Hitachi DB3DL 3.6-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Screwdriver

by Hitachi

• Two 1.5 Ah lithium-ion batteries for 3 times the life at half the weight of NiCd and NiMH batteries
• 44 inch-pounds of turning torque to power through fastening applications
• Compact and lightweight at only 9.75 inches in length and weighing less than 1 pound
• 1/4-inch hex chuck for quick and easy bit changes; built-in LED light to illuminate the work surface
• Covered by Hitachi's industry-leading lifetime warranty

Product Description

Amazon.com

With a compact design and superior power-to-weight ratio, the Hitachi DB3DL 3.6-volt lithium-ion screwdriver is ideal for electricians, installers, and woodworkers. Perfect for a variety of fastening applications, this screwdriver converts easily from straight grip to pistol grip, making it great for tough-to-reach places. This screwdriver is backed by a lifetime warranty and features lithium-ion batteries that boast three times the runtime of traditional batteries, yet weigh 50 percent less.

DB3DL Screwdriver Tool Specifications Torque 44 inches/lbs Clutch Stages 21 No-Load Speed 200/600 RPM Chuck 1/4" Hex Battery Capacity 1.5 Ah Charging Time 30 min Weight 0.9 lbs

21-stage clutch offers easy adjustments for high-torque and precision driving. View larger.

Lightweight lithium-ion batteries and a charger (both included) save you time and energy.

Superior Power-to-Weight Ratio
Offering 44 inch/pounds of torque in a body that weighs less than one pound, the DB3DL has a better power-to-weight ratio than the competition. And with a two-speed transmission that offers maximum no-load speeds of either 200 or 600 RPM, this screwdriver fastens and pre-drills wood, mild steel, aluminum, and more.

Additionally, the DB3DL's 21-stage clutch provides both high torque and precision driving. A reversing trigger switch lets you quickly choose from 0-600 RPM for the job at hand.

Chock-Full of User-Friendly Features
In addition to its powerful motor, the DB3DL has a host of features that help you get the job done with comfort and convenience. To start, this screwdriver features a non-slip elastomer-grip handle that makes long jobs more comfortable. The handle is adjustable to two positions, allowing for a choice of straight-grip or pistol-grip operation.

For added convenience, the DB3DL includes a 1/4-inch quick-change hex chuck with bit lock for fast and easy bit changes. An added bonus, an integrated LED work light helps illuminate dark work areas.

Designed to reach places that other cordless screwdrivers just can't, the Hitachi DB3DL is compact and lightweight, measuring 9.75 inches and weighing just 0.9 pounds.

HXP Lithium-Ion Batteries Last 3X Longer and Weigh 50% Less
The DB3DL owes its light weight to two HXP lithium-ion batteries. These 1.5 Ah batteries weigh half of what traditional NiCd or NiMH batteries weigh--in fact, tools featuring HXP batteries are on average one pound lighter than tools using traditional batteries.

Additionally, HXP batteries last three times longer than their competition--these batteries will last approximately 500 charges before needing to be replaced. Overall, less frequent battery charges and longer battery life mean reduced operation costs for you.

The DB3DL's charger will power the tool's batteries in just 30 minutes and features a built-in Cool Air Flow system to maintain optimal charging temperature.

Every Hitachi cordless power tool is designed to the highest standards and rigorously tested for both performance and durability. Like all HXP lithium-ion cordless tools, the DB3DL comes with a lifetime lithium-ion tool warranty, which protects against possible defects in materials and workmanship. Also, the tool's batteries come with a two-year warranty and the charger comes with a one-year warranty.

What's in the Box
DB3DL cordless driver drill, 2 3.6-volt HXP 1.5 Ah lithium-ion batteries (326263), charger (UC3SFL), and case (326346).

Product Description

Includes: (2) Hitachi 3.6V 1.5 Ah Lithium-Ion Batteries - EBM315 / 326263, Hitachi 3.6V 30-Minute Battery Charger - UC3SFL, Driver bit - 983006, Plastic carrying case. The Hitachi DB3DL 3.6V 1/4" Hex Lithium-Ion Cordless Screwdriver Kit is equipped with two speeds, 200 & 600 RPM for better control based on the application. 1/4" hex chuck for quick and easy bit changes. The built-in LED light on the Hitachi DB3DL 3.6 Volt Cordless Screwdriver illuminates the work surface allowing you to see what you're working on. The DB3DL is compact and lightweight at only 9.75" in length and weighing less than 1 lb.. Chuck Size: 1/4" hex. Spindle Lock: Yes. Max Torque: 44 in.-lbs. No-Load Speed: 200 & 600 RPM. Drilling Mode: Yes. Clutch Stages: 21. LED Light: Yes. Battery Type: Lithium-Ion. Battery Ah: 1.5. Charger Volts Accepted: 3.6V. Charging Time: 1.5 Ah = 30 min. Tool Length: 9.75". Tool Weight: .9 lbs.

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

107 of 109 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great compromise of weight, power, and versatility. June 3, 2007

By Drew Heywood

I wanted a smaller power driver than my 7.2 volt Dewalt, which is too heavy and bulky to just stash in a tool belt. My choice was between the Hitachi DB3DL and the Bosch PS20-2 Litheon 10.8 Volt Lithium Ion Pocket Driver With 2 Batteries. Both are excellent, so which should you choose? Ideally, you should handle both.

Weight: The Bosch is about twice as heavy. I hardly notice the Hitachi in a pocket or tool belt.

Power: The Hitachi is a light-mid duty tool. It's surprisingly powerful, but the extra voltage in the Bosch enables it to rival larger drill-drivers in all but the most demanding situations.

Versatility: I like the hinged configuration of the Hitachi, enabling you to use it in a straight or pistol-grip configuration. The Bosch is pistol-grip only.

