Customer Reviews

Hitachi DV18DL 18-volt Lithium-Ion 1/2-inch Cordless Hammer Drill

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Let's get the visual appearance out of the way first, shall we? Not everyone is going to like the high tech look of this tool (although I personally happen to love it). If you look at other Japanese power tool manufacturers such as Makita and Panasonic you'll see they are also using similar styling cues albeit in more subdued colors. It seems like Hitachi has started a trend and the others are following.

So with that out of the way let's get to the important stuff. This is one "monster" of a hammer drill. It has an incredible amount of power and should be able to tackle the toughest jobs. The motor housing and chuck are angled back from the handle and battery giving this tool an excellent balance. The grip feels "just right" and the forward/reverse/lock selector is easy to reach as is the power/savings switch. By the way that switch does nothing more than limit the trigger from being pulled all the way when it's in savings mode. It should be noted that while Hitachi advertises this tool as having four speeds, some may disagree with that specification. It has a two speed transmission via a high/low switch on top of the housing like most other drills but the other two "speeds" come from limiting the trigger and not from additional gears in the transmission. DeWalt for instance offers a true three speed transmission in their XRP models although many owners of those tools will readily admit that the third speed isn't necessary. The fact that the Hitachi is not a "true" four speed model doesn't bother me at all but I thought this should be pointed out in detail so that prospective buyers can make a fully informed purchase decision.

Speaking of DeWalt, I was considering buying their new Lithium Ion (Nano Technology) 18 volt hammer drill instead of the Hitachi. I went to the "Blue" home center store that sells both so I could compare them side by side. I have to admit they both feel great in the hand and DeWalt's offering probably has a little more power but it was priced at a whopping $120.00 more than the Hitachi and didn't even have an on-board LED work light. I'll admit that at first I thought the LED work light was a gimmick but you'll be surprised how much you come to appreciate it once you have a few tools with them. I was also concerned about the latest DeWalt reviews. It seems their quality control is slipping a bit.

So I went with Hitachi and I'm very glad I that did. This hammer drill is everything I've wanted and more. The clutch ring operates smoothly and the settings are very useful throughout the entire range. The hammer mode is smooth to engage and doesn't have that nasty vibration that some other tools exhibit. The easy-to-replace brushes are an excellent feature as well. Dremel has had this feature on their rotary tools for decades now. It's about time that the full-size tool manufacturers caught on. On the top of the drill is the high/low transmission selector which is easy to operate and makes a very obvious difference in rotational speed.

Getting back to that LED work light I mentioned above, Hitachi has taken a different approach than other manufacturers. The light is located near the bottom of the tool and can be adjusted in 5 different positions! Also unique, it doesn't use the tools main battery; it has its own set of regular disposable batteries that powers it. To conserve those batteries Hitachi has a small circuit within the work light that turns it off automatically after 15 minutes. I wish the LED was white instead of yellow but that's a minor complaint. It still does an excellent job of lighting the work area and the low placement near the bottom of the tool eliminates the shadows cast by the chuck and whatever bits are in it.

The carrying case is very nicely made of tough plastic and has several compartments that neatly hold the drill, the battery charger, the second battery (included), the auxiliary handle, the instruction manual and warrantee card. The only accessory that comes with the tool is a double ended screwdriver bit and that stores neatly on the tool just above the battery. There is room in the case for other bits and accessories if you wish to store them in there.

The battery charger is extremely well thought out and will charge anything from a 7.2 volt all the way to an 18 volt battery in NiCd, NiMH or Lithium Ion formulas. The unit is fan cooled. A small duct at the top of the unit mates with another duct in the battery when inserted. This allows air to be circulated inside the battery housing during charging. This is very effective! Yes, it's a little noisy but considering how fast the batteries charge and the fact that they are being cooled while charging, I'm more than willing to put up with a little extra noise.

Finally, let me address the issue of power tools being made in China. It's difficult to find tools that aren't made in China these days. Even Bosch and Hilti who used to produce their tools in Switzerland have now gone to China for the production of their latest offerings. DeWalt is made in Mexico. That's about as close to the USA as it gets anymore. My own experience with Chinese production is that it depends on who is designing the product and who brokering the manufacturing. It seems that the Japanese can get a better product out of China than us Americans or the Europeans. I need not remind you that the Japanese and Chinese are TWO VERY DIFFERENT CULTURES and should never be directly compared with one another but they do reside in the same part of the world and perhaps that lends itself to a better working relationship. Whatever your opinion regarding Chinese made products, the Hitachi DV18DL is a very well made tool and should be strongly considered by anyone in the market for a professional grade 18 volt cordless hammer drill.

I am a remodeler. I have had this drill for about two months, and use it all the time. I had a panasonic 15.6V before and was very happy with it, but it was time for a new drill. I switched to the Hitachi because it was Lithium-Ion, had 570 inch pounds of torque (versus 390 on the Panasonic), the Hitachi Ni-Cad version was very well rated, and I wanted to have one that I could have interchangable batteries between my drill and my Impact driver. (Panasonic doesnt make a 15.6 Impact driver)

The drill body itself is fairly heavy, I guess they needed it to get that much power out of it. The battery weighs almost nothing. It seems like it should be top heavy, but it has very good balance. It balances standing up very well, and feels good in your hand. Overall it weighs 4.9 pounds, just more than the 15.6V. Well done.

Power is good, speed is excellent, hammer drill works well, and I am happy to have switched to Lithium batteries.

This unit was one of the few that offered full size Lithium Ion batteries for a reasonable price and it delivers on nearly all fronts. You can't touch this unit in terms of price in any of the other pro models; even the Sears consumer units cost a lot more and deliver much less in terms of build and performance.

