Makita vs Milwaukee cordless tools

[bamendaboy]

Which of these tools will you advise to get for myself as a Christmass gift and why?
I prefer a smaller and lighter impact wrench with power. In other words, the more portable, the better.
Thanks in advance.

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

You need to be more specific as to model etc. Personally, I prefer Milwaukee.

 

[Git]

I don't think you can go wrong with either brand

You are really buying into a 'battery platform' and with that being said, it's hard to beat the number of cordless tools that Makita has available. That is why I went Makita - and I have no regrets

 

[Voi]

I went through the same thing recently and went with Makita almost entirely because of their wider selection of yard tools. If it had just boiled down to tools I would have gone with Milwaukee.

I don't know how many more tools Makita has than Milwaukee but it seems like Makita has more overlap and redundancy so I'm not sure what the real comparison is.

For what it is worth, the tools that interested me from Milwaukee were that M12 polisher/grinder, the mid torque impact and their Hackzall saws.

My goal was to no longer be taking two types of gas and two battery systems plus tools between my properties so I went with Makita.

[EDIT] What torque specs and drive size are you looking for in an impact wrench?

 

[petee_c]

i have both. Started out with the Makita 18V li-ion set about 10 yrs ago... then got the 12v milwaukee set for the smaller drill and impact driver (about 2 yrs ago). .. ended up adding the multi-tool scraper/saw do-dad.

Both work well. For driving a lot of screws, the 18v is faster. All my stuff right now is brushed...

 

[J.harris]

Makita is made in Japan, my Milwaukee FUEL 1/2" impact has made in China on it.

 

[oldwino]

I started cordless years ago with the old 9.6v Makita with the stick battery. Thing was great and lasted several years of heavy construction use. Replaced with 18v DeWalt that I wasn’t happy with and traded for 18v Milwaukee and love them ( sawzall, impact, drill, etc)

In reality you can’t go wrong with any of the major brands.

 

[reader2580]

If you really want small look at the Makita sub-compact tools. They use the same LXT batteries as the rest of their tools. They have kits with an impact driver and a drill with 2.0 amp batteries. They are brushless which helps offset the small size.

I bought Makita LXT about 10 years ago as they were about the first to have lithium batteries. No real issues so no reason to switch. I would take a good look at Milwaukee too if I was starting over today.

 

[R. Deschain]

I don't think you can go wrong with either brand

You are really buying into a 'battery platform' and with that being said, it's hard to beat the number of cordless tools that Makita has available. That is why I went Makita - and I have no regrets

Go with the blue stuff.

 

[Vantastic]

I prefer and am invested in makita. I started with makita when they had a 3ah battery before Milwaukee.

 

[BPJOOP93]

I have all Milwaukee now. When there dead Not sure but it will NOT be Dewalt had them and hated them. I used a Makita cricket driver at an old job Great Little tool

 

[mustangmike6996]

I have used or owned all of the options.

I enjoy my brushless Makita but the Milwalkee M18 stuff is pretty good too.

 

[cell_phone]

I don't have any experience with Milwaukee but have read numerous positive things and nothing negative. However, i do have makita and love every tool i have from them.

I'd suggest looking at the tools you want, not just the initial kit. You're buying into an eco system, so base your decision on that.

Fwiw, every Christmas, home Depot sells a 2 pack of 3.0 ah makita batteries for $100, which is a nice savings

 

[ADSR]

Milwaukee!

 

[Freejack]

My dad and my brother swear by the Milwaukee M18 Fuel line, but they use their tools daily on the farm.

Jake

 

[pablo94sc]

I like my Milwaukee M12 stuff for tight quarters, but my departed uncle in law used Makita tools for his commercial HVAC business. I don't think you'll go wrong with either, but it depends on what you need and the price point for what you're being going to buy. Milwaukee seems to have a lot more specials/sales. Edit - like buy a tool get a free battery.

 

[PhysicsDude]

I'm fully invested in Makita. Quite a few of the guys I work with use Milwaukee. I think they're pretty close quality wise, you can't go wrong with either line.

Makita has a bigger selection of tools, but its pretty expensive to buy their tools individually. Makita is also made in Japan, while most of the Milwaukee line is now made in China. Makita is independently owned, while Milwaukee is owned by a large multi-national corporation, if that means anything to you.

