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Makita, Milwaukee, Bosch or Dewalt?

Posted on 10/7/24 at 6:53 am
Posted by BitBuster
Lafayette
Member since Dec 2017
1588 posts
Posted on 10/7/24 at 6:53 am
Which brand has the best overall quality? I need a brushless cordless drill. Will probably expand the tool collection over time and would like to stick with the same brand and battery packs. Quality is the most important aspect I’m looking for. I don’t want to have to buy another one. This is for home DIY use.
Posted by TimeOutdoors
LA
Member since Sep 2014
13071 posts
Posted on 10/7/24 at 7:04 am to
I’m a dewalt guy but HF had a pretty good deal on their Braun (SP?) the other day. Not sure if it’s still going but $99 for drill and impact driver including battery. I have the Braun sander and bead nailer and have been happy with them.

Edit: noticed MS is getting a Milwaukee tools plant. I expect I will start buying more of their brand.
This post was edited on 10/7/24 at 7:06 am
Posted by Macfly
BR & DS
Member since Jan 2016
9910 posts
Posted on 10/7/24 at 7:50 am to
I have Makita and Milwaukee, both of which had seen daily use for over 20 years when I was working. Both brands are high quality and durable. My cordless tools are not as old but equally good quality. One of my favorites is a Makita drill which is smaller than others and powerful. I used it a lot in cramped spaces in core supports and fender wells. You mentioned good brands and I think it will become a matter of preference.
This post was edited on 10/7/24 at 7:54 am
Posted by Cypressknee
Member since Jul 2017
1446 posts
Posted on 10/7/24 at 8:25 am to
Depends how much you’ll use it. I use all my stuff frequently and stick with Milwaukee fuel line in m18 only. Very impressed and came from makita.
Posted by CoolHand
Member since Dec 2011
2105 posts
Posted on 10/7/24 at 8:26 am to
I’ve recently been buying Milwaukee. Great deals can be found at Home Depot and I really like the M12 for smaller tools.
Posted by BilbeauTBaggins
probably stuck in traffic
Member since May 2021
7632 posts
Posted on 10/7/24 at 8:28 am to
All are fine for almost any home DIY project. Milwaukee M18 collection is great. Dewalt 20V MAX XR is good too. We have Craftsman cordless tools here that have done all the DIY jobs for the last 6 years here. I would have spent more on the better quality tools if I planned on using them EVERY single day but I don't use them like that.
Posted by southern686
Narnia
Member since Nov 2015
1019 posts
Posted on 10/7/24 at 8:31 am to
quote:

. Quality is the most important aspect I’m looking for


IMO:
Milwaukee or Dewalt.
Just find which line up has any other tools you may want in the future but even still these days they pretty much all make the same tools. If one doesn't have a tool the other has, they are normally pretty quick to come to market with one.

Mikita also deserves a mention.
Posted by BitBuster
Lafayette
Member since Dec 2017
1588 posts
Posted on 10/7/24 at 9:19 am to
Thanks for the input everyone. I found a Milwaukee M18 drill at Home Depot for half off ($99) and went with that.
Posted by iwyLSUiwy
I'm your huckleberry
Member since Apr 2008
40383 posts
Posted on 10/7/24 at 9:54 am to
We've been buying almost everything Milwaukee for 7-8 years now. Our guys put the drills, saws, nailers through the ringer and I don't think we've had a tool or battery go bad the entire time. Can't see myself ever switching brands.

Milwaukee even makes some good lawn equipment so if you eventually expand it can be good for that too. Though I don't think you'd be unhappy with DeWalt or Makita either. They are both quality tools. Makita for sure makes the best grinder on the market. Don't have much experience with Bosch other than their hammer drill, which is top of the line.
Posted by turkish
Member since Aug 2016
2243 posts
Posted on 10/7/24 at 10:20 am to
I got a drill/ driver set of Milwaukee’s M12 Fuel line on clearance a few years ago. I was so impressed I started gradually replacing Ryobi with M18 with some M12 tools also. The M12 drill and impact drivers are some of my favorite tools to use.
This post was edited on 10/7/24 at 10:24 am
Posted by CoolHand
Member since Dec 2011
2105 posts
Posted on 10/7/24 at 10:25 am to
The M12 line I great for small stuff like drills and impacts. You aren’t really stepping down in power and have a lighter/compact tool.

