Customer Reviews

Factory-Reconditioned DEWALT DCX6401R Heavy-Duty 36-Volt Lithium Ion Cordless Combo Kit

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

CONS: Not very many. I wish the light was made using ultra bright LEDs instead of regular bulbs...that way the light would last even longer. I'm happy with the work light's battery life, but I had to mention that because I love how energy efficient LEDs are. I had a scuff on the black case that I really don't care about. That is the risk you run when you get refurbished. If you are worried about getting a scratch on your tool or toolcase then you shouldn't be buying, using, or even looking at tools. Period. Tools should be made to take a beating. I think these are pretty rugged. Weight: Sure I wouldn't recommend one of these sets to my Grandma for her light weight around the house kind of work because she couldn't even lift the drill. (She getting on in years.) But, if you want light weight, then you must trade it for power. These tools have plenty of power.

PROS: At the time I purchased this kit, I compared it to the price of a new kit. I was glad to save the money and still get the 1 year warranty. I love how it came with 2 batteries instead of making you rush out and buy a second one. Power: I love more power, but I don't think these tools need any more power. I'm happy with how they perform. Having the same battery for all of them is very handy. Lithium-ION is very powerful and should provide a good long life as long as you keep your batteries conditioned using the smart charger that it comes with. I have not found a job that these guys can't handle.

Short Amusing Story: I had a complete air conditioning system installed recently. I look over and I see that they are using a batch of these tools. For the first microsecond I thought they pulled out one of my tools but then I realized theirs had more wear and tear and a little more dirt than mine did. This team of contractors were using these same tools that I chose for my home maintenance, repairs, and projects.

In the end: If you don't mind your drill or other tools being a little heavier than some of the lightweight ones out there, then this is a high quality set at a fair price. Sure you could spend less, but you get what you pay for. I hate replacing tools and I try to buy them ONCE and be done with it. I know sometimes things wear out, but it saves me a lot of time and money in the long run.

OK, so I thought long and hard about how to justify getting this kit to myself and my girlfriend. After all, I already have a new 14.4 Dewalt XRP drill, a corded 15 amp Dewalt recip saw, and a nice corded 15 amp Hitachi circular saw..... So, lust won out over common sense and I ordered it.
While I haven't had the time to extensively evaluate everything in the kit, I do have the following comments:

Drill - Phenomonal torque! Seems very well built and extremely heavy duty with enough adjustability to make it extremely versatile. Holding it in one hand and my 14.4 in the other, I can barely tell the difference in weight. Balance is excellent.

Circular saw - Just like a corded version in most respects. Maybe a little heavier than some and the battery positioning makes the balance feel different than a corded tool. Not a problem, just different. Can't yet comment on how much cutting you get out of a charge, whether blade speed is different enough to affect longevity of blades, etc. It's great to have a full sized 7 1/4" circular saw with cordless design and plenty of power! I'm certain to never cut the cord on this one and it seems like a great tool!

Recip Saw - Haven't yet evaluated it yet for torque (feels powerful though) or battery life. Blade adjustability and installation seem versatile and easy. Balance is a little different than the corded version but this isn't a problem.

Flashlight - Seems bright and has great adjustability.

Charger/Batteries - Quick charging, simple mating, clear display of charging status.

Kit as a whole - No marks, blemishes, or stains give away that this is a reconditioned kit. I'm very happy with it as a whole. The box makes me want to spit nails though. Proverbial 10 lbs of $*%( in a 5 pound sack. Haven't once been able to get everything lined back up in there and get both latches shut. Would have been better off if Dewalt had put this stuff in a bag. This hard box isn't going to protect the equipment if you can't get it sealed back up in there! But, guess what? You'd still be stuck with that stupid box if you paid over twice as much for the factory new version. All in all this is a very versatile, practical, convenient, and powerful tool kit.

I've owned this set for over a year now and originally was planning on using it as my primary power tool set for electrical work. I do a lot of heavy hammer-drilling and have had 4 different clutches lock up into "hammer-drill mode" (each within 2 weeks). Poor clutch engineering on the drill. I still use it though because it's got so much power as well as the other tools. Great tools, but keep that drill off of "hammer-drill" mode.

