Milwaukee vs Makita

[alex.mikolaschek]

Looking to invest in tools. I am brand new to the game. I want to learn woodworking and general home repairs.
I am torn: makita LXT vs Milwaukee m18. No brushless.
Any adice would be great.


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[belvedere]

It's sorta like Ford vs Chevy vs Dodge...personal preference. I'm not familiar with the latest offerings, but traditionally, they're both good brands.

 

[LB-1911]

Looking to invest in tools. I am brand new to the game. I want to learn woodworking and general home repairs.
I am torn: makita LXT vs Milwaukee m18. No brushless.
Any adice would be great.


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No need to double post - Go Red

Hello all,
I am new to the tool world. I am 33 i want to get into woodworking, learning how to do my own basic home renovations, etc,
I am going to invest in a nice set of cordless power tool but i am stuck between makita lxt and Milwaukee m18.
Any opinions would be helpful. Merry Christmas!


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[davesnothere]

Milwaukee

 

[sac02]

Red gets all the love here, but Makita is totally solid, industrial grade too. I work in a manufacturing plant where we have a lot of cordless tools, and the majority is Makita - they are well made, capable, and put up well with the type of abuse that a guy who didn't pay for this tool, but has to repair this vehicle on the assembly line (in under 58 seconds), will dish out.

 

[alex.mikolaschek]

I couldn't find my original post so i just redid it. I am leaning toward Milwaukee


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[alex.mikolaschek]

I sure wish these were american made though...... Can't find anything made here anymore


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[CTyankee]

You'll probably be happy with either. Milwaukee has a pretty large fan club here on the forum, and probably offers the widest variety of different tools in it's lineup.

I still see more Makitas on our job sites than any other brand and can personally vouch for their toughness and durability. Traits that might not play such a big factor for the average HO.

Take your pick.

 

[SASORacing]

Milwaukee for sure.
5.year warranty and better tool. I have the Fuel m12 impact with the 3/8 anvil.
it's so versitale and makes a hand ratchet wrench look primitave.
In fact if my m12 will fit I will always use it vs. Wrench because it zips nuts and bolts off so quickly compared to by hand.

 

[ddawg16]

Ryobi. Best bang for the buck. If money is not an issue....then what ever you want.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

why no brushless?

 

[Heavymetalmechanic]

Link to other thread

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=272361

 

[theluke]

I'd say go with makita

 

[alex.mikolaschek]

Brushless too expensive, i am not rich nor a professional


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[56FordGuy]

At one time I owned Makita, Bosch, and Milwaukee Fuel tools.

I sold the Bosch tools, use the Makita LXT at home and the Milwaukee in the work truck. You really can't go wrong.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

Milwaukee seems to be more popular from maintenance use to contractors, plumbers, electricians to industrial, etc. I like Milwaukee the best but, Makita is right there with it. It's an either or since you can't go wrong with either.

 

[ishiboo]

I think they're all (Milwaukee, Dewalt, Makita and Bosch) very close.

I owned all Bosch... extremely happy with all of it as well as GREAT US warranty service.

Milwaukee has by far the best tool selection. If I were to do it again, it would probably be Milwaukee. I believe Milwaukee and Bosch are made by the same company (as is Masterforce), if not some others. The Bosch cases seem slightly better quality and the batteries all fit better in the tools.

I added Milwaukee 12V so I could get the 3/8 ratchet, rotary tool, caulk gun and grease gun. Despite all the Bosch 12V I own, they offer none of those in the US. And that's only part of what's all missing.

 

[Joe B.]

I am brand new to the game. I want to learn woodworking and general home repairs.

For this I would pick a 12v Drill & a 12v Driver. For everything else, i would buy corded tools as you need them.

 

[Dagny]

They are equal in quality in my opinion.

 

[redmed]

When tools are compared they are usually compared to Milwaukee for a reason.

 

[Tronyadorable]

If I had no choice but to buy all of my power tools from one or the other ? Makita. Hands down. Even though the warranty is inferior.My tool room is full of both.

 

[rancherbill]

Makita for pro grade. Ryobi is at a lower price point and you can get more tools for your bucks. Some Makita bare tools are $100 and Ryobi might be $50 for example. If you are starting, you'll need quantity more than quality.

Milwakee, Bosch and DeWalt also make pro grade tools.

 

[SASORacing]

It's a clear choice. Milwakee. Unless money Is an issue.

