If you are looking for a power drill, several factors need to be considered. Firstly, you need to decide whether to go for a cordless or corded variety. Cordless drills tend to be more user friendly as you can take them wherever you like and access hard to reach parts of your home. If you’re a pro and know all about Body Only and Battery options, then skip on ahead. If not, then I’d like to clear up something that is again quite confusing. The model numbers that Makita produce are generally a 6-digit reference, which signifies the ‘Type’ of tool and the model of that tool. So for their combi drills, they start with ‘DHP’ (Which stands for ‘Drill Hammer Percussion’). Then comes the 3 numbers e.g: DHP481 (481 being the model). Then anything that comes after those 6 digits just signifies the colour or battery option. With ‘Z’ meaning ‘body only’ (no Batteries), and ‘W’ meaning ‘White’ (Special edition colour). You’ll then often see things like RTJ (DHP481RTJ) which signifies that it comes with 2x 5Ah Batteries, Charger and Case). Good options from the Makita product range include the Makita DTM50Z LXT 18V Li-Ion Cordless Oscillating Multicutter which weighs just 2kg or the Makita TM3000CX4 Multi-Cutter, which comes with a huge case featuring 56 accessories. If you want to have as many options as possible at your disposal, it’s a formidable kit to have around the house. Now like I say I am going to focus mainly on 18V LXT Combi Drills – this is purely due to it being the most sought-after and complex range of Makita Combis. There is of course a small range of lightweight and compact options in the 12V CXT range, which you can view here. The DeWalt 18V battery that came with the drill is the same battery you will find on the whole XR range of products. The 5.0Ah battery is a little bigger than I was expecting, I think its because more of the battery is hidden in the drill.

The great advantage of multi-tool cutters for DIY fans is their size and versatility. You can attach sanding discs, grinders, saw blades and scrapers to the same tool, instead of buying tools and attachments separately. There is also the facility to use a clamp on grip handle (included with the drill) for two handed operation and added stability. Both of these brands make a lot of cordless combi drills, but this one from Makita seems to fall square in the middle of the affordability / power equation. Makita Battery Life and Performance Buy the Makita if, you like tools with really great build quality. Plus the Makita has an great battery life and a really fast rechargeComfort is also a huge consideration. Makita’s drills come in a wide range of voltages and sizes. Go for a 12V model if you want something light enough to hold for extended periods, or an 18V model if you are physically stronger or only need the drill for short periods. Battery protection system provides over-discharge, temperature and circuit protection for enhanced performance, battery cycle life and overall battery life Now, you need to think about what you’ll be using the driver or drill for. If all you intend to do is drill in screws or nails, a handheld driver will be fine or, for a little more torque, an impact driver. But if you some heavy-duty wood, stone or glass drilling in mind, you’ll be better off choosing a drill with more power. You might also need a drill with a side handle, which is usually a must for working on stone or other hard materials. But for now, let’s focus our attention on 18V LXT. At the time of writing this, there are 9 models on the market and I am going to do what I can to break them down for you. A note about model numbers

For this article, we’re going to keep it simple and only concentrate on the base models (the first 6 digits). All of the drills I’m about to mention are available in a variety of kits. Like the Makita the DeWalt has a two speed gearbox which initially I thought was a shame for the same reasons as the Makita, cheaper brands have more control than this. However after using it for the day I actually think this works a little better on the DeWalt with a higher range of power on both the lower and higher gears. It took Makita a long time to come up with their 5Ah battery and we think it was worth the wait. On first glance you will forgiven if you thought it was the same as the previous 3Ah and 4Ah batteries, this is because the new one is almost identical in weight and size. The big difference is of course the charge it holds.On the other side of the coin if you’re after Makita’s most powerful combi, then look no further than their 40V XGT range, which includes a combi, you can see that here. However, there’s probably no need for individuals to spend money on a cordless kit that is pitched at professional electricians, carpenters or builders. Instead, a multi-tool cutter will do the job (by and large) at much less cost. Variable speeds – Indicates that your saw is capable of shifting speed to deal with different materials. Well, in reality there isn’t much to difference between companies like Bosch, Hilti, Makita and Hitachi. However, Makita do have several advantages that make them so popular with professionals. Secondly, Makita have a reputation for reliability. Their tools tend to last a long time and meet their product specifications comfortably. Their customer service also tends to receive plaudits, and their product range is second to none.

Power tools are an essential part of modern life, especially if you love to spend your time tinkering with machinery or DIY projects. But why go for Makita’s products over the competition? As usual the Makita drill has a really super bright LED light, the one on this drill however is incredible. I know we have all used our drills in place of a torch, this one is vying to replace the sun it's so good! The cordless drill, we would argue is the most important tool in any trade. It's such a useful thing to own and with the hundreds of attachments can be used in so many different ways. Strokes per minute – How many strokes the saw can make (or revolutions in the case of circular saws) per minute. Look for a higher number, as this is usually a sign that your saw is more efficient. A related number is the “No load speed” which is the number of strokes the saw can make when it isn’t cutting. Starting off with the weight and size, it's nice and compact and lightweight, these new generation combi drills have been on a diet and lost a few pounds. I had no problem using it for the day especially with hard to reach jobs.For instance, if you are going to be working with large sheets of wood or plastic, a cordless or corded circular saw is the way to go. Makita’s circular saws come with safety features like double safety triggers as standard, extra features like LED lights to chart your course across the wood, as well as comfortable grips. You could therefore see model numbers for drills which are all the same drill, but with different colours/options. For one thing, while Makita tools are high-quality, they are not ridiculously expensive. The prices of their cordless drills, drivers, saws and multi-tools are within reach of most DIY fans and aren’t restricted to those in the trade. It's probably fair to say that Makita has a reputation for being slightly better quality compared to many other brands. However there is a catch with that quality, a higher price tag. So we were very surprised to see the price of this combi drill actually coming in under the DeWalt.

The Makita DHP485 18v LXT Brushless 2-Speed Combi Drill delivers outstanding performance without the bulkiness and weight of the typical cordless tool. The LXT Compact continues to refine the formula of faster-charging batteries with leading power-to-weight ratio's.(Batteries not included) The DeWalt is surprisingly a little more expensive than the Makita however on first blink I am not sure its as well built. The Makita feels a little better put together but its really small things. DeWalt Battery Life and PerformanceThis leads on to the major difference between the two drills, the DeWalt has a huge 70Nm of torque, its very powerful but we did note the price for this was a significant battery drain at high speed, it also got a bit hot. However we think this is a big advantage as it makes the combi drill a bit more useful, the hammer drill will just stay in the van for longer! Which one of the two products you choose really depends on what you need from a product like this, I think there are two major cases. There’s a huge variety of saws on offer at Makita, and choosing the right one depends on what you need to use it for. Safety is another issue. If you are worried about tripping over cables as you work, a cordless drill is obviously the way to go. eXtreme Protection Technology (XPT) offers maximum protection against dust, debris and liquids for optimal performance in extreme conditions