Thread: Makita vs Maktec

Originally Posted by underused

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...

Originally Posted by apricotripper

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 ....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 ?

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...

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.

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

Originally Posted by 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?

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

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

Originally Posted by Pusser

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

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

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.

Originally Posted by Mantz

... 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?

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.

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.

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?

Originally Posted by damienhazo

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.