In our humble opinion, Makita makes some of the best tools on the market, but don’t just take our word for it, read almost every review of a Makita product, or name anyone who regularly uses power tools, and there chances are you’ve heard nothing but good things about this well-respected brand.
If their products are so good, why don’t people use everything Makita has?
Why actually.
The answer is simple and it won’t surprise you so much, it all comes down to our old friend, cost. The price you pay for the reliability and quality of Makita tools has always meant paying a little more for the privilege. While this isn’t a problem for many marketers, it unfortunately tends to shut a lot of people out of the market, especially more casual consumers.
One solution is to buy a special set of tools, instead of buying them all individually. This has several advantages, not only because it’s cheaper than buying all the tools separately, but also because it’s convenient to have all the tools you need ready in one place at once. In the case of power tool kits, you will often find that they come with multiple batteries, but not enough for one per tool. Instead, cross-compatibility means they can be shared between tools. It’s a great idea that’s cost effective and one that Makita kits get the most out of right from the start.
Makita Kits
Whether you want a full set of drills, hole saws, or a full set of power tools, Makita can meet almost any need. Here we’ll take a look at some of the most popular kits and what they can offer to help you with your DIY jobs.
Makita DLX6017PM Cordless Lithium-Ion Kit Review
Everything you need to drill, cut and see what you’re doing, this cordless power tool set is a great starting point for anyone looking to get started in their DIY pursuits. Along with three batteries, six tools are included, and each of them is a revered tool in its own right, and not just as part of this set. If you’re wondering what kind of savings you can expect from buying this kit instead of all the individual tools and batteries separately, our estimate is between £150 and £200, depending on the retailer. Anyway, not bad, right?
Anyway, let’s take a closer look at what’s included:
Combined drill DHP458Z
A combination drill is the best place to start if you’re looking for a versatile drill in the drilling department. This particular model, while by no means perfect, does a good job of drilling and driving; in fact, it doesn’t lack power, and the depth stop/side handle is a very useful addition to ensure you have everything under control, even when the light comes on.
At 2.3kg loaded with a battery, it’s definitely not the lightest combination drill on the market, so that’s definitely an area for improvement. Likewise, we would have preferred the handle to be made of a bit more forgiving and softer material, as this tool is certainly not vibration free and you will notice the discomfort after a while.
On the plus side, the battery charging time is second to none – how does 15 minutes sound? Not bad for something so powerful it only starts to thrash when punching through concrete. The LED task light is also a very welcome addition, although it’s not quite positioned correctly to avoid shadows.
DHR202Z hammer drill
There’s no substitute for the power of an impact driver for drilling through blocks and masonry, and since this type of work is so common, it only makes sense that it’s included with this kit. The inclusion of the DHR202Z is a great option, it can drill through 20mm of concrete and 13mm of steel, while comfortably weighing 3.5kg.
Other great features include a torque limiting clutch to prevent damage if the drill gets stuck, such as hitting rebar when drilling concrete, and an SDS chuck for more efficient power transfer in mode. hammer. However, on this last point, it should be clarified that if you are having problems, it is most likely a misaligned chuck. This has been a point of contention with some customers, so it’s worth checking and returning for a replacement if needed.
DJV180 puzzle
When it comes to countertops, homemade furniture, shelves, or just about anything you want to cut curved edges on, it’s best to use a jigsaw. Of course, there is a puzzle in the bag of the DLX6017PM kit.
Now it has to be said that jigsaws aren’t always considered a necessity when it comes to jigsaws, the nature of the work that comes with a jigsaw means you tend to work ‘on the bench’ rather than somewhere on a construction site if you could with a drill. However, if you need cordless shaking, your needs are met, largely because the charging time is so fast – around 22 minutes – that downtime is kept to a minimum.
The downside is that the work light, while very good at working along a pencil line, unfortunately only turns on when the trigger is pressed. It’s not the end of the world, but it’s nice to be able to watch your next cut planning while you stop to rest. The only other minor downside is the dust extraction port – it’s a bit small, fine for fine wood dust, not so good for a 12mm layer, for example.
Circular saw DSS611Z
A circular saw is a great solution for cutting wood quickly. For the most accurate results, a table saw is always best, but a handsaw gives you more freedom and flexibility, especially if it’s cordless.
