Customer Reviews

DEWALT Bare-Tool DW960B 3/8-Inch 18-Volt Cordless Right Angle Drill/Driver

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Dewalt DW960 18v cordless right angle drill is very flexible. Not only ideal for driving screws or drilling (with short drill bits) in tight spaces, but the general shape also allows it to serve well as a light-duty sanding & polishing tool with a 5" hook & loop disc pad attached (3M Hookit 9173NA, sold on amazon.com). After several months, my drill is still performing like new. Battery performance is also quite respectable with the current Li-Ion batteries.

For the reviewer mentioning a bad chuck, Dewalt does not manufacture that. Instead, Dewalt selected a chuck made by Jacobs - a traditional, well respected, brand many expect on quality drills. The included Jacobs model #30354 keyless chuck is quite robust, still little in this world is perfect. Your tool is under warranty, but, if you prefer to replace the chuck, the tool will accept most 3/8" chucks fittng a 3/8" x 24 threaded spindle. Amazon.com sells several, including that specific Jacobs model.

By the way, I actually prefer the use of a standard chuck over a proprietary one (made only by Dewalt) which may be difficult to find or replace in the future. Jocobs chucks are sold nearly everywhere and there are many compatibles available.

I've had good luck with DeWalt tools over the years, and so when I needed a cordless angle drill it was a no brainer. So I thought. Unfortunately, this tool is not up to snuff. Six months after purchase, with very light use, the gears apparently gave out since the motor still runs but nothing turns. I'll get a replacement under warranty I am sure, but this is what you would expect for a $49 Ryobi tool, not a $200 DeWalt tool. It even feels kind of flimsy. Compare that to my regular DeWalt 18v cordless drill which I love in every way, and have beat the tar out of for four years - it still performs perfectly.

Fortunately it is covered by a 3 year warranty so at least I'll get three years for my $200. But given the poor performance of this tool so far (and the other negative review above) I don't expect whatever replacement tool I'll have will still work a few months after the warranty expires. I won't be boycotting DeWalt or anything since this item seems to be the exception. Maybe I just got unlucky. I hope so.

Update (11/18/2009):

Though I was not impressed by the tool, my experience with DeWalt's customer service was outstanding. I dropped the tool off at the local service center, luckily only a few miles away. A week later it was returned with the transmission replaced, good as new. I was never asked for a receipt or proof of the purchase date. Though I had these things, it is always the mark of a company that stands behind its products to repair them with "no questions asked."

I have changed my rating at this point to three stars from my original one star. The tool should not have failed, and it simply does not feel as well-built as the many other DeWalt tools I own. However, I will chalk this up to bad luck, and the company stood behind the product as well as anyone could expect.

I like this tool alot, It deffiantly fits in my tool colection. When ever a job is to big for my comventional drill I turn to this. Would I use it as my every day drill, no but it works great for those times when your stuck working in a tight or weird spot. The only negative I have is that it dosent have a 1/2" chuck, But I know that and plan acordingly with 3/8" bits so its not a huge deal. I paired this with a compact 18v battery and it makes a huge diffrence in weight, and it also makes it a bit shorter than if you had an xrp battery on it.

This is pretty much a must have for any DIY'er. I can't count the amount of times it has saved me when working in tight spaces. The power button is designed well so you don't have to worry about slippage when using the tool. It has nice control modulation as well which is even more appreciated since you are most likely using this at an awkward angle. The weight is fairly even between the head and the battery, and I don't find fatigue to be an issue with this tool.

I bought this to replace an old Makita 9.6V right-angle drill and find my self using the old one wherever I can, unfortunately. This unit is definitely stronger but it's quite large; that's to be expected I suppose for an 18V tool, but it's just past the point where its convenient as a hand-tool. It truly is a right-angle drill, for drilling in tight spots, and not something you'll enjoy using under a dashboard, for example.

The biggest complaint I have with it is the direction switch; as you can see from the photo it's not up by your thumb, so switching from forward to reverse (at least for me) requires two hands. The trigger is also very mechanical and not progressive; it might be a quirk of my unit only, but there's a large "detent" you have to overcome to engage the switch.

I love all my Dewalt XRP 18V tools except this one, which really is the red-headed stepchild of the bunch. I'm thinking it was designed by a summer intern...

The drill does not live up to DeWalts normal standard. The chuck went bad within 3 months of very limited use. It is more like the cheap DeWalt 3/8" corded drill.

I thought this would be a good tool till I held it in my hand. My hands are a little bigger than average, but this drill is so big around that it is difficult to have good control with one hand, plus the trigger is so far down the handle it is necessary to use one hand on the trigger and the other one behind the head to put sufficient pressure on the head to drill metals or use a screwdriver bit without slipping. Also the fact that the chuck does not have a brake on it to hold it while changing bits is disappointing.

I like the drill for what its worth (getting into tight places). We always seem to want more then we started with in the beginning.I do have a larger size drill when I need a larger tool,so I'm satisfied with the tool I purchased for the job I intended it for at time of purchase.Its a good tool and we always want more after we make the final decision.
Brotherlove

For any of us who have used the "rats-a-frates" wording - and then some more choice words, when not being able to "drill that hole", "set or remove that screw", in tight places because we couldn't physically get in there with our Hands, a Screwdriver, a traditional Electric or Battery powered Drill... This tool does the job! It is a 3/8" Chuck vs. say 1/2", however, it will perform most jobs as needed, and does it with enough power, and your ability to grasp the tool itself to complete the task(s). How did we accomplish things without it previously? Buy it, you will be happy, and Amazon has the best pricing I have found.

This is a must have tool for any trade. You don't know how many uses there are until you have one.