First Cordless Drill - Milwaukee or Makita

[CC268]

The title is a bit of a misnomer as I do have a little 12V Ryobi I use around the house.

That said, I want to get a good 18V cordless drill as begin to start my tool collection. I've basically decided I want to go with Milwaukee or Makita. I'm leaning towards Milwaukee and was thinking this might be a great kit to start with: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauk...-Batteries-Charger-Tool-Bag-2691-22/100650378

Let me know if there are any other kits that might be better.

Thanks!

 

[acer66]

What are planning to use it for?

 

[CC268]

What are planning to use it for?

A little bit of everything. Home use, woodworking, metalworking, etc. At this point I'm pretty dialed in on the Milwaukee M18. Just not sure which model. They have a compact version, etc.

 

[CC268]

What is the deal with the Milwaukee drills that come with a side horizontal handle?

 

[Voi]

A little bit of everything. Home use, woodworking, metalworking, etc. At this point I'm pretty dialed in on the Milwaukee M18

I chose Makita over Milwaukee almost entirely due to their greater selection of yard tools and even more specifically because they make a lighter and shorter brushless cordless string trimmer than Milwaukee (my tiny wife and boys do the string trimming).

I can't say off the top of my head how many of their 18V tools I have but if you include things like USB adapters probably nearly 20 of them.

If it hadn't been for the yard tools I would have chosen Milwaukee.

I know this is your first (okay, second) cordless drill but I encourage you to at least consider the entire ecosystem when making this choice.

 

[Rabid Badger]

The title is a bit of a misnomer as I do have a little 12V Ryobi I use around the house.

That said, I want to get a good 18V cordless drill as begin to start my tool collection. I've basically decided I want to go with Milwaukee or Makita. I'm leaning towards Milwaukee and was thinking this might be a great kit to start with: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauk...-Batteries-Charger-Tool-Bag-2691-22/100650378

Let me know if there are any other kits that might be better.

Thanks!

Brushed motors, anemic batteries, terrible drill chuck...no.

This is MUCH better:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FV8KV9J

Or, if you're lucky, your Home Depot might have one of these left:

https://slickdeals.net/f/11976659-makita-xt275pt-18v-lxt-lithium-ion-2-pc-combo-kit-5-0ah-200-homedepot-ymmv

It the website says they have them in stock but the staff can't find them, tell them to look in the "no home" area. That's where they found mine.

 

[Zewnten]

The ecosystem as Voi put it is why I chose Milwaukee. I'm a heavy diesel mechanic and Milwaukee is the only one IMO who is putting out a serious tool for this field. Throw in the chainsaw, leaf blower, and trimmer for my yard, the circular saw, reciprocating saw, drills, for my house angle grinder, grease gun, multiple impacts for work, that use the same batteries.

 

[johnnyrep]

I recently bought a Makita it’s lightweight and easier on my injured hands,best thing I’ve bought in ages.
I’ve been drilling,driving in screws,using wire brushes etc.batterys last a long time.

All the builders around my way use Makita which influenced my decision.

 

[CC268]

Brushed motors, anemic batteries, terrible drill chuck...no.

This is MUCH better:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FV8KV9J

Or, if you're lucky, your Home Depot might have one of these left:

https://slickdeals.net/f/11976659-makita-xt275pt-18v-lxt-lithium-ion-2-pc-combo-kit-5-0ah-200-homedepot-ymmv

It the website says they have them in stock but the staff can't find them, tell them to look in the "no home" area. That's where they found mine.

Ahh yea definitely don't want brushed. What if I want just the Milwaukee brushless drill?

 

[DFB]

They are decent enough tools and would serve a homeowner fine in the 18v category to allow you a start for expansion. I have the hammerdrill version of that drill and the 2 speed impact driver as well. That said #1 first off they are the small compact batteries that come with that kit (1.5AH I believe didn't check) so run duration is a bit limited but that all depends on what you plan to do such as an afternoon of deck board screwing verses some woodwork hobby.

