Hitachi DS18DVF3 18-Volt Ni-Cad 1/2-Inch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit (Discontinued by Manufacturer)

I have (7) drills as they all differ in their application/use as most users are well aware of. Well, almost everyone; except my WIFE! I had purchased my first HITACHI DRILL in 2008 and the DV 20VB2 Hammer Drill had already sold me on HITACHI power tools! When I saw this DS18DVF3 Hitachi Drill/Driver Kit and all that was included for this unbelievable price, I was on this deal like "White on a Wedding Cake." The Drill/Driver Kit arrived in it's own molded carrying case and the pieces included are well-made and they have performed quite well already on home improvement projects! The drill itself has one of the most comfortable 'GRIPS' I have used on a drill and the drill's performance & features are just as powerful, sturdy & efficiently placed on the drill as I would expect. The charger is fast and quiet unlike the one that came with my older RIGID Cordless Drill that I still use. The light is very powerful and the case is well laid out and easy to store. I especially love the quick design of the chuck on this drill and the bit storage on the base of the drill. I also purchased the HITACHI Drill Bit Assortment in the zipper/folding carrying case and the bits in this assortment work extremely well with this Hitachi drill. I am very pleased with this Drill/Driver Kit and would recommend it without reservation. This drill is for standard to medium use applications so if you are needing more power for heavy applications, such as masonry/steel, you should look to the bigger Hitachi Drills.

Although the batteries do not seem to last very between charges, there are two of them in the kit along with a quick charger. The specified torque is impressive, but I think that it may be slightly exaggerated. The ergonomics, weight, and overall dimensions are nearly ideal. The box and Hitachi website indicate a 5-year warranty, but the warranty card itself indicates only a one-year warranty. The chuck is pretty cheap, and the trigger doesn't seem very well-made. The design of the carrying case leaves a lot to be desired. All in all, after about 6 weeks, it appears to be a good drill for light to moderate homeowner duty. The quality of the drill is probably a cut above other drills available in the $99 price range, but it is certainly not worth the $150 that Lowes now charges. If you are willing to spend $140-$150, you will probably be able to get a Makita mForce or Bosch Compact Tough 14.4V-18V model and be much happier.

A real hit on the job site.Very light and compact.Has a lot of torque.I have used it sparingly since I got it but I can say I am happy.Doesnt have the torque of the 16 volt porter cable but it isnt like dragging a car battery around to install.I have been hanging it on my belt and it isnt uncomfortable.I carry a lot of stuff on my belt and the Hitachi fits my belt and my hand very well.Very ergonomicAfter having this item for some time I will tell you that as a professional carpenter I wish I would have purchased a tool with longer battery duration and life. Doesnt take long to run the battery dead and didnt take long before the batteries would only hold a charge for a very short time. I will do the research and find a tool with better batteries next time but still not a bad deal for the price and probably as good as any tool in this price range.

I'm a homeowner/handyman. After 4 years (and a semi remodeling of a new house at the 3 year point) it sill work flawless (slip clutch, motor, trigger, reverse switch, batteries, charger, etc)- Battery charger has a thick cord, auto off and charges in under 30 minutes. (Under 20 when it was new)-The light tilts nice vs the "rotating head" type of lights.This tool is always in my soft tool bag with the double phillips in the front holder. The only time i go for the corded drill is for drilling into concrete.I use it every weekend and frequently during the week, These 1400 Mah batteries just keep working- I can't believe such quality on the whole machine.It looks funny but get over it. Also- the quicker you can throw out the $.49 cents screwdriver bits that came with it; the better.

I was not planning on giving this to my husband till father's day, so we have not used it yet, however, we were out of town and whoever delivered it left it outside of our porch (IDK if USPS or UPS). It got rained on and we are lucky no one stole it. We were gone for 3 days and it sat right outside our porch door unnecessarily for 3 days. NOT HAPPY about the shipper. At. all. Luckily, it came in a nice hard case, so the drill itself is not damaged.

Drill Works great, although the grip is quite small. Its fine because I have smaller hands, however the grip feels too mall for the rest of the drill. Flash light works great, VERY Bright with a tight beam. shines better than some spot lights I have had in the past. The hard carry case is a very nice extra that allows for easy storage with all components.I would recommend to a friend.

I have had this cordless drill/flashlight kit for over a year. Keep the batteries charged. If they sit for a long period of time, they will loose capacity. Not the manufacturer's fault, just the nature of Ni-Cad batteries. Good torque, clutch works well, I'm very pleased. Honestly, I probably use the flashlight more than the drill.

This drill was purchased to replace a 14 volt drill purchased close to 15 years ago from Snap-On. That drill was a work horse replaced only because the charger stopped working. With the new drill I am disappointed in the amount of work you can do before needing to change batteries. I realize the need to keep the battery small enough for the drill to be manageable, but I estimate getting 2X the amount of time with the old drill VRS. the new before needing to change batteries. . One of the reasons I went with the Ni-Cad battery instead of a lithium was price and the proven technology surrounding the nickel battery. I do not recommend this drill to someone who puts a tool through its paces. It might be a good drill for a casual hobbyist needing a larger cordless with more power, but if you "drive your tools hard", you should look elsewhere.

A very good rechargeable drill. This is the second one I have bought and the 1st is still working well but the batteries were no longer holding a charge. I bought this package because the price was almost the same price as buy as buying 2 new batteries. The 2nd drill, the light and the extra bits were a bonus.

Not keeping charge very long, not strong. Not a good drill for the price. After 10 screw its over , back on the charger. Both batteries does that. I have it since 2 years and I never use it it's useless..

Great value kit. Best price I could find anywhere for an 18 volt unit. I bought the same Hitachi drill 5 yrs ago and nicad batteries started to loose their charge. The new kit is basically identical and I now have have 2 drills for extra portability. The new kit is cheaper than buying 2 replacement batteries. The flashlight is very powerful.

The batteries don't hold a charge after a couple of years.They don't sell batteries at a reasonable price.So the solution is the landfill.

Very nice little drill! I quite like the size, and it is very powerful. Flashlight is not overly useful to me, but the second battery is nice to have!