I think we can all pretty much agree that lithium-ion is the hottest thing in cordless tools right now and rightly so. The bane of cordless tools has always been weak batteries so if lithium-ion can provide a workable solution you can expect tool makers to concentrate on that technology. Yet even so, there are still some pretty good NiMH tools out there, including the Makita 6347DWDE 18-Volt NiMH Cordless Drill/Driver. I did some research on this drill to find out the details, and I’ll give you my thoughts here.
First of all, let me say that I’m not a professional contractor or home builder. Nor am I necessarily an exceptionally handy DIY enthusiast. But I do have project to do now and then that would be made much easier by dependable cordless tools. If this drill lives up to everything Makita claims, it would appear to be a great tool not only for my amateur needs, but also for some commercial ones as well. And the price isn’t bad either – I found it listed on Amazon for just under $210.
Makita 6347DWDE Features
One of the first things you’ll notice about this drill is how easy it is to hold in your hands. In fact, that’s something Makita works very hard on and something for which they are very well-known. Its ergonomic design is very comfortable and natural feeling, and allows you to work the drill with just a modest grip. By contrast, some other drills I’ve tried are so difficult to hold you spend more time wrestling with the tool than you do getting your work done. You won’t have that kind of trouble with this drill.
The next thing you’ll notice is the drill’s “Shift Lock Drive” which does two important things. First, it allows you to change between drill and drive modes with just a single touch. Secondly, it allows for locking of the clutch in the drill mode for peak performance. Throw in dual ball bearings, exceptional balance, and a rubberized grip, and you have tool that is both comfortable and more than capable of getting the job done.
Moving on to the batteries, I have to say that I’m glad Makita includes two 18V NiMH batteries with this kit. They’re not the new lithium-ion units that Makita is pushing so heavily, but their NiMH batteries are no slouches either. They tend to give a longer charge than what we’re normally used to from other manufacturers, and they’re considerably lighter than many other older batteries in the same class. Makita throws in a charger that will handle multiple types of batteries, so you might even be able use it for some of your other Makita cordless drills or tools.
Makita 6347DWDE Features
In honor of all you tech heads out there, I offer the following specs:
- Power: 18V NiMH batteries
- Speed: 0-100/0-1,300 rpm (dual)
- Transmission: all-metal gears
- Chuck: keyless
- Length: 18.20″
- Width: 15″
- Height: 4.90″
- Kit Includes: tool, 2 batteries, multi-volt charger, two-headed bit, battery cover, plastic case
Also don’t forget the fact that you get the standard Makita one year warranty on the tool itself. I’m not sure whether you get the three year warranty on the batteries; with Makita sometimes you do, sometimes you don’t.
Makita 6347DWDE Customer Reviews
Okay, so now you have my thoughts on the Makita 6347DWDE 18 V cordless drill/driver; but I’m only one person. It would probably help to read some comments left by other people who have purchased this drill and put it through its paces. To accomplish this I went through the reviews at Amazon and copied some of the comments I thought were relevant. It’s important to note that this drill is ranked at 4.5 stars with 76 reviews. That said, here’s what I found:
- “After owning this drill for six months and using it on a number of projects, I couldn’t be happier.”
- “…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.”
- “Even nicer was the size and weight – felt more like a 14.4 V drill than an 18V in my hand.”
- “As a trade professional… I find myself always reaching for the Makita, as I find it the most comfortable to use and as powerful and long running as the considerably more expensive Bosch and DeWalt.”
Now that you know what real people have to say about this drill, maybe you should consider it when the time comes for your next drill purchase. From the looks of it you may not be able to do as well with other brands, for the same amount of money.
