Makita v. Wilwaukee

Makita LCT200W 18-Volt Compact Lithium-Ion Cordless 2-Piece Combo Kit

V.S.

Milwaukee 2691-22 18-Volt Compact Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit

I have been researching different drill sets and have found two that have received favorable reviews.

I am curious if anyone on this forum favors one over the other? Please advise me on this purchase.

Thanks,
bigbuckeye

 

It's the small things that make a difference. I use the Makita Impact driver (two of them) and the drill, have 3 batteries and one charger. Never have a problem with any of them. Now to the small things. On almost all brands except Makita, the little headlight goes on with the trigger pull and extinguished when it is released. Makita stays on about 5 seconds after release. Silly???? Who said that? I did at first, until I had a tight dark spot to drive a screw.
Another silly feature is a phosphorescent ring around the neck. Lay your driver down in that dark space and you can see it to pick it up without a flashlight. Nice feature. Makita has 1.5 aH batteries which charge in 15 minutes flat. They also have 3 aH batteries that take 30 minutes. The 3 aH are heavier and larger. I really like the compactness of the Makita.
I haven't used a Milwaukee on a job, only at big orange one day, so I can't tell you in practical experience how it would perform.

 

Right as Chandler said...

Depends on what your doing. I went all cordless 4 yrs ago and have six batterys. I have craftsman 19.2 volt and it will drill a 2 1/2 hole no problem. The torque will break my wrists. Milwaukee is the same.

Makita is crap as far as my opinion goes. Motors are cheap and burn out quicker.

Mike NJ

 

I am more of a Porter Cable/ DeWalt kind of guy.

On job sites I see mostly DeWalt tools but I do see the Makita once in a while. One carpenter and one Demo guy I work with has the Makita lithium ion tools but they only lasted about a year when things started going out (Clutch, break). Note: this is with HARD use. I almost never see Milwaukee. Could be just a local thing though.

 

If I cut holes larger than a spade bit, I definitely don't press any cordless into service. That is taking the tool past it's limit. You have to use your good sense. These tools aren't indestructible. I use a corded hole hawg when drilling holes that would test the strength of the cordless ones. No need to ruin a good tool, whether it be your crap Makita or other tool. I use the drill less than I do the impact, but the impact is used every day all day long, and has lasted better than a year so far, so I am pleased.
Scott, the Dewalts have come a long way. At first when the impacts arrived on the scene, they made a compact driver, then stuck a bit 18v regular battery on bottom . What a blunder. I think it is the cause of the advent of the other tool's success. Nobody was using the cumbersome Dewalt. One of my helpers recently bought a LIon Dewalt with a smaller battery, and it seem to do a great job. Milwaukee's IMO are overpriced for what you will get.
Oh, I never pay retail for these tools. That's dumb. I can buy two for what big orange wants for one.

 

I should mention that this is commercial work. No wood.. Steel studs, hanging rock or doors or doing demo (the REAL demo, not the demo you see on TV)

I have just bought my first impact driver (PC) and am still getting used to it. I think when I get the correct bits for it it will likely be my mainstay. Already broke a 3/8" driver hanging a TV bracket. Got impact rated stuff now.

 

You'll get spoiled, quickly!! I shipped all my Dewalt boat anchors to my SIL in Denver for when I visit out there, I'll have tools.
Yeah, where I got introduced to them was a commercial site, steel studs with the rock guys.
Dontcha love 30 second demos on TV??

 

30 second demo but they never show the 4 hrs of picking up all the stuff on the floor.
Are you sure you didn't ship to the SIL because they need to build their arms?

 

Gentlemen,

Thanks for your thoughts. Those 30 sec. demos are funny marketing ploys... and that is why to some extent the only way to get a real read on a product is to ask the community...