Dewalt has started to drop teasers about their upcoming DCF860 cordless impact driver.
We’ve been hearing about the DCF860 for a while, and Dewalt is now promoting it internationally, saying “brace for impact,” and that the new model is “coming soon.”
Lowe’s has a page up for the DCF860 as well, suggesting it’s going to be launched in the USA in the near future.
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The Dewalt DCF860 is described – via Lowe’s description – as being the brand’s highest torque impact driver.”
It delivers a whopping 2500 in-lbs of max torque, which beats Milwaukee’s best M18 Fuel offering, as well as the top Makita XGT and Metabo HPT Bolt impact drivers.
The DCF860 also sports a 9-LED worklight with 20 minute flashlight mode. According to preorder listings, the ring of light delivers 82 lumens of illumination.
In addition to delivering more torque, the DCF860 is fast, with a top speed and impact rate of 3800 RPM and 4500 IPM, respectively.
Here’s how the new DCF860 compares to Dewalt’s other 20V Max brushless impact drivers right now:
| Dewalt 20V Max Brushless Impact Drivers | |
|---|---|
| DCF860 | 2500 in-lbs 3800 RPM |
| DCF850 (Atomic) | 1825 in-lbs 3250 RPM |
| DCF845 (XR) | 1825 in-lbs 3400 RPM |
| DCF840 | 1700 in-lbs 3200 RPM |
| DCF887 (XR) | 1825 in-lbs 3250 RPM |
| DCF809 (Atomic) | 1700 in-lbs 3200 RPM |
| DCF787 | 1500 in-lbs 2800 RPM |
The new impact has 3 speeds, with 2 being “optimized for self-drilling screws.”
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Retailers have been showing off what the Dewalt DCF860 can do. Here’s a quick demo by Sydney Tools:
The DCF860 is larger than the DCF850, but still seems to pair well with the compact PowerStack battery.
With respect to application speeds, the DCF860 appears to be their highest performing impact driver, and could possibly be the industry’s best.
We asked Dewalt for more information about a month ago but don’t yet have official word about USA details or availability.
That Lowe’s has a page up for the impact, and of a 20V Max model, indicates it’s coming to the USA, and that it’s just a matter of timing.
It’s also clear that the DCF860 will be part of the XR line, rather than Atomic as with the DCF850.
At this time, we don’t know if the DCF860 is replacing any other brushless impact drivers. If allowed to guess, I think it will be positioned as Dewalt’s new flagship model, taking the place of the DCF887.
Price: $199 (tool-only DCF860B) – subject to change
Lowe’s product page is tricky. It comes up sometimes, and other times auto-redirects to a Dewalt category page. Here’s a screen capture from today. I suspect the link will work more reliably when we get closer to the official launch.
Big Richard
This, the hydraulic DCF870, and the FlexVolt Advantage DCD1007 were all in Brazil the other week at FEICON. The hydraulic has me the most excited, it looks to be a M18 Fuel killer.
JohnBCS
Same with the hydraulic. Looks awesome.
MM
The DCD1007 looks to be a real beast, though what interests me the most about it is the E-clutch bindup protection.
Big Richard
Yes, that is a feature all their flagship drills have been missing (the DCD997 ToolConnect model did have it however).
Eric
I would be more excited if they just included a mechanical clutch. I’ve never used an electronic clutch that worked even decently.
Darren
M18 Fuel killer is unlikely, as Fuel equipment is at the highest level of durability, performance and longevity, coupled with top tier functionality in real world situations. That being said, it’s nice to see Dewalt catch up in terms of hydraulic driver, and well done with the torque output. I will say, I am impressed with the steps forward in Dewalt quality and design in the recent years. Definitely also a top tier tool manufacturer, bringing high level performance and function. Myself though, was let down by an older generation of Dewalt tools too often to consider a return to the brand. I’ve abused my M18 tools, Fuel and non, extensively and every one, and every battery, still function, hold charge. Some from the original M18 release. Way I look at it at this point. Whether yellow or red, your likely using a quality tool.
