Comments for Makita Cordless Drills

Comment on Makita BDF452HW 18-Volt Compact Lithium-Ion Cordless 1/2-Inch Driver-Drill Kit Reviews by Howard Beale "operation-mobocracy"

Howard Beale "operation-mobocracy" — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 12:41:12 +0000

159 of 170 people found the following review helpful

Great drill -- beware the batteries/charger!, May 29, 2007

Howard Beale "operation-mobocracy" (Flyoverland, Minnesota) -

This review is from: Makita BDF452HW 18-Volt Compact Lithium-Ion Cordless 1/2-Inch Driver-Drill Kit (Tools & Home Improvement)

I bought this drill in about January or February. The drill itself is great, but something is flakey with either the included 1.5AH batteries or my charger as extended stays in the charger have killed both my batteries (both with and without the charger plugged in!). Makita does not sell 1.5AH batteries, only 3.0AH replacements which are nearly $100 and twice the size of the 1.5AH units.

I'd give this unit 5 stars if the batteries performed as they should have. I'm working with Makita on a battery and charger replacement as this is clearly a problem with this (my?) unit.

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Comment on Makita BDF452HW 18-Volt Compact Lithium-Ion Cordless 1/2-Inch Driver-Drill Kit Reviews by Jeff Shultz "Shultzy"

Jeff Shultz "Shultzy" — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 11:49:18 +0000

218 of 232 people found the following review helpful

This Looks & Feels Like the Future, November 13, 2006

Jeff Shultz "Shultzy" (Wayzata, MN United States) -

This review is from: Makita BDF452HW 18-Volt Compact Lithium-Ion Cordless 1/2-Inch Driver-Drill Kit (Tools & Home Improvement)

This new driver/drill from Makita is a great piece of work. I bought this unit just days ago, so this review is just an initial impression.

The BDF452HW is super light, easy to handle and has good power. The batteries are physically small, but still pack 18 volts. The L/I batteries have a very flat run-time curve...they stay full power until right at the end of the charge. They recharge in 15 minutes (for real). Makita seems to have capitalized on the advantages of new battery technology and combined it with a well built, smooth, advanced tool.

If you need brute power or a hammer drill, this is not the drill for you. If you want a medium to medium heavy duty drill, this lightweight beauty is close to perfect. I'll update this after several months of use. Right now, I couldn't be more satisfied.

*Update (04/13/07) After using this drill for several months, I still think it is the best drill/driver in this price/usage range. The batteries are excellent and the available power continues to satisfy me. This drill is lightweight, reliable, feels like quality and has the umph to drill even 2" Rock Maple and drive 2" lag screws into the same Rock Maple with no sweat. After living with it, I'd buy it again!

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Comment on Makita BDF452HW 18-Volt Compact Lithium-Ion Cordless 1/2-Inch Driver-Drill Kit Reviews by K. Wilson

K. Wilson — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 11:02:07 +0000

200 of 212 people found the following review helpful

What a great product, but with one pitfall, August 7, 2008

K. Wilson (Ohio) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Makita BDF452HW 18-Volt Compact Lithium-Ion Cordless 1/2-Inch Driver-Drill Kit (Tools & Home Improvement)

I've owned a 12v Dewalt drill for 10 years and although it still works great running on it's second set of battery's, I was looking for something with a bit more power,12v tools seem to run out of juice on larger heavier jobs so I was looking for an 18v drill.

Did some research and came up with the the Makita BDF452HW and ordered it from Amazon. First impressions great ! What a beautiful well balanced tool, fits in the hand very well, extremely light, ratcheting chuck, LED light, lots of torque for those heavy jobs, and the cherry on top is the quick charge Lithium ion batteries. I was very impressed with the whole package so I took it for a spin. By chance the first task that came to hand required some finesse, a 1/16" hole in a small computer connector, not the typical work for this heavy duty beast but you have to use your new toy.

When I drilled the hole, the drill bit shook and the drill itself seemed to have some vibration so I did so careful testing. After testing various bits and setups I determined that the chuck was off center and was causing any drill bits to wobble, not greatly, but enough you could feel it and enough to physically bend a small bit. I had noticed a previous review mentioned chuck wobble but after assessing the large number of positive reviews I dismissed it a just bad luck, it happens.

***** Five stars to Amazon's customer support, I returned the drill for an exact replacement, no charge and three days later I had another Makita in my hands ready to test. Sadly the second drill also suffered from the same fate, off center chuck causing the bits to wobble. I must be too critical so I compare drill holes with the Makita and my 10 year old Dewalt. I noticed two striking differences, the Dewalt was completely without any vibration, no doubt here, it was perfect. The second thing I noticed was the trigger speed control, the Dewalt was very smooth and seemed to be infinetly adjustable allowing me to very accurately control the speed, were the Makita had distinctive speed steps, not quit the control but definitely adequate. Oh yeh and the Dewalt weighted a ton compared to the Makita.

