advice on 12V drivers

[xAZxE30x]

Hey guys.. I am looking to pick up a smaller cordless driver, if it comes in a set then that is good as well.

I do mostly automotive work, for a hobby, nothing professional but I still work on my cars almost every single day

I am trying to decide between the Makita LCT209W kit and the Bosch CLPK27-120

I went to Lowes today to handle the Bosch's and I was not a fan of how fat the handles are.. I do not have the biggest hands but they seemed to be way fatter than anything else Lowes carried that was similar.

I already have a Makita 1/2" impact so I am thinking since I have had good luck with that already, I was thinking I should stay with Makita possibly

any advice? I am wanting it for interior work, under panels, smaller jobs, etc.

thanks!

//Austin

 

[jjoel]

unfortunately i cannot comment from experience, but I've seen some pictures of professionals who use the Makitas everyday! It's pretty impressive what those tools can go through.

 

[ironmutt]

get the matco kit has light, driver, and 1/4 inch impact this thing blows the doors off of the snap on 7.2 . after trade in i got mine for 350 for the kit and i havent looked back the driver is great for under dash stuff has built in led light the impact is great for intake manifolds and such . wish the light had magnets on it but its bright for size its a little bigger in the hand than a 1911 45 cal. batteries have charg meters on them

 

[xAZxE30x]

unfortunately i cannot comment from experience, but I've seen some pictures of professionals who use the Makitas everyday! It's pretty impressive what those tools can go through.

Yeah I have seen Makitas in lots of shops.. My buddy owns a machine shop where I do most of my work in and they have always had Makita but last time I popped by I saw lots of new Bosch stuff. He likes both from the sound of it

get the matco kit has light, driver, and 1/4 inch impact this thing blows the doors off of the snap on 7.2 . after trade in i got mine for 350 for the kit and i havent looked back the driver is great for under dash stuff has built in led light the impact is great for intake manifolds and such . wish the light had magnets on it but its bright for size its a little bigger in the hand than a 1911 45 cal. batteries have charg meters on them

I will take a look at those. I have always wondered how SO/Matco/etc compared to brands that are just a power tool brand (mostly). When I worked at Chapman BMW almost all of the techs had SO or other truck brand drivers and impacts and I have wondered if they are getting them just because they already have an account with the truck and getting good deals or are they THAT much better than other stuff out there

 

[IndyGarage]

I own both of those kits.

Other than the box, which is clearly better on the Makita, the Bosch is better.

Actually the biggest difference is the battery life. Makita must have gone cheap on their batteries, the life is terrible. Bosch is faster and has more power in addition to the battery life difference

I do like the Makita keyless chuck, and like the handle of theirs a bit better - as mentioned above the Bosch is a little chunky to hold, and I think makitas are cheaper.

I actually own Makita, Milwaukee and Bosch - and If I had to recommend I would recommend both Bosch and Milwaukee ahead of Makita. Both the others have more extensive tool lines to complement those tools also.

 

[reptilezs]

2 guys at work have the makita drill and impact kit. 100 bucks. i have the nextec from craftsman

 

[fivespdcat]

Bosch has $25 off of $100 right now so you can get the 12v impact pretty cheap at amazon...

 

[Greatbear]

I have several of the Bosch 12V impacts and drills and I like them a lot.

 

[cheechi]

The Bosch aren't bad tools but if you're looking into owning more than just driver/impact, Milwaukee has the best '12v system' period. And I'm a Bosch guy. And the Bosch deal on Amazon is going on. Milwaukee is the better value in the long term.

 

[IndyGarage]

The Bosch aren't bad tools but if you're looking into owning more than just driver/impact, Milwaukee has the best '12v system' period. And I'm a Bosch guy. And the Bosch deal on Amazon is going on. Milwaukee is the better value in the long term.

Both Milwaukee and Bosch have a ton of tools in that line. Milwaukee has more specialty tools - like the meters and a flir camera (something like $2400!!!) and Pex machines, I even noticed they brought out a rotary hammer last month.

For all the more commonly used tools, they both have a pretty nice selection.

 

[Brownsfan]

I actually have the Craftsman Nextec 12v impact and drill. The drop light they have available that uses the 12v battery is the best cordless light I have ever used. I install mobile electronics and use them every day all day.Even drilling through fire walls. Never had one issue. Theprice is right as well.

 

[rlitman]

Both Milwaukee and Bosch have a ton of tools in that line. Milwaukee has more specialty tools - like the meters and a flir camera (something like $2400!!!) and Pex machines, I even noticed they brought out a rotary hammer last month.

For all the more commonly used tools, they both have a pretty nice selection.

If I'm buying a FLIR camera, I'm buying one from FLIR for half that price, that takes regular AA batteries.

 

[woody 73]

I would say that 99.999% of my tools are dewalt, but Several weeks back I could not resist and I bought one of the new 12v milwaukee rotary tools; I must tell you that tool has balls that go to the wall and back and then some.

With that being said milwaukee is coming out with the all new brushless system, then I am starting to think that when all my dewalt tools die I will replace them with the Milwaukee tools.

 

[pendragon1998]

I've been starting to look at some coordless tools lately and I've been wondering why there are so many 12 V tools as opposed to 18V ones. Am I missing something? Why wouldn't you want to go higher voltage?

 

[pipsters]

I do mostly automotive work, for a hobby, nothing professional but I still work on my cars almost every single day

any advice? I am wanting it for interior work, under panels, smaller jobs, etc.

thanks!

//Austin

Yep, screw buying tools time for a new car