#2

So if you are sticking with Milwaukee I think you can do better than that basic deal at that price so take the time to shop around to compare different kits offered, and keep a eye on the deal forums here on TGJ especially with Christmas and New Year approaching. Many online vendors also offer percentage discounts at the holidays along with free shipping for first time buyers

There have been offers of an added tool to certain kits and do not overlook the brushless versions for just a few dollars more. I believe those kit add in an XC battery in place of one battery and the up the other to a 2.0

Makita is fine too I own both brands and not trying to talk you out of that choice either, but seems Milwaukee has taken quite a lead in the cordless tool promotion.

Disclaimer...I bleed Red these days!

 

[CC268]

Milwaukee's drills are so dang confusing I might just order Makita because of that ha

 

[CC268]

They are decent enough tools and would serve a homeowner fine in the 18v category to allow you a start for expansion. I have the hammerdrill version of that drill and the 2 speed impact driver as well. That said #1 first off they are the small compact batteries that come with that kit (1.5AH I believe didn't check) so run duration is a bit limited but that all depends on what you plan to do such as an afternoon of deck board screwing verses some woodwork hobby.

#2

So if you are sticking with Milwaukee I think you can do better than that basic deal at that price so take the time to shop around to compare different kits offered, and keep a eye on the deal forums here on TGJ especially with Christmas and New Year approaching. Many online vendors also offer percentage discounts at the holidays along with free shipping for first time buyers

There have been offers of an added tool to certain kits and do not overlook the brushless versions for just a few dollars more. I believe those kit add in an XC battery in place of one battery and the up the other to a 2.0

Makita is fine too I own both brands and not trying to talk you out of that choice either, but seems Milwaukee has taken quite a lead in the cordless tool promotion.

Disclaimer...I bleed Red these days!

Can you point in the right direction for just the 18V brushless Milwaukee drill? Don't need the impact, just the drill by itself. They sure make it confusing enough with all these different models.

 

[DFB]

What is the deal with the Milwaukee drills that come with a side horizontal handle?

The Milwaukee M18 cordless drills with side handles are FUEL models larger often heavier with powerful brushless motors and are commercial contractor quality tools. Normally much more expensive with performance not always needed by homeowners.

 

[Voi]

Ahh yea definitely don't want brushed. What if I want just the Milwaukee brushless drill?

I think you'd be crazy to not get a kit with an impact driver if you've never had one before.

Milwaukee makes a non-Fuel brushless kit that gives you the advantage of brushless without multi speed control of their Fuel impact. I'm not sure what the differences in the drill are.

Milwaukee's drills are so dang confusing I might just order Makita because of that ha

I don't think Makita is much better in the confusing department.

 

[Rabid Badger]

Ahh yea definitely don't want brushed. What if I want just the Milwaukee brushless drill?

Honestly, it's worth it to have an impact driver on hand. Yes, a drill can technically drive a screw, but once you go impact you don't go back.

You really should check that Slickdeals link I posted. 5Ah batteries, a good drill and Makita's top-end impact for $200 is a smoking deal.

 

[DFB]

Can you point in the right direction for just the 18V brushless Milwaukee drill? Don't need the impact, just the drill by itself. They sure make it confusing enough with all these different models.

I believe the standard "brushless" non Fuel drill is a 2701

 

[CC268]

I think you'd be crazy to not get a kit with an impact driver if you've never had one before.

Milwaukee makes a non-Fuel brushless kit that gives you the advantage of brushless without multi speed control of their Fuel impact. I'm not sure what the differences in the drill are.



I don't think Makita is much better in the confusing department.

Haha alright. I'm quite confused on what to get. I suppose a brushless drill & impact combo would be the way to go.

 

[CC268]

I believe the standard "brushless" non Fuel drill is a 2701

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauk...h-Battery-Charger-Tool-Bag-2801-21P/305529238

 

[Rabid Badger]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauk...h-Battery-Charger-Tool-Bag-2801-21P/305529238

I really cannot stress enough how much you don't want a drill with that chuck.

 

[Voi]

Haha alright. I'm quite confused on what to get. I suppose a brushless drill & impact combo would be the way to go.

