Makita Cordless Drill

Though we primarily use the 18V Lithium-Ion drill type, they are of course not the only Makita cordless drills. They come in a wide variety of voltages, speeds, sizes, battery types, etc. Voltages include 36V, 18V, 14.4V, 12V, 10.8V, 9.6V, and 7.2V. Most come with either the 3/8 inch or 1/2 inch chuck, though there are a few with odd sized chucks. Many are actually combo or hybrid tools because they are also Hammer Drivers. Battery types used are Lithium-Ion (Li-ion), Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH), and Nickel-Cadmium Ni-Cd.

What's really amazing about some of these cordless Makitas is the amount of punch they actually pack. For example, we've used the BDF452HW. This thing only weighs three and a half pounds and is only eight inches long, yet it will go up to 1500 rpm and has a Max Torque of 450 in.lbs. In other words it can handle jobs that you would expect of much bigger drills. And because it has the Lithium-Ion battery, it has rapid optimum charger that charges the battery in 15 minutes which we think is just plain cool. Most come with a three year warranty, but some do come with only a one-year warranty.

Price Range and Features

Here are some of the popular Makita cordless drills, their features, and estimated prices.

6176DW 7.2-Volt Cordless Driver-Drill (Variable Speed, Reversible) - Sells for around $93. Only weighs 2.1 pounds! Has a 3/8" keyless chuck. 0-600 variable speed motor with overload protection.

BDF452HW 18V Compact Lithium-Ion Cordless 1/2" Driver Drill Kit - About $185. Very compact unit has a great ergonomic design. Weighs a tiny 3.5 lbs. and is only 8 inches long. Built-in LED light for illuminating the work area. Rapid 15 minute optimum battery charger. Two-speed transmission up to 1500 rpm and max torque of 450 in.lbs.

6281DWPLE 14.4V Ni-Cd Cordless 3/8" Driver-Drill Kit with Flashlight - Goes for around $156. 16 torque settings for optimum torque. Has two speeds. Forward-reverse switch placement for operating with one hand. Has soft grip handle and good ergonomic shape.

BHP452HW 18-Volt Compact Lithium-Ion Cordless 1/2-Inch Hammer Driver-Drill Kit - Sells for about $192. Weighs only 3.6 pounds and 8-3/4 inches long. Four-pole motor with 450 in.lbs. of maximum torque, and variable two speed transmission. Has the fifteen minute rapid optimum battery charger. Has built-in L.E.D. light.

BDF451 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 1/2-Inch Driver-Drill Kit - Sells for around $299. Four-pole motor gives up to 560 in.lbs. of maximum torque. Has a variable three speed all metal transmission. Has a rugged clip for your tool belt and two built-in LED lights for work illumination. It's compact at only 9-3/8 inches long and weighs only 4.6 pounds. Comes with two 3.0Ah batteries and 45 minute optimum charger.

6347DWDE 18-Volt NiMH Cordless Drill/Driver Kit - Roughly $200. Comes with two batteries and also a multi-volt charger. Weighs 5.3 pounds with battery. Has a shift-lock drive system so you can instantly shift from drill mode to driver mode while locking out the clutch. It has a dual speed all-metal gear transmission. Goes up to 1,300 rpm and 400 in.lbs of torque. Nice rubberized grip and ergonomic design.

DA312DWD 12V 3/8" Cordless Angle Drill Kit (Variable Speed, Reversible) - Sells for around $199. Has 3/8-inch keyless chuck. Has strong 2.6Ah NiMH battery. Variable speed motor with electric brake and overload protection. Up to 800 rpm. Weighs only three and half pounds.