This is my third attempt at owning a compact drill/driver kit--I've owned the Bosch 10.8V and Milwaukee M12 combo kits previously and borrowed my tile setters Makita 10.8v kit, with the cool anvil type case, on lots of jobs. The Bosch and Makita have their place, but not in my lineup and the Milwaukee disappointed me so badly, I have realized they are not the manufactured they used to be, and I will most likely never buy a new Milwaukee tool again.
When I bought my first compact kit, I was hoping to find a drill that was light, easy on the shoulder (if you've ever tried to use an 18v XRP drill with a fully extended arm and your older than 24, you know what I'm saying) and small enough to navigate in tight places. I needed a drill for doing trim outs, removing appliances, installing fixtures and just general light duty work.
The problem a professional contractor will soon discover, these small drivers/impactors are so convenient and easy to use; you will start pushing them to their limit quickly and get frustrated with the lack of power.
The key to being successful with one of the small kits, you have to recognize they will not and cannot compete with the 18v tools, and none of the compact driver kits I have owned will drive 3" screws successfully (I typically screw my framing on small remodels and basement build outs, so I have a bit of experience here).
This DeWalt kit has the best power and balance combination of the kits I've used. It will not fit into as tight of a spot as the Bosch and Makita, but it has the minimum power this contractor can live with.
I have used the DeWalt on two jobs this month.
I installed new kitchen cabinets (20 boxes) and absolutely enjoyed using the impact driver for driving the wall screws and the drill for the drilling and screwing the boxes together, and I'm absolutely positive, using the drill to install the hardware will be a joy.
Also, I just completed the demo and electrical rough in on a small remodel and I found myself reaching for the 12v more than the 18v.
My only real complaint, there is no bit storage on the tool. You don't realize what you've got till it's gone :)
You won't use these for framing, and cant drill tile and concrete or set Tapcons(no rotohammer setting), but for lighter work, this set is awesome.
Quick charge time, descent power and compact design gives this tool a permanent spot in my tool trailer.
This DeWalt kit is the best of what I've owned and used to date. DEWALT DCK210S2 12-Volt Max Screwdriver / Impact Driver Combo Kit
I just bought this drill and was debating with this one or the Makita LCT203W 10.8-Volt Compact Lithium-Ion Two-Piece Combo Kit.
I was able to test both before buying and could see the pro's and con's in each model.
I was a little hesitant with the DeWalt because it is new and there were very few reviews on it.
First off the main comparisons:
Weight:
DeWalt weights slightly more than the makita. I believe it is 2.2lbs vs makita 1.9lbs.
But believe me that is not the critical factor. What makes the difference is that the DeWalt is better balanced.
The top and bottom is balanced vs makita which has all the weight in the head. Some may think that is not a factor,
but when you drill something upside down the makita will give you more fatigue over time. Also sideways drilling
will be easier using a well balanced unit like the DeWalt.
Shape:
Again because of the shape this allows the DeWalt to be better balanced. It has the traditional drill shape with
the battery at the base. Drilling with the drill parallel to the ground is easy because the hand is balanced. Makita
is top heavy so you tend to tilt your hand and compensate for the weight distribution. Finally the Makita has the
battery in the grip. This makes the grip much larger than the DeWalt. For some people with big hands this may not be
a problem. But for others with smaller hands the DeWalt will feel much more comfortable. The pistol grip of the DeWalt
feels more natural to me rather than the round stubby grip of the Makita.
Size:
The Makita is slightly smaller and takes less room. However the DeWalt has a flat bottom which allows for the drill to
stand on its base. I found it is easier to pick up a drill when it is standing upright. For example if you are standing up
and the drill is laying on the ground it would be much easier to crouch and grab a drill standing straight up rather than one
laying on its side. Although the Makita can headstand, it is very top heavy and can be easily tipped over.
Power:
The DeWalt claims to be 12v, but this is misleading because under a workload, nominal voltage is 10.8.
Makita - 2-speed design
0-350 / 0-1,300 RPM
DeWalt - No Low Speed
0-1,050rpm
Makita Impact (Variable speed)
0-2,400 RPM for a wide range of fastening application
800 in.lbs. Max Torque
DeWalt Impact
0-2,450rpm
950in-lbs Max Torque
So as you can see the Makita drill is actually better than the DeWalt because of the 2-speed and RPM range.
The DeWalt Impact has more Max Torque.
I found it easier to feather the DeWalt. The trigger seemed more sensitive allowing me to slowly drill or quickly.
While the Makita felt a less sensitive and took more concentration to feather the trigger.
Looks:
Personally I like the DeWalt look. I may be biased because I own DeWalt and not Makita. But also I like the bright yellow colors.
It makes it easier to find the drill and it looks like a construction working tool. The white is nice, but I would guess it would
get dirty quite easy with dirty hands. I also like the DeWalt because it looks like a mini-drill. While the Makita looks like a
hobby or back-up drill.
LED Light:
The Makita has 1-LED and the DeWalt has 3-LED. I much prefer the 3-LED because it is way brighter. However one downfall is that you cannot turn off the light on either drills. Sometimes you just don't need it or want the light. The DeWalt also uses a type of CREE LED rather than a standard LED. This is way brighter and hurts your eyes if you look at it directly.
Accessories:
The DeWalt has a nice belt clip that you can add or detach. This is nice to hang off your pants or tool belt. But it also makes it slightly more bulky.
Finally the one and only major downfall of the DeWalt is the packaging. I own quite a few DeWalts and they always came in a hard black plastic case. DeWalt finally decided to skimp and just include a cloth bag. That was a major letdown because I think all good
tools should have a strong storage case. The Makita comes in a really cool looking silver case. Looks great and functions great. It
is a little big for the drills, but better than nothing. DeWalt needs to step up and include their plastic cases.
Improvements:
With all new products there is always room for improvement. The DeWalt should have an on-off light switch. It also needs a magnetic or clip holder for extra bits. That was a major disappointment that there was no place to hold extra bits. Finally I understand the impact driver is for pre-sized bits, but it would be nice to allow attachments to allow a head which accepts larger bits.
Hopefully this review was helpful. My vote goes to DeWalt and that is what I ended up buying. - Cordless Tools - Impact Drivers - Power Tools - Awesome Tool'
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