Do you remember that Dewalt 20V Max DCD771C2 drill/driver kit that came out just before Black Friday and the 2013 winter holiday shopping season? It’s a little longer, heavier, less powerful, and slower than Dewalt’s compact DCD780 drill, and is bundled with slightly lower capacity batteries and a slower charger.
Dewalt recently took the DCD771, and bundled it into a new drill/driver and impact driver combo kit, model DCK240C2. The impact driver is DCF885, which is a decent model that has been around since Dewalt launched the 20V Max cordless power tool platform a few years ago.
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The new combo kit is priced at $199, which is a bit lower than the ~$229 DCK280C2 combo kit that comes with the better DCD780 drill/driver and same DCF885 impact driver.
Considering that the drill/driver was $99 over the holidays and the DCF885B bare-tool version of the impact driver is about $119, this looks to be a pretty good deal.
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Compare(DCK280C2 Kit via Amazon)
Another good option at the ~$200 price point is Milwaukee’s 2691-22 kit ($199 via Home Depot). The tools in Milwaukee’s combo are older designs, but the drill/driver doesn’t carry the stigma of being a “promotional” or “budget” model as the DCD771 included in Dewalt’s new combo. Still, if you’re looking for a pro-grade drill/driver and impact driver combo kit on a budget, and want to buy into Dewalt’s 20V Max Li-ion cordless tool platform, this is one of the best deals I’ve seen.
My feeling is that the price of this combo will come down a little bit ahead of Father’s Day, but we’ll have to wait a few weeks to see.
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Pablo
The whole multi-tiers of the same tool under the same brand drives me absolutely bananas.
Makita will change the colors (sometimes) to denote their entry level stuff, but DeWalt, Milwaukee, etc…all have multiple part numbers of the same tool, so you have to spend hours researching what you really want.
Why not create a separate brand that’s like DeWalt Lite?
Jerry
DeWalt, Porter Cable, Black & Decker are all under the same ownership. I’d have to agree, instead of speccing down a DW, why not go with Pc or BD? If only they’d all use each other 20v batteries interchangeably.
Stuart
Because it’s a winning formula for them. They previously sold a LOT of 18V NiCd drills every winter holiday shopping season, and then again around Father’s Day. So, for late 2013 and beyond they came out with a new Li-ion version.
It also allows for easier entry into the 20V Max lineup.
In theory, the bare-bones drill and this combo could potentially dilute Dewalt’s reputation with professional users. But if this was a realistic and great enough risk, they would have seen it with the 18V “consumer-model” drill.
Javier
For anyone considering buying this set, be informed that that it includes low capacity 1.3 ah batteries without fuel gauges and a “slow” charger with less features.
Just to give you an idea of charge times, it charges the included batteries in 60 min, 1.5 ah batteries in 70 min and 4.0 batteries for a little over 3 hours
I tried out the dcd771 and thought it was great for the price.
Stuart
Yup. All of the DCD771 drill’s features and specs are discussed in more detail in the original drill/driver post.
In the Home Depot listing for this kit, it says battery charging time is 45-minutes, so it’s possible they changed things up for this kit compared to the DCD771 drill-only kit.
Javier
I pulled those numbers from the dewalt instruction manuals so the charge times should be very close to what dewalt claims. I know for a fact the 1.3ah battery takes an hour to charge.
Also any one that has recently bought a dewalt 20v max product can see all of the charge times with each battery and charger
There’s a chart included in the manuals
Chris Fyfe
A Buddy of mine ( a locksmith ) won a set , He likes for service calls , and as a back up . Installation , not so much ( he uses a Milwaukee M28 ) .
Chris
JOSH GUHN
Ever since Milwaukee came out with M18 I dropped my dewalt tools. I was sick of the smoke and mirror options. I want the same tool to replace that comes in my combo kit. Also I have noticed that many of the 20Max tools are the same as the NiCad tools No innovation!!!!!!
Stuart
While not quite “smoke and mirrors,” I wasn’t all too pleased to discover that Dewalt’s combo kit saws were not as fully featured as the ones available in standalone kits or as bare tools. https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/dewalt-20v-combo-kit-saw-differences/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Chris
They did come out with a combo kit featuring the better versions… My father has the stamped shoe version of the circular saw and it’s a great little saw and for 85 Canadian it can’t be beat
Chris
Many look similar but are very differen… My 1/2 impact is mostly the same but it has a much better grip then the 18v… It works perfect everytime I use it and takes off about any bolt I need to take out… Why fix something that isn’t broke
JOSH GUHN
That’s fine that they changed the grip. But isn’t the torque the same? Look at any past technologies they weren’t broke but we have evolved and so should dewalt. I like their miter saws but have moved away from their cordless. It took me for ever to jump to Milwaukee but it was dewalts lack of tools and delivering the same 18v tool they are calling 20V.
JOSH GUHN
Forgot to add this to previous post
http://cdn.protoolreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/ptr/3946.JPG
Besides the grips there are no real changes. Both are still 18v tools IMO. So make small changes while Milwaukee, Makita and Bosch reinvent themselves. Took me awhile but im now a believer.
Have fun with the VCR while im streaming videos. j/k
Stuart
There’s a limit as to what kind of changes they could have introduced when basing the first wave of 20V Max tools. I don’t think they did anything wrong with building a 20V 3-speed drill that was very similar in features and specs to their 18V version.
Now there’s the new brushless model that’s quite different from the 18V and 20V 3-speed premium/XRP drills, but a lot of users are still opting for the older and lower-cost brushed motor model.
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/dewalt-20v-brushless-premium-hammer-drill/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
John
I have to disagree. From makita, Bosch, milwaukee, hitachi they all changed there tools when they left their old platforms.
Dwain
two words: framing nailer.
DaddyO
Stuart, did you notice if this set has the “Made in USA” decal as Dewalt is Advertising the majority of their new 20v lineup in NOW being made here in the USA. http://www.toolsofthebrave.com/ If so this is a big incentive for me as to what tools I will be using. Even though Dewalt may have different versions of the same tool including more or less torque, run time, charge time, Dewalt has always operated as “if it’s yellow, it is contractor grade.” Lacking some features that other models may have in the same tool lineup is a price point and option for many users not a fact of reduced quality. Do I need a battery guage , light of the front end, high capacity battery for what I use the tool for? If not then why pay for it?
Stuart
I didn’t see the combo in person yet.
It is worth noting that Dewalt is NOT making any of their 20V cordless here in the USA, they’re only assembling some of the tools here.
DaddyO
Built in the USA using Globally Made parts, kinda like Harley Davidson I suppose? But it is a start and their new plant in N.C. creates 250 new jobs for the local economy. Dewalt says being built here in the USA allows faster turnaround time and increased availability for us here in the USA. If you go to their ToolsoftheBrave Website they show all the power and hand tools including most of the 18v and 20v cordless lineup! Again it is a start and at least it is still an American owned company. Some still think Milwaukee is owned here in America and they have been owned by TTI for many years, same company that owns and manufacturers Ridgid (name is leased) and Ryobi as well as many Craftsman Power tools.