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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2021
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    Melbourne
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    52
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    Default Cordless Platform Advice

    I have Dewalt 14.4 Lithium based platform, many are still like new and i intend to keep using them. But nothing modern is compatible, so i am not really bought into any of the current systems. I have to start again. I am keen for value, but i want to buy once. I have totaltools and bunnings in my town.

    I have watched heaps of bake offs of various tools. Milwaukee, Makita, Dewalt and some Metabo/Hikoki.

    They are so heavily marketed and obscured that finding and comparing the same series/tier of product is almost impossible. So i am keen for some local advice.

    I am home user, but i do use them a lot. I do both yard work and I am starting in furniture. I do look after my stuff, it wont be abused.

    I mainly need Impact driver, Drill, Circular Saw, Trim Router. What platform are you bought into AND would you buy it again. Or if you were starting, what would you buy into? Especially, what didnt work very well. Any other recommendations or advice?


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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2018
    Location
    Dandenong Ranges
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    1,866

    Default

    Hi Pete. I have mostly Makita and for the tools you want they would be perfect. Part of my choice had to do with availabilty and the other is servicability. Most parts were warehoused in Sydney and used to be only 24hrs away. Rules have all changed now though. I recently bought a HiKoki nail gun kit (Makita equivalents not available or not recommended) and I am very impressed. A bit of a pain to have two platforms running at the same time.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    27,757

    Default

    From my experiences at the mens shed where we had a heap of different brands they are all pretty much the same.

    FWIW I settled on Makitas about 8 years ago and am very pleased with them. 3 drill/drivers, right angle drill, reciprocating saw, an angle grinder and 5 batteries After my experience at the. mens shed I found the 5 and 6Ahr batteries get heavy so I settled on 3 and 4Ahr batteries which are a bit lighter. I have one small (10V) Bosch with an in built battery that is still running after more than 15 years that I use at my electronics workbench, its perfect for small stuff, I will probably replace this with a small Makita when it does.

    The drill/drivers get used the most - typically I have the bit for the fastener in one drill, a countersink in another, the driver bit in another and for wooden screws I might even use a different size bit for the screw thread versus the shank in the fourth drill. I do a lot of metal work and when tapping Al I use the tap (for threading) in these drill. Some meths as a lube and they work like a charm.

    The reciprocating saw gets used most as a pruning tool.

    The angle grinder is the least used as I also have 5 corded grinders, 3 of which are permanently plugged in and hanging up ready for action in the metal work end of the shed. It has come in handy thought like cutting the neighbours padlocks off his garden shed after he lost his key - he has done this twice!

    For tools you are going to use often (eg drills) make sure you get brushless versions as their batteries last much longer.

    For circular saws and routers I use corded tools. I mainly use the big Makita saw to cut boards off 2.4m+ 2" thick timber slabs. Ive tried using the bosse's battery powered Makita to do this and it just doesn't cut it. Both my routers are Morton's, the bigger one is in a table and the smaller one other sits in a box - don't use it much. A battery powered trim router would be handy.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    6,975

    Default

    W.H.S


    Same run mostly Makita, an they go through hell,

    Other tradies I know have Dewalt an they love them.

    I think it comes down to what you become comfortable with.

    Makita too me is like the Toyota hi Lux vans, not the vehicle with all the bells an whistles, but they keep on going.

    Cheers Matt.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Location
    Hervey Bay
    Age
    46
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    229

    Default

    Hi Pete, I bought a Makita drill driver battery kit and a trim router extra bases kit last year, very happy. I mostly went with these as the range of different skins in 18v Makita is huge, I may get some of their garden tools in the future to use with same batteries.
    I'd suggest that if you are getting a trim router getting a kit with larger batteries (5amp hr) as the router really sucks the juice, guessing because of the very high RPMs.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Mt Crosby, Brisbane
    Posts
    2,548

    Default

    My most recent purchase was hitachi, before the stupid name change.


    I have old tools from several and of course my corded tools are all sorts.


    There are several reasons why makita are better than everyone else.


