Cordless Tools Reviews

Profesionally speaking this was the best tool I have ever purchased and used! I bought the combo pack (drill & circular saw) and I couldn't be happier. I bought the extra battery because I found myself using the drill & saw so much I wanted to have a third battery in the charger all the time so I wouldn't have to switch from drill to saw all the time. I will tell everyone I know that this is the way to go!

very Happy delivery on time. Will order again and any battery other battery need. Thanks

I got about 6 years of homeowner/hobbyist use out of my Makita 12 Volt Nimh battery pack. Original battery was rated at 2.2 Ah. This battery was rated at 3.0 AH so over time as battery technology has gotten better they have upped the capacity in their battery packs. Another nice thing about this pack is that it has a built in LED light that draws almost nothing for power and is angled in such a way as to let you see what you are working on, it also has an on/off switch for that. I did rebuild one of my battery packs but it would not work in the recharger (maybe battery impedence problem) when I was finished so I used my RC airplane Triton charger cost me about $40.00 in cells to build and some soldering skills see this web site www.kichline.com/chuck/fixit/makita/Default.htm overall though I would buy another one.When I took my original one apart Makita quality was excellent inside. Makita internal cells were HD commercial that I have never seen before-top notch stuff.

I bought this drill because I liked the balanced feel over the classic 6095 model. It takes the same battery (9.6V stick) as other Makita tools in the 9.6V stick family. Mine is a European model as it was made in England. Same quality as you would expect in any other Makita tool.

I replacd a Ryobi and a DeWalt cordless drill/driver with the 6217DEX - both were old and underpowered. The Makita may cost more than the competition, but look carefully at what you are getting: top notch build quality and features that others don't offer, especially the NiMH batteries! My two older drills were had NiCad's and I have been largely disappointed with the performance of those batteries. The ability to hold a charge and tool run time gets worse with age. I bought the Makita 18V cordless combo about 3 years ago and they came with NiMH batteries - what a world of difference! Excellent run times and no battery problems. I needed a lighter drill/driver for general around the house use and the new Makita was an easy choice, especially after seeing how they have improved the overall design and added features like a rubber grip, selector mode switch for screws or drilling. Add to that a 2-speed gear box and you have a tool that will keep on working for years to come. I look at buying the Makita as a LONG TERM INVESTMENT, not some "use and throw away junk" like you'd find offered from other manufacturers (my DeWalt falls into this category as far as I'm concerned)

Here is a review I wrote about the Makita 6228DWE. It applies to the 6227 which is the 12 volt, and this Makita 6226 at 9.6 volts. Here is the review:
I just got this exact drill, and I use it all of the time. It's lightweight at only 3 1/2 pounds. That is its shining feature. I also own the Milwaukee 14.4 which is a very substantial drill. It has the highest torque in the industry at 460 foot pounds. This Makita is only 200. The Milwaukee has all copper windings, metal gear and housing, and is built to fall off the ladder. The problem is that it weighs 11 1/2 pounds.
I originally got this Makita 6228DWE as a promo on an expensive compound sliding miter saw. I thought I would sell it on eBay. After getting it I decided to keep it. Ergonomically, it fits your hands well, is well balanced, has a lot of torque when you charge it up and is well built overall. The reason why I like it so much is that I just did a wiring job, running a dozen lines, and upgrading a service panel from 100 to 200 amps. That Makita drill was with me all the way, whether I was tightening screws in the outlets, or square driving the lines on the breakers, or tightening the clamp connectors. It was a 12 hour job, and I am glad that I didn't have to lug the Milwaukee around. I love the Milwaukee for doing heavy deck jobs for example, but the one I now use the most is this Makita. It's like a pet.
I think the gear housing is a strong grade of plastic, and the windings may or may not be a copper mix or all aluminum, buy hey, that all adds up to less weight, which equals less work.
If you're looking for a tougher and heavier drill in the Makita line, then look to the MForce line. The torque is around 350 and of course it is heavier, depending on the model. They also have the faster charging Nickel Metal Hydride batteries, which last longer as well. The only problem with NiMH is that their shelf life isn't very long, and with the price of new batteries, that is a major consideration.
What Milwaukee did was take the NiCad batteries to the next level. They charge in one hour, unlike the usual 1 1/2 hours, but not as fast as 45 minutes like the NiMH, but enjoy the long shelf life as a NiCad.
This Makita drill is a 3/8" drill also, instead of a 1/2" like the Milwaukee. Like I said, a really nice lightweight drill, that you will find using it more often than the heavyweight. Once the love affair is done with the Makita, I will probably go back to using the Milwaukee a little more often. For now the Makita rules. Hope this helps.

it doesnt have alot of torque,but i use it for bodywork and it is excellent for removing most fender bolts and fasteners for headlights.the adjustable torque setting is great for re-installing plastic headlamps,as it clicks and stops so you dont over tighten the plastic tabs that mount them.great for under dash work too.

I've been using this tool for about two years and have not had a problem with it.
My brother bought this tool for me to put a sub floor in. I've put up T 1-11 and sheetrock with it. I was surprised with the amount of power this has for a twelve volt unit. Great tool !

I have been a carpenter for more than fifteen years now and have never come across a tool like this one. I was installing a fire place mantle that involved using four inch screws. After stripping the heads off a half dozen or so I knew there had to be an easier way. A fellow co-worker walked over smirking and said to me "just try this", handing me a cordless Makita impact driver kit. By this time I was willing to try anything. I placed a four inch screw on the tip of the lightweight driver and was amazed at the power of this cordless drill. I was still skeptical because the wood I screwed into was a soft pine. Then there it was a three inch piece of solid oak. I placed a screw on the tip once again and was astonished. It went into the oak just as easy as the pine. I was sold. This definately is the greatest tool I have ever purchased.