I love writing reviews and decided it was time to check out the range of cordless drills. I’ve used cordless drills in the past but have never really researched them. I just assumed that a drill was a drill and that I just needed to buy one that suited my budget.How wrong was I? There is more to cordless drills than meets the eye so I took some time to really get into the detail and find the best cordless drill on the market today for the home handyman. My extensive research finally led me to the Makita BHP452HW 18-Volt 1/2-Inch Compact Cordless Percussion-Driver Drill.
What to Look for When Buying a Drill
It didn’t take my long to realize that there are a few important things to keep in mind when buying a drill. These are:
- The number of volts
- The battery
- The weight of the drill
- The speed
- The brake
How Many Volts?
One of the most important components of a cordless drill is the number of volts. The greater the volts the faster the motor spins and therefore the more powerful the drill. It does have a downside however in that generally the more volts you have the heavier the battery and therefore the heavier the drill will be. So you need to keep this in mind when choosing a drill. Think about whether you will be using it for long periods. If so, you don’t want anything too heavy – you will really be feeling it by the end of the day.
This Makita BHP452HWl is 18 volts making it quite powerful but still Net weight 3.6 lbs. (w/battery) so that it won’t put undue pressure on your wrist.
This drill uses a lithium-ion battery which is considered one of the best for cordless drill use. Compared to NiCad batteries which are commonly used in cordless drills, lithium-ion battery last longer and are lighter. They also have a quick recharging time so you can get back to your job much quicker.
According to the Makita website, Makita's Optimum Charger is also faster: it will charge an 18-volt LXT lithium-ion battery in just 30 minutes, and an 18-volt compact lithium-ion battery in only 15 minutes. Makita also offers a Rapid Automotive Charger for 18-volt LXT and 18-volt compact lithium-ion batteries that plugs into 12-volt DC sockets equipped in most automobiles and trucks for added mobility.
Size Does Matter!
The Makita BHP452HWl Cordless Drill has a ½ inch chuck. You will generally find that most cordless drills have a 3/8 inch chuck. What this means is that you can use drill bits that are up to ½ inch in diameter giving you greater flexibility.
The keyless chuck means you can hand tighten the bits. You won’t need to be searching for tools to do the job. This makes it quick and easy to change the drill bits.
Dual Speed Ranges
Have you ever tried to drive a screw at high speed? What can often happen is that the screw jumps out of the slot. Not only is it annoying but it can be dangerous. The beauty of this Makita BHP452HWl cordless drill is that it has dual speed ranges of 0-400 RPM in low speed and 0-1,500 RPM in high, covering a wide range of drilling and driving applications.
Electronic Brake
One thing you won’t find on cheaper drills is a brake. The Panasonic has an electric brake which means that when you release the trigger to stop drilling, the drill stops spinning immediately. This is a great safety feature not only for you but for any kids or pets you have in the house who might inadvertently touch the drill when you have just finished using it.
How Much Should You Expect to Pay?
The Makita BHP452HWl cordless drill is available on the Makita website for $389 but you really shouldn’t be paying any more than $220 for this drill. The cheapest we have seen it is on Amazon who consistently sell this drill for under $199.99 this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. You Save $198.01 (50%)
What’s Included
- Makita BHP452H
- two 18-volt compact lithium-ion batteries
- 15-minute rapid optimum charger
- and tool case
Yes, Every Makita lithium-ion tool is backed by Makita's 3-year warranty that covers repair due to defects in materials or workmanship up to three years from the date of original purchase. Makita lithium-ion batteries and chargers have a limited 1-year warranty.
What Others Are Saying
This drill has received rave reviews from most consumers on the net with an average of 4.5 out of 5 from most reviewers on Amazon and the Makita website itself.
Here are some of the comments to date:
- “Terrific combination of power, weight, size, & ergnomics...”
- “Awesome”
- “Best overall drill”
- “Great cordless drill/screwdriver for home projects”
- “You can’t go wrong with a Makita screw gun”
- “Makita cordlesses have become contagious in the building trades”
- “This drill gets 6 stars”
I found very few complaints for this drill on consumer sites around the internet. One consumer did express concern that it is difficult to center small bits in the chuck. This can be rectified by simply closing up the chuck a little more before inserting the drill bit.
Where Can You Buy the Makita BHP452HW 18-Volt Cordless Drill?
You can buy this Makita BHP452HW Cordless Drill from Amazon. At the moment they include free shipping and from what I can tell when comparing prices with other online merchants, Amazon do currently have the best deal especially with the free shipping option. Click here to view on Amazon.
Where Can You Read More Reviews for the Makita BHP452HW 18-Volt Cordless Drill?
The best place for reviews from people who actually use the product is Amazon.
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