DeWalt Reviews

I am a full time drywall installer and have owned one of these screw guns for about 4 years. I use it in place of a corded gun so it gets used almost constantly. I have had it repaired several times (trigger&transmission) but it was relatively inexpensive when the amount of use I have gotten out of it is figured in. The only complaints I have is the slower speed and the need for a more adequate cooling system, otherwise I love this thing.

I bought this tool over a year ago. I work for a residetial remodeling company. We don't hang drywall on a daily basis. But we do it on most of the jobs we have. I have a corded screw gun, but most of the time it gets in the way. So I tried to find a cordless screw gun locally but I was unable to do so. I found Tool Crib while earching the web. I called them up and got the drill. I was pleasently surprised at how well the tool worked. I used it on a few jobs at work and was very pleased. I would recomed this tool to any one who does drywall, or any job that requires a corded driver drill.

I am a General Contracter in MD. I've owned several Dewalt drills. One old 12v was left on the driveway and run over by a Chevy Suburban and still runs beautifully. However the 18v is the opposite. We have gone through two batterys and was told at the dewalt center they wear out faster. At 14 months the clutch failed and I was told when replacing the clutch the chuck had to be replaced as well. The tool has cost me 250.00 excluding the purchase price. Using several drills on the jobsite the Big Panasonic eats the competition for lunch. The battery lasts 3 to 4 times as long. Better balance. Better tool.

Having done commercial AC for 2 years, this drill proved invaluable. Having used last year's equivalant Dewalt has improved greatly on a tried and true design. The 3 speed is useful as is now 3 batteries can be stored in the case(1 in the drill). The pistol grip is more useful than a T-grip as it applies in-line pressure. The workmanship was flawless as is the new 1/2 chuck. the new chuck with carbide teeth really does as promised and holds bits much better. The only downfall is the battery clip. Though never having a battery fall off it still seems a to loose for comfort. A tip:paint the battery and drill and off color. That's why I bought a new one, someone envied my old Dewalt more than I did.

I started out using Craftsman impact wrenches and then tried the Dewalt and never will use another product again. It has outperformed any other tool I have used. I am very interested in purchasing another one.

Saw a friend using this DeWalt impact wrench on his race car at the track. Made changing tires a breeze. I bought the reconditioned model... It's a little scuffed up, but functions perfectly. Would recommend it to others.

Bought in June 2005. REcip saw died today (jan 06) very limited use. Hopefully the other tools will last a bit longer. After reading other reviews not even going to bother trying to get replacement.

I had purchased a similar set recently and have had similar issues with the quality of dewalt products. I have dead batteries and switches that stick or click due to misalignment and a reciprocating saw that has now mutated to a 2 piece unit after a bout with 14 guage sheetmetal(needless to say there is no way to fix a broken screw for a feasible repair, the plastic body actually fractured!!)I have around 10 dewalt pieces with 18v batts. and am considering a full retreat from my existing armory and a milwaukee conversion. You know cut my losses for the future. Wake up R&D for Dewalt!!

Odd how that 1 guy kept getting bad batteries with corrosion problems? Mine has been flawless for almost 2 years. I love the versatility and no-nonsense torque and power of the tools. I bought this set to replace an old Makita which still runs.

I bought it after a contractor came to my house using the same kit. I tried it out and loved it. I ordered the set the next day and haven't regretted it. I've cut pipes and 2x4's, built a deck and interior framing. It's a great set of tools.

I've bought the drill through a hardware store. The first one got a stuck speed gear as described by other reviewers. So I exchanged for a second one. The second drill has excessive sparks in the motor and I returned it without hesitation. I'm going to try the Milwaukee as suggested by others.

I'm a contractor. I lift heavy things all day long, so I'm no 90lb weakling. But, I have to admit, I sold this tool after three months because I found it too heavy and cumbersome for all day use. The torque was adequate, but I find my 12v Porter Cable drill equally up to the task at a fraction of the weight. (Unfortunately, the chuck on the P/C drills are a total piece of crap, which is a whole other story!) Oh, this drill is fine for driving a few screws here and there, or the occasional heavy duty drilling tasks. But due to their weight and size, I now believe 18v drills in general are not versatile enough for professionals to use on a full day-to-day basis. In fact, many other contractors and builders I know have also dumped their 18v+ drills for lighter, smaller 12v and even 9.6v models. Plus, whenever I need a little extra power, I just pull out my 1/2" Milwaukee Hammer Drill, plug it in, and bombs away!!

