Which 18v Kit

[Petey83]

One of the problems with Makita (which I use and recommend by the way) Is that they don't tell you what are there DIY, light duty, heavy duty lines and I think it is very confusing. I'm sure other makes may be similar. Even in their LXT 18v stuff, there are differnent qualities of tools, they're not all the same.

This seems to be the same issue with Dewalt where as Bosch to the best of my knowledge are green for DIY and Blie for pro.

 

[MikeJhn]

When DeWalt went over to the LiIo range they used A123 batteries, probably the best you can get and still are, they now use a *** clone Li Io that is not as good, but is cheaper to buy.

Mike

 

[SteveF]

i use makita drill and impact and mulitool
excellent stuff in my opinion

Steve

 

[wide74]

Agreed. I bought the dewalt top of the range (at the time) battery drill and subsequently then bought a slightly lighter/cheaper one and they are not the same. Buy the best you can afford of any make you choose.

If you're serious about making it a business, then cheap kit will bite you when you really don't need it and in the long run cost you money.

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[owsnap]

One of the problems with Makita (which I use and recommend by the way) Is that they don't tell you what are there DIY, light duty, heavy duty lines and I think it is very confusing. I'm sure other makes may be similar. Even in their LXT 18v stuff, there are differnent qualities of tools, they're not all the same.

yes that's the thing... hence have to do actual research for the stuff you want to buy not just go to nearest shop and pick-up what's in stock or which one has better sounding marketing slogans...

 

[No skills]

Dewalt may be part of Black and Decker but the top line of 18v XR stuff is bomb proof. I've lost mine under rubble, dropped them off scaffolds, they have been used in the rain and done their jobs consistently throughout. I do think it's down to personal preference mainly but I wouldn't take my festool kit out to do building work but I do use dewalt in the workshop. Just don't buy the lower end of the Dewalt kit sold in B&Q etc. It's not the same as the top end stuff.

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Spot on, we've abused ours for 3 years now - they quite often get wet and dropped. Only problems we've had is with the brushless first fix nail guns, everything else is good - haven't got the planer yet but it's on the list...

 

[DiscoStu]

The reviews I've seen have been things like driving in screws and the dewalt kit certainly seems to be faster, more powerful (torque) and run for longer on the same battery spec. That said I do think I need to handle them and see how they feel. I've got loads of Ryobi kit and I do want to try the new brushless drill but I think I'll be looking for a Dewalt or Makita drill in the near future. Not fussed about the impact driver though as the Ryobi impact is brilliant.

I'd also consider a Festool option as I currently only have Ryobi and Festool kit but I'm not sure their 18v drills are as good as the competition.

It's a mindfield and that's before you even look at the models within the brand.


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[Petey83]

The reviews I've seen have been things like driving in screws and the dewalt kit certainly seems to be faster, more powerful (torque) and run for longer on the same battery spec. That said I do think I need to handle them and see how they feel. I've got loads of Ryobi kit and I do want to try the new brushless drill but I think I'll be looking for a Dewalt or Makita drill in the near future. Not fussed about the impact driver though as the Ryobi impact is brilliant.

I'd also consider a Festool option as I currently only have Ryobi and Festool kit but I'm not sure their 18v drills are as good as the competition.

It's a mindfield and that's before you even look at the models within the brand.


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The Festool PDC is a cracking drill but I'm selling mine as I need to standardise on a single 18v system if I'm going to use the tools to make a living and move between jobs and Festool jut works out to expensive when viewed like this.

 

[ColeyS1]

Non genuine makita batteries have really came down in price now!

Coley

 

[Doug71]

Love my Festool but never feel happy chucking it round on a site, I think Makita will be fine for you as long as you buy the good stuff, they do a cordless version of every tool you will ever need plus more, even a coffee maker!

Doug

 

[Jake]

As a multi-non-trade DIYer I cannot see why you need an impact driver or any driver really for electrical work (what am I missing outside backboxes into wallplugs and some conduit/capping stuff if you use screws for that?) but the PDC would cover anything driver-wise you needed for sure and some more tasks that an impact driver wouldn't like holesaws for downlighters etc.

A multimaster or copy would seem to me to be much more useful than a jigsaw for floorboards and cutting boxes in.

Channelling if dust doesn't matter is as easy with angle-grinding two lines and bashing out the channel with a chisel as anything else, and if dust does matter then its off to mains specialised cutter and necessarily mains extractors anyway.

Holes, yes, SDS, but really you want 240V/110V there unless you can afford to double up with a lighter more convenient battery tool and a powerful mains one for when its needed. The latter would have to be the first every time to avoid being stranded and wasting time=money.

What power tool tasks or situations have I missed (maybe lots as I don't do it every day or week)?

 

[owsnap]

Non genuine makita batteries have really came down in price now!

Coley

Anyone have used one of those for more than a couple of months and can report back if they are as good? :roll: Need a couple new batteries myself.
I got some non-genuine bosch batteries and they are just as good as the real ones but cost 4!!! yes 4x less..
the non-genuine makitas cost 2.5-3x less than the real ones.

 

[RossJarvis]

Spot on, we've abused ours for 3 years now - they quite often get wet and dropped. Only problems we've had is with the brushless first fix nail guns, everything else is good - haven't got the planer yet but it's on the list...

Hmm, that's interesting. I am seriously thinking of getting one of these at the moment (framing nailer), due to all the positive reviews, what are the issues you've found and would a gas nailer be better?

