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Most preferred – Bosch or Makita

AaronRosenthal | Posted in Tools for Home Building on June 7, 2007 01:28am

I’m looking for a new impact driver, 14-18V L-I screw chuck, to augment my Milwaukee.
Suggestions?

Quality repairs for your home.

AaronR Construction
Vancouver, Canada

 

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Replies

  1. renosteinke | Jun 07, 2007 01:59am | #1

    Why limit your choices? I have used the Panasonic ... and found the Festool, with it's interchangeable heads, to be quite interesting.

    1. User avater
      AaronRosenthal | Jun 07, 2007 03:20am | #2

      It's going to be a gift. Those are the choices.Quality repairs for your home.

      AaronR ConstructionVancouver, Canada

       

      1. User avater
        IMERC | Jun 07, 2007 03:33am | #3

        one guess to my answer...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

        WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

        1. User avater
          Heck | Jun 07, 2007 03:53am | #4

          Ooo, ooo.. I know, I know!

          Ryobi in a Ford truck!

          (what do I win?) 

           

          1. User avater
            IMERC | Jun 07, 2007 03:55am | #5

            penalty box....

            and clorox in yur gene pool...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

            WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

          2. User avater
            IMERC | Jun 07, 2007 03:56am | #6

            Snert and 6 clones of the same...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

            WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

          3. User avater
            IMERC | Jun 07, 2007 03:57am | #7

            take yur pick..Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

            WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

          4. User avater
            Heck | Jun 07, 2007 04:01am | #9

            Have ta take Snert, I guess, and the clones, should take 'em about a week to eat everything I got. 

             

          5. User avater
            IMERC | Jun 07, 2007 04:04am | #12

            delivery in the AM...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

            WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

          6. User avater
            Heck | Jun 07, 2007 04:13am | #13

            Hey, hey, hey! I was just kidding, honest!! 

             

          7. User avater
            IMERC | Jun 07, 2007 04:15am | #14

            too late...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

            WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

          8. User avater
            IMERC | Jun 07, 2007 04:16am | #15

            if yur not home ...

            I'll leave them in the house...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

            WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

          9. User avater
            Heck | Jun 07, 2007 04:25am | #18

            Ghhaaacckkk!! 

             

          10. User avater
            IMERC | Jun 07, 2007 04:28am | #19

            okay...

            3 to the house..

            1 in the truck...

            2 out in the shop..

            and the original on yard patrol...

             

            feel bettert now???Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

            WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

          11. User avater
            Heck | Jun 07, 2007 04:41am | #20

            On second thought, give me the clorox, I'll take it neat, with a drain cleaner back. 

             

          12. User avater
            IMERC | Jun 07, 2007 04:45am | #21

            done...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

            WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

          13. User avater
            AaronRosenthal | Jun 07, 2007 03:59am | #8

            You know how to stir the septic tank, don't ya?Quality repairs for your home.

            AaronR ConstructionVancouver, Canada

             

          14. User avater
            Heck | Jun 07, 2007 04:01am | #10

            I really thought I had the right answer, lol. 

             

          15. User avater
            IMERC | Jun 07, 2007 04:03am | #11

            he's more prone to tipping it over into the basement..

            Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

            WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

            Edited 6/6/2007 9:04 pm by IMERC

  2. User avater
    DDay | Jun 07, 2007 04:21am | #16

    I really liked this at the JLC show a few months ago. It just became available in stores a few weeks ago. At 800 in/lbs torque and the size of a 9mm pistol, its light, smooth and small but with plenty of power.

    http://www.coastaltool.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/a/bosch/ps40-2.htm?L+coastest+qxsp9072ff439e43+1181251194

  3. Shoeman | Jun 07, 2007 04:22am | #17

    Curious about the screw chuck - do they both make those, and is there a reason that is preferred?

    I would think the 1/4 inch chuck would be better - am I mis-reading this?

    I have the first and second generation Panasonics and like them quite well - 12 volt Nickle Metal Hydride, 3.5 amp hour

    I also have the 18 volt Bosch with the 2.6 amp hour blue core batteries - not so impressed.  Never have been real impressed with Bosch battery life.

    Other Bosch 18 volt tools I have:

    1/2 inch hammer drill - bulky, but pretty nice for drilling - haven't tried hammer mode

    Recip saw - terrible shoe, and just not so good a saw

    6 1/2 inch circular saw - OK - poor guard design - retracts hard

    Planer - fair , but battery don't last very long - directional chip thing gets clogged

    Jig saw - alright, but not near as nice as their corded versions

    Flashlight - it lights

     

    I think of the choices you listed, I would go with the Makita - only tried one once for a very brief period of time though.  They do have a nice line up of tools that take the same battery.

     

    Good luck,

    Shoe

     

  4. renosteinke | Jun 07, 2007 05:01pm | #22

    A gift? Well, that changes things ....

    I'd buy the one YOU want ... so you can borrow it! :)

    Otherwise ...Makita seems to have shaken off it's complacency, the attitude that made an opening for DeWalt to enter the market in the first place. While I haven't looked seriously at impact drivers, I have looked at a few of their other tools recently.

    Indeed, one tool house here had an "open house," where nearly every tool rep was showing their wares. Going in with either no preconceived notions, or at most a weak bias toward some make .... Makita ended up with my angle grinder and saber saw money. The year before, Makita beat out even Milwaukee when I was looking for a 'saws-it-all' type tool.

    Don't get me wrong; I think fine thoughts about most Bosch products. Yet, time and again someone else gets the nod. I just find little differences that give Makita the edge ... maybe it's a smaller barrel (on the grinder), or a light (on the saber saw) ....

    All I can suggest is to personally look at each, and select the one that seems to fit you, and your needs, best.

  5. SBerruezo | Jun 08, 2007 07:26am | #23

    Not sure what you are talking about a screw chuck...I've only seen impacts with the 1/4" hex.

    Anyway, I have the Makita Li-Ion. Very pleased, lots of power, the little LED is actually not a gimmick (although the glow-in-the-dark ring might be), like I originally though, super light weight (specs at 3.3lbs).

    I think I liked the grip of the older NiMH impacts better for my hand, but I'm probably in the minority...and I wouldn't trade the power and weight for the old 12v.

     

    1. User avater
      AaronRosenthal | Jun 08, 2007 08:59am | #24

      Sorry, all, screw chuck = screwdriver bit holder, vs the 1/2" drive chuck in my red one. Good for lag bolts, lousy to adapt to my screwdriver bits.Quality repairs for your home.

      AaronR ConstructionVancouver, Canada

       

      1. slykarma | Jun 08, 2007 04:55pm | #25

        If the prices are even, go with the Makita Li ion 14.4V. All the torque anyone needs, light weight, long battery life, excellent charger. The Bosch is a bit heavier and won't have the battery life, both because of the battery design. The light on the Makita is surprisingly useful. You don't realise you need it sometimes until it comes on and think, "wow, it IS dark in here, isn't it?"Lignum est bonum.

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