Makita vs Maktec

[JDarvall]

Whats the difference again ? Essentially from the same company yes ?

I went shopping today for a laminate trimmer at one of those Makita dealers.

There was a makita and maktec version. Maktec was $133 (trade) and the makita was $233.

And I was a real pain in the butt to the poor salesman. I got him to get all the boxes out so I could check out the fences........and..... even got him to find a socket for the maktec so I could listen too it powered up.

After looking at it all over, I couldn't see much of a difference between the two. The parts were essentially the same. The thickness of the housings, the collect etc.

Ended up taking a gamble buying the maktec since I'm such a cheap bastard. I wonder how much shorter a life the maktec will have over the makita.

Anybody buy a maktec trimmer thats kicked the bucket ?

[Fencepost2]

I bought a Maktek half inch router - quite a bit cheaper than the brand Makita. I am happy and my wallet is fatter. But I don't know what shortcuts were taken to produce the cheaper item. My guess was that there were not very many real differences. Good brands can only compete with lesser brands by rebadging their product. And so, in addition to the market of people who like quality, they can also market to cheap flints - like me - without compromising the price of their line. But I
could be wrong when the bearings fail on my Maktek. :U

[Al B]

Jake
I also checked out both the Makita and Maktec when I was after a laminate trimmer and ended up buying the maktec as it felt just as solid as the makita and like yourself couldnt see much of a difference other than the colour. Ive had it for about 1yr and have done several jobs with it without any problems.

[JDarvall]

Ta for the responses.

might be right. bearings may be inferior. Don't know much about the motor either.

See what happens. ta.

[Barry Hicks]

Sounds like it could be the same as with the blue and green Bosch tools.

[Barry_White]

Sounds like it could be the same as with the blue and green Bosch tools.

No I have seen too many green Bosch tools fail.

[Yawally]

I have a maktec laminate trimmer and think it is just great I have done quite a few jobs with it and it is powerful and a solid performer. As I understand it they are made under license by makita in china, this doesn't appear to be a cheap junkie model. I certainly would consider other products from maktec:D

[JDarvall]

I don't know. Not sure about the drills and the larger router by maktec.

At work theres 2 other makita trimmers just like my new maktec. And they seem identical.

Tell you one I wouldn't get though. The ryobi trimmer. the little wheel of the one I saw at bunnings, on the roller guide fence, doesn't roll proud of the casting that supports it. Silly. Doesn't roll. your guiding off the casting only.

[walro]

I also have the Maktec trimmer and I'm happy with it so far. I think the difference between the two brands is : The Maktec is built in China. Makita in Japan.

[damienhazo]

I also have the Maktec trimmer and I'm happy with it so far. I think the difference between the two brands is : The Maktec is built in China. Makita in Japan.

Anyone who thinks there is no difference between these tools is kidding themselves. If the quality was the same, Makita would produce their trimmer there and sell it for the same price. The difference in assembly costs is minimal when compared to the manufacture/purchase price of components. Maktec's main savings are in their purchasing decisions of the bearings, arbour, field, housing, collets, etc.,. At a glance, these components might look the same, but they are FAR from it.

And before anyone wants to dispell my claims as BS, know this: I lived in Hong Kong from '88 - '97, travelled throughout Asia and tested a lot of tools in my time. Professional Asian tradespeople still buy 'Made in Japan' and 'Made in Germany'...

Damien

[JDarvall]

I know what your saying. Its the safe way to go. But I don't think it applys to everything does it.

eg. At work amongst a couple shelves of makita tools, there's a large ryobi router. Didn't cost as much as a makita, but has held up under heavy use. Lasted as long.

What I'd like to know Damien (or from anyone)...is....have you used both a maktec and makita trimmer heavily , and which has lasted longer ?

How about this ........ If one person bought 2 maktec trimmers at $133 each. And another person bought 1 makita trimmer (which will cost essentially the same amount as 2 maktecs) and they had similar use of a trimmer, which person do you think will have to buy another trimmer first ?

I'm thinking the makita fella will.