The new M12 3/8 stubby impact wrench has crazy torque for its size.
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
46080 posts
Posted on 10/7/24 at 10:52 am to
quote:

would like to stick with the same brand and battery packs
a good plan but keep in mind once you leave the drill/impact the larger tools use a different battery and charger for most brands. i stick with makita, i have drill/impact/hammer drill/circular saw/sawzall. the last two use a bigger battery...although what i did do is buy an adapter so i can charge all the batteries on the same charger.

i use all them heavily i've built two decks and two other wood frame structures at the house, never going back to corded. one thing ive noticed is that the chargers tend to go before the batteries do
Posted by Taffeta
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Dec 2012
981 posts
Posted on 10/7/24 at 1:07 pm to
I have a few of the M12 tools. I have never needed a M18 drill or impact. The M12 has done everything I need.

M12 is also the line you want if you do auto mechanic work. The battery ratchets/right angle impacts are awesome. Only exception is M18 Impact Wrench. That gun is a beast.
Posted by bbvdd
Memphis, TN
Member since Jun 2009
27945 posts
Posted on 10/7/24 at 1:29 pm to
Any of those will be very good and you won't be disappointed with any of them most likely.

I have bosch drill drivers and impact drivers. No issues at all.

If you want the best though, gotta look at Festool.
Posted by urtoosmall
Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2009
529 posts
Posted on 10/7/24 at 4:59 pm to
+1 for Milwaukee

Regular price they are expensive, but there is a huge resell market on FB marketplace for Milwaukee if you are willing to buy used.
Posted by 98eagle
Member since Sep 2020
3011 posts
Posted on 10/7/24 at 5:51 pm to
quote:

Thanks for the input everyone. I found a Milwaukee M18 drill at Home Depot for half off ($99) and went with that.


I have the the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hackzall. It's a small one handed sawzall that is one of my favorite tools. I cut metal with it, and with the pruning blade I have cut up small trees, limbs and roots up to maybe 6" thick.
Posted by armsdealer
Member since Feb 2016
12267 posts
Posted on 10/7/24 at 6:33 pm to
I have a mix of Dewalt and Ryobi for battery powered tools. The Ryobi comes in for less frequently used tools or when the Dewalt version is prohibitively expensive. I have everything from brad Nailers and impacts to a track saw in Ryobi and they just have worked plus the batteries are cheap. I'll probably get better track saw since I use it a lot and the Ryobi is a little weak... but everything else has been great.

The Dewalt feels more solid in your hand, but both get the job done.

Lowes just had the 71/4 Dewalt saw with 8ah battery and fast charger for $149. I didn't need it but it is sitting on my counter today.
Posted by Clames
Member since Oct 2010
18738 posts
Posted on 10/7/24 at 7:39 pm to
quote:

Which brand has the best overall quality?



They are all the same pro-sumer grade stuff. I own all of those plus Hitachi, Makita, and Ridgid, each brand will have a given tool they do better than the others. Most of my cordless stuff is Dewalt since that is what I started with and have the most batteries for. For the average DIY'r around the house you can pretty much throw a dart blindfolded and get something that will do everything you need a cordless drill/driver to do.

For all-around use I think Dewalt has the best selection and the 20V/60V battery interchangeability been a game changer for certain tools where you truly want corded power. If you are more mechanical/HVAC/plumbing trade oriented then go Milwaukee. I think Makita makes some better corded tools than either, especially circular saws and some angle grinders though I only have one compared to the 6 or 7 others that are Dewalt and Hitachi. I have Bosch hammer drills are solid though I have a compact cordless Dewalt one that is extremely handy. Bosch makes a great jigsaw and power planer too.
This post was edited on 10/7/24 at 7:53 pm
Posted by jamiegla1
Member since Aug 2016
7860 posts
Posted on 10/7/24 at 9:05 pm to
House of Makita
Posted by TexasHand
Mississippi
Member since Sep 2013
1351 posts
Posted on 10/7/24 at 9:56 pm to
Milwaukee…. Next
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