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Hitachi DS18DSAL 18-Volt 1/2-Inch Drill/Driver

Hitachi DS18DSAL Drill

The Hitachi DS18DSAL drill/driver is a relatively old model but still going strong. It is a compact and lightweight (3.3 lbs.) cordless Lithium-ion drill which is easy and comfortable to operate.

Although the Hitachi DS18DSAL is a small and lightweight drill it is still very powerful. It can be used for all kinds of DIY tasks around the house. There are better cordless drills on the market but they are much more expensive than the Hitachi DS18DSA.

The Hitachi DS18DSAL features a variable speed trigger to set speed from zero to 350 RPM or zero to 1,500 RPM. Additionally, the clutch has 22 driving stages and a special mode for drilling, allowing for both high torque applications and precision driving. The built-in LED light and the metal belt hook are two nice features. It takes 40 minutes to charge the batteries. Note that it is possible to use 3-amp/hour or 4-amp/hour batteries as well.

The DS18DSAL drill/driver comes with a 5 year warranty and you get a 5-position flashlight, which is helpful to illuminate dark places. A hard case is also included in the kit. You can also buy the DS18DSAL with a soft case.

The customers have given the Hitachi DS18DSAL an average rating of 4.4 out of 5. Most customers were very happy with their DS18DSAL drill. The buyers were impressed by the combination of power and lightweight design. Virtually all customers thought that they had got good value for their money. Here you can read Hitachi DS18DSAL customer reviews.

Pros
– Lightweight but powerful
– Compact and well balanced
– Good value for the money

Cons
– Can be a bit noisy



The following is included with the Hitachi DS18DSAL drill/driver
– Two 18V 1.5Ah Lithium-ion Slide Batteries (330139)
– 18V Compact Pro Flashlight (UB18DAL)
– Quick Charger (UC18YGSL)
– 2-Sided #2 Phillips Bit (983006)
– Carrying Case (Both hard and soft case are available)


Hitachi DS18DSAL Drill/Driver Specifications

Battery Type Lithium-Ion
Battery Ah 1.5
Voltage 18
Chuck Size 1/2″ Keyless
Torque 460 in/lbs
No-Load Speed 0-350/1,500 RPM
Clutch Stages 22+1
Ratcheting Clutch Yes
LED Light Yes
Metal Belt Hook Yes
Length 7.7
Weight 3.3 lbs
Charge Time 40 Minutes

For more details, you can download the Hitachi DS18DSAL User Manual here.



Hitachi DS18DSAL Summary
The Hitachi DS18DSAL is a splendid little drill/driver. Compact and lightweight at 3.3-pounds, it is comfortable to operate. It is also a powerful drill despite the compact size and light weight. The kit includes two 18V lithium-ion slide batteries, quick charger, flashlight, hard case and a 2-Sided #2 Phillips bit, giving you very good value for the money.

You can buy the Hitachi DS18DSAL Drill/Driver at Amazon.com, taking advantage of Amazon’s low prices and excellent customer service. Click here to go to Amazon.com and have a look at the Hitachi DS18DSAL.

Black & Decker 9099KC 7.2-Volt Cordless Drill with Keyless Chuck

Black and Decker 9099KC Cordless Drill

Black & Decker 9099KC is one of the cheapest cordless drills on the market. It is an excellent basic drill but not suitable for heavier tasks. Thanks to the low price you get excellent value for your money.

The 9099KC is a basic but good drill, it is capable of handling all basic tasks around the house. For demanding tasks it is not the best solution, you need to pay more if you want a powerful drill. But if you want a cheap cordless drill for basic drilling, this is your best choice. Despite the low price, you get a keyless chuck and reverse speed, making it possible to use it as screwdriver as well.

The drill is well balanced but it can not stand upright on its battery. It is a little bit annoying but it is not really a problem. Note that the battery is built into the drill so it is not possible to replace the battery. Fortunately, the battery can be recharged hundreds of times.

The customers have given the Black & Decker 9099KC drill an average rating of 3.9 out of 5. It is a very good rating for such a cheap drill. Virtually all customers thought that they had got excellent value for their money. Of course, the drill is not as good as the much more expensive high-end drills but most customers were happy with the performance of the 9099KC. Here you can read Black & Decker 9099KC customer reviews.


Pros
– Excellent value for the money
– Lightweight

Cons
– Basic entry-level tool, not meant for heavy tasks



Black & Decker 9099KC Summary
Dirt cheap Black and Decker Cordless Drill, 7.2 volts, 1/2″ chuck size, built-in Ni-CD battery, 2 speed reversible, Mid handle design, Keyless chuck, 2 year warranty, Balanced mid-handle design increases the overall comfort of the drill and the user’s control when using the drill.

The Black & Decker 9099KC is not the most sophisticated drill on the market but it is capable of handling most tasks around the house. Given the cheap price, you get excellent value for your money. But if you need a drill that is capable of heavy duty drilling, you need to look for more powerful, and more expensive, drills.

You can buy the Black & Decker 9099KC Cordless Drill at Amazon.com, taking advantage of Amazon’s low prices and excellent customer service. Click here to go to Amazon.com and have a look at the Black & Decker 9099KC.

