Who wore it better? Ok that’s not a serious question, clearly Ally Mellow, Miss Makita 2016 wears it better no contest. We honestly were not sure if the Makita 18V fan jacket DFJ201Z ($149) was actually going to hit shelves in the US but it is here… just in time for fall. We had a chance to try it on at STAFDA which was an air conditions trade show but we also recently tried it on outside on a hot, humid 94 degree day and it was super effective. If you don’t mind looking like a stay puff marshmallow man it’ll keep you cool. At the outside show guys were putting in on and not wanting to take it off, it definitely gets the job done.
The fan can also run a long time, 12 hours on high using a Makita 5.0Ah battery, although we’d recommend lightening the load with a slim 2.0Ah if possible. The battery pack has a belt clip but it can be a bit bulky especially with a larger battery.
One of the jobs mentioned was going into an attic where temperatures can jump 20, 30, 40 degrees and be pretty unsafe working conditions. While this won’t eliminate the danger it could lower the risk. The problem often brought up when we were talking to the guys at the show was moving around in such a tight space where there might be exposed roofing nails or other sharp objects it that you’d be more likely to snag something all puffed out. Certainly it is a concern and would take a little getting used to but it was surprising to us how open the jacket some of these guys were after using it for just a minute or two.
For any questions on Makita Tools give the pros at Ohio Power Tool a call 800-242-4424 and they are always happy to help you find the right tool for the job.