[walro]

Hi Damien,
The Mactec is built in China. - To a price. I understand what you're saying. I've been in the air compressor business for 30 plus years and I know the difference of a machine built in China or one coming out of Japan. Mind you the Chinese are getting better all the time. SMC Pneumatics (also a Japanese co) are manufacturing some of their products in China and it's very hard to spot the difference between the chinese and japanese manufactured goods. I suppose only in the long run you will be able to see.
BTW: My money is also on the Makita.
Walter

[damienhazo]

How about this ........ If one person bought 2 maktec trimmers at $133 each. And another person bought 1 makita trimmer (which will cost essentially the same amount as 2 maktecs) and they had similar use of a trimmer, which person do you think will have to buy another trimmer first? I'm thinking the makita fella will.

Wouldn't surprise me if the Makita (if it says 'Made in Japan') outlasts both of them - ESPECIALLY if they are subjected to demanding working conditions.

Two things kill tools. Dust and heat.

Generally:
Dust: If they are the same design, the dust labarynth will be the same. The RPMs and fan dimensions will also be the same. But lower quality bearings will be more prone to failure. The extra load on the arbour and high revs will help lead to the next major problem -
Heat: I cannot stress the importance of quality wiring. The insulation alone can prove critical to tool life. The quality of the field (coating and winding) make a big difference. The quality of the arbour and its balancing (most expensive electrical part) makes a big difference. The bearings in hi-reving tools are very important.

My first Makita (3600BR) hasn't missed a beat in 20 years. It has not only been reliable, but free of vibration and extremely accurate. There is no doubt that some Chinese factories are producing good tools. But believe me, the day they start producing great tools, they will be as expensive as those from Japan and Germany.

I'm affraid you really do get what you pay for...

Damien
PS. I've said it before but at the risk of sounding like a broken record, I'll say it again: those who scrimp when buying hi-reving tools, should NOT do the same when it comes to buying their safety gear...

[underused]

Makita made in Japan:oo:? Gone are the days... Not Much made by Makita is made here (Japan) anymore.
If I walk into the local Makita dealer today, almost all the range is made or assembled in China, and thats the truth.
The same goes for most of the other Japanese tool sellers (Hitachi, Ryobi)
These days, if it doesnt say made in Japan or made in Germany on it, I wont buy it. Call me a snob, I don't care. Ive been caught out enough buying other tools

[Pusser]

At Bunnings today they had some green makita hammer drills. What gives are these another cheap Makita or did they run out of blue plastic?

[JDarvall]

I'm affraid you really do get what you pay for...



everytime ? .... and how about the times where you pay too much for what you get.

See, I don't think it always applys because.....

- I've seen some cheap tools that have lasted as long. There's that Ryobi I mentioned above. I've got a ryobi at home as well. 10 years old. Ran an over size bit in it as well heavily, which I shouldn't have. But its still ok.

- I've seen plenty of expensive tools also that don't hold up to expectations.....There's a modern makita trimmer with a depth adjustment thing at work that I thinks cheap looking. Weak plastic looking crap that doesn't work well enough IMO.......There's a dewalt trimmer at work in pieces. ( I don't know where dewalt tools are made, but their supposed to be the bees knees arn't they ?) The engines good, but the base doesn't seem to have enough meat. Not enough support in its design. So it just broke off. We tried to epoxy it back together :rolleyes:....There's a dewalt planer the boss bought that was giving shyt results. So, we looked down the nose and the problem was sticking out like dogs nuts. The front and rear soles weren't in the same plane ! ....crap.

I think there's more factors involved than just which country the tool was made. Also think that whilst some tools may be excellent, others from the same company may not be.

You may be right. But I'm pretty shore your wrong on this maktec trimmer.

Just wish there was a for shore way of knowing without having to experience them first. Hows your maktec trimmer fairing Damein ? :D

[damienhazo]

The same goes for most of the other Japanese tool sellers (Hitachi, Ryobi)These days, if it doesnt say made in Japan or made in Germany on it, I wont buy it. Call me a snob, I don't care. Ive been caught out enough buying other tools

Amen! I'm with you all the way on that one! Except me Felisatti... Says 'Made in Italy'. Bello! And Austria have some pretty good kit when it comes to stationary stuff...

[damienhazo]

There's a dewalt trimmer at work in pieces. ( I don't know where dewalt tools are made, but their supposed to be the bees knees arn't they ?) The engines good, but the base doesn't seem to have enough meat. Not enough support in its design. So it just broke off. We tried to epoxy it back together :rolleyes:....There's a dewalt planer the boss bought that was giving shyt results. So, we looked down the nose and the problem was sticking out like dogs nuts. The front and rear soles weren't in the same plane ! ....crap.

