How to Drill a Hole in Concrete in 10 Seconds or Less?
For fast results, use a DeWalt hammer drill to sink a hole into concrete. These three drills aren’t picky. They can handle wood, metal, or masonry. The only tough part is choosing between them. Let’s look at all three to see which one is the best for you.
DEWALT DCD985L2 20-Volt MAX Li-Ion Premium 3.0 Ah Hammerdrill/Driver Kit
We’ll begin with the DCD985L2 drill kit. This is the lowest-power hammer drill out of the three in this review. But don’t skip ahead just yet. Compared to the average homeowner drill, this one is a beast. It’s rated for 450 unit watts out of torque, and it has a 3-speed transmission. If you only need a hammer drill occasionally, this could be the one for you. It does a fine job of drilling other materials like wood and metal.
Turn off the hammer function and use the DCD985 as a regular drill. It can handle up to a 4” hole saw in wood and 1-3/8” hole saw in metal. Since it has a ½” all-metal ratcheting chuck, you can use other accessories like wire brushes and sanding pads with it.
The variable-speed trigger gives you precise control in each gear. Low speed ranges from 0-600rpm, medium covers 0-1250rpm, and high speed is 0-2000rpm. There are 22 clutch settings plus the hammer drill function. You’ll want to use the side handle when you turn on the hammer action because it puts out up to 34,000bpm (blows per minute) in the highest gear. (If you think you will need more power and speed than this, check out the DCD996 described below.)
The LED work light mounted below the chuck turns on when you press the trigger. It has a 20-second delay to keep your work area illuminated while you grab the next bit. The light runs off the same battery as the drill itself. The kit includes two 20V MAX lithium-ion packs that are compatible with any other DeWalt 20V MAX power tool. They have their own built-in fuel gauge so you can always see how much charge is left.
More features of the DeWalt DCD985L2 Hammer Drill Kit
- In low gear, maximum of 9775bpm, second gear 22,950bpm, and high gear 34,000bpm
- DeWalt offers a 90-day money-back guarantee, 1-year free service contract, and 3-year limited warranty
- Comes with two 3.0Ah lithium-ion batteries, one-hour charger, 360-degree rotatable side handle, and hard plastic case
DEWALT DCD980L2 20-Volt Max Li-Ion Premium 3.0 Ah Drill Driver Kit
Let’s take it up a notch in power with the DCD980 drill. It’s rated for 535 unit-watts-out, which is a big step up from the DCD985. It also has a 3-speed transmission but it does not have a hammer function. That’s right—this is not a hammer drill. Oddly enough, it does come with a side handle. We’re sure you could use it to drill masonry with a carbide bit, it’s just not in the official specifications. Without the hammer feature, it will drill slower.
The DCD980’s maximum capacity in wood is a 4” hole saw, and a 1-3/8” hole saw in metal. Like the previous drill, you can use other accessories with it because it has a ½” all-metal ratcheting chuck. The variable-speed trigger and the 22 clutch settings make it easy to do precision work.
Like the DCD985, this drill has an LED work light mounted under the chuck. Release the trigger and it stays lit for another 20 seconds. This is helpful when you’re working in a dim area and need to find your next fastener.
The batteries included in this kit are part of the DeWalt 20V MAX lithium-ion lineup. They have a 4.0Ah capacity for longer runtime. You can also use any other 20V MAX lithium-ion battery with the DCD980 drill.
More features of the DeWalt DCD980L2 Drill Kit
- Low speed ranges from 0-600rpm, medium covers 0-1250rpm, and high speed is 0-2000rpm
- DeWalt offers a 90-day money-back guarantee, 1-year free service contract, and 3-year limited warranty
- Comes with two 4.0Ah lithium-ion batteries, one-hour charger, side handle, and hard plastic case
DEWALT DCD996P2 20V MAX* XR Lithium Ion Brushless 3-Speed Hammer Drill Kit
The DCD996 is the hammer drill you want if you’re drilling into masonry on a regular basis. This drill is the next best thing to a rotary hammer. It’s brand new on the market in 2016.
It’s rated for 820 unit-watts-out, and up to 2250rpm and 38,250bpm for rapid drilling in concrete and brick. What gives it such speed and power? It has a brushless motor. Brushless motors are more powerful for their size, more efficient, they don’t need maintenance, and they last longer than a regular motor. Contractors that depend on their power tools select ones with brushless motors. It’s a worthy investment because those tools go twice as long on a single charge, run cooler, and last for years.
Like the other two drills, the DCD996 has a 3-speed transmission. But DeWalt pared down the clutch settings to just twelve plus the hammer function. They also upgraded the ½” chuck to nitro-caburized metal with carbide inserts. In case you didn’t know, nitro-carburizing metal hardens it to better resist damage and corrosion. Gun manufacturers like Glock and Smith & Wesson use this process to finish parts for their pistols.
DeWalt also made the LED work light a lot better on this drill. First, it’s mounted in the foot so it won’t cast shadows while you work. Second, instead of only a 20-second delay, it has a programmable 20-minute shutdown. Finally, it can be used as a stand-alone spotlight, and you don’t even need to pull the trigger to use it. It runs off the 20V MAX battery packs included in this kit. They have a 5.0Ah capacity for the longest runtime possible between charges.
More features of the DeWalt DCD996P2 Hammer Drill Kit
- DeWalt offers a 90-day money-back guarantee, 1-year free service contract, and 3-year limited warranty
- Comes with two 5.0Ah lithium-ion batteries, charger, 360-degree rotatable side handle, belt hook, and hard plastic case
Recommendation
If you want a powerful drill for wood and metal, and possibly masonry, get the DCD980. It doesn’t have a hammer function but it does have a lot of power.
If you want to drill wood, metal, and masonry like brick and concrete, but won’t be depending on your drill for work every day, get the DCD985.
If you’re a professional who wants the best hammer drill for regular use, get the brand-new DCD996. It’s got the most power and speed of any DeWalt hammer drill and the kit comes with two of the largest capacity batteries they sell.
Click here to purchase DEWALT DCD980L2 on Amazon!
Click here to purchase DEWALT DCD985L2 on Amazon!
Click here to purchase DEWALT DCD996P2 on Amazon!