Dewalt Cordless Drill - Why does it release the drillbits?

Cordless power tools at the professional level are pretty much a two horse race now. It’s DeWalt or Milwaukee.
Makita is lagging behind on product development and doesn’t even offer comparable models to those made by the first two on quite a lot of items.. If you need one of those specific tools these puts them out of the running immediately, as it did me.

I went dewalt, as although I’m a professional user I didn’t need any of the specific tools where Milwaukee trumps dewalt, or didn’t think the extra expense was justified. (Some Milwaukee tools are marginally better, but also considerably more expensive).
I currently have a combi drill, 1/4” hex impact (with adapters to all the square drives, which is an amazing tool and do everything up to and including wheel nuts no problem) , the big boy 1/2” impact for jobs where if that doesn’t undo it (or if it breaks it) it’s f-ked anyway, a strimmer which is a revelation compared to the mcculloch petrol one in replaced, and the fancier flex head torch body which is now one of my most used tools. All of these are the brushless versions and the full fat top-of-the line professional versions, not the discount versions screwfix and the like usually sell on ‘deals’ that have lesser features.

I’ve got 4 5ah batteries and one standard charger and haven’t managed to get into a situation which I’ve been left waiting for the charger yet, but I work on my own so I wouldn’t expect to.

A lot of it is down to what tools you want/need. No one really makes a bad brushless combi or brushless 1/4 hex impact, as they’re the mainstay of all tool lines and pretty much the first thing anyone buys in a range. The manufacturers know these have to be good and it’s what they spend most money developing. Conversely the less of a tool they will sell the less they bother with it.
The big 900nm impact was a a key part of my decision to go with dewalt. The same spec Milwaukee one is nearly £100 more, and no one else makes anything else comparable. The bare tool is £160 which is a bit of a bargain tbh, for me it paid for itself on one job.
The strimmer I only really bought because I had the batteries already, and it’s damn good for the money. I was expecting it to struggle when worked hard but it really doesn’t.
Dewalt are also king of the hill when it comes to panel saws (I’ll be buying one fo those next).. As for anything else I don’t really know because I haven’t looked at buying any other tools yet.

If you’re going to be investing in a new battery platform, you should be watching a load of tool reviews on YouTube before you do. (The more scientific, unbiased ones, not the ‘X manufacturer gave us this ain’t it amazing’ ones). They’re mostly American based so they cover some stuff we don’t get here, mostly lower end DIY store home brands but the professional level stuff is largely the same products we get. The dewalt and makita stuff is also named differently in the states- what is 20v there can only legally be called 18v here. For example the 20v max dewalt is 18v XR here.

I bought the dewalt twin pack that screwfix sell 5 years ago, renovated my entire house with them & rarley use a real screwdriver these days as the impact is so much better.

For the price I don't think you can go wrong.

Now have the jigsaw, circular saw & big f/o impact wrench.

My mate & mechanic changed from snap-on to the Dewalt impact wrench and uses it all day everyday - doesnt have a bad word to say about it & cost half what the snap-on did, works better too.

This is the new version of mine (now has 2x 3.0ah bats, mine had 2x 1.3ah) - bargain at this price.
www.screwfix.com/p/dewalt-dck2060l2t-sfgb-18v-3-0ah-li-ion-xr-brushless-cordless-twin-pack/337kv

Another vote for Dewalt from me. Got a deal at Screwfix about 18 months ago on the box set impact driver and drill with 2 batteries and charger. They got used all day every day when we gutted and renovated my son's house.
They were on sale at the time in one of their promo deals, which Screwfix seem to have often, plus my mate who is an electrician ordered them for me so got trade discount on the sale price, making them an even better bet.

Just to back up what Dez has written from a professional point its either Milwaukee or Dewalt. The general consensus is that Milwaukee just edges it on quality but is also more expensive.

From a Drill/Driver point I've got a Dewalt DCD985/DCF886 since August 2014 along with several other Dewalt 18v bits which all still work including the 4aH batteries.

I see the linked double kit from Screwfix as Dewalts domestic range. It will be a step up from your old Makita but the quality isn't there. The Screwfix drill has a plasticy chuck rather then metal and you can feel a noticable difference in quality.


I would buy a DCD796 £62 & DCF887 w/ 2x2aH £130 for £12 more then screwfix or look at a different brand.


If you're drilling lots the DCD996 is a step up from the DCD796 but also £40 more and possibly overkill.

And as Christmas is coming up I'll leave this here.
DCD899 £145
5 Amp Battery £55


Hope that helps.

Nick

Silly question, but can one buy them without the carry boxes?

It is an item I have zero use or need for, and obviously one pays for.

I know these deals are often made in such a way that the “free” item forces you to just buy it.

To my simple, untrained eye, the cheaper drill body at £62 (though I do like a steel chuck) and then the DCF887 w/2x2aH for £130 seems what would satisfy my needs.

I would probably keep an eye open for a third battery but doubt I would often need to rotate three of them. (Stand to be corrected)

I suspect some would, but I have a shelf above the welding table (place to throw everything once used) where the cordless stuff lives and it is above the grinders’ shelf (4 of them)

So ideally I really prefer not to buy one and would not use it.

Makes sense for many others though.

Sounds great if spec is the same.

Thank you

Probably be able to sell the case on ebay.

I use mainly DeWalt tools in my carpentry workshop at work. They get plenty of use and sometimes out side in appalling conditions. As yet I haven’t had any problems, apart from batteries eventually giving up.
But after moving into my new home, I decided to buy a twin set for working on the house. And ended up getting a Ryobi drill and impact set with two batteries and charger. As it was coming up to Christmas, Ryobi had a offer on. You could chose a free item from a list of 12. So I grabbed a free battery & I registered on line and got 3 years warranty as well. I have to say that I am very impressed with the kit and would definitely buy more Ryobi stuff. If you are looking for tools mainly for DIY purposes then you really can’t go wrong for the price they charge.