DeWalt vs Makita drills for metal fabrication?

Hey all, I'm a weekend fabricator looking to upgrade my drill. I do a lot of steel work, some up to 1/4". Stuck between the DeWalt DCD805 and Makita XFD07. Both have similar specs on paper. Anyone have real-world experience with these for drilling metal? I'm worried about torque and battery life under load.

I've run both on jobsites. For metal, the Makita pulls ahead. The XFD07 has a smoother trigger and better control at low speeds. The DeWalt is a beast but it's got a bit more vibration. If you're drilling a lot of holes, the Makita's battery life is slightly better too. I'd go Makita for fab work.

Gotta disagree with Pete. I restore old cars and use the DCD805 daily for drilling out rivets and sheet metal. The hammer mode is handy for concrete too, and the chuck is rock solid. The Makita's chuck can slip if you're not careful. DeWalt all the way. Plus the ergonomics are better for long sessions.

I run heavy machinery repairs and use both. Honestly, you can't go wrong. But if you're doing a lot of metal, get the Makita with the 5.0Ah batteries. The DeWalt's power drop when the battery gets low is more noticable. And the Makita has a better clutch for not sinking into thin metal. Also, check out the XFD12 if you want more balls – same size, more torque.

Thanks for the input! Think I'm leaning Makita after reading this. The trigger control and battery performance sound key for my work. Appreciate the advice, especially about the XFD12 – I'll look into that. Cheers.