Expedition SDS Drills

[Badlad]

I'm sure I must have missed something and about to ask an obvious question but..

A quick search of the above Makita drill shows them all for sale 'body only'.  For nearly all other drills I've bought they usually offer a kit with batteries and charger.  When did this change with Makita and what are the options?

 

[Simon Wilson]

All the tools in this range are available body only. I have four Makita tools and only one pair of batteries that does them all. You can buy everything separately or in kits. They do kits of various combinations of tools and different sizes of batteries.

Once you have the batteries, the extra tools are good value such as the drill/driver at ?60. http://www.fastfix.co.uk/makita/Makita-DHP458Z-18v-LXT-Combi-Drill-Body-Only.html?gclid=COX4_-np2ckCFSsKwwod3kMG7w

The angle grinders are great.  http://www.fastfix.co.uk/makita/Makita-DGA452Z-18v-LXT-115mm-Angle-Grinder-Body-Only.html?gclid=CL6t7uzq2ckCFdVAGwodKWUJ-Q

The 'bare' tools have a Z on the end of the model number and if you search for them you will often get batteries offered with them. Shopping around sometimes turns up really good combination deals.

 

[Mark Wright]

About 12 months before they stopped making the 14v version of this drill, it too was only available as a body only and not in a kit.

I hope its not a sign as this 18v version should be perfect for most caving applications.

Remember you can pick up copy Makita batteries which are a lot cheeper. I would normally say avoid them but, out of interest, I bought a pack of 4 x 14v batteries for my drill and they are actually quite good. Not as good as the original batteries but they were only ?25.00 each instead of over ?90.00.

Mark

 

[nickwilliams]

I think that the Makita cordless SDS hammer drills are currently only available with brushed motors. Makita are slowly introducing brushless motors across the LXT range, so if the DHR165 is due for replacement, it may be that this is because a brushless model is in the pipeline.

 

[Pitlamp]

Thanks folks; all useful information. Have ordered one and will report on how it is once it's received the usual battering.

 

[SamT]

I think that the Makita cordless SDS hammer drills are currently only available with brushed motors. Makita are slowly introducing brushless motors across the LXT range, so if the DHR165 is due for replacement, it may be that this is because a brushless model is in the pipeline.

Actually - the DHR242 is brushless.

I looked long and hard at this last year when I bought mine. (http://ukcaving.com/board/index.php?topic=17387.0)

The advantage of the 242 (other than being Brushless)  over the 202 is that the vertical mounting of the motor makes it shorter in length, allowing it to just fit in the smaller 1400 pelicase along with 2 batteries and sundries). The 1400 peli being far more cave friendly than the slightly bigger and unwieldy 1450 needed for the 202.

 

[SamT]

As an addendum,  I still think robs suggestion at the start of the thread is the best option (of the makitas)  as it will be lighter than the DHR242.

It also looks shorter than the 202 so might also fit in a 1400 peli, but I cant see any dimensions on the web.

 

[SamT]

Just for a bit more background on the makitas since I did a lot of digging (on the web, rather than in caves ironically) last year and I've got my head round all the specs which might help a few people out. ..

DHR165
Impacts per minute 0-5,300ipm
No load speed 0-1,600rpm
Overall dimensions 297mm
Net weight 2.2kg
Voltage 18V
Carbon brush 441
Impact Energy 1.3

DHR202
Impacts per minute 0-4,000ipm
No load speed 0-1,100mm
Overall dimensions 358mm
Net weight 3.5kg
Voltage 18V
Carbon brush 441
Impact Energy 2

DHR242
Impacts per minute 0-4,700ipm
No load speed 0-950mm
Overall dimensions 353mm
Net weight 3.4kg
Voltage 18V
Brushless
Impact Energy 2.

So DHR165 is deffo shorter and will fit in a smaller peli.

As for codes -
DHR***Z is a bare body, no batteries.
DHR***RM* has batteries.
DHR242 - normal sds chuck
DHR243 - quick change chuck (I guess allowing you to slot in a normal chuck for standard drill bits).