The DSS611Z is an example of a cordless circular saw capable of cutting both vertically and at angles up to 50 degrees. There’s no load speed, so it’ll hit 3700 rpm as soon as you pull the trigger, so it’s definitely not a tool for the faint of heart! However, its safety has been well thought out with a comfortable handle design that can be used with gloves and with no preference for left- or right-handers.
As the more economical equivalent of the slightly flashier DSS610, the DSS611Z sacrifices the benefits of an LED work light, electric brake and built-in fan. Of course, they are all useful, but they are certainly not essential. Unless you have a good reason to buy a free-standing circular saw, this model is probably good enough for 99% of the job and deserves its place in this Makita game.
DTD146Z LXT Impact Driver
To drive screws into the thickest materials at the highest speed, there’s only one tool up to the task: the impact driver. If you’re building a patio, trellis, gazebo, or anything that requires screwing large pieces of wood together, the combined high-torque and hammering action of an impact driver will come in handy.
This model is certainly very powerful, in some cases even too powerful, especially when going through finer woods, you can expect it to get a little dirty, so for finer work it is best to use the combined drill. However, repeated drilling into thicker woods will make the job easier.
The only thing you need to remember is to make sure you use specially designed drills with an impact driver. Use a standard screwdriver bit and you’ll find it cuts thanks to the tool’s tremendous turning force!
BML185 Flashlight
This one is a bit of an anomaly, but let’s be clear; Carrying a flashlight is certainly welcome, as being able to see what you are doing in the dark is often a must. What’s less clear, however, is why, for all its advanced prowess, Makita still sells a flashlight that uses the outdated technology of a xenon bulb instead of the vastly superior LEDs that most flashlights have. are equipped with modern lanterns. So we think it won’t be long before this kit is upgraded with an LED flashlight.
On the plus side, a sturdy flashlight is always handy in unforgiving environments, and its design is such that it can stand on its own, hands-free as a work light, illuminating your surroundings while using one of the other tools. , so you’re always there Find a use for it, even if the technology is a bit outdated.
Makita CLX202AJ 10.8V CXT Lithium-Ion 2-Piece Cordless Kit
Drilling holes and screwing are the most basic tasks for any DIYer or craftsman, so it always pays to have the right kit to cover all eventualities in this department. If you’re looking for a drill for every occasion, the Makita CLX202AJ set has everything you need. As a 10.8V kit, the tools supplied here are certainly not as powerful as their 18V or 24V Makita counterparts, making them more suitable for those whose profession is not primarily drilling and grinding. assemble heavy pieces of wood. That said, the impact driver in particular still packs a punch, delivering the same torque as a cheaper equivalent 18V drill from another manufacturer, so the power of the slider on ‘Compact Extreme’ batteries is unbeatable and has no problem setting up everything from a picture rack to a wooden patio in the garden.
For light drilling and driving, a power drill is simply the tool for the job, so the inclusion of the DF331D drill is a welcome addition. Like many modern drills, the functional and LED work lights, always popular with users, are a boon when working in dark areas. A downside to this, however, is that the LEDs are under the drill head, preventing you from illuminating the area above the drill, which in our experience would be more useful than being able to illuminate the area below.
Those who have used previous incarnations of these drills will notice the improved overall feel, especially the weight, balance, and thinner grip (with a textured grip you can feel even with gloves), which makes much smoother experience. comfortable.
As mentioned, the batteries used here are Makita’s “Compact Extreme” type, and it’s also worth noting that these are the 2Ah variant, rather than the 1.3Ah batteries from older Makita kits, you’ll be shooting so more than a single charge you. would have done before. Despite the larger capacity, it only takes 70 minutes to fully charge the batteries, so you’ll see very little downtime if you alternate between the two throughout the day. As for the physical design of the batteries, they’re as easy to use as you could want, with super clear LED level indicators that let you easily know how much power you have left in the tank. The charger itself can be easily wall mounted and removed for field work.
You’ll find that many Makita two-piece kits share the same basic carrying case design, and for good reason: they clip into a stack for easy portability. This kit comes in one of those cases, known as a ‘Makpac’, so it’s definitely worth considering if you’re planning to expand your collection further.