Hitachi DS18DL 18-Volt Lithium-Ion 1/2-Inch Cordless Driver Drill
 | Average Customer Rating: Recommend DS18DL, 18V, Cordless, Drill, Powerful & Lightweight, 570 INLBS Of Torque & Weighs Only 4.6 LBS, 4 Stage Speed Selection, Switch Into High/Low Gear On Top & Then Select Fast/Slow Mode With A Thumb Actuated Switch, 3.0AH Lithium-ion Battery, Interchangeable Battery Can Be Used In The New Lithium-ion Ton Tools Or The Current DMR/DVF3 Platform, New Universal Charger, Features An Internal Cooling Fan That Keeps Lithium-ionn Batteries Cool When Charging. Product details and pricing info |
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23 Customer Reviews Posted
- Outstanding Drill - Power to Spare - WOW
- I am not a tradesman or superior handyman. I needed to purchase a drill for some basic home renovations and to try and remove some sticky and rusty screws that have had several coast of paint and were not moveable using a screwdriver. I also needed a replacement for my 20 year old Ryobi cordless drill.
I spend a day researching several manufacturers (Makita, Bosch, Dewalt). I then stumbled onto Hitachi. My main concerns were: battery life, strength/power of the unit, longivity and reliability. I was also keen NOT to purchase a "made in China" product (my unit is made in Japan).
The Hitachi DS 18DL won the contest and on the first try removed all the sticky screws in question!
I am very impressed with this drill. The battery life is excellent and being lithium, the battery does not develop a memory, The Jacobs chuck is great and removing bits is very easy and fast. Likewise, the variable torque and adjustable clutch operates flawlessly providing more than enough power for my requirements (wood and mild metal drilling); the variable torque removed my screws with ease.
The power of this drill is awesome - drilling through floorboards was not a hassle and the drill powered the drill bit with ease. The small LCD light on the drill is also very handy when drilling in recessed areas where it's difficult to see. The weight of the drill makes it very easy to use for long periods of time and the removable side handle makes a huge difference when a bit of pressure is required. The only downside of the drill is the belt hook - I cannot see why this is designed this way, but I neevr use a hook so it's not a problem to me.
I give this drill 10/10 and would buy another Hitachi tool based on the reliability I have experienced with this tool to date. By the way, the colour is not that annoying! - 2008-02-18, 0 of 0 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Wow
- This has to be one of the best working drills I have ever used. I am used to the yellow brand and I always thought that there was no reason to buy anything else, well I was wrong. The drill works well and is light for its size. The led light is handy when working at dusk or in your own shadow. I love the charger and the fan that keeps the battery cool during charging, what a great idea. The chuck is metal not a cheap plastic. My only dissappointment has been the case, it was missing a hinge pin when I received it. It was an easy fix, no big deal. This is a drill for those of you who want products that will work for the 100th project your doing not just the first few. But quality comes with a price but thank god for amazon!
- 2007-12-03, 0 of 0 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Hitachi C18DL Cordless Circular Saw Review
- This saw is a light and powerful piece of machinery. It is easy to work with and great to be able to use it anywhere - in my attic for example - without the need to stretch a cord from hither to yon. Unfortunately these saws are not sold with batteries and the batteries cost around $100 each. I already had a Hitachi D series Cordless Drill that came with two batteries and so this wasn't a problem. As with all circular saws the blade guard is a pain. The other problem is one with all saws as well - they are made for right-handed folk.
- 2007-12-01, 0 of 4 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Monster Drill
- I purchased this drill and its smaller cousin a while ago. Both sit within easy reach of my woodworking bench. I use the DS18DL for boring holes in hardwood with large forstner bits, as well as general drilling and screw driving tasks in hardwood.
This beast is very fast and very powerful. It is rated at 570 in lbs, and you will need the auxilliary handle when you push the tool that hard! That is enough torque to drive lag screws or bore 3" holes without missing a beat. This is simply the most powerful cordless drill I have ever used. It is very light and easy to handle for a drill of its capability. The batteries have excellent life, and weigh far less than comparable ni-cads.
You will love this tool.
Update at 6 weeks: I just finished using this drill to drive a few hundred 3" wood screws on an outdoor project. I am astonished at the level of performance. I changed the battery only twice during the project. It was just as if I was using a corded drill in terms of power and speed.
I really need to go on a bit about the chuck too. This drill has a genuine Jacobs chuck. Combined with the automatic spindle lock, this high quality chuck is a breeze to tighten and loosen. It is big enough to wrap my entire hand around for serious tightening. This chuck just doesn't slip when tghtened properly.
Again - you will love this tool. - 2007-11-26, 7 of 7 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- The good and the bad.
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Excellent price for this very powerful Lithium-ion drill which gets the the 4 star rating. There are several fine feature, however, there are some serious problems.
Positives: This drill has a very comfortable grip and has plenty of power for even the most difficult job. The chuck is easy to tighten and the bit never loosened while in use. The power was maintained for the duration of a charge. The power level was much greater and the duration of a charge was at least 50%-100% longer than my 18 volt Nic-cad powered Porter-Cable.
Negatives: The drill, even with the variable speed, is very abrupt in stopping and starting which, if you aren't prepared for, can be very uncomfortable for your arthritic wrist. There is a disconcerting thud in the motor when power is removeded abruptly which is also uncomfortable.
The drill is very well balance for active drilling, however, the drill is front heavy and when set on its base it easily tips forward which can damage a fine drill bit.
Although not a real problem, the power loss is suprisingly abrupt and unexpected when the battery runs out. It can leave you with a buried drill bit which will require either removing the drill from the bit or trying to change the battery without bending the bit.
Overall I would rate this drill much better than my Ni-cad Porter Cable for power, bit grip and handle comfort. It is far far inferior to my 14.4 volt DeWalt relative to smoothness of operation. I suspect the new DeWalt Lilthium ion will be a better overall drill, however, much more expensive. - 2007-11-14, 6 of 9 people found this review helpful, Rated:
