Customer Reviews

Makita DF330DW 10.8-Volt Ultra Compact Lithium-Ion Cordless 3/8-Inch Driver-Drill Kit

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a furniture builder I really don't have the need for the big and powerful drills except for a few occasions. This little drill is just the thing for the medium to light duty drilling that I need to do.
there are just a few things that I want to mention that may help others. First the size is just right. It is light weight and short. Easy to get into small places. The lithium batteries hold a charge for a long time and give the drill plenty of power. I have not had the problem with the time it takes to recharge the batteries. Once charged, they last long time. Second the direction switch is out of the way yet close enough that you don't have to search for it. I had a milwaukee 12v screwdriver and the swithc was always in the way. Either it was mid setting which locked the trigger or it was set at the wrong direction. It was very frustrating. Third the grip gives you good control and does not get tiresome with extended use. And last, the LED light is a great help when working inside a cabinet where there is little light to see.
I have the screwdriver also and like that just as well. Don't let the 10.8 vs 12 volt label fool you. With either of these tools you get you will get just as much run time as the 12volts.

Did much comparison shopping before buying a Lithium drill, and I actually bought the comparable Milwaukee M12 3/8" drill first, since it beats the makita on paper (The Milwaukee has better specs, charge time, battery gauge. The Makita has a better price, better case and a holster). But the Milwaukee chuck would often slip, allowing bits to fall out, so I returned it and got this one.
My first impression of the Makita drill was that it seemed cheaply built. The Makita performed fine - not all the torque of a larger drill, but I loved the size, battery life was good - a charge would last most of the day. Charging time was under an hour. The case, with its plastic clips, is more flimsy than the Milwaukee, but had more space inside for drill bits, etc.
Now that I've had this for a year, the chuck has started to slip a lot when I switch speeds, causing it to just spin. The charge also does not last more than a couple hours - and one battery has gone bad. So the China-built quality is catching up with this otherwise decent tool.

Update: Brought the drill in for service and had it repaired under warranty. The tech said it needed a part in the switch that was about 60 cents.

For a 2-pound flyweight drill, it's got very satisfactory power. The batteries drive plenty of screws per charge, and recharge faster than I can use them up. If you need arm-breaking power for big holesaws and stuff, this may not be your ideal pick, but if you need something compact that won't wear your arm out when working overhead or at arm's length, it's pretty good. The automatic LED "headlight" comes on when the trigger is pulled, and stays on briefly afterwards, which I found useful when trying to line stuff up under a stairway.

One nitpick: the battery-disengagement tabs are a little stiff, so it might be a nuisance if you have arthritic hands.

Makita has done it again. These 10.8 volt drills and drivers ,I own all of the 10.8 and they are the best for any job. I also own most of the 18 volt. But I cant seem to put the little guys down. They fit perfect in your hands and no fatigue for all day use.You wont be sorry they hold a long charge to.

I had already purchased the combo set of 10.8 impact driver, drill set, but the drill in the set does not have a chuck. And I loved them so much when I saw this one with a chuck, I just had to have it. Just like the others, it is surprisingly powerful and fits into you hand extremely well. The down side to this one compared to the one without the chuck, is that it does not stand up on its own, because of the extra weight of the chuck, but the chuck is nice for things which do not have a hex drive. This is worth having.

I've the had Makita DF330DW driver/drill for about 6 weeks and have used it for several jobs requiring drilling and driving self-tapping screws into metal. This tool is comfortable in hand and light enough to use for hours. Someone mentioned it was difficult to control the slow speeds but I don't agree with that. I've found it easy to run the driver or drill as slowly as desired or constantly at whatever speed is needed. The light is not too useful for driving screws, doesn't really illuminate at that short distance. It works better for drilling or using an extended type of driver. It is a handy light just to see your work area or search for something. The batteries last a long time and recharge quickly. I'd recommend this tool and would buy again if needed.

Just hung 22 blinds in my new home using this great drill...lots of power, easy to use and the battery just kept going and going! I recommend this product highly, and my only regret is that I never bought one sooner.

Makita makes wonderful tools. This is no exception. I debated between the 10V and the 18V drill, based on my first hand experience with the 9.7V NiCd drill (also Makita and still works, but don't care much for the NiCd battery). I ended up with the 10.8V. The torque generated from the 10.8V drill is certainly enough to do everything I use it for. If you are not the kind that equates more horse-power to better tool, the 10.8V will do the job. The variable speed control works very well. There is a lot of torque at the very low speed. The battery works as well as I expected. I didn't notice any lost of battery capacity when it is stored (over a week of time). The finish quality of this tool is very good. I keep mine in the case, but it can take some serious abuse and I think it would survive of years. This drill fits very well in my hand. It is light, but don't confuse light weight with cheaply made goods. There is nothing of this tool that would suggest anything but quality. If you are considering this tool, this is a great tool.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0023NVS4O/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_title

I do love this little power house drill. I have owned several cheap wal-mart specials and they have always provided me with what I paid for. The reason I decided to purchase the Makita is simple. I recently had a new metal roof installed and the contractor was using this little drill. He installed every screw on the roof with two full charged batteries. I didn't count the screws but it was a bunch. What is so nice is the fast recharge of the lithium ion batterys, the kit comes with two. I could have bought another black & Decker or similiar, I am glad i chose this one.

Bought two of these for my grown children's tool kits. Both are thrilled at the light weight, power, and quick charging capacity. Worked with one of the units and it seems even better than the Makita cordless that I've owned for several years. A professional custom furniture maker told me years ago that spending the extra bucks for a Makita was money well spent. I think that's true.