Customer Reviews

Hitachi DB3DL 3.6-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Screwdriver

5 star:		(75)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I bought this becasue I got tired of carrying my Dewalt 7.2V screwdriver around all day and I didn't need all the tork all the time so I wanted something lighter for smaller jobs. I thought Lithium Ion an 2 batteres for under $100 how could I go wrong. So far I am disappointed overall for what I wanted to use it for which is small screwes and electricial stuff. My fathor which is an electrition grabs his old dewalt at the job also instead of this he said it doesn't have enought tork. THe deal killer for me is that it is not varable speed. When starting in screw I start slow then let them zip at full speed. Since this is one speed it takes me 3 times as long to drive a screw which adds up by the end of the day. Also the design is nice but I think a small non hindging design like the Bosh or at least a locking hinge like the dewalt is better, several times I found the thing hidnging when I didn't want it to. Over all for the price I like it but could be better I think I am going to leave this home from now on.

Good
- Battries last forever and are light
- LED is awesome (just wish it was white though, orange is a littel hard to see black screws under)
- Good ergomomic design, but does hinge now and then when you don't want it to
- 2 speed

Bad
- Whish it was smaller
- On Off trigger not variable speed
- To go from fast to slow you need to switch a switch
- Chuck is kind of sloppy holding bits
- No place to hold a spair bit or another format bit, I alwas seem to have the wrong bit in it and have to dig around to swap it.

I am a self employed Master Electrician and I use this tool all day long. It gets droped, stuff thrown on it in the truck. It keeps on working and working. Great tork long lasting charges. The fact that you can change your batteries is a dream. I recommend this tool highly. It is my favorite tool in my tool pouch. Buy one.

I can drive a two inch drywall screw into a 2X4 with this.. It's Great

I received this as a promo bundle with a larger Hitachi 18 volt drill -- but I've found I like the DB3DL more than the 18 volter! The DB3DL is small and compact. The "high" speed on the drill is more than fast enough to drill pilot holes in drywall or soft lumber, while the "low" speed has enough torque to drive in #8 screws into pine decking. The Lithium Ion batteries have a good amount of charge and the little LED light is handy when drilling in a closet or back of a dresser.

The one complaint I have is that the "low" speed is still pretty fast -- sometimes to fast to set small screws. I wish there was a variable speed trigger or a "super-slow" mode, but otherwise I'm 98% happy with this!

I use the Hitachi Cordless on the job, and I really didn't know what I was missing. My productivity level has shot up 25%. My wrist's don't hurt when I get home from turning screws all day with a regular screwdriver. Makes a big difference. If your a technician like I am, I definitely recommend this product. Batteries last two weeks in between the 30 minute chargings (and you get two). WOW!!!! I also got the Hitachi 30 piece bit set, (a must have)!!!!

This is a great little cordless screwdriver. I have had the Panasonic for 3 years and the batteries have started to go out. I took them to Batteries Plus and had them redone...big mistake. This little Hitachi has a little better feel in my hand and for what I use it for has the same power as the Panasonic for less money. The little light is well not that helpful, but in all honesty I have used it a couple of times and it was ok, don't expect it to light the way though. Over all I gave it 5 stars it's a tought little driver and it comes with 2 batteries instead of one. I've used it about 10 months. Do I still use the Panasonic? Yes, but I bought a new battery for it and took the driver to work for working on PC's.

(Written as an avid DIYer after three months and 30 projects of ownership) First let me explain the purpose of this type of product - it is a general purpose light to moderate powered drill and screwdriver. For the average homeowner who does not engage in major renovation projects, this is the only tool you need. It is ideal for those general repairs, assembly projects, bathroom fixtures, light fixtures, ceiling fans, doorknob replacement, etc. If you are looking to use this for construction purposes like building walls, decks, attaching drywall, or installing long or thick wood screws you SHOULD BE looking for an Impact Driver, NOT a screwdriver like this one. Please don't get confused as to the purpose or use of this tool and be disappointed as a few reviewers here have.

I am very happy with this purchase. My 10-year-old B&D model of similar design and form factor was more than replaced by this one. Key features that are new to me compared to the old B&D is dual speeds (drill pilot hole & standard driver speed) and torque control (limits how much power goes to the screw to prevent stripping out the hole in softer materials). The amount of torque the driver can put out is impressive for its size and much more torque than the old B&D. I find myself able to complete most non-major construction tasks without reaching for the drill or impact driver at all like I did with the B&D. As far as the main points for a product in this category go - build quality, torque, torque settings, speed settings, and form factor - I can't see how any model of screwdriver designed to fill this niche could be significantly better than this one. More torque could actually be a liability for the typical applications that you would use this driver for.

