We’ve seen some great things from Hitachi in recent months, and their new 18V brushless impact driver is certainly one more tool to get excited about.
The new Hitachi WH18DBDL2 18V impact driver has a couple of highlights.
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First, it’s brushless. Nothing out of the ordinary here. It’s also compact and light in weight.
It features a 4-stage electronic speed and torque control switch, for precision and control for a variety of fastener sizes and applications.
The impact is also said to have limited and continuous impact modes, for added control when driving smaller fasteners or working with more delicate materials.
Second, it has a new triple anvil design. Another impact mechanism anvil means:
- More POWER
- Less vibration
- Faster application speeds
Lastly, it’s also rated to IP56 standards, meaning it has decent protection against dust and water.
Specs
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- 1832 in-lbs max torque
- 0-2,900 RPM
- 0-4,000 BPM
- Weighs 2.9 lbs
- 1/4″ hex chuck
The kit pairs the new Hitachi 18V triple anvil impact driver with 2 of the new Hitachi compact 18V 3.0Ah battery packs, and also a new rapid charger.
The new rapid charger, UC18YSL3, brings with it surprising speed. Hitachi says that it can recharge the new 6.0Ah battery pack in less than 38 minutes. And it has a USB port for charging your electronic devices.
Price: $400 for the kit
Buy Now(via Amazon)
First Thoughts
Whoa.
To recap, the impact driver has 3 anvils instead of 2, allowing it to deliver high torque and fast speeds with low vibration. It also has electronic speed and torque settings. The kit includes compact high capacity battery packs, with a super fast charger.It’s uncertain what the 3.0Ah charging time is, but I’d assume it’ll be less than for the 6.0Ah battery time of less than 38 minutes. On top of all that, the driver is rated to IP56 dust and water resistance standards.
What can’t it do?!
This might be my enthusiasm talking, but it looks like this is the most advanced impact driver available right now. Well, except maybe the Milwaukee One-Key impacts that can be customized by your phone.
BonPacific
Looks like they are moving away from the “Cheap Kids Toy” styling, and towards something more professional. Seems petty to judge a tool by its design, but the old stuff was just so hideous.
Seems like a beast of a tool, especially when a lot of tool companies are focusing on making them quieter and smaller. This thing comes along. Sounds like a deck installers dream.
Todd H.
This one is definitely one to get excited about. I have two Hitachi power tools and both are over 17 years old and still running well after heavy job site use. Great to see Hitachi expand their line. Can’t wait!
John
Yeah, nice to see them toning-down the garish styling of previous models.
Sober styling and genuinely-competitive specs.
Perhaps we are witnessing some positive influence from their recent acquisition of Metabo?
JasonInOH
Bad to the bone. As soon as Amazon restocks, it’s MINE! ; )
Stuart
The listing seems to be of the “we’re waiting on inventory, but let’s start selling it right away” type.
With newly listed tools there’s always a chance that the price might drop once they start shipping from Amazon warehouses, but another retailer is also showing a $400 price.
They should be shipping soon. You could wait, or order to get in line for fulfillment. My preference has been to wait, but I’ve noticed that some tools take a long time to be “in stock,” because Amazon fulfill orders as tools come in.
Paul
I heard Lowe’s will have this in select stores in October.
JasonInOH
Where oh where might you have heard that, might I ask…? : )
Cody
Tool barn has them. http://www.toolbarn.com/hitachi-wh18dbdl2.html?utm_source=google&utm_term=&utm_campaign=CPCS+-+Shopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=nDaY2LBk_pcrid_90615681254_pkw_PLA_pmt_b_pdv_m_
JasonInOH
Waiting on my new user coupon to arrive via email and then I’m buying! Thanks Cody!!