Earlier I wrote that this drill broke after the warranty expired... Well, it didn't! Turns out I moved the clutch when drilling and it appeared that the gears gave out. All I had to do was turn the clutch back to one of the presets and all was good! I have used the heck out of this drill for drilling many holes and putting in many screws (drywall, shelving, etc.) and used it to build a playset for the kids. Battery life is very good and I love the fact that there is another battery. I am pleased with this drill & would buy it again. Now that I educated myself to the clutching mechanism, all is good!

Bought one on Sunday. Within 15 minutes of use it had eaten 4 belts. One jammed, took 30 minutes to clear. I read and re-read the instructions on tracking adjustments. Pretty simple it seemed, but it didn't work. No matter what, the belts migrated into the housing and were damaged in short order. Took it back the next day.

this sander is the cloud on my sunny day. I've owned Three I know. cool look. will not last for more than a week of heavy use. buy a porter cable. the first one died in an hour. the second finished the job. Three days and then sat for a few months. first week it came out. dead. replace it. still under warranty. next one dies 2 days later. don't buy unless you will only sand with it maybe 30 hours of your life. or you like needless trips to the store.

The sander performed well and met most of my expectations. However, the dust collection boot tended to slip off its mounting easily and required frequent reattachment. And the dust collection capability for coarse sanding is inadquate, leaving most of the sawdust on the floor beneath the sander. But, I didn't buy the sander for its dust collection capability. One trouble spot is the tracking adjustment. The mechanism seems to jam and once the tracking screw is tightened, it can't be released without forcing the roller back into position. Frequent applications of WD-40 seem to be helping. Otherwise, I am happy with the sander.

horriable slide.even worse blade(so called blade?) very cheap. i am insulted they would sell this as a real saw .and for $700 it is the worst tool i have ever bought. BUT dewalt did send me a refund.i guess as long as they stand by there hunk of junk saw they can get a 1 star rating

I have owned several Dewalt tools ALL of which have failed within one year. I am a tool freak so I buy many of them to use within the remodeling industry. DeWalt tools are colored yellow which means "CAUTION"!
I will never buy another DeWalt tool as long as Bosch, Porter-Cable, and Rigid are around. My Rigid miter saw works great!

I am very pleased with my saw. It was delivered quickly and not a thing wrong with it or the service i have recieved.

Horrible little drill!!!! No variable speed, no reverse!!!You better be perfect because god forbid you must back a screw out, no reverse. Hard to start screws w/o variable speed. I replaced this drill w/ bosch's 1132vsr rt. angle drill. I am happy with the bosch, it is head and shoulders above the dewalt. I gave the Dewalt to my father in-law.

I did a lot of looking around at medium right angle drills. The drawbacks on the Dewalt is no variable speed, and no reversing. So it may be prone to stripping screws, and now way to reverse them out when they do. Ouch. For straight drill of holes it is great.
If you have air around, and don't need to make large holes in 2x12s, the air driver Porter Cable is sweet. Has air pressure, to create torque and variable speed adjustments, and has reversing capabilities, and is the best price on the block.
My pick is the Makita 110 volt model. It has the largest amperage motor in the medium duty range, has variable speed, reversing, and an adjustable speed limiting dial, an LED light to illuminate your work, and is guaranteed to last the lifetime of the tool.
Next is the Bosch with a slightly weaker motor at 3.8 amps, and doesn't have the speed range of the Makita, even though it is at the same price. Nice overall tool though.
Then comes the Milwaukee 55 degree angle drill. Fine for additional leverage while drilling, but could be a problem for deeper access areas when making 90-degree applications. Especially important in crammed quarters, when you would have to swing the body out the additional 35 degrees to get a 90-degree angle.
Black and Decker makes a lightweight unit, and will suffice for the occasional weekend warrior.
The Dewalt unit, fills a niche, but is a very good example of getting what you pay for. If it were not for the no reversing, and no variable speed capabilities, and for making the paddle switch so long, that gets in the way, even when you don't want it to, makes the unit, strictly for those who are price conscious first, and tool conscious later.
Wake up and smell the Makita. :-)

