Time for some new Makita goodies- any good deals on?

[MPH243]

Get the Dc18rc quick charger, it is half the time to charge. If you are doing something that drains batteries you will be kicking yourself. (Guess how I know).

[joth]

I just ordered 4x 6000mAh Li-ion batteries from AliExpress -- £5 each! They claim to be genuine Makita, of course they would wouldn't they, but I've had pretty good results from bulky NiCads I previously bought there so thought worth a punt

 

Been really enjoying the pruning chainsaw I bought recently.

[Crofter]

48 minutes ago, MPH243 said:

Get the Dc18rc quick charger, it is half the time to charge. If you are doing something that drains batteries you will be kicking yourself. (Guess how I know).

Yes I've just realised that. Could have made a bit of a mistake there!

The 18RC fast charger is about £17 in some places, worth the extra if it saves me buying an extra battery.

[Crofter]

42 minutes ago, joth said:

I just ordered 4x 6000mAh Li-ion batteries from AliExpress -- £5 each! They claim to be genuine Makita, of course they would wouldn't they, but I've had pretty good results from bulky NiCads I previously bought there so thought worth a punt

 

Been really enjoying the pruning chainsaw I bought recently.

I'm very wary of knock off batteries. But I have only owned two. 

The first was supposed to be 3Ah but it's so light that I don't think it's even 1Ah. It also behaves differently to my other, genuine, batteries: it will grind down slower and slower and eventually stop. The others will start to dip and then cut off abruptly. 

This means that the genuine ones have some sort of circuitry inside them, presumably a BMS, which prevents deep discharge. The cheap one is likely just a pack of cells. 

My worry is that, without any sort of BMS, the cheap battery is unsafe and could fail to detect any problems. I never leave it charging unattended.

 

The other knock off battery I have is the one that started smoking after a dead short, as described earlier. 

 

I'm an absolute cheapskate but I draw the line at fake batteries now.

[G and J]

4 hours ago, Onoff said:

 

I'd like a dual charger but quite spendy compared to the single ones.

I wanted a dual charger but as a skinflint I waited till there was an offer on for a single fast charger and I put em both on a board.
 

Simple. And cheap. Just like me. 😉

[Crofter]

On 09/02/2026 at 00:21, Apache said:

There is no need to go for a copy charger. Get a starter kit if you need drill driver, batteries and charger. 

https://www.powertoolmate.co.uk/power-tools/makita-store/cordless-powertool-kits/makita-dlx2414st-18v-brushless-twin-kit-dhp487-combi-drill-and-dtd157-impact-dri.htm

 

£205, if you price the drill/driver, impact and the batteries separately its £250 before case and charger. 

That's a very good deal, well spotted.

My only slight reservation is that both the driver and drill are a bit on the weedy side. The kit includes more battery than I strictly need. I'll not regret that in the long run, just I wonder if I should be looking for a slightly more beefy impact driver (that ones is 140nM max).

[Onoff]

6 minutes ago, G and J said:

I wanted a dual charger but as a skinflint I waited till there was an offer on for a single fast charger and I put em both on a board.
 

Simple. And cheap. Just like me. 😉

 

I actually thought about doing that and jumping one mains lead into the other. 

[Crofter]

Out of all of these tools, the recip saw is one that will likely see limited use.

I'm about to replace some windows, and I thought the recip would be good to slice through the screws. Last time I was doing this I tried using a multi tool, but the blades are insanely expensive and I was averaging about two nails per blade. And I didn't really have the depth of cut required anyway.

 

For very occasional use, maybe I should be considering a Fakita recip? The best price I can get on the real one is £83.

[Nickfromwales]

3 minutes ago, Crofter said:

Out of all of these tools, the recip saw is one that will likely see limited use.

I'm about to replace some windows, and I thought the recip would be good to slice through the screws. Last time I was doing this I tried using a multi tool, but the blades are insanely expensive and I was averaging about two nails per blade. And I didn't really have the depth of cut required anyway.

 

For very occasional use, maybe I should be considering a Fakita recip? The best price I can get on the real one is £83.

Bought both of mine used. Have beat the life out of them since, still going strong and refuse to die.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/177846701855?_skw=makita+18v+recip&epid=7003305250&itmmeta=01KH4VPDFDKDMYENZNNM2W9712&hash=item29687d4f1f%3Ag%3A0ycAAeSwPE9piN9A&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAAA0GfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xB511a3Nv7c0HhXl3iul7XiW%2BjrfdGUbP3ok1JeJn9jnZE4f0etcNloT%2Bx0jyb73fuAzKXCiT5n4J%2F9hC9nnnIXzhquKe%2BSdaCaECS8OjnpBmaOEGsJ6YuCOO%2BMoUR0vWn7wOzjc7iAf%2FpqoAnNzNDFlZYUSUE4s2me0RQqveFzSh690IMD3plfNX53yQuQtbUBPrGHdvO%2Fh5x9t7GxazIBgsRPeQdZzHc9P9OuJni1GRHY7%2FDSE2O%2Fo1Cnx9lmu0g%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR_7X2ZuJZw&LH_ItemCondition=3000

