If you’ve been reading our Makita reviews all along you’ve probably figured out that the company is really pushing its new compact, lithium-ion series while almost leaving their NiCad tools on the storage shelf. That’s certainly understandable; when you have a new product line in your stable you do everything you can to catapult it to the head of the line. But for those who love the trusty old Makita NiMH tools, all is not lost. There are still some available on the market.
The Makita 6217DWDE 12-volt NiMH 3/8-inch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit is just one example of an older tool with a great following. Just to see what was going on with this one I took a look over at Amazon and found it in all of its 5-star glory. Unfortunately, at the time of writing this review the listing says Amazon is currently out of stock and they don’t know when the item will be restocked in the future. But for the time it is (and that may very well be now, depending on when you are reading this), we’ll provide you with a review nonetheless. This review will be shorter than most of our other ones, primarily because it is an older tool and relevant information is a lot more difficult to come by.
Makita 6217DWDE Features and Specifications
Makita markets this particular cordless drill as a 12V Cordless MFORCE® 3/8-in Driver-Drill. MFORCE is the name Makita assigned to its reversible, variable speed motor with multiple gears. It’s a high-performance motor, with metal gears and transmission for heavy-duty use and it also features 17 different torque settings at both low and high speeds. The Makita 6217DWDE is a tool that is designed to withstand the daily punishment of the contractor, home remodeler, electrician, plumber, and HVAC installer. Although you can certainly use it for your own DIY purposes Makita always intended this to be a commercial drill.
As for the specifications, they are as follows:
- power – 17 torque positions at low and high speeds
- speed – variable (0-100/0-1,300 rpm); shift-lock drive system
- metal gears and transmission; dual bearings
- batteries – 12V NiMH
- length – 9-9/16″
- weight – 4.4 w/battery
- kit includes drill, two 12V NiMH batteries, charger, keyless chuck, battery cover, carrying case, owner’s manual
Makita is pushing their new lithium-ion batteries because they have a much longer life and greater power than traditional NiCads. But even the NiMH batteries in this unit are a significant improvement over NiCad technology. The 2.6Ah NiHM batteries provide a significantly longer run-life, faster charging times, and more consistent power.
My Final Thoughts on the Makita 6217DWDE 12-volt NiMH 3/8-inch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit
I’m sorry I don’t have more to offer on this product, but there just isn’t a whole of relevant information available. I did take the time to scour customer reviews at Amazon to find out what people were saying. What you read below is just a small sampling of their comments:
- “Although I am just a “home-owner”, I do appreciate good tools and the Makita Mforce is top notch.”
- “The performance of this drill is so much better than those cheaper brands it’s amazing.”
- “It has been a workhorse… it handles all of those “around the house” tasks without breaking a sweat.”
- “Makita tools have never let me down over the past 10 years of business. This drill is no different.”
Out of the 38 reviews I read, 26 rated this drill kit at five stars. I think that pretty much sums up the deal. If you’re looking for a really good commercial grade product at a lower cost than the new lithium-ion models, consider this one. You’ll get well-known Makita quality along with a three-year tool warranty and a one-year warranty on the batteries.
