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Average Customer Review
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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
Best performing 18 volt cordless being sold today, February 12, 2010
This review is from: DEWALT DCD950KX 18-Volt 1/2-Inch XRP Hammerdrill/Drill/Driver (Tools & Hardware)
We go through a lot of drills and have used the Makita, Hitachi, Milwaukee, and DeWalt drills extensively, favoring the Lithium-ion batteries in spite of their performance problems with the overload protection. When DeWalt released this new lithium-ion powered drill with its 3-speed gearbox we had to get one and give it a try. Very surprised to find that the 3-speed drill out drilled and out bore every other cordless drill we had. Became rather obvious that cordless drill batteries work best with a slow steady current draw and overworking them caused much faster drain from the batteries. Quite apparent that having 3-speed made a very big difference, somewhat like having an under powered car with a 3-speed transmission or the same car with 4 speeds.
The DeWalt is gearbox is stiff at first and it can take a few revs to make shifts to another speed range. The DeWalt self tightening drill chuck is also something that needs an initial break-in period. The first dozen times I used it the only way to loosen the chuck was to use a pair of pliers. Once it had been used for a few days the problem with the chuck went away and then it was great to have a chuck that never loosened in the middle of boring a hole, which happens with the Makitas, Milwaukee, and in particular the Hitachi drill which has the worst keyless chuck I have come across.
Batteries have an excellent charge life and if the drill is used correctly with the right speed range for the operation the battery can last all day. Just takes some experimentation to find the best settings to use but it is worth the effort and makes more sense than going out and buying a lot of spare batteries. Charge times are half that of our Makita and Milwaukee lithium-ion batteries and the charger is the most intuitive of the lot.
The carry case is strong but a universal design for multiple tools and the drill, charger, spare battery, and side handle do not have individual recesses like the excellent Milwaukee cases. At least they provide a carry case which is not always true with DeWalt drills.
The drill has a good clutch setup and lots of settings so it is easy to dial it for the exact amount of torque limit desired. Easy to switch from driver to drill to hammer mode and to spot at a glance what the setting is for the drill.
One aspect of the design that they did not improve on and did not need to is the side handle which can be tightened anywhere around the drill that works the best. Some drills require that the side handle always be at 90 degrees to the main handle and often this is far from ideal and the second hand cannot do much to restrict torque twisting the drill and the user around. With the DeWalt the second handle can even be positioned vertically like a heavy duty core drill.
Hammer action is very good and almost on par with the heavy duty Bosch hammer drills. Fine for making Tapcon holes but not for any kind of demolition. It adds a fair amount of weight so if you really don't need the hammer action it would be better to get one of the regular driver drills instead.
I have had most success in drilling very large holes up to 6-1/4 inch diameter using modern TCT hole cutters and the middle speed setting. The higher speed seems to add to the inertial mass of the hole cutter and the result is a much easier cutting action and less tendency to bind even for a second with any material including inch thick plywood. This drill with modern hole cutters and bits can easily take the place of a corded 1/2" stud drill and make for a lot less wear and tear on the operator.
After using many lithium-ion drills I can say that the best all around 18 volt cordless drills are the 3-speed models from DeWalt. Too soon to comment on durability but they seem to be extremely well made. For a near perfect chuck and great feel in the hand I would recommend the Bosch drills. For overall refinement the drill, charger, and cases the Milwaukee cordless drill kits lead the pack. But for a workhorse drill that I am always confident will get the job done I reach for the DeWalt lithium-ion powered drills with the 3-speed gearboxes.
Makita makes some 3-speed models but I have been unable to find one being sold locally, only the two speed models which are not bad but not terrific either with mediocre performance with tough boring jobs. Hitachi drills are the least expensive but provide even worse power performance than the Makita drills in the same weight range. 4-5 years ago Makita was top dog but they have really stood still while DeWalt and Milwaukee have made impressive improvements to their drills. Not a question of buying American as all cordless drills are being made in Asia these days (Indonesia, Malaysia, China) but more of getting the best tool for the job so work can be completed on time and with the least difficulty.
Using modern hole cutters with these new drills is a match made in heaven. If you do a lot of hole drilling and in particular holes larger than 2" diameter, the DeWalt 3-speed with a Blue Boar hole cutter will blow you away.
BLUE BOAR 6-1/4" (159mm) Stucco-Brick & Wood Tungsten Carbide Tipped TCT Hole Saw with M16 Thread, requires mounting shank with M16 Thread and 10mm carbide pilot bit
BLUE BOAR 6-1/4" (159mm) Self-Feed TCT 2-1/4" deep multipurpose Tungsten Carbide hole cutter outperforms self-feed bits & bi-metal hole saws. Cut wood, MDF, OSB, laminates, Hardie & chipboard, plaster, drywall, brick, Formica
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Good drill, March 7, 2010
This review is from: DEWALT DCD950KX 18-Volt 1/2-Inch XRP Hammerdrill/Drill/Driver (Tools & Hardware)
My first "real" drill, and it hasn't disappointed yet. Needed the hammer setting, and this works great for my needs. Wasn't sure about the LED light, but it actually is really handy. The different settings are great - speed and function, as well as the clutch.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Best cordless I have owned, May 31, 2010
This review is from: DEWALT DCD950KX 18-Volt 1/2-Inch XRP Hammerdrill/Drill/Driver (Tools & Hardware)
I am a tile Contractor. DEWALT DCD950KX 18-Volt 1/2-Inch XRP Hammerdrill/Drill/Driver does everything I need it to do. It puts screws in underlayment, and does a great job. It has the strength to countersink the screw, which my 12 volt did not. It is heavier than the 12-volt. It is stronger, well-made, a very good drill. The battery lasts a while before needing to be recharged. I would definitely recommend this drill for people who need a serious drill.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
This drill is not a Li-ion powered drill, May 28, 2010
This review is from: DEWALT DCD950KX 18-Volt 1/2-Inch XRP Hammerdrill/Drill/Driver (Tools & Hardware)
Just to correct a previous reviewer, this drill is not powered by Li-ion batteries. The battery is Ni-Cad. This makes a difference if you are trying to match this drill up with another set of Ni-Cad tools.
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as expected, June 7, 2010
This review is from: DEWALT DCD950KX 18-Volt 1/2-Inch XRP Hammerdrill/Drill/Driver (Tools & Hardware)
item was exactly what i expected.
a good deal.
best price available on the net.
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2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
Dewalt Hammer Drill, cordless, January 27, 2010
This review is from: DEWALT DCD950KX 18-Volt 1/2-Inch XRP Hammerdrill/Drill/Driver (Tools & Hardware)
Good balance, 3 speeds excellent for drilling large and small holes, motor brake helpful when driving screws.
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