Finally Upgraded My Cordless Drill Game - Metabo

[dr_clyde]

I had a drill bite the dust this last week and decided to upgrade.

When I have the choice, I tend to buy Metabo corded tools. Over the years I've been very impressed with everything I've bought from them.

I decided to give their cordless stuff a whirl. I like that they're made in Germany. They make a wide variety of specialized metalworking tools that suits my job. I'm a metalworker, not a carpenter. The offer things like cordless mag drills, surface burnishers, tube polishers, band files, and a 9" cordless grinder.

Ordered this last week, the welding supply salesman called today and said it was NEW TOOL DAY!

So far, I'm very impressed. The tool has interchangeable chucks, a positive engagement auxiliary handle, and a really nice 3 speed gearbox. This drill seems very well made. Has good fit and finish, all the switches click solidly, the trigger is very easy to modulate, and has the build quality I expect from a $400 drill.

Comes with an injection molded case, charger, two 5.5 AH batteries from their M Ultra series, a drill chuck, hex shank chuck, handle, belt clip and bit holder.

I have yet to use it much, but so far I really like this drill chuck. It has a metal grip sleeve, ratchets down SUPER tight, and the jaws have these nice teeth to engage the drill so it won't spin as easily.

Time will tell how well it performs. I will update this thread with some real world reviews as I work this thing.

 

[ChrisLS8]

Very nice drill sir. Congrats on the purchase

 

[KnurledNut]

I always liked the looks of Metabos cordless line. Nice to see something other than the typical red around here. Thanks for sharing pics.

 

[PhysicsDude]

I've really been eyeballing Metabo tools lately. I have a full compliment of Makita stuff, which I like, but the Metabo stuff is just 1 step above.

A guy I work with has a Festool drill with removable chucks, and it is super slick (albeit very expensive!), the Metabo stuff seems like very similar quality and features at half the price.

I really like their lineup of grinders and impact wrenches.

What drill is this Metabo replacing? I'm really curious on how Metabo's cordless tools compare to "the big 3" in day-to-day use.

 

[dr_clyde]

I've really been eyeballing Metabo tools lately. I have a full compliment of Makita stuff, which I like, but the Metabo stuff is just 1 step above.

A guy I work with has a Festool drill with removable chucks, and it is super slick (albeit very expensive!), the Metabo stuff seems like very similar quality and features at half the price.

I really like their lineup of grinders and impact wrenches.

What drill is this Metabo replacing? I'm really curious on how Metabo's cordless tools compare to "the big 3" in day-to-day use.

I was mostly Makita, but I have Millwaukee cordless as well. My dad has DeWalt, and I have Bosch at home. I've used most common brands either at other shops or at friends houses.

There were 3 major reasons for me to switch to Metabo.

The most important was tool availability. They have stuff the others don't. Plain and simple. I want tools that Milwaukee, Makita, or DeWalt just don't make. I'm not a mechanic or a carpenter, and that is who the "big 3" cater to.

Brand history. I have some decent money invested in Metabo corded stuff. I have 3 angle grinders, a surface burnisher, a die grinder, and a tube sander. All of it is top notch and head and shoulders above what I can get from Red, Teal or Yellow. I have a decent expectation of what I'm gonna get from Metabo when I plunk down the cash. They are industrial tools meant to be used in an industrial environment.

Third was COO. This drill is made in Germany. I like to support good manufacturing ethics when I can. DeWalt's "assembled in USA" isn't enough if there isn't the quality to back it up. I'm not overly impressed with DeWalt tools, so I wasn't really interested in investing in a whole lineup that didn't really suit my needs anyway.

I'll be honest, If I wasn't looking to expand into some other metalworking tools, I probably would have just bought another Makita and been done. All I wanted was a drill right now. All my drills are pretty wore out. I may just buy another bare drill as a backup to keep using the fleet of batteries I already have. I plan to keep using my other Makita tools, I have impact drivers, an impact wrench and a few other odds and ends.

 

[American Locomotive]

Can't even remember the last time I saw a power tool that wasn't made in China. Almost strange seeing the "Made in Germany!". I know some of Makita's offerings are still made in Japan, but almost everything they have at Home Depot is made in China.

