OK … got to get the new makita lithium ion kit dirty today.
have had the drill / driver plus impact for about a year.
recently added the 401 kit …
comes with charger and 2 batt’s, the hammer drill / driver,
sawzaw , circular saw … and a flashlight.
right outta the box the kids loved the flashlight. It took a beating all weekend and still works … actually went online and found the flashlight shell only for $15 so I have a second on the way.
Used the circular saw to cut thru nonPT 2×12’s all day.
works OK … get slightly bound and it’ll just die. Really gotta keep her straight thru a 2x to cut. But when it’s not pushed … it’ll go thru nicely. Was weird … cut thru and it starts to feel like you’re bound up hard … pull back and follow the same cut line … and it sings right thru. Slightest “off course” affects it.
But … for a battery run saw … thru 2×12’s … worked just fine.
The sawzaw has a bit more power, comparatively.
I finished notch cuts on the 2×12’s … and also cut thru old porch box posts.
Cut thru that old 3/4 material just fine.
again … couldn’t force it thru … but did the job.
I didn’t use the hammer drill function yet. when and if I ever do … I’m sure it’ll be the smallest hole thru the softest brick or concrete.
So for cordless tools … they all worked great.
current job is a porch remodel, owners tenant keeps forgetting to get me a key made … so after he gets up and leaves for work we just leave the front door unlocked.
But … there are times when I can’t get in. And aside from wanting this set for a while … figured way safer to run the charger and not trip a breaker I can’t get in to reset … and blow the whole day.
got the set reconditioned from Tyler Tools for $360.
the flashlights are great too btw. Use the batt for the base … very stable, and the head pivots to 3 or 4 positions. Makes for a very nice worklight.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Replies
get slightly bound and it'll just die. Really gotta keep her straight thru a 2x to cut
Good reason to cut a straight line.
"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
i only draw straight lines,are you suppose to stay straight when you cut also? i always try to stay on one side,i hate it when i keep crossing back and forth over the line,i get dizzy.larryif a man speaks in the forest,and there's not a woman to hear him,is he still wrong?
You try using that set in the cold yet, like below 45 degrees? I've got 'em too but they're warm weather/indoor tools. Did yours come with the angle grinder? That's the best of the lot. I keep a thin cutting wheel on it, and we're always grabbing it out of each other's hands.
this is my biggest pet peeve, saw reviews have more to do with the blade than the saw, even FHB never gets this. The thin kerf blades don't have any extra carbide outside the width of the blade, cut straight no problem .. if you need to wobble you need a blade with carbide wider than the blades thickness ..
Jeff,I've got the circ saw too. Got it off the discount rack at HD for 50 bucks w/no batteries. I've also noticed to how easily it binds if you stray. We call it the noisy cricket on the job site. But it's a nice little saw for certain things. Also like that it's a lefty.I think I'll get one of those lights. Where'd you find that for 15 bucks?Steve
had to check.
Timberline Tools thru Amazon.
beat the sawzaw and circ saw up a little more today dropping old floor joists.
another thing I forget to say about the sawzaw is it vibrates like hell.
one very nice feature is the "pop out" blade change ... just gotta be sure where U aim it if yer gonna use it again.
current job has pain in the butt breaker access ... and working off one existing recepticle ... so figured this would be a prefect job to finally get the cordless stuff for.
they do the job ... but certainly don't replace the corded tools.
tomorrow I'll be drilling some 1/2 holes thru the old brick / stone foundation.
might try the hammer drill for one ... then do the rest for real with the bulldog.
thinking I'll break out a cord for cutting the framing too.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Jeff,
When it gets to be that time, try out the Freud blades as a replacement for the factory Makita blade. I like 'em much better myself. I think I bought mine on Amazon (most likely). View Image
I just picked two up.
got 2 of the red freuds ...
and a 2 pack of DeWalts.
like the DeWalts for the full size circ saw ... and liked their thin kerf's for the little 14.4 cordless circ saw ... figured I'd see how the 6.5's work.
those smaller saws are nice ... the price of the smaller saw blades ain't.
that was a pricey little trip to HD. I figured I'd stock up the "kit bag" seperate from the other cases ... so even though I have drill bits and sawzaw blades etc ...
I had to buy a whole new round of everything to have that new kit bag stocked up as well. My luck is I'd pull out the cordless sawzaw then realize the corded Milwaukee is somewhere else with a tool bag fulla brand new blades ...
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Edited 5/1/2008 4:59 pm ET by JeffBuck
I did that same thing with my kit.... the duffel bag one, right? I filled all those extra little pockets with a set of drill bits, a bunch of different driver bits, the circ blades, and a pack of recip blades. Now it's my secret stash. I'd buy a dozen 1/8" drill bits and not be able to find one when I needed one. They'd be in my guy's pouches or in someone else's drill somewhere. Same with recip blades. I buy 'em in 25 packs for like $65 - $85 a pack. I'd need to make a decent cut and flip open the case only to find 25 bent rusty blades. I'm learning though. Now I only throw 10 or so new blades in the case at a time.... and keep the rest in my stash!
