November 14, 2011
My Review of the Hitachi DS18DFL Cordless Drill
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My Review of the Hitachi DS18DFL Cordless Drill
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| I purchased a Hitachi DS18DFL cordless drill a few years ago as I was upgrading from a Skil and business was picking up. The lithium ion technology was making a big impression on the tool market, and I had my mind made up on getting at least an 18 volt drill with a long life battery. There's no doubt the lithium ion is the way to go. I didn't compare the Hitachi with other models like Dewalt mainly because of the price, but I read some reviews and the Hitachi DS18DFL was somewhere in the middle. I think the selling point for me was the extra battery that came with it. It certainly was useful as I always had a backup battery available. It charged quickly too and it would be fully charged by the time I used up the spare. It was a 18V battery, which at that time was one of the more powerful sizes. It had plenty of power for what I needed it for, which was building outdoor structures like wishing wells and custom planters. And it handled plenty of abuse, even a few drops on my cement garage floor. |
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The Chuck
Okay, this has been my biggest disappointment for the drill. I should have read a few more reviews, because apparently this is something others have had issues with too. The chuck was poorly designed in my opinion - it would never stay tight. Most users grab the chuck with one hand, pull the trigger, and the keyless truck is supposed to tighten onto the bit so you can keep going. Yes, this worked sometimes. More often than not, however, the bit would just fall out by itself after driving or drilling a few holes. Talk about frustration. Solution? Hold the back of the chuck with one hand and tighten the rest of the chuck with the other. That seemed to work, but it's a pain in the rear when you have to put the drill down every time you change bits. I wouldn't be lying if I said I didn't use channel locks once or twice. With that being said, maybe they've improved on it but it would be the reason should I decide to change brands.
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There are some other features like an adjustable belt hook, but I never used it so I can't say how useful it would be. The drill is a little heavy, so it seems that would be awkward hanging the drill off your side by a hook. Someone might find it useful, I really never tried it. It does have a handy bit holder in the front that will hold 2 drill drivers. It keeps one from losing them (like that ever happens). The charger has an easy to read display when charging the batteries to let you know the status of your battery, and it will also let you know if the battery is too hot to charge. I only had that light come on once or twice, but I was building a deck and driving screws nonstop. All in all, this rechargeable drill is fine for the average handyman and will withstand about anything you can dish out. Mine has scratches and scrapes all over it and it continues to work great. If you're buying a drill for a business and heavy duty construction work, just be sure to read lots of reviews first. Thanks for visiting my site!
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October 28, 2011
Best Lithium Ion Cordless Drill
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| What is a good lithium ion cordless drill / driver to replace my Hitachi? |
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I purchased a Hitachi DS18DFL 18V lithium ion drill a couple years ago and now I'm looking to upgrade to a newer, more powerful driver. I've used the Hitachi alot and it's still going strong. I do not like the chuck on it, though. I wish I had read more reviews, because others have also complained about it always coming loose. I can't count how many times drill bits and drivers have fallen out on their own. Regardless, does anyone have any recommendations for a driver that is going to give me power, long battery life, and solid performance? A good chuck is must. Thanks for any replies. - John
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