DEWALT DCK265L & DCD760KL Lithuim Ion Drill and Driver
by Michael Kampen
DEWALT has released some new cordless tools based on their new Compact Lithium Ion batteries.
How often have you picked up your cordless drill or impact driver for a quick job only to find that the battery had lost its charge? This is typical of the older technology Ni-cad batteries that cordless tools have used as a power source for years. Equally annoying is the tendency for tool manufacturers to redesign their tools every time they bring out new battery technology. When upgrading to newer, better batteries, even if your drill, driver or saw was still in fine shape you essentially had to toss them and replace them with new ones that would accept the new batteries. If you were working as a professional, this was simply the cost of staying competitive, but for the casual user, this was financially unreasonable and in either case it certainly isn’t being environmentally responsible. These tools all run on electricity and the only reason the batteries were not compatible with older tools is that the manufacturers decided not to make them that way.
DeWALT has seen the light with the introduction of their new Compact Lithium Ion battery technology and these batteries are compatible with the existing line of 18-volt tools they have been producing since 1996.
Weight and size have always been the critical factors when choosing cordless tools and the battery has always been a substantial portion of the weight. DeWALT has addressed this with the introduction of their new compact Lithium Ion batteries. Weighing in at a mere 1 pound, these new batteries will charge in 30 minutes and retain their charge after sitting on the shelf for some time. T
he batteries include circuitry that promotes a longer cycle life while providing protection for the individual cells. The expected life cycle of the new Compact Lithium Ion batteries is 1000 charges and they can be charged with the yellow universal lithium ion charger that is compatible with DeWALT nickel cadmium and lithium ion batteries. The lower profile of these batteries results in a more compact tool making it easier to handle in tight or confined spaces.
The DCF826 is a compact, powerhouse of an impact driver. Weighing in at a mere 3.0 pounds with the battery installed and measuring in at 9” high, 5 5/8” long and 3 ½” wide at the battery (2 3/8” wide at the motor), the DCF826 is light and compact enough to use for extended periods of time without suffering excessive fatigue. This is ideal for cabinet makers, electricians, HVAC trades and others that regularly need to perform overhead fastening or drilling operations. Having worked as an electrician for many years, boxing out a house (installing the fixture, switch and receptacle boxes) can be a tiring operation with much of it performed with the drill/driver in an elevated position. Typically, the other electricians on my crew were always going for the high voltage Ni-cad products which meant they ended up using a powerful tool to drive 1” screws which proved tiresome after a short time.
With the new DeWALT Compact Lithium Ion batteries, you can now have all the power of the 18-volt drill with the weight more commonly associated with the 14-volt product. With the DCF826 delivering 1330 inch pounds of torque it has the power to tackle almost any driving application you will come across. When installing electrical service equipment, we often had to drive long 3- or 4-inch screws to fasten the equipment to structural members, and in the era before the impact driver, this meant stripping out a screw or two for every one that went in perfectly. This little annoyance has been relegated to the dustbin of history as an impact driver will not allow the bit to cam out of the fastener as it is being driven. I have driven hundreds of 4” Robertson screws with this driver and the head of each screw was still in as pristine condition after driving it flush with the surface of the material as it was when it came out of the box.
The DCD760 Drill Driver measures in at 8 1/8” long, 3 ½” wide at the battery (2 ½” at the motor) and 9 3/8” tall and tips the scales at 4 pounds. In use, the drill has performed without any problems, handling drilling tasks with ease. A speed switch on top of the drill allows you to select a high speed setting of 0-1,700 rpm for most drilling operations with smaller bits and a geared-down 0-500 rpm high torque setting you’ll need when using larger bits or hole saws. Both tools have an LED above the trigger that provides ample illumination to allow you to properly locate the bit/drill in low light situations.
By pulling the trigger switch just a little bit it is possible to activate the LED without spinning the motor, a feature that I have grown to appreciate.
Both the DCF826 and the DCD760 have a comfortable grip with a non slip soft rubber surface and fit comfortably in the hand. Initially I had thought the compact batteries might be the weak point of the system, but that has not been the case. While they haven't got the capacity of their larger heavier cousins, they have been able to keep up when I used them on several renovation projects recently. Both the drill and impact driver handled all driving and drilling tasks thrown at them with ease. The trigger operated smoothly on both; the tools feel solid and well built. If you are looking for a combo kit that will see you through your renovation and home improvement projects then the DCD760 and the DCK265L will fit the bill nicely.
We've added these to the list of tools on long term review and will post updates in the future.
Specifications
| Model | DCD7650KL | DCF826KL |
|---|---|---|
| Tool | Drill/Driver Kit | Impact Driver Kit |
| Volts | 18V | 18V |
| Chuck Type | 1/2" Single Sleeve, Plastic | n/a |
| Anvil Design | n/a | 1/4" quick Release |
| Max. Power | 350 UWO | 1,330 in-lbs of torque |
| Max. rpm | 0-500/0-1,700 | 0-2,400/0-2,700 |
| Weight w/battery | 4.0 lbs | 3.0 lbs |
| Height | 9.25" | 9" |
| Length | 8.2" | 5.75" |
| Cycle Life | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| Battery | Compact Lithium Ion | Compact Lithium Ion |
| Includes: | DCD760 Compact Lithium Ion Drill/Driver, Kit Box, (2) DC9181 Compact Lithium Ion Batteries and charger | DCF 826 Compact Lithium Ion Impact Driver, Kit Box, (2) DC9181 Compact Lithium Ion Batteries and charger |
| Warranty | 3 Year Limited Warranty - 1 Year Free Service - 90 Day Money Back Guarantee |
3 Year Limited Warranty - 1 Year Free Service - 90 Day Money Back Guarantee |
| Suggested Retail Price | $249.00 | $299.00 |
DeWALT Compact Lithium Ion Combo Kits
| Model | DCK265KL |
|---|---|
| Includes: | DCD760 Compact Lithium Ion Drill Driver, DCF826 Compact Lithium Ion Impact Driver, (2) DC9181 Compact Lithium Ion batteries and charger |
| Suggested Retail Price | $349.00 |