Tbh all of the big name drills and impacts are so powerful now that it really just comes down to what is most comfortable in your hand, your favorite colour and what batteries you already own
Unless your job is to drill half inch holes in aluminum, forty hours a week. Then you start cursing at the xc 5.0, because the 6ah high output shakes loose of the contacts due to weight, and the 5.0 is a gutless, spineless sack.
Honestly, this channel is Brilliant and seriously underrated. you're essentially doing the work these companies should be doing themselves and frankly translating their BS box numbers into something easily understood as a consumer. It's almost like these companies don't want you to understand anything about what they are selling you... Thank you for all that you do and keep up the great work.
The companies have already done this work probably with more sophisticated equipment. They just don't want to share this information with us. I can't say I really blame them, it's not like it would help the companies.
As long as you’ve bought one within the last 5 years you’re good. Brushless is a game changer. Also Lithium batteries hold a charge forever and will last years where the older ni-cad die off over time even without use. I’ll still see the older ones in use from time to time and I just have to ask “why?” Lol. Sometimes my drills will sit without use for weeks and I know when I reach for them they’ll still have a charge. The tech has come a long way.
@@Joepeoplesvii I have one of the shitty old brushed dewalts from 10 years ago lol the planetary carrier gear JB welded after I took it apart and lost balls out of the clutch. Still drills stuff
@@emmettturner9452 I have a special need and can't use their drills because they have "hyperdrive". The trigger action is not smooth, at some point it shorts battery to the motor, and ZOOM. That's probably okay for almost everybody...
Yes, that "150Nm" (whatever that is in american things) Bosch is really powerful, feels like it has much more torque than my old metabo 1.1kW 230v drill...
I’ve got the makita xgt and flex turbo both on my truck and you’re absolutely correct about your statement. If I need to tax the drill long and hard I grab the makita every time. Real world use I get about 5 minutes of turbo before the drill overheats and goes back into its regular mode which is in my opinion lack luster.
Excellent video! I love that Makita and have always felt like up to a certain point, it was the top dog. And that at the point, it just says "enough". Thanks for illustrating that so perfectly!
y’all are two of my favorite channels out there and give us viewers a perfect comparison on dyno style and practical style. Keep up the great work guys!
@@engineer_alv I have Makita, DeWalt, Ryobi, and Rigid, but I've used Milwaukee quite a bit too. Makita is my favorite for ergonomics and they just feel better made.
I bought that Makita xgt soon after the early tests showed its superiority, but till this day noobs post about how disappointing performance it has. Thank you for settling it once and for all for the keyboard experts. And its not only the beans, everything is so superior about it, using it is a delight and the 2.5ah battery seems to outlast the giant 12-16ah batts if 18v tools (6-8ah equivalent in xgt). And its already old! So many years and still the greatest, and it just gets better on worksites as it never overheats or need a break, or even a fresh battery. Drills are not my most used tools but this one is a candidate for best powertool ever, if it wasnt for the jawdropping 7.5” xgt circular saws or the 3/4” xgt impactwrench i would hang the gold medal on this drill already.
I bought the Makita xgt with 4ah battery 6 months ago while working on a house build. I like this unit! Drilled with a 5" hole saw through 4x2s and it will hut you!. Be prepared for a kick and fit the handle.
I've been watching your videos for about a year now and I can't tell you how much I appreciate the way you conduct your videos. You have the most amazing setup. Your lingo is spot on. The way you explain everything is easy for anyone to understand. You give so many more variations that one could even fathom. Well freaking done, sir. Hats off.
See the Bosch "World's Strongest Drill" vs Snap-on and these here: th-cam.com/video/O6Zl_0mCgvE/w-d-xo.html As always, the creator of this channels works in product development for Astro Tools, who also make air drills. Always consider multiples sources when looking at a tool!
I wouldn't really use a hammer drill to drill holes in concrete under almost any circumstance, but it might be a nice curiosity to include a test of their hammer functionality in case there is some weird outlier. Though, I wouldn't be surprised if it was just in direct proportion to the RPM of the drill.
@orijimi We've found nothing replaces drilling through good old-fashioned long cured concrete for that, so there's channels much better at the practical testing than us out there.
Awesome showdown. Would be interesting to see the head to head comparison between a standard cordless drill like these, and something like the cordless hole hawg (2707) meant for those prolonged use, high torque applications.
As a Dewalt fanboy, Makita smoked this competition. So smooth and refined, even on its cutout. Clearly made for the longgame. Flex looks like it will be up in smoke before too long. And as a Dewalt fanyboy, the one thing this doesn't consider is trigger control for steel. Trying to hold say 800RPM with maximum power, some of these will struggle before others if they are geared higher. That's why I like the 3 speed gearbox, though it's largely superfluous these days. These all have plenty of power for steel drilling. But yeah, WTG Makita
I bought a Hercules drill 6 years ago when its price was half of the other name brand options. It performed very well for numerous jobs but makes very unhappy noises during use for the last 2 years. I'll stick with my advice on the Hercules, which is, if you don't rely on it for your livelihood, or if you're starting in the field, it's a good buy.
I did go check out the Hercules based on your videos. It felt cheaper than my other drills, didn’t really scream buy me. They had a test area for it and it seemed okay. I still prefer the fit and finish of other drills. Maybe in the future, but not today. I had the opposite reaction to the Flex, which was an immediate buy for me.
@@sonar610have you used any of them recently? What about them is not good? I have multiple brands including Bosch and I don’t have a bad thing to say about them.
@sonar610 I was offered their cordless sanders by a rep and I couldn't pass up the deal offered. By far my favorites for cordless sanding. Only my festool setup is better.
Content clinic: how to make nerding out on cordless drill drivers into captivating video. Great stuff indeed. Nuron SF 4H- and 6H-22 please. I know they are not cheap, and the batteries neither, but interested to see what you pay for. Thanks!
@@nationlessnationalist I don’t use my drill a lot in my profession (oilfield) but I use there 1/2 and 3/4 impacts all the time. With the IP56 rating I’ve even had some guys move from Milwaukee to Metabo for that reason alone and love the products.
You know Metabo and Metabo HPT are two completely different companies? Metabo tools are a high end German company mostly made in Germany and Metabo HPT is actually Hitachi with a name change and probably all made in China.
Though I can't think of an easy way to test it, I'd love to see a comparison of the longevity of the Makita versus the Flex. I hypothesize that the cost of the Makita is justified even more.
It'll keep up for about 2 maybe 3 good pulls then it's at the back of the pack. While Makita will be running all day long, it's the real working tool not just a "Flex" on the bigger brands.
Pretty impressive performance from Flex there. And I will say they do live up to their name, look at that handle and it really is flexing a lot more than the others! Another way I would like to see these tested is starting up against the load this is where I think the cutout thing is most aggravating. Starting up gradually against the load as one of the most needed abilities, a lot of especially brushless models struggle do this without cutting out. I also would like to see your highest output Ridgid, Bosch and Kobalt models, and I would really love to see the m18 superhawg and the Bauer version of it, I'd really love to see those tested. TTC is an awesome channel and I always enjoy your videos! Thanks!
Its gotten to the point that power is no longer the differentiating factor as any of these will likely get the job doe. Chuck, weight, cost, ergonomics, battery price and tool family could make the decision for you. Thanks for making these videos, I'll bet it has been a big "driver" in getting these manufacturers to continually up their games.
Would love to see the strongest Makita 18v on the chart for an apples-to-apples comparison. XGT is awesome, but even if you're already on Makita's LXT 18v, it's like investing into another brand platform anyway.
Mate, this is the best channel I've found that helps me buy the right powertool. I'm looking at buying the makita 40v drill and impact kit. Watching this it seems like a good purchase. In Emgland they sell 2 different kits. One drill is HP001G which is the better drill, and the other is HP002 which is a bit cheaper but half as powerful. With there being £40 difference in price. This may be worth mentioning on your channel. Justice the milwakee pipe cutter. The raptor Inox cuts stainless steel and copper pipe it slices like a knife through butter. However, Milwakee sell a copper only cutter so I made the mistake in buying the wrong one. If we buy a pipe cutter, we may as well go for the Raptor Inox that cuts everything. Thanks for sharing mate
As an owner of the Makita I'm glad to see that it did well. The one thing I like about it is that I can use it nonstop without it shutting down or feeling hot. I use it for drilling steel and like how much power it has at low speeds. I don't feel Makita pushes the battery or motor just to make it look good. I've had 1/2" Compact Impact that I've been using for 10+ years that just now bit the dust. And that thing was abused.