Nate Prince
Garentee m18 batteries do not hold up in the cold
FrankT
Highly subjective.
Waffle
With the direction that Dewalt has been going in the past few years, I wouldn’t be surprised by it killing the m18 impact driver. It already has killed the rest of the line up. Drivers were the last hold out just check out Torque test Channel and as a guy using dewalt daily, I’ve only had on battery doe in 8 years of using them
Jake Plissken
Yeah I have no idea why everyone is not more focused on the hydraulic impact drivers or if possible start creating hydraulic impact wrenches. I have the surge m18 and m12 and I can not go back. Ever.
Steve
It sounds fantastic. I’m hoping one of those modes allows for a “lighter touch” or limit for things where those high ratings could be overpowering.
Michael
Setting 1 on the 850 can be quite “gentle” in my opinion, I’m assuming this one will be similar.
Big Richard
The 860 does not have the “precision” mode on speed 1 like the 850, 845, and 887 do. It is is a straight up lower speed/lower torque mode.
Saulac
So the new impact has 3 “speeds” with the second optimized for self tapping screw. I guess the speed-before-impacting (is there a term/rating for this?) is the best for the drilling. My M12 Surge impact has settings as well but I have assumed that they are more for torque than speed (which does vary with the settings). Are setting on all impacts created equal?
Stuart
With most multi-speed impacts, the settings are tied to RPM, with the impact rate and torque being co-dependent.
Some have special modes that aren’t just based on speed optimizations. It’s not clear how this impact is programmed.
With 2500 in-lbs max torque, I would have expected more than 3 settings. But, the tool should also have a variable speed trigger switch.
Big Richard
In this case the settings have different speed and torque ratings. For speeds 1/2/3 they are 1800/2500/3800 RPM and 141/242/282 Nm, respectively.
Jason
With impacts torque and speed are complimentary and go up together. With drills they’re inverse (high speed low torque, low speed high torque)
JJ
Kinda funny that the DCF887 has been the flagship model while the DCF845 has been skipped over. (Is there an official place DeWalt designates this or just implied by marketing positioning?) Very validating to everyone who insisted the aging 887 is better.
Stuart
It’s my designation, and not official.
The DCF840 is kind of like the compact Lowe’s-available complement to the value-priced Atomic that’s sold at Home Depot.
The DCF845 is the multi-speed version that’s a little better.
Dewalt sometimes specs their tools according to the bundled battery. The DCF840 is often kitted with 1.3Ah batteries, and might be underrated compared to the DCF845.
On paper, the DCF887 would be second-best. In-hand, I prefer the DCF850. The DCF845 has a different shape and is slightly faster than the premium Atomic.
Comparing the DCF860, DCF850, and DCF845 multi-speed impacts, given what we know:
DCF860 – max power and fastest application speeds
DCF850 – shortest size
DCF845 – narrower size
Aside from the DCF860, the DCF887 has the best on-paper specs. It was designed to be the top performer, whereas the DCF850 was designed to be compact, and the DCF845 seems to have been designed as a multi-speed version of the DCF840.
Then there are 3 “value” impacts with brushless motors:
DCF740 – compactish – exclusive to Lowe’s & sold elsewhere
DCF809 – Atomic, exclusive to Home Depot & sold elsewhere
DCF787 – exclusive to Lowe’s & sold elsewhere
Correction: the DCF887 has comparable specs; the original reporting swapped the IPM rate for RPM.
JJ
Thank you, this is a great concise guide. I can’t understand why DeWalt doesn’t give more clue or explanation given how broad their drill/driver and impact driver lines are. It honestly turned me off from the brand knowing there are bad models out there (Father’s Day specials) and their hierarchy is not obvious. (Milwaukee, Makita, and Flex are all made very obvious by model numbers or generations.) In other words, the range of consumers DeWalt is trying to include is too broad.
