DCD970 18v Hammer Drill Review
This drill has a long battery life and a quick recharge time
This drill was reviewed by three different Fine Homebuilding contributors, here is what they had to say:
Camp: This drill is a powerhouse. The battery life was top of the heap in my tests, and it was the only model able to run a 1-in. auger bit through the edge of a 2×6 while set in the high-speed position. The chuck feels solid, the clutch is sensitive, and the tool’s ergonomics worked well for my hands. Both the drill and charger are backward compatible, a nice feature if you have an existing stable of tools that you would like to keep using.
Beasley: This workhorse earned average marks for endurance and hammer-drilling, but its clutch torque was the best in my testing, sinking screws the other drills couldn’t budge. The DeWalt is the only tool with three speed settings, but I found myself satisfied with just the upper and lower settings. The charger is relatively fast, but you’d better brush up on your Morse code to interpret the five messages indicated by a single red light. The battery-to-tool attachment is extremely stiff, and the rounded battery bottom makes the drill less stable when set down.
Fink: The DeWalt is the only model with three speed settings, but if there is a difference between “2” and “3,” it was not apparent in my testing. Ergonomically, the drill is well balanced for its slightly heavier weight, but the stick-style battery pack makes the lower portion of the handle a bit wider than most. This drill’s unique self-tightening chuck supposedly boasts twice the holding power, which I liked, but it’s a bit crude in terms of comfort and is hard to grip when the auxiliary handle is in place. Still, this tool is solid and was one of the strongest performers in every drilling application.
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