Power Tools for Apprentices – 3 Must-Haves from Makita
Posted by Toolstop on 7th Jan 2018
Anyone starting out in the trades needs to have some semblance of power tool kit at their disposal. This will help you learn your trade and allow you to work on-site without having to beg or borrow (never steal!) anyone else’s power tools.
In this Toolstop Guide, we’ll share 3 must-have tools by Makita that every apprentice should own.
Each of the tools is cordless and will have a body-only version (click here to read more about the benefits of buying body-only cordless tools). The key benefit of buying into just one battery platform is the ability to swap the batteries you own between the tools, keeping your initial outlay costs lower, and allowing you much more functionality from your cordless kit.
Combi-Drill for Apprentices – Which Makita to Buy?
A combi-drill is a must-have power tool for any apprentice and will serve you whatever the trade you’re working in, from electrician, joiner or plumber. A combi-drill will have two speeds, low speed and high torque for screw driving applications, and high speed for drilling.
In addition to this, it has a hammer mode, selectable via the torque ring, which gives you the ability to drill into brick or masonry. Ideal for setting up fixings in walls, for example.
Toolstop’s Pick for Makita Combi-Drill for Apprentices
Makita DHP458RF3J 18V Cordless li-ion Compact 2-speed Combi Drill (3 x 3.0Ah Batteries)
We’ve chosen this Makita combi-drill because it comes with 3 batteries and a charger, so it’s the ideal tool to start with, and the two batteries will allow you to power any other 18v LXT Makita cordless tool.
The batteries are 3Ah, which is at the lower end of today’s battery charge capacity, but 3Ah is more than enough to power you through most of the jobs you’ll need the combi-drill for during the day, plus you get three batteries in the kit which amounts to a whopping 9Ah of charge to use throughout the day! In addition, Makita’s charger will have the battery fully charged in just 30 minutes.
It’s a top-end piece of kit with 22 torque settings for screw driving and up to 30,000bpm when in hammer-drilling mode, which will easily drill up to 16mm into masonry or 13mm into metal.
Watch our demo video on Toolstop TV here.
Cordless Impact Driver for Apprentices – Which Makita to Buy?
Depending on your trade, an impact driver is a vital piece of cordless power tool kit. Typically it will have a short headlength, meaning it’s ideal for driving screws in tight spaces. It’s all about the torque, so it’ll handle long, wide screws into tough materials with ease.
Learn more about impact drivers in our guide here.
Toolstop’s Pick for Makita Impact Driver for Apprentices
Makita DTD152Z Impact Driver 18V Cordless LXT Li-ion (Body Only)
This impact driver is body-only, so it costs less than one bundled with batteries and a charger, but as it’s on the same 18v LXT as the combi-drill, it’ll accept the same batteries.
It gives you up to 3500 impacts per minute when driving screws and the all-metal gear box and aluminium front housing mean it’s tough as old boots, and a great addition to any apprentices’ kit. And it benefits from bright twin LED joblights for working in dark conditions.
Watch our demo video on Toolstop TV.
Cordless Oscillating Multi-Tool Which Makita to Buy?
An oscillating multi-tool (or multi-cutter) is a fantastic addition to any tradesperson’s kit as, depending on the accessory fitted, it’ll tackle lots and lots of jobs such as trimming architrave, plunge cutting into plasterboard and sanding in tight corners. Click here to read our essential guide to oscillating multi-tools.
Toolstop’s Pick for Makita Cordless Oscillating Multi-Tool for Apprentices
Makita DTM50Z LXT 18V Li-Ion Cordless Oscillating Multicutter (Body Only)
Again we’ve gone for body-only as it will accept any 18v LXT batteries you may have (or can borrow!). Depending on the application you’re working on, it should run for ages on a 3Ah battery.
The tool fitting is the popular OIS style which means it will accept accessories from most manufacturers, and it benefits from an oscillating angle of 3.2º which means it can handle bigger cuts. We put one in the hands of two time-served carpenters, here’s what they think of it.
Watch our demo video on Toolstop TV here.