DEWALT DCD940KX 18 Volt 1 2 Inch XRP Drill Driver

DEWALT DCD940KX 18 Volt 1 2 Inch XRP Drill Driver
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Drills change and with lithium-ion batteries it is a whole new ballgame. A serious downside to lithium-ion that all the manufacturers avoid talking about is their tendency to have a runaway reaction that can end in fire as with the Dell laptop batteries that had to be recalled. All the drill manufactures put protective circuitry into their battery packs to prevent this from happening but this also impacts drill performance, often severely. Where it is most felt is with high torque drilling which is where in the past people wisely turned to a corded drill. The one exception I have found are the new DeWalt DCD940 and DCD970 drills.

The DeWalt drills really live up to their specifications better than any other drill we use which includes the Milwaukee 2611 and the Makita BDF451 18 volt lithium-ion drills. A lot of the credit goes to the 3-speed gearbox and the speed selections it provides. Every other drill manufacturer except Ridgid provide only 2-speed ranges and the lower the drill power the more you need more speed options with the lithium batteries to minimize shutdown problems. I can make any other drill stall out and drain their battery in minutes except for the DeWalt drills and to a lesser degree the Milwaukee 2611 (just need to not jump on it but gradually increase drilling speed).

After the initial charging of the batteries the recharge is as fast as any battery including the Makita 3Ah batteries. Makita batteries charge in 30 minutes as advertised but in the user manual Makita advises users to leave the battery in the charger for an additional 60 minutes to cool it down. Makita may be overly cautious but it points the the faster charging times probably causing damage and shortening the life of lithium-ion cartridges.

The keyless drill chuck on the DeWalt drills is the only one that never loosens up while drilling whether using a very small drill bit or a very large hole cutter. The first few times I used the drill I had to use pliers to loosen the chuck but after that it was as easy to loosen as other chucks but the self-tightening design works great.

Something that is not obvious from the review where it is never mentioned or the pictures is what happens when you use both hands to hold the drill which is something everyone does at times. The DeWalt drills are the only ones that have large side slots on both sides but not the back. When you press down on the drill your hand does not covered the cooling vents the way it does on every Makita and Milwaukee drill. Over time the drill motor should have fewer problems as it is not getting cooked when used in tough drilling where the natural tendency is to use both hands on the drill (drilling in metal or using a bi-metal hole saw for example).

The side handle is also a good feature as it can be attached and positioned where it will provide the most leverage for your other hand. With Ridgid and Milwaukee the side handle has to stick straight out and this is not nearly as good a setup. There is no way to attach a drilling depth stop rod like some Makita and DeWalt drills which is unfortunate as this is a very handy feature when drilling holes for anchors in masonry.

There is an internal brake that stops the drill very quickly but with a loud clank which is a little worrisome. It does work very well and the warranty is good and DeWalt has an excellent service record so it is not likely to be a problem.

The drill is rated in watts which is not unusual in general for some items but it is unusual for drills that are usually rated in inch pounds of torque. The power that the motor provides to the drill bit or hole saw is greater than with the Makita BDF454 and even the excellent Milwaukee 2611 drill (which lacks a 3-speed gearbox and has an over sensitive battery protection scheme). It is the go to drill for demanding jobs. I routinely cut 6-1/4" holes in siding and even 1" subflooring using Blue Boar TCT hole cutters which are the only hole cutter to use with cordless drills.

Batteries charge quickly and take no more time than those from Makita and less time than the ones from Milwaukee on their chargers. This is neither good nor bad as faster charging is likely to reduce the number of charge cycles before the battery fails. Even Makita which brags about its quick charge times of 30 minutes for its 3 Ah batteries neglects to mention that in its own user manuals it recommends leaving the battery for an additional 60 minutes on the charge to cool it down. The big difference is between the half size batteries and the full size ones. The half size have been an easy way to get the weight down for their drills but in my experience the 1/2 size batteries not only last not even close to half as long they also drain much faster and poop out with tough drilling where a lot of drill torque is involved. I have found myself completely draining a 1/2 size battery after a single large hole in OSB or MDF. For light drilling or screw driving the 1/2 size batteries are OK but when you want to buy a couple full size batteries later the cost is nearly as much as a kit that has a drill and two batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries hold their charge a long time which is great for occasional use and they are a little bit lighter than NiCad batteries with the same rating though not by a lot. Overall drill weight is decreased by only 15% on average which is not cause to break out the band. A less desirable trait is that lithium-ion cells can have a runaway reaction if subjected to too great a current draw and so all the tool manufacturers with lithium-ion battery packs use a protective circuit to protect the battery and the user. If the maximum theoretical power of the drill motor were able to be used the battery might overload and catch fire so this theoretical load is not allowed to take place. The bottom line is that the drill motor will lose power dozens of time per minute with demanding applications and actual drilling time can double for high torque jobs. Two ways to minimize the problem are to get a drill with a 3-speed gearbox and the second is to get a higher rated drill than you think you will ever need. 450 inch pound rated drills with NiCad batteries perform better than 450 inch pound drills with lithium-ion batteries and it is a good idea to replace your 450 rated NiCad drill with a 550 to 650 rated drill that will be using lithium-ion batteries.

The choice of hole cutter is the single greatest factor in either drilling holes you might have thought much too big for a light weight cordless drill like the DCD970 and in how much of the battery charge is consumed per hole. With the usual 18 volt cordless drill with lithium-ion batteries the largest hole that can be drilled will be less than 2 inches in diameter using a bi-metal cordless hole saw, self-feed drill bit, or auger. Use one of the modern hole saws with the big teeth and large slots in the sides and it is practical to cut holes 5 inches in diameter with the same drill even in tough materials like , MDF, OSB, brick, and stucco. I also can get through an entire day of hole cutting and drilling with a single battery with my Blue Boar TCT hole cutters and now only take along the one spare battery that came with the DCD940 kit.

BLUE BOAR TUH12 -12 Piece Super Duty Tungsten Carbide Hole Saw kit - 2-1/4"Cut Depth. Cut 10x as fast and use 1/40th battery charge. Cordless Drills can cut holes 3x as large as with bi-metal hole saws. Deep side gullets for fast plug removal

The LED is a feature that one quickly comes to appreciate and I would have a hard time buying a cordless drill without the light. Often when drilling in attics or crawspaces or even inside cabinets the LED light is great to have to see where you want to drill or to see the top of a screw I want to drive.

One thing that could stand improvement is the kit's case which is strong enough but lacks the special recesses like the great Milwaukee cases. It also has no place to put a drill set or other drilling items.

If I had to pick one drill to do everything, even take the place of my stud drill, it would be either this DeWalt DCD940 or the hammer version, the DCD970. That it sells for a lot less than other top tier drills is just icing on the cake - just use the money you save to replace your hole saws with modern hole cutters. Comparing this drill to the popular Makita drills is like comparing a jeep to a Miata sports car. The Miata looks sleek but the jeep will take you a lot more places.

If you only need a lightweight cordless drill most of the time for light drilling and screw driving a 12 volt cordless along with a 3/8 or 1/2 inch corded drill may be a better solution for the average DIY person. For me the ability to grab the DCD940 and know I don't have to worry about the last time its charge was topped off and know that it is going to make whatever hole or drive as many screws as needed makes it my favorite drill.