Customer Reviews

Makita 6347DWDE 18-Volt NiMH Cordless Drill/Driver Kit

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

When I first saw the 18-volt powerhouse Makita 6347DWDE drill at this price -- which doesn't even include the significant manufacturer's rebate -- I thought it was too good to be true and quite possibly a misprint. I had to re-read the description and the fine print a few times before making my order.

After owning this drill for six months and using it on a number of projects, I couldn't be happier. The battery pack has proved more than adequate in delivering plenty of power over an extended time period and and it's great to have the backup available just in case. Charging is fast and easy, too.

Despite the size of this drill, it is surprisingly light and well-balanced, comfortable to use even at odd angles and at arms length. You absolutely can't go wrong here.

The benefits of owning quality power tools go without saying. And Makita is a name you can trust. This is not a toy ... it is the real deal. Don't settle for good when you can have the very best. It's definitely worth a few extra $$$.

Note: Take a look at the Makita 784874-A 15-Piece UltraLoc Set as a great accessory for this drill.

I'm just your typical do-it-yourself home improvement user so I can't speak from a professional use level, but this drill has been a godsend. About a year ago, I bought a 18v Coleman cordless drill for about $10 after some discounts from HSN. I thought that for $10 it couldn't be that bad. Boy was I was wrong. First off, those NiCad batteries you find in the cheaper drills (skil, coleman, b&d) are no match for the same or lower voltage of a NiMH battery. NiCad batteries quickly lose the remaining charge about half way through the battery. These NiMH batteries in the Makita, don't give up until the battery is almost completely dead. Though this Makita drill costs significantly more, the power and endurance of the battery is amazing. Screws that would bring that Coleman to a crawl are nothing for the Makita.

The main reason for buying this drill is that I'm currently remodeling my bathroom and there hasn't been a task that has given me second thoughts about choosing the Makita. I've been driving 2.5" deck screws into 4"x6" lumber along with 200-300 other screws into 2x4 studs and drilling 3/4" holes with a spade bit through 2 stacked 2x4s without a hitch (not on one charge). It's true that the Panasonic 18V drill is rated the highest by Consumer Reports, but I'm more than satisifed with my Makita at $75 less.

If you are planning on doing light and occasional drilling or screwing, a Coleman or other basic duty cordless drill will probably get you by. But if you plan on having your batteries last all day, boring holes in a variety of materials, sinking a variety of lengths of screws into limitless materials, then buy a quality drill like this Makita. I could've never done the bathroom remodel had it not been for the endurance and torque of this unit.

I have been using this excellent tool for various household repair and installation jobs for three months. In comparison to previous NiCad battery cordless drills I have used, the Ni-MH batteries supplied with the drill give considerably longer use time between charges. The drill is also much lighter than lower voltage NiCad battery drills I have owned such as Craftsman models. The torque is outstanding for a drill this size even when using three inch drywall screws in wood. I really like the feel and sounds of the drill, they just express quality like the muffled latch of a closing door on a Lexus sedan. The feeling that I am using a high quality tool has alone justified the higher price I paid for the drill. ... I am extremely happy with this purchase and the performance.

I run an electrical contracting business and have owned this tool for 1 year. Between myself and my workers we use these tools every day and have a good chance to see which models work best. And, we totally abuse them - from drilling in heavy studs/beams to setting screws and bolts for solar panels (sometimes the occasional nail gets pounded in with the drill base!).

What I like:
- Great torque, can really chug along while drilling through heavy material
- Heavy, but rugged. Can take the abuse of being dropped and kicked around
- Forward/reverse button easy to manipulate

What I don't like:
- The two speeds (1 & 2) don't always engage. I have to switch back and forth to make them engage (half the time).
- I would like to see a higher over-ride position, 16 is highest, but wimpy
- Battery life could be improved. Otherwise, buy an additional battery and stay on top of recharging them

Overall, great value for the $$. I would love it if Makita added a hammer drill option to this model. One of my workers has the DeWalt 18V hammer drill which works quite well, but has less torque and battery life than the Makita.

I bought this drill after borrowing my friend's for a fence project. It had more than enough power and charge for me to finish one line of fence without switching to a new battery. Loved the fact that the screws went in nice and easy. Even nicer was the size and weight - felt more like a 14.4 V drill than an 18V in my hand. I've had Makita tools before and most my friends swear by them so reliability and durability are a major bonus.

Only concern is that many of the new Makitas are made in China and Mexico - don't know how quality will be affected. But this drill's made in Buford, Georgia so that's a moot point. Get this drill

In truth, I would give this beautifully performing unit a 4.5 stars. But since the choice was between 4 or 5 stars, I figured 5 would be closer to the truth. I have used this unit daily for over a year with no problems whatsoever. It's charge lasts a long time under a good deal of abuse (drilling through metal etc). It's metal gears are very durable. The power is very good as well. I wish it did have 450lbs of torque, though. Our 14.4 volt Dewalt has a little more power. But it's not as durable. So a tradeoff I guess. I would take my Makita over the Dewalt though.

As a trade professional, I use this drill more often and harder than most. I own, or have owned, Craftsman Professional 18v, Bosch 18v and DeWalt 18v drills. They're all in my truck, but I find myself always reaching for the Makita, as I find it the most comfortable to use and as powerful and long running as the considerably more expensive Bosch and DeWalt. The drill's clutch is top-notch for driving, but not overdriving, screws. The NiMH 2.6A batteries have a great run time and even the case is relatively compact and well made.
This is my second purchase of this Makita drill, and frankly, as the other drills( which I hardly use except when I need two or more drills at the same time) die, I'll be switching over to all Makitas. That will also give me the advantage of being able to interchange batteries between drills. You can't go wrong with this drill, and for you homeowners, it should last many, many years.

I have been using power tools professionally for the better part of 35 years and this Makita is a great, tough power tool. Those who can afford to nit-pik over specs that are meaningless in the field, well have at 'er. This is a tough, powerful, reliable tool that comes with TWO NiMH batteries and a full indicator charger that makes it an easy choice over the other equivalently priced 18v drills of a much lower quality. The plastic on my old one- it's a 10yr old 12v- is still in great condition and does not show the wear that some worry about on "plastic" chucks. Most all have 'em anyway and the plastic holds up to very hard professional field use. I expect to have this one in service for a long time too. I feel you can buy this one with confidence.

daN
#==oO

Ive used the 12v version of this drill for years and got this as a 2nd to have a drill and driver without swapping bits all the time.
This 18v has incredible power and battery life. It comes with a 2nd battery which is a must. This one would would torque out of my hand before stalling.
There are 2 functional features that were better on the older drills: 1) The chuck is all metal now and a bit smaller in diameter then the old style making it harder to grasp and tighten (old style was rubber with nice nurls to grab. 2) The drill to driver switch has a small safety afety switch that has to be pushed in before you can activate the slide switch. Its a total annoyance as a simple slide switch as is on the older models would have been just fine.

Much better unit than my old B&D Firestorm, as it should be for the higher price. The Makita is powerful, has multiple adjustments for torque, and the batteries hold a charge and charge fast when needed. Only gripe is that the plastic chuck components diminish overall quality and make me keep my fingeres crossed that the unit will hold up over time. Steel would have been much better there.