Customer Reviews

Bare-Tool Hitachi DV18DLP4 18-Volt Lithium-Ion 1/2-Inch Hammer Drill (Tool Only, No Battery)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I am an avid DIY'er and I now own three of these DV18DL Lithium-Ion drills. They have more than enough torque to handle most any job I throw at them. Just make sure you have a firm grip on the drill or it will torque around in a heartbeat.

The only problems I have encountered with this drill are with the chuck screw that holds the chuck in place is inadequate and I broken three of them while using a 1" Ship Auger bit to drill through a 8" log I ran into while digging post holes for a split rail fence. Fortunately I had bought the drill from L_o_w_e_s and they exchanged them without issue. The manager I talked to said that he had notified Hitachi of the problem but that they were not going to beef up the screw.

I ordered a number of chuck screws for various makes & models of 1/2" drills (including corded drills) and discovered that the Dewalt reverse thread screw #605256-01. It is just a bit longer that the Hitachi OEM screw and I haven't broken one since replacing it ^_^.

The second issue is with the tabs on the case that hold the battery in place. I accidentally dropped it 4' onto a concrete floor. It landed flat on the bottom of the battery. The battery was fine, but both of the tabs that hold the battery in place busted off. Luckily I have a Hitachi repair shop a mile from my home here in Belmont, MI and they replaced the case free of charge within a week. But as I said I now have three of these and four of the 3.0ah batteries.

The last Drill I purchased was the bare (DV18DLP4) drill from Timberline Tools in July 2009 and they timely shipped one to me ^_^.

i bought an 18 volt drill and a hammer drill several years ago. initially i was very happy with the power and light weight.
i used them primarily to drive self tapping screws to fasten the siding on some metal loafing sheds i built.
ultimately, both have broken at the top of the handle. they were never dropped. the problem started with a small crack and proceeded to totally break from there merely from the (admittedly hard) hand pressure of drilling.
also the clutch on one of them is slipping and the numbers on the clutch have worn off.
a friend has a couple of 18v dewalt drills that i used to borrow before i got these. they have seen at least 4 times the use that the hitachi drills have seen-doing the same type of work- and they are still going strong. they even survived being dropped several times.
i took them to the local hitachi repair station and just got a message saying the hitachi warranty people said to essentially get stuffed. i can get the frame fixed for a minimum of $50 each. i am now wondering what they might mean by "lifetime warranty"
considering the high price,weak product and non-warranty; i would look elsewhere.

I have researched many drills and for the price you cannot beat this. When you purchase this purchase it with the 3 amp lithium battery.

I've had this drill for about 3 years; its been the most valuable and reliable tool I own. I used it as the primary tool to build two sheds (screwing together all framing and the OSB on walls and roofs) and to attach all the flooring on a log cabin.

It has the power when needed but the agility to do small jobs too. The batteries last alot longer than Ni-Cads and charge faster too.

Unfortunately I burned out the clutch this summer when driving 11" hog log screws into 8" logs. I should have known better and used an impact driver but the drill worked really well until it died. I was in the process of searching for a replacement when I read some of the reviews and decided to add my opinion.

Other than the clutch burning out due to misuse, this tool has performed flawlessly. Thats why I'm buying another one.

I've had this tool for a couple of years. It has lots of torque but has a few other problems. The first time I dropped it from around 5' it broke in half right at the top of the handle. Not only did the case break the switch started acting up. I called Hitachi and they sent a new case. But did nothing about the switch. I had to buy another one of those with my own money.
Next time I dropped it from around 3' and the tabs that hold the battery in broke off. Guess I'll have to call them again.
Other problems are the chuck keeps loosening up as I'm drilling. I have to pull the bit out , tighten the chuck up and drill again. Happens all the time. Also when I am using the Hammer Drill option it keeps slipping out of position and the numbers have worn off so that I can't see which mode I am in.

I've owned these Hitachi drills for 10 years and have never had issues. They have industry-leading torque and style. The Lith-ion batteries have a 10 year warranty, which is untouchable, and unforgettable is the BUILT-IN hook that cannot be done without. It hooks on your pocket, your belt, and it has a light that never dies. No other manufacturer has these features. Let's EXPLORE... You're installing a $18,000 door... You're on a ladder. You have 3 drills hanging off your belt/pockets. One has a drill, one a countersink, and one with a driver bit. No problem with Hitachi. Try that with Dewalt, Milwaukee, Makita, or even Ryobi; Bosch doesn't qualify. Also, this door would be in the dark. Mission accomplished. Batteries last forever. You don't use a battery-powered drill to make hole saw cuts. You can in a pinch if it is on high speed and gently "nibble" at it, otherwise you must use a corded power drill spinning at about 1200 rpm. I've used mine regularly to drill 2 3/8 holes in counter tops, but most people don't know how. This is a drill designed to be used by a saavy carpenter-minded individual. You can't express disappointment if you don't know what you are doing in the first place, and can't spell. Buy Hitachi. Do contact me with ANY questions you may have. Enjoy your drill. Use it weekly, or any battery will "gather moss."

I bought mine as part of a 9pc kit and I have a review under the 9pc as well. (check that review as it has other good info)

Was impressed with the unit at first as it works well for projects around the house and easily drives screws, drills holes etc..

BUT I recently tried using it to drill 2 2" holes using a Starret hole saw. I was trying to go up into a wall from the basement through 2 2x4's and a sheet of 3/4" plywood. I was able to drill through the sheet of ply with no problem stopped to remove the piece of wood from the hole saw and then started into the 2x4 part drill struggled for about 2-3 minutes before overheating and stopping. At first I thought it was the battery so I swapped the battery for the second one and that worked for another minute or so. After a few minutes of stop and go I made it through the first hole and started on the second. Well never made it even through the plywood before it was just too hot to use so I took a break, ate a quick lunch and tried again. I expected to be able to get back to it and finish I figured 15 minutes had passed and the drill should have cooled down well that wasn't the case it worked for 15 seconds before once again going into protect.

Finally I just said screw it went to the garage, got my Milwaukee 1/2" corded hammer drill and I swear 15 seconds later I was done.

Like I said this is a great drill if you are a homeowner but if you are going to use this as a professional MOVE ON! I replaced my Dewalt 18v 4 pc kit that needed new batts (4 batts would have cost me $300 plus my drill was damaged)

I got a good deal through Tyler tool $760 for the 9pc set (shipped). Should have spent the extra $200 and gotten the Dewalt 9pc and I would have had the right angle drill and a flashlight that works.

Case on first use and the chuck is stripped now. Repairs seem to take forever.