I didn't pay close enough attention when I ordered this drill. I failed to notice that it was not variable speed or reversible. All I saw was that it was the cheapest one. OK, so make sure it does what you want. If it does what you want, it works fine! I really have no complaints about the drill as it is. It has plenty of torque. The keyed chuck is very good quality. The paddle switch works fine, and is made out of metal (I think it's cast aluminum.) The switch is long and it pivots sideways - the hinge is parallel to the body/motor. I can get a good working grip at several places along the body, or with the drill twisted around in my hand at a wide range of angles. I can't blame the drill for my mistake, and besides, it has served me well in a couple tight places inside walls and and between some hard to reach ceiling joists. It is pretty compact, which is definitely a benefit. If I had it to do again, I would buy the 12volt DeWalt right angle VSR drill that uses the same batteries as my regular DeWalt cordless drill. But now that I have this one, I'm all set! Oh, one more thing; notice that it does not come with any kind of case. It just comes in a DeWalt yellow box. That's not a big deal, unless you are expecting a case.

I used to recommend DeWalt products to everyone who would listen to me because the ergonomics are so superior. Lately, though, the quality has gotten so bad, I have a hard time doing that.
My suggestion is to skip all the reviews by people who just pulled it out of the box, and read the reviews by people who have used it for a while.
I bought the DW618PK through Amazon several years ago. After about the 10th use, the plastic spindle lock button broke. I didn't care too much because it was a pain to use, so I started using two wrenches instead.
Then, everything went into storage for 2 years (past the warranty period). Later, after about the 20th use, the motor died. It turns out that the magnetic ring on the armature fell apart (apparently, a common problem), but the pieces took out the windings on the armature, as well. I called a DeWalt repair shop for an estimate. They want $20 to tell me what's wrong and then there will be an hourly rate plus parts to repair it. Also, they are backed up for weeks with work. It will be about a month before they can get to it. It may cost as much as a new DW618 (for about $170 from Amazon), so I'm trying to decide if I should buy another brand, instead.
If it wasn't for the quality problems, I still like the ergonomics. The handgrips are comfortable and the dust collection on the plunge base is great - as is the detachable cord, the quick-release latch for the motor, and the centering tool used when changing the subbase. When it runs, the motor is a good, strong motor, and I especially like the ability to easily switch between 1/4" and 1/2" bits. The spindle lock could have been better designed and it is much easier to lock the bit in using two wrenches, instead. A real spindle lock would have been nice.
If ergonomics are important to you, then buy this one and cross your fingers. If you want reliability, look elsewhere.

Had this router for 3 years...used it on avg 3-4 days/week for moderate tasks. I thought overall it was a great tool until first, a bearing went bad, then about 6 months later the fan attached to the motor armature and the piece securing the collet to the body broke into pieces during a slight chamfer cut in clear, soft REDWOOD! It's going to be $100+ to fix it, and I, like another reviewer above, didn't know whether to have it repaired or buy a different tool. However, after reading the other negative reviews and reports of motor failure, I am convinced that this tool doesn't belong in a professional woodshop.

I purchased the 618PK (fixed & plunge base kit) two years ago. I researched all the comparable 2.25 hp models (porter cable, bosch, etc), and decided this was the best. I've used it a lot over the last two years, both free-hand and table mounted. I've had no complaints whatsoever...until two weekends ago. I had it in the table using a 3/8" round-over bit on 3/4" pine, and was using a middle speed RPM. After a few passes, the RPMs spiked up to an EXTREMELY high level. I shut the thing off and checked it out. I'm not sure what happened, or why, but now the thing only spins on a dangerously high RPM; variable speed control does not work anymore. The RPMs it does spin at is higher than the highest speed setting, so something is obviously wrong with it. I can't use it, because it is spinning too fast. My local DeWalt service center said they have a standard router repair fee; $102, regardless of what is wrong. I think that is very steep, considering it is probably just the brake/speed control that broke and not the actual motor itself. So now I have to decide whether I want to pay $102 to get it fixed, or buy a whole new router (with fixed base; DeWalt said I can't just buy the motor assembly) for $170...

But up until my speed adjustment broke, I loved this tool. Here are my thoughts:

POSITIVES:

- Without question the best ergonomics of any router out there. Handle base/width is wide and comfortable. On/off switch and speed control located at top of router and function smoothly.
- Plenty of power. I've used a large multi-profile bit on oak, and the motor had no problems.
- Comes with a wide opening base, and small opening base to fit standard guide templates (my new Porter Cable router doesn't have the template-sized base)
- 1/2" and 1/4" collets are included; very convenient.
- the power cord detaches from the motor assembly. This makes it much easier to mount/dismount the unit from my router table insert plate.

