Tool Throwdown: Makita vs. Flex - Who Will Come Out on Top?
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- Опубликовано: 6 авг 2024
- #flexpowertools #makita #makitatools
Two premium hammer drills, but which is right for you? Watch the video to find out.
Drills Mentioned in the video:
Flex Stacked Lithium Kit : www.lowes.com/pd/FLEX-1-2-In-...
Makita XGT Combo Kit with Impact Driver (it's strangely cheaper this way):
www.homedepot.com/p/Makita-40...
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Хобби
I mistakenly wrote FX1251 for the model number in this video. It’s actually the FX1271. Thanks Dwayne for the catch!
I like the Makita. It simply seems more premium in a number of ways.
It is a very premium drill.
You're living in a dream world
@@mattek519There's nothing out better than XGT right now, for a lot of different tools
@@mattek519
At least they are very proud of their drills...
great video as usual sir. I kept the $99 flex drill kit and have it in my car. Figured its nice to have just in case. The price was hard to pass and the lifetime warranty made me keep it. I am sure you know I am a makita fan, but unless I go pro, I dont see myself switching over to 40v line any time soon though.
The price premium certainly is a deterrent on the XGT. They are nice tools and I feel like Makita is putting more development dollars there currently but unless you "need" the bigger tools it affords, you aren't losing out on too much. The hammer drill is nicer but overall the LXT can still get you most of the way there.
@@TinkerWithTools 100%
I credit you my friend for swaying me towards the XGT line man. At first I was just going to get the 2 saws but watching your videos on the impact and hammer drill kit…. Let’s just say thank you buddy😂. I love the XGT tools. A great weekend to you and the family my brother from me and my boy🫡
They are some really nice tools. And thanks man! Hope you have a great week!
Great review as always, thanks :) the way I see it is that they are both too close too tell, but you can use makita at full power all the time unlike flex with turbo that will cut out eventually.
Regarding the batteries, makita just came out with bl4040f that is the same size as this ild 4ah pack but is rated at 2100w, so smaller and more powerful that flex 6ah pouch cell pack. Also you get 300w charger in a kit which charges much faster of course. And in general I would say that xgt platform is better to get into, but of course it depends on what is your primary use. And flex is only available in usa, and xgt is worldwide :)
With that new battery, I can't find much on it in my market at the moment. Is it just a Japan model currently?
@@TinkerWithTools correct, japan only for now. I have no clue on when they will release it worldwide :|
When they do, I'll have to check it out.
@@TinkerWithTools awesome :)
When I got my FLEX TURBO HAMMER DRILL KIT it came with a 280 watt fast charger soon I will upgrade to 560 watt super fast charger
I got the flex with the 6amp battery for doing larger recessed lights, it doesn’t stop. Had a gen 3 Milwaukee but the flex is far superior for that job. I don’t think I’ve never tried the turbo button yet
Yeah when it comes to power it’s right up there if not the most powerful.
I don't have the 40v Makita but i do have the 18v hammer drill and I have 2 of the flex turbo hammer drill and it's definitely my favorite hammer drill. I also have the Milwaukee gen 3 and I use DeWalt hammer drills at work every day and in my opinion none of them compare to the flex with a stacked lithium battery
That battery is a nice differentiator.
I have the makita xgt drill and i love it for big forstner drills and i have festool txs 18 small drill for pecise different Tasks. My Favorit two drills👍
That's a good combo. I have been considering getting the new 18v CXS from Festool but haven't been able to get over the sticker shock and make the purchase yet.
Being a bilingual, Korean community (or tradesmen) have been considering Makita (actually, Ma-kki-da, is more Japanese way to say) as a de-facto-standard. This is perhaps due to the geolocational similarity. Actually, many trade 'terms' (or slangs?) in Korean people are still Japanese, or English in Japanese accent. I found out recently while catching up the power tool and trades stuff.
But then, back to the topic, Flex is still not even sold in Korea. But they are slowly figuring out how it is powerful. Yet, still, Makita is the de-facto-standard power tool in Korea. They say, Flex is too 'crude' compared to Makita and even compared to DeWalt or Milwaukee counterparts. DeWalt and Milwaukee are getting share in Korean tradespeople but not as well accepted as Makita anyway.
From Korean review videos, and reading comments from actual tradespeople, Makita is more like a Japanese katana while Flex is more like a nordic axe.
How would you pronounce QIDI (the 3D printer maker)?
@@Jakeisks No idea. Me no Chinese xP.
