bog down in dense materials or heavy cuts.

Collet capacity accommodates 6-millimeter and 8-millimeter shank router bits through included collet cones, corresponding to 1/4-inch and 3/8-inch imperial measurements commonly used in router bit manufacturing. The 6-millimeter capacity represents the most common router bit shank size for portable routers, while 8-millimeter capability expands compatibility to heavier-duty bits used in demanding applications. A shaft lock simplifies bit installation and removal, securing the spindle while loosening or tightening the collet nut with a single wrench rather than requiring two wrenches as on some router designs. Plunge capacity varies with base assembly selection: 0 to 40 millimeters with the standard trimmer base, and 0 to 35 millimeters with the plunge base.

Physical dimensions depend on battery selection, measuring 134 millimeters width, 89 millimeters depth, and either 208 millimeters height with compact 1.5 or 2.0 ampere-hour batteries or 226 millimeters height with 3.0 through 6.0 ampere-hour batteries. Overall length spans 226 millimeters. Net weight ranges from 1.8 kilograms with compact batteries through 2.1 kilograms with high-capacity batteries, maintaining portability advantages over larger fixed-base routers while delivering comparable cutting performance. Sound pressure measures 78 to 81 decibels with sound power level at 89 decibels, both specified with 3-decibel uncertainty factors per standardized testing methodology. Vibration exposure reaches 4.5 meters per second squared when cutting grooves in medium-density fiberboard, with 1.5 meters per second squared uncertainty factor, while rotation without cutting load generates less than 2.5 meters per second squared.

Key Features

Brushless motor technology provides the performance foundation enabling cordless routing comparable to corded equivalents. The elimination of carbon brushes removes internal friction reducing energy efficiency, heat generation, and mechanical wear. Electronic commutation precisely controls magnetic field timing and intensity, optimizing torque delivery and rotational consistency across the speed range. The manufacturer specifies up to 10 percent faster cutting than the RT0700C corded model, attributable to improved motor efficiency and electronic control sophistication. Cooler operation extends continuous runtime before thermal protection intervenes, while maintenance-free operation eliminates brush inspection and replacement that corded routers require every several hundred operating hours.

The depth adjustment system incorporates both coarse and fine mechanisms addressing different operational requirements. A quick-release cam lock enables rapid plunge depth changes and base removal for bit changes or base substitution, loosening with single lever operation rather than threading mechanisms requiring multiple rotations. Fine depth adjustment employs rack-and-pinion design providing gradual, precise depth changes through small rotational inputs, enabling accurate depth setting for stopped grooves or controlled material removal during multiple-pass operations. When equipped with the plunge base, a three-stage depth stop system facilitates incremental cutting depth increases, improving cut quality and reducing router loading when removing substantial material depths that would overload the motor or produce poor surface finish if attempted in single passes.

The interchangeable base system adapts the router to diverse applications through rapid substitution. The standard trimmer base provides smooth, unrestricted movement for edge trimming and general routing, with 0 to 40 millimeter plunge capacity accommodating most routing depths. The plunge base adds controlled vertical movement and three-stage depth stops for precision grooving and mortising operations, featuring ergonomic soft-grip handles and compatibility with guide rail adapters for track-guided routing. The tilt base enables chamfering operations with adjustable angle settings secured by wing screws, producing decorative beveled edges or preparing edges for joinery. The offset base positions the bit close to perpendicular surfaces, reaching within 18.5 millimeters of walls or cabinet interiors for sink cutouts and countertop installations where standard concentric bases cannot approach obstructions closely enough.

Ergonomic design features multiple grip configurations through interchangeable handles. The standard knob-type grip provides traditional router control through cylindrical handles mounted concentrically around the motor body, offering intuitive control for freehand routing operations. An optional bar-type grip substitutes elongated handles perpendicular to the router axis, preferred by some operators for edge-following work or when routing long straight edges. The slim body diameter and flat top design enable secure grip with hands of various sizes, while the flat top provides stable positioning when inverting the router for bit changes, preventing rolling and improving safety.

