Craftsman C3 XCP Heavy Duty Drill Review

Craftsman’s new heavy-duty drill/driver, previewed here a month ago, is the first C3 product designed to match the brand’s new XCP Li-ion battery technology.

Recent trademark registrations suggest that the XCP line will be expended to include many other cordless power tools, most notably impact drivers and wrenches at first.

We have been testing out the XCP drill/driver, and its performance earned it a spot on our 2012 Craftsman tool gift guide.

Power

465 in-lbs of torque, in a Craftsman drill. No, that’s not a typo. This is Craftsman’s most powerful cordless C3 drill/driver, and its torque specs place it high among other mid-range brands.

The XCP drill/driver’s torque rating is more than enough for all but the most demanding drilling and driving tasks. Need to drill large holes? No problem. Installing long screws and lag bolts? Piece of cake. Drilling and driving smaller holes and smaller fasteners? It can do that too.

Features and Ergonomics

Grip, Switches, and Settings

Although we tend to prefer thinner driver handles, the XCP drill gave us nothing to complain about. The bumpy rubbery texture allows for a very solid and secure grip, even with sweaty hands (don’t ask how we test this!).

The 2-speed selection switch is raised and lined with a grippy material, making it easy to toggle. The trigger and direction selector switches are as easily squeezed and pressed. We also liked how easy the clutch settings can be changed, although it clicks louder than we’re used to.

Chuck, Fuel Gauge, and LED

Although the single-sleeve chuck does not ratchet, it tightens securely and does not slip.

The battery’s built-in fuel gauge is a much appreciated feature, with light pipes on the stem of the battery pack indicating power levels via the C3 logos on the drill’s handle. This means you can read the fuel gauge in 3 different spots – via the gauge itself at the front of the battery pack and on opposite sides of the handle.

An LED worklight on the base of the drill/driver provides shadow-free illumination.

Conclusions

It is clear that Craftsman put a lot of thought and effort went into designing the new heavy-duty XCP drill/driver. The new drill is surprisingly powerful without being too heavy or unwieldy.

There is one thing we didn’t much care for – the built-in bubble level on the top rear of the tool. Either the bubble is too big or the fluid too viscous, because it moves and levels so slowly. We haven’t made up our minds yet about the little finger-separating nub on the handle. Thus far we don’t like it in theory but we don’t really notice it when using the drill.

The drill/driver delivers a lot of power and holds true to Craftsman’s heavy-duty claims, while being quite user-friendly and comfortable to use. We very highly recommend it to DIYers looking for greater performance than entry-level models can provide.

Even pros might appreciate some of the drill’s features, such as the all-metal chuck, convenient battery fuel gauge, and gloved-hand-friendly switches.

Buy Now(via Sears)

The price is right – $140 regularly and about $110 on sale. The kit comes with a charger and single XCP battery, but the drill also works with any other Craftsman C3 19.2V battery packs you might already have.

Thank you to Craftsman for providing the review sample unconditionally. Review samples are typically given away, donated, or retained for benchmark and comparison purposes.