Great Job.... I'm a Makita Fan. I'm not saying they are the best at everything, but... They don't make any junk. Using the tool normally, for normal work, you will not be disappointed. All these makers kind of "trap" you in their battery "ecosystem".... You could be in a LOT worse places than stuck in the Makita Ecosystem....
Now the power tests are a game changer. This is the stuff most power tools are in real life subjected to. Well done indeed. One thing to consider are the gearing. Some of the drills have considerably taller gearing than others. Perhaps a % of their max would be better stopping point. While at it peak all out power would be cool to know, however not that useful for real life context. I attempted to measure some midrange18V makita drills peak current draw synced with voltage. This ended up in 1 kW range. With the Makita 5 AH and 8AH batteries are with a marking "F" meaning high output. 4 AH is well known to be no more or even less powerful than the 2.5AH one. I have the drill with all but the 8AH pack - let me tell you, the 5AH pack makes a difference. I have abused the drill to hell and back - from mixing concrete to smashing huge holesaws. It never breaks a sweat and is smooth and comfy on the hand while doing so. Battery lasts forever, any one of those.
1 KW peak! I recall my first cordless drills from the late '90s with NiCd batteries, at 4.8 V and 9.6 Volt were capable of delivering an astonishing 50 Watts. Those ancient tools were just a shadow of the tools you tested here, but they were a lifesaver for my electronic job, drilling circuit boards, heatsinks and front panels. I have both 12 and 29 Volts modern drill and driver now, and they deliver incredible power...
Awesome video, as always! I know they're really a different class of drill, but I'd love to see how some of the big right angle drills like Milwaukee's hole hawg or super hawg.
I have the DCD998. I wanted the 8 ah battery. It was such a huge upgrade from my first dewalt drill which I think it was the dcd771. I actually have to use the cluth and speed settings to be safe with my wrists.
I love my Makita XGT drill, and I'm not surprised at the result. The thing is a beast, it laughs at common tasks, and I have no doubt it will outlive the Flex several times over given what you said about the heat. It also has bar none the best clutch setup I've ever used on a drill. It really is too good for words. Can't imagine needing more out of a hand drill.
@@johnthumble5154 the batteries use the same ten count 18650 cells as their 18v and everyone else's also, just wired totally in series. I would not be surprised if their flagship 18v drill was right in the running, as watts out is proportional to watts in--though I haven't used it. The reason for the 40v existing is for their even higher power dual 40 tools.
Good drill but Ridgid nerfed their batteries hardcore except for the EXP 8ah. I have a Flex drill, but before I got the Flex drill, I got the Ridgid High torque drill (March 2023), but I wasn't able to dig 4x4 fence post holes with it (yes I should use a real gas powered auger, but I wanted an excuse to buy a high powered drill lol, used a regular 6'' diameter auger bit). The Ridgid is a great, powerful drill, but the batteries are massively holding them back, the regular 4ah and the "max output" 4ah are JUNK (EVE/Lishen cells), and I didn't want to spend the money for the actual high output EXP 8ah battery with samsung 21700 cells, and there were no octanes available. The voltage would drop too low digging the holes and would cut out. Note that I could hardly hang on before they would cut out lol, the drill has got some serious power till the voltage drops too low. The Flex drill with the default 5.0 could dig one hole much easier, especially once it kicked into "low rpm high torque mode", it made hanging onto it much easier. I also had the 6.0ah stacked, but I honestly didn't need to use it, but I imagine it would dig them faster and overheat the tool lol.
I'd love to see this test as well, I have two 9ah octane batteries , 3 octane 3ah and a max 6ah all basically new I'd be willing to send in some for stats
I want to see the big octane hammer drill vs their new max output. The octane boasted some high tq figure. I have it and know it will break 1/2 hss bits if they bind. Mine finally stripped something out inside though and im too lazy to do lsa, and afraid of the replacement being the newer lower power version.
@@D3M3NT3Dstrang3r The new Ridgid High Torque is pretty powerful, but hamstrung by the new batteries hardcore. Put an Octane battery on it, and I'm sure it'll be within 10% of the Octane Drill. New batteries are crap except for maybe the 8ah exp.
There are a few high power drills you could test aswell Bosch GSR18V-1330CN, (German) Metabo BS 18 LTX-3 BL Q ,Metabo HPT DS18DBL2Q4 and either Hilti's old SF 10W-A22 ATC or new Nuron SF 6H-22
Still missing the biggest Bosch, I absolutely love that monster! And also Bauforum24 from Germany tested that Bosch to make 80Nm! With a calibrated tool!
Any chance of you guys ever doing an ecosystem test? It's nice to see what is the best of the individual tools but how many people want to (or can) go out & buy the chargers, batteries, etc for a new brand ecosystem. I think it'd be awesome to a test/review of the different tool ecosystems to help those who are looking to buy their first or upgrade. Example: I was looking for compact 12v system a few years ago & went with Milwaukee just because of their options & reputation. I'm certainly not disappointed but I would have loved to have the kind of info you guys give on whether or not that is the best for the money I was spending. Same goes with 18v, I went from Rigid to Milwaukee for the same reasons (and seeing how well big red tests here). I'm sure there are plenty who can't drop $800+ on a starter pack of cordless tools & would benefit from that kind of info (apples to apples like you guys do). Just a thought... Thanks for all the effort you put into these!
You can buy the Hercules kit with the 2.5AH battery and charger for $97 at harbor freight. I already owned battery and charger so I picked one up on sale for $69 for the tool only which at that price point it cant be touched. I think you need to fix that price unless you are factoring in the 8ah extreme performance battery.
@@TorqueTestChannel ok that makes sense then. I bought it based on your last videos from already buying the impact driver and 1/2 inch impact wrench and 8AH battery so for $69 you cant beat it. Not to mention taking it back to the store and getting a brand new one for free within 5 years if anything happens. I like Flex as well but based on this video I am glad I went with the Hercules over the Flex since its like you said push it hard for couple minutes and it basically goes into limp mode.
The pricing is so difficult with these... I would prefer just the bare-tool price as the standard for comparison, but totally get why TTC uses the 'kit' pricing for their rankings. HF is going to be at a disadvantage since they are best purchased piecemeal using coupons; I just recently purchased the hammer drill for $68 and you can get 2 8ah batteries right now for $120! It's hard to argue with that price model, especially for non-professionals!
@@DustinStasek We do use bare tool in other comparisons, but with the huge difference battery makes on these tests it's hard to not include the whole enchilada
I think we can all agree that Makita makes some pretty mean tools! Makita just released new high output 2.5 and 4ah 40v batteries with much more powerful cells that are suppose to slap much harder than these batteries so if that's even possible. Very excited to see the future for Makita XGT. The Makita earth augers vs Milwaukee hole hawg would also be awesome to see.
Even if it's bumped to third place for now I'm still happy the Hercules is at the top of the list until something else comes a long to replace it. Especially since HF was mainly advertising it to go against an older model of Milwaukee's and ended up beating their new replacement by accident. It tells me that HF is doing their best to improve so their stuff is better quality for the money. It would be neat to see them with their own stacked lithium packs in the future. But the new extreme batteries are very good for the money. :)
@@sergiohernandez7321 you’re pretty late to this. The offer ended a long time ago. Home Depot was selling the kit + a free tool (which ended up being a 4ah battery). I returned the “free” battery and after the refund the kit cost me $245. They did the same thing with the rear handle kit. After returning the “free” battery, this other kit cost me $200.
great video, id love to see you guys test some of the smaller drills, like the Atomic from Dewalt. Something for the person so wants a drill but isnt using it daily or even weekly.
I’ve been running flex drills 5-6 days a week for the past year and had no problems whatsoever. We do electrical and plumbing so lots of drilling and there’s not much the flex won’t go through. We also have the 40v drill that is about a year old and the chuck is starting to go out on it. Both are phenomenal tools, just have to pick off of budget and your occupation!