If I were buying into the M18 line today I'd get the kit with the hammer drill and the Surge hydraulic impact. My reasoning is that I actually think these modern brushless impact drivers are more powerful than they need to be.

But in my case I'd also have a cordless impact wrench to pick up where the Surge left off. Like running lags or whatever.

Actually I'd have a very hard time picking between the current generation M12 Fuel hammer/impact kit and that M18 hammer/Surge kit.

 

[CC268]

Hell I could keep this simple and go Ryobi. Ha


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[DFB]

Hell I could keep this simple and go Ryobi. Ha


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[CC268]

If I were buying into the M18 line today I'd get the kit with the hammer drill and the Surge hydraulic impact. My reasoning is that I actually think these modern brushless impact drivers are more powerful than they need to be.



But in my case I'd also have a cordless impact wrench to pick up where the Surge left off. Like running lags or whatever.



Actually I'd have a very hard time picking between the current generation M12 Fuel hammer/impact kit and that M18 hammer/Surge kit.

I assume this would be the better combo

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauk...mCo_PAAL0BcsquvlKycaArv_EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds


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[DFB]

I assume this would be the better combo

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauk...mCo_PAAL0BcsquvlKycaArv_EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds


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Dude now THAT is a good deal The batteries alone are worth the difference.
if you can swing the price $80 more than where you started with the brushed tools (or $150 more than the 2704 drill alone )


Just as a comparison ACME Tool has the non Fuel brushless kit with a pack out compatible storage case for $199

https://www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/milwaukee-m18-cordless-combo-kits/milwaukee-2892-22ctpo

 

[RKA]

Not really. Search for wobbly chuck on Milwaukee. The drill in that kit is afflicted (I have that kit). If you don’t mind spending $50 buying a 3rd party chuck orrolling the dice several times with Milwaukee, I would pass. The current generation Milwaukee hammer drill supposedly has a much better chuck on it. If you want to avoid all that nonsense, Makita is a solid choice.

 

[jd_1138]

If I were buying into the M18 line today I'd get the kit with the hammer drill and the Surge hydraulic impact. My reasoning is that I actually think these modern brushless impact drivers are more powerful than they need to be.

But in my case I'd also have a cordless impact wrench to pick up where the Surge left off. Like running lags or whatever.

Actually I'd have a very hard time picking between the current generation M12 Fuel hammer/impact kit and that M18 hammer/Surge kit.

That'd be an easy decision if you need the extra torque of the 18V stuff which I think will have like twice the torque. I can't find any torque specs for the M18 Surge impact driver. One says 450 in-lbs which I assume is a typo. 450 ft-lb's is probably what that is which is way stronger than the 12 volt Fuel impact.

 

[CC268]

Not really. Search for wobbly chuck on Milwaukee. The drill in that kit is afflicted (I have that kit). If you don’t mind spending $50 buying a 3rd party chuck orrolling the dice several times with Milwaukee, I would pass. The current generation Milwaukee hammer drill supposedly has a much better chuck on it. If you want to avoid all that nonsense, Makita is a solid choice.

Maybe you could help us all by linking what isn’t affected by this “wobbly chuck”


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[Voi]

That'd be an easy decision if you need the extra torque of the 18V stuff which I think will have like twice the torque. I can't find any torque specs for the M18 Surge impact driver. One says 450 in-lbs which I assume is a typo. 450 ft-lb's is probably what that is which is way stronger than the 12 volt Fuel impact.

If I were making that decision the torque of the impact driver wouldn't matter to me since I'd also have a wrench or two. As I understand it the oil driven drivers have longer sustained torque instead of high peak torque so comparing just by torque doesn't give on the full measure of the tool. 450 in-lbs is probably correct.

The torque of the hammer drill would be a consideration, however. I've done some Tapcon work with my Makita brushless drill and the power is fantastic. Not sure exactly what the real world difference would be between the M12 Fuel hammer drill and the 18V brushless hammer drills.

Alas, that is not a decision I'm currently making.

