Tool advice...

[Insane3D]

I'm in the market for a good cordless drill/driver, and my buddy turned me on to this deal over @ Tool Barn.

For $209, I get a 14.4v Makita driver/drill, 14.4v Cordless Impact driver (103ft/lbs), cordless drop light, two 2.6mAh batteries and charger...

I figure these will be good for general around the house and on the car work, as well as when I do work putting together server racks from time to time.

I know Makita makes good stuff, and this seems like a good deal to me. Any ATOT tool heads have an opinion?

I should mention I'm not interested in Dewalt, or any lower brands...

http://www.toolbarn.com/cgi-bin/bigimage.cgi/6935FDWDEX/

 

[azazyel]

ænima is their best album!

 

[JulesMaximus]

Dewalt is not a lower brand than Makita. I would say they are pretty close in quality.

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Dewalt is not a lower brand than Makita. I would say they are pretty close in quality.

Dewalt is made by Black and Decker, I prefer Makita. I've been doing a lot of work with guys who use these things day in and day out hardcore, and almost all of them have told me Makita makes better stuff than Dewalt. I'll take their advice...regardless...I have no interest in a yellow drill.

 

[Insane3D]

Anyone?

 

[iamwiz82]

I'd get an 18v if you can.

 

[compudog]

Hitachi are good as are the European (Czech Republic) made Milwaukee. Porter Cable at Lowe's are NOT good. Looks like the deal you mentioned is a good buy.

 

[bmacd]

14.4 is sooo 20th century. Step up to at least 18v.

-=bmacd=-

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
I'd get an 18v if you can.

The difference between the 18v Makita and the 14.4v is almost nothing...power wise. All you really get is added weight...

Also, they don't make a 18v impact that i know of...

The 14.4v Makita drill does 350in/lbs..the 18v is 400in/lbs...not a big difference. The 14.4 is lighter and easier to use for long periods of time...

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: bmacd
14.4 is sooo 20th century. Step up to at least 18v.

-=bmacd=-

As I said...18v is not that big of a deal.. All you mainly get is more weight...the torque difference between the 14.4 and the 18v is not much at all...

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Insane3D

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
I'd get an 18v if you can.

The difference between the 18v Makita and the 14.4v is almost nothing...power wise. All you really get is added weight...

Also, they don't make a 18v impact that i know of...

The 14.4v Makita drill does 350in/lbs..the 18v is 400in/lbs...not a big difference. The 14.4 is lighter and easier to use for long periods of time...

Thats almost 15% more power. I dunno about you but I come into a lot of situations where I come close to maxing out my 18v drill.

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: Insane3D

Originally posted by: bmacd
14.4 is sooo 20th century. Step up to at least 18v.

-=bmacd=-

As I said...18v is not that big of a deal.. All you mainly get is more weight...the torque difference between the 14.4 and the 18v is not much at all...

Strange. All the contractors I've seen or worked with have used DeWalt. Also the Dewalt 18V drills are 450lbs of torque which is almost 30% more than the 14.4V.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

I have owned Makita, DeWalt, Bosch, and Milwaukee drills, and my 12V Milwaukee drill has lasted the absolute longest. I use it daily and it is going on 6 years old now. The longest any of the others lasted was ~3 years, which isn't bad in it's own right, but nowhere near as good. The only real problems I have with it is the electric brake quit working after ~ 1 year and the chuck retaining-screw broke, two things I have been able to live without.

The new Makita's aren't as good as they used to be as several of my co-workers have been through several of them in the last couple of years (mostly 12V and 14.4V), one not even lasting 6 months without a major repair.

DeWalt is just a so-so drill. Wouldn't choose to use one personally, and they aren't extremely reliable either.

The Bosch drill I had was nice, powerful, and lasted quite a while also, but repairs were too expensive to justify keeping it running.

I have played with a Panasonic as well. It seemed like a nice drill, and I know the battery will last in that one.

