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A competitors product in the same price range has been used and abused for a month now and is going great. The chuck adjustment was terrible, the speed(transmission switch) would not stay locked in position and the final straw was the distinctive sound of metal on metal and a wisp of smoke. Just returning the drill is a long trip for me and we need tools that we can rely on. Given the number of great reviews this drill gets I am willing to accept that I got a lemon.
First. Sounds like Dewalt has some real quality control issues on this drill. Our work is often done way "off the paved road" for you Foxworthy fans. I have a workshop, barn and truck bed full of Dewalt tools and I would give every one of them a five or four rating.
I was not willing to take my chances on another. If you buy one hope you get one of the five star drills and not a one star like I did. But this drill was nothing but problems for me and I returned it. This was within the first five hours of use.
I can drill 3 holes in the time it takes others with gas augers to drill one hole. no startup and warmup. The best part of it is not having to carry a heavy gas drill around.
My expectations were based on other ice fisherman recommendations. I used an Beaver Bay 10" long adapter between the auger cutting head and the drill, but added a strap, just in case the auger pulled free of the drill (problem for some I talked to). I bought this cordless to use with a 6" Lazer ice Auger.
I found that I could drill about 10 - 15 holes on a charged battery, depending on the ice depth of 10 - 18 inches. I carry both batteries along and I keep them warm to get the maximum power and life. I was pleasantly surprised and satisfied with the results.
The Dewalt was able to handle the job easily.
minor detail but some small details are important. product was almost exactly what i wanted, dewalt 18v hammer/drill/driver was great and delivery prompt and better than expected delivery date. but as selling to international clients maxtool could/should disclose more information about battery charger input voltage (as australia is different to united states)output voltages mentioned in detals.
I ABUSE them pretty good. I'm not saying anyone should do more than it's rated for, but lets face it in real life sometimes things happen This is something every one should own, would probably last a lifetime for a moderate user.
My first one lasted about 4 years, until the body finally cracked and wouldn't hold the battery anymore. I STRONGLY recomend getting them service every year or so.
I do low voltage installations, I use this mostly for intercom/entry installations. Used a 2 1/2 hole saw through 2x4.OK get the idea.
Plus the 988 is compact enough to fit between joists w/ a 1" bit on it I have been on my own 7 years and am now on my 2nd one.
I have used it to drill 1/2 holes through new brick(I know go through the morter, but cant always do that) I have put 3/4 holes through cement block.
I give this tool the full 5 stars. With a good bit the drill powers through pretty effortlessly into the reinforced columns. The balance of the tool is great. It feels really well in your hand.
Lately I've been using it to drill mainly into insanely hard 40 year old structural concrete columns in a building and driving tapcon screws in. Having blown a few corded hammer drills over the last 15 years I finally decided to try a good cordless model to get rid of the irritating cord. It's by far the most versatile and best performing tool in my box. The keyless chuck saves so much time and grips bits as good as a keyed one. The battery life is very good. I can many times go a full day of extended usage without having to bother recharging.
The tool balance really makes it feel comfortable anyway regardless of the weight. Did some research and came upong this drill which seemed to pretty much offer anything you can possibly want in a cordless drill. This hammerdrill I have found can easily outperform even many corded hammer drills. Remember this is a hammer drill, NOT a rotary hammer. Finally, the reason I really bought this drill, the masonry performance. The 18v XRP battery should provide enough power to work reasonably continuously while the other is finished charging. Softer stuff like brick and blocks, it plows through with no sweat. If you need a cordless drill that can do everything and replace all others, this is the one.
I have not been dissapointed. The three speed transmission is very versatile and has as far as I can tell the highest RPM speed (2000rpm)for a cordless drill which is very useful for masonry applications. I would normally use a rotary hammer for this but rotary hammers tend to oversize holes so tapcons don't grips as well (or at all). I really don't know how I ever got along without this tool. A rotary hammer is far more powerful but is pretty useless for anything else as they are typically to large, heavy and too violenty powerfull for smaller work. Most cordless models only have slow and fast, and fast isn't that fast, pretty frustrating for masonry work. Its a little on the heavy side but pretty average and to be expected from a NiCD 18v drill. The middle speed (1450rpm) is great for when high speed and higher torque are needed such as hardwood, holesaws, etc and finally the slowest (450rpm) for maximum torque and driving.
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