Hitachi DS18DL 18-Volt Lithium-Ion 1/2-Inch Cordless Driver Drill

List Price: $544.44 Discount Price: $215.00

Features:

• Two 3.0 Ah HXP Lithium Ion batteries for three times the life at half the weight of NiCd or NiMH batteries
• Lithium Ion batteries can be used in Hitachi 18V DMR and DVF3 tools for even more value
• 560 in/lbs of torque to drill and drive through the toughest materials with ease
• Unique 2-step speed switch lets the user select from 4 speed settings for ultimate control
• Convenient 5-position belt hook features an integrated LED work light

Accessories:
Hitachi 728105-1/4-Inch Hex Shank,-1/8-Inch Drill, 3/8-Inch Countersink & #10 Bit Phillips Drive Set	Hitachi 728119 Quick Change 20 Piece Drilling and Driving Set	Hitachi 321823-1/4-Inch Hex Drive to 3/8-Inch Keyed Chuck Adapter with Key	Hitachi 728092 40 Piece Screwdriving and Nutdriving Set	Hitachi 725780 SDS 1-3/16" x 7-1/2" Max Quick Change Rotary Drilling Adapter

Customer Reviews:

Defective on delivery [Posted on 2008-05-07]
I bought this drill in earlier February based on reviews on line and in Consumer Report. Due to be laid up after an operation, I did not start using the drill until early April. From the beginning neither battery would hold a charge for very long. Based on the manual, I left both batteries on trickle charge for 24 hours. That did not help. I called Amazon and they said it was over 30 days and I would have to deal with the manufacturer. I called Hitachi and the told me I need to take it to a service center. I did, and they said the drill was defective -- either bad brushes or armature. Now I have to send back to factory to have it rebuilt, and I really need the drill to work on the house I am building. Disappointing. This defect should have been caught at the factory..

The best ever [Posted on 2008-06-15]
I have had plenty of cordless drills, including a Makita, and 2 Dewalts. This one is by far the best. The light is a feature I especially like. It is smooth, powerful and well built. The chuck is a real Jacobs chuck. For the extra money, this "industrial" quality model is well worth it over the "consumer" model.

Hitachi Li-ion drill DS18DL [Posted on 2008-07-03]
I purchased this item as my previous generation 14V Skil cordless drill stopped working. This Hitachi is light weight and just powerful. I charged the battery and it is good to go for light work for two weeks. I am sure if I used it to the hilt I may have to charge it at the end of the day, but I never tried it that way.
For someone at my age with deteriorating eye sight, I appreciate the battery-operated light that you turn on when you work in dark areas. It lights up the item where you are drilling the hole. It helps me a lot.
I find this item a true handy tool.

Very Dissapointing Tool [Posted on 2008-07-15]
I can not recommend this cordless driver drill. I inspected the drill upon arrival and noticed that without a bit in the chuck it appeared to have excessive runout (A.K.A. wobble). I inspected it with various drill bits and driver bits and saw the same thing. I then tested the drill with a runout gauge and measured the same problem.

I reported the problem to Amazon, asked for a replacement and promptly received a new drill. This arrived even before I returned the original. Kudos to Amazon for their return/replacement policies.

The second drill arrived in exactly the same condition as the first. Based on this experience I returned both for a refund. I have since purchased a Milwaukee 0824-24. My initial impression (not based on extensive use) is that the Milwaukee is superior in almost all respects. The clutch adjustment on the Hitachi is cumbersome and does not "click" into the detents smoothly. The Milwaukee is very smooth in this adjustment. It also has a separate adjustment for changing from driver to drill to hammer drill without changing the clutch setting. In fairness, I would prefer the lighter weight of the Hitachi, however I have read that the weight is due to use of metal gears in the Milwaukee rather than plastic in the Hitachi. I also like the belt clip light on the Hitachi. While both drills use a Jacobs chuck, the Milwaukee uses a higher grade chuck.

I have owned a commercial cabinet shop and now use drills for home projects. I only accept "pro-quality" tools. This tool absolutely DOES NOT quality as "pro-level". With all the other choices available, I also recommend that homeowners/hobbyists make a choice other than the Hitachi. While not intimately familiar, Makita seems to have some good choices in their new line-up. If you don't need lithium-ion, Porter-Cable makes excellent Ni-Cad based cordless drills.

Great drill, lights on charger need rethinking. [Posted on 2008-08-26]
So far this drill has done the trick for everything I need. I've used it to hang curtains, install a fan, install hooks in the laundry room, and other odds and ends around the house--all on one battery charge.

A bit of a warning on the battery charger. The light blinks red for 0.5 seconds as the battery charges. The manual indicates that a solid green light indicates a problem with the battery or the charger. Usually, green means "go," and blinking red indicates a problem. Other than that, I'm very pleased with this product.

Click here for more details and discount information...