DeWalt or Makita?

[CabinetSage]

Hello dear woodworkers,

I am struggling making a choice between these two ecosystems since I can't be buying different batteries.

I am leaning towards Makita, since I like the colour but for woodworking, who does it better or has more range of tools that I might become obsessed over getting in the future?

I hear that DeWalt has backward compatibility with their batteries so that is a positive, anything else I forgot to consider?

 

[Etaf]

only a DIYer with ` lot of dewalt tools some corded most cordless
i just went with dewalt because of some special deals on kits and batteries at screwfix, and was open to various makes - BUT knew once commited i would stay on the same cordless platform
and expanded cordless tools over time
I suspect not much between the two - but not trade and see trades who have come to my house and family have often have 1 or other makita or dewalt - although i have seen a few more using Milwaukee, over moving over to the Milwaukee system

just take a look at future purchases and cost etc

I have - cordless
jig saw
circular sw
planer
grinder
combi Drill
impact driver
Multitool
rightangle drill
ricip saw

corded
Sliding mitre saw
SDS Drill
Router 1/2'

maybe forgot something
as i say just a DIYer BUT i have refurbished a bungalo and family houss over the last 7 years - so a lot of DIY

 

[TheUnicorn]

you can spend forever debating one vs the other, and that's before you add in other brands too. I don't think it matter's that much which you go for, but the individual tools that you choose.

do you have specific tools in mind?

Personally I've gone for dewalt, perfectly happy with them overall, but not convinced they are any better than makita

 

[Spectric]

The thing to remember is that no one manufacturer makes the best of everything, also in a workshop ask yourself "do I need cordless" especially with tools you want hooked up to extraction because you are tethered. Cordless ties you into the brand unless you want different batteries so having corded is often cheaper and gives you the option of pick and mix so you get the best of each tool maybe just in different colors. I only use cordless drills and they are Makita and Milwaukee, Milwaukee because they do a nice drill which is multifunctional and lightweight,

https://www.sgs-engineering.com/mil...n-drill-driver-with-interchangeable-heads-kit

My impact driver and larger combi drills are Makita.

I have a 110 volt Makita tracksaw, a 110 volt Dewalt 1/4 & 8mm router, 110 volt Bosch hammer drill and a very large 110 volt Hilti drill that is ancient but still outperforms anything else for heavy drilling. I also have a Dewalt biscuit joiner and a Festool DF700 which is about to come out of exile for further trials.

My mitre saw is a Bosch 12 inch axial glide, again 110 volt and I have a Dewalt 625 1/2 inch router with a Triton router in my Kreg table.

On the future maybe list is a Mafell P1CC jigsaw and a Lamello P2 but still giving myself an argument over the justification.

 

[Spectric]

but not convinced they are any better than makita

In many cases these everyday tools are much the much but some are better, the Dewalt Biscuit jointer is better than the others including Makita and maybe the classic lamello is the best biscuit jointer but the gap narrows with many others. I have always used Makita cordless drills and Bosch corded, now milwaukee cordless due to functionality and wanting a lighter drill. The Mafell jigsaw is in a class of it's own, it should be considering how expensive it is.

 

[CabinetSage]

you can spend forever debating one vs the other, and that's before you add in other brands too. I don't think it matter's that much which you go for, but the individual tools that you choose.

do you have specific tools in mind?

Personally I've gone for dewalt, perfectly happy with them overall, but not convinced they are any better than makita

I will need a drill, impact, sds, plunge saw, sander, router to get me started

 

[CabinetSage]

The thing to remember is that no one manufacturer makes the best of everything, also in a workshop ask yourself "do I need cordless" especially with tools you want hooked up to extraction because you are tethered. Cordless ties you into the brand unless you want different batteries so having corded is often cheaper and gives you the option of pick and mix so you get the best of each tool maybe just in different colors. I only use cordless drills and they are Makita and Milwaukee, Milwaukee because they do a nice drill which is multifunctional and lightweight,

https://www.sgs-engineering.com/mil...n-drill-driver-with-interchangeable-heads-kit

My impact driver and larger combi drills are Makita.

I have a 110 volt Makita tracksaw, a 110 volt Dewalt 1/4 & 8mm router, 110 volt Bosch hammer drill and a very large 110 volt Hilti drill that is ancient but still outperforms anything else for heavy drilling. I also have a Dewalt biscuit joiner and a Festool DF700 which is about to come out of exile for further trials.

My mitre saw is a Bosch 12 inch axial glide, again 110 volt and I have a Dewalt 625 1/2 inch router with a Triton router in my Kreg table.

On the future maybe list is a Mafell P1CC jigsaw and a Lamello P2 but still giving myself an argument over the justification.

I have a feeling that I might need those tools on construction sites so thats why I am thinking about cordless, and sometimes I might need to do cutting in places that aren't inside - do you use any dust extractor?

