As a contractor by weekdays and handyman around the house by weekends, I love writing reviews on power tools and decided it was time to check out the range of cordless drills. There is more to cordless drills than meets the eye so I took some time to really get into the details to find out the best one on the market today for the home handyman as well as for my professional jobs. My extensive research finally led me to the DeWALT DCD760KL 1/2-inch Lithium-Ion Cordless Drill.
What to Look for When You Are On The Market?
Based on my extensive experience using power tools, there are a few important elements to keep in mind when looking for cordless drill. These are:
- Battery Voltage
- Battery Types and Technology
- Overall Weight
- Speed Range and Torque
- Chuck Size
- Any additional features that will make us more efficient to finish our jobs
If you just buy a tool based on the price alone, or based on the nice look or color, then soon you are destined for trouble particularly if you are going to be using the cordless drill on a regular basis. So stick with me here as I will be explaining each of those elements in relation to the DeWALT DCD760KL Cordless Drill.
What Battery Voltage? What Type and Technology used?
Cordless tools powered by battery. Hence, one of the most important components of a cordless tools is the battery itself, what voltage the battery is, what type of battery and technology the manufacturer implemented on their battery products. The first element is the battery voltage. And the greater the volts the faster the motor spins and therefore the more powerful the drill.
DeWALT DCD760KL powered by new 18-Volt compact Lithium-Ion batteries for top notch charging and long life battery usage. Lithium-Ion battery considered one of the best for cordless drill use. Compared to old technology of NiCad batteries which are commonly used in older models, Lithium-Ion batteries last longer and are lighter too. They also have a quick recharging characteristics so you can get back to your job much quicker. The Compact Lithium-Ion batteries will quickly charge in just 30 minutes and you are ready to go. DeWALT include not only 1 but 2 (two) batteries for longer runtime. This batteries are amazingly provide back compatibility with any of the existing battery system of DeWALT 18-Volt power tools produced since 1996, which is really big saving in case you already have other DeWALT cordless tools. With 2 (two) Lithium-Ion batteries in the package and super quick charger, you will experience very minimal downtime for your project.
Power VS Weight
As mentioned earlier, this DeWALT DCD760KL use high power 18-Volt batteries, and it does have a downside that generally the more volts you have the heavier the battery and therefore the heavier the drill will be. So you need to keep this in mind when choosing a drill. Think about whether you will be using it for long periods. If so, you don’t want anything too heavy – you will really be feeling it by the end of the day.
This DeWALT DCD760KL is powered by 18-Volt battery, making it so powerful but amazingly lightweight at just 4.0 lbs, so that it won’t put undue pressure on your wrist. You’ll thank it by end of the day or after a long jobs.
Speed Range and Torque
DeWalt DCD760KL offers the convenience of a Dual Speed Ranges of 0-500 and 0-1,700 RPM (Rotations Per Minute) for optimal versatility. Use lower speed for driving screws while higher speed for drilling holes. DeWalt DCD760KL equipped with 17 clutch settings! That’s a lot of settings to serve you for various projects. Most cordless drills have a clutch setting to limit the torque for different jobs. Located immediately behind the chuck, the clutch (an internal mechanism) will disengage the drive shaft of the drill and make a clicking sound when a preset level of resistance is reached. This will prevent not stripping screws and at the same time protects your drill’s motor. As a basic reference, better drills tend to have more clutch settings.
What is 1/2-Inch Chuck Size?
Drills on the market typically available in one of two different-sized chucks, 3/8-inch or 1/2-inch. These measurements refer to the largest drill bit shank the chuck can accept. Generally most drills have 3/8-inch chuck but this DeWalt DCD760KL has a 1/2-inch chuck, meaning that it can be used with 1/2 inch drill bits, offering greater flexibility.
Any Additional Features?
Additional nice feature is LED Work Light which provides increased visibility in confined spaces and dark areas.
What Warranty Provided?
Buying DeWALT DCD760KL Cordless Drill is a risk-free business. It’s backed by a limited three-year warranty, 90-day money-back guarantee, one-year free service contract, and two-year free service contract on the batteries.
What’s Included In The Package?
- DCD760KL Cordless Drill/Driver
- 2 (two) Compact Lithium-Ion Batteries
- 30-minute yellow top Lithium/NiCad Charger (meaning it can be used to charge NiCad battery as well)
- Heavy-Duty Carrying Case