You know by now how hard it is to drill concrete, brick, and stone. But it doesn’t have to be hard. Using the right tool for the job makes all the difference. DeWalt created the DWD520 hammer drill to make your job easy. Let’s look at these two kits to see which one is the best for you.
DEWALT DWD520 1/2-Inch VSR Pistol Grip Hammerdrill
First off, the DWD520 is a corded hammerdrill so you don’t have to worry about running out of charge in the middle of a job. (Unless the power goes out!) It has a 10Amp motor that gives it plenty of torque to drill up to ¾” in masonry, ½” in concrete, ½” in steel, and 1-1/2” in wood. Of course, that’s bit size, not depth. The maximum blows-per-minute in hammer mode is 56,000bpm.
You can turn off hammer mode to use the DWD520 as a drill only. It has a variable-speed trigger and a two-speed transmission. The two speeds are 0-1200rpm, and a high gear of 0-3500rpm. When you drill metal, DeWalt suggests that you use low speed only and lubricate the bit with oil. They also mention that this hammer drill is ideal for driving and removing Tapcon Tapper screw anchors in concrete.
The two-finger trigger and soft rubber over-molded grip makes the drill comfortable to hold. That’s helpful because this is not a lightweight tool. It weighs 6 pounds and has a pistol-grip format. Part of the nose’s weight comes from the protective metal housing that makes it resistant to drops.
The DWD520 in this kit comes with a 360-degree rotatable soft-grip side handle. This is a useful addition when you drill especially tough materials or have a lot of repetitive drilling to do. The kit also includes a steel depth rod.
In case you’ve never used a depth rod before, this is how to set it. Loosen it and pull on the rod until the distance between the tip of the bit and the tip of the depth rod is how deep you want to drill. Tighten it up. Then drill into your work-piece until the end of the rod touches it.
The DWD520 also comes with a chuck key. The all-metal chuck itself is ½” so it is compatible with a wide range of bits.There have been some complaints in user reviews that the chuck doesn’t hold bits tightly enough. If you’ve never had to deal with a keyed chuck before, here’s how to do it.
Open the chuck by hand. Turn the collar until you can insert the shank of the bit. DeWalt recommends putting the shank about ¾” inside the chuck. Tighten the chuck by hand in a clockwise direction. Then use the key. Insert it into each of the three holes and tighten firmly. To remove the bit, put the chuck key into any of the three holes and turn it counter-clockwise. Once the chuck begins to open, turn it the rest of the way by hand. If you hate the keyed chuck, any DeWalt service center can replace it for a keyless one, although you may have to pay for the service.
Finally, this model number DWD520 comes as a bare tool. There is no carrying case or kit box, or other accessory besides the auxiliary handle and depth rod.
More features of the DeWalt DWD520
- DeWalt offers a 90-day money-back guarantee, 1-year free service, and a 3-year limited warranty
- Drill is 14-inches long
- The USA version of this tool has full-speed reverse, while the European version has reduced speed in reverse because of safety regulations
DEWALT DWD520K 1/2-Inch VSR Pistol Grip Hammerdrill Kit
The only difference between this DWD520K kit and the one above is the carrying case. We’re not kidding. It’s the same tool and accessories. The only difference is that the “K” at the end of the model number means “kit” as in “kit box.” You’ll get an efficient hammerdrill complete with depth rod, chuck key, and auxiliary handle, as well as a hard plastic carrying case. See all the details about the drill in the section above.
More features of the DeWalt DWD520K kit
- DeWalt offers a 90-day money-back guarantee, 1-year free service, and a 3-year limited warranty
- Drill is 14-inches long
Recommendation
Obviously, if you want a hard plastic carrying case for the hammerdrill, get the DWD520K kit.
Otherwise, the DWD520 kit has everything but the case. If you already have a way to store or transport the tool, getting just the tool and accessories might save you some money.
Click here to purchase DEWALT DWd520 on Amazon!
Click here to purchase DEWALT DWD520K on Amazon!