I would have agreed with the other reviewers the day that I bought these tools, but no longer. I have two DeWalt 36v batteries and after two years of mild use they will no longer take a charge. DeWalt advertises that you should be able to get 2000 charges out of these batteries. I got at the most 50. This is flawed technology. I'm now stuck with 800 dollars worth of useless tools. DeWalt was given a court order to cease production of their 36v products and they no longer support them. Don't expect to get any help from them nor Amazon. They have washed their hands clean of this product. I have bought many DeWalt products over the years; I had the 14.4v tools set and the 18v tool set. Both good sets and I got what I expected out of them. I've been a devoted customer of theirs for 20 years and now they leave me dead in the water. Black&Decker has ruined DeWalt. I will no longer buy their products along with their other affiliations Porter Cable and Delta.
...And we wonder why American companies are failing

Have been using these about nine months now. Got the refurb package. Arrived looking brand-new. Comments so far:

Circular saw: fabulous. First time I've ever had a cordless circular. So sweet to be able to move around the material without swinging the cord. Yes, I have nearly sawed through my cord before...

Recip saw: This is the best piece in the box. An amazing cordless saw. Rrrrrrrripped through a seriously thick iron fence pipe. I've used it to limb trees. A beautiful thing.

Light: haven't used it yet.

Drill: Well, here is the important one. The one you probably use the most. Truth is, it is ever so slightly less wieldy than my old 18V. I'm still not really used to it yet. My 18V lasted nearly a decade, and was like an extension of my hand, so maybe it is still to early to judge this one. But it is a fraction heavier, I think, plus the balance is decidedly different. Frankly, it has a bit too much power. With my old 18V, I could ease a tough screw in very very slowly. Even now, months later, I have trouble with the "feel" on this drill, and find myself stripping screws in high-torque low-speed situations. Never used to do that.
As for the hammerdrill feature, I still have yet to give it a proper test (going into a dense concrete material of any distance). My experience with cordless hammerdrills has been pretty disappointing. BUT. Considering my experience above with the Recip Saw, I may end up being pleasantly surprised. Power, after all, is NOT a problem with the 36V line.

Batteries: So far so good. Way too early to tell. I would say my tools are in service about 80 to 100 days out of a year. My expectation is that I will get several years of life out of my batteries. That certainly was the case, and then some, with my 18V. And so we will be some years before we have an answer to how long these 36Vs last.

One last thing: the box is a bit tight. But too much is being made of it. Mine fit in there just fine, once you remember once and for all how they are supposed to lay.

Excellent tools for battery operated. The best I've used. I would recommend having at least 3 batteries and a second charger might be advisable. The drill is fabulous but the battery pays the price. The circular saw is fantastic also but the battery goes fast. I can cut the plumb, seat and soffit cuts on 4 2X12 rafters (with a notch for a load bearing ridge) before the battery needs to be replaced. Not what you want with a crew waiting for your rafters but if your alone or with one other guy it's fine. The sawzall is fine and has a great blade loading feature. The only fault I can find with it is that it his one speed-real fast- and it sounds like a barrel full of rocks rolling through a tunnel. Great tools, no cords, nice color.

I purchased this set after reading the reviews and all I can say is WOW!!! I've owned cordless tools for 20 years and I've got to say that this tool set really impressed me. Factory reconditioned but looked and functioned liked brand new. Power was more than adequate and the battery life was at least twice that of my 18 volt. The circular saw is well balanced and light and the drill went through pressure treated 4x4 like butter. I would definitely recommend this purchase.

Reconditioned items seem to be brand new. Batteries have lasted a long time and it is nice having two of them to switch between the tools. I was surprised by the power the circular saw has - it works great. Drill is a little heavy, but I think that is to be expected.

My friend just got this kit and I had the opportunity to try it out on a job we were doing together. This kit is by far the best I've ever used. I currently have the 18V kit and am about to upgrade to the 36V.

I love these tools, they are powerful and they outlast my other cordless tools by a substantial amount. They kick butt.