I received a message the other day with an image of a never-before-seen 18V/20V brushless drill driver. There are a couple of brushless hammer drills already on the market: Hitachi has one, Makita has two, and Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel model is about to be joined by their M12 hammer drill.
Bosch’s next-generation CORE family of tools and battery packs will be debuting this year, and Dewalt will be adding a cordless brushless framing nailer to their brushless impact driver.
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The photo I received shows that at least one of these brands is currently testing a very polished-looking brushless hammer drill prototype, but the others are likely working on their own designs as well.
From where I’m perched, it looks like we’ll be seeing a flood of additional brushless tools this year. Brushless hammer drill with 4.0Ah battery packs? Yes please!
Clayton
“18V/20V Max brushless hammer drill” … so… Dewalt?
Stuart
Or I could have put that in to throw you off. =)
Honestly, I feel compelled to write 18V/20V Max anytime I refer to that general class of tools these days, mostly to remind new readers that there’s no difference between 18V and 20V Max, partly out of habit.
Joe 'the Pro' Sainz
Glad I’m not the only one who feels that need.
Michael Quinlan
I think DeWalt’s 20V Max branding is ridiculous, and so is their claimed logic behind it – that they’re trying to avoid user confusion with the older 18V XRP line. If they’re trying to avoid confusion, why is the same product line branded as 18V outside the US? That’s a rhetorical question, BTW. Kudos for driving home the fact that they are indeed the same.
Anyway… on to my real point: I assume you’re referring to rotary hammer drills? If not, the pictured Milwaukee model is already available to 4.0Ah batteries (I have one).
Stuart
Dewalt needed some way to differentiate 18V/20V Max Li-ion slide-pack tools from 18V stem-pack tools. It is my understanding that overseas trade regulations, at least in Europe and possibly Australia, require that the voltage be accurately represented, thus the 10.8V and 18V branding there.
I am referring to drills and hammer drills, not brushless rotary hammers, although there’s at least one of those (Bosch 18V) as well already on the market.
The Milwaukee Fuel hammer drill is only shown because it is my favorite brushless hammer drill currently available. Milwaukee’s 4.0Ah battery packs are now available, with Bosch and Dewalt soon to follow.
Jason
I’m really curious to see brushless tech in some cutting tools. I have the M18 fuel drill and impact and the m12 drill and impact now, but I do miss my 3 speed 20v dewalt drill, but it’s just way too heavy to carry around all day.
Stuart
I believe that some of the advantages would be lost on cutting tools, but possibly not. My guess is that’s the next step once major power tool manufacturers mature their brushless drill and driver offerings.
Jason
I know Hilti uses brushless tech on their cutting tools, but I’m not a technical expert on brushless motors.
Robb
I only know of one brushless drill from Makita (the LXPH03 review you linked to is brushed), so are you holding out on us regarding a new brushless model?