Batteries - Worthy of mention is that LiIon batteries lose their charge very slowly when stored - like Alkaline batteries - and should last much longer in terms of years and number of charges compared to older technology. Older NiCad and Nickel Metal Hydride batteries lose charge much faster in storage meaning for infrequent use you have to charge before using and the spare battery is also likely dead. With LiIon batteries, this driver is ready to work when you need it - and so is the spare battery. LiIon batteries also have a very rapid drop off when discharging - this means the tool will be fully powered and then die instantly without warning which is a blessing and a curse. My old NiCad B&D would just start losing RPMs until it finally turned no more. This tool is fully powered until the next second it is out of juice. Purchasing a product these days that does not have removable LiIon batteries is a big no-no. Like vacuum cleaners, it is impossible to judge usable power based on volts/amps between models and vendors so don't make this number too important in your purchasing decision. Generally, more amps means more time between charges/battery changes. It doesn't matter so much in this product because it is nearly impossible to drain the spare battery before the dead one recharges. Another consideration is you may want to buy tools that use a battery 'system' where multiple tools use the same battery. From a DIYer perspective this is the only tool available that uses this battery (aside from their gas nailers, but who has those?). Some competitive models have flashlights and other tools that use the same battery, and this can be a plus for some people.

Major pluses:
-Lifetime warranty (unheard of) that is on this product (2 yrs on battery). I have no experience getting an Hitachi product repaired (I have several), so I can't comment on that.
-Light and fits in your pocket easily. Huge plus for those jobs on a ladder or other place where you need two hands to position something, one hand to hold it, while the other one needs to pick up the driver (that is now out of reach by Murphy's law). If it can fit in your pocket like this one, it is a problem no more.
-The driver is locked when not energized. This means you can use it as a manual screwdriver for finer grained torquing. A really stuck screw can be forced to turn easily if you fold the handle to give you more torque. This is an important feature to have!

So, why the 4 stars? To have a 'perfect' product in this niche there are features that can be added, done better, or may be done better in competitive products worthy of mention. If all the important stuff above is identical, use this list to help you make your decision:
- The LED light is not useful. It does not illuminate the area of the tip of the bit, but slightly under it. I can't comment on competitive models, but a useful light would be difficult to engineer in a narrow inline screwdriver.
- Lots of people mentioned the non-locking nature of the pivot as a big negative. I personally have not had an issue with it either bending or straightening when I did not want it to like some reviewers. Over lots of usage, I have not seen this mechanism loosening up either, which was a concern of mine. That said, the old B&D had a lock here and it would make me feel better in those rare situations where I don't/can't have a solid grip on the unit because my elbow is twisted and bent in 3 different ways.
- No on-board bit storage / can't use dual tipped bits. I really don't care much for the quality of dual tipped bits, so not being able to use them is not a biggie for me. I do need (way too frequently) to switch between a straight tip and Phillips and to be able to have one tip in storage on the device would be ideal. Some bits, like my old nut drivers, don't lock into place because they don't have a locking groove (don't use if the retaining ring will be compressed so you don't damage it). For those really short bits you may have laying around, you need to buy a magnetic bit holder.
- It only comes with one Philips bit. Come on guys - package it with a decent set of drivers and hex-shaft bits since you DO make them. I'd go to Harbor Freight and pick up a few sets of driver bits of various lengths and a set of hex-shanked drill bits for those pilot holes to have on hand anyway (for a fairly complete set of useful bits for this or any other driver, I suggest item numbers 98902,99860,99755,1800,36555,42191 and 65806 - total of around 35 dollars). The longer bits are a must for getting to screws that are deeply set into narrow recesses, PC cases, doorknobs, etc. No manufacturer packages these long driver bits, so I don't consider this a really bad thing. If this will be your first real power tool or are recommending it for purchase to someone as their first tool then you really need to include/recommend the purchase of at least some basic drill bit/driver set.
- Not variable speed - it is dual speed. Aside from driving really tiny wood screws into soft wood like MDF, I can't think of a case where variable speed is actually a need to have feature when you have finely grained torque control.
- No electric brake. This means the driver continues to rotate when you release the trigger until the motor stops on its own. Again, not a big minus with torque control. I don't think this could be implemented in a screwdriver with this form factor anyway.

A last bit of general advice on products of this type - even if you are buying something for occasional use - don't go cheap. Get a decent quality highly reviewed product or you will ultimately be disappointed. Also get a nice assortment of bit to use with your rig - you will be glad you did. You also want to read the storage information for the batteries and follow their advice on temperature - an unheated garage may be too cold for the batteries to have maximum life and charge.