Omg I have been waiting for this one! Thank you so much for doing these awesome tests! Ok so this turned put just as I expected based on all the reviews I have watched. flex being just a tiny bit more powerful for a short time it can use its "turbo", and Makita being better otherwise. Also an interesting note, Makita just released BL4040F pack in Japan that has the same size as regular 4ah, but uses much more powerful cells and has 2100 max watt instead of 1400w this one does. 2.5ah pack is rated at 1050w btw
You'd figure the XGT would smoke the Flex with that battery. Its clear that the XGT is highly restricted, and that's a very, very good thing for the customer.
@@riba2233 people don't understand that driving a screw .030 seconds faster isn't everything in day to day work. Makita is IMO the best overall tool company
@@luisprieto4589 I agree, sold all my Milwaukee tools recently and purchased all new Makita tools to replace them with, I already had some Makita so it was not like I was starting a new platform from scratch. I am staying with 18v for now because I don't need 40v tools, my 18v are plenty powerful to get the job done.
The makita should be tested with the big 5ah or 8ah battery as well. Definitely an increase in power for their power hungry tools. Personally I would very rarely use a drill with such a big battery, but it would be interesting to see what it can do
I dont think those exist cuz its their 40v line and a 8ah 40v would have the same size as a 16ah 20v battery and i have never seen one of those. The other brands all use 20v as far as i saw so a 5ah 20v battery has the same capacity as a 2.5ah 40v battery
I have 40v it has the potential but is limited by makita slap a 120mm hole saw on it and squeeze the trigger and it gets going hard and fast but stops for some reason i think its like a durability thing they want them to last same for the reciprocating saw and sds hammerdrill
The dewalt DCD805/800 compact drills are some newer "XR" tools worth testing. Last gen dewalt/milwaukee drills would be nice to compare as well. Great info so far!
On a side note, if you have an M18 canister vacuum model-0882-20 that suddenly stopped working, don't throw it away! For some reason the electronics in these vacuums fail instantly from the tiniest bit of moisture, if you store the vacuum near your washer and dryer. Take it apart, remove the two electronic voltage regulators inside, and bypass the motor straight to the switch. Now the vacuum will put 100% power to the motor, the motor runs scorching hot, and the vacuum works amazing! You have to be mindful to not run the vacuum for a really long time, but they have an old fashion brushed motor in them that is made of solid steel, not a plastic frame motor. I've been running my 2 vacuums without voltage regulators for 1 year now.
You guys need to test the DCD130. I've run everything from twist drills to annular cutters in mine. Pretty sure I could use it to auger out a shallow well.
The DCD130 is a beast but it probably falls into the same category as the right-angle drills or hole hawgs. There is a video of a guy using one of those with a winch to pull himself up a wind turbine.
Good video. I'm slowly switching my stuff over to Makita. Had some Milwaukee that burnt up or the triggers went bad. I'm not sure flex will be around forever. Lowe's. don't keep stuff very long,IMO
@Torque Test Channel Modern drills probably need this feature advocated for. Would it be possible to do a video on it, or create a testable rating for it? My future wrist might thank you. (Or I could just stop drilling through metal that causes bits to seize up, but what fun would that be?) Increasing torque requires increased safety features.
you know what i've NEVER said about a drill? "This thing just isn't strong enough". You know what I've always said about a drill? "This thing runs out of power too fast." I'll take a lower output that lasts longer ANY DAY of a higher peak number. I want to drill MANY holes - I'm not boring to the center of the earth in a single go. If it's too strong it'll just twist my wrist off anyway. Make it light weight and last long and I'll use it.
I can speak from experience with the Makita. Me, my dad, my cousin and a few other coworkers have came close to breaking our wrists using these drills. Way too powerful in my opinion.
First off, love your channel! Second, it really frustrates me that "price" is factored into overall score. That is something that should be left to the consumer after the individual performance/ergonomics/reliability is tested. The Makita was the clear winner, not needing to put itself into limp mode after a hard run. The scores minus price would bear that out. A higher price is warranted for a higher quality tool.
@@TorqueTestChannel yeah, wonder whn they will ba available outside of japan. But I already made my own version some time ago with molicel p45b cells so it is 2000w and 4.5ah, I could call it BL4045F :)
As a builder of patios,pergolas and decks.we have installed thousands of screws,lags and nits and bolts, it seems like when we try a new platform of tools, we always go back to DeWalt for the same reason, batteries just seem to hold up better.
Makita has always electronically limited the power of their drills for longevity. Theyre so much better then milwaukee and dewalt ( i own all 3 brands)
interessting results, as a Carpenter max power on a Drill is rarely needed though still good to know how they stack up. Seen plenty of Makitas that look like they should've fallen apart years ago but still keep on working so thats the route i've gone but also have an older Dewalt that does the job just fine.
Agree, if you are taking your drill/driver up to max all day you will kill it quickly ( long coachscrews) you need a pilot or wax. I was a makita guy but I found a couple I bought didn’t run true, then the newer ones wore holes in the thumb side of my index finger. So I changed to Bosch, which run true, don’t wear holes in me and are lighter. I always preferred the 14.4 v jobs for lightness, but they almost disappeared. I can hear the eejits calling me a wimp, but at the end of a day screwing up ceilings you can feel the difference.
My mother still has an old corded Makita that was given to her years ago when I was a kid. The most basic of basic drills, has a keyed chuck and the trigger is non-variable. So it was meant for its' name sake of drilling holes and nothing else. :)
@@CrimeVid It's gotta be some kind of ego stroking thing or something when you get knocked on for using a tool that isn't a 20v. Most of my tools are the Hercules stuff but it is a mix of both 20v and 12v models. All of the Milwaukee stuff I bought is all the 12v model stuff and there's all handy when something else isn't around. I originally started buying the Hercules tools by getting my mother the 12v drill and she loves it. Has decent power for an older model, feels good in the hand, doesn't cramp your wrist and does what she wants it to do. Which is drive screws and drill holes. :)
@@CrimeVid never used the larger Bosch drills/drivers but used the 12V one quite a bit and for overhead installations or cramped conditions like inside cabinets theres nothing that beats it plenty of power for most work. I mean when you hang up a painting you dont get the Sledge out to drive the nail now do you? why anyone would tire themselves out unnecessarily if you have access to a lighter tool is beyond me.
@@Slane583 Old corded Drills are very hard to kill, got one thats a good 30 years old myself and still works perfectly fine. 12V systems are great, fully agree for the average homeowner they will probably do most jobs and even on the jobsite they are very very handy to have around, especially in tight quarters.
From what I've learned using Kobalt tools on the jobsite for the past 3 years, and watching these videos, Chervon likes to make tools that toe the line of being too powerful for their own good. My XTR drill/driver will put a 5 inch hole saw into sheet metal, or a step bit through stainless plate with my full weight down on it and barley even bog down, but it wall also overdraw a fully charged 6 amp hour battery so badly the charge controller thinks it's dead until you let it sit for a few seconds. And it gets HOT too, it'll shut itself down and give a distress signal if you push it that hard for too long, better than just letting itself burn up its own electronics though.
One thing i will say is when i was doing custom lighting for a job we ended up switching from those dewalts to milwaukee because the dewalts would get very jittery and hot then die every few months. Not sure if they just didnt like drilling through metal all the time or what but the milwaukees seemed to hold up better. My personal drills are actually the Hercules though, they do well with woodworking.
That hercules score is right on track there,its scored right above the milwaukee on the board,,and another great video in the books torque test,,thank you
I picked one up yesterday. HF has a deal now for 5ah battery, fast charger, free tool for $99. So half the price listed on this chart. It's amazing how premium that tool feels. I just need the Hercules brand to keep expanding.
I picked one up yesterday. HF has a deal now for 5ah battery, fast charger, free tool for $99. So half the price listed on this chart. It's amazing how premium that tool feels. I just need the Hercules brand to keep expanding.