In conclusion, and honestly with great regret I sent the second Makita back for a refund ( ***** Stars to Amazon again !) and ordered the Dewalt DC720KA. It works great and has all of the features of the Makita with two exceptions, weight (its a heavy weight @ 4.8lbs but still very compact) and battery technology, still using NiCad battery's, rather than Lithium Ion.

The Makita is a great product if you can get lucky enough to get one that is put together well, sadly I had two in a row bad. Since the chuck is a little off center, this indicates poor manufacturing tolerances. This may have been a bad batch from a failed CNC machine, or it may be indicative of a more general problem, poor manufacturing practices that ultimately translate into poor quality and usually along with that a poor repair history, and a short product life. Only time will tell if this is a freak batch or indicative of a bigger issue.

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Comment on Makita 6347DWDE 18-Volt NiMH Cordless Drill/Driver Kit by "hustonlv"

"hustonlv" — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 10:18:13 +0000

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

Makita 18 Volt MForce Cordless Drill, September 7, 2003

"hustonlv" (Las Vegas, Nevada (USA)) -

This review is from: Makita 6347DWDE 18-Volt Cordless Driver-Drill Kit (2-Speed, Variable Speed, Reversible)

I have been using this excellent tool for various household repair and installation jobs for three months. In comparison to previous NiCad battery cordless drills I have used, the Ni-MH batteries supplied with the drill give considerably longer use time between charges. The drill is also much lighter than lower voltage NiCad battery drills I have owned such as Craftsman models. The torque is outstanding for a drill this size even when using three inch drywall screws in wood. I really like the feel and sounds of the drill, they just express quality like the muffled latch of a closing door on a Lexus sedan. The feeling that I am using a high quality tool has alone justified the higher price I paid for the drill. ... I am extremely happy with this purchase and the performance.

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Comment on Makita 6347DWDE 18-Volt NiMH Cordless Drill/Driver Kit by Herman

Herman — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 10:13:11 +0000

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful

makes home improvement projects a breeze, September 7, 2005

Herman (Fremont, ca United States) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Makita 6347DWDE 18-Volt NiMH Cordless Drill/Driver Kit (Tools & Home Improvement)

I'm just your typical do-it-yourself home improvement user so I can't speak from a professional use level, but this drill has been a godsend. About a year ago, I bought a 18v Coleman cordless drill for about $10 after some discounts from HSN. I thought that for $10 it couldn't be that bad. Boy was I was wrong. First off, those NiCad batteries you find in the cheaper drills (skil, coleman, b&d) are no match for the same or lower voltage of a NiMH battery. NiCad batteries quickly lose the remaining charge about half way through the battery. These NiMH batteries in the Makita, don't give up until the battery is almost completely dead. Though this Makita drill costs significantly more, the power and endurance of the battery is amazing. Screws that would bring that Coleman to a crawl are nothing for the Makita.

The main reason for buying this drill is that I'm currently remodeling my bathroom and there hasn't been a task that has given me second thoughts about choosing the Makita. I've been driving 2.5" deck screws into 4"x6" lumber along with 200-300 other screws into 2x4 studs and drilling 3/4" holes with a spade bit through 2 stacked 2x4s without a hitch (not on one charge). It's true that the Panasonic 18V drill is rated the highest by Consumer Reports, but I'm more than satisifed with my Makita at $75 less.

If you are planning on doing light and occasional drilling or screwing, a Coleman or other basic duty cordless drill will probably get you by. But if you plan on having your batteries last all day, boring holes in a variety of materials, sinking a variety of lengths of screws into limitless materials, then buy a quality drill like this Makita. I could've never done the bathroom remodel had it not been for the endurance and torque of this unit.

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Comment on Makita 6347DWDE 18-Volt NiMH Cordless Drill/Driver Kit by Kevin Woodward

Kevin Woodward — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 09:49:30 +0000

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful

Great value at this price, get it while you can, September 4, 2005

Kevin Woodward (Soquel, CA United States) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Makita 6347DWDE 18-Volt NiMH Cordless Drill/Driver Kit (Tools & Home Improvement)

When I first saw the 18-volt powerhouse Makita 6347DWDE drill at this price -- which doesn't even include the significant manufacturer's rebate -- I thought it was too good to be true and quite possibly a misprint. I had to re-read the description and the fine print a few times before making my order.

After owning this drill for six months and using it on a number of projects, I couldn't be happier. The battery pack has proved more than adequate in delivering plenty of power over an extended time period and and it's great to have the backup available just in case. Charging is fast and easy, too.

Despite the size of this drill, it is surprisingly light and well-balanced, comfortable to use even at odd angles and at arms length. You absolutely can't go wrong here.

The benefits of owning quality power tools go without saying. And Makita is a name you can trust. This is not a toy ... it is the real deal. Don't settle for good when you can have the very best. It's definitely worth a few extra $$$.

