Are you looking for a powerhouse combo for your tool collection? DeWalt offers three different combination drill and impact driver kits. Each included power tool features a brushless motor. Pros using power tools every day usually opt for brushless motors. They run cooler, they have a longer lifetime, and they use electricity more efficiently. This is great for cordless tools because the batteries last longer on a charge and have more power to do the work. Let’s review these three kits and see which one has the right tools for you.
DEWALT DCK281D2 20V Max XR Lithium Ion Brushless Compact Drill/Driver & Impact Driver Combo Kit
The DeWalt DCK281D2 kit has been winning lots of positive reviews. It includes the DCD790 half-inch drill and the DCF886 quarter-inchimpact driver, as well as a few extras. First, let’s discuss the impact driver because it’s the same driver sold in all three kits.
The DCF886 uses 1-inch hex bits. It has a quick-release chuck so you can quickly change bits with one hand. Of course, it has a forward and reverse button. This button locks off the driver when it’s pushed to the middle position. This is a good safety feature for a cordless tool and all of these DeWalt drills and drivers have it.
The impact driver has a maximum torque of 1500 inch-pounds, powerful enough to drive fasteners into hardwoods, metal, and concrete. It’s rated for a top speed of 3200 impacts-per-minute. Vary the pressure on the trigger and the driver changes speed. The DCF886 is also very compact and lightweight, measuring only 5.55” long and weighing only 2.1 pounds.
Besides the ergonomic handle and balanced feel, DeWalt designed the DCF886 with three LED lights around the barrel. The lights stay on for twenty seconds after the trigger is released.
As for the drill in the DCK281D2 kit, it’s the DCD790. It’s rated for 360 unit-watts-out, which is professional-level power. It has a two-speed transmission ranging from 0-600rpm and 0-2000rpm. There are 15 settings on the clutch so the user can easily choose the right amount of torque. The ratcheting chuck is all metal for durability and stability. Even with all this, the drill weighs only 2.6 pounds and measures 7.2 inches long, tip to tail. It comes with an LED light in the bottom of the handle so that it illuminates the work area without casting shadows from the drill chuck.
Both of these tools run off the DeWalt line of MAX 20-volt lithium-ion batteries. The DCK281D2 kit includes two 2.0Ah XR batteries and a rapid charger so there’s never any need for downtime. The charger keeps the batteries in top condition. It delays recharging if the battery is too hot or too cold to avoid damage to the battery.
More features of the DeWalt DCK281D2 kit
- The kit comes with two belt hooks for the power tools and a soft contractor bag
- DeWalt offers a 90-day money-back satisfaction guarantee, a 1-year free service contract, and a 3-year limited warranty
DEWALT DCK286D2 20V MAX XR Lithium-Ion Brushless Compact Hammerdrill and Impact Driver Combo Kit
The DCK286D2 kit includes the same impact driver as the previous kit, the DCF886. What’s new is the 1/2” chuck hammer drill, the DCD795. Since the hammer drill is the biggest addition to this kit, let’s discuss it first.
The DCD795 is rated for 360 unit-watts-out and it has a two-speed transmission. The two gears are 0-600rpm and 0-2000rpm. What makes it a hammer drill is its capability to reach 34,000 blows-per-minute. This is what is needed for tough jobs like drilling masonry.
It has a ratcheting metal chuck and 14 clutch settings to set just the right amount of torque. Although it weighs 3.6 pounds, it has a nice balanced feel because of its ergonomic handle. At 7.8 inches long it is bigger than the DCD790 drill. There’s a LED work-light in the foot of the handle just like on the DCD790.
As for the two 20-volt MAX XR batteries in the kit, they come with a handy fuel LED gauge built into each one so the user can anticipate when it’s time to recharge. The kit includes a rapid charger.
More features of the DeWalt DCK286D2 kit
- The kit also comes with a bit holder, two belt hooks for the power tools, and a soft contractor bag
- DeWalt offers a 90-day money-back satisfaction guarantee, a 1-year free service contract, and a 3-year limited warranty
DEWALT DCK296M2 20V XR Lithium Ion Brushless Premium Hammerdrill and Impact Driver Combo Kit
This third kit also includes the DCF886 impact driver as well as the DCD995 ½” hammer drill. The DCD995 is definitely the most powerful tool of these three kits. It’s rated for 650 unit-watts-out. That’s almost double the power of either drill in the other two kits.
DeWalt gave the DCD995 a durable all-metal transmission that has three speeds: 0-450rpm, 0-1300rpm, and 0-2000rpm. There are also three corresponding levels of blows-per-minute: 0-7650, 0-22,100, and 0-34,000.
The DCD995 is the biggest of the drills too. It weighs 4.7 pounds and measures 8.4 inches from the front to the back. The DCD995 may not be the first choice for a job requiring finesse, but DeWalt still included 11 clutch settings for torque control. It also has an all-metal ratcheting chuck with carbide inserts for better grip and longer wear. There’s a detachable side handle that rotates 360 degrees so the user can securely grip the drill for tough jobs.
Finally, to accompany the driver and the hammer drill, DeWalt includes two long-lasting 4.0Ah batteries from their lithium-ion MAX XR series. These batteries also have the LED fuel gauge showing the status of the charge. Of the three drill kits, the DCK296M2 has the batteries with the largest capacity.
More features of the DeWalt DCK296M2 kit
- Kit also includes a charger, two belt hooks, a bit holder, and a contractor bag
- DeWalt offers a 90-day money-back satisfaction guarantee, a 1-year free service contract, and a 3-year limited warranty
Recommendation
The DCF886 ¼” impact driver is included in all three kits, and all three kits include a contractor bag. That’s where the similarities end. If you like those two items, good, but you’ve still got to decide what you want with them.
Each kit has varying levels of extras, but I doubt the belt hooks or bit holder are what makes the deal. Let’s look at the drills instead.
If you’ve got a job that needs monster power, go with the DCK296M2 kit. It has the powerful DCD995 hammer drill as well as two 4.0Ah lithium-ion batteries. This kit is ready to tackle big things.
If you’re looking for a lighter-weight hammer drill for occasional use, consider the DCK286D2 kit with the DCD795 drill. This kit would be great for a pro who sometimes needs to drill masonry or metals.
Finally, if you want a great all-around drill to go with the impact driver, go with the DCK281D2 kit.