Accessories

weak batteries
this is a good drill but the batteries do not last very well.
they dont hold up as good as my 12 volt porter cable drill batteries do.

Worth every penny!
...

This baby rocks! The exquisite balance, lightness and amazingly precise speed trigger-control make every job a pleasure. I love that you don't have to run the battery all the way down before you can recharge them, with these Nickel Hydrides. It has plenty of torque when you need it, too...but oh, what a difference that fine control makes: using self-drilling screws, I can now tackle metal doors as quickly and easily as drywall! Finesse, power, comfort...what more can you ask for?

I only wished I'd gotten one of these years ago!

Batteries good for only two years of daily use
As an assembler working for Wal-Mart, I use two Makitas daily. Have found that the batteries last two years-ONLY. It is amazing. It works great with absolutely no problems for two years then like a switch, all four batteries go bad. This has happened not with one or two drills, but four different drills with eight batteries!

Buy a DeWalt instead
I purchased this drill less than two years ago for light duty driving; the one time I pushed it I ended up burning out the switch. We use DeWalt's on the job daily and really punish them and have never seen anything like this. Very disappointed!

Excellent tool
I bought this drill on the recommendation of a cabinet installer, and I have not been disappointed. I had originally purchased the 12V version, but it was a bit anemic as a drill, so I stepped up to the 14.4V model. Lower power tools do fine as power screwdrivers, but you need a little more power for the drill.

One of the advantages of a professional model like this is the range of speeds available. These drills have a switch on the top to change between two speed ranges, in additon to the variable speed control on the trigger. You need the high speed for drilling, and low speed for driving screws. Taking the time to set up the drill takes some getting used to, but the flexibility is worth it. The NiMH batteries charge up very quickly, and the tool is powerful enough for anything I need.

I originally thought the inclusion of the flashlight was a silly gimmic. It turned out to be the most powerful flashlight in the house, and I have gotten quite a bit of use out of it. This is the flashlight I reach for at night if the lights start flickering. I have actually used it on occasion for some late night chores outside.