Makita vs. Milwaukee ?

[Kayos]

There is definitely a social media push by Milwaukee, they are all over the "influencers", normally free tools for favourable reviews.

I am also a big fan of the fact that Makita arent owned by conglomocorp TTI or equivalent. but all my other powertools are Festool and regardless of what some might say, they are fantastic and the only companies that come close in some products are Mafell and Metabo (the good ones).

I work with a chippy on high end projects, his van looks like a Festool demo truck but he knows how to use them

He is the person you call to fit your new oak staircase in the attic conversion or to fit new, custom skirting boards that cost more than my house

 

[Kayos]

I have Dewalt for home stuff and Makita for the other stuff I do. The Makita gets a harder life than the Dewalt but there’s little to choose between the two in every day usage. I was put off Dewalt when they wouldn’t replace a faulty grinder.

I had the DeWalt plug in batteries, including the apparently rare lithium ones

The plan was a few new bits plus slide on battery adaptors

 

[Kram]

Another plus with Makita, you can actually contact them with real people on the phone. Uk head office in MK and they have a tech repair centres including one fairly local to me in (Kingston if I remember correctly) so if my tools ever had issue I could drop them off for warranty. I spoke with one of their tech guys, I want to have the turn off delay reprogrammed on my UX01 but it seems they cant do it.

 

[Domdom]

Another plus with Makita, you can actually contact them with real people on the phone. Uk head office in MK and they have a tech repair centres including one fairly local to me in (Kingston if I remember correctly) so if my tools ever had issue I could drop them off for warranty. I spoke with one of their tech guys, I want to have the turn off delay reprogrammed on my UX01 but it seems they cant do it.

This is a very good point. I had occasion to contact them in Milton Keynes about the angle drive bushes for the head on a Makita Strimmer. None of the dealers could help me, but the lady at Makita spares sent me an exploded diagram with all the part numbers on. It meant the difference between buying a new one or fixing up my old one, which was otherwise fine.

 

[Kram]

Makita also have full part diagrams on their website for every product. LawsonHIS order from them every day, give them the part number and you'll have it in a few days.

 

[MattF]

Makita also have full part diagrams on their website for every product.

Bosch are very good on that front too.

 

[Craig-S]

Well then.

a quick rush to Screwfix for collection, a fresh 5ah battery and man glitter is being created! pretty loud these things but im not sure what i was expecting i guess.

 

[MattF]

The problem is that once you've bought into the battery you're hooked.

There's absolutely no reason not to have several battery ranges. I have both Bosch 18V & 12V, & Makita 18V batteries.

 

[MattF]

Well then.

a quick rush to Screwfix for collection, a fresh 5ah battery and man glitter is being created! pretty loud these things but im not sure what i was expecting i guess.

You got the Milwaukee?

 

[Craig-S]

You got the Milwaukee?

Nah the Makita 150mm, im sure at some point they will release a 90 degree die grinder, which was really the only reason i was considering buying the red tool

 

[MattF]

Good choice.

Hopefully, Makita may up their game as Bosch finally has, in recent years. They spent way too long being behind everyone else on range of tools for too long. That's why it's only these last few year I've invested in Bosch tools, & even now, there's still the odd thing missing from their range.

That's why you need to be willing to invest in more than one brand, if need be. Sometimes, the tool you need/want is only available in a different colour.

 

[northwest]

There's absolutely no reason not to have several battery ranges. I have both Bosch 18V & 12V, & Makita 18V batteries.

I am absolutely with you on this Matt. It appears, to me, that someone at some time on a forum made the statement that you were locked into one battery system if you chose one platform. This is totally untrue. I have a number of different batteries, Dewalt, Dremel, Milwaukee, Hikoki (Hitachi) and now Makita plus another that I cannot identify but it came with the tool.
It took me a while to realise this because I imagined that as I had chosen Dewalt as my "main" system that's what I had. Took me a while to realise I had a number of smaller alternatives, then the penny dropped and now if I want it I am just going to get it.

 

[julianf]

I am absolutely with you on this Matt. It appears, to me, that someone at some time on a forum made the statement that you were locked into one battery system if you chose one platform. This is totally untrue. I have a number of different batteries, Dewalt, Dremel, Milwaukee, Hikoki (Hitachi) and now Makita plus another that I cannot identify but it came with the tool.
It took me a while to realise this because I imagined that as I had chosen Dewalt as my "main" system that's what I had. Took me a while to realise I had a number of smaller alternatives, then the penny dropped and now if I want it I am just going to get it.

