Skill Builder Guides & reviews for building and construction
Roger Bisby takes drivers from Bosch, Dewalt, Hitachi, Hilti, Makita, Metabo, Milwaukee and Panasonic to see which one has the power and features of a champion.
Read More »Impact Driver Showdown! 8 Top Impact Drivers Reviewed
Makita DUR368AZ Brushless Brush Cutter – A Cut Above
The Makita DUR368AZ has a new twin 18 Volt Brushless Brush Cutter designed to suit the needs of commercial operators and landscapers looking for a high powered, quiet and easy-to-use brush cutter.
Read More »Makita Expands CXT Range with 12v WR100DZ Ratchet Wrench
Makita’s new cordless ratchet wrench is a versatile, compact and lightweight tool suitable for use across a wide range of applications and ideal for accessing tight spaces. With a number of innovative features included, the WR100DZ has been designed to ensure optimum efficiency and operator productivity. The WR100DZ ratchet wrench utilises Makita’s CXT Compact eXtreme Technology (CXT), making this an …
Read More »Plane Sailing – Makita DKP181 18V Brushless LXT Planer
Makita has launched an exciting new range of products, including the DKP181 18V Brushless LXT Planer (82mm). Combining the speed and capacity of a corded planer with the convenience of cordless, the tool is part of Makita’s expanding 18V series, the world’s largest cordless product line-up powered by an 18V Lithium-Ion battery. With a 12,000rpm brushless motor providing power equal to …
Read More »Riveting Made Easy With Makita DRV150Z & DRV250Z
Makita has added two new rivet guns to its power tool range. The DRV150Z and DRV250Z include Makita’s innovative LXT battery technology and brushless motor for maximum efficiency.
Read More »Makita’s Latest Addition to its Radio Range – DMR115 Job Site Radio
Makita has launched the latest addition to its radio range, with the DMR115 Job Site Radio. With Bluetooth functionality and a light weight of 4.8-5.5kg, it is the perfect companion for construction workers.
Read More »Vision of Cordless Future with Expanded Makita XGT and LXT
Makita’s new 40V Max system will stand side-by-side with the industry-leading LXT System.
Read More »Auto-start dust extraction added to Makita plunge saw
In 2017 Makita launched the in-demand DSP600 Twin 18v Brushless Plunge Saw. Now, the same model, but featuring a 36v motor and the Makita Auto-Start Wireless System (AWS) has landed. AWS technology allows the new DSP601ZJU plunge saw to automatically connect to the compatible Makita dust extractor saving the effort of manually switching it on. A unique chip is supplied …
Read More »Makita DLS110Z Review – Cordless Slide Mitre Saw
Following his video review Roger looks at the Makita DLS110Z Twin 18v Cordless LXT BL Slide Compound Mitre Saw in more detail. I have always had my reservations about cordless mitre saws and that includes all makes and sizes. It isn’t that they don’t work, it is just that they don’t work as well as mains powered machines and, for …
Read More »Why did we make an impact driver test?
On Friday 9th February we released our showdown of eight of the big players in the impact driver arena to help you identify the best impact driver for your needs. Roger Bisby put drivers from Bosch, Dewalt, Hitachi, Hilti, Makita, Metabo, Milwaukee and Panasonic through their paces. Explaining the thinking behind the latest test, Roger comments: “We set this test …
Read More »Makita launches LXT 18V & 14.4V 10mm staplers
Makita has introduced two new 10mm battery powered staplers, which replace existing models, offering a host of new technical features. The new Makita DST112 is powered by the Makita 18v Lithium-Ion battery while the DST111 model is a 14.4v version which will deliver 5,000 shots from the 3.0Ah battery whereas the 18v 3.0Ah version generates 6000 shots. Both new staplers …
Read More »Makita introduces new 18v Brushless motor LXT drills
Makita has launched two new 18v Brushless motor LXT drills: the Makita DDF483 13mm drill driver and the Makita DHP483 combi drill. Both new products are notable for their compact size: the drill driver has an overall body length of 162mm and the combi drill has a 176mm overall length. Both are ideally suited for tight space installation work, such …
Read More »New Makita dust extractor removes 99.9% of dust
The new Makita Dust Extractor, the VC3012M M-Class Dust Extractor removes 99.9% of dust with Limit Value for occupational exposure >0.1mg/m³. This means that the Makita dust extractor achieves performance levels better than the minimum legal limit for dust extraction when working with hazardous materials including silica sand in brick, masonry, concrete, gypsum and wood dusts and plastic composites. The …
Read More »Slow start mode on new Makita DTD170 impact driver
Makita has introduced a new operating mode with the launch of its latest 18v Brushless motor impact driver. The new Makita DTD170 impact driver is technically a 6-function impact driver, with four speeds and matched impact power. T-Mode is used for tightening self-drilling Tek screws and when in the new A-Mode (Assist mode) rotation is started slowly allowing maximum control …
Read More »Makita saw review: Tungsten Carbide Tipped Holesaw
In this Makita saw video Skill Builder reviews the Makita D-51297 9 Piece TCT Universal Holesaw Kit. The Makita saw kit can be used to cut a wide variety of materials including, vitrified ceramic, bricks, plaster board, plastics, melamine, hard woods, chipboard and MDF. It is robust and durable with strong TCT teeth which produce excellent results. Features include: The …
Read More »The best drill test on Youtube or a waste of time? You decide
Roger Bisby takes us behind the scenes of the latest Skill-builder 18-volt drill test which puts drills from Makita, Bosch, Dewalt, Milwaukee, Metabo, Festool, Hitachi and Panasonic through their paces. The Skill-builder 18-volt drill test has proved to be our single most successful YouTube video ever with over 3/4 of a million views and rising. It has also prompted more …
Read More »Which 18v Drill is Best?
If you're thinking of buying an 18v drill and you're wondering which 18v drill is best, Skill Builder has some useful resources that might help you to make a decision.
Read More »Product review: Makita DCS5121 18″ 50cc petrol chainsaw
After 25 years of Stihl, Roger gets to grips with his first chainsaw from Makita, the Makita DCS5121 18″ 50cc. The chainsaw features Easy Start, Spring-Assisted Starter for Quick Starting with Less Force and a number of other unique features. Watch the product test to see Roger’s verdict. Features of the Makita DCS5121 18″ 50cc include: – Compact design with less …
Read More »Product test: Makita LXT Brushless review. Drill DHP481 & Impact Driver
Here Skill Builder tests two of Makita’s LXT brushless 18v tools; the Makita LXT Brushless Drill DHP481 and the Impact Driver BTD129 Roger takes the DHP481 and the BTD129 out of their neat stackable box to see what they’re capable of.
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