Archived from the Tools In Action forum (Power Tools). This thread is read-only.
I’ve been an amateur woodworker for about 4 years now. I pay a monthly fee to be a member of a fully equipped woodshop space. Recently, I bought a home with a large wired up back shed / garage – that I plan on making a woodshop of my own one day. Since I’ve always lived in apartments – I haven’t really acquired many tools of my own. The first thing up is a cordless drill/driver set.
I need something that meets my needs now and hopefully into the future. What I’d need it for now is woodworking (drilling into hardwoods etc) and DIY projects – building patio furniture, fence boards, planter boxes etc. Future – maybe some renovation work (we’ve got a bathroom and downstairs basement that need an overhaul).
The shop I go to uses Ridgid drills/drivers exclusively, mid range, they’re decent enough – hold up to abuse, but sometimes show their limitations and stall out while drilling with spade bits etc. You can only push them so far.
I’ve done research, and am considering two options – a Dewalt compact XR MAX set, DCD796 hammer drill and DCF887 impact driver. I like the size and weight in hand. Comes with 2 2ah XR batteries – $300 CAD.
Also, a step up in size, Dewalt XR MAX DCD996 hammer drill and DCF887 impact. Comes with 2 4ah XR batteries – $360 CAD. I’ve used the 996 before, neighbour has one, its got some serious oomph, but larger in hand – not bad though.
And finally, the new Dewalt DCD999 hammer drill with DCF887 impact. Comes with one 6ah Flexvolt battery and fast charger and one 2ah XR battery. – $400 CAD. I’m not sure if someone like me needs the extra Flexvolt battery power, but its a nice to have and seems to be the future of Dewalt tool lineup.
I don’t work in the trades and don’t really need a drill to stand up to that level of daily punishment or requirements. I like the idea of larger batteries for the possibility of moving into other cordless yard tools like string trimmers etc – since I need those now as a homeowner. Maybe a circular or recip saw down the road. However, the compact is really nice and lightweight with – from what I understand – a decent amount of power. But for just $60 more you get a fair amount more with 2 4ah batteries. Or for a $100 more, the Flexvolt.
Any thoughts?
If it’s in your budget, why not. But the primary thing a DIY person should keep in mind is, many of these otherwise pro-level companies will frequently have great deals for their “entry” products, but you will pay more for other things as you get further in. You can easily find combo kits with a drill or impact driver with a battery and charger for $100 or so from just about any company. But then you need to watch out for how much everything after will cost. Going full-bore into Dewalt, Milwaukee, or Makita can cost two to three times what it costs to get Ryobi in the final tally. And if you admit you’re basically fully DIY, do you really need whatever perks it is you’re looking for buying into the pro-brand?
I’m a DIY guy too, and my main platform is one of the “Big 3”. I feel there’s justification for me because I get better accuracy with the company I chose for the projects I do. Were it not for that one specific need I would have just gotten Ryobi, and would have been more than happy with it for the relatively humble size/volume of projects I do. I would recommend looking at the most expensive tools you foresee yourself getting, compare what they look like for the different platforms you are interested in, and let that guide your decision.
I also feel like the range of options has blown up for DIY people in the last few years. The proliferation of brushless motors and lithium batteries means DIY-priced tools perform closer to pro level than ever before, and despite all the cynicism everything being made in China has also allowed these ranges to expand at unprecedented speeds. I would take a hard look at ranges like Kobalt, Craftsman, and of course Ryobi.
Craftsman might be particularly appealing for someone such as yourself, as they like Dewalt are owned by Stanley/Black&Decker, and a number of their tools appear to basically be Dewalt tools with mild parts downgrades that allow them to sell for less.
You mentioned diy but also woodworking. If your going into woodworking you might want to look into multichuck drills like the m12 instalation driver, Bosch Flexiclick, Festools, etc. If you get into larger tools, that Flexvolt kit will be a great option because you can use the battery to power the more powerful tools. I would look into other brands in addition to the DeWALT kits you mentioned.