I’m leaning toward getting the shortest (DCF850) and the quietest (DCF870, presumably).
Big Richard
The 870 is actually just as short as the 850. So get that and it will check both your boxes.
Stuart
With the DCF809, they kind of just let Home Depot market that as an exclusive special buy for maybe half the year.
With the DCF787 and sometimes the DCF840, they kind of just let Lowe’s market that as their exclusive brushless special buy for maybe half the year.
Amazon sold 10K+ of the Dewalt DCD771C2 cordless drill kit in the past month https://www.amazon.com/Dewalt-DCD771C2-Cordless-Lithium-Ion-Compact/dp/B00ET5VMTU/?tag=toolguyd-20 .
That’s an old brushed motor drill kit with low capacity batteries.
Come Father’s Day or next holiday season, Dewalt will have at least two other $99 cordless drill kits with brushless motors, yet the DCD771 kit will sell even better.
They mainly just let the drills and impact drivers sell themselves.
Makita, by the way, does have incremental model numbers, but they’re in no way obvious. Their GDT01 impact driver is better than their GDT02 impact, despite the -02 being released a few years later. Makita has a LOT of active models, when they really just need 3.
Milwaukee has… 3 M18 brushless models? Compact brushless, Fuel, Surge, and also a brushed model that’s bundled in some combos and kits. Compact brushless is most affordable, Surge is quietest, Fuel is the most powerful, and the brushed model is the combo kit value pick.
Saulac
A dedicated switch for the flashlight. Wonder if brightness is adjustable.
Harrison
It would be great if they could figure out how to build them so the anvil bushing doesn’t wobble 10° after a year of use…
Nathan
Are the speed and power settings like the dcf921 impact by chance? Looks a lot like it.
Might be interesting but I don’t see a need for so much torque for screws. I have never run across a screw I couldnt drive or a lag for that matter. The rpm might be nice.
You know what would be grand. The anvil doesn’t wobble and it was assembled in the US
I’m really getting tired of picking up a new DeWalt product made in China.
Kingsley
I wish they worked better as screw drivers. They’re generally too aggressive/imprecise. (Well, the 887 is)
The DCF601 12v screwdriver does 90% of what I need.
The 601 can drive a 4″ wood screw into 2×4 no problem. It’s wildly over priced in the UK, mine came from Lowes whilst in the USA.
I only pick up the impact driver for things like concrete screws and big stuff.
Stuart
Look at the M12 and M18 Fuel.
For the last generation, they tweaked the variable speed trigger and speed settings with the idea that a lot of users are using impact drivers for all their driving needs, and just larger/longer screws.
The Dewalt 12V DCF601 is fantastic for smaller screws. It, and its variable speed clutch are a safer choice for smaller fasteners.
Kingsley
I’m strictly team yellow and black (my wife wouldn’t be impressed if I developed a team “red” habit too)
I recently bought a 1.7ah powerstack as it was on offer… I had absolutely no need for it as I have batteries coming out of my ears.
1x8ah
6x5ah
1x4ah (slim)
2x3ah (slim)
2x12ah flexvolt
2x9ah flexvolt
And a load of 12v too…
ERIC M LALIBERTY
Try the 845 on precision mode #1. Once you get the hang of it, It’s just like a screwdriver.
And, the power stack battery awesome, especially if you get them on sale!
Jared
At what torque level would an impact driver begin twisting a 1/4″ hex bit? There must be a limit above which it makes no sense to just make impact drivers more powerful.
TdotW
I’m not sure of the exact torque numbers but they sell a 1/2″sq to 1/4″ hex adapter to use on 1/2″ drive impacts & ratchets so it must be pretty high. Makita even sells the ‘Freak’ with both 1/2″ sq dr & 1/4 hex inside it in the same anvil. So who knows!? It’s basically just a back-and-forth torque number battle of the brands! Maybe @TTC or @ProjectFarm can or has give(n) a breaking number…?
Glenn76
The freak is made by Bosch.
