Hitachi Power Tools sent me a direct message via Twitter today, saying that I should check out their newest 18V brushless drill driver. They also mentioned that it features a lifetime warranty, and the message included a link to their entire Hitachi Power Tools Canada product lineup.
After I asked about USA distribution, they replied that the drill is launching in both Canada and USA today and that I should call the Atlanta head office for complete details.
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Okay, that’s a little weird. Manufacturers send me notices about their new products all the time, and I do my own digging and research as well. I am often asked “how can we get our product mentioned on ToolGuyd?” It’s simple – if the product is of potential interest to ToolGuyd readers, just send me information, such as a press release of fact-sheet, or point me in the right direction.
In over three years of writing tool previews and reviews on ToolGuyd, this is the first time I’ve ever been told so little about a new product and then asked to call up an unspecified phone number for more details.
After I determined the model number of Hitachi’s new brushless drill (DS18DBL?), a little digging reveals that it features up to 50% more runtime, increased power and extended durability with essentially no maintenance. The motor delivers a maximum 593 in-lbs of torque and up to 1800 RPM. A 4-way electric speed toggle and 2-way speed switch provides for up to 8 different speed/power calibrations.
The drill also features a 1/2″ keyless all-metal chuck and a 22-stage keyless chuck (clutch) that delivers 22 torque settings and a drill mode. The motor’s variable speed is controlled via an optical trigger switch that is said to offer better response and greater wear-resistance.
Coupled with the 3.0Ah battery, the Hitachi brushless drill weighs in at 4.4 lbs, which is a hair lighter than Milwaukee’s Fuel brushless drill driver. But the Milwaukee bests the Hitachi with 22% greater max-torque delivery.
The kit comes with two 3.0Ah li-ion batteries. ETA and pricing is unknown.
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It seems that Hitachi’s direct message may have been spammed to all of their twitter followers, explaining why I was shrugged off and directed to call their HQ phone number for details. When I asked whether they sent the same DM about the brushless drill to all of their followers, they replied that the worldwide audience will see it on their twitter feed.
I have a couple of questions about the new drill/driver that I hope to have answered. Even if I had the desire to track down the USA HQ phone number, chances are that their general customer service won’t be able to answer technical questions about a brand new product that just launched today.
What does it mean that the drill has a 4-way electric speed toggle and 2-way speed switch? The 2-way speed switch obviously refers to the low/high gearbox settings, but what’s a 4-way electric speed toggle? Does this mean that the “optical trigger” only has 4 variable speed settings, or does it relate to what appears to be a small control at the base of the drill?
And the “optical trigger” – how “more responsive” is it? What is the anticipated service rate or frequency of the optical trigger vs. for mechanical triggers?
How much does the drill kit cost, and where can it be purchased? Will there be a compact version introduced as well? What other brushless tools are in development or scheduled for release?
Summary: the new Hitachi brushless drill driver looks to bring several new technologies to market. I find the features and specs to be interesting, and the product is definitely deserving of additional attention. But asking me to chase down details after receiving a mass-spam message is extremely frustrating.
Joe 'the Pro' Sainz
I’d interpret that to mean that it has 4 speeds in forward and 4 in reverse. (That’s the 2 way switch that they’re talking about). I don’t know this for certain, but I speak *marketing-ese* pretty well.
Stuart
That’s how it sounds, but it would be a step backwards. I’m sure the 2-speed switch is the low/high speed gearbox, as opposed to forward/reverse.
There does seem to be a bit confusion – what’s a 22-stage chuck? I assume they meant clutch.
I know that some brands (Makita, and now Bosch and Milwaukee) are featuring speed-selection switches on their new impact drivers as a means of controlling torque. Perhaps Hitachi is featuring something similar in their new drill/driver, but why?
James C
From the picture, I would guess that dial-looking thing next to the battery is the “4-way speed toggle”. So it controls the voltage from the battery to limit the speed? I’m no engineer, but that would make sense to me. Similar to the new impact drivers, as Stu mentioned.
I suppose a speed limiter could have uses. I’ve never used one for a drill, but my Bosch jigsaw has a speed dial (limits the maximum SPM) with a variable speed trigger up to the max set on the dial. I really appreciate the control it gives me.
Chris Fitzpatrick
Be interesting to see the price if it’s going to compete with DEWALT,Bosch etc..
Wantedabiggergarage
I have to laugh at the lifetime warranty. I see too many times where “lifetime” means as long as the tool is sold, as compared to how long one has it (not to mention companies lifetime), and a warranty only covers defects in products or a manufacturing defect (bad batch). It doesn’t deal with wear and tear (motor wears out, battery loses a cell and no longer charges properly, etc).
