Customer Reviews

DEWALT DW919 18-Volt Flexible Floodlight

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have recently returned from Scott Base Antarctica, where I had the chance to use the DeWalt 18 volt "Snake light" on a daily basis. This proved to be the single most used and appreciated tool that I took with me. - Robust quality! -2 hours of light per charge! -worn around the neck, it offered hands free operation! -40 below, still worked well ! However,-Spare bulbs are hard to find. I highly recomend this unit. Fred Parsons. Winter Over Mechanic, Scott Base Antarctica.

I just purchased another one of these flashlights a few weeks ago and already have several others I've owned for years that are kept both in the truck and at the shop. They have taken quite a beating but all still function well. I use them on the job routinely along with many other Dewalt 18V tools so I could easily justify the purchase of an 18V battery for each flashlight and like the idea of not having to pull one out of another tool to make them operable.
The flexible 18V flashlight is without a doubt one of the best cordless accessory ideas to ever come around for tradespersons and service techs. Anyone who's been around long enough probably remembers the expense having to purchase cases of disposable 6V alkaline lantern batteries that would only last for a few hours or the cheap and dangerous 120V drop lights with the bulbs that frequently blew out if you bumped the light to hard, even when using rough service bulbs. My favorite was when a hot bulb would shatter from thermal shock after accidentally making contact with a few drops of water leaving the energized electrodes of the broken bulb exposed. If you were lucky you'd to be using a GFCI protected receptacle. It's still amazing that more people weren't killed.
I have dragged, dropped and banged the DW919 flashlight mercilessly over the years and can't recall ever blowing a single bulb because of it.
It produces a bright white spot beam and a fully charged battery can sometimes last for several hours of continuous use. It can easily last all day if you're just using it for a few minutes at a time and make the effort to shut it off when not needed. Replacement bulbs come in two-packs and are not really that expensive considering that you can average many months of use from a single bulb. The impact resistant plastic construction makes this flashlight very rugged as well as safe for working around electrical equipment. The lens is made of lexan, the threaded cap is sealed with a gasket making the head and flexible rubber covered shaft dust tight and safe for water splash. It is much better and more durable than the DeWalt pivot head model which I also had used previously. The flexible shaft can be wrapped around a pipe or cable or even worn around your neck. I find that if you need to set the light on the floor, it's best to lay the battery on it's side then coil the shaft around like a snake and point the head where you want it because the battery's weight tends makes the light fall over if you don't.
The DW919 flashlight is now an indispensable part of my workday and I highly recommend it as an accessory to any tradesperson who is already using Dewalt 18v tools.

I got my firstone of these as part of a kit, after using it a few times I bought two more! I operate a small airport and I find them very useful while repairing and inspecting aircraft, I keep one on my fuel truck so I can set it down and light up my work while I'm refueling airplanes. The heavy base and flex shaft make it easy to put light where you want it. This light eliminates the need for a second person (not always one around) to hold a flashlight and frees up both your hands for the task at hand (no pun intended). A great light, and with Amazon's new lower price a great buy!


James Hatsis

James1@OconeeAirService.com

I have owned this light for over a year and recommend it highly, so I was confused by another reviewer's comments about the neck being too flexible. I currently have my light on a table and have been trying to replicate the problem of the light not holding its position. I confirmed that indeed the head will drift down, or the whole lamp tip over, if I try to extend the neck laterally. But by simply keeping the head more or less above the base, it can be infinitely adjusted to maintain its aim indefinitely, with no drift at all... even with the full 16" of the neck extended vertically. Typically, though, I fold the head back down the neck part way before aiming it. It's hard to think of a situation where this would be a limitation, which is probably why I hadn't noticed the "problem" in a year of heavy use. Making the neck more rigid would compromise the major advantage of the DW919 over the pivoting head version (DW908): the fact that the flexible neck can be wrapped around a beam, post, etc. or even around your own neck if there is no stable surface to sit it on. So far I have not replaced the original bulb, but the lamp comes with a spare bulb secured inside the light head ready for easy access. I have bounced the light around with other tools and occasionally dropped it carelessly, but it just keeps on going. During a major power outage this year I used the lamp extensively for several days, recharging the battery in my car using a DC adapter. The illumination is sufficient for lighting a whole room for 2-3 hours. My initial concern was that there is no adjustment on the unit for focusing the light, but in practise I have never found that to be a problem because the light is so bright. The cost for the light plus battery and recharger would be prohibitive. However if you already own (or plan to own) other DeWalt 18V tools, then you have the recharger and a battery. I have four 18V tools plus the lamp and I rotate four batteries. I find I use the light almost as often as my drill. The light weighs 1lb (the battery will add another 2lb).

I got this when I began working on a rental house owned by my mother. This was very useful because it let me work at night when I'd otherwise have to shut down. The use of common batteries with the other Dewalt 18V tools is what makes it so useful.

I use it as an area light, bouncing off light-colored walls to light up an entire room (and it is a little dim for this). I still carry a flashlight as a backup and I'd recommend the same to anyone using it at night, since you may knock it over, plywood may fall on it, et cetera. It can be used for task lighting. I suspect that the other Dewalt 18V flashlight might be better for that, though.

The design of the light, with the flexible neck, lets you set it up in all kinds of positions. The advice given in another review - set it on its side - should be taken to heart, as I think that's the most reliable way to use it. Setting the light on the battery base and extending the neck can make it unstable.

But this is a very useful light which can be used in many, many ways. I think that, because it's so useful, one is tempted to use it just a little bit beyond its ability to balance itself. With that caveat, highly recommended.

I am a huge fan of DeWalt products and own a dozen or so DeWalt tools. This light was a disappointment. If you want to use the battery as a base and point the lamp at something the flexible shaft can't retain it's position. Worse yet, as the light starts to sag the whole thing can topple. The problem is the flexible shaft is not very stiff. The light output is very bright and remains charged for a long time.

The Dewalt DW919 is an excellent device in the wide, wide world of flashlights. It's bright and very convenient to use when you need both hands to be free to work. I bought it as a Christmas gift for a friend who had been wanting one for a while. He's thrilled with it. I think, though, that this is a rather expensive device in its own right before you have to purchase the expensive 18 volt battery that makes it work. (Note, the battery does not come with it!) If you already have Dewalt or Black and Decker devices that use this battery, however, you're in good shape--especially if you own more than one such battery.

Wonderfull light. Will last all day on one battery charge. Easy to use in tight spaces where both hands are required for work.

very handy, nice and bright. The flexible goose neck allows you to aim the light where you want it.

In my humble opinion, Dewalt makes a great product. This light is no different. If I could change one thing, I'd have an attachment for the base to make it broader. If the light is at too much of an angle, it tips over.