Brushless Drills, Worth It?

[builder49]

I am considering buying a new Makita Brushless cordless drill set but not sure if it is worth the extra cost. Does anyone have some long term experience with this new technology to recommend or not? Thanks, builder49

[joseph]

was not aware the drill was brushless .good to hear .it seems like only the impacts are offered brushless .
i believe it is the wiser choice .you will get your $ spent back in battery life .plus you are not having to change your battery as often

[m beezo]

I am really unsure what the new technology is supposed to do that is so all fired important that I need to spend the extra money on the tool.
I hear the batteries will last longer so you do not have to change your batteries as often. I must be in the minority because on most of my jobs a battery will easily last me till noon at which time I pull it out on my way to grab my sandwich and cookies, grab the one charged up and put it in. Is everyone else changing batteries half dozen times a day that it is such a pain to do? Sorry but I do not get it....
Secondly, as far as some saying the tools last longer again, so what? How many drills or impacts have I been thru in my 20 years? One impact and 3 drills. One of the drills still works and I keep it around in the garage but make sure I know I am going to need it tomorrow and get a battery or two charged up. That tool is a 14 v Makita that is at least 10 years old and if I bought a new battery it would be fine. I figure by the time a tool is ruined it is time to buy everything new and hope what is new is really improved and not just a bunch of hype.

[Hickorywind1]

Soon enough they will drop in price or tools with brushes will be harder to find.

In the days before computers, was it, "electric drill, Worth it"? (vs. Yankees and handdrills) or "cordless drills, Worth it"?
Time moves on....
The Makita LXDT06 looks interesting. Pretty soon you will look at your drill, it will levitate with the proper length and size screw....

[joseph]

yeah beezo see your point . depends on how hard you use them ,which depends on what you use them for .when building arbors with lots of big screws it tends to wear them down .i used to get two years max to a set of batteries . My impact gets all the use .Even used a cordless impact for a deck which is a bit slow .These days my panasonic lithium goes days without a battery change .

[climberevan]

I replaced my used-up Makita impact and drill with the newer brushless when they had the free battery deal. I'm impressed. They are both lighter and seem smoother than the ones they replaced, and the batteries do seem to last forever. For the small price difference, I'd say it's worth it.

[builder49]

Thanks for the input. Just when you get used a tool, they go and change it, but maybe for the better. builder49

[newman]

not sure about the brushless tools, but I can tell you that the compact Li-Ion 12 volt bosch drill and impact set is the best and most used tools I have bought.

[tom dickey]

I have been using the Milwaukee brush less for 6 months and can say it has more speed and better run time than and other cordless I have owned before. I feel it is too early to say weather they will last longer than conventional tools and or be worth the extra cost. I bought mine on a promo with a free battery making it very attractive.

[Kevin Stricker]

Just a quick comment on the brushless Makita combo kits. A couple carpenters have commented on the Hammer drill not being typical Makita quality in the Amazon reviews. Also, the impact driver is the LXDT08 which is the single speed version. I don't know if variable speed is a concern for you, but I think it's pretty handy. It lets you drive smaller screws or drive into easily stripped materials(light gauge steel studs).

It is a pretty good deal, but if you already have a good hammer drill then the LXDT01 for $10 more is probably a better option.

[Dutchman]

I don't own any, but my electrician does. And, every time I see him (frequent) he has a new one....all Milwaulkee. I busted his chops the other day about charging me too much because he always has new tools.

He laughed and said "no, we go through one a month, they're junk". He must be getting them replaced via warranty.

I considered brushless as a next purchase and if so, it would probably be Panasonic.

[J.Brad]

My Millwaulkee M18 combi has died after 6 months(!) estimated repair time 2-3 weeks so either I buy another pair of drills or stop working. According to the shop Makita have battery issues at the moment so thinking about either Dewalt or Panasonic which are new to me. Found this useful;

http://www.toolsofthetrade.net/indus...icleID=1858896

[Phil Pritchard]

I hear the batteries will last longer so you do not have to change your batteries as often.

...I figure by the time a tool is ruined it is time to buy everything new and hope what is new is really improved and not just a bunch of hype.

Well the batteries do last longer than the old brushed models, and they do weigh a bit less, which is all very nice, but to me the biggest plus (with the Mak impact I bought) was the 3-speed setting. Very useful on those cream-cheese head screws we get in fire door hinges over here. I'm impressed with mine - 9 months use