Screwfix Drill/Impact Driver Twin Pack Bargains - DeWalt vs Makita

[Krome10]

Hi folks

First up, in case anyone hasn't seen it there's an extra 10% off at Screwfix until midnight tonight...

So I've been thinking to get a new cordless drill set as my old Ryobis are completely passed it. These two options have really caught my eye and with the additional money off come in at just over £160 which seems a really good price. They're only for home DIY use.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/dewalt-d...-li-ion-xr-brushless-cordless-twin-pack/337kv
https://www.screwfix.com/p/makita-dlx2336s-18v-3-0ah-li-ion-lxt-cordless-twin-pack/896hy
Some of the things that my inexperienced eyes have noticed:

- DeWalt is brushless, Makita isn't
- DeWalt has LED lights on both units, Makita just on the impact driver
- Makita has lower torque and speed
- Makita possibly has more overall fans, although DeWalt do have a fair share and I have read of people switching from Makita to DeWalt and being happy. Seems more the other way round though.
- Both items get great reviews on Screwfix, but the companies get bad reviews on TrustPilot

Before I toss a coin to decide, I thought I'd ask the people of the forum your thoughts.

Cheers

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I would take the brushless every time.

 

[Jameshow]

Hi folks

First up, in case anyone hasn't seen it there's an extra 10% off at Screwfix until midnight tonight...

So I've been thinking to get a new cordless drill set as my old Ryobis are completely passed it. These two options have really caught my eye and with the additional money off come in at just over £160 which seems a really good price. They're only for home DIY use.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/dewalt-d...-li-ion-xr-brushless-cordless-twin-pack/337kv
https://www.screwfix.com/p/makita-dlx2336s-18v-3-0ah-li-ion-lxt-cordless-twin-pack/896hy
Some of the things that my inexperienced eyes have noticed:

- DeWalt is brushless, Makita isn't
- DeWalt has LED lights on both units, Makita just on the impact driver
- Makita has lower torque and speed
- Makita possibly has more overall fans, although DeWalt do have a fair share and I have read of people switching from Makita to DeWalt and being happy. Seems more the other way round though.
- Both items get great reviews on Screwfix, but the companies get bad reviews on TrustPilot

Before I toss a coin to decide, I thought I'd ask the people of the forum your thoughts.

Cheers

We have the dewalts at my men's shed.

They seem cheap in comparison to the older Makita we have which have a heavier feel / metal chuck.

Cheers James

 

[Sandyn]

I've had my DeWalt twin pack for a few years, but the brush version. They have been very reliable. I have dropped them, I sometimes use the base as a soft hammer. I am still using the original 2Ah batteries, they still hold their charge well. I use them daily. The impact driver is excellent, it's nice and short for use in inaccessible places. The LED lights have been very useful, not only to light the working area, but often just as a torch when I'm working in a dark place and forgotten my torch. I'm sure the Makita would be good as well, they are a quality manufacturer.
If I was replacing mine, I would go brushless.

 

[Linus]

Hi @Krome10

Thanks for the heads up on Screwfix offer as my cordless is well on the way to expiring. Top tip and they now have one less in stock. I went for the brushless.

Cheers

 

[Gareth62]

I've had DeWalt for well over20 years and they do seem to suffer trigger problems. May just be my bad luck
Just changing over to Millwakee drills and drivers so far had them over a year and they are the Dogs do dars have taken everything I have chucked at them....

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I don't imagine anyone who's used brushless tools would ever choose brushed again.

