So… what if you’re just the average home owner who doesn’t do a lot of heavy DIY work and doesn’t need a $300 cordless drill? I know there are plenty of us out there who find ourselves in this situation. We might use a drill once or twice a year for some small projects; we’re not the type of guys who build a brand-new deck on one weekend then follow it up with a complete kitchen remodel the next. For us, we don’t need a commercial-grade drill with all the bells and whistles. Well, that’s where the Makita DF330DW 10.8-Volt Ultra Compact Lithium-Ion Cordless 3/8-Inch Driver-Drill Kit comes in.
The Makita DF330DW is the perfect compromise between simple home use and commercial reliability. You get a stout power tool capable of handling all of your straight drill work in wood, metal, and other standard materials, and Amazon has them listed for about $140 brand-new. That’s a pretty sweet deal for a new cordless drill with lithium-ion batteries. No bells and whistles, but a drill perfectly suitable for the average DIY home owner.
What’s nice about this 10.8V drill is its compact size. It’s not a monster that’s so hard to hold your hand goes numb after 20 minutes. It’s lightweight, easy to use, and gives you 200lbs. of torque. Not only that, but it also comes with Makita’s standard three-year warranty on the drill, and one-year warranty on the batteries. Combine the Makita reputation for quality with their warranty service and you can purchase with peace of mind.
Makita DF330DW Features
- fully-metal, two speed transmission for added control
- compact lithium-ion batteries (10.8 V) with 50 minute charge time
- ergonomic grip and light weight design for easy handling
- built-in L.E.D. light helps you see your work
- kit includes drill, two batteries, charger, and carrying case
Makita DF330DW Specifications
Every time I write a review about a tool I have a bunch of “real men” who want to know the specs. So here they are:
- power – 200lbs. torque max.
- speed – 0-350, 0-1,300 RPM (no load)
- capacity – steel (3/8″), wood (13/16″)
- weight – 2.2 lbs. (w/battery)
- length – 7-7/16″
- width – 10″
- height – 4″
From Makita
Makita advertises this drill as a compact but powerful tool designed for repair contractors, remodeling contractors, cabinet installers, electrical workers, maintenance personnel, and anyone else looking for professional grade power and speed in a compact design. As with all of their cordless drills, Makita claims the DF330DW is best-in-class. We’ll leave that decision to the opinion of individual users. Nonetheless, if the drill is all Makita claims it to be it’s the perfect solution for the light DIY user.
One of the nicest features of the DF330DW is the variable speed motor with 18 different clutch settings. With 200lbs of torque and variable speeds the drill has more control than you would expect from something in this price range. It also includes a 3/8″ keyless chuck and a choice of several different types of bits. But far and away the one feature Makita is most proud of is their lithium-ion battery technology.
The compact batteries included in this drill come with an ENERGY STAR rated charger that can fully charge a unit in 50 minutes. Not only that, but these new lithium-ion batteries have more power and up to 2.5 times the number of cycles as their older cousins. And as any regular user of cordless power tools knows, battery life is the bane of our existence. Hopefully Makita’s new lithium-ions are up to the task.
Customer Reviews Are Worth Their Weight in Gold
Okay, now that you’ve read my review and the claims made by Makita, what are real customers saying about the DF330DW? To make your life easier I’ve taking the time to read a good portion of the reviews on Amazon from which I culled the comments below. It’s interesting to note that Amazon ranks this drill with five stars. Out of 43 total reviews, 29 gave the DF330DW a five-star grade, 11 gave a four-star grade, and the remainder were three stars. Consider the following:
- “This little drill is just the thing for the medium to light duty drilling that I need to do.”
- “If you need arm-breaking power for big holesaws and stuff, this may not be your ideal pick, but if you need something compact that won’t wear your arm out when working overhead or at arm’s length, it’s pretty good.”
- “The Makita performed fine – not all the torque of a larger drill, but I loved the size, battery life was good – a charge would last most of the day. Charging time was under an hour.”
- “Makita makes wonderful tools. This is no exception.”
So there you have it. A handful of satisfied customers who write about being happy with their purchase of the Makita DF330DW 10.8-Volt Ultra Compact Lithium-Ion Cordless 3/8-Inch Driver-Drill Kit. If you’re in the market for a new cordless drill, why don’t you head over to Amazon and take a look at this one. It might just be what you’re looking for.
