Putting up new shelves? Assembling new furniture? Fixing a loose hinge? All you need is a lightweight drill/driver with good battery life. Check out these two 12V tools from Makita. They are compact and light so they will be the first tools you grab for the next project. Let’s look at them both to see which one will be the best for you.
Makita FD01W 12V max Lithium-Ion 2 Speed Driver-Drill
The Makita FD01W looks like a toy, but don’t be fooled. If you need to drive a lot of small to medium-size screws, you’ll be glad this tool is so light and small.
It measures just 6-3/16-inches long and weighs only 2 pounds. It’s powered by a 12-volt lithium-ion battery that retains its charge in storage for months. If you run down the battery, it takes just under an hour to refill it. Put it on the charger, go have lunch, and come back to finish your project. Actually, the kit comes with 2 batteries, so you won’t have to take a break after all.
Of course, with specifications like its size and voltage, you know this isn’t a monster drill. In fact, it’s more of a driver than a drill. It has a ¼” hex chuck like the ones seen on impact drivers. That kind of chuck makes for very quick bit changes, but you will be limited to bits with ¼” hex shanks. There are 18 clutch settings for driving, and one for drilling.
The motor has a two-speed transmission. Low gear ranges from 0-350rpm and high from 0-1300rpm. It has 200 inch-pounds of torque, while larger consumer drills typically have 350 inch-pounds. Believe it or not, Makita says that this tool’s capacity in steel is 3/8-inch. Pretty impressive for such a little guy.
While it drives and drills, it has a built-in LED light that illuminates where you’re working. Makita also made the FD01W ergonomic with soft rubber over-molding to make it comfortable to hold.
More features of the Makita FD01W drill
- Makita offers a 3-year warranty on the drill and a 1-year warranty on the battery and charger
- Maximum capacity in steel is 3/8” and 13/16” in wood
- The FD01W drill/driver comes with a #2 double-ended Phillips bits, a tool case, a holster, the DC10WB ENERGY STAR charger, and two 12V MAX BL1014 lithium-ion batteries
Makita FD02W 12V max Lithium-Ion Cordless 3/8-Inch Driver-Drill Kit
The Makita FD02W has the same specifications for speed and power as the FD01W. It’s rated to output 200 inch-pounds of torque. It has a two-speed transmission, with low gear is between 0-350rpm and high gear between 0-1300rpm. There are 18 clutch settings for driving and one for drilling.
The FD02W weighs a little more at 2.2 pounds, and it’s a little longer at 7-7/16-inches. It also has a built-in LED work-light. So why would you choose it over the smaller and lighter FD01W?
You want the FD02W if you prefer to use regular drill bits instead of being restricted to only hex bits. Instead of the ¼” hex chuck on the FD01W, the FD02W has a 3/8” keyless chuck. That means you can use either hex bits or standard straight shank bits.
Plus, although the FD02W is a little larger, it’s got a comfy ergonomic grip. It comes with a holster so it’s easy to carry with you. The two lithium-ion batteries recharge one at a time in under an hour on the included charger, and they hold their charge for months in storage.
More features of the Makita FD02W drill kit
- Makita offers a 3-year warranty on the drill and a 1-year warranty on the battery and charger
- Maximum capacity in steel is 3/8” and 13/16” in wood
- The FD02W drill/driver comes with a #2 double-ended Phillips bits, a tool case, a holster, the DC10WB ENERGY STAR charger, and two 12V MAX BL1014 lithium-ion batteries
Recommendation
Either of these tools will make driving small to medium-size fasteners a snap.
If you prefer to have a small and very compact driver, get the FD01W. Bit changes are very quick with the ¼” hex chuck. Just remember to use hex shank bits.
If you prefer to have more flexibility over what bits you use, the FD02W has a 3/8” keyless chuck.
Click here to purchase Makita FD01W on Amazon!
Click here to purchase Makita FD02W on Amazon!