 

[Johnwa]

I bought a similar deal (not exactly the same) DeWalt drill and driver set about 12 months ago from Screwfix and to be honest I'm not over impressed. The driller doesn't really sit right in my hand, the trigger isn' t very sensitive its either fast slow or off, the impact driver is far too agressive, again the trigger is very coarse so it's easy to over drive a screw. In actual fact both tools sit in their fancy box unused in my workshop. My go to tool for this job is an aged Aldi combi drill that I've had for about 3 years and its never let me down, its comfortable to the hand and a pleasure to use, it's cut 30mm holes in 8mm mild steel plate and drilled countless screw holes and driven hundreds of screws. I suggest if you are only a home user, not trade, that you have look at Aldi diy on line and get yourself one of their combi drills, I think you will be surprised. Just my personal findings of course and I'm probably going to be hit by flak but there it is. Regards..
John

 

[Krome10]

Thanks for all the replies and help. I decided to go with the DeWalts in the end. They'll be a huge improvement over what I have now. If I don't get on with them, I can always sell on and try something else. But for the amount I'll be using them I think they'll do me fine.

I did stop to consider whether I actually need an impact driver; never had one before. I do like to always use pilot holes whatever I'm doing, which is the main reason I actually want a pair. So perhaps the combi for the pilot and the impact for the screw.... But can pilot holes still be of use when use an impact driver for the screw, or is it too powerful?

Cheers

 

[Phil Pascoe]

There are three settings on the driver, just turn it back.

 

[Krome10]

There are three settings on the driver, just turn it back.

Apparently that particular model has just the one setting. Or so I've been told...

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Yes, it looks like you're right.

 

[mikej460]

Thanks for all the replies and help. I decided to go with the DeWalts in the end. They'll be a huge improvement over what I have now. If I don't get on with them, I can always sell on and try something else. But for the amount I'll be using them I think they'll do me fine.

I did stop to consider whether I actually need an impact driver; never had one before. I do like to always use pilot holes whatever I'm doing, which is the main reason I actually want a pair. So perhaps the combi for the pilot and the impact for the screw.... But can pilot holes still be of use when use an impact driver for the screw, or is it too powerful?

Cheers

I have the Dewalt Li-on Drill and Impact driver, mine are 5 years old now but still as good as the day I bought them and I've used them extensively. I use the impact driver only for heavy duty work in the house and garden where it is invaluable. I just use the drill on low speed to drive screws into workshop stuff and I always pilot hole and chamfer first.

 

[clogs]

I use an impact driver a lot......
takes a while to get the feel of it....(mine are Hitachi)....
as for pilot holes, depends on the wood and if it's near an edge....splits....
I find that the newer hardened screws are best now...the old silver line screws just cant take it....I only buy the equiv of super gold, that's the type with the self start groove.....
and actually changing to Torx drive as I use up my posi screws stock....
I do a lot of framing and use the impact for those wood bolts.....always with a clearance hole and a small pilot
again the standard Screwfix bolts are a bit soft so buy the German made stuff...
I'm talking 8mm dia x 150mm long screws, thats an average for me....often bigger.....
that impact driver does a good job....I even use it on racking for spinning up nuts n bolts.....u'll wonder how u did without it....

 

[TominDales]

DeWalt - Good experience with the DeWalt set for 5 years. Used them almost daily. Actually have 2 drill drivers and one impact. Having 2 or 3 interchangeable batteries is worth getting the combination for as being able to re-charge a battery while working with the other is a god send. For light work the dill driver has good control - mine has two speeds and in contrast to Jonwa the trigger of the drill is very controllable, can go down to a few rpm. Hope that is still the case in the current model - looks identical. Drill is good for impact, normal and for screws to a set torque.
My teenage kids have used them to make scooter ramps etc with hundreds of screws. Also used with wire brush and abrasive disk attachments to remove paint and rust from gutters, house etc. Been an absolute work-hose.
Whilst the drill driver is very versatile, the impact driver is for specialist work - see below.

Faults grumbles:
1. Early on I had battery issues, and got them swapped by Screwfix ,but subsequently read about Li-ion batteries and I was over discharging them, so not a DeWalt problem. There are instructions on the web on how to re-charge in this state. The batteries are still working well 5 years later, although not holding as full a charge anymore. the early issues were my fault, although its never happened again despite the cells getting low on occasion, but I keep them topped up between uses.
2. One chuck broke, within 1 month of the warranty expiring and screwfix sent it back for repair, with new chuck completely free - impressed, that chuck is beginning to stick, but its had 5 years of hard use. The other drill driver is still perfect despite using big drill bits on tough wood and metal.
3. The impact driver is a brute, its comes into its own on big, tough screws and framing - can wrench your arm/hand. But overkill with light screws, best to use the drill driver.