Note: Take a look at the Makita 784874-A 15-Piece UltraLoc Set as a great accessory for this drill.

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Comment on Makita LXT406 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 4-Piece Combo Kit by Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 00:51:54 +0000

Great kit, February 22, 2012

MDM "MDM" (Florida) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Makita LXT406 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 4-Piece Combo Kit (Tools & Home Improvement)

This is the best kit I have ever owned. They tools work great and are tough. The batteries hold up well.

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Comment on Makita LXT406 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 4-Piece Combo Kit by D. E. Ratte

D. E. Ratte — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 00:42:53 +0000

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

Not quite sure yet !, May 9, 2008

D. E. Ratte (Coventry, CT USA) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Makita LXT406 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 4-Piece Combo Kit (Tools & Home Improvement)

I bot this set a few days ago and rec'd it within two days of it being shipped. Amazon had the best price, plus free shipping. Good deal ! Upon inspection, the three main tools - drill/circular saw/recipro saw all look to be of very high quality. The forth tool(if you can call it a tool)is the light. It is just basic plastic with 4 increments of adjustment, but it works well. The carrying bag is very nice. It's made of a heavy material and is slightly padded all around. My reservation at this early stage of ownership is with the drill. The chuck appears to have a slight wobble. It is noticeible at the lower RPMs. At the higher RPMs it's more of a slight vibration. I will need to try it under different scenarios to see if it affects the precision of drilling,screwing etc. The drill is the BHP452 model. Has anyone else noticed this wobble?? I would be disappointed if I had to return it back to Amazon, plus I would have to pay a hefty shipping cost.
I'll follow up once I give the drill a good trial.

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Comment on Makita LXT406 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 4-Piece Combo Kit by George Torok "Muppet"

George Torok "Muppet" — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 00:07:42 +0000

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

Love Makita tools, October 7, 2008

George Torok "Muppet" (Montreal, Canada) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Makita LXT406 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 4-Piece Combo Kit (Tools & Home Improvement)

I've had Makita tools for over 20 years and all of them are still working. I am not a Contractor but more towards the occasional renovation. I have a big project coming up and need portable Pro tools. Only recently have the power from higher voltage batteries made this possible. Not the cheapest "Set" but far better built than the competition. This set is a nice combination of tools and though most people don't think they have need for the light, it ends up being used often. Great to have during a power failure - 12 hours of a powerful light with the two batteries. Charger is fast and should be able keep up with heavy tool use. A battery powered circular saw with this much power and stamina - never thought I would ever own one! Love it!!

OKAY! It is now a year later and I have finished my Log Cabin in Vermont. Actually, I just did the interior but that is still a whole summer of work. All the walls, doors, stairs, plumbing and electrical work. All done with just this set of power tools with just the addition of the LXT jigsaw. I also got 2 more batteries as often you work with more than one tool at a time. The tools made it easy. Batteries last and recharge faster then I used them up. Drill and jigsaw last the longest. The circular saw needs the most power and depletes the battery fastest but the next battery is already waiting. The included blade for the circular saw is high quality and lasted for the entire project - still good for a while yet! I used the reciprocal saw the least but it is fine also. I have small hands but the tools are really well balanced and not too heavy. The batteries deliver maximum power till the end and don't slowly get weaker and weaker. You know when it is time to recharge. Very glad I got these tools. No hesitation in recommending them or any other Makita tool! Just wish I had another cabin to do...

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Comment on Bare-Tool Makita BDA350Z 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 3/8-Inch Angle Drill (Tool Only, No Battery) by D. Knibb "The A/V Guy"

D. Knibb "The A/V Guy" — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:07:43 +0000

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

My 2 cents, I'm an Audio/Video Installer, April 18, 2010

D. Knibb "The A/V Guy" (NEW YORK, NEW YORK, US) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Bare-Tool Makita BDA350Z 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 3/8-Inch Angle Drill (Tool Only, No Battery) (Tools & Home Improvement)

I'm an Audio/Video Installer which means I install all types of flat screen TVs, speakers, home theater systems, whole house audio, in residential and commercial properties. I have many MAKITA drills about 5. All for different purposes. Before buying this close quarter drill I considered the Milwaukee right angle drill. The Milwaukee is a great tool, just too large for my purposes. I needed something small, powerful and cordless. I climb in all kind of tight spots and sometimes a dangling cord can be a hazzard when working in a customer's home.

The Makita is solidly built, I like like the large trigger and it does the job. Makita should have supplied a rubber screw on handle it would minimize vibration. This thing does vibrate when drilling through a wooden stud. I also wish it had two speeds Slower speeds deliver more torque. If your driving screws or making small holes it works like a charm.

I bought the (tool only) because I have 3 (3amp Lithium ION batteries. Good tool. Sturdy and well built.

I'm pleased.

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