There are a couple of Hitachi's in the shop also, but they aren't old enough to comment on reliability. They are lightweight and have decent power for their size, but weak to comparable drills.

 

[Insane3D]

Ok, for those that are talking about the 14.4v drill having less torque than the 18v ones, that's true. The 14.4v Makita has 350in-lbs...the 18v Makita has 400in-lbs, and the Dewalt 18v has 450in-lbs. I think you are all missing the impact gun though. The impact gun has 1,240in-lbs (103.3ft-lbs), so anything that the 350in-lbs drill couldn't handle, the impact would. Does anyone have any input on the kit I'm looking at?

Also, AUser, the Makita drill design has been revamped in the past 6 months, and all of the people I've talked to said they are much better than they ever have been, and are solid. The Makita's are also user serviceable.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Originally posted by: Insane3D
Also, AUser, the Makita drill design has been revamped in the past 6 months, and all of the people I've talked to said they are much better than they ever have been, and are solid. The Makita's are also user serviceable.

The product you linked to is not the newer design though, which might explain why it is priced as low as it is. Even if Makita has improved their drills lately, I (personally) would still be leary since they are new and their last gen drills were't so great.

I have seen way too many Makita's replaced in the time I have had my Milwaukee, yet I got ribbed for not buying a Makita...

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Where was the "why cordless?" question OPs always hate?

 

[Ornery]

Max. Torque (ft-lbs) 240

Milwaukee 0923-29 $429.00 with 5 year warranty. Features the unequaled Hatchet reciprocating saw, and 495 in.-lbs. of torque in their super rugged hammer drill.

Don't screw up this decision. Once you commit to a brand, you're stuck using the tools that match their batteries. The Sawzall is what sets Milwaukee apart from the rest, as well as the 5 year warranty.

5 pack 18 volt combo kit $499.99 at Sears

• Reciprocating saw features:
  • 6-position, pivoting handle for use in tight spaces
  • 3/4 in. stroke length with orbital action or straight reciprocating action
  • Counter balanced mechanism for smooth operation
  • Variable speed switch, 0-2,700 spm
  
  Circular saw features:
  • Comfortable soft-grip handle
  • Easily cuts all 2x material at 45 deg. angle
  • 3200 rpm for fast, clean cuts
  
  Hammer drill features:
  • Powerful Milwaukee built motor develops 495 in.-lbs. of maximum torque
  • All-metal single sleeve Grip-Lok? ratcheting chuck with carbide jaws
  • Milwaukee exclusive reversible battery pack allows for easier access into tight areas
  • Ergonomic soft finger grip for enhanced comfort
  
  Radio features:
  • Clean, powerful Rockford Fosgate® sound system with digital tuning
  • Withstands 8 ft. drop to concrete
  • 5-1/4 in. weather resistant speakers
  
  Contractor bag features:
  • Easy accessibility, storage pockets inside and out
  • Padded pockets and reinforced bottom

Kit also includes two 2.4 amp-hr. batteries, work light, universal charger, 6-1/2 in. circular saw blade, Super Sawzall® two-blade pack, and rip fence

Seriously, that radio Rocks Hard!

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: AnonymouseUser

Originally posted by: Insane3D
Also, AUser, the Makita drill design has been revamped in the past 6 months, and all of the people I've talked to said they are much better than they ever have been, and are solid. The Makita's are also user serviceable.

The product you linked to is not the newer design though, which might explain why it is priced as low as it is. Even if Makita has improved their drills lately, I (personally) would still be leary since they are new and their last gen drills were't so great.

I have seen way too many Makita's replaced in the time I have had my Milwaukee, yet I got ribbed for not buying a Makita...

The one I linked includes their latest design drill. It's this one...the D31 motor is the newest...

http://www.toolbarn.com/product/makita/6337DWDEX1/

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: Ornery
Max. Torque (ft-lbs) 240

Milwaukee 0923-29 $429.00 with 5 year warranty. Features the unequaled Hatchet reciprocating saw, and 495 in.-lbs. of torque in their super rugged hammer drill.