Pros:
Power - it has tons
Build quality - every bit as good build and materials as MKE
Batteries - full size 3 amp hour not the 'slim' you see on a lot of others
Charger - universal for all battery types and uses a fan to force air through the battery to keep it cooler during a fast charge

Cons:
The 'speed' switch on the side of the unit really just limits how far you can pull the trigger.
The fan on the charger is noticeable in quieter environments
Batteries don't have a power meter or wear meter ala lap top batteries. I am sure that would add to the cost a bit it would be helpful.

I purchased this to replace a DeWalt that finally surrendered after a lot of abuse. First, this tool packs a wallop, very torquey and the hammer function works very well. It is also very well balanced and the batteries are light. I've never felt like the battery end was fighting me for control of the tool. The teenage mutant ninja turtle look put me off a bit, but now the tool is so grungy its not so bad. I have owned mine for a little less than a year and have had no complaints or problems. You get what you pay for. In this case, I think every dime spent on this tool was money well spent.

This is my fifth Hitachi cordless tool. I work in a major hardware retailer and see the returned tools prior to being accepted. The Hitachi tools have a good track record and have specs/performance that that make them a better buy. The batteries are consistently better in the lithiun-ion area. No recalls.
The one thing I will watch for while continuing to use this tool is to use the attchment handle in high torque situations. I took back two of these at work where the contractor used only the handle to control the torque and the handle cracked. They both admitted to used oversized bits at the time the handle cracked. Although a little heavier that a standard 1/2 inch drill the hammer drill has the higher torgue for deck screws and the option of clicking on the hammer drill when sinking extra large screws or lag bolts.
I've been very pleased with the performance and like the five year warranty that you easily register on line. Good perfomance at a good price make it a homeowner best buy and should be seriouly looked at by a discerning contractor.

Totaly awesome drilldriver. All the functions on it are very useful. I like that it has a low and high speed switch and a power selector switch which lets you lower the power used when dealing with lighter jobs to save energy. If you're looking at a drill driver that competes with Milwaukee, this is it.

This drill is a workhorse. I have purchased many Hitachi tools and found them to always be excellent buys and almost always the least expensive option in their class. Specifically, I own this drill, the 18DMR (not a hammer), and the impact drill from Hitachi. I have run them through the wringer over the last year and a half, dropped them, used them as hammers when one was not available - including beating on the battery - and I have never had one fail, lose juice, or show any signs really of the abuse I have put them through. The batteries are outstanding, recharge very quickly, and hold a charge for 12 or more hours of intense usage. I have used Dewalt, Milwaukee, and others, but their batteries just do not compare. After hundreds of hours of use, the Hitachi batteries can hold the longest charge and deliver full power like nothing. Of course, if you are trying to power through tough material (bore 1 foot deep holes in concrete, etc.) routinely with your drill, you should consider getting a corded version. However, if your goal is ultimate versatility, strength, ruggedness, power, and performance, this is the best deal going. I seriously do not think you can find a better deal for the money.

One last note. I recommend getting this drill as part of a drill set, such as with the impact driver. It will cost about $50 more, but you get a complete set, two tools, and a charger and battery for the money. Purchasing the two separately will practically double your expense, while you really only need the two batteries for the two tools. I ended up, over time, buying two cordless sets, which came with four batteries which is where most of the expense is, and then added on three more tools (without batteries and accessories). I now have 7 tools, with 4 batteries, all by Hitachi and all interchangeable. Very functional and an excellent deal, saving me hundreds over other brands.

I am an avid DIY'er and I now own three of these DV18DL Lithium-Ion drills. They have more than enough torque to handle most any job I throw at them. Just make sure you have a firm grip on the drill or it will torque around in a heartbeat.

The only problems I have encountered with this drill are with the chuck screw that holds the chuck in place is inadequate and I broke three of them while using a 1" Ship Auger bit to drill through a 8" log I ran into while digging post holes for a split rail fence. Fortunately I had bought the drill from L_o_w_e_s and they exchanged them without issue. The manager I talked to said that he had notified Hitachi of the problem but that they were not going to beef up the screw.

I ordered a number of chuck screws for various makes & models of 1/2" drills (including corded drills) and discovered that the Dewalt reverse thread screw #605256-01. It is just a bit longer than the Hitachi OEM screw and I haven't broken one since replacing it ^_^.

The second issue is with the tabs on the case that hold the battery in place. I accidentally dropped it 4' onto a concrete floor. It landed flat on the bottom of the battery. The battery was fine, but both of the tabs that hold the battery in place busted off. Luckily I have a Hitachi repair shop a mile from my home here in Belmont, MI and they replaced the case free of charge within a week. But as I said I now have three of these and four of the 3.0ah batteries.

The last Drill I purchased was the bare (DV18DLP4) drill from Timberline Tools in July 2009 and they timely shipped one to me ^_^.

This 18 volt lithium-ion hammer drill is awesome. Had to charge the battery in my Sears cordless drill 4 times doing the same work as the Hitachi, and only had to charge it just once. Also all the torque you need, but very nice torgue setting - stops at correct torque like a good torque wrench.

This was my most recent Hitachi power tool purchase, and it was a wise one. Very light weight, compared to a Dewalt of similar size and design. Dont let the weight fool you, this is a rugged beast that will drive/drill/screw/turn anything and everything you use it for. I was building a barn when this drill arrived so i put it to work within hours of receiving it. I bored up to 1 1/2" holes into wooden posts, drove 3" tin screws all day, and drove many Tap-Cons. That was just the first day. I own several Hitachi cordless drills, cordless kits, as well as corded power tools and they all perform flawlessly. Outperforms Dewalt, Porter Cable, Bosch and Makita on battery run time and weight. Also the cheaper price puts another nail in the coffin. There is a down side to this drill. My wife has complained i spend more time with it than with her, lol