NEGATIVES:

- The micro-depth adjustment ring works well, but when clamping the base closed on the motor, it oftens knocks off the depth a little but, thus requiring a depth readjustment.
- I do like the sturdy feeling toggle switch that is used for on/off. However, it would be nice if they put the on/off within thumbs reach of one of the handles.
- My freakin' speed adjustment problem...

All in all, I think this is a great router. I am generally a DeWalt loyalist and I think most of their products are top notch (except I think the blades they give with most of their saw products are absolute garbage: DW744S table saw and 12" dual bevel compound miter saw; definitely upgrade to Forrest WWII and 12" Chopmaster). I'm not sure what to do about my busted router, but I replaced it with the Porter Cable 894 (which I haven't used yet). Porter Cable is arguably the best name in routers, but I originally opted for the DeWalt due to my satisfaction in all of their other products I have. The second time around, I had to say no to DeWalt and go with the Porter Cable.

I am building a log home and I purchased this tool anticapating driving hundreds of screws. Plywood sub floor; 1 1/2" spruce loft decking; 1 1/2" spruce roof decking and 5/4 " redwood exterior decking.
I started using the tool on the plywood subfloor using 1 1/2"
screws and started experiencing problems. About 1/2 of the screws only drove in about an inch. At this point I contacted the manufacturer's rep. and was sent replacement drive bits. Apparently the bits were only engaging part way into the screw heads and soon stripped. Replacing the bits after driving about a dozen screws helped a little though I soon ran out of bits. I then contacted the manufacturer and found them extremely helpful. They sent me a new driver and some more bits but this still did not solve the problems. I was still driving about 40 percent of the screws about half way and breaking about 10 percent of remaining screws. I finally gave up and drove the screws with my cordless drill.
This is the most frustrating power tool I have ever used and I have had over 45 years of woodworking experience.

I purchased this tool from and honest tool store owner. I asked him about the tool and he said "The pros won't use it". I bought it anyway. The interchangeable tips are made of metal (which I like) but they do not easily swap out (tight fit). When I changed the tip for the first job I had to tap in the right sized tip with a hammer. The depth guage adjustment is ok, but you need a screwdriver to loosen the adjusting wheel, not a big deal but I wish it had all adjustments by hand. Then I started using it to secure sheetrock to a ceiling. The first half dozen screws were butchered until I got the depth set right. Then the unit started working fine for about the next two dozen screws, countersink was good. Then the next screw came out sideways and the bit hopped off the screw. I figured no problem I'll keep pushing on....This happened to every single screw I tried for the next 100 of so screws. I took the unit apart and checked for jamming, piece of broken screw, anything that might make it act this way. I put it back together and still every screw came out sideways. I figured that I was probably one of those guys that just can't screw so I finished the job with my Dewalt drywall driver. The next day as luck would have it the Hilti rep was at a local Home Depot store with the full line of their products. They had a drywall driver model SF4000 available for try out with a with a sheet of drywall that had plywood backing. The Hilti unit looks to be mostly plastic so I was a bit leary...but I tested the heck out of the gun using several strips of screws and EVERY SINGLE SCREW was countesunk perfectly. You can adjust the tip on the Hilti unit for different size screws rather than replacing the tips, you can fine tune the depth setting by rotating a collar (no tools needed). Back at the job site the Hilti has worked perfect! Like I wished the quickdrive had worked. I wanted to try the quick drive for sub floor but so far the engineers here in San Jose, CA have refused to sign off on the use of screws for subfloor, they insist on nails even though quick drive says the screws are ICBO 5350 rated. I will try to determine what is wrong with this unit and get it fixed. But for drywall, I doubt I will touch anything other than the Hilti from now on.

I purchased the Quikdrive system for deck work, not so much for the speed but to keep off my knees. I was truly impressed with how easy it was to attach the extension and use. I drove an entire 12' X 20' deck with TREX decking in less than 80 minutes, that's 940 screws, including the time it took to keep the 1/8" spacing. Previously it took 5-6 hours. It never jammed, but did have 4 screws bend over when driving them, quickly fixed by straightening and driving them in with a cordless driver. I would highly recommend this driver, the time saved compensates for the higher cost of the screws.