Tool Ratings

Cordless power drills have revolutionized the business of construction, the life of the skilled craftsman, and even the average, everyday do-it-yourself handyman. It is now a common site at home improvement stores, department stores and big box retailers everywhere. One of the top brands in the industry is the world-famous DeWALT; a big enough manufacturer to sell their wares on every inhabited continent. The DeWALT DC720KA is one of their more popular models, and it is what we will be looking at here.

The specification for the DeWALT DC720KA has it as an 18-volt cordless ½” (13 mm) compact drill/driver. It comes fully equipped with a plastic storage case, a one-hour battery charger, two 18-volt NiCad batteries, and the DC720KA drill itself. That last piece is a well-balanced, well-regarded design which can push speeds up to 1700 RPM – above average – and outputs up to 410 unit watts – a DeWALT proprietary measure, but a little low - with help from an all-metal drivetrain; DeWALT even put in a (now common) LED work-light. With all that on the menu, the DeWALT DC720KA only weighs in at 4.8 pounds (2.18 kg) and is reliably backed with a three-year warranty.

Simply looking through the details of the DeWALT DC720KA is enough to see that this tool is built for professional-level workloads; you buy this drill to use and use often. Though it does have the speed, its power is a bit light compared to some competitors, but it still does its job very well – exceptionally well, actually. The DC720KA’s grips are comfortable even for a long day working in New Orleans, and its compact shape/design allows some flexibility beyond others in its class.

If there is one problem with the DeWALT DC720KA, it would have to be the NiCad batteries that come with the kit; they do not last as long as others in this category. In fact, experience and some reports substantiate a 10 ~ 15% shorter charge life than most. If you find a good deal on the kit, see if you can also get a good deal on one of the DeWALT Lithium-Ion battery types available. Of course, if you will not be out of range of an electricity source, you can easily keep one battery charging while using the other, and then switch them out when necessary.

The DeWALT DC720KA cordless drill/driver kit is a highly rated drill by many users online and off – professional and not so – and you can see them at work all around you, if you look. Even with a minor flaw like the included battery, this drill/driver still manages to deliver a very solid and reliable performance against many costing much more.

The DeWALT DC720KA Cordless Drill Kit has a suggested retail of US$390, but they are widely available for around $200 at major retail outlets everywhere.

Tool Rating: 4.8 of 5.0