By the way, confusing a Korean with Chinese is like calling a Polski a Russian. Bad idea. O.o
The Flex is a BEAST! I love that damn drill!!!
Fantastic video on my two favorite drill at the moment!! Frankly, these are two of my favorite power tools period. My next premium drill will be the brand new Metabo BS 18 LTX-3 BL Q I Metal drill. The previous gen was missing a few features like anti-kickback. This new one has all the features the previous one was missing. I think it’s the only drill that could know the flex and Makita off my personal top spot.
I have been close a few times to getting some stuff from Metabo. I have been looking there more standard brushless hammer drill, but I don't don't do a ton of metal drilling.
@@TinkerWithTools yeah they are very intriguing. I have their 12v brushed interchangeable drill and the impact driver that I believe you have too but their 18v brushless line has really been peaking my interest. Keep up the great work!
@@TinkerWithTools I do primarily aluminum drilling, with some steel. Milwaukee is *fine*, but even the new model isn't super durable. The batteries have too much wiggle.
With me , XGT is still my choice because the spare part( it available in my country with warranty) and 40V lineup tools
Flex is still powerful but there line up (at the time i wrote this comment) can't compared to XGT and the most hard things that Flex isn't available in my country so we have to buy from USA without warranty , some of my friends had problem with old 18650 Battery version , because there is no warranty so they have to fix by themself
Yeah, not having a warranty is a big deal. The flex in the US can be had with the lifetime warranty still (something that I didn't mention in this video), but without that, it would tip in Makita's favor for me as well.
@@TinkerWithTools Some of my friends also had the problem with Flex Drill Chuck even the chuck had been broken without damaged from outside , how you thinh about this
I haven’t had any issues with it, having owned it for about 18 months at this point.
Great video I didn't know what way it would go
Thanks!
I have the XGT it wont overheat like the flex will when you put it in turbo mode. But do think that flex is the best choice for most people the combo back with there impact driver is a good deal. I'm on the makita 40v system for the miter saws and beam saws. The drill is a nicer drill then flex. The makita will out last the flex under constant use. So if you need to do alot of repetitive drilling of timbers the makita is the choice for you.
Well said!
well since the flex has a lifetime warranty does it really matter...
If I have to go back I would invest in XGT. However, I felt betrayed when they introduced XGT and left the LXT owner in the dust. My older LXT tools including the one my uncle gave me are at least 10 years old and they're still working without a hiccup, also the batteries are still working fine, they might not last as long as brand new. I don't know about Flex durability or longevity, but these tools are expensive and if I invest my money, it would be Makita or Milwaukee.
I'm all invested in Milwaukee M18 and M12 now because my uncle switched brands, I helped him out so it's easier for us to share batteries.
I can understand the frustration with Makita there.
I think the Makita is spinning too fast for concrete, you just got to use that trigger and slow it down a bit.....👍🖖
I’ll give it a go.
I almost wonder if they use the same impactor from the 18 volt model, or if it's just better for pilot holes. Maybe it's part of the reason they sell the rotary hammer drill in the seven piece kit?
I hope you get the chance to retest it with the 5ah 21700 cell Makita battery pack. A bit larger and heavier than the Flex's but it would be a more fair comparison in terms of output. It'd more accurately represent to capability of the tool.
When I get one of those batteries I’ll test it but I will say at this point the only thing I wouldn’t pick the makita up first for is concrete drilling. But it’s the drill I prefer.
That's like putting a 12.0 on a Milwaukee drill. Ridiculous
I have the flex never use it don’t like the fact that it’s so heavy, what’s the weight of the makita? Compared to the flex
Tool only the two are almost identical. With the batteries tested here the flex is about 1.5 oz heavier (so really not that much difference).
Very important to point out that bad stuff, just like smoke coming out of a Bosch drill (I have Bosch tools) that a different author skipped over as if it didn't matter. I'd like to see more, like an endurance test instead of just peak power. Seems that referenced channel kind of downplayed the Flex failure. As mentioned, if the cutoff circuitry kicks in and protects the tool, it might last longer. If it burns up, who cares about momentary power, and electronics don't always die all at once.
But... The Flex is on sale...
Wish I could catch the Makita on sale.
I had some Panasonic cordless drills. Looks like they're gone.
The flex turbo feature has never given me any trouble but I have seen plenty of instances of it failing to work for people after a time. At the end of the day I think I would just prefer a traditional 3 or 4 speed gear box to this method.
