Makita BDF452HW 18-Volt Compact Lithium-Ion Driver Drill Kit

Everything I expected from Makita, so far. The driver came with two fully charged batteries, and in great condition for a factory reconditioned product. It is light and powerful, and the LED worklight is a nice addition. The compact size is very handy when working in tight quarters.

The chuck covering is a little soft, and it got very scuffed up and is rough from doing some close work to a screw head. At least it looks used, now. The case is cheap and clunky, but I will be using a tool bag for storage and transportation. The biggest annoyance with this unit is the lack of on-board driver storage. I almost always have the phillips head bit in the chuck, anyway, but I was surprised to see there was no where to store even one bit on the body of the driver.

At the price ($129), I think it is a tremendous bargain for a Li-Ion 18v driver from an industry leader. Good work, Makita.

I have had this driver-drill for about 9 months now. I am a hobbiest wood worker with limited time for doing projects. I just finished using the Makita for building a 7-ft high x 8-ft wide wall unit (shelving unit) that was completely screwed together using a pocket hole jig (another absolute must-have for even a novice woodworker). I built this out of MDF with poplar trim, so not the hardest stuff to work with by any stretch, but the unit handled it well. I actually had it all screwed together and then decided it was the wrong size so I took it all apart and got it just right. The Makita has performed extremely well with no exceptions. I have very little fatigue because the drill is light with the 1.5 amp-hour battery, and I can always buy the 3.0 amp-hr battery later. I always have a second battery ready because the charge time truly is only 15 minutes. The quality is excellent, the power is all I ever need, the compact size and ergonomic design are excellent, and being able to switch between driving speed (slower) and drilling speed (faster) makes this a great all around tool. The LED light is great and has been very valuable when working in dark confined spaces. I am not rich so $200 (when I bought it) was an investment for a drill, but I am thrilled with this tool. The reviews all pointed to this one. And now I am looking at other Makita cordless products to add to my collection, like the reciprocating saw. Highly recommend this. Only wish there was somewhere to attach a screwdriver bit somewhere on the handle.

Never had a Makita before...had a Dewalt but the batteries finally died and VERY expensive to replace!
Thought this might be a good replacement...IT IS DYNAMITE!!
Has great power and IS LIGHT AS A FEATHER! Charges in minutes with fabulous quick charger.
My wife couldn't use the Dewalt....way too heavy. This is easy for women who aren't weightlifers to use!
Can't go wrong!

In two years light usage I have had two 1.5 Ah batteries show defective on the charger. Makita has stood behind the 12 month warranty and replaced the first battery at 11 months and when that battery read defective 10 months later, they replaced it free of charge. The drill itself is lightweight and an excellent medium duty drill.

Bought it after the new house closed escrow, as I knew I'd need one.

Short & sweet:

Handles great, perfect fit in my hand, my wife's hand, etc. Very compact, and still a powerhouse.
Keyless chuck: Solid, and very easy to manipulate.
The 15-minute charge? No joke.
LED light: More handy than I originally would have thought. Good flashlight in a pinch, as when the electricity is off in a dark work area.
Battery life? Suffice to say that it isn't an issue given the pair of batts and fast charger.
Durable: It's been dropped a few dozen times from 10' and under, on rock/concrete/grass, and hasn't skipped a beat.

Before buying this I asked around with people I trust regarding tools. No regrets.