Convenience: The Bosch has a separate reversing switch like the ones found on nearly all power drills. (I frequently curse these switches since I frequently press them by accident and forget to press them when I should.) I prefer the rocker switch on the Hitachi, which is very intuitive and lets me reverse in a single operation. When doing electrical work, it's nice to be able to reverse simply by moving my finger on the trigger.

The Bosch will likely appeal to you if you're looking for something like a conventional drill-driver in a smaller, lighter package without sacrificing too much power. I own 3 Bosch routers and 2 sanders, so I can honestly say that I love Bosch tools. The quality is great. So why didn't I buy the Bosch PS20-2?

I chose the Hitachi because of it's very light weight, comfort, and convenience. Since my purchase, I've picked up the Bosch a few times to see if I made the right choice. Every time, my answer is "Yes." Unless you really need the 10.8 volt torque, you'll should be very happy with the Hitachi.

The only improvement I'd like is a clip for a bit or two, but that would probabably make the tool fatter. In this case, slim is better.

66 of 67 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than your drill for screwdriving because you'll actually use it December 6, 2007

By A Person

There's plenty of helpful reviews on here already, but I thought I'd try to help out prospective buyers by clearly answering the two main questions I had as a fairly serious DIYer when I was considering this purchase:

1. Is the Hitachi driver really necessary if you already have a cordless drill/driver that you're happy with?

2. Why pick this one instead of its direct competitors?

Answer to Q1: We all know that you can use a drill as a screwdriver quite well, and for larger projects with lots of big wood screws, a 9.6 or 12 volt cordless drill is still the weapon of choice. But there are countless situations where the drill is just too big and hard to control or just plain inconvenient to get out or carry. For example, most people would opt for a hand screwdriver over a drill/driver to work with the screws that fasten the interior trim of a car (this is what I did until I got the Hitachi). The beauty of the this tool is that it's about the same size as a medium hand screwdriver, the only difference being that the Hitachi is about 1.5" in diameter for most of its length while a regular screwdriver is that wide only at its handle. Thus, this tool is really no more difficult to store, transport, and use than a manual screwdriver. Now you have a power tool that - because of the lithium-ion batteries that hold their charge while not being used - is truly no more inconvenient to set up and use than a basic hand tool. And due to the awesome automatic spindle lock feature, you can use the Hitachi as a manual screwdriver, except that you have the option to use the pistol grip as well as the straight configuration. I often use it manually to break lose really tight screws or to do the final tightening to ensure that I don't over-torque things (yes, it has a clutch for this and it works well, but sometimes I just like to feel by hand how tight things are). In short, this tool can do everything a manual screwdriver can do - including being convenient to set up and carry so that you'll actually want to use it for just about everything - while allowing you to get things done much faster.

Answer to Q2: There are numerous power screwdrivers, but since what seems to me to make this item a worthy purchase in addition to a regular cordless drill/driver is its comparable convenience to a manual screwdriver, I'll to compare it to other items of comparable convenience. So, things like the DeWalt DW920K-2 Heavy Duty 7.2-Volt Ni-Cad Cordless Screwdriver and the popular Bosch PS20-2 Litheon 10.8-Volt Lithium-Ion Pocket Driver With 2 Batteries are ruled out because they aren't really any more convenient than the much more versatile Makita 6260DWPE 9.6-Volt 3/8-Inch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit. But two products that are quite similar in convenience are theBlack & Decker AS600 6-Volt Alkaline Battery Cordless Screwdriver and the Dremel 1120-01 120V 7.2V Cordless Screwdriver, and it's a tough choice among these and the Hitachi.

The Black and Decker has only 20 in-lbs of torque and only spins at 180 rpm, but it is very cheap and can be used manually just like the Hitachi. If you figure in the price of rechargeable batteries, it isn't quite so cheap, but still much cheaper. The Hitachi, however, is lithium-ion and has a 200 rpm speed for torquey driving and 600rpm that allows for drilling of pilot holes (up to about 3/8" if you push it), and two grip configurations. To me, these features and the build quality make it worth quite a bit of a premium over the B&D - enough to where I'd pay about fifty bucks for it (which I did). If I had to pay seventy, I would have looked long and hard at the B&D.

The Dremel driver is similarly priced to the Hitachi (though cheaper if you get it as part of the Dremel 1130-01 120V 7.2V Screwdriver / Stylus Combo). It appears to offer comparable torque in a much smaller package (The description does not give a spec in in-lbs but says it can drive 3" #10 screws into pine without a pilot, which is about what the Hitachi is capable of). It also has the spindle lock feature so that it can be used manually and a variable speed trigger unlike the Hitachi, though it lacks a clutch and contains only an integral battery. To me, the Dremel driver almost seems too small, and I just prefer the Hitachi's manual screwdriver feel. But it really is a close call. I can definitely see how the Dremel's size could be a decisive advantage in many situations.

Your mileage may vary according to your own preferences, but hopefully this gives you a better idea of what to expect no matter which choice you make.

58 of 60 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great little tool! Well built, comfy, light, powerful October 14, 2006

By Spec

Amazon Verified Purchase

Similar to the panasonic/milwaukee 3.6v driver but better. It is a little bigger but not much, grips better due to the nice rubber nubs in the grip, has an LED that can be turned on or off, and a nice size forward and reverse thumb switch. It has a quick release chuck that holds the bit unlike the others I mentioned, so your bits don't fall out. I own the milwaukee also, so I know of which I speak. Full range clutch that can even do light drilling. Comes with a nice charger and TWO batteries. Again, beats the others in overall value and features. Well built and ergonomically excellent. Also comes with a nice little case, again the others don't. Great deal on a great tool. You'll find yourself using this on every project that requires screws, nut drivers or small drill bits.