Hitachi KC18DVF 18-Volt Ni-Cad Cordless 4-Tool Combo kit

by Hitachi

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Here’s a great cordless combination kit with tools will see you through most any jobsite or do-it-yourself task: drill/driver, circular saw, reciprocating saw, and a lantern. Right off the bat, the powerful 18-volt tools in this combo kit look just plain cool. The ergonomic grips beg to be grasped, and when you wrap your hand around them, these tools feel good. But pull the trigger and discover something even better than good looks and a good fit: power.

The truth is, this drill/driver is a kick to use. When we got our hands on it, it felt goooood. Hitachi's new design makes this drill look like something out of a sci-fi flick, but it's got down-to-earth power and torque that, quite frankly, surprised us. Pop a bit into the 1/2-inch keyless chuck and admire the two speed ranges of 0-400 in low and 0-1,200 in high, and even tough jobs are no match for its whopping 400 in./lbs. of torque and 22-position clutch. For all that power, it's pleasantly light, and if we had a couple hours of overhead work to do, we'd be happy to be using this.

The circular saw, like the drill, is surprisingly lightweight but definitely powerful. It cuts through 2-1/4 inches at 90 degrees with a 6-1/2-inch blade, plenty for most circular saw jobs, and it has a max bevel of 47 degrees, because sometimes, the world just isn’t square. The left-side blade is perfect for right-handers, and the included blade is actually darned good quality. But the thing we like best is the awesome molded grip that just fits beautifully into your hand. Because of that, it's supremely easy to maneuver and a pleasure to use.

The recip saw is an aggressive workhorse with an impressive 1-1/8-inch stroke to make quick work of whatever task is at hand with a maximum of 2,100 strokes per minute. It’s easy on your body, too, thanks to a smart, well-balanced design. The tool-free blade changes are fast and easy, the way we like them. The only down side is the noise level – we’d really recommend hearing protection when you’re using this saw. The lantern is a nifty accessory, easily providing enough light to work by in a spot where electrical power is a problem. And the bag is sturdy, handsome and feels like it will hold up to years of tool-toting. We think this is the perfect kit for the home do-it-yourselfer as well as the pro. -- Kris Jensen-Van Heste

What’s in the Box
Drill, circular saw, recip saw, lantern, two 18-volt battery, 50-minute charger, carrying bag

Product Description

Here is the ultimate value in 18-volt cordless combo kits. The KC18DVF3 kit from hitachi includes: a DS18DVF3 18-volt drill, a C18DMR 6-1/2-inch circular saw, a CR18DMR reciprocating saw, and a UB18DL lantern. The drill delivers 400 in/lbs of torque and has a strong 1/2-inch keyless chuck. The circular and reciprocating saws are combo kit exclusives. The circular features a lightweight magnesium tool housing, a durable steel base plate, and an exclusive spotlight to help see cut lines in dimly lit areas. It comes with a 24-tooth, 6-1/2-inch carbide blade. The reciprocating saw features keyless blade change and externally accessible carbon brushes on the motor, to make changing worn brushes quicker and cheaper. The flourescent lantern can be set to switch automatically to a smaller LED light to extend battery life. This kit also includes 2 battery, a 50-minute charger and a heavy duty carrying bag.

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Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 24 x 18 x 20 inches ; 30 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 36 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B0009MGOTA
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: KC18DVF
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #142,738 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice tools, but this kit is not quite 5 stars, September 3, 2006

By 

P. B. SALAMON (Cedar Rapids, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hitachi KC18DVF 18-Volt Ni-Cad Cordless 4-Tool Combo kit (Tools & Home Improvement)

I'd like to give this combo 5 stars, but it has a few minuses that knock it down a star.

First the positives:
- The drill is very nice. It has good power and good balance. The belt hook works fine, can be set to hang on the left or the right, and if you don't like it you can take it off.
- The saw is good. It has a LH blade which is great for us right-handers. Its 61/2" blade lets you cut 2X lumber at 45 degrees.
- The light is really nice. The little LED turns on when the battery get too low to keep the florescent bulb lit, and the LED give you enough light to change the battery. Its handle can be set to several angles and it will hang over large pipes. This light is also great for camping.
- The recip saw works fine. Plenty of power to do the kind of rough, hack it up kinda cuts you make with a recip saw. The blade chuck holds the blades securely yet you can change blades quickly.
- The bag is even good. It's very heavy duty with plenty of room to store this kit with room left over.

Now, the negatives:
- Unlike most other Hitachi 61/2" saws, this one does not have a built-in light. The light is a really nice feature of other Hitachi saws that you don't think you need until you have it.
- The drill's belt clip lacks a light; other Hitachi drills have a light in their belt clip.
- The charger included with this kit is not as good as some of the other Hitachi chargers. It charges the batteries fast enough (40 minutes), but for some reason the batteries are only rated for 300 cycles when charged by the UC18YG charger included in this kit, vs 1000 cycles when charged with the UC24YFA or UC24YJ chargers.

I've been reading a lot of Hitachi reviews that have said the batteries won't hold a charge. I have 10 Hitachi batteries: 3 are the 3AHr NiMH batteries and 7 are the 2AHr NiCads. They all seem to hold a charge just fine. The flashlight in this kit is great for discharging the batteries all the way before recharging. A battery will still light the flashlight quite a while after the battery seems to be "dead" in one of the tools.

In conclusion, it's a good kit, and a good value. Hitachi dropped a few features with the tools in this kit to save some bucks.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hitachi 4 piece kit a good value for the DYI, November 16, 2005

By 

John A. Cadman - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hitachi KC18DVF 18-Volt Ni-Cad Cordless 4-Tool Combo kit (Tools & Home Improvement)

I haven't purchased a cordless tool in almost 15 years because the Makita 9.6v 6012HD would not die! However, I've started a kitchen renovation project and now was the time to upgrade. I purchased the Hitachi KC 18 DVF because of the overall value of the items included. The drill and the circulating saw have been used the most since this project started and have performed admirably. After several drain and recharge cycles, the NiCad batteries are performing better then expected in spite of the less then glowing assessments printed here. NiCad batteries do require a "breaking in" period when new and if you follow proper charging etiquette, you will get good performance from them. I would recommend this kit to any serious, home DIY that needs a good quality cordless tool with a budget in mind.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent multi-tool kit!!, February 12, 2006

By 

Edward D. Oughty (Farmington, MO United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hitachi KC18DVF 18-Volt Ni-Cad Cordless 4-Tool Combo kit (Tools & Home Improvement)

I am a remodeling contractor and own toold from virtually every major manufacturer. This was my first multi-tool kit purchase, and it has been worth every penny.
The drill is an excellent workhorse that has plenty of power. The circular saw has amazed me with its power and quiet operation. The recip saw does such a good job that I have almost completely retired my Dewalt corded model.
The only complaint I have about the entire kit is the light. It does a poor job of general illumination and spotlight mode. The flashlight Hitachi includes in some of their other drill kits is far better.