wanting a 3/8 impact and looking at the dewalt DCF883L2 or maybe the makita BTW253. both lithium ion, one 18 volt the other 20. there's a considerable difference in price. in the past dewalt had pretty decent stuff but in the interest of greed i think their quality has taken a dive. otoh makita has seemed to produce tools with consistent quality. prices i see for the dewalt are around 260 and around 360 for the makita. if the dewalt is made in china i won't even look at it, i'm guessing it's made in mexico at best
dewalt vs makita 3/8 cordless impact
- Thread starter hairyj
- Start date
If you're going to consider an impact driver from one of those guys, I'd strongly consider getting their brushless version. Its not much more than the version with brushes, however the brushless is more efficient and a bit more powerful.
yes they are don't you just love marketing, more advertising less in the box.
either way the so called 20 vs 18 doesn't matter to me it's just hype. i want to know which is the better tool. is the makita actually worth $100 more.
shoturtle
Well-known member
No one has a 3/8 brushless impact. Given the dewalt or the makita 3.8, I would go with the makita
smothers33
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between those 2 id go with makita. i had their impact driver/hammerdrill kit. both were awesome tools. but i sold them to a buddy and switched to milwaukee because they have a better full lineup of tools. i got the drill/impact driver kit and the drill was smaller and felt a little cheaper than the makita but the impact driver was better from milwaukee. the milwaukee charger can charge both the 18 and 12v batteries so i bought the 12v impact ratchet and im in love with that thing. very useful if you do any automotive wrenchin.
milwaukee has their new 18v "fuel" line which is brushless coming out sometime this month and they have a 18v 3/8 impact in this new lineup that claims 200 ft-lbs compared to 150 from the makita and the kit is right around the same price as the makita if i remember correctly. plus they got a higher amp/hr battery coming out with this lineup so youd get 2 of them as well.
milwaukee has their new 18v "fuel" line which is brushless coming out sometime this month and they have a 18v 3/8 impact in this new lineup that claims 200 ft-lbs compared to 150 from the makita and the kit is right around the same price as the makita if i remember correctly. plus they got a higher amp/hr battery coming out with this lineup so youd get 2 of them as well.
Do a Google search for "tools of the trade". I believe this or last issue did a comparison of most all the cordless impacts. They may have only tested impact drivers though. I've got several makita impact drivers and they seem to have plenty of power and are well balanced.
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Jbullfrog
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I have most Dewalt 18v tools as well as Makita 18lxt. I have had a Makita 1/4 impact driver for 5 years and it will out drive a Dewalt any day of the week. My 3/8 Makita is the same motor with a different anvil. I use it around the shop and carry it in my truck.
The price difference is mainly the batteries. Makita 3aH batteries last longer than the 18v Dewalt Lithium batteries. They charge quicker than Dewalt batteries. They have a longer life span than Dewalt Batteries.
If you already have a dozen Dewalt tools and batteries go yellow. If you have Makita tools go green. If you have no cordless tools currently, start with green and look for a kit. Check Home Depot and your local tool houses for kit deals or bonus tool deals.
The price difference is mainly the batteries. Makita 3aH batteries last longer than the 18v Dewalt Lithium batteries. They charge quicker than Dewalt batteries. They have a longer life span than Dewalt Batteries.
If you already have a dozen Dewalt tools and batteries go yellow. If you have Makita tools go green. If you have no cordless tools currently, start with green and look for a kit. Check Home Depot and your local tool houses for kit deals or bonus tool deals.
[email protected]
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Go with the makita you will not be disappointed. I started out with the 1/4 driver set. And have bought the full size 1/2 impact, 3/8 and 1/2 drivers as bare tools. The bare tools run around $100 when on sale.
I'm having the same debate right now.
I already have the white Makita drill and impact driver, 2x small battery and charger.
I could get bare tool and large battery for about $260 online.
Or I could get the Milwaukee M18 kit for around the same locally from Home Depot.
I'm hoping M18 price goes down when the fuel version is launched and also like the idea of the 4.0 batteries that Milwaukee just launched.
Also the M18 has 167 ft lbs vs the LXTs 150.
Haven't had the best experience with Dewalt, so they're out of the equation for me.
Sears just had the 3/8 c3 on sale for $50 for bare tool, but only offered NiCad in the kit and the included charger wouldn't do lithiums. Also only rated at 130 ft lbs.
If Makita offered bare tools locally, I'd have already picked one up, but ordering online equals packages at the door that have to be explained unfortunately.
I already have the white Makita drill and impact driver, 2x small battery and charger.
I could get bare tool and large battery for about $260 online.
Or I could get the Milwaukee M18 kit for around the same locally from Home Depot.
I'm hoping M18 price goes down when the fuel version is launched and also like the idea of the 4.0 batteries that Milwaukee just launched.
Also the M18 has 167 ft lbs vs the LXTs 150.
Haven't had the best experience with Dewalt, so they're out of the equation for me.
Sears just had the 3/8 c3 on sale for $50 for bare tool, but only offered NiCad in the kit and the included charger wouldn't do lithiums. Also only rated at 130 ft lbs.
If Makita offered bare tools locally, I'd have already picked one up, but ordering online equals packages at the door that have to be explained unfortunately.
TheGrooveking
Well-known member
A big +1 on that article, a lot of great info on torque and it uncovers some manufactures torque ratings which can be misleading.
TheGrooveking
still wrestling with this one, i really want a 3/8 cordless impact and was leaning towards the dewalt because of it being around $120 cheaper than the makita. after poking around it looks like the country of origin for the dewalt is china and i have a REAL problem with that. the makita is $368 which is a pretty stiff price
duneslider
Well-known member
I have had the dewalt 1/2" impact and currently the makita 1/2" impact and I like the makita much more. Seems lighter and stronger and better built. I already had batteries and charger so I got a great price bare tool. I would say all my makitas are superior to the dewalt.
jackfork
Well-known member
Really don't think you would be disappointed in either one. All DeWalt battery tools, as far as I know, are made in Mexico. All mine are anyway. I don't have a Makita, but do have a DeWalt and Bosch. Like them both.
I have had dewalt for years and have been happy with it. However built a house last year and bought a Milwaukee 18v brushless drill. Wow. Used the beans out of it and let the contractors use it also. Way impressed. enough so I don't have any desire to buy another dewalt. I am going to buy the Milwaukee 3/8 impact and give it a try.