 

[cd36]

My old job I had all makita tools, they worked great and warranty when needed was awesome. No hassle at all when getting something fixed (which was uncommon) .

I happened to win a Milwaukee drill and radio about 6byears ago so at home I am now a Milwaukee guy and I don't think ill ever switch. All the tools I've gotten from them have been amazing. I'm not sure how they handle warranty though I've never needed it.

If you want to save a bit of money go with makita, they make a very good tool and come in at a lower price than Milwaukee. If money is no object go Milwaukee. Either choice though you'll be happy with it I'm sure.

 

[plain garage]

All the contactors I've seen use Makita, I believe the pros must know something I don't, so I went with Makita, highly recommend it.

 

[BajaBound]

Go red

 

[T45]

^^^I agree, and OP may also find this usefull

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=184492

 

[Terra Nova]

Both are solid, can't go wrong either way. Go with whichever one feels best in your hand. We've got Makitas at work and the grip is too short for me. I have an m18 Milwaukee at home and it fits great.

I really like the feel of Makita circular saws though

 

[Moose364]

10 years ago I would have said Makita that is what you seen the most. Now Big red has taken over, and for wood working you will love the M12V line and price is not to bad and a big tool selection. and at the price the brush stuff is fine, the price is really coming down on all the brushed stuff I have a ton of it, I have not started drinking the brushless kool aid yet, but that is a whole another can of worms

 

[alex.mikolaschek]

Thanks fellas. Milwaukee it is. I think i'll go with cordless drills and get all other corded.


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[espyking83]

I've always liked Makita and have never understood all the Milwaukee hype. Both are very good, but saying that Milwaukee is so much better than Makita is completely false.

 

[ijason]

I know experience is individual but me and my work partner got called in to do a demolition job, we where far from the shop and needed a reciprocating saw (aka) sawzall. So while we where getting what we needed at the hardware store we saw a makita corded sawzall for $99 and so in my head i thought well my friend eric likes makita so lets just give it a try.

No joke while i was taking out all the electrical my partner go's trigger happy on the sawzall, well it burned out in one day of use And trust me he was not tough on the tool. So for me i wont chance a makita again after that experence. I now buy milwaukee for my crew and myself at home.

This could have just been a lemon but it sure left a bad taste in my mouth after that.

Good luck with what ever you buy and hope you have fun learning to woodwork.

Ps. remember the most expensive tool is the one you have to buy twice.

 

[cd36]

Thanks fellas. Milwaukee it is. I think i'll go with cordless drills and get all other corded.


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What else are you looking at buying?

 

[alex.mikolaschek]

Makita......


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[SASORacing]

Milwaukee has a bigger and better selection of tools.

Icing on the cake/ seal the deal, Milwaukee has a
5 year warranty. It's done. Kill shot, knockout, hit it outta the park. / thread.

 

[bcradio]

For this I would pick a 12v Drill & a 12v Driver. For everything else, i would buy corded tools as you need them.

spot on advice here.

 

[CTyankee]

Milwaukee has a bigger and better selection of tools.

Icing on the cake/ seal the deal, Milwaukee has a
5 year warranty. It's done. Kill shot, knockout, hit it outta the park. / thread.

Yeah....good luck with that.

 

[ToyotaTech]

I have been using 3/8 Makita impact gun for a while now, and while I love the ergonomics better of the makita, my coworker right beside me has a brushless 3/8 milwaukee, which is probably 3 times stronger than my makita. Albeit mine is several years older. I will probably upgrade to milwaukee, unless makita releases a brushless 3/8's.

 

[IndyGarage]

I've got some of both. You probably will be satisfied with either.

These days the tools are close enough that you should buy the battery you want to live with rather than the tool.

One reason not to buy Milwaukee is that they unnecessarily stiffed all their old customers with the M18, which was not backwards compatible with V18 or any of the previous 18V stuff they made. I'm sure it was marketing related, which means they will do it again.

 

[92integra]

i bought my milwaukee becuase i used my buddies makita and thought thats what they were! whoops o well miwaukee is good so is makita tho when i walked into my new shop damn near ever tech, 30+ of them anyways is rocking makita and i know they hold up my boss has been using his for like 6 years (18vhex impact) its practically the only thing he uses and it grips and rips, either is a solid choice, but for a homeowner/diy milwaukee just has more options for other tools in the batterline up than any other company.