On getting these I was able to junk every portable drill I've owned over the last 20 years

 

[TominDales]

I did stop to consider whether I actually need an impact driver; never had one before. I do like to always use pilot holes whatever I'm doing, which is the main reason I actually want a pair. So perhaps the combi for the pilot and the impact for the screw.... But can pilot holes still be of use when use an impact driver for the screw, or is it too powerful?

Cheers

Its powerful and takes some getting used to. I find for most shop jobs, its easier to use the drill driver for pilot holes and screws - the impact driver is powerful and quite hard to control. You get a knack to it but its easy to burry the screw in the wood. Even our teenagers can manage it... If you use a lot of screws, you may want to buy a cheap Aldi ferrex mini driver - cheap and light weight. But for most jobs I've been really happy with the DeWalts, The impact driver is really impresive for big long screws - although it can snap them if the wall/wood is too tough. Li-ion is a major upgrade from those old NiCads. I still have my original B&D corded from 1975, but junked all the Nicads - never really liked them. Just watch out if you have trouble re-charging a completely flat Li ion battery, you should not let Li-ion get too low on charge. If that happens look on the web or send me a pm. They are the complete opposite to NiCads, Li ion don't have any of the memory effects issue or storage issues of Nicads.

 

[TheUnicorn]

I have a dewalt combi and impact bought seperately, i found when it was new that the combi's chuck had a tendency to shake itself loose and I'd end up looking for the bit on the floor, I haven't really found that recently so either it has bedded itself in in some way or I've got use to just putting an extra twist on when tightening the chuck. That is really the only issue that I've had with it.

The impact is fine, but honestly I didn't need it, there really is plenty of power in the combi to drive home 100mm coach screws which is about the heaviest that I ever regularly use. it has three torque settings, and I find the first setting next to useless, just not enough power to do anything really, so it sits on two the whole time, as I never really need to drive anything that large. It is very easy to over drive the fastening which is a bit of a hinderance sometimes. That said I use it all the time, the small form factor is very handy for tight spaces, the three led torch is great (though sometimes I would like to be able to switch it off, no need for extra light when outdoors in the summer for instance), the most useful aspect of it is not having to constantly swap between drill bit and driver bit (and change speed and torque settings) which is a real bonus.

If I was buying again I would have two combi drills instead of an impact and a combi.

 

[TominDales]

My experience exactly. the rapid break action on power down can loosen the chuck, so best to retighten every few screws or be less trigger happy.. The 3 led torch is a good innovation, no shadow. and great when the power is off ie fixing lighting wiring etc.
Going cordless for a commo tool really makes sense and Li ion is a great step forward, lightweight, powerful, long life. Its the only battery portable tool I own and find it saves a lot of time. Good point about form factor for the impact driver.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

My DeWalt is probably four or five years old now and still fine. I have the one without the hammer as it it was more compact and slightly cheaper and I have a good hammer drill. The chuck is poor, however, and drops the bit if you stop it quickly although it was worse when it was new. It now slips quite badly and could do with replacing - I'm looking for a decent after market one, I don't want another DeWalt one.

 

[TominDales]

My DeWalt is probably four or five years old now and still fine. I have the one without the hammer as it it was more compact and slightly cheaper and I have a good hammer drill. The chuck is poor, however, and drops the bit if you stop it quickly although it was worse when it was new. It now slips quite badly and could do with replacing - I'm looking for a decent after market one, I don't want another DeWalt one.

Chuck does seem a weakness. I think you can get a replacement chuck for about £20 from screwfix. Worth asking. I had one replaced under warranty. My B&D from 1975 is still going strong, but its much smaller, I suspect the shear power of the modern drill is part of the problem. Given how much these things get used, I think they are pretty good value, all things considered.