Hitachi DV18DL 18-volt Lithium-Ion 1/2-inch Cordless Hammer Drill
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| Hitachi DV18DL 18-volt Lithium-Ion 1/2-inch Cordless Hammer Drill | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Product Description |
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The DV18DL's two-piece rare-earth magnet motor produces 570 in/lbs of torque to power through brick up to 5/8-inch thick, as well as the toughest wood, metal, and aluminum. And with its 22-stage ratcheting clutch and two-step switch, you can select between four speeds for ultimate control: 0-200 RPM, 0-400 RPM, 0-900 RPM, and 0-1,800 RPM. This hammer drill has an impact rate of 0-21,000 for hammer applications. Chock-Full of User-Friendly Features For added convenience, the DV18DL includes a five-position belt hook with an integrated LED work light and two bit holders. Additionally, a spindle lock automatically blocks the spindle when the tool is not in use, enabling convenient bit changes and providing safety. Finally, an externally accessible carbon brush allow for quick and easy maintenance. The Hitachi DV18DL is compact and lightweight, measuring 9.95 inches and weighing just 4.9 pounds. HXP Lithium-Ion Batteries Last 3X Longer and Weigh 50% Less Additionally, HXP batteries last three times longer than their competition. Where NiCd and NiMH batteries could be used for up to 500 charge cycles, HXP Lithium-Ion batteries can be used for up to 1,500 charge cycles! HXP Lithium-Ion batteries operate within optimal voltage limits, protecting both the tool and batteries from damage. Protection circuitry built into the included batteries and charger monitors the charge and discharge for each battery cell, resulting in peak operating performance. Additionally, if a surge in power is detected during use, Hitachi's Over-Current Protection technology will temporarily shut of the power to protect the batteries and tool from being damaged. This feature allows the power to return to optimal voltage, thereby extending battery and tool life beyond any competitive lithium-ion products. HXP batteries are backwards compatible with all Hitachi 18-volt DMR, DVF3, and DFL tools. These batteries come with a two-year HXP Lithium-Ion Battery Warranty, which protects against possible defects in materials and workmanship. Quick Charger Powers Batteries in 45 Minutes Hitachi offers a one-year HXP Lithium-Ion Charger Warranty, which protects against possible defects in materials and workmanship. The Industry's Longest Lithium-Ion Tool Warranty What's in the Box | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Product Details
- 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-inch Hitachi 18-volts DMR and DVF3 tools for even more value
- 570-inch/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
Video Reviews
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Customer Reviews
 Go Green! |
| Review Date: January 19, 2008 |
| Reviewer: IT Guru, |
| Let's get the visual appearance out of the way first, shall we? Not everyone is going to like the high tech look of this tool (although I personally happen to love it). If you look at other Japanese power tool manufacturers such as Makita and Panasonic you'll see they are also using similar styling cues albeit in more subdued colors. It seems like Hitachi has started a trend and the others are following.
So with that out of the way let's get to the important stuff. This is one "monster" of a hammer drill. It has an incredible amount of power and should be able to tackle the toughest jobs. The motor housing and chuck are angled back from the handle and battery giving this tool an excellent balance. The grip feels "just right" and the forward/reverse/lock selector is easy to reach as is the power/savings switch. By the way that switch does nothing more than limit the trigger from being pulled all the way when it's in savings mode. It should be noted that while Hitachi advertises this tool as having four speeds, some may disagree with that specification. It has a two speed transmission via a high/low switch on top of the housing like most other drills but the other two "speeds" come from limiting the trigger and not from additional gears in the transmission. DeWalt for instance offers a true three speed transmission in their XRP models although many owners of those tools will readily admit that the third speed isn't necessary. The fact that the Hitachi is not a "true" four speed model doesn't bother me at all but I thought this should be pointed out in detail so that prospective buyers can make a fully informed purchase decision. Speaking of DeWalt, I was considering buying their new Lithium Ion (Nano Technology) 18 volt hammer drill instead of the Hitachi. I went to the "Blue" home center store that sells both so I could compare them side by side. I have to admit they both feel great in the hand and DeWalt's offering probably has a little more power but it was priced at a whopping $120.00 more than the Hitachi and didn't even have an on-board LED work light. I'll admit that at first I thought the LED work light was a gimmick but you'll be surprised how much you come to appreciate it once you have a few tools with them. I was also concerned about the latest DeWalt reviews. It seems their quality control is slipping a bit. So I went with Hitachi and I'm very glad I that did. This hammer drill is everything I've wanted and more. The clutch ring operates smoothly and the settings are very useful throughout the entire range. The hammer mode is smooth to engage and doesn't have that nasty vibration that some other tools exhibit. The easy-to-replace brushes are an excellent