Hitachi DB3DL 3.6-Volt Li-Ion Cordless Driver Drill
 | Average Customer Rating: Recommend DB3DL, 3.6V, 1.5AH Lithium-Ion Batteries, Screwdriver, Allows For Longer Run Time & An Increase In Battery Life Cycles, Powerful & Leightweight, 44 INLBS Of Torque & Weighs Less Than 1 LB, Quick Charger, Charges 3.6V 1.5AH Batteries In Only 30 Minutes, Spindle Lock, Allows For Manual Screw Tightening/Loosening, Integrated LED Light, Integrated Light To Illuminate The Work Surface. Product details and pricing info |
|---|
41 Customer Reviews Posted
- A Must Have Tool
- I received this tool as a Christmas gift after much research on cordless screwdrivers. I was looking for something a bit lighter and less speed/power than my 18V Ryobi. I was nervous the 3.6V may not have enough zip to do some of the jobs I planned to use this for, but I was pleasantly surprised. From putting up drywall, to replacing door hardware to small electrcal screws; it's been a great little tool. Great for pilot holes too.
- 2008-01-02, 0 of 0 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Kudos to Hitachi
- I haven't had this tool very long but so far its GREAT. I've used a Milwaukee 2.5 volt tool very similar to this for years but it is almost a toy compared to the Hitachi DB3DL, its almost as though they reinvented the tool. In fact I like it so much I bought 2 more.
- 2007-12-28, 0 of 0 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- No Power...
- You can't drive much with this drill, certainly no woodscrews or drywall screws.
The controls are awkwardly placed and the light is a joke.
It's really only good for working inside a PC or other light gear with machine screws and threaded nuts/metal.
I got it for free with the purchase of a Hitachi 18V drill, so I guess I can't complain too much. - 2007-12-23, 1 of 5 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Better than your drill for screwdriving because you'll actually use it
- There's plenty of helpful reviews on here already, but I thought I'd try to help out prospective buyers by clearly answering the two main questions I had as a fairly serious DIYer when I was considering this purchase:
1. Is the Hitachi driver really necessary if you already have a cordless drill/driver that you're happy with?
2. Why pick this one instead of its direct competitors?
Answer to Q1: We all know that you can use a drill as a screwdriver quite well, and for larger projects with lots of big wood screws, a 9.6 or 12 volt cordless drill is still the weapon of choice. But there are countless situations where the drill is just too big and hard to control or just plain inconvenient to get out or carry. For example, most people would opt for a hand screwdriver over a drill/driver to work with the screws that fasten the interior trim of a car (this is what I did until I got the Hitachi). The beauty of the this tool is that it's about the same size as a medium hand screwdriver, the only difference being that the Hitachi is about 1.5" in diameter for most of its length while a regular screwdriver is that wide only at its handle. Thus, this tool is really no more difficult to store, transport, and use than a manual screwdriver. Now you have a power tool that - because of the lithium-ion batteries that hold their charge while not being used - is truly no more inconvenient to set up and use than a basic hand tool. And due to the awesome automatic spindle lock feature, you can use the Hitachi as a manual screwdriver, except that you have the option to use the pistol grip as well as the straight configuration. I often use it manually to break lose really tight screws or to do the final tightening to ensure that I don't over-torque things (yes, it has a clutch for this and it works well, but sometimes I just like to feel by hand how tight things are). In short, this tool can do everything a manual screwdriver can do - including being convenient to set up and carry so that you'll actually want to use it for just about everything - while allowing you to get things done much faster.
Answer to Q2: There are numerous power screwdrivers, but since what seems to me to make this item a worthy purchase in addition to a regular cordless drill/driver is its comparable convenience to a manual screwdriver, I'll to compare it to other items of comparable convenience. So, things like the DeWalt DW920K-2 Heavy Duty 7.2-Volt Ni-Cad Cordless Screwdriver and the popular Bosch PS20-2 Litheon 10.8-Volt Lithium-Ion Pocket Driver With 2 Batteries are ruled out because they aren't really any more convenient than the much more versatile Makita 6260DWPE 9.6-Volt 3/8-Inch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit. But two products that are quite similar in convenience are theBlack & Decker AS600 6-Volt Alkaline Battery Cordless Screwdriver and the Dremel 1120-01 120V 7.2V Cordless Screwdriver, and it's a tough choice among these and the Hitachi.
The Black and Decker has only 20 in-lbs of torque and only spins at 180 rpm, but it is very cheap and can be used manually just like the Hitachi. If you figure in the price of rechargeable batteries, it isn't quite so cheap, but still much cheaper. The Hitachi, however, is lithium-ion and has a 200 rpm speed for torquey driving and 600rpm that allows for drilling of pilot holes (up to about 3/8" if you push it), and two grip configurations. To me, these features and the build quality make it worth quite a bit of a premium over the B&D - enough to where I'd pay about fifty bucks for it (which I did). If I had to pay seventy, I would have looked long and hard at the B&D.
The Dremel driver is similarly priced to the Hitachi (though cheaper if you get it as part of the Dremel 1130-01 120V 7.2V Screwdriver / Stylus Combo). It appears to offer comparable torque in a much smaller package (The description does not give a spec in in-lbs but says it can drive 3" #10 screws into pine without a pilot, which is about what the Hitachi is capable of). It also has the spindle lock feature so that it can be used manually and a variable speed trigger unlike the Hitachi, though it lacks a clutch and contains only an integral battery. To me, the Dremel driver almost seems too small, and I just prefer the Hitachi's manual screwdriver feel. But it really is a close call. I can definitely see how the Dremel's size could be a decisive advantage in many situations.
Your mileage may vary according to your own preferences, but hopefully this gives you a better idea of what to expect no matter which choice you make. - 2007-12-07, 5 of 5 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Great - unless you use it
- When my old cordless screwdriver I looked for a replacement. Chose this Hitachi because of 1) Lithium power, 2) Built in LED light. Initial reactions were positive, convenient, powerful, good features. Then I used it put up a friends window blinds. Not an excessive strain, but a lot of use with the clutch on approx 12 setting. Well, the clutch failed, started to spin freely. I set the clutch on max (drill setting), still slipped. Researched warranty and fortunately it was covered. Sent it back to Hitachi (local Hitachi repair dealer had six weeks back log). Got it back "working per manufacturers spec". Just assembled TV stand. Started OK. Maybe something melted then re-solidified? But clutch now totally broke. So... I have a broken $70.00 tool and I am also out the $11.00 shipping it cost me to send it back. If I send it back again I can only expect another $11.00 wasted, based on brain dead Hitachi service.
Let me say I am biased against Hitachi based on previous experience. I have owned a Hitachi Boom box, Hitachi shaver, and each has failed before it's time. I will never ever ever buy anything Hitachi again, and my advice is that you shouldn't either. - 2007-12-06, 5 of 11 people found this review helpful, Rated:
