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Then # 1. The second was purchased last April. Meanwhile, I am using my 18 volt Sears Craftsman drill which has been going for 9 years now at only $99.00. I did not even get my first drill off to the factory for repair, and it happened to the other drill within two months.
Otherwise, you can assume they fixed my drills. The original Makita drill I purchased was on sale when I bought it, because my Dewalt drill went after about 6 years of heavy use. if they did, then I am glad I waited to send them in for repair now. They start grinding and the chuck does not spin. It starts in the most used speed, # 3, and when that wears out, the user tries to get by, by using the middle speed # 2. I had a drill, from over 2 years ago, and it happened, so i went out and purchased another drill, since i thought well i'll have two chargers and four batteries to use for the setup with two drills, and possibly additional Makita cordless tools. I actually just sent them both to the factory last week.
Otherwise, I would have stuck with Sears or Dewalt, which also seemed very durable and lasted for many years.I will update this review if I have an unfavorable result with Makita Authorized Service Center. The gears in these drills are terrible. They have been having problems for years. If they did not resolve the problem with the gears within a 2 year period, I doubt that they resolved it now.
I am very pleased with this kit so far. The impact driver is a bit loud, but is so fast, the noise was secondary to concentrating on the depth I was driving lags. Over the two weekends I worked, I never recharged the battery. The only reason I don't give it a 5-star rating is because tools, while great performers, have a "light-weight" feel to them, like they might not hold up over time with heavy use, but that's just speculation. This kit changes all my perceptions about cordless tools.
Since my tools will be largely relegated to my workshop, they will be pretty pampered, so not a major concern. Meanwhile I was driving 4-inch lags, 2- inch deck screws, tightening carriage bolts. The drill/driver is powerful, and the impact driver, though small is a dynamo. I've owned a variety of cordless tools, the latest being Grizzly 18V, and had learned to live with short battery life and less than impressive power. I used both when building a tree house for my kids.
BTW: I tried the impact wrench on my car's lug nuts and it zipped them off and on.
My only complaint is that the battery charger seems a bit slow, and there is no indication of remaining charge on batteries. but keeps driving strong. I have been working this machine in the heat and grime, it looks beat. The drill also is a quality tool. This impact driver is my favorite power tool. I now love to drive screws. I have not owned another impact diver so cannot make comparisons to others, but I have only good comments for the makita 18 volt impact driver.
These are the best tools that I have ever used in my entire life. They are very comfortable to use and my hand does not get tired. After trying all other brand name cordless tools, I was tired of using all of that junk so I purchased these cordless tools and I am very satisfied. I work in many areas of construction and use the tools on a daily basis. They are very powerful and have a good battery life.
That notwithstanding, I am overall very satisfied with my purchase and I do not regret my it at all. I give up precision for convenience with cordless. The switch for different modes (hammer-drill, drill, driver) can stick at times, so a quick pull of the trigger is necessary to free the action (minus one). Everything except the battery cells themselves are made in China. The belt clips really come in handy, especially when you're on a ladder. That is a huge plus for me, even though the project may only be a half a day (though the tools get used constantly).
Driving screws before using this beast was a a chore at best. The drill was a bonus for me, since the kit was only a little more expensive than buying either tool separately. The impact driver is the main reason I bought this kit, and I was not disappointed. So with that long review, and my four main points of dissatisfaction, it is with a heavy heart that I give this combo kit four stars. Hitachi tools apparently have this, unfortunately Makita does not (minus two). This gives me a complete kit to drill holes in wood/metal/masonry as well as drive screws all in one easy to carry package.
Miscellaneous things to touch on include the case. The lights on the tools are more useful than you'll think, especially on the driver. That said, when I use the tools for a project, I don't have to recharge more than once. I utilize this extra space for those items plus a few masonry bits. Make sure to read the owners manuals, two times.
Makita does not include a "fail safe" system to automatically shut down the tool when the batteries become critically low (most consumer products using Li-Ion batteries have this). The drill's lights are indeed blocked by the large chuck, as another person pointed out (minus three). It is actually quite well designed, with room for an extra battery pack (which I bought separately). Really, Makita hit a home run with this particular tool.
The charger is rather delicate looking, and can be a little noisy when in use. The cells are made in Japan, the rest of the tool kit is made and/or assembled in China (minus four). One VERY important note, however. Doing so can drastically reduce the life of the battery pack. It is powerful, and nice to be able to use full half inch shank bits with it.
Self discharge is so low that I can pick up the tool a month after last using it, and have more than enough power to drill a few holes and drive several screws. The batteries are amazing. Loose bits are also not an issue with me, I crank the chuck down then ratchet it home tight. Very convenient.
It is heavier than the impact driver, but surprisingly well balanced and ergonomic. I am not a contractor, just a serious DIY type. While it will drive long deck screws and lag screws without a pilot hole, I drill one anyway to avoid splitting. They deliver seemingly endless power. It may not be the most powerful one out there, but I have broken heads off screws and small bolts, so for me, it is rather adequate. The drill's lights and selector switch I can forgive, but the lack of the battery saving feature (for lack of a better term) and the fact that the whole thing is made in China are unforgivable for me.
I will do as another reviewer and break mine up into a few sections. The lights can be confusing, so make sure to read the manual on how to decipher them. It is very light, extremely comfortable in the hand, and superbly balanced. DO NOT run these batteries into the ground. For precise drilling I would use a drill press or an expensive corded drill. I waited to write a review so that I could address any problems that might come up with it. Compared to the boat anchors of NiCd technology, these things are a stark difference. Using an impact driver makes the task SO much easier.
The clutch positions are easy to manipulate and are handy for the most part. They are also very light. Also, there is enough room for a small drill bit set and driver bits in the case. I have not noticed excessive run-out in the chuck, however, I do not consider cordless drills precision tools. I purchased this combo kit just over one year ago. The hammer-drill function works well and is a lifesaver for small jobs. The fan is there to keep the batteries cool, so I can live with a bit of annoying whine if my expensive battery will last longer.
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