My statment was -

People pick their first colour on the initial tool, and then are generally locked in.

Its true. It doesn't have to be, obviously, but its still true!

There's a cost hit to adding a brand. If i buy a different colour, i have to buy one or two new batteries, and a new charger on that first tool. That's going to be a £100 penalty. Which, as a generalization, is enough to keep people locked into a brand.

But, at the same time, what you say is entirely valid - you can buy whatever you want. But, again, only if youre happy to suffer the £100 hit every time you go for a new colour.

 

[Craig-SM]

Good choice.

Hopefully, Makita may up their game as Bosch finally has, in recent years. They spent way too long being behind everyone else on range of tools for too long. That's why it's only these last few year I've invested in Bosch tools, & even now, there's still the odd thing missing from their range.

That's why you need to be willing to invest in more than one brand, if need be. Sometimes, the tool you need/want is only available in a different colour.

I’ve managed to find all my power tools in a lovely red flavour but they do have an extensive range.

BUT

Lawn mower and strimmer are Ego and they’ve been great. I had the Milwaukee strimmer which was good but not a patch on Ego.

As you know I have a touch of blue in the collection too with their measuring tool that cut above for ease of use as well as accuracy.

Milwaukee have already crept into the hand tools too with breaker bars, vice grips, pliers, combi spanner’s and hammers, all great to use and with quality well beyond their price range.
Not all great as the adjustables are garbage and not a patch on Bahco but who’s are. The ratchet screwdriver more rubbish. The ratchet handle is OK but the bits are 100% chinesium.

Edit. Missed out the Festool dust extractor that has been a star buy this year.

 

[Craig-S]

I’ve managed to find all my power tools in a lovely red flavour but they do have an extensive range.

BUT

Lawn mower and strimmer are Ego and they’ve been great. I had the Milwaukee strimmer which was good but not a patch on Ego.

As you know I have a touch of blue in the collection too with their measuring tool that cut above for ease of use as well as accuracy.

Milwaukee have already crept into the hand tools too with breaker bars, vice grips, pliers, combi spanner’s and hammers, all great to use and with quality well beyond their price range.
Not all great as the adjustables are garbage and not a patch on Bahco but who’s are. The ratchet screwdriver more rubbish. The ratchet handle is OK but the bits are 100% chinesium.

it never works out well when youre trying to be everything to everyone, i suspect this is just playing to their fanbase. personally all my general hand tools are either Knipex, Wera or Vessel with some exceptions. I have certainly gotten rid of a LOT of tools/powertools and machines in the last year.

 

[tigdlo]

Sadly some Makita spare parts are going the same way as Milwaukee for their brushless tools, battery connector, trigger, controller and motor all one unit £140 for a £200 tool.

 

[Mark 5]

I might be over simplifying this but what about battery adaptors.

I run a couple of Dewalts this way using 18v makita batteries which I have a few off.

 

[julianf]

I might be over simplifying this but what about battery adaptors.

I run a couple of Dewalts this way using 18v makita batteries which I have a few off.

I think some of the systems have some of the electronics on the battery, whilst others have them on the tool.

So sometimes its just a physical adapter, but other times its not as simple.

 

[Craig-SM]

it never works out well when youre trying to be everything to everyone, i suspect this is just playing to their fanbase. personally all my general hand tools are either Knipex, Wera or Vessel with some exceptions. I have certainly gotten rid of a LOT of tools/powertools and machines in the last year.

The garbage hand tools were early purchases and agree it was capitalising on their fan base. The other tools were much later and a different league. I have Knipex too and Milwaukee are holding their own against them. I have Wera screwdrivers and ratchet spanners and Bahco socket sets. I've used the Milwaukee socket sets and they’re really good quality with a flat side so they don’t roll about, simple thing but shows thought into actually using the tools. Nice thick chrome but I prefer shot peen sockets as easier to handle with greasy hands but again flat side on the Milwaukee socket and ratchets make them easy to handle too.

 

[MattF]

There's a cost hit to adding a brand. If i buy a different colour, i have to buy one or two new batteries

That cost can apply even if you stay within you're preferred brand, however. The mowers are a prime example. The Makita, I had to buy a couple more 5Ah batteries to get around the grounds without always awaiting batteries charging. Same with the Bosch mower. I ended up buying six 8Ah Procore batteries, primarily for that, so that I could complete the grounds in one shot. I spent more on those batteries than on the mower itself.

The whole battery & brand thing boils down to simple convenience. Buy whatever's necessary to make your task(s) easier.