Without a doubt, this is the tool user’s dream line-up. It’s got absolutely everything you could want for any task around the house, garage or on the jobsite. First up is a hardworking brute of a hammerdrill that handles and balances beautifully and packs a patented three-speed transmission that gets you from 0 to 2,000 rpm in drill mode and 0 to 34,000 blows per minute in hammer mode. The half-inch Rohm chuck grabs the bit with carbide jaws and centers it quickly, then locks it in place with its ratcheting system. We were pleasantly surprised at how very little vibration is felt, even at max. The 360-degree handle is a nice feature that adds perfect control, and we found the fit and finish of the whole drill just superb.
Convenience is the name of this cordless circular saw. This 18-volt, 6-1/2-inch model has everything the corded guys have, minus the hassle of an extension cord. It’s not even much heavier than its corded colleagues, even with the 18-volt battery attached. At a 45-degree bevel (it’s capable of 50 degrees), you can easily cut a 2-by-4, and it’s powerful enough to plow through 35 feet of half-inch plywood in 60 seconds. The blade’s on the left, which offers perfect cut-line visibility for right-handers, and changing the blade is a smooth, easy process, because the shaft lock engages nicely and the hex key stores right on board the saw.
The reciprocating saw has a great keyless blade clamp system that makes changing cutters a breeze, and it’s surprisingly powerful, with up to 3,000 strokes per minute. The blade travels 1-1/8 inch on each stroke, so you get aggressive cutting and more even blade wear. You can set the blade in four positions to help you reach whatever you’re cutting, and the depth adjustment couldn’t be easier: Just push a button and adjust the shoe. The grip feels really good in your hands and cuts vibration as well as offering great control.
The impact driver delivers more torque, speed and control than you can get from a cordless drill, with a bolt-busting 1,170 in-lbs of maximum torque, 0-2,400 rpm and 0-3,000 blows per minute. It’s deceptively compact and lightweight for all that power, and even better, kickback is absolutely minimal. The 1/4" hex quick release chuck is all metal, a feature we like to see, and like all the tools in this series, it’s got a nice, grippy comfort molding that feels secure in your hand.
When you need a cutter and there's no electric power around, this 18-volt cordless cut-off tool is your best bet. At 6,500 rpm, you'll get high power for all kinds of cutting and grinding applications. Trim rebar, steel pipes and iron rails with ease. Wheel-changing is easy, thanks to the spindle lock, and the three-position side handle offers great control. We like the easy grip, the comfortable trigger switch and the lock-off feature. The neatly designed grinding guard lets you sand and polish, too.
Unbelievably tight, clean, true cuts are all we got from this jigsaw, so matter how we turned, and it has so many super features that we can’t help but single it out as our favorite in this combo. Keyless blade change, keyless lever shoe bevel, four-position orbital action for supreme control, a marvelously comfortable grip—all this and an adjustable dust blower to clear your line of sight. Having struggled with jigsaws in the past, we were unprepared for how user-friendly this one is, and we couldn’t be happier with it.
The impact wrench combines 300 foot-pounds of max torque with 1,650 rpm and 2,600 blows per minute, giving you more than enough speed and power to drive any large fastener and (our favorite part) busting loose seemingly immovable nuts and bolts. We like this DeWalt particularly because we haven’t seen a rocker switch on any other brand, letting you switch from forward to reverse like nobody’s business. And like the other tools in this combo, the no-slip grip is comfortable and secure. You’ll think that it’s no trouble to use a drywall or keyhole saw…until you use this cut-out saw just once. That’s all it will take for you to fall like we did for its power, simplicity, ease of use and the thousand things you’ll want to use it for. Outlet holes, sink cutouts – you name it, and this takes are of it in a blink. It’s light and comfortable, easy to grip, and even easier to maneuver. Bit changes are easy, too, because they’re tool-free, and we especially liked that the power switch is sealed, so all that drywall dust won’t affect performance.
Even the floodlight in this combo is impressive. You can stand it alone, wrap it around something, hang it – however you position it, it stays. And it’s got some serious staying power, too, in terms of light – up to three hours on one charge. It snakes around corners, up into ducting, absolutely anywhere you need light.
Every tool in this kit is DeWalt quality and will not disappoint. The set comes with two batteries and a charger, but we’d like to see one or two more with this kit because there are so many tools included.--Kris Jensen-Van Heste
What’s in the Box
Hammerdrill/drill/driver, circular saw, reciprocating saw, impact driver, cut-off tool, flexible floodlight, variable speed jig saw, high torque impact wrench, cut-out tool, two batteries, one charger
