Tool Ratings

Hammering and impacting tools are the bread and butter of anyone working on motorized vehicles of any type – the various fasteners tend to get stuck in place after being exposed to the elements and being vibrated ceaselessly while the truck, car or motorcycle is bounding over the under-maintained roads and byways of the world. DeWALT has long led the way in professional grade tools, and the DeWALT DCK275L 18V XRP cordless hammer drill / driver and impact driver kit is continuing this tradition for today’s mechanics and those of us who regularly need to use quality impacting power tools.

The first part of the DeWALT DCK275L twin pack is the DeWALT DCD970 18V XRP cordless hammer drill, and it may be the tool used the most of these two. DeWALT’s little hammer drill uses a ½ inch self-tightening chuck which is powered by a high-power and highly-efficient motor which delivers 450 penetrating and fastening UWO (unit Watts out, a proprietary measure) to the job. It puts that power out via the DeWALT patented three-speed and all-metal transmission; those speeds are 0 – 500 RPM / 0 – 8500 IPM (impacts per minute), 0 – 1250 RPM / 0 – 21,250 IPM, and 0 – 2000 RPM / 0 – 34,000 IPM. A useful addition to this model is the LED work light integrated into the unit; seeing where the drill is drilling is good. The included 18-volt XRP nano-phosphate lithium-ion battery is a workhorse of a power supply and it can be recharged in just less than an hour. Designed as a flexible, lightweight – only 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg) - and well-balanced piece of equipment, the DeWALT DCD970 18V has both an ergonomic handgrip, trigger and 360° side-handle for supreme comfort and easy continued use.

Included in the DCK275L twin pack is the DeWALT DC827 18V XRP cordless impact driver which delivers 1330 inch-pounds of torque coupled with speeds of 0 to 2400 RPM and between 0 and 2700 IPM, so no job is too big for this tool. And, should the motor get weak, it is easy to replace the brushes in the frameless motor so to allow for a long lived piece of equipment. The very durable all-metal transmission is enclosed in a lightweight magnesium housing thus giving exceptional maneuverability and control – and it is an easy fit into tight spaces due to the rather small overall size. And, when the hand is wrapped around the rubber-coated ergonomic handle on the DeWALT DC827, the anti-kickback impact mechanism will protect it from harm. Again the XRP lithium-ion battery works well in this application. Total weight is only 3.7 pounds (1.7 kg).

DeWALT knows how to make a well-balanced, powerful and durable cordless power tool, and the two included with the DCK275L twin pack are all these and somewhat more. The DeWALT DCD970 XRP 18V ½ inch hammer drill is very flexible and its light weight and relatively tiny dimensions really make the tool feel like and extension of the user. The hammer part of the hammer drill is incredibly useful for getting into masonry and powering through any task which needs to be done. The battery is one of the more durable and longer lasting of its class, and the one-hour charger lives up to its name (and a little less – it can be quick). The DeWALT DC827 18V XRP cordless impact driver is a balanced and powerful tool which allows for easy control with any job. Its small size also helps it fit anywhere, its battery keeps it going and the comfortable grip lets the user keep using it. DeWALT’s DCK275L 18V cordless drill / driver twin pack is a good combination of two very useful power tools.

Purchasing the DeWALT DCK275L gets you the DeWALT DCD970 18V XRP cordless hammer drill, the DeWALT DC827 18V XRP cordless impact driver, two 18V XRP Lithium-ion batteries, the DeWALT Lithium-ion one-hour battery charger, and a handy hard plastic case or a heavy-duty contractor bag, depending on where you buy it. Suggested retail for the DeWALT DCK275L is US$750, but look around because it can be easily found for between $380 and $450.

Tool Rating: 4.7 of 5.0