Kyle
I understand how three anvils vs. two would mean a lower contact force needed at each hammer/anvil contact for the same torque, but the problem is – how do you get three surfaces to actually all hit at once? Once the first two have touched there is a torque reaction – all the load is going to go through those two contacts (stiffest path) until everything has deflected enough for the third point to touch down… yeah, in the end there will be some load sharing but I wonder about how measurable the benefits are to three vs. two anvils in practice. Even at these torques, the deflection is pretty small before most of the kinetic energy in the hammer has been converted into strain at the hammer/anvil interface – tiny deflection means the tolerances of the surfaces must be quite small.
Koko the Talking Ape
It doesn’t seem impossible. The contact area doesn’t have to be large. A clever engineer might even allow the hammer to deform the anvil slightly, so that if any hammer hits early, it will smoosh its anvil down microscopically until all the hammers are hitting simultaneously. Then the impact on each anvil is reduced to 1/3, and the smooshing stops, or slows down. The anvil could be shaped like a flat-top pyramid, so that it requires progressively more force to flatten it further. That, plus work hardening, could make the anvils durable enough.
Or, the hammers could be allowed to move individually forward or backwards very slightly. Again, when a hammer hits early, the force on it is large, so it could scooch the hammer back a tad. When all hammers hit simultaneously, the force is less and they stop scooching.
(“Scooching” and “smooshing” are sophisticated engineering terms, just so you know.) 🙂
Koko the Talking Ape
Or, the hammers and anvils could be pressed against a very hard reference tool in the factory, so that they are forged into the exactly the right shape. Or they could be cut to the right shape in the first place. There are even CNC machines that are probably precise enough.
Aaron
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5TX4Dn9n8U
The video above shows how the triple hammer function works…right at the 20 second mark. Note that the WH18DDL2 is the same as the WH18DBDL2 (same tool, different model from Japan to the States).
Chris
Anvil look solid and well constructed.
Aaron
I’ve owned this tool for about a week now, and just posted a review on both Amazon and Hitachi’s US website. Link to the Amazon review here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R9OXIZITERT4C/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B01LYTVKZG
I feel very comfortable in saying that this is the most advanced impact driver on the market. The difference in vibration between this and other impacts I’ve used is noticeable, which is likely due to that third anvil. I’m also a big fan of the fact that there’s a battery indicator built into the tool; even though Hitachi needs to implement this into their batteries (it’s strange; Makita took forever to do this, too) it’s definitely a step in the right direction.
The fourth speed option is perfect for decking, as it begins with a slower RPM for a couple of seconds before going into higher speed/torque. Makes it ideal for centering/securing self-drilling screws before letting the tool do the rest. Also not shown in the picture is a carry/wrist strap at the back of the tool’s base; really handy for overhead/ladder work.
Last but not least, the case this tool comes in is terrific; it has a double-decker design so the top portion has built in storage sections for bits, etc. while the bottom portion is reserved for the tool, batteries, and charger.
AWESOME stuff from Hitachi; if they continue to release best-in-class power tools like this and Bosch continues to idle I can see them potentially taking their “Big 4” spot.
Steve
I like Hitachi, I think they’re underrated a lot of the time. Great warranty, never had much of a problem with any of their tools, and the price is usually very reasonable. In this case, I think the $400 price point is wishful thinking on their part. The Milwaukee fuel 18v hammer drill/driver and impact set comes with 2 4.0ah batteries and a charger (also does 12v). It’s $100 less….I think this is the first Hitachi tool I’ve seen priced higher than Milwaukee.
Chris Butigan
Indeed, this is probably the most advanced impact driver in the market, dont forget the IP56 rating…
Steve
IP56 is certainly cool. Heck, even smartphones are jumping on that bandwagon. If you are a professional who works in the elements or an otherwise severe duty situation, I can see that being a big plus. Still, I don’t see having one more anvil and IP56 worth the $$$. Just my opinion. I like Hitachi; I’ve used one of their 10″ chopsaws on almost every project for the last several years and have been completely satisfied. I guess it’s like buying a 4K tv….on paper the specs make it the most advanced, and so it will naturally command a higher price….but is it THAT much better than the LED you bought 6 months ago?