Black & Decker BDCDMT120 20-volt Matrix Drill

Black and Decker BDCDMT120 Drill

The Black & Decker BDCMT120 is a powerful drill with lightweight lithium-ion batteries. It is part of the Black & Decker Matrix Quick Connect System. The drill is made up of a base power unit and a drill/driver attachment. The battery is attached to the base power unit.

This means that you can additional attachment and get a number of power tools without paying a fortune. Note that the Black & Decker BDCMT120 has no battery gauge, so it can be difficult to know if the battery is almost flat. The Black & Decker BDCMT120 is sufficient for all normal tasks around the house but is not the best drill for heavy drilling. Apart from that the BDCMT120 does not really have any significant shortcomings. It does not have a built-in LED light but that is seldom a problem.

The 20V lithium battery holds a charge for up to 18 months. The Black & Decker BDCDMT120 comes with a limited 2 year warranty.

The customers have given the Black & Decker BDCMT120 an average rating of 4.6 out 5. Most buyers were in other words very happy with their Black & Decker BDCMT120. The compact size and light weight were appreciated by most customers. DIY enthusiasts liked the versatility of the Matrix Quick Connect system which allows them to get a wide range of power tools without having to pay a fortune. Here you can read Black & Decker BDCMT120 customer reviews.

Pros
– Compact and lightweight drill
– Powerful 20V lithium-ion battery that holds a charge for up 18 months
– Cheap way of getting additional power tools

Cons
– Not suitable for heavy-duty drilling

Popular additional attachments (sold separately) for the Black & Decker BDCMT120:
– Sander (BDCMTS)
– Jig Saw (BDCMTJS)
– Impact Driver (BDCMTI)
– Oscillating (BDCMTO)
– Router (BDCMTR)
– Trim Saw (BDCMTTS)


For more details, you can download the Black & Decker BDCDMT120 User’s Manual here.

You can buy the Black & Decker BDCDMT120 from Amazon.com, taking advantage of Amazon’s low prices and excellent customer service. Click here to go to Amazon.com and have a look at the Black & Decker BDCDMT120 Drill.



Information from the manufacturer
The BLACK & DECKER BDCDMT120 MATRIX 20V DRILL features the innovative Matrix Quick Connect System, which allows the user to add different heads for different jobs and applications. The Powerful 20v MAX* motor provides enough power for a full range of applications & attachments. This unit operates on a lithium ion battery which is always ready and holds a charge up to 18 months. The compact and lightweight design allows users to carry out drilling/driving tasks in confined spaces and with ease. Includes (1) 20v MAX Power Unit, (1) Drill/Driver attachment, (1) 20v MAX Lithium Ion battery, (1) 20v Max Charger, (1) Double ended bit tip.

Corded Drill or Cordless Drill

Nowadays, cordless drills are more popular than corded drills. There are several reasons why corded drills have had trouble competing with cordless models. But the main reason is that the batteries have become much better. The batteries have become much more powerful but also lighter, at the same the prices have gone down. But it still makes sense to buy a corded drill rather than a cordless model in some cases.

A drill is generally the first power tools people buy. It is a very useful tool for tasks around the house. Most drills are also relatively cheap. Traditionally, most people have bought corded drills. But nowadays, cordless drills are a better choice in many cases.

A corded drill has two main advantages, it is cheaper than a cordless drill and there no batteries to worry about. The hammering action of a hammer drill drains the battery quickly. Even if you are not doing heavy drilling, the battery may have discharged by itself because you haven’t used it for quite some time. If you want a powerful drill, the easy solution is to buy a corded drill.

A corded drill is a little bit lighter than a cordless drill. The extra weight of the battery is seldom seen as a large problem. But if you are going to do a lot of drilling, you may prefer a lighter drill even if it is limited by a cord.

Cordless drills are of course not limited by a cord. On the other hand, they are more expensive than corded drills. But if you are looking for something more sophisticated than the cheapest corded drills, you should consider cordless drills. Thanks to improved batteries, cordless drills have become both lighter and more powerful. At the same time prices have gone down.

Professionals often use two quick-charge batteries. The batteries can be charged within 30 minutes, making it possible to work all day, except for the time spent changing batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries are very good, both powerful and lightweight. They have only one drawback, they are expensive. Lithium-ion batteries are generally the best choice for professionals. For occasional use, Nicad batteries are often more suitable. Nicad batteries are not as powerful as Lithium-ion batteries but they are much cheaper.

If you are using your drill very seldom, you may prefer a corded drill. Battery self-discharge is still a problem, a self-discharge of about 10% per month is common. This means that if you haven’t used the drill for a while, the battery may be almost flat. Batteries also have a limited lifespan. If you buy a corded drill, you avoid all potential battery issues.

To summarize, the main reasons for buying a corded drills are
– you want a very cheap “no-frill” drill
– you need a very powerful drill
– you don’t want to worry about flat batteries

If none of the reasons above apply, a good cordless drill is worth having a closer look at. Often they can be used as screwdrivers as well, for this the drill must have a reversible motor and support slow speeds. There are a number of cordless hammer drills, which is fine as long as you are not going to use the hammering action for longer periods of time. If you don’t mind paying a little bit more, go for Lithium-ion batteries.