| Design Balance | | Standard Design Balance - Like most drills, this has one or more design features that are not rated excellent or very good. It can be a good choice if that area is not critical to your particular needs. |
| Power | | Below Average Power - Designed with a 4.9 amp motor, about 26% less than the class average. Lower power generally means less available torque. |
| Speed | √ | Fast - Runs at speeds up to 2500 RPM, about 28% faster than the average corded power drill with a 3/8" chuck. The Makita 6408K ranks in the top 50% of its class for speed. |
| Weight | √ | Light-Weight - Weighs only 3.1 lbs, about 24% lighter than the average 3/8" corded electric drill. Ranks in the top 1% of its chuck-size class for being light-weight. |
| Wood Capacity | | Standard Wood Capacity - This Makita electric drill can bore up to 1" holes using a spade bit. Most power drills with a 3/8" chuck have a 1" maximum hole capacity when drilling through wood. |
| Metal Capacity | | Above Average Metal Capacity - Bores holes in metal up to 3/8" using a twist bit. This is larger than the standard drill in this class which only has a metal capacity of up to 0.375". |
| User Ratings | | Less Satisfied Users - 11 users rate this drill 3.9 out of 5 stars and are less satisfied with its operation. Users generally rate this drill average to below average. |
| Power Ratio | | Below Average Power Ratio - Power-to-Weight ratio is 5% below average and ranks in the bottom 38% of its class. P/W is generally a good indicator of drill efficiency. |
| Gear Case | | Part-Nylon Gear Case - Some or all of the gear case is made with nylon. Plastic is obviously less durable than metal, but it decreases the drill weight which may be more important in some applications. |
| Gear Reduction | | Single Reduction - Single gear systems generally produce less torque for the same amperage class. The gears perform less efficiently at low speeds compared to a double system design. |
| Motor Brushes | | No External Access - The motor brushes on this Makita electric drill can only be accessed internally by taking the drill apart. External access makes the replacement job much easier. |
| Warranty | | Standard Warranty - Comes with a limited 1-year warranty. While this length is common, many drill manufacturers are now offering, 3, 5, and even 10-year warranties. |
| Bit Change | | Keyless Two Hand - The double-sleeve chuck does not have auto spindle lock and requires two hands to unlock the chuck. Many keyless drills now have one hand bit changing capability. |
| Belt Hook | √ | Belt Hook - Handy feature that allows you to temporarily hang this power drill from your belt or a ladder while you're performing other tasks. |
| Side Handle | | No Side Handle - A side handle can provide stable support when drilling and driving larger bits and screws where additional torque is required. Two-handed operation helps reduce operator error or injuries. |