 

[WittHay]

Its good to see a COO other than China. Bought a Stihl cordless chainsaw last month that was made in Austria. The battery from Poland and the charger was made in Vietnam.

Nice Metabo drill. I do a little bit of everything so the big 3 is good enough for me. Personally I think Makita is a slight step up from the red and yellow.

 

[RKA]

That's a really nice drill, I can't imagine it will ever disappoint. I know you said you're not a carpenter, but if you ever want to look at track saws, I believe Mafell is using Metabo's battery tech on their cordless saws. The prices for the Mafell saws are high, even if you get them without batteries and a charger, but they are really well made.

 

[tarbellb]

Nice looking cordless stuff there, it will be nice to hear your user experience with these. Not of lot of guys are running Metabo batteries.

Did that drill come with a Rohm chuck?

 

[dr_clyde]

Nice looking cordless stuff there, it will be nice to hear your user experience with these. Not of lot of guys are running Metabo batteries.

Did that drill come with a Rohm chuck?

The chuck doesn't say Rohm anywhere on it. It doesn't have a brand name at all that I can tell, only the red quick disconnect sleeve says Metabo. But I can tell you that so far its the nicest chuck I've ever used on a cordless. Time will tell how well it holds up, but so far I'm incredibly impressed with the gripping power.

 

[acer66]

Can't even remember the last time I saw a power tool that wasn't made in China. Almost strange seeing the "Made in Germany!". I know some of Makita's offerings are still made in Japan, but almost everything they have at Home Depot is made in China.

The Fein 18v drill I bought was also made in Germany.
At least one and a half steps above all my Bosch stuff.

 

[frank001]

Those look like really nice well made tools!

 

[PureLeaf]

The Fein 18v drill I bought was also made in Germany.
At least one and a half steps above all my Bosch stuff.

I have the Fein and the Metabo and personally thing the Fein is superior in every way. From its 4 speed gearbox, its controls, ergonomics in your hand. It just feels like a better drill. Unfortunately Fein's cordless offerings are very minimal.

My displeasure with Metabo is well documented on this site, particularly with their customer service in the USA. I find their quick release chucks to have alot of run out compared to the traditional bolted on type, which is probably to be expected. Their drills are made in Germany, I give them that. Unfortunately many of their other tools in their cordless line are not, especially their saws; circular saws, reciprocating saws etc are all Chinese. They also like to market all the awards they've won from Pro Tool Innovations which are pretty much fake awards you pay for.

Edit to add too. For anyone that thinks they're interested in a Metabo tool, don't get confused by their latest brainstorm in marketing/branding. All Hitachi tools are now branded as Metabo HPT (Hitachi Power Tools). They use different battery platforms than actual Metabo tools. No complaint against Hitachi here, they're great entry level tools, but that rebrand plan undoubtedly confusing to end users.

 

[dr_clyde]

I have the Fein and the Metabo and personally thing the Fein is superior in every way. From its 4 speed gearbox, its controls, ergonomics in your hand. It just feels like a better drill. Unfortunately Fein's cordless offerings are very minimal.

My displeasure with Metabo is well documented on this site, particularly with their customer service in the USA. I find their quick release chucks to have alot of run out compared to the traditional bolted on type, which is probably to be expected. Their drills are made in Germany, I give them that. Unfortunately many of their other tools in their cordless line are not, especially their saws; circular saws, reciprocating saws etc are all Chinese. They also like to market all the awards they've won from Pro Tool Innovations which are pretty much fake awards you pay for.

Edit to add too. For anyone that thinks they're interested in a Metabo tool, don't get confused by their latest brainstorm in marketing/branding. All Hitachi tools are now branded as Metabo HPT (Hitachi Power Tools). They use different battery platforms than actual Metabo tools. No complaint against Hitachi here, they're great entry level tools, but that rebrand plan undoubtedly confusing to end users.

My Metabo experience has been the opposite. I don't deal with them directly, however. I go through my welding supply. I've had nothing but good experiences in the 10 years I've been buying Metabo.

So far this is the nicest drill chuck I've ever used. No noticeable runout whatsoever.