This is good information to have. But I use tools like this professionally for a living and any of them are going to perform well enough where you're not going to notice any real difference for most jobs. If you are primarily using it to mix mud or something crazy like that I guess it would matter. If I do something like that I have an old corded heavy duty drill. In real life I think power-to-weight ratio would be the most important thing. As far as the best drill of the bunch I would say it is the Makita. I have the 999 DeWalt so I'm not biased when I say that. I think if you worked that flex drill hard or regular basis that it would fail prematurely. They're just putting big batteries in them and setting the electronics not to restrict the motor enough to prevent damage or premature wear and tear. Most people will not work it hard enough for it to be a problem but still. My 999 is not close to the most powerful of this bunch. But in real life I am able to take a 1 in or larger diameter masonry bit and drill through a concrete foundation wall without any problem. I had to run 1 inch conduit through a concrete block garage and I just happened to need to drill right where there is no hollow part, so it was going through 8 solid inches of hard concrete and it did it quickly and with no problem. Most of these companies limit their tools output in order to preserve the life of the tool long-term. That's actually a good thing unless you just want bragging rights or high performance in testing. Most of the time I'm drilling holes that are between 1/8 of an inch and a half inch, plus various sizes of paddle bits. I would say maximum grunt matters more on something like a circular saw or angle grinder. Or if you just work in a trade that requires every last bit of power possible. Most people don't need that even working in the trades. All of these drills perform pretty great for being battery powered. When I first started using these tools years ago back in the 90s they were pretty pathetic. When I started impact drivers did not even exist. If you were putting in screws you used a drill, and the best ones you could get were very weak. Battery powered tools today are pretty great.
During Christmas they dropped the combo kit for the Flex turbo and Impact to $249 + a free tool which was the best deal I’ve gotten on drills in years.
For me, it was when their Kobalt arm was selling the base drill and impact driver kit for $200 and you got a tool free, and one of the tools you could select was the $170 rotary hammer.
It would be pretty cool to see Makita etc put a Nitro mode on your tool, but you can only use it for x number of minutes total before the warranty is voided on the motor and electronics etc.
I would love to see the Bosch GSB18V-1330(C) which is currently being sold as a kit with the 5S2P 8Ah 21700 profactor battery for 200 dollarbux. I find that combination to be a beast, but would really like to see how it stacks up to the Makita.
I wanted to get a drill with a lot of torque for a very different purpose than most. I have a MoJack 750XT to lift my 840lb riding mower to clean under the mower deck (the front end is probably closer to 630lb). I break my 6 acres of field grass, weeds, Oregon mud, etc. into about 11/2 acres at a time which means I am out mowing about 4 times a week and have to clean the mower deck each time or the Oregon mud turns to cement (the grass stays pretty wet here in S. Oregon until the end of June). When looking around, it looked like the DeWalt DCD 998, the Makita in this test, and the Flex FX1271T would do the job. I ended up going with the Flex because the kit at Lowes had the stacked lithium 6.0 battery, the price with the 10% veterans discount, and the lifetime warranty (the warranty being the tie breaker with Dewalt being 3 years and the Makita being one year ). I use the low setting w/out the Turbo function because it lifts the tractor way too fast if I am not careful (can't imagine using the Turbo function). Did use the turbo function when I had to drill a dozen holes into a cement foundation. It blazed through the concrete and didn't cut out our get hot at all. However, not being a professional who has to drill all day, I can see why folks may go with another drill.
Tbh all of the big name drills and impacts are so powerful now that it really just comes down to what is most comfortable in your hand, your favorite colour and what batteries you already own
Also for me repair makita easy repair parts all simple not so with red ans yellow
Unless your job is to drill half inch holes in aluminum, forty hours a week. Then you start cursing at the xc 5.0, because the 6ah high output shakes loose of the contacts due to weight, and the 5.0 is a gutless, spineless sack.
@stauker.1960 if your job is to drill 1/2 holes in aluminum every day all day, Prozak wrote a song for you in the late 90's. Sorry for your luck
Yea def all capable nowadays
@@stauker.1960what’s your solution?
Honestly, this channel is Brilliant and seriously underrated. you're essentially doing the work these companies should be doing themselves and frankly translating their BS box numbers into something easily understood as a consumer. It's almost like these companies don't want you to understand anything about what they are selling you... Thank you for all that you do and keep up the great work.
The time when TTC was underrated is long gone I think😅
Agreed
The companies have already done this work probably with more sophisticated equipment. They just don't want to share this information with us. I can't say I really blame them, it's not like it would help the companies.
Il Milwaukee batteria 5 Ah
I don’t use a drill enough to warrant upgrading it. But when I do, I’ll come back to this video.
As long as you’ve bought one within the last 5 years you’re good. Brushless is a game changer. Also Lithium batteries hold a charge forever and will last years where the older ni-cad die off over time even without use. I’ll still see the older ones in use from time to time and I just have to ask “why?” Lol. Sometimes my drills will sit without use for weeks and I know when I reach for them they’ll still have a charge. The tech has come a long way.
@@Joepeoplesvii I have one of the shitty old brushed dewalts from 10 years ago lol the planetary carrier gear JB welded after I took it apart and lost balls out of the clutch. Still drills stuff
I’ve already come back to this video after seeing the DCD998W1 kit on sale at Lowe’s. ;)
@@emmettturner9452
I have a special need and can't use their drills because they have "hyperdrive". The trigger action is not smooth, at some point it shorts battery to the motor, and ZOOM. That's probably okay for almost everybody...
I remember reading this when I watched the video… and here I am back to see which new tool I’m going to buy
I'm a Milwaukee guy, but I've always had a secret crush on Makita.
Im the same way. I have Milwaukee, Flex, DeWalt and I’m looking at Makita like.. “why shouldn’t I?” 😂
Japans finest.
Theres so many dudes who would fight you over this comment.
Not I though, been a Makita dude forever lmao
@@jonomano3992 if I could go back I would have all Makita. There’s just something so satisfying about their designs.
Join us. You'll never replace a power tool again.
Mikita is killing it. Id love to see the relatively new bosch profactor 1330c or 12/compact 18v drills next
Yeah that, please include more Bosch tools in the future
Agreed, it should prove an interesting match
Yes, that "150Nm" (whatever that is in american things) Bosch is really powerful, feels like it has much more torque than my old metabo 1.1kW 230v drill...
@@semifavorableuncircle6952 150 Nm is 1330 in-lbs hence the re-labeling to GSB18V-1330 for North America
Would love to see the Bosch offerings tested as well as the Ridgid High Torque Hammer Drill
I’ve got the makita xgt and flex turbo both on my truck and you’re absolutely correct about your statement. If I need to tax the drill long and hard I grab the makita every time. Real world use I get about 5 minutes of turbo before the drill overheats and goes back into its regular mode which is in my opinion lack luster.
Excellent video! I love that Makita and have always felt like up to a certain point, it was the top dog. And that at the point, it just says "enough". Thanks for illustrating that so perfectly!
Shout out to Tinker. Great channel. Practical testing is needed to help frame these numbers
@@TorqueTestChannel Thank you!
y’all are two of my favorite channels out there and give us viewers a perfect comparison on dyno style and practical style. Keep up the great work guys!
@@thereloadingcraft Thanks man!
If Makita didn't care so much about longevity, it would had crushed everyone. Least hot, most composed tool doing it with ease
You can never go wrong with Makita. They command a higher price but they always deliver.
Worth every penny brother
@@IMPACT-NATION agree, just the trigger alone and feel is worth the premium.
@@luisprieto4589 absolutely
@@luisprieto4589 I own the XPH14 and ZDT19Z and I can't agree more. The best triggers out of all tools I own (Bosch, Milwaukee, Ryobi, Makita)
@@engineer_alv I have Makita, DeWalt, Ryobi, and Rigid, but I've used Milwaukee quite a bit too. Makita is my favorite for ergonomics and they just feel better made.
Makita's 8 ah XGT battery makes a huge difference on almost every test I've seen, although it's a little impractical.
Only for the price of 6 Hercules 8AH batteries, what a deal!!
I bought that Makita xgt soon after the early tests showed its superiority, but till this day noobs post about how disappointing performance it has. Thank you for settling it once and for all for the keyboard experts. And its not only the beans, everything is so superior about it, using it is a delight and the 2.5ah battery seems to outlast the giant 12-16ah batts if 18v tools (6-8ah equivalent in xgt). And its already old! So many years and still the greatest, and it just gets better on worksites as it never overheats or need a break, or even a fresh battery. Drills are not my most used tools but this one is a candidate for best powertool ever, if it wasnt for the jawdropping 7.5” xgt circular saws or the 3/4” xgt impactwrench i would hang the gold medal on this drill already.
2.5ah on a 40v is comparable to 5ah 18v for amount of energy in the battery
The last time I bought a Makita battery powered tool for my farm, was about 10 years ago. That's why I buy Makita.