Dual LED work lights mounted on the motor housing illuminate the cutting area and bit position, automatically activating when the tool is powered. Independent switch control allows lighting without motor operation when positioning cuts or inspecting work. The enlarged base opening provides unobstructed visibility of the router bit and cutting path, overcoming a traditional router limitation where small base openings obscure the operator's view of bit position relative to layout lines. Combined lighting and visibility provisions substantially improve routing accuracy, particularly during freehand decorative routing where minor positioning errors create obvious defects in finished work.

Applications

Edge trimming represents the primary application driving compact router design. Laminate countertop fabricationrequires flush-trimming overhanging laminate sheet after adhesive bonding, using bearing-guided flush trim bits to match laminate edges precisely to substrate dimensions. The DRT50 excels in this application through its compact size, excellent visibility, and cordless convenience enabling free movement around large countertop sections without power cord management. Plastic laminate, wood veneer edge banding, and solid wood edge trim all benefit from flush-trimming capability, producing invisible glue lines and seamless transitions between materials.

Decorative edge profiling transforms square lumber edges into architectural features through shaped router bits. Round-over bits create smooth, contemporary edge profiles on furniture, cabinetry, and millwork. Cove bits add traditional concave profiles. Chamfer bits produce angled bevels for contemporary or transitional designs. Ogee and beading bits generate complex classical profiles for reproduction furniture and period millwork. The DRT50's variable speed control accommodates these varying bit diameters and geometries, with larger profile bits requiring lower speeds to prevent burning while smaller bits benefit from higher speeds producing cleaner cuts with less tearout.

Groove cutting and dadoing facilitate joinery and decorative treatments. Straight bits cut grooves for panel insertion in frame-and-panel construction, receiving plywood or solid wood panels in surrounding frames. Dado cuts across grain create shelf supports in carcass sides, housing drawer dividers, or accepting back panels. The plunge base and depth stops enable precise groove depth control, while guide systems maintain consistent offset distances from workpiece edges for parallel grooves or centered panels. Decorative V-grooves and flutes add visual interest to otherwise plain surfaces, with the DRT50's speed control and smooth operation producing clean, consistent profiles.

Template routing duplicates complex shapes through bearing-guided bits following pattern templates. Furniture reproduction, decorative millwork, and custom hardware installation rely on template routing for producing multiple identical components. The template guide bushings included with comprehensive DRT50 configurations guide the router around template edges while offset bits cut workpiece material, with bushing diameter and bit cutting diameter determining the offset distance between template and cut edge. This technique produces components impossible to duplicate accurately through freehand routing or layout-based methods.

The offset base addresses specialized applications like kitchen sink installations where the router must approach cabinet walls or backsplashes more closely than concentric base designs permit. Reaching within 18.5 millimeters of perpendicular obstructions, the offset base cuts countertop openings for under-mount sinks, cooktop installations, or other cutout requirements in installed cabinetry where removing the countertop for routing is impractical. The two-handle body grip design maintains stable control despite the asymmetric base configuration.

Efficiency data demonstrates practical runtime expectations. Makita specifies the DRT50 can trim approximately 100 meters of laminate edge (6 millimeters width at 4 millimeters depth) on a single 6.0 ampere-hour battery charge, providing all-day runtime for typical edge-trimming applications without battery changes. This performance positions the cordless router as a legitimate corded replacement for professional applications rather than merely a convenience tool with compromised capacity.

Model variations accommodate different user requirements and budgets. The DRT50Z bare tool includes only the trimmer base, straight guide, template guide, and basic accessories, suitable for users already invested in the LXT battery system. The DRT50ZJ adds MakPac case storage. Comprehensive configurations like DRT50ZJX3 and DRT50ZJX9 include all four base assemblies, guide systems, dust extraction accessories, and multiple template guides, providing complete routing capability in organized storage. Makita warranties extend one year standard with three-year extension available through registration within 30 days of purchase.