    1. They offer a huge range of things to stick your batteries in.


    2. There are adapter kits on ebay to use makita batteries in other brands.


    3. Makita actually sell parts. I love my bosch drill. Had it 20 years. Reverse no longer works. Almost impossible to repair it. And it'd be cheaper to buy a new one. Conversely my makita planer hit a nail. Got the bits from bunnings (special order) and they cost little.


    I don't know how they all compare for ruggedness reliability and life. I'd expect most brands will do the job, but the job won't get done if the tool fails.


    Makita is the safe choice.
    I'm just a startled bunny in the headlights of life. L.J. Young.
    We live in a free country. We have freedom of choice. You can choose to agree with me, or you can choose to be wrong.
    Wait! No one told you your government was a sitcom?

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2021
    Location
    Melbourne
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    Default

    Thanks i will use some corded tools. But i do like the battery saw as i try and do the breaking down outside. But i get the point, makes sense to used corded inside where you can.

    Makita also have 8 models of cordless driver drill. How did you choose which models?

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Location
    Hervey Bay
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    46
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    Default

    I bought this model, because the drill and driver aren't enormously heavy as far as 18v tools go, more power than I'll ever need and the battery size I wanted.
    I still have a 12v bosch kit I use a lot.

    Makita 18V Brushless 2pce Cordless Combo Kit - DLX2180TX

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
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    27,757

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by damian View Post
    . . . . .I love my bosch drill. Had it 20 years. Reverse no longer works. Almost impossible to repair it. And it'd be cheaper to buy a new one. Conversely my makita planer hit a nail. Got the bits from bunnings (special order) and they cost little.
    I've had a similar experience.
    When I really started getting into wood work abut 20 years ago i bought 2 green Bosch corded drills and they've had a hard life. A few years back one overheated and par-melted the plastic ring/collar that switches between fwd and rev. I was able to take it apart but could not get a replacement part - fortunately I was able to flip the collar over and that fixed it.

    I still have my 44 year old orange plastic B&D corded drill and it still works. I fire it up every now and then just for nostalgia. Crikey they are noisy.

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2021
    Location
    Melbourne
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    Default

    I have got a range of corded tools, Bosch blue and green, hitachi and metabo/hikoki on the way. I also still have my Dads orange black and decker from the 60s or 70s.

    I'll go in and check out the makita vs the dewalt for feel and just choose. Cordless are a bit of a luxury, i could do it all with corded if i really tried, but i dont mind a little lux

    The makita has an adapter so i can use the battery on XR tools. Seems like the smart way to go. Makita 18v battery adaptor to Dewalt XR tools – Your ToolBox

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Location
    Nsw
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    64
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    1,357

    Default

    I would put Makita at the top of your list. It is trade quality, affordable, has the biggest range of skins, is sold in more outlets than any other brand, great warranty and comfortable to use ( the last one is subjective of course)
    As others have said Makita is the Toyota of power tools. If I were to change brand the only other one I would consider is Milwaukee because I find them comfortable to use as well and still have a good range.
    Sure there are all the other brands like Dewalt ( find them awkward to use) or Bosch Hikoki etc but none of them are any better, they may be just as reliable but fall short in every other aspect I mentioned so can only see disadvantages by heading in that direction

  13. #12
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    May 2012
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    Woodstock (Cowra)
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    Makita 100%. and thats after using them for 50 + yrs
    The person who never made a mistake never made anything

    Cheers
    Ray

  14. #13
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    Dec 2021
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    Melbourne
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    Default

    OK, i am convinced.

    Any thoughts on this before i grab it? MAKITA 18V Brushless 2 Piece 1 x 5.0Ah Combo Kit DLX2180T1 | Total Tools

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
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    In between houses
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    Default

    I have makita stuff for at home, and protool and festool and hilti for work.
    most of my guys have makita and they reckon it’s great, however, I would advise not to buy the cheapest entry level stuff, go one step up, the quality and longevity seems to be much better.

  16. #15
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    Default

    and is buying into the 18v range the old range that is being replaced by the 40v range?

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