@@TinkerWithTools
I haven't heard anybody explain what "turbo mode" actually is. Of course it's faster, but that suggests it's less powerful. I would wonder why they don't advertise it like that... "faster at the touch of a button when less power is required". Everybody harps on "turbo mode" as if it's a power improvement.
There's another, weird, possibility about "turbo mode". Maybe it actually is the same power and the user gains nothing from using the non-turbo speed (except slightly more control on lower speed with full throw of the trigger). In other words, the non-turbo mode just doesn't reach the higher RPM.
That's like Milwaukee's mud mixer, with an electronic "gearbox" to adjust maximum speed. One potential useful thing about that is, the full throw of the trigger provides greater control over speed at lower maximum RPM. But it's the same power regardless of highest RPM.
Maybe that's all they're doing.
I got Flex this time. Will see if it burns up. It's a little more voltage and will be externally geared lower, so fingers crossed. It will be brutally tested. If it fails, next time will use a 36 V drill.
Thanks for the videos!
I think that, if you used Douglas fir, you would notice more of a difference.
I assume you mean the driving tests. I have tried using construction lumber for the driving tests but the I can pack the same density of fasteners and the wood inevitably splits.
Mine came with the 4040 bats in combo, wonder if you can get a adapter for the stacked batterys the new 4050f and 4080 f batterys might make a difference its powerfull anyway.
Good to know.
The 4ah usually performs worse than the 2.5ah or 5ah
@@SupposedlyShiny in high torque situations I have been able to get more done with the 4 but it’s not as big of difference as with some platforms. I haven’t tried the 5ah though.
@@SupposedlyShiny yeah seen that vid 2.5 vs 4 makita said the new variants will be availible second half of this year.
I’ve been impressed with flex despite their cringy marketing tactics lol. Great video as always sir.
They are good tools. I think that as they continue making them they will prove to be a top brand. They just need to keep going.
Cheers mrTinker, please wear a dust mask when doing masonry, silicosis is THE silent killer
Yeah I have in the past. Just for in a hurry that time. Thanks for caring.
Is the 1271 from Flex not different from the 1251?
I got the wrong model number when I was editing It’s the 1271. Thanks for catching that.
Great video! First we don't have FLEX in New Zealand, carpentry world is ruled by Makita, even with FLEX in NZ, I'd still use Makita since more tools on this battery platform.
Nothing wrong with that. Makita has a presence here and we have access to the tools. But compared to other brands, in store access isn’t always the best.
@@TinkerWithTools agree with you, some of my makitas from Japan, and Somer Hammers from U.S, what do you recommend for first FLEX tool? Saw? Drill? Thanks mate!
I think the most appealing thing about flex right now is the stacked lithium batteries They offer them in three sizes and so depending on the tool you use they have one that meets the needs. The tools overall are pretty impressive in terms of power. I don’t love the ergonomics or refinement of the tools but with the turbo hammer drill and the quick eject impact driver the performance is quite impressive.
I have almost all the different tool lines and i think Makita over all seems like the most premium tool Bosch is 2nd milwaukee 3rd then dewalt 4th Flexvolt to me is in with Grizzly drills it just doest have the feel of a premium tool. though flex does have power.
That’s the best part of having many tool options. You can choose what’s best for you.
Good job brother
Thanks!
Wow... Flex faster than Makita on most test, it's a pity that Makita more expensive than Flex but its performance is lower... What's up with Makita..? 😲 Thanks for the test, Dwayne
Makita has been struggling in the US market as of late and is currently making some changes in their organization. Perhaps that will shake things up a little bit. One thing I will say is that while the raw power is lower, i think that it's sufficient to get jobs done, and it's the nicer drill to use. SO it really just depends on what is most important to you.
I accidentally started the video at 1/2 speed, super funny that way.🤣🤣
I’ve done that with podcasts at times! Super funny!
Makita is tried and true top notch quality. It’s nice having a hammer function but honestly if you need a concrete drill go with an SDS. I’m buying the Makita. Full disclosure I do work at HD but I have no problem with Flex, Kobalt or Craftsman, I own all of them.
I think the SDS is the way to go unless you truly just need an occasional smaller hole. Hard to justify and SDS for that even though I really want to.
@@TinkerWithToolsOf course we want an SDS we’re tool geeks lol
One will come home one of these days.
Flex is currently selling this in a kit for $119 at Lowes or $99 on Acme Tools.