Don't screw up this decision. Once you commit to a brand, you're stuck using the tools that match their batteries. The Sawzall is what sets Milwaukee apart from the rest, as well as the 5 year warranty.

5 pack 18 volt combo kit $499.99 at Sears

• Reciprocating saw features:
  • 6-position, pivoting handle for use in tight spaces
  • 3/4 in. stroke length with orbital action or straight reciprocating action
  • Counter balanced mechanism for smooth operation
  • Variable speed switch, 0-2,700 spm
  
  Circular saw features:
  • Comfortable soft-grip handle
  • Easily cuts all 2x material at 45 deg. angle
  • 3200 rpm for fast, clean cuts
  
  Hammer drill features:
  • Powerful Milwaukee built motor develops 495 in.-lbs. of maximum torque
  • All-metal single sleeve Grip-Lok? ratcheting chuck with carbide jaws
  • Milwaukee exclusive reversible battery pack allows for easier access into tight areas
  • Ergonomic soft finger grip for enhanced comfort
  
  Radio features:
  • Clean, powerful Rockford Fosgate® sound system with digital tuning
  • Withstands 8 ft. drop to concrete
  • 5-1/4 in. weather resistant speakers
  
  Contractor bag features:
  • Easy accessibility, storage pockets inside and out
  • Padded pockets and reinforced bottom

Kit also includes two 2.4 amp-hr. batteries, work light, universal charger, 6-1/2 in. circular saw blade, Super Sawzall® two-blade pack, and rip fence

Seriously, that radio Rocks Hard!

Millwaukee is not an option..to expensive, and their batteries are not the best. Also, I can't spend $500, nor do I need all those other tools...

The batteries on the Makita are 2.6mAh, which I've yet to see anyone else offer.

Edit:

The Milwaukee uses NICD batteries?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Insane3D

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Dewalt is not a lower brand than Makita. I would say they are pretty close in quality.

Dewalt is made by Black and Decker, I prefer Makita. I've been doing a lot of work with guys who use these things day in and day out hardcore, and almost all of them have told me Makita makes better stuff than Dewalt. I'll take their advice...regardless...I have no interest in a yellow drill.

Yellow...Green...WTF is the difference. I don't think you could go wrong with either one quite frankly.

 

[spidey07]

The question remains.....

Can you really get a good impact driver out of a cordless?

Gimme corded. Use a cordless impact driver and you will find it sucks.

 

[Doggiedog]

Sounds like you are settled on Makita. Why not just go buy it?

 

[AlienCraft]

My RYOBI driver has outlasted the MAKITA driver of my partner. Battery life, tool rugged-ness, etc. He bought a RYOBI 18v combo pack and is very happy. He wishes RYOBI made a 90 deg driver, so he' stuck with one MAKITA in a box full of RYOBI.
BTW, my 12 v RYOBI jut recently broke after falling off a ladder. I sent it in, hoping they could replace the cae, I was sent a BRAND NEW 14 v driver. Great Customer service, parts , product support, and the company is HQ'd in South Carolina, o you get to support American worker to boot.


BTW, get a flahlight to discharge your batteries completely or you'll be buying a new one prematurely.

 

[Xyclone]

Originally posted by: azazyel
ænima is their best album!

Ugh, I hate tool.

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: AlienCraft
My RYOBI driver has outlasted the MAKITA driver of my partner. Battery life, tool rugged-ness, etc. He bought a RYOBI 18v combo pack and is very happy. He wishes RYOBI made a 90 deg driver, so he' stuck with one MAKITA in a box full of RYOBI.
BTW, my 12 v RYOBI jut recently broke after falling off a ladder. I sent it in, hoping they could replace the cae, I was sent a BRAND NEW 14 v driver. Great Customer service, parts , product support, and the company is HQ'd in South Carolina, o you get to support American worker to boot.


BTW, get a flahlight to discharge your batteries completely or you'll be buying a new one prematurely.

Psst...comes with a light.