feature as well. Dremel has had this feature on their rotary tools for decades now. It's about time that the full-size tool manufacturers caught on. On the top of the drill is the high/low transmission selector which is easy to operate and makes a very obvious difference in rotational speed. Getting back to that LED work light I mentioned above, Hitachi has taken a different approach than other manufacturers. The light is located near the bottom of the tool and can be adjusted in 5 different positions! Also unique, it doesn't use the tools main battery; it has its own set of regular disposable batteries that powers it. To conserve those batteries Hitachi has a small circuit within the work light that turns it off automatically after 15 minutes. I wish the LED was white instead of yellow but that's a minor complaint. It still does an excellent job of lighting the work area and the low placement near the bottom of the tool eliminates the shadows cast by the chuck and whatever bits are in it. The carrying case is very nicely made of tough plastic and has several compartments that neatly hold the drill, the battery charger, the second battery (included), the auxiliary handle, the instruction manual and warrantee card. The only accessory that comes with the tool is a double ended screwdriver bit and that stores neatly on the tool just above the battery. There is room in the case for other bits and accessories if you wish to store them in there. The battery charger is extremely well thought out and will charge anything from a 7.2 volt all the way to an 18 volt battery in NiCd, NiMH or Lithium Ion formulas. The unit is fan cooled. A small duct at the top of the unit mates with another duct in the battery when inserted. This allows air to be circulated inside the battery housing during charging. This is very effective! Yes, it's a little noisy but considering how fast the batteries charge and the fact that they are being cooled while charging, I'm more than willing to put up with a little extra noise. Finally, let me address the issue of power tools being made in China. It's difficult to find tools that aren't made in China these days. Even Bosch and Hilti who used to produce their tools in Switzerland have now gone to China for the production of their latest offerings. DeWalt is made in Mexico. That's about as close to the USA as it gets anymore. My own experience with Chinese production is that it depends on who is designing the product and who brokering the manufacturing. It seems that the Japanese can get a better product out of China than us Americans or the Europeans. I need not remind you that the Japanese and Chinese are TWO VERY DIFFERENT CULTURES and should never be directly compared with one another but they do reside in the same part of the world and perhaps that lends itself to a better working relationship. Whatever your opinion regarding Chinese made products, the Hitachi DV18DL is a very well made tool and should be strongly considered by anyone in the market for a professional grade 18 volt cordless hammer drill. |
| Well done Hitachi. |
| Review Date: January 13, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Dave W, MN |
| I am a remodeler. I have had this drill for about two months, and use it all the time. I had a panasonic 15.6V before and was very happy with it, but it was time for a new drill. I switched to the Hitachi because it was Lithium-Ion, had 570 inch pounds of torque (versus 390 on the Panasonic), the Hitachi Ni-Cad version was very well rated, and I wanted to have one that I could have interchangable batteries between my drill and my Impact driver. (Panasonic doesnt make a 15.6 Impact driver)
The drill body itself is fairly heavy, I guess they needed it to get that much power out of it. The battery weighs almost nothing. It seems like it should be top heavy, but it has very good balance. It balances standing up very well, and feels good in your hand. Overall it weighs 4.9 pounds, just more than the 15.6V. Well done. Power is good, speed is excellent, hammer drill works well, and I am happy to have switched to Lithium batteries. |
| A Great Tool |
| Review Date: October 25, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Liberty Skier, |
| I purchased this to replace a DeWalt that finally surrendered after a lot of abuse. First, this tool packs a wallop, very torquey and the hammer function works very well. It is also very well balanced and the batteries are light. I've never felt like the battery end was fighting me for control of the tool. The teenage mutant ninja turtle look put me off a bit, but now the tool is so grungy its not so bad. I have owned mine for a little less than a year and have had no complaints or problems. You get what you pay for. In this case, I think every dime spent on this tool was money well spent. |
| Hitachi cordless drill |
| Review Date: December 17, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Jim, Stoughton, WI USA |
| This 18 volt lithium-ion hammer drill is awesome. Had to charge the battery in my Sears cordless drill 4 times doing the same work as the Hitachi, and only had to charge it just once. Also all the torque you need, but very nice torgue setting - stops at correct torque like a good torque wrench. |
| This is the one!!! |
| Review Date: May 10, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Col. McSheisty, NM, USA |
| Totaly awesome drilldriver. All the functions on it are very useful. I like that it has a low and high speed switch and a power selector switch which lets you lower the power used when dealing with lighter jobs to save energy. If you're looking at a drill driver that competes with Milwaukee, this is it. |