The flex and The Makita Xgt are my most used hammer Drills I use them a ton for there torque for drilling metal
I bought the Makita xgt with 4ah battery 6 months ago while working on a house build. I like this unit! Drilled with a 5" hole saw through 4x2s and it will hut you!. Be prepared for a kick and fit the handle.
Definitely getting the Makita when an upgrade is needed
I've been watching your videos for about a year now and I can't tell you how much I appreciate the way you conduct your videos. You have the most amazing setup. Your lingo is spot on. The way you explain everything is easy for anyone to understand. You give so many more variations that one could even fathom. Well freaking done, sir. Hats off.
Bosch GSR 150 definitely needs to be included here, it's the top drill by torque according to tests by German channel Bauforum
Will do
@@TorqueTestChannel 👍 also wanted to give a suggestion, along with metabo hpt's 36v drill
@@riba2233 the new hikoki 36v that is
@@JohnSmith-ct7qr yeah
@@TorqueTestChannel Bosch vs Metabo-HitachiKoki? Tinkers right about the MHK being underrated
I was already wanting to get an xgt drill but you just sold me on one. I already have the xgt 3/4 impact and that things a beast
Yeah xgt tools slap hard!
Metabo hpt has surprised me in the past at how they compare to more known name brands. Their 36v drill would be an interesting one
See the Bosch "World's Strongest Drill" vs Snap-on and these here: th-cam.com/video/O6Zl_0mCgvE/w-d-xo.html
As always, the creator of this channels works in product development for Astro Tools, who also make air drills. Always consider multiples sources when looking at a tool!
I wouldn't really use a hammer drill to drill holes in concrete under almost any circumstance, but it might be a nice curiosity to include a test of their hammer functionality in case there is some weird outlier. Though, I wouldn't be surprised if it was just in direct proportion to the RPM of the drill.
@orijimi We've found nothing replaces drilling through good old-fashioned long cured concrete for that, so there's channels much better at the practical testing than us out there.
@@TorqueTestChannelFair. Numbers are just too fun.
Hilti and metabo need to be included
Awesome showdown. Would be interesting to see the head to head comparison between a standard cordless drill like these, and something like the cordless hole hawg (2707) meant for those prolonged use, high torque applications.
As a Dewalt fanboy, Makita smoked this competition. So smooth and refined, even on its cutout. Clearly made for the longgame. Flex looks like it will be up in smoke before too long.
And as a Dewalt fanyboy, the one thing this doesn't consider is trigger control for steel. Trying to hold say 800RPM with maximum power, some of these will struggle before others if they are geared higher. That's why I like the 3 speed gearbox, though it's largely superfluous these days. These all have plenty of power for steel drilling. But yeah, WTG Makita
I bought a Hercules drill 6 years ago when its price was half of the other name brand options. It performed very well for numerous jobs but makes very unhappy noises during use for the last 2 years. I'll stick with my advice on the Hercules, which is, if you don't rely on it for your livelihood, or if you're starting in the field, it's a good buy.
Agreed, it's my livelihood so I'm heavy into Makita, but even they break sometimes.
They do get heavy use though.
Present day Hercules is a completely different animal.
Hercules 5 year warranty
I did go check out the Hercules based on your videos. It felt cheaper than my other drills, didn’t really scream buy me. They had a test area for it and it seemed okay. I still prefer the fit and finish of other drills. Maybe in the future, but not today. I had the opposite reaction to the Flex, which was an immediate buy for me.
I probably agree with that. But hand feel is hard to score haha
I recommend trying the brushless Kobalt drill. It is also 24 volt Would be interesting to see what a Lowe's exclusive gets you
I would love to see the 18v Makita drills tested
Would love to see more Bosch representation in these. I also think you should do some testing of 12V screwdrivers, like the Bosch PS21N.
Bosch has kinda sucked for a while now. They do have some good tools, but not really cordless ones.
@@sonar610 really? I'm kind of a noob in that regard but in German Test videos bosch professional ist pretty comparable to Makita.
@@sonar610have you used any of them recently? What about them is not good? I have multiple brands including Bosch and I don’t have a bad thing to say about them.
@@paultasker9759 They're better with their super recent releases, but their initial core 18 sucked. Just underwhelming in every respect.
@sonar610 I was offered their cordless sanders by a rep and I couldn't pass up the deal offered. By far my favorites for cordless sanding. Only my festool setup is better.
Content clinic: how to make nerding out on cordless drill drivers into captivating video. Great stuff indeed. Nuron SF 4H- and 6H-22 please. I know they are not cheap, and the batteries neither, but interested to see what you pay for. Thanks!
Would like to see the Kobalt XTR and Metabo 36v drills tested along as well!
My 36volt metabo rocks in the field not sure how it would do in testing.
Also the Metabo power x3 would be nice to see in the dyno
@@nationlessnationalist I don’t use my drill a lot in my profession (oilfield) but I use there 1/2 and 3/4 impacts all the time. With the IP56 rating I’ve even had some guys move from Milwaukee to Metabo for that reason alone and love the products.
Metabo doesn't have a 36V drill, Hikoki/Metabo HPT does though..
You know Metabo and Metabo HPT are two completely different companies? Metabo tools are a high end German company mostly made in Germany and Metabo HPT is actually Hitachi with a name change and probably all made in China.
Though I can't think of an easy way to test it, I'd love to see a comparison of the longevity of the Makita versus the Flex. I hypothesize that the cost of the Makita is justified even more.
Yeah no way that flex lasts very long with that kind of run until she’s about to blow up configuration.
The lifetime warranty is going to be tough to beat, though…..
@@GiovanniGiorgo It's a 5 year warranty like the rest of the big brands
Still a lifetime warranty if you buy one this year, and with a standard 5 year warranty after 2023 is over, very competitive.
It bothers me that they don't just make the lifetime warranty permanent. They keep extending it which makes them look a bit desperate imo.
Great test as usual, I wish you tested metabo hpt 36v hammer drill too. It would shock you!
I love to see Flex actually producing good performance. It's nice knowing they are bringing competition to what used to be just team red versus yellow
Ya and all you have to get is a 230$ 6AH battery to keep up lmao
It'll keep up for about 2 maybe 3 good pulls then it's at the back of the pack. While Makita will be running all day long, it's the real working tool not just a "Flex" on the bigger brands.
Team teal has always been the drill king
It was never team red vs yellow. It's always been green.
@@JacobyStevens The Milwaukee battery in the video is also $200
Pretty impressive performance from Flex there. And I will say they do live up to their name, look at that handle and it really is flexing a lot more than the others! Another way I would like to see these tested is starting up against the load this is where I think the cutout thing is most aggravating. Starting up gradually against the load as one of the most needed abilities, a lot of especially brushless models struggle do this without cutting out. I also would like to see your highest output Ridgid, Bosch and Kobalt models, and I would really love to see the m18 superhawg and the Bauer version of it, I'd really love to see those tested. TTC is an awesome channel and I always enjoy your videos! Thanks!
I'm glad I invested in Makita and Milwaukee M12 (for around the house)
Its gotten to the point that power is no longer the differentiating factor as any of these will likely get the job doe. Chuck, weight, cost, ergonomics, battery price and tool family could make the decision for you. Thanks for making these videos, I'll bet it has been a big "driver" in getting these manufacturers to continually up their games.
That head bending on the flex is nerve wracking.
We support the tools in a non ideal way. But we also don't have room for handles often. So just bottom it out against the vehicle like here
Would love to see the strongest Makita 18v on the chart for an apples-to-apples comparison.
XGT is awesome, but even if you're already on Makita's LXT 18v, it's like investing into another brand platform anyway.
Mate, this is the best channel I've found that helps me buy the right powertool. I'm looking at buying the makita 40v drill and impact kit. Watching this it seems like a good purchase. In Emgland they sell 2 different kits. One drill is HP001G which is the better drill, and the other is HP002 which is a bit cheaper but half as powerful. With there being £40 difference in price.
This may be worth mentioning on your channel. Justice the milwakee pipe cutter. The raptor Inox cuts stainless steel and copper pipe it slices like a knife through butter. However, Milwakee sell a copper only cutter so I made the mistake in buying the wrong one. If we buy a pipe cutter, we may as well go for the Raptor Inox that cuts everything.