Chris Butigan
Hitachi back their IP56 rating claims:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl5DW32xcGg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7J1iTC7HnY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wmNuUSNROk
Personally, I bought the milwaukee drill/driver combo 1st gen FUEL, and I regret it, milwaukee offers the best cordless line on the market, but I see more value in features like this IP56 rating, or bosch L-BOXX system or their wireless charging system… Of course, everything is down to personal preferences…
But if “personally” I found much better a 4K TV than the led I bought 6 month ago, I can justify a higher price… LOL…
You can read my experience with Hitachi in the past on the 3 amp battery post, down below on toolguyd…
JSBSON
Nice to see them offer fast chargers in the USA. I have a 2004 vintage Japanese model (deep pink) WH12DM2 Hitachi impact driver that came with 3AH NiCad batteries and a 15 minute charger. One battery was always recharged before the other one ran low. US version (green) had the 2AH battery and a slower charger. I don’t now why the 3AH version never made it to the States. I assume pricing. I think it would have been ahead of most others in the US at the time.
Hopefully they offer some of their other tools in the US.
http://www.hitachi-koki.co.jp/powertools/pro/li_ion/li_ion.html
Jim Premo
They should focus on getting full Metabo line in Lowe’s. Hitachi cordless doesn’t do a thing for me.
Toolfreak
Got bad news for ya, Lowe’s is getting rid of the few Metabo items they carried in store, no more Metabo for Lowe’s.
Jim Premo
Metabo is the only brand that Lowe’s could sell me. I buy zero power tools at Lowe’s. Metabo impresses me with their innovation and strong product line. Quality is also top of the pack.
JARED
I disagree with the whole Hitachi stepping into the big four and Bosch out. Bosch has the largest market shares throughout the rest of the world. They own Europe and asia. They have tons of tools that they don’t even offer here and that other tool brands don’t make. They don’t market in this country like they should but their tools are second to know one. Especially not fifth to anyone. As a avid Bosch tool guy who has buying their tools for years my feelings are deeply hurt.
Steve
I love Bosch too! I even buy their auto parts. They just seem to be moving slower than Red and Yellow in bringing out this next generation of brushless stuff….at least here in the US. There’s a few good articles here on TG about this.
Herbert
This thing looks awesome. I’m going to ask a possibly divisive / dumb question: Can I get by using an impact driver like this as a drill?
Related note, I’ve been an avid reader here lately. I’d like to buy into a line of real tools, starting with some sort of drill / driver and an oscillating tool.
Currently I only have an older 10.8v Bosch driver. I know that Hitachi doesn’t have the breadth of offerings that Milwaukee and DeWalt offer… So maybe I shouldn’t be in such a rush to buy into a system because of one awesome tool…?
Stuart
Yes, depending on your needs. Impacts are great for some drilling applications, not so great for many others.
A lot of things factor into which tool to buy, or tool line to buy into.
Yes, Hitachi has a smaller cordless lineup, but what other tools do you see yourself buying in the next year? 2 years? 5 years?
Paul
Would be great to see these tools in the US soon. I remember reading this on ToolGuyd a while back and went back and found the link.
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/hitachi-dv18dbxl-brushless-hammer-drill/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Herbert
Well, I can see buying an oscillating tool soon. I had to hacksaw an old faucet out about two weeks ago.
I’m just a home owner and hobbyiest, not a pro tradesman. But, I’ve gotten burned too many times either buying cheap or getting just what I need or having to go rent. No more. My new mantra is buy the best – within reason 😉
Herbert
Is there a matching drill yet?
Aaron
New review up!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=002aPHiTKV4
Best impact on the market.
Tin
I’ve owned this one for about 7 months now. Use it in roofing. The steel used in the hammer/ anvil is crap. It’s so badly “smooshed” ( I believe was the term used earlier) that I prefer using the previous model. Overall their drivers are really well engineered, utilising roller bearings to eliminate speed wobbles over time however this particular model will not stay smooth for long. I own many different impact drivers and this is the first time I’ve seen damage to the hammer/ anvil. Possibly powdered steel?