Customer Reviews

Hitachi DS18DVB 18-Volt Ni-Cad 3/8-Inch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I wasn't sure what to expect after reading a few of the other reviews that said the drills were refurbs, but mine arrived brand spanking new (no R's anywhere!) and I must say that I'm very impressed with the quality of the product! It feels very good in my hand - the drill is quite meaty, the grip is rubberized and it's nicely balanced. The motor and transmission are very precise and smooth. The motor is fan cooled and it has a brake for when you release the trigger. The trigger allows for fully variable rotational speed, so you really have a lot of control. The forward/reverse/neutral switch is right where it should be and is easily toggled with your fingers. It's easy to adjust the torque setting to fit your needs as it has 22 settings between 9in/lbs up to 52in/lbs and then a fixed drill position at either 96in/lbs on high to 400in/lbs on low. The drill has a small LED light which you can shine directly on the contact point and it can double as a belt hook. The kit comes with the charger, two batteries, a set of screw bits, a fitted hard case to store and carry everything and a really cool and seriously bright adjustable-head flashlight that works from the 18v batteries. If you're looking for a quality cordless drill/driver, I would say this Hitachi won't disappoint.

I used the drill to complete installation of drywall on the ceiling of my garage. I was pleased with the operation of the drill. The only negative comment is that the drill is marked with an "R" on all the components indicating it is refurbished. When I purchased the drill, nothing in the description of the item indicated it was a refurbished. I believe this was very deceptive.

I am very pleased with the performance of the drill. It has smooth consistent power in either setting; high speed or low speed. It is much easier to handle than expected considering it is an 18 volt drill, which is much heavier than lower voltage cordless drills.

The separate light that came with the drill was an added bonus and is quite nice too!

This is a very nice product , and for the sale price a real bargain. However it is not 1/2" chuck as advertised. It is a 3/8 " chuck on the drill.

Purchased mine this week. It arrived, brand new, not refurb. Although the warranty card says 1 year, Hitachi's website says 5 years. I think this is because the drill was manufactured before they switched to 5-year warranty. According to Hitachi, its based on the purchase date, so the 5 year should apply.
Overall, very high quality drill! The electronic brake is an excellent feature if you are driving screws. It stops when you let off the trigger. No overshoot! The trigger has an excellent feel and its easy to control the speed. Can't beat the deal with June's 20% coupon!

My only fault with this drill is the thin injection molded plastic holding the battery. Also as Popeye stated in the previous reveiw the chuck is not 1/2 inch but 3/8. The 1/2 on the chuck relates to the mount which is 1/2 x 20 UNF.

I am really happy i bought this drill. A contractor suggested that hitachi is one of the top brands and it rings true. I borrowed my friends 18v dewalt and it seemed a lot less precise than the hitachi. What i mean to say is that as soon as you let go of the trigger the drill dead stops unlike the dewalt where it keeps moving for a fraction of a second. That way you don't strip a screw more than normal. battery life seems good and it actually comes with a second battery and a flashlight that also uses the 18v battery. (i wasn't sure what it came with from the specs.) Not much else i can say since i've only used it for small projects around the house and haven't used it a lot yet.

My trusty old 7.2v Makita's batteries died, so I decided to upgrade to a whole new drill.

This drill has a nice solid feel to it and it is very powerful. You can really feel the power of 18v! The built in hook is very useful, though the weight of the drill threatens to pull down any pants that aren't securely fastened. I haven't used the built in light feature yet, but it looks like it might come in handy some dark day. My only complaint is that there is no place to put the extra bit on the drill itself.

The flashlight is a surprise treat for me. I've already used it many times in different circumstancees. The adjustable beam and well placed button are handy. Though, the strap should be placed in a better spot. It gets in the way of the button when it hangs down, so I have to actually look to see where to press. It is pretty bright, though the beam is not really focused well.

The case is tough and everything fits in the slots well. I wish there were less wasted space so that the case could be smaller.

I've only had the drill for a month, but so far, it's been a great deal for me.

Battery life is good.Chuck iz good, not excellent. Strong 18 volt.....and an outstanding price.....if you don't need the commercial use "brand" buy this drill....there is no reason to buy lesser voltage when you can get 18 volts at this price.

This is one of the best cordless drills I've used. It has plenty of power to get the job done. There is not a better drill out there for the price. The batteries seem to last longer than many of the others. You also get the flashlight and the screw driver bits. The case is very sturdy and has plenty of room for the drill and the accessories. You won't be disappointed with this drill.