Michael
I have the 850 and it snaps Phillips bits off in the screw head.
Eric
Impacts have been able to snap bits for quite a while. There is no hard number for it though. There are just way to many variables in different brands and models of bits for something like that. Then you have to consider wear and tear. A brand new bit will usually take more torque than one that’s driven hundreds of screws.
Nathan
Agreed, at 200+ ft lbs you’re solidly into pact wrench range.
Which is good! But maybe change it up for another quick change format like 7/16″ Hex/E11.2.
You can always have a 7/16″ to 1/4″ adaptor (and add fancy torsion zones all along it), but of you’re expecting it to actually use it at full power then 1/4″ is kind of unacceptable.
s
i find the indication this will be available first as a 1/4″ hex driver first interesting.
i would’ve expected that their highest power impact drivers are built with square socket anvils first, with the hex iteration being later to release.
biggest problem is going to be anyone using it to drive large lags will be using an adapter to 3/8″ or 1/2″ impact sockets, and it makes the 1/4-hex to square adapter the weak point.
though i particularly love bosch’s solution to this, where its a 1/2″ square drive with a 1/4″ hex inbuilt into the square. it allows for simple tasks that only need 1/4″ hex like simple 3″ drywall screws, but easily and quickly converts to running 1/2″ sockets for 5/8×12″ lags.
Eric
They already have compact 3/8″ and 1/2″ drive impacts that have a lot more power than this.
Something like the Bosch Freak works because it only makes impact driver power. Fine for the occasional lag screws, but not nearly enough power for an actual impact wrench. It just would work if it had the power of even a weaker mid-torque impact wrench. Without being very careful you would be constantly breaking screws and bits while trying to drive screws. And you would probably be breaking anvils while trying to drive or remove bolts that had a decent amount of torque on them. Having that big hole in the middle makes it a lot weaker than a standard anvil.
Tom
The DCF860 is already in sales rep’s hands here in Australasia. Had a chance to try one yesterday. Tried it out against the 850, 895 drivers and the 922 wrench.
Performed as the specs would suggest: very fast. Basically the same driving speed as the 922 (using 100mm bugle screws).
Chunkier for sure than the 850, similar in the hand to the 887, but with a similar front projection as the 850. The 850 is a nicer tool to hold and use.
Didn’t strip it down, but the anvil looked like a larger diameter than previous drivers, and definitely better runout (chuck wobble). Time will tell if that stays good with use: the other drivers have a rubber seal against the anvil that wears down rapidly, allowing runout to develop. Can’t tell how the nose bushing is engineered at this stage.
Didn’t take note of exact modes & LED settings, basically similar to the 922. At a guess I’d say it’s 50% faster than the 850 for big screws. And out of interest, the 850 was about 50% faster than the 895. Love my 895, but might strip it down, replace any worn parts I can still get, grease and polish it up, and call it a shelf Queen.
Nathan
I have both the 887 and the 895. I prefer the 895 but I use both to run in anything from a #4 up to lag bolts without issue. Only because the speed selector also lowers the top torque with the speed
I’m curious how the new system works as it sounds like a modified version of what the 921 family has.
Robm11b
Two or more years ago I would have been excited, but I sold off all my 20v and 60v Dewalt power tools (do to poor reliability, and customer service) and got into the m12 and M18 lines and have beating these tools stupid and I’m very impressed with the power, performance and so far durability. I used Dewalt for over 20 years and frankly should have dropped them years ago.
eddiesky
People think you need to use these with screws. You shouldn’t (unless lag screws). It can damage bits and the heads off the screws. Screws should be driven, not impacted. Bolts and lags, should have impact. Now you can use impact to loosen some stuck screws but if they have slot/p1/p2 or torx, you could damage bit and/or fastener.
That is all. 😛
Stuart
Impacts are widely used these days, even on things like kitchen cabinet and drawer handles, electrical outlets, and light switch covers.
How things *should* be is moot.
