Perhaps you have heard of these heavyweights if you are a person who owns power tools. Since Makita and Milwaukee have been making their names for decades, you can feel confident in calling them the best. Both of them offer customers some impressive impact drivers.
It goes without saying that both offer the most expensive tools on the market. In addition, there is a rule about getting the best. The best product requires the best price. We will compare Makita vs Milwaukee impact drivers and evaluate their respective merits in this article.
In this post we'll cover:
Difference Between Makita and Milwaukee
Milwaukee is an American company. It was established in 1924 as an electric tool repairer firm. They became big after they start producing power tools. The same goes for Makita. Though Makita is a Japanese company, it was also started as a repairer company. Then, after the production of cordless power tools, they became popular among customers.
Makita and Milwaukee are trying to invent new impact drivers that can outperform the previously released ones. Makita focuses on making more compact and powerful tools, whereas Milwaukee is concentrating on making more durable and efficient tools. So, we can easily say that both companies are producing quality impact drivers. Now, our job is to discuss and clarify these products.
Makita Impact Driver
Makita is upgrading its impact drivers and releasing a new version regularly. They always try to make their following product smaller. Besides, you can consider their driver as a durable product of the company.
Let’s look at the flagship product, Makita 18V impact drivers. You can get a maximum of 3600 IPM and 3400 RPM on the Makita impact driver. And the torque is 1500 inches per pound. You can screw faster because of its high RPM.
If you want fast screwing, Makita impact driver can be a fantastic choice for you. Just decide how far you want to go with this impact driver tool. Their 5 inches long power tool has an ergonomic rubber handle. You will get more grip due to the textured design of the handle. Makita impact drivers, with batteries included, weigh around 3.3 lbs. So, you can work comfortably using this lightweight product.
Though these impact drivers have significant power, they do not have multiple modes with various applications. Actually, you don’t need any auto-mode feature on these drivers. You can change to any speed ranging from 0 RPM to 3400 RPM using the speed trigger.
Let’s talk about a unique feature now. Makita impact driver has a Star Protection Technology. This technology is for extending and enhancing battery life. This tech provides a real-time monitor for the battery. You can easily prevent over-heating, over-discharging, overloading, etc., by using this technology.
They provide lithium-ion batteries with their impact drivers. Therefore, you will get a decent battery backup. The main favorable thing is that the battery charges very fast, and it is convenient for regular use.
Why choose Makita
- Compact design with two LED lights
- Better grip on the rubberized handle
- Enhanced dust and water resistance
- Brushless motor with electric control
Why not
- Motor spin quality isn’t as expected
Milwaukee Impact Driver
Milwaukee has a reputation for producing highly efficient and durable power tools. To provide such quality, their impact drivers are highly-priced. They offer a compact and simple design along with your desired strength.
If we look at Milwaukee’s flagship impact driver, it has a 3450 IPM rate. A variable speed trigger is used to control the powerful motor. The impact driver has a LED lighting system that can help you work in dark places or at night. The textured handle will allow an excellent grip. In addition, the system of communication among the battery and electronic parts minimizes the risk of overheating.
The Milwaukee impact driver has a drive control mode where you can set any two modes depending on your tasks to shift modes very fast. You can simply alter the sockets using the friction ring. The red lithium battery of the Milwaukee impact driver provides long-lasting service, and the online rating of this impact wrench is also superb.
Why choose Milwaukee
- REDLINK Technology with a textured handle
- Lithium-ion batteries, including LED lighting
- Variable speed trigger
Why not
- Only one-speed feature
The Bottom Line
So, finally which one should you choose between these impressive impact drivers? If you are a professional power tool user and have to work using these tools very often, you should go for Milwaukee. Because they will give you the highest durability possible.
On the other hand, Makita is the better choice if you are a hobbyist or irregular user of power tools. They offer an impact driver for a reasonable price.
I'm Joost Nusselder, the founder of Tools Doctor, content marketer, and dad. I love trying out new equipment, and together with my team I've been creating in-depth blog articles since 2016 to help loyal readers with tools & crafting tips.