Привет уважаемый!Я Вам так скажу при тестировании самых мощных дрелей-шуруповертов на самых мощных акб таких,как милуоки(158нм) на акб 12ам,бош(150нм) на акб 12ам,девольт модель 999 на акб 12ам,флекс на акб 10ам,макита (130нм) на акб 6ам и макита xgt(140нм) на акб 8ам .Так вот эта макитв какая у Вас в видео просто порвала всех в клочья на акб 8ам,она раскрыла полностью свой мощностной потенциал и порвала даже дрели-шуруповерты у которых больше 150нм крутящий момент,а Вы в этом видео делали тест с самой дохлой батареей на 4 ам это жля нее ничто,так,что если бы Вы взяли акб на 8ам,то Вы бы были сильно удивлены мощностью данного инструмента и этот флекс со своей турбокнопкой был бы в заднице,удачи!!!
I understand that a bigger battery will cause better tool performance but I also think at some point having a 12ah battery weighing down the tool starts to mess with the balance and the ergonomics. I like that some companies are starting to offer batteries with premium performance in smaller form factors like the power stack, stacked lithium and forge.
I think we are finally past corded drills, forever. I won't miss you, red wrist breaker Magnum
I think we are past most corded tools. The only tools I routinely use as corded are sanders for long jobs and my table saw. Both have cordless options that are powerful enough for me but sometimes the duration on the sander for example is the tipping point.
I think that Turbo Button is Gimmicky.....🤔
It’s basically just an overdrive. What makes it frustrating is if you can’t always use it.
It's not a gimmick if it has practical functionality
M-TeK-9 -- When you can't Use something All the time because the tool will shut down , is a Gimmick to Me ....
@@brianf9619 its turbo mode. When have you ever been able to use turbo mode on anything indefinitely? Never. Its like NAS in a car.
well this isnt a gas car...
I’ve always thought of makita as a refined tool and brand, however I feel they are 2 to 3 steps behind the competition. Flex However I feel is to new of a brand for me to have a solid opinion of, that said Chevron as their parent company does make me feel like the brand is here to stay.
I think the LXT needs a booze and some further improvements but the XGT drill is one of my favorite drills to use.
The price of the xgt tools are keeping me from trying them, along with the lack of battery technology and development. But from all the review videos I’ve seen they seem to be top notch
Flex for rwo big reasons price point and can get at local stores
I can’t argue with your price component but I will say that my local Home Depot started carrying Makita XGT this week it seems.
Our home depot has very little mikita
Everyone hates in flex or doesn't give it a shot. I've used everything, dewalt, Makita, ridgid, milwaukee, God even ryobi and by far noticeably flex has the best of everything, power and durability. Yes they don't have as many tools but they are growing and unlike everyother brand they are listening to consumers and adjusting/correcting tools as they go not to mention LIFETIME WARRANTY in a rapidly growing brand. Flex itself has been around for 120 years and even invented the angle grinder. They aren't new to making quality tools and crazy enough out of the gate they are already the best cordless on the market undisputed
Hey, did Flex just go live on Amazon?
I been doing research and windowshopping for decades, but admittedly sometimes Amazon hides things. Seems Flex just appeared out of nowhere, there.
"14 total ratings, 14 with reviews"
On Flex's Amazon store page... Half of the drills show 14 ratings (shared), and almost all of them are free product reviews, all between March 6 and March 30.
Yeah, I didn't think there were on there even a few weeks ago, but they have a store set up on there with most of their products now it seems. Good for them. Having other places where you can get easy access is always a good thing in my opinion.
As for the reviews, it's not terribly uncommon for that to be the case unfortunately. I've noticed even on Home Depot and Lowe's website it's pretty common depending on the product.
In general (with the exception of their impacts drivers) I prefer Makita over all other brands i have. They are always competitive in power, but are more reliable and ergonomic.
Makita is ergonomic for sure.
@@TinkerWithTools The Torque Test Channel put the 40v 2nd in overall torque of all major brands, 2nd only to Flex.
The XGT drill is awesome! Much improved over the LXT top drill.
@@TinkerWithTools but the LXT is great too I prefer it over my 2804 and 998. It might have slightly (and I mean slightly) less power, but it doesn't have much of a practical difference withe good batteries. And it's more reliable (especially compared to Milwaukee's damn trigger) and is far more ergonomic.
Way to rep the Alpengeist
Makita for quality, confort safety and précision..😊
No one will fault you for that logic.
Makita not the fastest or strongest but it will get the job done still and they're reliable and ergonomically feel amazing in the hand for all day usage
Their ergonomics are second to none impact wise.
Makita
makita is the best for me
Not a bad choice at all.