|
Everything except the battery cells themselves are made in China. It is heavier than the impact driver, but surprisingly well balanced and ergonomic. Very convenient. The belt clips really come in handy, especially when you're on a ladder. The drill's lights and selector switch I can forgive, but the lack of the battery saving feature (for lack of a better term) and the fact that the whole thing is made in China are unforgivable for me.
I have not noticed excessive run-out in the chuck, however, I do not consider cordless drills precision tools. Makita does not include a "fail safe" system to automatically shut down the tool when the batteries become critically low (most consumer products using Li-Ion batteries have this). I am not a contractor, just a serious DIY type. That said, when I use the tools for a project, I don't have to recharge more than once. Driving screws before using this beast was a a chore at best. The drill was a bonus for me, since the kit was only a little more expensive than buying either tool separately. The switch for different modes (hammer-drill, drill, driver) can stick at times, so a quick pull of the trigger is necessary to free the action (minus one). Self discharge is so low that I can pick up the tool a month after last using it, and have more than enough power to drill a few holes and drive several screws.
The fan is there to keep the batteries cool, so I can live with a bit of annoying whine if my expensive battery will last longer. Make sure to read the owners manuals, two times. The hammer-drill function works well and is a lifesaver for small jobs. Loose bits are also not an issue with me, I crank the chuck down then ratchet it home tight. The lights can be confusing, so make sure to read the manual on how to decipher them. This gives me a complete kit to drill holes in wood/metal/masonry as well as drive screws all in one easy to carry package. For precise drilling I would use a drill press or an expensive corded drill. They deliver seemingly endless power.
It is powerful, and nice to be able to use full half inch shank bits with it. While it will drive long deck screws and lag screws without a pilot hole, I drill one anyway to avoid splitting. That notwithstanding, I am overall very satisfied with my purchase and I do not regret my it at all. I purchased this combo kit just over one year ago. Using an impact driver makes the task SO much easier.
It may not be the most powerful one out there, but I have broken heads off screws and small bolts, so for me, it is rather adequate. The charger is rather delicate looking, and can be a little noisy when in use. Compared to the boat anchors of NiCd technology, these things are a stark difference. Miscellaneous things to touch on include the case.
The batteries are amazing. The drill's lights are indeed blocked by the large chuck, as another person pointed out (minus three). DO NOT run these batteries into the ground. I utilize this extra space for those items plus a few masonry bits.
Really, Makita hit a home run with this particular tool. The lights on the tools are more useful than you'll think, especially on the driver. Hitachi tools apparently have this, unfortunately Makita does not (minus two). It is actually quite well designed, with room for an extra battery pack (which I bought separately). The cells are made in Japan, the rest of the tool kit is made and/or assembled in China (minus four). The impact driver is the main reason I bought this kit, and I was not disappointed.
I will do as another reviewer and break mine up into a few sections. The clutch positions are easy to manipulate and are handy for the most part. I waited to write a review so that I could address any problems that might come up with it. I give up precision for convenience with cordless. They are also very light. So with that long review, and my four main points of dissatisfaction, it is with a heavy heart that I give this combo kit four stars. Also, there is enough room for a small drill bit set and driver bits in the case.
It is very light, extremely comfortable in the hand, and superbly balanced. That is a huge plus for me, even though the project may only be a half a day (though the tools get used constantly). Doing so can drastically reduce the life of the battery pack. One VERY important note, however.
As a professional Finish carpenter, I need cordless tools that can work all day, and not tire ME out. I've never said I wish I hadn't spent the extra money for a good quality tool. The impact driver actually seems lighter than my old favorite 12volt.Don't get the white combo, spend a little more for the upgrade. I recently had to upgrade my drill/driver combo. Have used most brands, and still own a collection of older makita cordless. I've often said I wish I had spent a few dollars more for better tools, but not this time.worth every penny. I used some of my co-workers 18v li-ion and was instantly sold.
the drills work great and the batteries charge really fast compared to other drills i had. the impact driver is awesome and both of the drills came with belt clips which i thought was cool and they were not to heavy to hang on your belt for a period of time i just wish they had these drills in a bigger combo kit
So I took the heavy beast back. There is no need for a second corded drill that's for sure. Two Expensive batteries are already included and the other nice thing is I don't use my drill that often but I like to use it for small jobs. because you pull it off the shelf and it's ready to go, my old Nicad would be dead and I would have to wait 45minutes plus to charge it before I could do anything.Couple of big PLUS: Dual LED so that it really lit up what I was drilling, the cool thing about this kit was I kept my drill bit in the drill and my screw driver on the impact and with the two built in clips I could hang the drills so I didn't have to come down off the ladder, measure, level, mark, drill, screw. I did the research, bought a Sears 18v took it home it was ultra heavy old Nicad battery technology, and tried to start a putting up shelf project.
This was going to be a huge problem since I also uses small carbide bits for drilling safety wire holes in metal for my car and race motorcycles. Dewalt use to be a good brand but now even the Home Depot guys said the industrial guys would just bring them back broken for returns. It saved a ton of time, plus the hammer drill just pounds the screws like it's butter. I love the fact that the Makita comes with a plastic box to hold everything so I know exactly where everything is.+ This is a huge savings to get both tool, but the biggest thing is that you get two batteries which are expensive. I wanted to drill some small starter pilot holes but the chuck on the Sears wouldn't even grip the small bit.
One of my friends has the smaller 18v Lithium Makita in white/grey and likes it but doesn't like the battery life, and that's where this unit is superior to the other units and this combo rocks. buy the kit instead of just the drill.Minus's or Regrets more like it.Wish I had done this upgrade years ago. That's where the lithium Ion battery shines.
We bought it through a local tool store. After using this tool, all of our trainees want one of their own to use in the field. The impact driver makes driving screws simple and fast. The company I work for bought one of these for use in our plumbing training class. I was so impressed I wanted one of my own and purchased one through Amazon at a great savings. I would recommend this combo to anyone in the construction business. The battery life is great.
|
May be eligible for FREE Shipping offer
