Customer Reviews

Hitachi KC18DL 18 Volt Combo Kit

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

 

 

After my reconditioned, Black and Decker Firestorm drill starting having charger and battery problems, it seemed like it was time to finally buy my cherished, professional, hi-vis yellow DeWalt drill. And what the heck, maybe a reciprocating saw too. Well, if you're buying a drill and a saw, you may as well get a combo kit as the value is much better...right, Honey?

And so I ended up buying...Hitachi. There's no question the DeWalt's were nice. Milwaukee's high-end cordless drill is also excellent (it's chuck is #1). But I went with Hitachi for several reasons. The drill included in this KC18DL kit, the DS18DMR, is first rate. I am a weekend-warrior, not a daily pro, but I've been working with my tools almost every weekend the last year, and the difference between a consumer-level Firestorm drill and the DS18DMR is just stunning. If only I had known what I was missing the last few years with the old drill. The extra torque, RPM's and all metal, 1/2" capable chuck are just superb. I also found this drill, which is quite heavy with the 3Ahr battery, balances against the top of your hand very well because the motor housing extends back far enough (go to a store and try a few drills to see what I mean).

The CR18DV recip. saw and C6DC2 circ. saw are described as 'pro' quality, though maybe the circ. saw is not quite the same high-quality feel as the drill gives. If you're shopping for combo kits, the KC18DL kit seems to be going away. Check the new kits carefully...they do not all have these same series of tools.

Also included in this kit is a work light (typical krypton bulb) but which turns out to be one of my brightest flashlights now. It's not the piece of throw-in junk I was expecting, and of course like all tools in the kit, it runs off the same 3Ahr batt's.

Also, the charger had a couple of welcome surprises. It includes a 20ft (or longer?) cable that connects your tools directly to the charger should both of your included 3Ahr batteries wear out. The charge time per battery says 27 min for 3Ahr, but so far it's been faster, about 20 min (although that will probably lengthen...see next paragraph). The charger also has 3 LED's showing you stages of charging, kindof convenient.

One review complained about battery life. I don't know all the circumstances there, but Hitachi uses NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride), not NiCD. All rechargable batt's need to be used a few times to obtain max life, but NiMH is more sensitive to this. From past experience, 10+ charge cycles would not be unusual before you obtain max. batt. life. This is likely why the batteries initially take only take 20 minutes to charge. Once seasoned, they probably will take 27+ min, and have a correspondingly longer life per charge. Also, with the high torque, high RPM Hitachi advertises, you pretty much want the most amps/hour you can get. This kit included the largest, 18VDC 3Ahr versions, but 2 and 1.5Ahr, although lighter, would not run these series of tools nearly as long.

In the 2 weeks I've had the kit, I think it's fantastic. I never thought about owning green coloured tools, and like many diy'ers/pros, Hitachi wasn't even on my list at first, as BD/DeWalt and Skil and Rigid and others are so well known. But Hitachi makes industrial equipment (i.e. bulldozers) too and I figured probably have the know-how to make good power tools. It seems they have used that knowhow for the tools in this kit. The tools -- esp. the drill -- are excellent, and the value of buying it in one box made it too hard to say no.

I have owned this set for a little over a year now. I use it almost daily. I wish I had bought a cordless skill saw and saws all years ago. I have not had any trouble.

A good tool design is nothing if the battery is junk!