Customer Reviews

DEWALT DW960K-2 Heavy-Duty 3/8-Inch 18-Volt Ni-Cad Cordless Right Angle Drill

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Out of necessity and because it has ample power, I had been planning to convert this drill to a 1/2" chuck for some time, but just recently got around to it.
Since the DW960 comes with a 3/8" capacity chuck, I assumed that it would be mounted on a 3/8" X 24 TPI spindle as most 3/8" drills are.
Before buying a 1/2" chuck with a reduced 3/8" X 24 TPI mount, I decided to remove the original chuck and check the spindle to be sure.
With the chuck removed, I found that the DW960 has a 1/2" X 20 TPI spindle, which is the standard spindle size for mounting a 1/2" chuck.
I wouldn't bother changing out the chuck on my older model DW966 14.4V right angle drill because it doesn't really have enough power to make it worth the expense, but I decided to check the spindle size on it anyway. It too has the 1/2" X 20 TPI spindle.
Dewalt most likely does this to give the short spindles more strength, not to allow for an upgrade to a 1/2" chuck. Nevertheless, I really need this drill to be a 1/2", so I purchased a Jacobs made Dewalt OEM style keyless chuck from McMaster and installed it on the drill. It fit perfectly, actually better than the original did, and for my work needs, the extra chuck capacity makes all the difference.
I would never attempt to use this right angle drill as hard as my straight 1/2" cordless drill, but when working in a tight space, it's great to finally be able to use the DW960 with my Greenlee hole saws larger than 7/8", which have 7/16" shanks. This was the main reason for wanting to ditch the standard 3/8" chuck.
I've used it with hole saws up to 3-1/2" in 1X and 2-1/2" in 2X material. This seems to be completely within the drills ability without producing any unusual motor strain or heating. Understandably, I'm sure Dewalt would not approve of this modification and if the motor or gear train does eventually end up as toast, I'm okay with the fact that it will be my fault, not Dewalt's.
With that being said, it now appears that I can finally stop waiting for Dewalt to produce an 18V cordless 1/2" right angle drill.

For years I have struggled to get my full-size cordless drill into tight spots. I have tried everything from flexible-shaft-bit-holders to crazy angles when I drill. Finally a solution -- and one that works interchangeably with my other 18 volt tools. The first task I put this to was drilling holes for 3 inch PVC drain lines in 50 year old southern pine floor joists. Using firm but gentle pressure, I was through the joist in no time. After a dozen or so holes, the tool was running hot, but had plenty more power to keep running. I then employed it replacing some drawer guides in a cabinet and it worked like a charm on the low speed setting.

Overall, another great product from DeWalt. I continue to wonder what takes them so long!

PROS: Great power; interchanges with DeWalt 18v system; easy to hold; comfortable to operate; plenty of power for carpentry

CONS: forward/reverse switch is very small (or my fingers are fat); no adjustable torque (really not needed for most applications)

You probably won't use this tool on every job, but when your Hole Hawg is too clumsy to fit in a tight spot or you just don't need all that firepower, this "little" RAD is a godsend. Like another tool reviewer did, I too replaced the 3/8 chuck with a 1/2" keyless chuck which makes the tool more usable. It was the most difficult chuck I had ever removed from a tool. It was torqued and loctited on very well, almost too well. I have not experienced any of the problems other reviewers had, but unfortunately there are lemons and DOA's with most anything you buy today. I feel the tool is well made and serves it's intended function very well. If you buy this elsewhere like Home Depot, be aware that they sell the kit with only 1 battery for $199.00 not the 2 batteries that come with the kit sold on Amazon.com. The designation is DW960K-2 for the 2 battery kit and DW960K for the single battery version. Both kits include the same drill, kit box and charger.

This tool worked great for about three months, then while driving a#10 sheet metal screw the trigger froze in the on position, smoke started coming out of the battery pack, the only way to stop it was to disconnect the battery. I'm a cabinetmaker and this is one of the better right angle drills I've owned, it's a bit heavy and the forward and reverse switch is hard to use. The batteries last a long time, I can be on the job all day without charging them,nice.The keyless chuck is one of the best I've used, I hope this is just one of those lemons you get every now and again because I was really begining to like this tool.

First the issues...

