Which Makita cordless drill is right for me?
Are you looking for a new Makita (cordless) drill, but don't know which one suits you best? Makita offers many different drills, each with its own features and advantages. We explain the differences in detail and help you choose the best drill.
In brief
- Drill/screwdriver: For drilling and screwing.
- Impact drill/screwdriver: Thanks to the impact function, it is also suitable for drilling into stone. You can also just screw with this.
- Drill Hammer: Specially made for drilling in concrete.
- Combi hammer: In addition to drilling into concrete, it is also possible to break with these machines.
- Battery platforms: Makita has several different battery platforms. Each are suitable for different jobs.
- Included accessories: Are you just looking for a machine or do you also want a battery, charger or Makita Mbox?
- Torque: Torque indicates the rotational force and is expressed in Newton meters (Nm).
- Impact force (EPTA): This indicates how hard the rotary hammer or combi hammer will strike through concrete.
- Dust extraction: This sucks up the construction dust directly. This is mandatory on construction sites.
What kind of cordless drill do I need?
Makita has many different types of (cordless) drills. From regular drill/drivers to combination hammers. Below we explain which type of drill you use for what, so you know exactly which one you need for your next job.
Drill/screwdriver
For those who not only want to drill in metal and wood, but also want to screw, there is the drill/screw machine. With the quick release you can easily change between different bits and drill bits, so you can quickly get on with your job. The rule of thumb is that you can drill holes of up to 13 mm with these machines. Although some drill/screw machines can actually drill a bit larger.
Gemakkelijk boren in hout, kunststof en dun metaal
Makkelijk en licht in gebruik
Niet geschikt voor boren in steen
Impact drill/screwdriver
Do you need to drill into stone in addition to screws? Then you need a impact drill/screwdriver. Thanks to its beating function, a impact drill can also effortlessly drill a hole of up to 13 mm in stone. There are also machines that can drill larger holes. But note that a impact drill/screwdriver is not suitable for drilling into concrete! You need a rotary hammer for that.
Beschikt over een klopfunctie
Geschikt voor steen
Niet geschikt voor beton
Drill Hammer
Concrete is incredibly hard, so you need a really powerful machine for that. A Makita hammer drill "digs" its way through concrete like a hot knife through butter. To push all that power against the wall, these drills have either an SDS+ or an SDS-max mount. With the SDS+ drills, the shank is 10 mm. With the SDS-max drills, the shank is 18 mm.
Zeer krachtige hamerfunctie
Gemakkelijk boren in beton
Niet geschikt om te breken
Combi hammer
The difference between a rotary hammer and a combination hammer is that the combination hammer also has a breaker function. That means you can turn off the rotation but still hammer. Makita does not recommend using this machine only for breaking. If you mainly want to break, it's best to use a breaker. Makita's website shows the different ratios of drilling and breaking by category.
Naast een hamerfunctie ook een breekfunctie
Niet geschikt om alleen mee te breken
What else is important for a cordless drill?
Did you choose a drill? Fine! Then let's dive in further. Besides different battery platforms, there are other things to consider. How much clout or torque do you need? Is dust extraction important to you or can you really not do without an Mbox?
Battery platforms
Not every battery is the same. There are differences in power, capacity and shape. Do you really want to know all about Makita batteries and battery platforms? Then read our battery advice page.
CXT 12 V Max
If weight and mobility are important to you, the CXT 12 V Max platform is perfect for you. Its compact size makes it ideal for jobs where being precise is a must.
LXT 14.4 V
This is Makita's outgoing battery platform. Do you already have many batteries from this? Then this is a good choice for you. If not, we recommend the LXT 18 V platform.
LXT 18 V
Most machines use this platform. It is very powerful. That's why for most people we recommend the Makita LXT 18 V battery platform.
XGT 40 V Max
Is more voltage always better? It is if you're looking for a power and fuel replacement. After all, this is the most powerful platform, specially designed for the toughest jobs.
Pay close attention to the letters of the product name
If you've chosen a battery platform, pay close attention. The first letters of the drill's product name indicate the battery platform. The table below tells you which letters belong to which platforms.
Included accessories
Different machines have many different accessories. A Makita Mbox makes it convenient to store or transport your tools. In addition, of course, you also need batteries and a charger.
Do you already have all the accessories? Then order a separate machine. If you do want to order a combo with batteries, pay attention to the number of amp hours (Ah) the batteries have. The more Ah, the greater the capacity. Read more about this on our battery advice page.
Torque
Torque is also known as torque or tightening torque. It is indicated in Newton meters (Nm). The more torque, the more benefits. For example, you can turn longer screws in wood. In addition, you can use larger hole saws. For most jobs at home, 50 Nm is enough. Are you going to do a lot of heavy work? Then go for a machine with more than 50 Nm of torque.
Impact strength (EPTA).
Want to easily drill into concrete with your rotary or combination hammer? Then you need to know how much impact force you need. This is expressed in Joule (J). It is listed on our website under the heading "Impact force (EPTA)". Filter easily by diameter with us, or view the table below. You can use the table below as a rule of thumb. This is because the impact force can vary from machine to machine.
Dust extraction
Working dust-free on construction sites is mandatory. This is because not only annoying dust can be released during your job, but also harmful dust. Fortunately, many Makita rotary and combination hammers are equipped with a built-in vacuum cleaner or have the option of connecting to an external vacuum. In addition to meeting construction obligations, of course, it also saves cleaning work.
Found the ideal drill?
We hope that armed with all the new information, you can find the perfect drill. Still can't figure it out or have further questions? Then don't hesitate to just give us a call. Our Makita specialists will be happy to help you.
Contact
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E: info@en.mtools.nl
T: 085-0160737
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