 

[thin_concrete]

OP - what drew you to those versus other brands?

 

[CC268]

OP - what drew you to those versus other brands?

Top notch stuff!


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[Rabid Badger]

Maybe you could help us all by linking what isn’t affected by this “wobbly chuck”

That would be the 28 series drills. Here's the 2803:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G9FSM3P/?tag=atomicindus08-20

You won't be finding them for bargain prices for quite a while.

 

[DFB]

That'd be an easy decision if you need the extra torque of the 18V stuff which I think will have like twice the torque. I can't find any torque specs for the M18 Surge impact driver. One says 450 in-lbs which I assume is a typo. 450 ft-lb's is probably what that is which is way stronger than the 12 volt Fuel impact.

No its not a typo the force is applied differently than a conventional spring and weight impact driver.

There have been online reviews since it was first released that explain the fluid action and how its measured and compared to other similar tools.

It has its place on the job site and the noise reduction is the key point. Wont always replace a standard impact driver in a lot of situations though. I queried if it could be used with sockets and a adapter for threaded fasteners, but the consensus is that it wont perform like a standard impact for break away power

Impact driver of any type usually always beats a clutched drill for setting long screws or lags with no pilot holes.

A new 2853 FUEL impact driver is rated at 2000inlbs

M12 Fuel drill is 350inlbs, M18 brushless drill is 500inlbs. M18 Fuel is 1200in lbs

 

[Voi]

Top notch stuff!

Dewalt is another top notch company and I really like their drills. I chose against them for the "ecosystem" considerations I mentioned earlier but they make a lot of good stuff.

You mentioned Ryobi earlier and I know you have another thread about cutting wood.

They have some great deals right now on their brushless kits.

One unique thing about Ryobi is that they have a blade left 7 1/4" bladed saw that isn't a rear handled worm drive type setup.

In other words, it's set up like a sidewinder saw but is blade left and has the larger blade.

Off the top of my head I can't think of another saw, corded or cordless, with that arrangement.

Here is a kit with brushless drill, impact, circular saw, charger, soft case plus a free oscillating tool and two extra free batteries.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-1...and-2-4Ah-Batteries-P1837-P340-P122/306764505

 

[Voi]

That would be the 28 series drills.

I'm confused. In post #19 in you quoted a link to a 28 series drill and said "I really cannot stress enough how much you don't want a drill with that chuck."

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7590475&postcount=19

Does the 2801 (brushless, non-Fuel) have the good or bad chuck?

 

[American Locomotive]

I prefer Makita drills. Every Milwaukee chuck I've used has been garbage.

 

[thin_concrete]

Top notch stuff!


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Bosch and DeWalt are top notch too.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I can't offer advice on the Makita/Milwaukee debate but I will say, buy a drill driver package if you can. My 18V Dewalt impact driver never gets put away. Once you get one, you'll wonder how you went so long without one.

 

[CC268]

That would be the 28 series drills. Here's the 2803:



https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G9FSM3P/?tag=atomicindus08-20



You won't be finding them for bargain prices for quite a while.

Thanks for the help. That’s not a bad price. Just would need some batteries and a charger.


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[CC268]

Dewalt is another top notch company and I really like their drills. I chose against them for the "ecosystem" considerations I mentioned earlier but they make a lot of good stuff.



You mentioned Ryobi earlier and I know you have another thread about cutting wood.



They have some great deals right now on their brushless kits.



One unique thing about Ryobi is that they have a blade left 7 1/4" bladed saw that isn't a rear handled worm drive type setup.



In other words, it's set up like a sidewinder saw but is blade left and has the larger blade.



Off the top of my head I can't think of another saw, corded or cordless, with that arrangement.



Here is a kit with brushless drill, impact, circular saw, charger, soft case plus a free oscillating tool and two extra free batteries.



https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-1...and-2-4Ah-Batteries-P1837-P340-P122/306764505

Thanks! Yea that’s an awesome deal. The Ryobi stuff is very tempting.


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[CC268]

Thanks for all the help so far guys.


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