Robm11b
We ran impact drivers all the time back in the day for decking, fencing and so on. They are far faster than most is not all drill/ drivers oh and not to mention a lot lighter.
RjSwine
I don’t agree with eddiesky. Anyone that was driving screws before impacts came along will tell you it took much more force to drive a longer screw if the material wasn’t predrilled. That lead to worker fatigue, a lot of soar shoulders& wrists, and stripped/bent over screws. The impact is a godsend for that alone. Not to mention lighter and more compact.
MM
I agree with you Rj. I’ve been driving screws with power tools for many years, going back to the days of the old Ni-Cd stick pack Makita drill/drivers. Around 2010 I got my first impact driver, and my incidence of broken screws or damaged bits dropped overnight. The fact that the impact driver is more compact helps keep your wrist more inline with the application of force and thus it is easier to keep the bit properly straight in the screw head. There is also less reaction torque coming back to your hand with the impact wrench, that also makes it easier to hold proper alignment. I have worked on volunteer projects where there are both impact drivers and drill-drivers provided for use and newbies always have more trouble driving screws with the drill compared to the impact.
Now sure, if you are driving #2 brass wood screws then an impact driver is probably not a good idea, but in my opinion for general purpose construction, DIY, etc, they result in less damage to fasteners and less fatigue on the user.
MFC
NOOOOO! Stop trying to kill tools sooner! Higher ratings mean more heat build up which mean my tools don’t last as long. If I need more than 100 ft lbs of torque I get out my impact wrench, not my impact driver. And yet my guys see that the bolt is still turning so they just keep using the impact until it’s a door stop. I want slower, stronger, longer lasting tools. Not Youtube influencer tool fights.
Joachim Osmundsen
I briefely truede the Machines today. It feels like a 887 with more power etc. I ran it side by side with a 850 on 6x120mm screws. There was a big difference, but they had no largely side Long screws to maybe showcase it better
Sam
The DCF887 has a max rpm of 3250, not 3800 as listed on the comparison chart.
Stuart
Thank you!! I made the correction.
I believe I swapped the IPM for the RPM rate.
Big Richard
That’s a sign that you should include the IPMs in the table as well. That is an often overlooked spec where a higher IPM can make the difference. It’s why the 840, despite being a “budget” tool outperforms the higher torque rated 887/850 in some tasks, i.e. deck screws and the like.
Big Richard
Got some updates, the 860 will be available kitted with the new 8Ah tabless DCB2108 PowerPack battery in the DCF860WW1 kit. The DCD1007 is also going to be kitted with the same battery, I’m hoping they kit the two together as that would be a beefy 2 tool combo kit.
MM
Nice, I’m glad to hear the 2108’s will be available soon. I’m currently in the middle of retiring the last of my old 4ah packs. I picked up a few 5ah Powerstacks on the sale a little while back, and I was hoping to replace the last two with these. If they put a set out with the DCD1007 and a pair of those batteries for a good price I’ll be all over it.
Big Richard
It would be pricey, but bonkers on power. Maybe if they do a single DCB2108 and then a smaller battery to keep the price down, similar to what the Power Detect DCK299D1W1 kit did.
Big Richard
The hydraulic 870 has started showing up for pre-order across the pond, fyi – https://www.raygrahams.com/products/160188-dewalt-dcf870e2t-18v-quiet-hydraulic-impact-driver-with-2x-compact-powerstack-batteries.aspx
Nick
Had both my DCF887 and DCD800 stolen out of my garage this weekend. On a whim i decided to check the home depot website for this 860, and i gasped when it said my local store had 2 in stock.
After not finding them on the floor, i showed the listing to 2 associates, both of whom said it must be a mistake. I paced the aisle for another 15 minutes squinting at every SKU i could see on the top shelf, and finally i spotted them. The associates grabbed a big ladder, gave it to me, and i paid and left as quickly as i could before anyone could realize maybe this wasn’t for sale yet.
It. Is. Powerful.