 

[Neil S]

I posted in another similar thread. I was seriously looking at getting the Makita DHP480 which is not one of their cheaper offerings until I read about their wobbly chucks. It's mentioned on this comparison review at 11:30. The wobble is terrible for a drill of this price. I guess it varies on each drill but if I got a bad one or it went bad after a year I'd be gutted. It is a great shame because Makita have one of the widest ranges of cordless tools.
This could be an example of the drop in quality over the years where the older brushed drills were designed and built to a much higher standard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBU7VC51YwE

-Neil

 

[owsnap]

I posted in another similar thread. I was seriously looking at getting the Makita DHP480 which is not one of their cheaper offerings until I read about their wobbly chucks. It's mentioned on this comparison review at 11:30. The wobble is terrible for a drill of this price. I guess it varies on each drill but if I got a bad one or it went bad after a year I'd be gutted. It is a great shame because Makita have one of the widest ranges of cordless tools.
This could be an example of the drop in quality over the years where the older brushed drills were designed and built to a much higher standard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBU7VC51YwE

-Neil

that's just one of those models you shouldn't be getting... if you don't want to spend £160 on the DDF481Z ( well I wouldn't want to..) get the previous gen dhp458 (something like £60) which are almost the same drills except the newer one is brushless one and has got tiny bit more power, but clearly not worth the £100 premium over it.

 

[RossJarvis]

In terms of Makita, this is a helpful link;

http://www.its.co.uk/blog/buying-guides/what-makita-drill-to-buy//url]

 

[Petey83]

As a multi-non-trade DIYer I cannot see why you need an impact driver or any driver really for electrical work (what am I missing outside backboxes into wallplugs and some conduit/capping stuff if you use screws for that?) but the PDC would cover anything driver-wise you needed for sure and some more tasks that an impact driver wouldn't like holesaws for downlighters etc.

A multimaster or copy would seem to me to be much more useful than a jigsaw for floorboards and cutting boxes in.

Channelling if dust doesn't matter is as easy with angle-grinding two lines and bashing out the channel with a chisel as anything else, and if dust does matter then its off to mains specialised cutter and necessarily mains extractors anyway.

Holes, yes, SDS, but really you want 240V/110V there unless you can afford to double up with a lighter more convenient battery tool and a powerful mains one for when its needed. The latter would have to be the first every time to avoid being stranded and wasting time=money.

What power tool tasks or situations have I missed (maybe lots as I don't do it every day or week)?

As I mentioned the kit has to span both the new career and my hobby / around the house use. Being 3 months into an entire house renovation (my house) I can say with totally honesty that the impact driver has been my most used tool. In a trade setting as an electrician it can easily be replaced by a drill driver but having both would not hurt.

I already have a Fein Multimaster and again it's been really useful on the house but I've found its limitations plus it goes through blades really quickly when used hard (both expensive and cheap ones have been tried). If I had to cut noggins to repair a joist by a board I'd had up or had to fit for a light to hang from I'd rather a jigsaw than the multi tool but again if I can have both the why not.

In regards to an SDS - I have a Bosch blue corded but having a cordless option would make life easier in certain situations. Again taking my house renovation as an example - we had only a temporary supply for 6 weeks which consisted of a single double soccer at the consumer unit so if I'd had more cordless kit life would of been a lot easier and far less dangerous with extension leads not needing to be all over the place.

 

[RossJarvis]

In regards to an SDS - I have a Bosch blue corded but having a cordless option would make life easier in certain situations. Again taking my house renovation as an example - we had only a temporary supply for 6 weeks which consisted of a single double soccer at the consumer unit so if I'd had more cordless kit life would of been a lot easier and far less dangerous with extension leads not needing to be all over the place.

In my experience, there's little need for corded equipment these days as battery really has caught up. Maybe if you're mixing or drilling into concrete from dawn till dusk, corded may be an option, if you've got the supply available. The benefit of not having cords around to trip over or stop you getting to awkward places is massive.

I've got the Makita DHP 481 (battery combi drill) and in most instances it'll do anything My Bosch GBH 2-26 DFR SDS rotary hammer drill will do apart from locked chuck hammering. You've got to see it to believe it in concrete. Mixing plaster or render on a constant run will get through battery life, but not if you've got a spare on charge.

The sparky I've been working with lately has high end Makita LXT, including Multi tool and SDS. It seems to be the most common kit round here followed by Hitachi. I've not seen a lot of DeWalt apart from table or Mitre Saws.

 

[owsnap]

Well guys It's all your fault, you made me do research on the newest/best tools there is and I'm making now pictures to list all my old makita kit for sale, will put some money extra and buy the following:

Makita DHP481Z -£108
Makita DTD154Z -£115
new charger- £32


The used cordless tool market is just damn weird, seems like I can sell my old stuff & add maybe 30% and buy brand new stuff again with new warranty,the latest&best models and of course everything new and shiny.
oh well quite unexpected, but why not

 

[RossJarvis]

Well guys It's all your fault, you made me do research on the newest/best tools there is and I'm making now pictures to list all my old makita kit for sale, will put some money extra and buy the following:

Makita DHP481Z -£108
Makita DTD154Z -£115
new charger- £32


The used cordless tool market is just damn weird, seems like I can sell my old stuff & add maybe 30% and buy brand new stuff again with new warranty,the latest&best models and of course everything new and shiny.
oh well quite unexpected, but why not

I'd be interested in what the DTD154 is like. I'm considering updating my DTD129 for one of them.