 

[CabinetSage]

In many cases these everyday tools are much the much but some are better, the Dewalt Biscuit jointer is better than the others including Makita and maybe the classic lamello is the best biscuit jointer but the gap narrows with many others. I have always used Makita cordless drills and Bosch corded, now milwaukee cordless due to functionality and wanting a lighter drill. The Mafell jigsaw is in a class of it's own, it should be considering how expensive it is.

Does the Milwaukee drill perform the same, a lighter drill is definitely a bonus point

 

[okeydokey]

if cordless then I like Makita for day to day and occasional use, if corded get whatever you fancy/is the best price at the time colour/brand is irrelevant.

 

[Bristol_Rob]

Makita all day long

 

[Curval]

Are the battery adaptors that one can get any good? I know there used to be "Badaptor" but they stopped being offered (I'm guessing due to legal threats?) though there are plenty of nameless ones on Amazon.

 

[Beau]

I use a mixture of brands on the corded side of things and cant really fault any of them. I happen to have ended up with Dewalt for cordless and never worry I should have picked XYZ brand. Suspect I would be just as happy with Makita though

 

[Blackswanwood]

IMO they are as good as each other.

If you are going down the corded route compare the specification of each tool you want including the prices available on the day and buy the one that you feel is best.

If you are going down the battery route pick the battery type that you want to use and buy the tool bodies that fit with that choice.

 

[Eshmiel]

A thing to consider - is there any universal standards for cordless tool batteries? Well, there is this:

https://www.powerforall-alliance.com/en/partners/

Bosch is the major WW tool partner. The other brands - not so much for the woodworking.

Still, I have a number of 12V Bosch cordless tools and find them excellent - this compared to Makita, from which I have two now ancient 12V drill/drivers still working after nearly 20 years and a smaller pair of drill/impact drivers still working after 15 years. But for a 12V tool, the Bosch items seem to have a lot more power and longevity, possibly due to the brushless motors.

Bosch are making promises about keeping to the battery connection standard for the foreseeable future. Another factor worth considering.

 

[gmgmgm]

The "badaptors" work well. They aren't hard to make, (just 3d-printed with some metal) so perhaps the branded ones have struggled with the commoditisation of 3d printers.

I have 90% Makita kit, and 10%Ryobi, all running off Makita batteries. I feel Makita (and de Walt) make everything well, but sometimes for a specific tool which I'm not using much, I don't need the Makita level of quality. e.g. Ryobi nailer or pole chainsaw.

Perhaps just choose according to the colour you like, and then get some battery adaptors for specific tools.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

DeWalt or Makita? Milwaukee.

 

[Etaf]

I will need a drill, impact, sds, plunge saw, sander, router to get me started

The impact driver i have has 3 speeds and I use on different speeds a lot - so would not want a single speed driver
lowest i use for screws into wood - so it does NOT just go to far into the wood and then use speed 2 for finishing off
speed 3 i used for coach bolts Nuts on fence panels
https://www.screwfix.com/p/dewalt-d...r-brushless-cordless-impact-driver-bare/551fu

My dewalt SDS - i decided on corded because of the power i wanted and have used a lot - it also came with a standard check so i can use NON SDS drills init - which again has been ver usefull - used as a mixer and chisel for removing a door step and also channeling out for pipework and cables
I was looking at bosch for the SDS at one point - but it was not available when i went to buy
https://www.dewalt.co.uk/product/d25134kp-qs/26mm-sds-plus-hammer-drill-qcc?tid=572636

Router - what are you going to be doing with it - I went for the 625 1/2" router to be able to do big jobs like sink into a worktop etc
and dewalt did not have a cordless option at the time - BUT now i also want the small cordless 1/4" - cant justify yet - maaydo in a few weeks as refurbishing a large utility room

Sander I still have a cordered 1/2 sheet - but again have been looking at cordless random orbital

plunge saw - my son-in-law has the corded makita as it was a good deal at the time - he has lots and lots of tools and a mixture of Dewalt and Milwaukie cordless , evolution table saw and evolution SMS

 

[Jillos]

I will need a drill, impact, sds, plunge saw, sander, router to get me started

Can't comment on Makita as don't (yet) own any, but have DeWalt brushless drill, impact driver, orbital sander (sander is corded) and they've all been brilliant. The drill is just so nice to handle and I always reach for that before the Bosch.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Be careful when making comparisons between brands that you're not comparing apples and oranges : my Milwaukee drill is miles better than my old DeWalt - it should be, it's 135Nm compared to 49Nm. Twice the price as well.

 

[Spectric]

Does the Milwaukee drill perform the same, a lighter drill is definitely a bonus point

It does everything except driving in those heavier gauge screws which the Makita combi does or the Makita impact driver that makes it even easier. This Milwaukee drill is so flexable for the majority of those day to day task in that it is short so can get into awkward places, the 90° head allows access that would be impossible with the Makita and it must be half the weight of the Makita, if you are young then you will not appreciate this but for us older folk it makes a big difference. Some examples, working overhead driving in plasterboard screws it makes it so much easier on the arms, using the Parf guide for those 20mm holes where the smaller lighter drill is much better on the drill guide than the heavier makita and helps keep it upright and lastly just drilling holes where it is just more pleasant.