Best Makita drill

[Walkers]

I am in the market for a new Makita drill. I am heavily invested in Makita batteries, so not interested in changing brands. Usually every 2 years (the last year or so has thrown my schedule off though) or so I get a new drill/driver combo kit at HoDe when they go on sale. I have never given it too much thought, they do what I need. I keep 2 drills and 2 drivers in a tool bag in the truck, and they work almost every day. I am hard on them!
One of my drills is jumping out of gear, which is the beginning of the end. So I am looking at drill specs and prices and my head is spinning. I think my old ones(the black and white ones) are brushed. The new ones seem to all be brushless. I don’t really care as long as performance is similar. I am looking at the LXT, 18v line. There are some drills with higher performance, but it is hard to keep everything straight because there are about 25 current models, and they all look the same.

Has anyone been through this recently and Dan shed some light on it?

 

[General Geoff]

Do you need just a regular old drill? No hammer function? If so this is what you want

Makita USA - Product Details -XFD14Z

18V LXT® Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 1/2" Driver-Drill, Tool Only

www.makitatools.com

 

[KnurledNut]

@Walkers
What are the primary uses?
Does weight matter?
Which batteries do you have?

 

[Walkers]

I do not need a hammer function, I have several dedicated hammer drills. Primary use is drilling steel, from 1/16” to 1/4” thick from 13/64” to 1/2” holes. I have various batteries from 2ah to 5ah, probably most are 3ah. As far as weight, I do have to carry them around, but generally not that far.

 

[Under_Pressure]

Obviously you want brushless. Beyond that, the "pro" models are the ones that have a metal gear housing bolted to the front of the motor housing. General Geoff's suggestion (XFD14Z) is the drill/driver version, which it sounds like is what you want. The equivalent with hammer function is the XF14Z. These also, as far as I know, have all metal chucks. The other option I would look at is the subcompact model XFD15ZB. Makita's subcompact stuff is top notch- I'd put this on the same quality level as the aforementioned "pro" models- and it saves over an inch of length vs the XFD14Z. The subcompact does not have the all metal chuck, but if the size appeals to you I wouldn't worry too much about it.

FWIW I have the subcompact as my "garage/shop" drill- what I use when I need a hand drill for metalworking or mechanicing. I have the XF14Z as my main construction drill, though I don't really use or particularly want the hammer function- it's just what came in the kit (brushless hammer drill + brushless impact driver) that was on sale. For drilling concrete I use one of my SDS rotary hammers, one of which is also an 18V Makita cordless.

 

[engineer2]

The XPH07 is a good drill that has recently been replaced by the new XPH14Z. Of course those have hammer and screw gun features you may not need. I think hammer and non-hammer are around the same price anyway.
The attachable handle is a must for high torque drills for some uses.
My XPH07 handles mixing thinset without a problem.

 

[motoretro]

I've read that the actual Japanese made Makita items are of better quality than the Chinese made products. Perhaps ordering though Amazon Japan would be your best bet.

 

[duneslider]

I have the white and black drill, had it going on maybe 12-14 years. It is a freaking work horse and I love it. I also have a blue one with the hammer function (not brushless). 9 out of 10 times I need a drill I am grabbing the white one. It seems to have a higher drill speed than my other and weighs less. I have done a lot of stuff with it that it probably shouldn't do and it keeps on ticking. If it dies I am going to replace it with the subcompact brushless unit. My heavier hammer drill version will probably never get enough use to go bad. 99% of what I do doesn't need the bigger heavier drill.

I use the white drill with big 3/4" auger bits a fair amount and hole saws up to about 4 inches. I think I have fostner type bits up to about 1.5" that I use with it too. I also occasionally will mix drywall mud with it, not a recommended use but if I am only mixing 5-6" in a bucket Iwill go with it rather than plug in the big mixing drill.

 

[Walkers]

Well, I think I am going to shoot for the xfd14z and the sub compact. I think that will give me the best of both worlds. I am going to try and hunt down a display model first and pick it up to make sure I am going to want to carry it with me first.

 

[Walkers]

So, to update this thread, I was suffering from analysis paralysis, and getting by with my current 2 drills and 2 drivers (one drill worn out). I ran across a deal on a CX203SYB kit that has the sub compact drill, and subcompact driver (Includes; XFD15ZB, XDT18ZB, (2) 18V Compact LXT® Lithium-Ion battery, Charger, tool bag). I ordered it for $179 today, so it should be here in the next week or so. Then, when I need another drill, I think I will order the heavier duty XFD14Z, then I think I would have a more versatile kit.

 

[u2slow]

My "old" 18v makita drills from around 2007/8 (and a similar used one i picked up) are well-built and keep on keeping on. BDF452 and BHP452.

The much newer one at work (2019 vintage) may as well be a childs' toy. The chuck doesnt even grip tight enough.

 

[Sal Bandini]

I'm confused. Your title says best drill, but then you went and bought basically a homeowner grade kit with 1.5Ah batteries that it looks like they don't even have on their site anymore.

Since you have a bunch of batteries already I would return the kit and buy the XFD14Z for roughly the same price.

 

[Walkers]

I decided I wanted the subcompact AND the big drill, just haven't found the big drill for a price I want to pay yet. HoDe still has this set on the shelf here for $279. The mid grade impacts I have are still fine, and I have a big impact as well, so the subcompact is just for small jobs.

 

[KnurledNut]

I decided I wanted the subcompact AND the big drill, just haven't found the big drill for a price I want to pay yet. HoDe still has this set on the shelf here for $279. The mid grade impacts I have are still fine, and I have a big impact as well, so the subcompact is just for small jobs.

If you can find a good deal on a XPH07 it wont disappoint.

 

[Walkers]

Is the only difference between the XFD14 and the XPH14 the hammer drill function? In other words does the driver version lose any functionality when the hammer is added?
I am able to find the hammer version substantially cheaper than the driver version is why I ask.

*edit. I just read an article that says that the addition of the hammer function and its additional weight are the only differences.

 

[Walkers]

Okay, I just ordered the XPH14Z, it was a hundred bucks shipped. So now I should be able to drill just about anything I want, and anywhere too.