Starting off with the weight and size, it's nice and compact and lightweight, these new generation combi drills have been on a diet and lost a few pounds. I had no problem using it for the day especially with hard to reach jobs. You could therefore see model numbers for drills which are all the same drill, but with different colours/options. The drill itself has 50Nm of torque which is on the low end for a drill this size, especially compared to the DeWealt's monstrous70Nm. It took Makita a long time to come up with their 5Ah battery and we think it was worth the wait. On first glance you will forgiven if you thought it was the same as the previous 3Ah and 4Ah batteries, this is because the new one is almost identical in weight and size. The big difference is of course the charge it holds. eXtreme Protection Technology (XPT) offers maximum protection against dust, debris and liquids for optimal performance in extreme conditions

The great advantage of multi-tool cutters for DIY fans is their size and versatility. You can attach sanding discs, grinders, saw blades and scrapers to the same tool, instead of buying tools and attachments separately. Which one of the two products you choose really depends on what you need from a product like this, I think there are two major cases.While the debate about which brand / range of products will rage forever, and it's something we won't resolve here, what we can do is take a look at the two leading cordless hammer drills to see which one is better. Safety is another issue. If you are worried about tripping over cables as you work, a cordless drill is obviously the way to go. Variable speeds – Indicates that your saw is capable of shifting speed to deal with different materials. In general, if you are making simple cuts on regular shapes of wood or metal, a circular saw will be ideal. If you need more precision, go for a jigsaw. If you are dealing with piping or plastic, a reciprocating saw will probably be the right option. Secondly, Makita have a reputation for reliability. Their tools tend to last a long time and meet their product specifications comfortably. Their customer service also tends to receive plaudits, and their product range is second to none.

If you are looking for a power drill, several factors need to be considered. Firstly, you need to decide whether to go for a cordless or corded variety. Cordless drills tend to be more user friendly as you can take them wherever you like and access hard to reach parts of your home. For one thing, while Makita tools are high-quality, they are not ridiculously expensive. The prices of their cordless drills, drivers, saws and multi-tools are within reach of most DIY fans and aren’t restricted to those in the trade. Good options from the Makita product range include the Makita DTM50Z LXT 18V Li-Ion Cordless Oscillating Multicutter which weighs just 2kg or the Makita TM3000CX4 Multi-Cutter, which comes with a huge case featuring 56 accessories. If you want to have as many options as possible at your disposal, it’s a formidable kit to have around the house.Comfort is also a huge consideration. Makita’s drills come in a wide range of voltages and sizes. Go for a 12V model if you want something light enough to hold for extended periods, or an 18V model if you are physically stronger or only need the drill for short periods. Buy the Makita if, you like tools with really great build quality. Plus the Makita has an great battery life and a really fast recharge Universal blade clamp – with jigsaws, you’ll find two types of blade (U shank and T shank). Saws with a universal blade clamp can handle both, so go for them if possible. Both of these brands make a lot of cordless combi drills, but this one from Makita seems to fall square in the middle of the affordability / power equation. Makita Battery Life and Performance

The Makita DHP485 18v LXT Brushless 2-Speed Combi Drill delivers outstanding performance without the bulkiness and weight of the typical cordless tool. The LXT Compact continues to refine the formula of faster-charging batteries with leading power-to-weight ratio's.(Batteries not included)Power tools are an essential part of modern life, especially if you love to spend your time tinkering with machinery or DIY projects. But why go for Makita’s products over the competition? For instance, if you are going to be working with large sheets of wood or plastic, a cordless or corded circular saw is the way to go. Makita’s circular saws come with safety features like double safety triggers as standard, extra features like LED lights to chart your course across the wood, as well as comfortable grips.

Well, in reality there isn’t much to difference between companies like Bosch, Hilti, Makita and Hitachi. However, Makita do have several advantages that make them so popular with professionals. This leads on to the major difference between the two drills, the DeWalt has a huge 70Nm of torque, its very powerful but we did note the price for this was a significant battery drain at high speed, it also got a bit hot. However we think this is a big advantage as it makes the combi drill a bit more useful, the hammer drill will just stay in the van for longer! It's probably fair to say that Makita has a reputation for being slightly better quality compared to many other brands. However there is a catch with that quality, a higher price tag. So we were very surprised to see the price of this combi drill actually coming in under the DeWalt.

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Strokes per minute – How many strokes the saw can make (or revolutions in the case of circular saws) per minute. Look for a higher number, as this is usually a sign that your saw is more efficient. A related number is the “No load speed” which is the number of strokes the saw can make when it isn’t cutting. The DeWalt is surprisingly a little more expensive than the Makita however on first blink I am not sure its as well built. The Makita feels a little better put together but its really small things. DeWalt Battery Life and Performance There is also the facility to use a clamp on grip handle (included with the drill) for two handed operation and added stability. If you’re a pro and know all about Body Only and Battery options, then skip on ahead. If not, then I’d like to clear up something that is again quite confusing. The model numbers that Makita produce are generally a 6-digit reference, which signifies the ‘Type’ of tool and the model of that tool. So for their combi drills, they start with ‘DHP’ (Which stands for ‘Drill Hammer Percussion’). Then comes the 3 numbers e.g: DHP481 (481 being the model). Then anything that comes after those 6 digits just signifies the colour or battery option. With ‘Z’ meaning ‘body only’ (no Batteries), and ‘W’ meaning ‘White’ (Special edition colour). You’ll then often see things like RTJ (DHP481RTJ) which signifies that it comes with 2x 5Ah Batteries, Charger and Case). On the other side of the coin if you’re after Makita’s most powerful combi, then look no further than their 40V XGT range, which includes a combi, you can see that here.