[Crofter]

7 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said:

Bought both of mine used. Have beat the life out of them since, still going strong and refuse to die.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/177846701855?_skw=makita+18v+recip&epid=7003305250&itmmeta=01KH4VPDFDKDMYENZNNM2W9712&hash=item29687d4f1f%3Ag%3A0ycAAeSwPE9piN9A&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAAA0GfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xB511a3Nv7c0HhXl3iul7XiW%2BjrfdGUbP3ok1JeJn9jnZE4f0etcNloT%2Bx0jyb73fuAzKXCiT5n4J%2F9hC9nnnIXzhquKe%2BSdaCaECS8OjnpBmaOEGsJ6YuCOO%2BMoUR0vWn7wOzjc7iAf%2FpqoAnNzNDFlZYUSUE4s2me0RQqveFzSh690IMD3plfNX53yQuQtbUBPrGHdvO%2Fh5x9t7GxazIBgsRPeQdZzHc9P9OuJni1GRHY7%2FDSE2O%2Fo1Cnx9lmu0g%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR_7X2ZuJZw&LH_ItemCondition=3000

Haha, I'd already looked at that one!

I'll probably just buy new though. These things just don't depreciate at all- that one is about 75% of the new price!

[Apache]

20 minutes ago, Crofter said:

My only slight reservation is that both the driver and drill are a bit on the weedy side. The kit includes more battery than I strictly need. I'll not regret that in the long run, just I wonder if I should be looking for a slightly more beefy impact driver (that ones is 140nM max).

What car do you drive? My Discovery's wheel nut torque is 145nm! Too much and you shear things and damage heads. 

 

(I never thought I'd say it but I reach for my 12V impact driver the most, and only use 18V for the really big stuff)

[G and J]

17 minutes ago, Apache said:

What car do you drive? My Discovery's wheel nut torque is 145nm! Too much and you shear things and damage heads. 

 

(I never thought I'd say it but I reach for my 12V impact driver the most, and only use 18V for the really big stuff)

I’m using the most basic Makita 18v impie - it’s showing wear and tear but then, it’s built a timber frame house with me.  I can understand higher spec ones maybe lasting longer in professional hands, but otherwise I think the basic one does everything brilliantly 

[Nickfromwales]

20 minutes ago, Crofter said:

Haha, I'd already looked at that one!

I'll probably just buy new though. These things just don't depreciate at all- that one is about 75% of the new price!

Yup, just wasn't sure of how much of a tight-arse you were  

[G and J]

38 minutes ago, Onoff said:

 

I actually thought about doing that and jumping one mains lead into the other. 

I cable tied a two gang extension lead onto the board. Saves wiring and I’ve two separate chargers for when I eventually return to normal life, whatever that might be. 

[G and J]

2 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said:

Yup, just wasn't sure of how much of a tight-arse you were  

I bought my sabre saw when we had started to demolish the timber frame bungalow. Brilliant.  Before that I felt it was just too rough. 
 

However, it’s now part of the base armoury.   I think of it as a super high power jigsaw. 
 

 

[Nickfromwales]

Just now, G and J said:

I bought my sabre saw when we had started to demolish the timber frame bungalow. Brilliant.  Before that I felt it was just too rough. 
 

However, it’s now part of the base armoury.   I think of it as a super high power jigsaw. 
 

 

I use mine for tree lopping, cutting up scrap wood for the chimenea in the summer, and all sort of random stuff. Once you have tools, you use them.

[G and J]

I would naturally reach for my single handed chainsaw for such (aka light sabre).  The sabre saw will see least use in civilian life, methinks. 

[Crofter]

7 hours ago, Apache said:

What car do you drive? My Discovery's wheel nut torque is 145nm! Too much and you shear things and damage heads. 

 

(I never thought I'd say it but I reach for my 12V impact driver the most, and only use 18V for the really big stuff)

Fair enough. 

I wish I had a note of what my first pair were, as they were perfectly good.

[saveasteading]

I am currently contemplating whether to go for a sabre or a small chain saw or a single hand chainsaw.

 

I've never had a sabre saw. But have a dead chainsaw for lack of use.

Why haven't I used it much? I found sharpening to be difficult, and it isn't any good for small works. Plus some fear... certainly not for use up a ladder.

So continue this discussion please.  Tell  me which.

I'm confused by how many options there are for battery chainsaws.

 

It would get most use in gardening (heavy pruning) plus chopping pallets. And generally in joinery.