Currently Makita is still running their "Black Friday" sales on their combo kits, which are currently better priced than most comparable Milwuakee kits.

Their 7 piece kit for $400 is a GREAT price on very good tools. Depends on your budget and which tools you think you'll use most.

 

[Sawdustmaker]

I have several of both. Neither has failed me. My Makita drill and angle drill are a 9.6v, real workhorses. Milwaukee is M12 drill, driver, hackzall. Can't go wrong with either brand.

 

[jd_1138]

I have Makita -- cordless and corded. They've never let me down even though I've beat on them and dropped them from ladders. I'm not a pro tradesman, but I do repairs at a few houses.

Can't really go wrong with Makita, Milwaukee, DeWalt.

 

[American Locomotive]

Pick your favorite color and go. All the big names are pretty much the same quality these days.

 

[Nermal43]

Both are great so go to Home Depot and hold them both. The Makita impact just fit my hand better so I have Makita.

 

[Wolfman6]

I have Milwaukee, I am very tough on their drills. I've stripped out a number of drills in the #1 (high torque) position. I always find the keyless chucks loosen up more than I care for. If I could go back, I would probably go with Makita.

 

[gunguy]

What about service after the sale? Are there any standouts good or bad?

My experience has been if the products are pretty much the same, it then boils down to customer service.

Thoughts?

Jim

 

[Glacial_Speed]

I went with the Makita 18V Li-Ion.....about 10 years ago. The impact driver is small enough that it used to be my sons go to thing to run off with ( to be fair it is a fun toy).

This summer I got some no-name China batteries off ebay, they seem to work fine, don't know about longevity yet but so far so good.

 

[Todd.Brock]

I have the Makita 18v system. It works great. I love the recip saw. I wish the Impact had a power level setting like my buddies 20v dewalt. I wish the jig saw bare tool was not so expensive.

Home Depot has a rather piss poor selection of Makita accessories. The little dust buster / blower looking thing is novel at best. I also have a 10.8v set up with impact and driver that is probably 10 years old. I love it. That is my go to gun for everything except driving in deckmates-onto 18v

HD has a few more Milwaukee. I have the 12v hackzall. It works a treat , as they say... battery life isn’t stellar obviously being a 12v, but for PVC or small rough cuts, it’s *******, as they say. I paid $129 for it. I think it it’s down to $99!! The 12vfuel is a lot bigger. I’m sure it has more power, life, etc. but the size of the 12v non fuel is about perfect. I keep looking at the compact 12v Milwaukee drivers b/c it has a drill chuck. If I need to drill, I hate using 1/4 hex head drill bits.

Just my experiences.

 

[mike in tucson]

A good place to buy is CPOMilwaukee.com
They sell new and refurbs...refurbs have FULL warranty
From their Milwaukee site, you can go to CPOMakita.com
or CPODewalt.com

 

[howpeculiar]

Could never have built my barn without Makita! That platform is amazing. Batteries just last, and charge fast. I really love that little circular saw, it is just so handy.

 

[johnnyradiant]

I don't think you can go wrong with either brand

You are really buying into a 'battery platform' and with that being said, it's hard to beat the number of cordless tools that Makita has available. That is why I went Makita - and I have no regrets.

It really is about the battery platform.

I started out with Makita. I have both. I switched to Milwaukee because of the the plumbing tools. One of my first Makita kits had their circular saw. I hated it since day one. When I switched to Milwaukee I ended up with their version - night and day difference. The Makita saw in my mind ranks as a toy (It's probably the only Makita tool I've encountered that I would rank so poorly, and I'm not sure why it even sits on my shelf). The Milwaukee behaves like a tool, Light Duty, but a tool. Neither saw would be my goto for anything more than a couple simple cuts here or there but only have faith in the Milwaukee. Makita's light switches are gold standard. I still have 2 Makita drills and 2 impact drivers on active duty because of the light switches. If Makita had Uponor pex expanders when I started buying Milwaukee I would not have switched from Makita.

Pick the platform that has the best variety for your needs. If they all overlap, then find your goto tool and choose your platform on the one that feels the most comfortable.

 

[850xpeps]

I have the Makita 18v system. It works great. I love the recip saw. I wish the Impact had a power level setting like my buddies 20v dewalt. I wish the jig saw bare tool was not so expensive.