I think there's more factors involved than just which country the tool was made. Also think that whilst some tools may be excellent, others from the same company may not be.

You may be right. But I'm pretty shore your wrong on this maktec trimmer.

Just wish there was a for shore way of knowing without having to experience them first. Hows your maktec trimmer fairing Damein ? :D


Mate, I won't buy Maktec. I tested the stuff in Hong Kong a couple of years back before it even hit the Aussi market. Looks good. Runs good. Hell, it even feels good. Just the thing for the discerning hobbiest. But I don't buy my tools to last 5 years. I buy em to give to my kids when I buy the farm.

You'd be amazed at the number of quality 2nd hand tools bought in the 70s coming onto the market now. These machines are now 30 years old, but better than a lot of the new crap floating around...

DeWalt... I don't know who started the rumour that the stuff is good. It's Black & Decker and the only stuff they still make really well gets rebranded for companies they don't even own. They stuffed Elu by buying it then flogging off B&D cheapies in grey. I can honestly say I don't have a single DeWalt machine...

[JDarvall]

fair enough.

I'm a bit confused with dewalt. I always assumed that they were high quality tools based on the price of some their drills. ? don't know.

I'm right with you though. Its nice to have tools that lasts. Suppose, I'm just pretty concerned about value for money. And whats practical to me.

See, I think there's other aspects to consider as well for heavy use, that'll influence the life of the tool.......accidents. drops to the ground etc etc. A $133 right off is better than something worth twice as much. uno. Especially, in a busy workshop full of apprentices.

There's also theft. Things are always disappearing where I work. Prefer to loose $133 than twice that. The best stuff gets pinched first too of course.

Jigged trimmers as well. Can see myself being able to afford buying many $133 ones, so I can permanently set up trimmers in jigs ready to go. Jigs that arn't necessarily used everyday. But when I need it I don't have to spend an hour to setup.

Also, permanent setups for aris work. Little roundover bits with bearings. 2mm, 4mm..(which wouldn't load the motor much at all) .A straight bit for routing mortise face plates.. that sort of thing.

Not saying I think its worth buying GMC sort of shyt, for this kind of thing. But I think the maktec is a good middle ground. Anyway, I'll be ruff with it and see how long it lasts. :D

Have a good day Damien (or whatever it is over there).

[Pusser]

At Bunnings today they had some green makita hammer drills. What gives are these another cheap Makita or did they run out of blue plastic?

So what are the green makitas?

[specialist]

I really think that it's horses for courses, If you want to do a lot of work, buy the good stuff, but for the occasional user, the cheaper solution may be better.

Just my thoughts

Robert

[flynnsart]

We have a Maktec drill and a Maktec belt sander. We work almost exclusively with ironbark. I will try and revisit this thread in a few months and report on how they are fairing. At the moment I think they are great, they have a strong feel to them.

Donna

[underused]

So what are the green makitas?

Makita Green, is their budget line of tools.We don't have Maktec here (Japan), just Makita Blue and Green. I once had a Makita green cordless driver/drill:no:

[Pusser]

Thanks underused. It seems makita have two budget lines. Never seen a green one before. I wonder if green and maktec are the same?

[Mantz]

l normally would purchase Makita over Maktec anyday , but when l started doing welding/metalwork l needed a cut off saw and in my budget it was GMC or Maktec, looked at both, bought Maktec 1 year ago for $199 and its leaps above the GMC , so far it's been a strong simple tool.

[Vernonv]

... bought Maktec 1 year ago for $199 and its leaps above the GMC

Hi Mantz and welcome to the forums.

What are you basing that recommendation on?
Have you used the GMC also?
What differentiates the two?

