Cordless Tools Reviews

A first rate kit from Makita. The tools are all great quality with real power behind the 18V batteries.

The kit seems over priced, until you've used it. The build quality is excellent and accuracy of cut is second to none. For a cordless tool it is more powerful than alot of mains powered ones. I've not had to hold back cutting 2x6 timber until near the end of the charge. A 3.0Ah fully charged battery cuts alot of timber and you can use the 1.7Ah while you recharge the other. The drill has plenty of power for drilling but it's worth having the combi hammer version for masonary. The box is rather big but keeps everything together. Overall the saw is light and very portable but the drill is rather heavy for small drilling.

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.

This is one capable stapler! I have manual and electric staplers that are wasting space in my workshop! I've gone through boxes of staples of various sizes without any problems. It is extremely powerful. This stapler drives staples easily into hardwoods and it has a depth adjustment. The staples are driven exactly where you want them to go. It even has storage for staples in the handle area. (The size of the tool may be a problem in really tight places though.) It's easy to load and the battery lasts a very long time. You can drive staples all day long, without your hand cramping from all the squeezing of manual staplers.

I love DIY and finally found the ultimate "helper". The Power Max has incredible torque (for a tool of its size) and is small enough to carry around with you even when working on a ladder.

No household should be without a Power Max - it's that simple.

As to the price - well, you kind of get what you pay for.

I purchased this screwdriver for the main purpose of laying deck boards. It work smoothing and is a very quick screwdriver. It takes some a little time to get the hang of it but not long and when you do you can lay down a lot a screws in a short period. I've never had any problems with Milwaukee, and would recommend it over any other brand. Wish it came in a case but that is the only negative I hve for this purchase.

...This Milwaukee driver is perfect! If you are looking for real power, this is the driver! Hit the trigger, and it will almost twist your wrist. A very versatile tool, it will dimple drywall with zero damage, yet drive a screw (3 1/2") into 75+ year old studs without hesitation. The adjustment is able to change drop-off depths by 1/64". Once you set it up, it never changes. Changing bits is easy, too. The whole nose snaps off to change bits, and you don't lose your adjustment. This is one of my favorite features since my former drywall gun nose piece had to be screwed off to change bits, then readjusted. I was a little concerned about the low max RPM (2500 RPM). (Must be a guy thing!) This is more than enough speed. The trigger is very sensitive to pressure, so speed can be regulated easy. As usual, Milwaukee Tools are the best! The only drawback was delivery, not the tool. I ordered it on June 28th, and received it August 9th. Order it before you need it ...

This is my first replacement cordless for my venerable Makita 7.2V drill that I have used daily for 6 years. I needed something with more power and the fact that it is a hammerdrill is just the icing on the cake. With one drill I can replace 2 tools! The power is in a word - astonishing. Unless you absolutely must have 18 Volt power (or want the ability to use the same battery pack with different tools) this is the one to have. Highly recommended and less pricey than Dewalt to boot!

I'm a plumber and rely on my tools every day.Everyone I work with insist on Dewalt power tools. I personally think Milwaukee tools are a step above and beyond. One of my coworkers has a Dewalt 18v and my 14.4 seems to outlast and perform the higher priced Dewalt. I like the metal keyless chuck. By the way my coworkers Dewalt 18v clutch striped out after about 7 to 8 months of use. All I'm saying is if you want a quality tool and you want it to last buy a Milwaukee tool.

OK, I'm a power-tool junkie; love them, want the best I can afford. This drill surpasses every expectation I had of it. I had a perfectly good "orange and black" brand 18-volt cordless, but wasn't really thrilled with the power-to-weight ratio. That, plus the battery life left something to be desired.
I bought this for myself as a birthday present. It's been one of my best tool investments. Folks, this drill is a beast. My cordless drill test is whether I can drive a 3", #8 screw into a doubled 2x4. The old Halloween special couldn't do it; I'd either grind to a halt or strip out the head. When I put the pedal to the metal (or fingers to the plastic) on this one, the only challenge was in not counter-sinking the screw halfway through the work.
It's not light, but it is nicely balanced. The keyless chuck has yet to slip on me, regardless of what I was doing. The reversible battery can come in handy in tight spots, too. I have yet to find anything this thing can't drill through. I often use it with a coarse wire wheel for stripping rust and paint off parts and fasteners on my "vintage" GMC pickup. Never had a problem; it just runs and runs. The charger did quit after about 8 months, and I managed to run on one charged battery for almost 2 weeks, using it almost every day. This isn't the least expensive drill you can buy, but I can't imagine anyone being disappointed with it.