EmailBest Reviewed
Cordless Drills
- Best cordless drill for homeowners Makita DF030DW *Est. $150
- Cordless drill for construction projects Makita BDF452HW *Est. $200
- Budget cordless drill Hitachi DS12DVF3 *Est. $75
- Best cordless screwdriver Hitachi DB3DL *Est. $65
- Best cordless impact driver Panasonic EY7540LN2L *Est. $315
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- Professional quality
- Critics love it
- Three speeds
- Efficient four-pole motor
- Lithium-ion batteries with long runtime
- Speed switch can get stuck in the middle position
- Heavier than compact drills
Reviewers give top ranking to the Makita BDF451 18-volt LXT drill/driver for professional use. It has three speeds for excellent control, and testers praise the efficient four-pole motor and overall comfort and balance. The entire Makita LXT series of 18-volt lithium-ion (Li-ion) tools gets good reviews, so it's also a good choice if you want to assemble a larger array of tools that include a cordless circular saw. The full-size 3.0-amp-hour batteries provide a runtime twice as long as that of the compact Makita BDF452HW (*Est. $200). However, the less expensive Makita weighs about a pound less and reviewers recommend it for most homeowner construction tasks.
We found the most recent relevant comparison tests at Popular Mechanics, which compares the similar hammer drill, the Makita BHP454 LXT (*Est. $305), with nine other full-size Li-ion cordless drills. A 2007 review at ConsumerReports.org tests the regular drill/driver in the series, the Makita BDF451 LXT. This review compares it with more models, but most of them use older battery types. A Tools of the Trade review in 2007 compares the Makita BDF451 LXT with the full range of Li-ion cordless tools available at the time, including 13 other drills, but with less detail about the testing process. Makita as a brand is also included in the 2008 customer survey conducted by J.D. Power and Associates, and a 2006 blog review at The Power Tool Geek evaluates cordless drills for ergonomics. We found the best owner-written reviews of the Makita BDF451 LXT at NorthernTool.com and Amazon.com. Earlier reviews at the Journal of Light Construction test the hammer drill version.
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Our Sources
1. PopularMechanics.comDetails/Subscribe
The corresponding Makita LXT hammer drill, the BHP454, earns top ranking at Popular Mechanics in comparison tests of 10 full-powered Li-ion cordless drills. Testers find the Makita motor and drivetrain superior, and praise the drill's balance and comfortable handle.
Review: Cordless Drill Reviews: We Work 10 Drills to the Limit, Roy Berendsohn, Dec. 2008
2. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
This review at ConsumerReports.org compares the Makita BDF451 LXT Li-ion cordless drill with 13 other cordless drills, and ratings are based on earlier tests published in December 2007. All the drills are ranked based on objective tests of speed, power, battery life and other factors.
Review: Cordless Drills, Impact Drivers, Cordless Combo Kits, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, June 2009
This J.D. Power and Associates customer-satisfaction survey rates 10 cordless drill brands based on six factors, with drill performance most important. Makita ranks fifth -- in the middle of the pack but above the industry average.
Review: Cordless Drill Owners Particularly Pleased with Lithium Ion Battery Technology, Editors of J.D. Power and Associates, June 5, 2008
This Tools of the Trade review doesn't rank or rate the Li-ion cordless tools reviewed here, but the brief summaries of each model make it easy to tell which ones perform best with the most comfort, and any drawbacks are noted. The Makita BDF451 gets one of the best reviews here, praised for its compact size and good balance.
Review: Lithium-Ion Hands On, Rick Schwolsky and Michael Springer, Jan. 17, 2007
This informal comparison review at The Power Tool Geek covers cordless drills with good ergonomics for those with smaller hands and less upper-body strength. Based on informal field tests, three female employees agreed unanimously that the most comfortable cordless drills are the Hitachi DS14DVF3 14.4-volt and the lithium-powered Makita BDF451 18-volt.
Review: Buying Advice - Cordless Drills for Women, Brian Mark, Feb. 20, 2006
Retailer site NorthernTool.com is a good place to see user ratings and reviews of pro-level cordless drills and impact drivers. At the time of our report, about a dozen owners give the Makita BDF451 a perfect five-star rating here, saying that they'd recommend it to a friend as well.
Review: Makita LXT Lithium-Ion Drill Driver Kit, Contributors to NorthernTool.com
7. Amazon.com
At the time of this report, fewer than a dozen owners review the Makita LXT BDF451 at Amazon.com, giving it a high average rating of 4.5 out of five stars. Most owners say it performs well and is very comfortable to use, but two complain that the speed switch doesn't move easily, sticking in the middle position.
Review: Makita BDF451 LXT 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Driver-Drill Kit, Contributors to Amazon.com
This Tools of the Trade review tests and compares 15 half-inch cordless drill/drivers, mostly 18-volt models, including the Makita BHP451 LXT -- the Makita LXT hammer drill that's mechanically similar to the Makita BDF451 LXT driver-drill. In addition to objective tests of both drilling and driving, testers use the cordless drills at actual jobsites, installing millwork.
Review: Cordless Drill/Drivers, Brent Hull, March 2007
9. Journal of Light ConstructionDetails/Subscribe
This review at the Journal of Light Construction also covers the hammer drill in the same Makita LXT pro series as the Makita BDF451 drill/driver, as part of a comparison review of five Li-ion cordless tool kits. The Makita gets top ranking for ergonomics.
Review: Lithium-Ion Cordless Kits, Andy Beasley, April 2007
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