Thanks for sharing mate
As an owner of the Makita I'm glad to see that it did well. The one thing I like about it is that I can use it nonstop without it shutting down or feeling hot. I use it for drilling steel and like how much power it has at low speeds. I don't feel Makita pushes the battery or motor just to make it look good. I've had 1/2" Compact Impact that I've been using for 10+ years that just now bit the dust. And that thing was abused.
I’m in the same boat. It’s a wrist saver too, if a bit bites the drill stops rather than rip your hand off
Great Job....
I'm a Makita Fan. I'm not saying they are the best at everything, but... They don't make any junk. Using the tool normally, for normal work, you will not be disappointed.
All these makers kind of "trap" you in their battery "ecosystem".... You could be in a LOT worse places than stuck in the Makita Ecosystem....
Metabo and bosch are both underrated. They're not always power kings, but the features and quality are stand out.
Bosch biturbo is the best
We use bosch as aviation mechanics and god damn are they bulletproof. We beat the shit out of them regularly and they just keep chuggin’.
Now the power tests are a game changer. This is the stuff most power tools are in real life subjected to. Well done indeed.
One thing to consider are the gearing. Some of the drills have considerably taller gearing than others. Perhaps a % of their max would be better stopping point. While at it peak all out power would be cool to know, however not that useful for real life context.
I attempted to measure some midrange18V makita drills peak current draw synced with voltage.
This ended up in 1 kW range.
With the Makita 5 AH and 8AH batteries are with a marking "F" meaning high output. 4 AH is well known to be no more or even less powerful than the 2.5AH one.
I have the drill with all but the 8AH pack - let me tell you, the 5AH pack makes a difference.
I have abused the drill to hell and back - from mixing concrete to smashing huge holesaws. It never breaks a sweat and is smooth and comfy on the hand while doing so.
Battery lasts forever, any one of those.
I'd like to see the flex in nonturbo mode, as well, considering that is how it appears to be designed to be used most of the time.
Fantastic testing. The Makita 40V was a surprise.
Makita rarely disappoints. Solid and well made and they last a long time. I’ll keep ridin’ with Makita.
1 KW peak!
I recall my first cordless drills from the late '90s with NiCd batteries, at 4.8 V and 9.6 Volt were capable of delivering an astonishing 50 Watts.
Those ancient tools were just a shadow of the tools you tested here, but they were a lifesaver for my electronic job, drilling circuit boards, heatsinks and front panels.
I have both 12 and 29 Volts modern drill and driver now, and they deliver incredible power...
Awesome video, as always! I know they're really a different class of drill, but I'd love to see how some of the big right angle drills like Milwaukee's hole hawg or super hawg.
I have the DCD998. I wanted the 8 ah battery. It was such a huge upgrade from my first dewalt drill which I think it was the dcd771. I actually have to use the cluth and speed settings to be safe with my wrists.
I love my Makita XGT drill, and I'm not surprised at the result. The thing is a beast, it laughs at common tasks, and I have no doubt it will outlive the Flex several times over given what you said about the heat.
It also has bar none the best clutch setup I've ever used on a drill. It really is too good for words. Can't imagine needing more out of a hand drill.
Lol it's an embarrassment they needed to add 22 v to keep up with everyone else 😂
@@johnthumble5154 the batteries use the same ten count 18650 cells as their 18v and everyone else's also, just wired totally in series. I would not be surprised if their flagship 18v drill was right in the running, as watts out is proportional to watts in--though I haven't used it.
The reason for the 40v existing is for their even higher power dual 40 tools.
@@nominalvelocity completely irrelevant. If Makita had not of brought out 40v they would have been replaced by Ryobi
trololol
@@nominalvelocity lol what...that's all you've got? That's the kind of response you expect from a flat earther 😂
Theses drills are fantastic! I am thinking about the Bosch GSB18V-1330CN. Love to see it in a test.
You got it
Would like to see how the new Ridgid units would stack up against the ones already tested.
Good drill but Ridgid nerfed their batteries hardcore except for the EXP 8ah.
I have a Flex drill, but before I got the Flex drill, I got the Ridgid High torque drill (March 2023), but I wasn't able to dig 4x4 fence post holes with it (yes I should use a real gas powered auger, but I wanted an excuse to buy a high powered drill lol, used a regular 6'' diameter auger bit). The Ridgid is a great, powerful drill, but the batteries are massively holding them back, the regular 4ah and the "max output" 4ah are JUNK (EVE/Lishen cells), and I didn't want to spend the money for the actual high output EXP 8ah battery with samsung 21700 cells, and there were no octanes available. The voltage would drop too low digging the holes and would cut out. Note that I could hardly hang on before they would cut out lol, the drill has got some serious power till the voltage drops too low.
The Flex drill with the default 5.0 could dig one hole much easier, especially once it kicked into "low rpm high torque mode", it made hanging onto it much easier. I also had the 6.0ah stacked, but I honestly didn't need to use it, but I imagine it would dig them faster and overheat the tool lol.
I'd love to see this test as well, I have two 9ah octane batteries , 3 octane 3ah and a max 6ah all basically new I'd be willing to send in some for stats
I want to see the big octane hammer drill vs their new max output. The octane boasted some high tq figure. I have it and know it will break 1/2 hss bits if they bind. Mine finally stripped something out inside though and im too lazy to do lsa, and afraid of the replacement being the newer lower power version.
@@D3M3NT3Dstrang3r The new Ridgid High Torque is pretty powerful, but hamstrung by the new batteries hardcore. Put an Octane battery on it, and I'm sure it'll be within 10% of the Octane Drill. New batteries are crap except for maybe the 8ah exp.
There are a few high power drills you could test aswell Bosch GSR18V-1330CN, (German) Metabo BS 18 LTX-3 BL Q ,Metabo HPT DS18DBL2Q4 and either Hilti's old SF 10W-A22 ATC or new Nuron SF 6H-22
The sheer strength of these tools is nuts!❤
Still missing the biggest Bosch, I absolutely love that monster!
And also Bauforum24 from Germany tested that Bosch to make 80Nm! With a calibrated tool!
That flex will tear itself apart. Absolutely monstrous power on hand. Wack marketing or not, thats impressive.
Excellent video and test. Thanks a lot!
I would love to see the Bosch GSB18V-1330CN tested.
XGT is in a league of its own. More or less matches all out efforts of 21700 stacked drills without breaking a sweat
😊😅😊
Right off the bat we’re “above average”. Flattery will get you everything TTC. ❤❤
Any chance of you guys ever doing an ecosystem test? It's nice to see what is the best of the individual tools but how many people want to (or can) go out & buy the chargers, batteries, etc for a new brand ecosystem. I think it'd be awesome to a test/review of the different tool ecosystems to help those who are looking to buy their first or upgrade.
Example: I was looking for compact 12v system a few years ago & went with Milwaukee just because of their options & reputation. I'm certainly not disappointed but I would have loved to have the kind of info you guys give on whether or not that is the best for the money I was spending. Same goes with 18v, I went from Rigid to Milwaukee for the same reasons (and seeing how well big red tests here). I'm sure there are plenty who can't drop $800+ on a starter pack of cordless tools & would benefit from that kind of info (apples to apples like you guys do). Just a thought... Thanks for all the effort you put into these!
uh... 6:20 the flex is living up to its name and TWISTING THE ENTIRE DRILL BODY! That drill has got more beans than its container is designed for!
You can buy the Hercules kit with the 2.5AH battery and charger for $97 at harbor freight. I already owned battery and charger so I picked one up on sale for $69 for the tool only which at that price point it cant be touched.
I think you need to fix that price unless you are factoring in the 8ah extreme performance battery.
It's with the 8ah. It does poorly in comparison to these with a 2.5
@@TorqueTestChannel ok that makes sense then. I bought it based on your last videos from already buying the impact driver and 1/2 inch impact wrench and 8AH battery so for $69 you cant beat it. Not to mention taking it back to the store and getting a brand new one for free within 5 years if anything happens. I like Flex as well but based on this video I am glad I went with the Hercules over the Flex since its like you said push it hard for couple minutes and it basically goes into limp mode.
