Hitachi offers a great bargain for those of us who want pro tools at a reasonable price. Let’s check out these two drill and impact driver kits to see which one will be the best for you.
Hitachi KC18DGL 18V Lithium Ion Driver Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit
The Hitachi KC18DGL kit offers a drill and driver combo. These tools are a great deal for tasks around the house or general-duty jobs at work.
The DS18DGL drill has up to 400 inch-pounds of torque, a little less power than the DS18DSAL drill described below. It has 22 clutch settings, plus one designated specifically for drilling. The metal keyless ratcheting chuck accepts ½” shank bits and accessories like hole saws. The drill weighs just 3.7 pounds and comes with a built-in LED work light.
The WH18DGL impact driver weighs only 3.1 pounds, less than the driver in the kit below. It offers up to 1280 inch-pounds of torque, at speeds up to 2400rpm, and 3200bpm (blows per minute). That will help you take care of lags, screws, and carriage bolts in a hurry. It also has a built-in LED work light.
Both of these tools run on the included 18V lithium-ion battery packs that recharge in under an hour. If you haven’t tried Li-ion batteries yet, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by their light weight and long runtime. You don’t need to wait until they’re empty to refill them. Top them off on your break; you won’t reduce their capacity. Just protect them from extreme heat so they last as long as possible for you.
More features of the Hitachi KC18DGL kit
- Hitachi offers a lifetime lithium-ion tool warranty on the drill, 2-year warranty on the batteries in this kit, and a 1-year warranty on the charger
- Comes with drill, driver, two battery packs, 40-minute charger, double-ended Phillips bit, and carrying bag
Hitachi KC18DHL 18-Volt Lithium-Ion 3-Tool Combo Kit
The Hitachi KC18DHL kit hits the sweet spot with a drill, a driver, and a flashlight, all powered by lithium-ion battery packs.
First, the WH18DSAL ¼” impact driver offers up to 1280 inch-pounds of torque and 2600rpm to make driving lags a breeze. The 1/4” chuck accepts hex shank bits only, but they swap out quickly. Just pull back the sleeve and pop in the new bit. Underneath the quick change chuck is an LED work light that turns on when you press the trigger. The driver weighs 3.3 pounds and has a shorter barrel than the DS18DSAL drill.
The Hitachi DS18DSAL drillwon a “Best Buy” award in 2012, and continues to receive positive reviews from both pros and homeowners. It’s compact and lightweight for the 460 inch-pounds of torque it has. Italso weighs just 3.3 pounds and measures only 7.7-inches front to back. The balanced feel and rubbery grip make it pleasant to use.
The drill’s 2-speed transmission and variable-speed trigger control up to 1500rpm. There are 22 clutch settings to choose from, plus 1 specifically for drilling.
The ratcheting keyless metal chuck accepts ½-inch bits so you can use a wide variety of accessories like sanding pads with the DS18DSAL. The single LED light just below the chuck helps illuminate your work area.
The UB18DAL flashlight with incandescent bulb will also help light up your work space. It has a 5-position moveable head and stands independently on its foot. With the 18V 1.5Ah batteries in the kit, it will run for several hours before it needs a recharge.
More features of the Hitachi KC18DHL kit
- Hitachi offers a lifetime lithium-ion tool warranty on the drill and a 2-year warranty on the battery packs in this kit
- Comes with drill, driver, flashlight, two 1.5Ah battery packs, 40-minute charger, double-ended Phillips bit, and carrying case
- The motor brushes are easy to access for maintenance
Recommendation
Both of these kits are an inexpensive way to get a drill and driver combo kit for general-duty tasks.
If you’re a pro who needs more power and speed, get the KC18DHL combo kit. It also contains a stand-alone flashlight.
If you’re a homeowner or someone who loves to tackle projects themselves, get either kit for a pleasant upgrade from corded tools, or from older Ni-Cad battery models. You might save a little money with the KC18DGL kit without the flashlight.
Click here to purchase Hitachi KC18DGL on Amazon!