Job site hot? Wear a jacket!
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Too hot on your job site? Makita says you should put on one of their cooling Fan Jackets.

As we reach the peak of summer heat, hot working conditions on job sites or in non-air-conditioned plants can be a real challenge. Now Makita has come up with a line of cooling jackets to make workers more comfortable in hot environments.

The latest model is the DFJ405ZM 18V LXT Cordless UV Resistant Fan Jacket. With a shell of titanium-coated polyester and built-in fans, the jacket not only cools the wearer but also protects against ultraviolet and infrared rays, according to Makita.

The jacket has five pockets, including a sleeve pocket. Zippered chest pockets have a hole so a cell phone or other USB device can be connected to the power pack to be charged while wearing.

Using the same 18-volt lithium-ion battery packs that power Makita’s portable tool line, the jacket features two recessed fan units located on the left and right side to provide optimum airflow and comfort. There are three air flow modes plus a turbo setting. You can also slip freezer packs into pockets in the back of the jacket for maximum cooling.

Even running at the high setting, the 18-volt battery offers up to 15 hours of run time in the jacket, according to Makita. The power supply also has a USB socket so it can recharge your cell phone or other USB device while keeping you cool

The jacket has two fan units in pockets on the right and left side for better cooling.

Regular jacket features include five pockets (two zippered chest pockets, left and right side pockets, and a sleeve pocket). The long sleeves can be folded into short sleeves and fastened with a built in button and loop. The jacket itself weights just 1.6 pounds. The power source, which clips on your belt, weighs 1.7 pounds with battery attached.

For maximum cooling you can add two cold packs into pockets in the back of the jacket.

“Makita Fan Jackets are a smart addition to a hot weather plan, whether the work is outdoors or in close quarters including attics and crawl spaces,” says Wayne Hart, communications manager at Makita U.S.A. “They are ideal for residential and commercial contractors, landscapers, road workers, and more.”

For more information, visit www.makitatools.com.

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About the author
William Sampson

William Sampson is a lifelong woodworker, and he has been an advocate for small-scale entrepreneurs and lean manufacturing since the 1980s. He was the editor of Fine Woodworking magazine in the early 1990s and founded WoodshopBusiness magazine, which he eventually sold and merged with CabinetMaker magazine. He helped found the Cabinet Makers Association in 1998 and was its first executive director. Today, as editorial director of Woodworking Network and FDMC magazine he has more than 20 years experience covering the professional woodworking industry. His popular "In the Shop" tool reviews and videos appear monthly in FDMC.