The pricing is so difficult with these... I would prefer just the bare-tool price as the standard for comparison, but totally get why TTC uses the 'kit' pricing for their rankings. HF is going to be at a disadvantage since they are best purchased piecemeal using coupons; I just recently purchased the hammer drill for $68 and you can get 2 8ah batteries right now for $120! It's hard to argue with that price model, especially for non-professionals!
@@DustinStasek We do use bare tool in other comparisons, but with the huge difference battery makes on these tests it's hard to not include the whole enchilada
@@TorqueTestChannel Makes total sense and that was in no way a criticism of your methodology; love the channel and content!
I think we can all agree that Makita makes some pretty mean tools! Makita just released new high output 2.5 and 4ah 40v batteries with much more powerful cells that are suppose to slap much harder than these batteries so if that's even possible. Very excited to see the future for Makita XGT.
The Makita earth augers vs Milwaukee hole hawg would also be awesome to see.
I think they only released a new 4ah bl4040f version, haven't heard anything about the new 2.5ah version
Where can I find info Ilona the new makita batteries if I may ask? I can't find anything
@@danabenjamin3300 try typing bl4040f, but most info about it is in Japanese currently
Will do and thanks again riba!
Even if it's bumped to third place for now I'm still happy the Hercules is at the top of the list until something else comes a long to replace it. Especially since HF was mainly advertising it to go against an older model of Milwaukee's and ended up beating their new replacement by accident. It tells me that HF is doing their best to improve so their stuff is better quality for the money. It would be neat to see them with their own stacked lithium packs in the future. But the new extreme batteries are very good for the money. :)
I managed to get the Makita 40v drill and impact kit for $250. Super happy with them!
From where??
@@sergiohernandez7321 you’re pretty late to this. The offer ended a long time ago. Home Depot was selling the kit + a free tool (which ended up being a 4ah battery). I returned the “free” battery and after the refund the kit cost me $245. They did the same thing with the rear handle kit. After returning the “free” battery, this other kit cost me $200.
great video, id love to see you guys test some of the smaller drills, like the Atomic from Dewalt. Something for the person so wants a drill but isnt using it daily or even weekly.
I’ve been running flex drills 5-6 days a week for the past year and had no problems whatsoever. We do electrical and plumbing so lots of drilling and there’s not much the flex won’t go through. We also have the 40v drill that is about a year old and the chuck is starting to go out on it. Both are phenomenal tools, just have to pick off of budget and your occupation!
Omg I have been waiting for this one! Thank you so much for doing these awesome tests! Ok so this turned put just as I expected based on all the reviews I have watched. flex being just a tiny bit more powerful for a short time it can use its "turbo", and Makita being better otherwise. Also an interesting note, Makita just released BL4040F pack in Japan that has the same size as regular 4ah, but uses much more powerful cells and has 2100 max watt instead of 1400w this one does. 2.5ah pack is rated at 1050w btw
You'd figure the XGT would smoke the Flex with that battery. Its clear that the XGT is highly restricted, and that's a very, very good thing for the customer.
@@luisprieto4589 yeah it has smart digital limits for sure. luckily they are not set too low
@@riba2233 people don't understand that driving a screw .030 seconds faster isn't everything in day to day work. Makita is IMO the best overall tool company
@@luisprieto4589 I agree, sold all my Milwaukee tools recently and purchased all new Makita tools to replace them with, I already had some Makita so it was not like I was starting a new platform from scratch. I am staying with 18v for now because I don't need 40v tools, my 18v are plenty powerful to get the job done.
@@riba2233the flex tool has dumb digital limits. Those things will never hold up too hard use compared to the other three brands.
Great timing. I was looking into buying one last week. I couldn't find recent videos. Especially with the m12 gen 3 and m18 gen 4
The makita should be tested with the big 5ah or 8ah battery as well. Definitely an increase in power for their power hungry tools. Personally I would very rarely use a drill with such a big battery, but it would be interesting to see what it can do
I dont think those exist cuz its their 40v line and a 8ah 40v would have the same size as a 16ah 20v battery and i have never seen one of those. The other brands all use 20v as far as i saw so a 5ah 20v battery has the same capacity as a 2.5ah 40v battery
@troybakker7628 they definitely exist I have both the 8 and 5amp and they provide a big power boost over the 2.5 and 4
@@troybakker7628 The 8Ah 40V batteries have existed for awhile. They're bundled in with the 80V XGT comcrete saw.
I have 40v it has the potential but is limited by makita slap a 120mm hole saw on it and squeeze the trigger and it gets going hard and fast but stops for some reason i think its like a durability thing they want them to last same for the reciprocating saw and sds hammerdrill
The dewalt DCD805/800 compact drills are some newer "XR" tools worth testing.
Last gen dewalt/milwaukee drills would be nice to compare as well. Great info so far!
agreed, I have the 805! Its a cute little drill, but it has a tendency to get kinda hot after drilling into studs for an hour
I like my milwaukee its light small and still strong af. I have to use the handle it comes with every now and then
Hard pass on the Flex for me. I have a bunch of M18 tools, but the Makita won this one in my books by a mile.
On a side note, if you have an M18 canister vacuum model-0882-20 that suddenly stopped working, don't throw it away! For some reason the electronics in these vacuums fail instantly from the tiniest bit of moisture, if you store the vacuum near your washer and dryer. Take it apart, remove the two electronic voltage regulators inside, and bypass the motor straight to the switch. Now the vacuum will put 100% power to the motor, the motor runs scorching hot, and the vacuum works amazing! You have to be mindful to not run the vacuum for a really long time, but they have an old fashion brushed motor in them that is made of solid steel, not a plastic frame motor. I've been running my 2 vacuums without voltage regulators for 1 year now.
You guys need to test the DCD130. I've run everything from twist drills to annular cutters in mine. Pretty sure I could use it to auger out a shallow well.
The DCD130 is a beast but it probably falls into the same category as the right-angle drills or hole hawgs. There is a video of a guy using one of those with a winch to pull himself up a wind turbine.
@@jeansdavid And? Test that MF. TTC isn't government appropriations. They make informative entertainment and we love them for it.
Good video. I'm slowly switching my stuff over to Makita. Had some Milwaukee that burnt up or the triggers went bad. I'm not sure flex will be around forever. Lowe's. don't keep stuff very long,IMO
When does the torque become dangerous? I've had bits suddenly stick, causing the drill to suddenly spin hard in my hand, leaving my wrist sore.
Modern models with cut out when that happens is the way
The FLEX has that, for instance.
Flex Milwaukee gen 4 and Makita xgt have auto kick back it stops before you can hurt yourself
@Torque Test Channel Modern drills probably need this feature advocated for. Would it be possible to do a video on it, or create a testable rating for it? My future wrist might thank you. (Or I could just stop drilling through metal that causes bits to seize up, but what fun would that be?) Increasing torque requires increased safety features.
you know what i've NEVER said about a drill? "This thing just isn't strong enough". You know what I've always said about a drill? "This thing runs out of power too fast." I'll take a lower output that lasts longer ANY DAY of a higher peak number. I want to drill MANY holes - I'm not boring to the center of the earth in a single go. If it's too strong it'll just twist my wrist off anyway. Make it light weight and last long and I'll use it.
I can speak from experience with the Makita. Me, my dad, my cousin and a few other coworkers have came close to breaking our wrists using these drills. Way too powerful in my opinion.
Sounds like you need bigger forearms buddy .
If your not strong enough for a drill try using an impact
First off, love your channel! Second, it really frustrates me that "price" is factored into overall score. That is something that should be left to the consumer after the individual performance/ergonomics/reliability is tested. The Makita was the clear winner, not needing to put itself into limp mode after a hard run. The scores minus price would bear that out. A higher price is warranted for a higher quality tool.
A watts from the battery vs watts measured on your dyno would be interesting.
You got the correct two ...I've had many brands over the years and the Makita and the Flex are the two that I still own
Makita have just released the high output 40V 4ah battery :)
The one used here is 21700 cells
@@TorqueTestChannel they just released a new 4ah model (BL4040F) in japan, with more powerful 21700 cells, 2100w instead of 1400w
@@riba2233good to know!
@@TorqueTestChannel yeah, wonder whn they will ba available outside of japan. But I already made my own version some time ago with molicel p45b cells so it is 2000w and 4.5ah, I could call it BL4045F :)
Realy will be God speed then crush all the other beasts..