@Nickfromwalessays sabre. @G and Jsays handheld chainsaw.

any more votes?

 

[Nickfromwales]

2 minutes ago, saveasteading said:

I am currently contemplating whether to go for a sabre or a small chain saw or a single hand chainsaw.

 

I've never had a sabre saw. But have a dead chainsaw for lack of use.

Why haven't I used it much? I found sharpening to be difficult, and it isn't any good for small works. Plus some fear... certainly not for use up a ladder.

So continue this discussion please.  Tell  me which.

I'm confused by how many options there are for battery chainsaws.

 

It would get most use in gardening (heavy pruning) plus chopping pallets. And generally in joinery.

@Nickfromwalessays sabre. @G and Jsays handheld chainsaw.

any more votes?

 

If you’re cutting limbs off trees and are super-pruning, then defo go for a baby chainsaw.

 

Milwaukee do a nice one, but if you’ve already got makita batteries etc then 

Link

[Nestor]

5 hours ago, saveasteading said:

I am currently contemplating whether to go for a sabre or a small chain saw or a single hand chainsaw.

 

I've never had a sabre saw. But have a dead chainsaw for lack of use.

Why haven't I used it much? I found sharpening to be difficult, and it isn't any good for small works. Plus some fear... certainly not for use up a ladder.

So continue this discussion please.  Tell  me which.

I'm confused by how many options there are for battery chainsaws.

 

It would get most use in gardening (heavy pruning) plus chopping pallets. And generally in joinery.

@Nickfromwalessays sabre. @G and Jsays handheld chainsaw.

any more votes?

 

About to give this ago, DUC150Z for 50 metres of Devon bank medium hedge pruning / cutting back.

Will let you know my thoughts in a few days

Silky saw, no batteries required.

 

[dpmiller]

I had a makita-fit 6" chainsaw that came from the south american river shop and got a couple of years out of it till the brushes went catastrophically in the motor

 

replaced it wth a similar one but BL this time and it was under £30 with two batteries, a slow charger, and a spare chain...

[carlos21]

9 hours ago, saveasteading said:

I am currently contemplating whether to go for a sabre or a small chain saw or a single hand chainsaw.

 

I've never had a sabre saw. But have a dead chainsaw for lack of use.

Why haven't I used it much? I found sharpening to be difficult, and it isn't any good for small works. Plus some fear... certainly not for use up a ladder.

So continue this discussion please.  Tell  me which.

I'm confused by how many options there are for battery chainsaws.

 

It would get most use in gardening (heavy pruning) plus chopping pallets. And generally in joinery.

@Nickfromwalessays sabre. @G and Jsays handheld chainsaw.

any more votes?

 

cutting up tree wood and garden work id go with a chainsaw, but you said you found sharpening difficult, a small chainsaw will be just as difficult although you can get gadgets that help.

for building work the sabre saw is of more use, as any nails or grit or cement will take the edge off a chainsaw instantly.

i got a sabre saw recently, i wouldnt say i liked it as they are rough to use but they do awkward cuts that no other saw will touch.

long story short buy both, my sabre is a cheap one from aldi, i dont use it much but wouldnt want to be without it either.

[G and J]

13 hours ago, saveasteading said:

I am currently contemplating whether to go for a sabre or a small chain saw or a single hand chainsaw.

 

I've never had a sabre saw. But have a dead chainsaw for lack of use.

Why haven't I used it much? I found sharpening to be difficult, and it isn't any good for small works. Plus some fear... certainly not for use up a ladder.

So continue this discussion please.  Tell  me which.

I'm confused by how many options there are for battery chainsaws.

 

It would get most use in gardening (heavy pruning) plus chopping pallets. And generally in joinery.

@Nickfromwalessays sabre. @G and Jsays handheld chainsaw.

any more votes?

 

Chainsaws are f dangerous in my opinion, even the diddy ones.  I firmly believe that if you’re used to using a chainsaw then fine, if not a sabre saw will be safer for things like tree lopping (to about 3” ) and cutting up pallets.  
 

Sabre saws have blades that cope with nails, chainsaws don’t.  Chainsaws can kick like a mule with toothache if you hit the wrong stuff. 
 

That said, I’ve done many hundreds of hours on chainsaws, and I’d give up my sabre saw in an instant over my light sabre (AKA top handle single battery micro chain saw).
 

 

I use it one handed for all kinds of stuff, it’s a lot safer to use on a ladder than a two handed saw. 
 

May the force be with you. 
 

 

[saveasteading]

Good points. I will think further.

I assume I wasn't sharpening the CsS properly: I had a simple round file, and thought I was following the instructions, but perhaps not.

Thinking further, the hours of use for these won't be high so cheapo tools may suffice. And the tangled bushes will eventually behave better and the trusty bow saw and pruning saw will be usable again.