[Mantz]

Hi Vernon.

l did not use that particular GMC tool, but l did inspect it before buying. l find that with a lot of GMC tools that they have a lot of faults ie dodgy bearings, unhealthy sounds ect. With the Maktec range they claim that Maktec is made buy Makita using Makita parts. they're just simpler machines, for me at that that time it was all l could budget for. l thought about the Makita drop saw but l think it was double the price. l normally find when l buy GMC that l will end up upgrading 6mths later.........Anyway thanks for the welcome to the forum l have find so much info here on tools, building ideas, metalwork, furniture, its an excellent resource. :2tsup:

[bucket1]

I just bought a makita trimmer last week at Dorset Power Tools and it only cost $185. Thats a pretty big price difference. Would suggest shopping around is well worth the time.

[Ausworkshop]

Dorset Power Tools
Are they up Dorset Rd somewhere?
I went to united power tools on mountain hwy the other day. Bought a Makita 3612 for $315 plus gst, pretty good price, they seem to be priced about the same as Bunnings sometimes a bit cheaper.

What was the model number of your trimmer? Makita make a few
I'm looking at getting one soon because this 3612 is giving me a sore arm
$185 sounds good. Too good in fact.. There must be a catch.
Whats the model number please?

[domino]

Anyone who thinks there is no difference between these tools is kidding themselves. If the quality was the same, Makita would produce their trimmer there and sell it for the same price. The difference in assembly costs is minimal when compared to the manufacture/purchase price of components. Maktec's main savings are in their purchasing decisions of the bearings, arbour, field, housing, collets, etc.,. At a glance, these components might look the same, but they are FAR from it.

And before anyone wants to dispell my claims as BS, know this: I lived in Hong Kong from '88 - '97, travelled throughout Asia and tested a lot of tools in my time. Professional Asian tradespeople still buy 'Made in Japan' and 'Made in Germany'...

Damien
I had read this thread and found it rather useful although it's quite old. I contacted the Makita/Maktec office in Singapore and they confirmed that the parts for the Makita router I intend to buy are all still made in Japan and the Maktec parts are made in china by a different plant. That justifies the price difference. As this router is a tool I would like to keep for the rest of my woodworking life, I will go with the Makita. I hope that it will last. I have some german made Bosch powertools that are 20 years old that I still use.

[JDarvall]

my maktecs are still going with pretty heavy use. The only thing that anoys me about a maktec, is the belt sander........its bag connection isn't good enough...comes off and leaks. Motor seems to want to go forever but the bag connections crap. Had to wrap rubber bands around it to keep it on. But the routers are fine.

[mdc]

I scored a free Maktec router when i bought my Makita SCMS. Definatly not as good as the Makita 3612 router which it is based off, won't last nearly as long, but it works fine for the hobbiest.

Matt

[derekcohen]

Well I consider that the best recommendation for Maktec is that it has lasted 2 years in the hands of Jake! :U

No, seriously.

Most of us here are hobbiests. We may say we want a tool for a lifetime, but a life time of how much use? Jake (and other pros) will put as many hours on its clock in one day as we may in a month or more. Further, a hobbiest is more likely to buy a tool to get pleasure from the tool (and therefore buy the name brand) than a pro, who is only looking at the work he can get out of the tool.

I think that the cost-value thing is more an issue for those that either have a low budget (all of us when we start out) or many pros because theirs is a use-it-up-and-replace-it type of work. Yes it is better to have a durable tool, but this is more likely found in stationery machines, such as tablesaws and thicknessers. Handheld tools are more likely viewed as "what will get the job done cost-effectively". How many pros spend Big Bucks on high quality handplanes? This is no different in any profession, including my own - we just purchase tools that are cost-effective as the bottom line is the profit margin.

Jake, that the Maktec trimmer has now lasted 2 years suggests you made the right choice and saved a 100 bucks.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[elanjacobs]

I had read this thread and found it rather useful although it's quite old. I contacted the Makita/Maktec office in Singapore and they confirmed that the parts for the Makita router I intend to buy are all still made in Japan and the Maktec parts are made in china by a different plant. That justifies the price difference. As this router is a tool I would like to keep for the rest of my woodworking life, I will go with the Makita. I hope that it will last. I have some german made Bosch powertools that are 20 years old that I still use.

Got a mate whose Makita trimmer has finally died after 11 years of industrial use. Got the same one at work and it's still going strong after 7 years and survived many drops onto a concrete floor. I'd pay the premium for the Japanese made any day.

[ClintO]

Gotta agree with Derek on this one, speaking as a hobbyist the value judgement I make when buying a new tool is very different to that made by a professional