DEWALT DW056K-2 18-Volt Ni-Cad Cordless Impact Driver

by DEWALT

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Offering 1,170 in./lbs. of torque for fast, effective lag screw fastening, metal work, and loosening tough bolts, the DeWalt DW056K-2 18-volt impact driver is a compact tool that really delivers. Just 6-1/2 inches long and 4.9 pounds, this impact driver provides a non-slip grip and is balanced to sit comfortably in your hand for more efficient work, plus its unique impact mechanism minimizes kickback to reduce wear and tear on your body. With two speed ranges, 0 to 2,400 RPM and 0 to 3,000 RPM for job-specific performance, a durable magnesium gear case, and an all-metal transmission, this driver is built to stand up to the demands of professionals. It also offers a 1/4-inch hex style quick release chuck so you can switch between jobs easily, and it comes with two 18-volt XR+ extended run-time batteries for dependable power. Also included with this kit is a one-hour charger and a heavy-duty kit box that protects your tool during transport and storage.

From the Manufacturer

DEWALT DW056K-2 18-Volt Ni-Cad Cordless Impact Driver

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 14.8 x 13.5 x 4.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.8 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000CCXTP
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: DW056K-2
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #112,998 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)
  • #93 in Home Improvement > Power & Hand Tools > Power Tools > Impact Drivers

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Loads of power, but is that enough to make the big leage?, January 10, 2004

By 

Ben A Cacioppo Jr (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: DEWALT DW056K-2 18-Volt Ni-Cad Cordless Impact Driver (Tools & Home Improvement)

We use this driver for running in ½ x 12 lag bolts through pilings. This putts a lot of stress on a driver. The DeWalt has more then enough power to handle this and all lesser tasks. I have used several hammer drivers and hammer drills in my business, this is truly the undisputed "Power King"; however, after running hundreds of lags and screws I encountered a few shortcomings with the DeWalt:\

1. On two of these drivers the anvil (hammer thingy) inside stripped out in less then 3 months. On the plus side, DeWalt replaced them, no questions asked.

2. It a nightmare to get inside and replace the brushes on the work site. Combine that with the reluctance of our rep. to even get the brushes addes up to sending them in for R&R (repair and rebuild) at the cyclic rate. Time = money. I still don't know if the brushes can be replaced, how to do it, or if that is even the problem. I suspect it is due to a small amount of graphite looking dust around the air exhaust vents after long use.

All in all, not bad for hundreds of BIG lags, but to put it into perspective, we also use Makita 24 volt hammer drivers. These have run thousands of big lags with no problems at all! The Makita brushes are a few bucks for a pack and can be replaced in a minute.
My bottom line is: Get the DeWalt for lower production work that needs lots of power, but if you have your driver turning day on stay on, you might want to consider a Makita hammer driver in the 18 - 24 volt range.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Powerful, good batteries, cannot easily replace brushes, March 24, 2005

By 

Kelvin (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: DEWALT DW056K-2 18-Volt Ni-Cad Cordless Impact Driver (Tools & Home Improvement)

Overall this is a very powerful impact driver and stacks up well against other on the market.

Comfort and ergonomics:
The 90 degree angle is not as comfortable as other angled drivers from Makita, Hitachi and Bosch, although if you do a lot of fastener driving at shoulder level and above (HVAC and cabinet installs) the DeWalt could actually be more comfortable (check out how your wrist angles as you raise it up to shoulder level and beyond). The rubberized grip is very comfortable and it extends to the back of the tool for two handed impact driving. The soft grip covers the front of the handle (below the trigger) too which is good, since typically there is a ridge which joins the two plastic halves of the tools that gives you blisters during extended use. I think DeWalt has put significant thoughts on the user comfort here.

Batteries:
I believe XRP packs are 2.4Ah which is about the top end of Ni-Cd technology. Run time is good and the diagnostic chrager is on-par with other cordless tools. The automatic 'tune-up' mode is a bit of a glorified marketing thing since this is essentially trickle charging, which is done by almost any battery chragers after a fast-charge cycle. This basically tops-up the batteries by passing a small current over 8-10 hours, and is no different whatsoever to the old dumb chargers that perform overnight charging. Have to give DeWalt credit for creative marketing here.

Issues:
No bit holder, you'd think with such a large surface area on top of the large 18V battery they would put in a bit holder. There is also no way for easy replacement of motor brushes, this is a feature that is available on every impact driver from other manufacturers.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Tool I Own, February 4, 2007

By 

D. Forsman "One Man Team" (Vancouver, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

I am currently renovating a house and using only 3 1/2" or 4" screws for the framing work. The impact driver is far superior to a drill; it's like cutting butter with a hot knife. It's very amazing how efficiently it can drive screws into thick materials. I've dropped it a few times from the top of my 6' ladder on to either concrete or wood and it just keeps going. It's a lot lighter than my regular XPR drill which I also like as well, just for different uses now. The only thing I wish all drills had, was a few more clips on the bottom to hold extra bits.