Makita 6347DWDE 18-Volt Cordless Driver-Drill Kit (2-Speed, Variable Speed, Reversible)

At this price, get it while you can!, April 16, 2005

When I first saw the 18-volt powerhouse Makita 6347DWDE drill at this price I thought it was too good to be true and quite possibly a misprint. I had to read the description and the fine print a few times before making my order.

With a retail price of over $500, the eventual $125 I paid after the $50 manufacturer’s rebate and $25 off from Amazon made this one of the best value purchases I’ve ever made.

The benefits of owning quality power tools go without saying. And take it from me, Makita is a name you can trust. This is not a toy … it is the real deal. Don’t settle for good when you can have the very best.

My apologies for not going into a feature-by-feature commentary, but all that would do is delay the inevitable. Man, don’t hesitate a second longer — get this while you can and then call all your friends to make sure they get one of their own. You absolutely can’t go wrong here.

Note: I also highly recommend the Makita 784874-A 15-Piece UltraLoc Set as a super enhancement to this drill.

Great light weight and power, February 9, 2005
I bought this drill after borrowing my friend’s for a fence project. It had more than enough power and charge for me to finish one line of fence without switching to a new battery. Loved the fact that the screws went in nice and easy. Even nicer was the size and weight - felt more like a 14.4 V drill than an 18V in my hand. I’ve had Makita tools before and most my friends swear by them so reliability and durability are a major bonus.

Only concern is that many of the new Makitas are made in China and Mexico - don’t know how quality will be affected. But this drill’s made in Buford, Georgia so that’s a moot point. Get this drill

Makita at their best well, almost, April 30, 2005
I have the Makita Mforce 18 volt drill/driver and the 14.4 volt as well. Both are well balanced and comfortable during extended use.

I like the clutch lock out feature for drilling, no longer having to set and reset the torque setting when switching from drilling to driving. This drill has the torque to get the job done.

The weight of the 18 volt is just bearly noticable when compared to the 14.4 model.

The negative for me is the speed switch. This switch requires some force to move it from high to low or vise-versa.

Battery life is above average with the two batteries that are included, it should make it through any project.

I have several other “top shelf” drills, each having plus or minus attributes, but I will have to give Makita the pick for my first choice. It has good balance and doesn’t wear you out using it.

The price, the quality, the feel make this drill a winner.

Almost perfect., October 25, 2004
In truth, I would give this beautifully performing unit a 4.5 stars. But since the choice was between 4 or 5 stars, I figured 5 would be closer to the truth. I have used this unit daily for over a year with no problems whatsoever. It’s charge lasts a long time under a good deal of abuse (drilling through metal etc). It’s metal gears are very durable. The power is very good as well. I wish it did have 450lbs of torque, though. Our 14.4 volt Dewalt has a little more power. But it’s not as durable. So a tradeoff I guess. I would take my Makita over the Dewalt though.

shock and awe, in a blue package…, February 27, 2004
Disregard all unfavorable reviews…this drill is yet another work of art from Makita! Perfect ergonomics and balance, even with a hefty 18V battery you still get incredible control and precision, instead of sweating and straining to keep the darn thing perpendicular to the drilling surface as with cheaper drills. This is my second Makita drill, the first one was a smaller 14.4v which I’ll pass on to my wife because it’s lighter.

I love America, born and bred, but gotta hand it to the Japanese: when it comes to anything electric (or gasoline-powered, for that matter) they kick our butts left and right! Sony TVs, Toshiba laptops, Lexus autos, Honda motorcycles…anything that doesn’t blow up things and kill people, the Japanese simply have perfected.

Have used DeWalt drills before, they were just a little bit better than Black and Decker (the mother company) which doesn’t justify the big price jump. Porter Cable has good power but tends to weigh a ton and their chucks are spotty.

Viva Makita!

solid drill with a few caveats, November 11, 2003
This is my third makita drill so I consider myself biased. I don’t use it all day but I need a quality drill for household repairs. The electric makita drill I’ve had now for fifteen years and it still runs fine. My second, I bought one of those 9 volt drills when the first cordless drills came out. I good drill but it’s for light work. The batteries on this I’ve used all day without a recharge, alot longer than the models a few years ago. I’ve had problems with the chuck though. On many occasions the drill bit will come loose with smaller bits. The cap has come loose. Still it’s put up with all the abuse I’ve given it.

ALL THE POWER YOU NEED!, November 2, 2003
The Shift Lock Drive System is the easiest clutch lockout I’ve ever used. Two 2.6 amp-hour batteries and the quick charger can keep you going with out delays. Balance and the light weight make this easy to use, the 18-volt power makes it a pleasure.

Makita 18 Volt MForce Cordless Drill, September 7, 2003
I have been using this excellent tool for various household repair and installation jobs for three months. In comparison to previous NiCad battery cordless drills I have used, the Ni-MH batteries supplied with the drill give considerably longer use time between charges. The drill is also much lighter than lower voltage NiCad battery drills I have owned such as Craftsman models. The torque is outstanding for a drill this size even when using three inch drywall screws in wood. I really like the feel and sounds of the drill, they just express quality like the muffled latch of a closing door on a Lexus sedan. The feeling that I am using a high quality tool has alone justified the higher price I paid for the drill. … I am extremely happy with this purchase and the performance.

A small bundle of power, August 21, 2003
I purchased this drill a couple of months ago and found it a pleasure to use. While I looks to be a similar size as other cordless drills, this drill is so well balanced that it does not feel big. The torque is great giving the power to drive long screws when needed, but sensitive enough to not strip out the heads. If I could, I would buy another to have a drill for both hands, but one is enough.