As a builder of patios,pergolas and decks.we have installed thousands of screws,lags and nits and bolts, it seems like when we try a new platform of tools, we always go back to DeWalt for the same reason, batteries just seem to hold up better.
The strongest Bosch drill should perform well on the list if used with a 8ah procore (21700) battery
My makita seams to have a insane torque the first second of use. It kicks like a mule. I would love no know how much that is.
Makita has always electronically limited the power of their drills for longevity.
Theyre so much better then milwaukee and dewalt ( i own all 3 brands)
Yep
interessting results, as a Carpenter max power on a Drill is rarely needed though still good to know how they stack up.
Seen plenty of Makitas that look like they should've fallen apart years ago but still keep on working so thats the route i've gone but also have an older Dewalt that does the job just fine.
Agree, if you are taking your drill/driver up to max all day you will kill it quickly ( long coachscrews) you need a pilot or wax. I was a makita guy but I found a couple I bought didn’t run true, then the newer ones wore holes in the thumb side of my index finger. So I changed to Bosch, which run true, don’t wear holes in me and are lighter. I always preferred the 14.4 v jobs for lightness, but they almost disappeared. I can hear the eejits calling me a wimp, but at the end of a day screwing up ceilings you can feel the difference.
My mother still has an old corded Makita that was given to her years ago when I was a kid. The most basic of basic drills, has a keyed chuck and the trigger is non-variable. So it was meant for its' name sake of drilling holes and nothing else. :)
@@CrimeVid It's gotta be some kind of ego stroking thing or something when you get knocked on for using a tool that isn't a 20v. Most of my tools are the Hercules stuff but it is a mix of both 20v and 12v models. All of the Milwaukee stuff I bought is all the 12v model stuff and there's all handy when something else isn't around. I originally started buying the Hercules tools by getting my mother the 12v drill and she loves it. Has decent power for an older model, feels good in the hand, doesn't cramp your wrist and does what she wants it to do. Which is drive screws and drill holes. :)
@@CrimeVid never used the larger Bosch drills/drivers but used the 12V one quite a bit and for overhead installations or cramped conditions like inside cabinets theres nothing that beats it plenty of power for most work.
I mean when you hang up a painting you dont get the Sledge out to drive the nail now do you? why anyone would tire themselves out unnecessarily if you have access to a lighter tool is beyond me.
@@Slane583 Old corded Drills are very hard to kill, got one thats a good 30 years old myself and still works perfectly fine.
12V systems are great, fully agree for the average homeowner they will probably do most jobs and even on the jobsite they are very very handy to have around, especially in tight quarters.
From what I've learned using Kobalt tools on the jobsite for the past 3 years, and watching these videos, Chervon likes to make tools that toe the line of being too powerful for their own good. My XTR drill/driver will put a 5 inch hole saw into sheet metal, or a step bit through stainless plate with my full weight down on it and barley even bog down, but it wall also overdraw a fully charged 6 amp hour battery so badly the charge controller thinks it's dead until you let it sit for a few seconds. And it gets HOT too, it'll shut itself down and give a distress signal if you push it that hard for too long, better than just letting itself burn up its own electronics though.
One thing i will say is when i was doing custom lighting for a job we ended up switching from those dewalts to milwaukee because the dewalts would get very jittery and hot then die every few months. Not sure if they just didnt like drilling through metal all the time or what but the milwaukees seemed to hold up better. My personal drills are actually the Hercules though, they do well with woodworking.
That hercules score is right on track there,its scored right above the milwaukee on the board,,and another great video in the books torque test,,thank you
I picked one up yesterday. HF has a deal now for 5ah battery, fast charger, free tool for $99. So half the price listed on this chart. It's amazing how premium that tool feels. I just need the Hercules brand to keep expanding.
I picked one up yesterday. HF has a deal now for 5ah battery, fast charger, free tool for $99. So half the price listed on this chart. It's amazing how premium that tool feels. I just need the Hercules brand to keep expanding.
This is good information to have. But I use tools like this professionally for a living and any of them are going to perform well enough where you're not going to notice any real difference for most jobs. If you are primarily using it to mix mud or something crazy like that I guess it would matter. If I do something like that I have an old corded heavy duty drill. In real life I think power-to-weight ratio would be the most important thing.
As far as the best drill of the bunch I would say it is the Makita. I have the 999 DeWalt so I'm not biased when I say that.
I think if you worked that flex drill hard or regular basis that it would fail prematurely. They're just putting big batteries in them and setting the electronics not to restrict the motor enough to prevent damage or premature wear and tear. Most people will not work it hard enough for it to be a problem but still.
My 999 is not close to the most powerful of this bunch. But in real life I am able to take a 1 in or larger diameter masonry bit and drill through a concrete foundation wall without any problem. I had to run 1 inch conduit through a concrete block garage and I just happened to need to drill right where there is no hollow part, so it was going through 8 solid inches of hard concrete and it did it quickly and with no problem.
Most of these companies limit their tools output in order to preserve the life of the tool long-term. That's actually a good thing unless you just want bragging rights or high performance in testing.
Most of the time I'm drilling holes that are between 1/8 of an inch and a half inch, plus various sizes of paddle bits.
I would say maximum grunt matters more on something like a circular saw or angle grinder. Or if you just work in a trade that requires every last bit of power possible. Most people don't need that even working in the trades.
All of these drills perform pretty great for being battery powered. When I first started using these tools years ago back in the 90s they were pretty pathetic. When I started impact drivers did not even exist. If you were putting in screws you used a drill, and the best ones you could get were very weak. Battery powered tools today are pretty great.
During Christmas they dropped the combo kit for the Flex turbo and Impact to $249 + a free tool which was the best deal I’ve gotten on drills in years.
For me, it was when their Kobalt arm was selling the base drill and impact driver kit for $200 and you got a tool free, and one of the tools you could select was the $170 rotary hammer.
Was that in store or online?
Just a few suggestions: Bosch GSB 18V-150, Hilti SF 6-22, Metabo BS 18 LTX BL (with PowerX3 just for fun), Festool TPC 18, Hikoki DS36DCW2Z, Panasonic EY7450X, Mafell ASB 18 , Fein ASCM 18 QM, SKIL 3070.
My Milwaukee has treated me very good for the last year. My dad has a flex hammer drill and he loves it. All these tools are good
Love how you comment on the Flex’s bar life and than show none of the other brands battery bars. Real unbiased.
It would be pretty cool to see Makita etc put a Nitro mode on your tool, but you can only use it for x number of minutes total before the warranty is voided on the motor and electronics etc.
Wouldn’t mind seeing how the Hitachi & Hilti lithium range goes head to head? But big step up when you compare the price.
Festool would be interesting but expensive as well
I would love to see the Bosch GSB18V-1330(C) which is currently being sold as a kit with the 5S2P 8Ah 21700 profactor battery for 200 dollarbux. I find that combination to be a beast, but would really like to see how it stacks up to the Makita.
Deal
I’d like to see a similar test with the smaller 12v drills. I hate dragging around a drill with those monster batteries hanging off the bottom.
The M12 Fuel is the best in the 12v category. That's what I keep in my grab bag
@@evictioncarpentry2628 I think it probably is too but let’s see what the dyno testing says.
I wanted to get a drill with a lot of torque for a very different purpose than most. I have a MoJack 750XT to lift my 840lb riding mower to clean under the mower deck (the front end is probably closer to 630lb). I break my 6 acres of field grass, weeds, Oregon mud, etc. into about 11/2 acres at a time which means I am out mowing about 4 times a week and have to clean the mower deck each time or the Oregon mud turns to cement (the grass stays pretty wet here in S. Oregon until the end of June). When looking around, it looked like the DeWalt DCD 998, the Makita in this test, and the Flex FX1271T would do the job. I ended up going with the Flex because the kit at Lowes had the stacked lithium 6.0 battery, the price with the 10% veterans discount, and the lifetime warranty (the warranty being the tie breaker with Dewalt being 3 years and the Makita being one year ). I use the low setting w/out the Turbo function because it lifts the tractor way too fast if I am not careful (can't imagine using the Turbo function). Did use the turbo function when I had to drill a dozen holes into a cement foundation. It blazed through the concrete and didn't cut out our get hot at all. However, not being a professional who has to drill all day, I can see why folks may go with another drill.
I love that you read Word for Word the entire title of the product name