Upgrade to a new drill and driver combo to make your work easier. Both of these kits from DeWalt contain a pro-quality hammer drill and an impact driver. Let’s look at them both to see which one will be the best for you.
DEWALT DCK290L2 20-Volt MAX Li-Ion 3.0 Ah Hammer Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit
The DCK290L2 kit comes with the DCD985 hammer drill and the DCF885 impact driver. Both are part of DeWalt’s 20V MAX lineup of power tools. They come with 3.0Ah capacity lithium-ion batteries and a charger.
Turn off the hammer function and use the DCD985 as a regular drill.It’s rated for 535 UWO(unit watts out of torque), so it can handle up to a 4” hole saw in wood and 1-3/8” hole saw in metal. It has a ½” all-metal ratcheting chuck with carbide inserts for better grip on bits. You can also use accessories like augers and sanding pads.
The variable-speed trigger gives you precise control in each gear of the 3-speed transmission. Low speed ranges from 0-575rpm, medium covers 0-1350rpm, and high speed is 0-2000rpm. There are 22 clutch settings plus the hammer drill function. You’ll want to hold 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.
The single 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 impact driver in this kit is the DCF885, the winner of the “Editor’s Choice Best Overall” in the 2014 Taunton Tool Guide. At 2.8 pounds (with the battery) and measuring only 5-1/2-inches back-to-front, this impact driver fits into tight places, but it won’t twist your wrist on tough jobs.
The motor has plenty of torque: with no load at 2800rpm it is ready to go with 117ft-lbs or 1400in-lbs and up to 3200ipm (impacts per minute). The ¼-inch hex chuck spring-loads with one hand, and accepts short 1-inch-long bits if needed.
The DCF885 has a pleasant-to-use design. It sports an ergonomic non-slip overmolded handle, and strategically placed rubber bumpers on the motor housing to keep the driver from sliding around when laid down. There are three LED lights on the driver’s chuck collar so it casts less shadow on your work area.
More features of the DCK290L2 Drill/Driver Kit
- DeWalt offers a 90-day money-back guarantee, 1-year free service contract, and 3-year limited warranty
- Tools come with two 3.0Ah lithium-ion batteries, charger, 360-degree rotatable side handle, one belt hook, and contractor bag
Dewalt DCK296P2 20V XR Brushless Hammerdrill& Impact Driver Combo Kit with (2) 5.0 Ah Batteries
DeWalt takes it up a notch with brushless motors in these two power tools. Like the other kit, the DCK296P2 contains a hammer drill and an impact driver, but both of these are brushless. This means they are more powerful, will run longer on a single charge, operate a little more quietly, and last longer overall.
To show you the difference, here’s one comparison. The DCF985 hammer drill in the other kit is rated for up to 2,000rpm and 34,000bpm. The DCF995 hammer drill in this kit has those same two specifications but has a considerably larger torque rating of 650 UWO (unit-watts-out). The brushless motor gives it more power.
The DCF995 hammer drill has a 3-speed all-metal transmission with 12 clutch settings plus the hammer function. It comes with a 360-degree rotatable auxiliary handle, and has an improved LED work light mounted at the foot instead of on the collar.
The DCF886 impact driver is the same story. It has similar specs to the driver described above, i.e. up to 3800rpm and 3200ipm. But it has a higher torque rating of 1500 inch-pounds. The brushless motor makes the difference.
This driver is also lighter, weighing just 2.1 pounds without the battery. The batteries included in this kit are 20V MAX XR 5.0Ah packs with a built-in-fuel gauge. That means you’ll get the longest runtime possible.
More features of the DCK296P2 Drill/Driver Kit
- DeWalt offers a 90-day money-back guarantee, 1-year free service contract, and 3-year limited warranty
- Tools come with two 5.0Ah lithium-ion batteries, charger, 360-degree rotatable side handle, two belt hooks, and kit box
Recommendation
Both of these kits contain impressively powerful tools that are a great value for the money.
If you are a professional who depends on a drill and driver to do your job, get the DCK296P2 kit with the brushless tools. The investment is worth it. You’ll have tools that last longer and run more efficiently, and you’ll get the best batteries available.
If you’re a professional or a homeowner who needs a drill (or occasionally a hammer drill) and driver to complete tasks (but it isn’t your full-time job to use them) consider getting the DCK290L2 kit.
Click here to purchase DEWALT DCK290L2 on Amazon!
Click here to purchase Dewalt DCK296P2 on Amazon!