Impact Drill Recommendation

[beerfish]

I've been doing a bunch of jobs that require lag bolts, and I need a cordless impact driver. I've been looking at Makita and Porter Cable 18v combo packs, since I could always use another standard drill as well.

Anyone have advice on which one is the better one? Both have gotten great reviews everywhere I've looked, so I'm looking to see who has first hand experience with either of these, and which you like.

 

[rebelson]

My experience with Porter Cable has ALWAYS been a positive one. Makita does make sound tools but not close to Porter Cable.

Sent from my DROIDX using Reefs

 

[beerfish]

My experience with Porter Cable has ALWAYS been a positive one. Makita does make sound tools but not close to Porter Cable.

Sent from my DROIDX using Reefs

Yeah, I have a Porter Cable orbital sander that I love. The Makita is a bit more expensive too, so I'm leaning towards the Porter Cable right now.

 

[rebelson]

When I said I'm pleased with Porter Cable's performance I was referring to my 2 PC routers, palm sander, belt sander, compressor, brad nailer, polisher & biscuit joiner LOL. I would say go with Hilti but that's a whole other price bracket. Have you looked at Bosch?

 

[rebelson]

I have a DeWalt impact driver that is amazing, but corded. I know they have a cordless version too, but again the price is probably off. Last but not least check these sites out for good prices IMO:

http://www.factoryauthorizedoutlet.com/

http://www.factoryauthorizedoutlet.com/makita/Makita.asp

http://www.factoryauthorizedoutlet.com/porter-cable/

I purchased my gas powered Ingersoll Rand air compressor from them and they were the cheapest I found ANYWHERE online.

 

[beerfish]

I have looked at Bosch. I have a Bosch router that is amazing.

Unfortunately, I need it early this week, so shipping isn't an option and the local stores price Bosch way too high for what I need. DeWalt isn't as bad in price, but I feel like you're paying for the name with DeWalt tools.

 

[rebelson]

I have a Bosch router as well, along with a bosch sander, jigsaw and 4 inch and 9 inch angle grinder's.

I hear you on the DeWalt name & price. Years back they weren't as 'popular' so to speak but now they're a Home Depot staple with most of the DeWalt line on display. As you already know Milwaukee is another great brand...

 

[beerfish]

That's exactly the way I feel about DeWalt... good quality, but over popular and overpriced.

I like Milwaukee, but I've heard mixed things since they got bought out.

Right now all of my tools (except for 1 drill) are corded, so whatever I choose here will basically determine my entire line of cordless tools as I expand my collection.

 

[rebelson]

Thank God my Milwaukee sawzall is from the early 90's and in it's original steel storage case! A steel storage case is a RARE sight for sure LOL.

I'm not a big fan of certain cordless tools (grinder, circular saw - to name a few) but you really can't go wrong with Porter Cable. I know that a good part of their tools were/maybe still are made in the U.S. but I highly doubt the cordless are.

 

[mbg75]

Find out who has the best warranty for their batteries. They will go bad eventually.
I ended up buying the Rigid line. Was lifetime battery replacement a few years ago. Finally had the Ni-Cad battery go bad, home depot replaced it no problem. However its only 3 yrs on the new lithium battery.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

 

[smoq]

Makita all the way. I'm working with their cordless drills and impacts for over 5 years and it's the only one that didn't fail on me. It overworked crappy Dewalts and even Hilti sets. I have this one http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000V2BRM2/?tag=reefs04-20 and the battery still going strong after 3 1/2 years of abuse. If you need more power, I recommend this set, the drill has a powerful hammer, I tend to use it more often that corder hammer drill. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001EYUQPK/?tag=reefs04-20

 

[DrAsTiC]

I have the porter cable impact and Hilti impact that we use at work. Hilti is top notch with a top notch price tag so that is not gonna work for you lol. The porter cable is a tough impact gun I actually dropped one about 15 feet at work and it still works. Dewalt is good and there batteries are not bad at all especially the lithium ones.Dewalt is made by Black and Decker. I would stay away from the Milwaukee impact guns because there batteries suck.

 

[smoq]

One more thing- from my experience I can say that Makita is top of the line with it's 18V combos, Miter Saws and Circular Saws. Bosch makes the best jigsaw, sawzall and table saw and hilti is good with big hammer drills. But if I'll ever build my own shop, this tool will be my first purchase

http://www.festoolusa.com/products/.../ts-75-eq-plunge-cut-circular-saw-561438.html

 

[DrAsTiC]

Oh wow last week at work the iron workers had that saw and they were cutting a metal floor with it. I could not stop starring at it.

One more thing- from my experience I can say that Makita is top of the line with it's 18V combos, Miter Saws and Circular Saws. Bosch makes the best jigsaw, sawzall and table saw and hilti is good with big hammer drills. But if I'll ever build my own shop, this tool will be my first purchase

http://www.festoolusa.com/products/.../ts-75-eq-plunge-cut-circular-saw-561438.html

 

[Reef Reaper]

I'm a carpenter by trade and 60% uses Makita and the rest uses Dewalt. They have Dewalt, because it still works. When they go, I'm sure they will switch to Makita!

 

[tosiek]

I just got 2 sets of the new dwalt kits and they are great, a little lighter and feel better in the hands than the makita's. All my guys use the makita kits because they were a good set for the price when they were on special. After about 8-12 months of heavy use 5 days a week they are all slowly wearing down, the stop on the motor goes or the impact starts to slip on a few of the impacts. This is a full days worth of screwing and drilling mind you, anywhere from 100-500 screws a day so for a normal person these should last you a few years.

I wouldn't go with any other set btw. The hilti's are great but they are like a brick in your hand and uncomfortable to hold and use. I never liked porter cable aside from their edge trimmers that we use or their other routers because they rarely break and the price is great compared to everything else.

Bosch makes an amazing jigsaw, the only thing i've had better was a metabo which was priced relatively the same. Their cordless drills and impacts are a bit clunky. The metabo line of tools are amazing btw.

 

[dubs]

Ok I own the makita/dewalt and the Milwaukee 18v impact driver sets and do use all three of them on a day to day basis and the Milwaukee 18v xc is the best one out of all of the them and for a few reason its the most compact / has the most torck and the battery charge the fastest

 

[smoq]

That's another thing, Makita feels good in hand while Hilti weights 1000 tons. I also heard about Milwaukee batteries being not so good. Whatever you choose, make sure it uses lithium-ion batteries.

 

[Mattl22]

Anyone using an impact gun for heavy duty construction ids gonna say makita best on I've used love it!

 

[TimberTDI]

My vote goes to Makita. Hilti? Try using it in an awkward position for more than an hour and you'll be ready to throw it out the window.