Brushless motors are not a new thing, more like a “knew” thing, LOL. I am still using my Panasonic 15.6 NiMH drill, that replaced my Makita 9.6v Nicad drill(s) (inherited some). Anything heavy duty, and I still switch to a corded drill (or drill press when appropriate), so it should be a long time before I still need an upgrade.
Everett Snyder
There is indeed a 4-speed toggle for the microprocessor on the bottom and the two-speed gearbox, yielding 8 speeds total (4 low, 4 hi). A tad overkill in our opinion. We touched on some more info at protoolreviews.com, but we were just as flabbergasted at the lack of info and courtesy displayed by Hitachi on this release.
Want to get even more confused? This tool has been publicly demoed overseas since at least February.
chris
I´ve tried that drill a couple of weeks ago. I live in sweden and did some expalnation of drill for a swedish tool magazine.
However, that four controll switch is nothing but a rpm max setting. For example, in first stage the drill will make like 400 rpm on gear 2. In second setting it will make like 800 rpm on gear 2 and so on. A total worthless feuture in my opinioun.
What worse, with a 24 mm spadebit ( about 1 inch ) the drill stoped with very little pressure from the user. The electronics stooped the drill all the time, with a spadebit you must use second gear. I mean, who wants to use first gear with spadebits? I tried Milwaukee drill, makita drill, dewalt drill and this new “super” drill and this Hitachi drill is not even worth testing, trust me on that. It was strong on the first speed but what does that help when the drill is useless with spadebits bigger than 20 mm?
James C
I think I’d like to give the four-way speed switch a try. Maybe they didn’t nail it with this drill, but it seems like it could be a valuable option for drills in general.
So for regular drills with variable speed triggers, high gear might go somewhere from 0-2200 RPM (for example). That small amount of trigger pull controls the entire range of variability. Now with this type of drill, you can set the max at 800, 1200, 1600, etc. Then the same amount of trigger pull range can get you much finer control. The variability is much less limited by how well you can depress the trigger to a certain RPM and hold it where you want it.
As I mentioned earlier, this feature is on my jigsaw and I love it. Now for drills, maybe it’s not all that great, but I can’t fault them for trying to innovate and I’d like to give it a try myself.
chris
The variable controll of speed is not the problem with this Hitachi drill. Sure, in some applications it might be ok but generally, if you need a slow and steady rpm controll it is mostly ok to use gear number 1. Than you will have the whole trigger sensitivity in a span of 0 to 450 rpm on this particular drill.
However, the problem I and also a friend of mine discovered when testing this drill a couple of weeks ago was the lack of power. In second gear the electronics shutted down the drill for nothing. The milwaukee HD 18 PD and my Dewalt DCD925 ( dcd 970 in the states is same as 925 in europe ) with the same spadebits and also a irwin bluegrove 6x bore had no problem at all going through the wood bars I had on my backyard. As a matter of fact, the Hitachi drill was nearly not useable at all. This pice of wood was not even thick, about 50 mm thick. What will happend if we have a thick woodpoole or bar that we have to go through with a spadebit? There will be a lot of wooden “dust”( sorry do not know the english word) that will make it hard to turn the spadebit inside the whole. And we all know that spadebit recuires high rpm and therefore gear number 1 is out of question. Sure, you can always use a augerbits and use gear number 1 but augerbits is expensive and maybee you do not have a ugerbit for the moment. This Hitachi drill was the biggest disapointment ever when coming to powertools. It is also much more expensive then compareable drills from Dewalt, Milwaukee and makita, at least here in Sweden.
Hitachi
Hitachi Power Tools USA chiming in on the conversation.
To address one of the questions brought up in earlier comments, the 4-step digital power settings on the tool controls the current to the motor, whether it is 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% of maximum power. This regulates both RPM and torque output. The mechanical gearing is the traditional type found in cordless drills, which either decreases RPM and increases torque (low gear) or increases RPM and decreases torque (high gear). The lower settings availabl through the 4-step power control are intended for applications such as installing small fasteners or setting screws in delicate material while in low gear in order to increase control and prevent damaging the work piece.
Addressing a second question, the electronic trigger switch works differently from a traditional switch in that it does not have current flowing through it, but rather employs an optical plunger system to communicate with the microprocessor and increase or decrease speed. This allows for a much smoother, lighter pull that is more responsive to the user’s application of pressure. On top of that, traditional switches will wear out over time because of the high level of current that passes directly through them to power the motor. The electronic switch on Hitachi brushless tools, however, controls the flow of current through the microprocessor, and is not exposed to that same wear element.
For more information please visit our website at http://www.hitachipowertools.com. From the home page banner about Brushless Technology you can click through to a page with more information that also includes links to our press release and an informational brochure. We regret this information did not get communicated clearly via twitter, but we welcome any questions and any opportunity to provide information on this exciting new line of cordless product from Hitachi.
Boip
I interpret this to say : Why are you reading this ? Just buy a Milwaukee, as usual.