I like the Dewalt 24T framing blades in 7 1/4 too. A lot of people bash them, but I think they're good blades for the money. If I buy 'em in bulk on Ebay I only pay about $6 or $7 a blade. They hold up and I find they're more consistent than some other blades. I'd buy a 10 pack of Marathons and find that some of the blades were much better than others. The Dewalts don't mind hitting a few nails here and there either.View Image
I'm sure you go thru way more circ saw blades than I do ...
but I been having good luck stumbling on to them(the Dewalt) on sale thru out the year.
always at HD or Lowes ... usually packaged to a football or soccer ball.
packs of 10.
have no idea why they cut the price after a certain amount of time ...
but when I see them stacked up in the canter aisle I pick up 2 or 3 packages.
last time I think it divided out to $3.50 / blade plus the free ball.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
$3.50 a blade is like stealing. And I've got a few of those footballs around myself. So does my nephew. :) A few years ago they were giving away Dewalt six pack coolers with the 10 blades. I liked that deal. I've still got a few of them around. I use them for nails when the cardboard boxes bust open on us. Keeps them nice and cold too. View Image
I kept missing the cooler deal ... never got low enough to stock up.
maybe that'll be this years "deal".
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I have 2 DW cordless grinders one with a thin cutoff wheel the other with a flapper sanding wheel.
The one tool I wish they would offer in cordless is a sander until one comes out the grinder will suffice.
ANDYSZ2WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?
REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST
second year I found them ...
they were around that same price.
I bought two ... was gonna get three ... then thot ...
what the hell do I need with 3 soccer balls?
picked up two and left.
got to the truck and thot ... what the hell is wrong with you!
it ain't about the stupid soccer balls ... it's about cheap blades.
went back in the bought 2 more.
all my nieces, nephews were stocked up on soccer balls that year.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Dave, what do you guys like to use the angle grinder for? I've got a corded one, but never really think to use it unless I've got some steel to cut or something that needs a good brushing with the wire cup. View Image
guess I'm in the market for the angle grinder next?
keep hearing how great it is!
I have two that I use ...
a 4" makita and a 4.5" milwaukee.
use the smaller one for tile. Most jobs I just use the snap cutter and the grinder.
used the smaller one once on a bath demo job ...
cutting out extremely hard plaster with diamond lath
and burned the motor out pretty quick.
bought the milwaukee at lunch time and had the little guy rebuilt that same week.
now it's just on light tile duty and the Milwaukee does the grinder work.
I use it to cut metal, wire brush what ever ... score concrete and cut brick.
last time it was out I flattened some old wavy concrete on a front stoop.
I'll try to find the grinder body cheap somewhere and it'll be a great addition to the tile set up.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
We use it to cut all-thread, angle, sheet metal ductwork (it's really easy to cut round duct after it's snapped together), MST strap, metal roofing panels and flashings, etc. etc. For whatever reason we have a lot of various metal going into this house and this thing has been great. I also have a couple of corded, one with a diamond cut or cutting wheel, and one with a cup brush or thick grinding wheel.
i love the makita lith ion impact driver and drill. i bought them reconditioned for 250. i didn't notice that they worked any worse than others in the cold. granted that's not saying a lot. when you're working in 10 deg weather nothing works right with a battery.
i find the storage while not in use is the most important part of cordless tool care. in the winter on those cold nightsi store my batteries and charger in a cooler with some heat tape on the inside. this makes a tremendous difference in the life of your battery
Every day is a gift, that's why it's called the present.
in the winter I try to remember to bring the batt tools in the house after work.
I know over the years I've killed numerous dewalt 14.4's by letting them freeze ...
seeing how much the new makita stuff costs ... it's been pretty easy to remember!
right now I have the drill / impact in their case and now the kit stuff in it's bag.
winter time I'll probably throw the other drill / impact in the bag too.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
the new bags seem to have some r value as well. i am used to batteries going. i have 11 dewalt batteries that are toast. cold winters outside and hard living kill any battery fairly quickly. so far my makitas are holding up well. if i can keep one for a year i'm happy.
Every day is a gift, that's why it's called the present.
I agree.
anything past a year is gravy.
I got smart when I got the second round of batt's ...
marked the first pair with a I
second pair with II.
gonna try to keep track in case they get mixed.
now that I think about it though ... might actually mix them on purpose.
have a I and a II in both the drill box and new kit bag.
that way ... hopefully replace them one at a time.
also thinking sooner or later I'll grab another 2 pack ...
throw a third one into each rotation.
Jeff
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
The Red Sox still stink.
It's not too late, it's never too late.
LOL..... welcome back my friend. I might go buy a Pirates hat pretty soon.View Image
I've been around.
I'm just not clicking on 'Reply' as much anymore.
The Pirates suck, and I'm OK with it. 16 years of losing and counting...
It's not too late, it's never too late.
Edited 5/4/2008 8:26 pm ET by dustinf
I got the tool kit almost 2 years ago, which included the impact, hammer drill, circ saw, and light. I have since added the recip saw, the angle grinder (a must, imo) and the new angle impact. Soon, the jig saw. I love them. Six batteries, and counting. They come in handy when putting down decking.
"I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." Invictus, by Henley.
Also have the Makita LXT 401 combo. I purchased from Tyler Tool and have been using them for several months now. I really like the hammer drill/driver, light weight,plenty of power, and the batteries last a good while. The circ will bind up, but it trims doors pretty good with the guide. Overall, I'm impressed with all the tools. I like much better than Ridgid or DW I've used.
David