I bought this drill kit about two month's ago and so far it has performed very well on the job.
I was somewhat concerned to find that even with the fairly high price tag the drill and batteries are both being made completely in Mexico. From my experience, this usually results in a noticeable drop in quality. I suppose this is just a sign of the times and I should be getting used to it by now.
Also, after years of waiting for Dewalt to produce an 18V RAD unit, I still feel somewhat let down by the fact that it only has a 3/8" chuck capacity, especially since almost all of the trades really need a good 1/2" cordless RAD. The 18V RAD that Milwaukee makes is virtually useless and this Dewalt drill could probably spin a 1/2" chuck under most realistic workload conditions.
The two NAFTA batteries included are marked only as XR, not XR-Plus as all recent Dewalt 18V batteries manufactured in Japan are. I'm not sure if this means anything, but it did catch my attention.

And now the praise...

I have owned the almost identical DW966 14.4V version of this drill for several years and it has been worked hard but was always underpowered for heavier drilling tasks such as boring holes in 2X studs and joists or drilling into wall cavities from a basement or crawlspace below or an attic above, even when using spade/paddle type bits. Although the owners manual lists the maximum hole drilling capacities as the same for both the 14.4V and 18V, the new 18V DW960K has 100 inch-pounds more torque and several hundred more RPM's in high speed than the 14.4V model and is much more at ease with the type of heavier work described above. This drill will never replace your corded RAD for continuous heavy use on larger jobs but is great for smaller jobs where you need to drill several holes and don't want to waste time dragging out an extension cord and hunting for a distant electrical outlet. The added cordless advantages of mobility and safety are especially important when working in a damp crawl space or cramped attic area. The DW960 is only slightly larger and just a little heavier than the older 14.4V drill so it can still easily get into the tight places for drilling or driving screws but has lots more of what tradespersons need most, that being, torque and speed with the ability to interchange batteries with all your other DeWalt 18V tools. Overall it seems to be a well made tool and all is fine for now, but I can only wait and see if the NAFTA product durability will be equal to or better than my older Dewalt drill.

A previous review complained about DeWalt customer service phone number not answering.
I just called them at that number and they answered immediately. I got my support specialist and my problem is solved.
Try again.

this little drill is a workhorse. I bored a goood 15-20 1" holes a speedbor before it even got hot & even after that it didnt lose any torque or drain the battery. I wouldnt use it for real large jobs but if you need to drill 30-40 hole that aren't too large it easier to use this than to have to plug in a hole hawg and deal with the weight of one of those things

I used this right angle drill on several projects ranging from kitchen cabinet installation to the removal of a CD changer from my vehicle. I found the torque and build quality to be excellent. However, for very tight spaces, I can see how the weight and size does not always make this the ideal tool. During one project, in order to get the correct angle to remove a screw, the chuck rubbed against metal rails causing the chuck to loosen several times.

I chose the DW960K over other right angle drills because I needed cordless portability and I was impressed with most of the DeWalt 18-volt tools. I bought this last year before the Bosch PS10-2 Litheon 10.8 Volt Lithium-Ion I-Driver Kit became available. The new Bosch I-Driver, although pricy at 150 dollars, is very compact, light, uses a quick-change chuck, and comes with two lithium ion batteries.

I will probably keep the DeWalt right angle drill for projects requiring more torque and in less confined areas. However, I will probably purchase the Bosch I-Driver for less demanding tasks that require a very compact right angle drill.

The DEWALT right angle drill works well but you need to take good care not to drop it. My DEWALT 18V cordless right angle drill broke when I knocked it off my tool box. It was a 14" fall and I guess it just landed the wrong way. When I picked it up, it started rattling. I was thinking "NO WAY". I couldn't believe it. It was a 14" fall. I also have a Bosch 18V hammer drill which my neighbor accidently dropped on a hard concrete floor from the top of an 8 foot ladder. A few scratches but it still worked flawlessly.

I was remodeling a bathroom and needed to drive a couple of screws attaching the vent braces to the joists. My other cordless drills wouldn't fit. The tiny screwdriver and my big hands wouldn't fit or would take me forever at 1/4 turns. So, I looked around for a right angle drill. I like Dewalt products, and this was no exception. It is maybe not a tool you would use everyday or on every project. It is a good tool to have on hand when you need it. I also find I use it a lot more than I thought I would. The forward and reverse buttons are small and I sometimes wish for an adjustable torque capability. The tool isn't too heavy and is easy to use. I recommend it.