Customer Reviews

DeWalt DW511 1/2" (13mm) 7.8 Amp VSR Hammerdrill

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I used to carry a 3/8th inch drill because it was light and fast, and a 1/2 inch hammer drill because it was slow (for large drill bits) and powerful (for drilling concrete, up to 1 inch diameter holes). This DeWalt is twice as fast as my 3/8th inch drill, twice as powerful as the hammer drill that I wore out, and the variable speed trigger works well, too. That means I no longer have to carry 2 drills in order to always have the right tool for the job.

My shopping expeditions generally found imported junk that felt like it would break in about a week, or big, heavy, 22 inch long, "professional" drills, with 2 speed transmissions, for way more than I wanted to spend. I have seen a battery operated hammer drill do the kind of work I do, so knew I didn't need the expensive drills, but I don't like the price of batteries which fail in a year or two. This drill is right in the middle and exactly what I need; simple, corded, slow, fast, light, and powerful.

I'm writing this review for those who have a hard time trying to decide on a drill as I did. People sometimes write reviews only because they either love the product or absolutely hate it. Well here's my opinion of the DeWalt DW511 hammer drill.
For what it's worth , I searched and researched for about two weeks before I listed my priorities and decided on this drill. I needed it to strap my basement walls for insulation. I knew that after this job it would become my corded general purpose drill to use when I needed the power. The major factor on chooseing this drill was it's amps and mostly the weight. I have used it and to my amazement I drilled a 3/16 X 2 1/2 inch hole in poured concrete w/rocks in about 10 seconds. This seems to be a great drill and is light in weight , less than four pounds, I wouldn't want a big heavy drill for general work around the house. Now that I have my major project done I wouldn't have much use for a hammer drill other than an occasional hole in concrete but I can also use this for a general purpose drill when I need more power than my cordless gives me as this drill provides two options , hammer drill or with the flip of a switch , regular drill. The price is good and the warranty is longer than most. I think I made a good choice for my needs.

The DeWalt DW 511 met all of my needs and without any hickups. I needed to install electrical boxes as well as hanger bracket on 52 Ft of foundation wall that was 14 Ft high. In addition, the ceiling was also cement and it required numerous lighting fixtures to be instaled from the under side. The work was hard but by using the DW511 instead of my Mikita hammer drill that kept overheating, I cut the time in half and with ease. I'd recommend this drill for this type of work any day.

This was my first corded drill purchase in many years. The drilling experience was excellent - it hammers a hole through rock and concrete with ease. Just plug it in and get it done. DeWalt builds a superior product. If you're in the market for a combination standard drill and a hammer drill, look no further - just flip the lever and go from standard to hammer function. Highly recommended.

I bought this for $50 bucks refurbished, just thinking it would last one project(cheaper then renting). I have had this drill for 3 years now. I use it all the time and it is still going strong!

Good job Dewalt!

I purchased this DeWalt DW511 half-inch Hammerdrill and am very happy with its performance. I had previously tried to mount railing and accessories around concrete steps and our pool, using a rotary drill with masonry bits (unsatisfactory) and also tried a Remington 476 Power Hammer using those 22 blanks to drive steel concrete nails into undrilled and drilled areas. Fun stuff shooting that, but it didn't work well, some nails didn't penetrate, and it really chipped out the hole areas that then required patching. I wanted quick, easy, and professional looking holes in my old concrete steps for installation of a new railing. Following the Amazon reviews, I selected this DeWalt hammerdrill. I was so pleased to be able to drill quarter inch holes about 2 inches into the concrete, each in about 30 seconds. I used top quality Bosch Blue Granite hammer drills. Bought a pack of them and have only used one so far to drill 16 holes to mount railing using Cobra drive nail anchors! I don't understand some of the negative reviews from folks who broke this drill - they must have really tried to muscle them. You have to let a hammer drill do its thing and it doesn't take long to get a feel for how much speed and pressure you need to keep it going. Remember, if it hits a stone in aggregate, it is going to slow down until it is through. You won't go wrong with this drill, and it has a rotary setting too for conventional drilling jobs.

I got tired of using cordless drills. I'm a person that uses a drill about one weekend a month. It always seemed like I needed to charge the batteries for my drill mid-project, or try to complete projects with a fading tool. This drill helps me complete all my household projects, and when using the handle I have excellent control of the tool.

Drill burned up going through 4" garage slab. Grease blew out of bearings... not up to the job. If your task involves heavy-duty concrete or masonry, look elsewhere.

After borrowing a buddies for (2) masonry jobs I finally broke down & bought my own. $99 @ Home Depot.

One person mentions the chuck not holding but I was just reading thru the manual & it says you need to tighten around the chuck by hitting all 3 points & tightening (like a wheel on a car). So maybe that's the issue.

Secondly, another person says it died after 2 years. The manual states that it comes with a 3 year warranty. Keep a copy of your receipt in the box / with the tool!

I'm very impressed by this drill. I just finished drilling (4) 3/4" by 14" holes thru solid concrete. The drill was rock solid! :)

We purchased this drill to hang some metal shelving and a metal closet kit in the unfinished part of our basement. It really did the job and I'm very pleased w/it! Was powerful easy to handle and drilled nice neat holes very quickly. It's definitely the best tool for the job of drilling small holes in concrete. I really like the fact it doubles as a regular drill so didn't end up being one of those tools you use only once. If my cordless drill battery dies or I need more juice I can use this drill instead (ok, so I use it regardless now). Be sure to use the right bit size though! I used a bit that was a little too small (and yes, it was on the drill setting) and ended up stripping screws in one trigger pull LOL. Only complaint I have is it did not come w/a case. Funny reading some other brand reviews as folks complain about the flimsy cases, hey, at least you got one!