Hitachi KC18DBFL 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Hammer Drill & Impact Driver Combo Kit Review

Professionals will love this kit. You don’t need to buy separate tools for your drilling, driving and wrenching solutions. This kit is designed to serve tradesmen, plumbers, in-house projects and workshops. This kit is a powerful combination of the Hitachi WH18DBFL Cordless Impact Driver, DV18DBFL Cordless Hammer Drill, pair of batteries, charger with fan cooling system, hard carrying case, and a double ended bit.

The combo kit is backed by staggering lifetime lithium ion tool and 2-years battery warranty. This kit seems promising but let find out if it is powerful, durable and equipped with latest features.

Ergonomic, Compact and Lightweight

The first looks of these tools are impressive. The ergonomic design keeps tool well balanced, so you can work longer fatigue free. The belt clip on both tools comes in handy. The brushless technology will completely change your drilling & driving experience with increased runtime and sturdiness. Lithium ion batteries not only hold the charge for months but also lightweight and run longer than traditional bulky NiCad batteries.

The Hitachi DV18DBFL Lithium Ion Hammer Drill operates at 18V and produces up to 440-in-lbs of torque. It is furnished with a 1/2″ ratcheting metal chuck which reduces bit slippage significantly. The clutch has 22+2 position settings. With the combination of high and low-speed settings, you can precisely adjust between speed and torque. The WH18DBFL brushless impact driver weighs only 3.5 lbs and yet delivers impact rate of up to 3200 BPM.

New Improved Components – Proven Performance

The amount of power these tools deliver is no less than the corded gears. If you are previously a Hitachi user, you will notice significant improvements like new brushless motor, precise gear shifting and the commercial grade chucks. The capacity of the hammer drill in concrete and steel is half an inch while it can penetrate wood one & half an inch.

The Hitachi hammer drill comes with dual speed settings. Both tools are equipped with VSR feature. Rotational speed depends on the amount of pressure you put on the trigger. The batteries slide in and out very nicely with the sound of click, but there is no fuel gauge on board. If you are used to this feature, you will have absolutely no idea of remaining charge and the gear can stop in the middle of the job.

Specs and features

• System: 18V
• Motor: brushless
• Battery Chemistry: Li-ion
• Chuck Size: ½ – inch (hammer drill) and ¼ – inch HEX (Impact driver)
• Clutch Type: Keyless metal ratcheting
• No Load Speed: 0-400/0-1500 RPM (hammer drill) & 0-2900 RPM (impact driver)
• Impact rate: 0-3200 BPM
• Battery Ah: 3.0
• Maximum Torque: 440-inch-pounds (hammer drill) & 1460-inch-pounds (impact driver)

Check Out this Full Review on the Best Hammer Drills

PROS

• Lightweight, compact and smart design
• Powerful and Durable tools
• Dual speed gearbox and high torque
• Hard carrying case included in the package
• Extended battery life
• Brushless motor

CONS

• No indicators or LED light
• Lacks battery gauge

Verdict

The Hitachi KC18DBFL 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Hammer Drill & Impact Driver combo offers one of the best and top of the line tools in the industry. Introduced since Oct 2013, this kit has the surprising rating of 4.5 out of 5.0 and hundreds of excellent reviews. You can speculate the performance and sturdiness of the hammer drill and impact driver by the company’s lifetime warranty of tools.

The battery gauge is not onboard, but the charger will indicate when batteries are full and the good thing is that you can swap batteries between the tools as per your needs. This kit is highly recommended for professionals and plumbers. If you have tons of in-house projects, don’t hold back to the end and this kit will not disappoint you if you keep tools with respect, clean and dry.