It’s time for a new hammer drill, and deciding between models can be a real hassle. No worries, you’re already looking at two quality products from DeWalt. We’ll help you choose the one that’s best for you.
DEWALT DCD785C2 20V MAX Lithium Ion Compact 1.5 Ah Hammer Drill/Driver Kit
The DeWalt DCD785 ½-inch hammer drill is made to drill and fasten in masonry, metal, and wood. With 350 unit watts out of power, it can handle hole saw sizes up to 2” in wood, 1-3/8” in metal, or a twist bit up to ¼” in masonry.
The two-speed transmission and 15 clutch settings give precision control over the work you need to do. Out of the 15 settings, one is a drill option that locks the clutch for tough jobs. The hammer setting makes the drill pound out 10,200bpm on low speed, and up to 34,000bpm on high. It’s a good thing that the all-metal ratcheting chuck has carbide inserts to better grip bits.
Even with all this power, the DCD785 only weighs 3.5 pounds (less than the DCD796 below) and measures just 7.95 inchesfrom front to back. Its weight is balanced so that it can stand unsupported once the battery pack is in place. Of course, it has an ergonomic, rubber overmolded grip. There is also an LED work light embedded just below the chuck above the trigger, and a bit holder at the bottom of the handle.
More features of the DeWalt DCD785C2 drill kit:
- Two-speed transmission gears: low speed is 0-600rpm, high is 0-2000rpm
- Top sound power 100dB(A) and maximum sound pressure 89dB(A)
- Vibration while hammer drilling concrete 15m/s2
- DeWalt offers a 90-day money-back guarantee, 1-year free service contract, and a 3-year limited warranty
- Comes with two 1.5Ah lithium-ion batteries, 30-minuteEnergy Star charger, belt hook, and hard plastic carrying case
DEWALT DCD796D2 20V MAX XR Li-Ion 0.5″ 2.0Ah Compact Hammer Drill Kit
The DCD796 drill features a brushless motor rated for up to 460 unit-watts-out. This means it’s quieter, cooler, more efficient, more powerful, and durable. It won’t need maintenance, and it gets the most runtime out of the two included 2.0Ah lithium-ion batteries. Professionals who use power tools every day prefer brushless motors for these very reasons.
Although the DCD796 weighs a little more than the DCD785, it measures just 7.5 inches back to front. Like the other drill, it has 15 clutch settings total. That includes 13 levels of torque for precision fastening, one setting to lock the clutch for drilling, and one for hammer drilling. The two-speed transmission also governs the number of impacts the hammer drill makes.
For example, the lower gear speed ranges from 0-550rpm with 0-9350bpm (blows per minute) in hammer mode. The high gear ranges from 0-2000rpm with 0-34,000bpm. You don’t have to use the hammer mode for regular drilling into wood or metal. It’s made to use up to a ½” bit in masonry, making it more powerful than the DCD785 described above.
Besides its power, the DCD796 comes with a new feature to light up your work area. It has 3 LEDs embedded into its foot. These lights can be programmed to operate on low, medium, or high with a 20-minute shutoff. This means you can use the drill like a spotlight, and you don’t need to hold the trigger for it to work like that.
More features of the DeWalt DCD796 drill kit:
- Maximum sound power 100 dB(A), sound pressure 89 dB(A)
- Hand and arm vibration when hammer drilling into concrete is 11.5 m/s²
- DeWalt offers a 90-day money-back guarantee, 1-year free service contract, and a 3-year limited warranty
- Comes with two 2.0Ah lithium-ion batteries with fuel gauge,Energy Star charger, belt hook, and hard plastic carrying case
Recommendation
If you are a homeowner, do-it-yourselfer, or a pro who occasionally needs a hammer drill, the DCD785 may be all you need. It comes with smaller capacity batteries, but it’s compatible with any of DeWalt’s 20V MAX XR lithium-ion packs. Keep in mind that the maximum bit size it can handle in masonry is just ¼”.
If you’re a professional who frequently uses a hammer drill, or a do-it-yourselfer who wants the best in power tools, consider getting the DCD796. It has a brushless motor, which means your batteries last longer on a charge and the drill will last longer overall. It’s also considerably more powerful than the DCD785. The 3-LED spotlight feature is a nice addition, too.
Click here to purchase DEWALT DCD785C2 on Amazon!
Click here to purchase DEWALT DCD796D2 on Amazon!