Home Depot has a rather piss poor selection of Makita accessories. The little dust buster / blower looking thing is novel at best. I also have a 10.8v set up with impact and driver that is probably 10 years old. I love it. That is my go to gun for everything except driving in deckmates-onto 18v

HD has a few more Milwaukee. I have the 12v hackzall. It works a treat , as they say... battery life isn’t stellar obviously being a 12v, but for PVC or small rough cuts, it’s *******, as they say. I paid $129 for it. I think it it’s down to $99!! The 12vfuel is a lot bigger. I’m sure it has more power, life, etc. but the size of the 12v non fuel is about perfect. I keep looking at the compact 12v Milwaukee drivers b/c it has a drill chuck. If I need to drill, I hate using 1/4 hex head drill bits.

Just my experiences.

My new makita brushless has the power setting. Going from my 10 year old impact and drill set is like night and day. This little brushless impact is stupid powerful an so is the drill. I’ve got a bunch of other makita cordless tools that I would like to upgrade to brushless as well.

 

[kbs2244]

American Locomotive said it.
Both are top of the line brands.

The "Made in China" vs. "Made in Japan" is a who cares.
Either factory will build to the quality control requirements they are given.

 

[ishiboo]

I am a Milwaukee owner. That said, Makita is probably slightly higher quality. Like multiple people have said, all of the main line tools are pretty competitive. For me I like the selection Milwaukee offers.

Milwaukee has a better warranty on the tool despite that, at 5 years to Makita's 3... and the same 3-year on the batteries.

 

[Pwaley]

Makita or bust! For real though this is like a Ford vs Chevy thing...

 

[850xpeps]

Makita or bust! For real though this is like a Ford vs Chevy thing...

No ford an Chevy both ****.

 

[Boomer343]

I have purchased over 40 of the Milwaukee M12 Multi Tools in the two battery kits and at least 10 of the single battery kits. One of those tools has had to have a warranty repair and 5 batteries had the tabs break off. A modification to the attachment I put on the tool and a an elastic wrap around the battery solved the broken tabs issue.
Any warranty issues were handled quickly with no drama. The reason I went with the Milwaukee originally was the metal gear head and longer warranty.

I have a number of other Milwaukee tools in the M12 line. I have a couple of the larger batteries that work great for extended run times. I also have some M18 tools. No issues and always do the job.

 

[jd_1138]

No ford an Chevy both ****.

Mopar fan? .

But really any of the top brands are good. Even Ryobi will work though their tools tend to be a tad chunky and bulky as compared to the others. So that might mean working in close quarters is a little harder.

Is acme tools a good seller? Just saw this for 299. Great deal, impact, drill, light, reciprocating and circular saws, 2 batteries, charger and case.

http://www.acmetools.com/shop/tools...9fNllzl1ET4OXqJmQe-kGWC8AoVbQzjQaAit0EALw_wcB

Or Milwaukee for 279
http://www.acmetools.com/shop/tools...LWAUKEE-2695-24CX-productNameLink&cm_vc=PDPZ1

 

[850xpeps]

Mopar fan?

Is there anything else? Lol


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[ADSR]

Is there anything else? Lol

I guess you'll need lots of tools then.

 

[crewchief888]

i have drills and drivers in both 18v (orange) and 12v (red)

i grab the 12v milwaukee fuel most of the time for around the house stuff.
even with the small 2.0 batteries i can drill lots of holes, or drive a bunch of screws.

i jumped on the milwaukee "bandwagon" 4 years ago when i was looking for a cordless 3/8" dr impact, and havent looked back.

 

[Todd.Brock]

My new makita brushless has the power setting. Going from my 10 year old impact and drill set is like night and day. This little brushless impact is stupid powerful an so is the drill. I’ve got a bunch of other makita cordless tools that I would like to upgrade to brushless as well.

This point is very valid. I am comparing my old style LXT impact to a Dewalt impact that is about three months old.

 

[Fender1325]

I thought the good "old" Makita stuff was made in Japan and current in China. I also specifically remember them having a one year warranty, DeWalt 3, and Milwaukee 5. I guess Makita decided to up it to 3.

I don't think you can go wrong with either brand. Seems Milwaukee has more tools on their battery system than anyone else. I use DeWalt and am perfectly happy.