Not got my  round what the J denotes. eg DHR***ZJ or DHR***RMJ .... anyone?

 

[Maj]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH_6QcW3d2Q
I wonder if you could fit a SDS drill bit?

Maj.

 

[Pitlamp]

My new Makita DHR165ZJ drill has just arrived from Axminster Tools. It works fine with my existing 3 Ah batteries. Seems to drill holes pretty well and it's small and light.
Not bad for ?129-96 - my "Christmas present to me" is looking good.

Their courier has one of those "track your parcel" systems which allowed me to follow where the van was - and they delivered right in the middle of the promised 60 minute slot.

 

[SamT]

Pitlamp - does it have a charger or a case with it??

 

[Pitlamp]

Hello Sam - no, it's just the bare drill body. (I have two batteries and the charger already, bought as a package with a non SDS Makita drill - have a look at earlier posts.)

It does come in a strong plastic carrying box which is quite big and has room for other stuff in it (charger, batteries, other tools, etc) but the box isn't something you'd want to take caving.

 

[SamT]

OK, cheers PL, that satisfies my geeky curiosity, so the J denotes that it comes with a case.

DHR***Z - bare drill
DHR***ZJ - bare drill with MAKPAC case.

guessing now that the R and M are to with batteries and chargers.

 

[Pitlamp]

Dunno mate - as long as it keeps drilling holes, I'm happy!

 

[Pitlamp]

Bit of an update, in case anyone's interested. The new Makita got used in anger a couple of days ago on a capping job. I was getting 5 x 225 mm holes (8 mm diameter) from each 3 Ah battery, bearing in mind these batteries are a year old and already well used. It drills quite fast.

So, so far so good.

 

[Pitlamp]

Now used it on 3 more trips since then. It's extremely light compared with my Bosch 24V VRE.

In the defence of my Bosch; I've had this drill in regular use since about 1986. It's never once let me down and (noting Aquamole Jim's query in a separate topic) has outlived several batteries. This particular drill gets used for drilling long deep holes; a certain gentleman in the Peak District fitted a fan for me a long time ago to help mitigate against overheating in extended use - and he also set me up with a couple of 24V Clansman batteries and built me a dedicated charger. That was over 20 years ago and the system is still going strong (so well done Bosch - and said gentleman).

But given the Makita's lightness, if I was off on a remote bolting foray, this is the one I'd take for that job. The Bosch is better for serious limestone removal in situations where weight (mainly of the Clansman batteries) is less of an issue.

Anyway, delighted so far with the new Makita.

 

[Badlad]

FYI

I just bought a Makita DHR165 myself.  Thought other might be interested in cost.

Purchased the body from Lawson for ?130.  As I didn't already have a charger or batteries to fit I found them cheaper at Toolstore.  2x4aH batts and charger for ?168.  So ?298 the lot.

I'm sure this could be beaten with more shopping around but in the end I got bored with shopping and just pressed 'buy'.

We're also hoping that Makita will give us a drill to give away as a prize on the forum.  Wish us luck and watch this space!

 

[pwhole]

After SamT's recommendation, I ordered a DHR243 last night from FFX for ?363 all-in, with 2 X 4.0 batteries, fast charger, case and a quick-change chuck for non-caving use:

http://www.ffx.co.uk/tools/product/Makita%20Dhr243Rmj%200088381654821%2018V%202X4.0Ah%20Li%20Ion%20Sds%20Plus%20Hammer%20Drill%2024Mm%20Kit

Having looked again this morning it appears to have been reduced to ?338 overnight! I may have to have words, although it was a very good price already, so I'm not really arsed. It'll be here in the morning. Yippee.

 

[Badlad]

That looks the biz.  I already have a 36v Bosch so was looking for something more lightweight to replace the Makita 14.4v drill. Looks like we can share batteries anyway 

 

[Pegasus]

Wouldn't a drill make a great competition prize???!!!

Watch this space