Over at Amazon, Metabo HPT’s blacked-out brushless drill/driver kit is finally on sale for $99.
Why buy this kit? The drill is reasonably powerful, compact, and the blacked-out color scheme might go well with anyone who doesn’t care about branding and just wants a drill/driver for project use.
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- 1/2″ keyless chuck
- 620 in-lbs max torque
- 1800 RPM max speed
- 22+1 clutch settings
- Optical trigger switch
- On-tool LED battery indicator
- Weighs 3.5 lbs with 1.5Ah battery
- 6-29/32″ length
- LED worklight
The blacked-out impact driver kit is also on sale for $99.
- 1/4″ hex drive
- 1522 in-lbs max torque
- 3100 RPM
- 3400 BPM
- LED worklight
- Length: 5-1/32″
- On-tool battery indicator
- Weighs 2.9 lbs with 1.5Ah battery
Discussion
I’m a fan of Metabo HPT 18V cordless power tools, especially their brushless triple hammer impact driver, although I haven’t tried the tools featured in these holiday 2019 special buys.
There was a better deal on a similar Metabo HPT 18V brushless drill kit when the blacked-out kit was released at its pre-season price of $159, but that pricing is long-gone.
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These kits would be better deals if they included higher capacity batteries, such as a compact 3.0Ah battery, but $99 is a tough price point to reach without compromises.
Both kits come with a charger and 1.5Ah battery.
Vards Uzvards
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0797MNVJ4/
For $122 one can buy a very similar drill (DS18DBFL2S) – same speed/torque, but a full metal chuck – in a more traditional color, with 3.0 Ah battery. Back in early November it was selling in the $70-80 range, but $122 still seems like a very good price.
https://www.menards.com/main/tools/power-tools/power-drills-impact-drivers/hitachi-reg-18-volt-lithium-ion-cordless-brushless-1-2-drill-driver-kit/ds18dbfl2s/p-1535351207407.htm
At Menards.com it’s even cheaper – $106 (after rebate) right now.
Stuart
Sorry, I forgot about that.
DS18DBFL2S = metal chuck
DS18DBFL2QB = plastic
But is this a “special buy” difference, or changeover between Hitachi and Metabo HPT branding?
Vards Uzvards
If you search for “DS18DBFL2” on a Metabo-HPT web site, there are 6 models there, one of them black. The five green-colored tools (same drill with a different number of different batteries, looks like) are equipped with all-metal chucks, regardless of branding, and only the black drill’s description does not mention the “all-metal” part. All models are torque rated at 620 in-lbs.
https://www.metabo-hpt.com/us/main-navigation/product-search?search=DS18DBFL2
Vards Uzvards
https://www.menards.com/main/tools/power-tools/power-drills-impact-drivers/hitachi-reg-18-volt-lithium-ion-cordless-brushless-1-2-drill-driver-kit/ds18dbfl2/p-1493187948439.htm
$88 (after rebate) today!
Bill Nolan Jr
I got the same drill on clearance because it had the hitachi name on it for 80 bucks ! But it came with two 3 amp hour batts and a charger ! It was a steal ! Lowes still has some floating around!
Jim Felt
I’ve always like “black” objects. Tools. Cameras. Clothes. Watches.
But I’ve also realized that bright colors like Dewalt and Milwaukee are a heck of a lot easier to find when used in the field. Or just a busy shop environment.
No?
Jim Felt
“liked”! Dang the no edit function as I tap on this iPhone.
Tom D
Sometimes I wish I had some bright pink tools – less likely someone will want to permanently borrow them. ?
Bruce
I can’t imagine a job site that I’ve been on were a black tool wouldn’t end up disappearing into the shadows. I’m not even fond of the old Ryobi blue, the new green is much easier to find when I set them down.
Clifford Alloway
Valud point…Took forever (2weeks) to find my 12v Bosch light as it blended into the containers it was on .
Thom
I wonder how well the optical trigger switch will hold up to dusty environments?
ktash
Wow! Those Hitachi branded drills from Menards are a great bargain. If I needed drills or drivers I’d buy them in a minute.
ktash
Or maybe not. Will Metabo HP batteries work in them?
Stuart
Yes, Hitachi 18V and Metabo HPT 18V should be 100% compatible.
Steve
Okay I’ll bite. What is an “optical trigger switch”? One you can see? One that turns on the light when you hit the trigger like all of them? One that uses fiber optics to run the framgus? One that is activated with your eyes, the harder you squint the faster it goes?
ktash
😀 Separate switch for light? You can only use the tool in the light, not if it’s dark?
rob
You’re taking me back to the days of putting an optical compressor on vox, VCA compressor on the bass, and a FET compressor on the drum buss.
I am presuming that the optical trigger is using an optical sensor instead of whatever mechanism one normally uses with brushless motors. The trigger on a brushed motor is resisting the amount of current in a linear fashion and thus the motor is quite analogous to the position of your finger (smooth speed change). On a brushed motor, the switch is an input device that is talking to the computer and telling it the position it is in. Generally, the triggers on brushless tools result in jagged speed changes (yes, even on fancy stuff). Optical sensors tend to = smoother than electro mechanical means and so it is definitely sending more precise information about how far it is being pulled. How the tool responds to that input is up to the design.
rob
*on a BRUSHLESS motor the switch is an input device
Raoul
This really isn’t a blacked out tool but is a black version of a drill. Blacked out usually means the accents are blacked out and in this case the accents are still white. Either way this drill looks kind of cheap but I’m no fan of the Metabo HPT and would have preferred it stayed Hitachi.
Chris
Are there any readers out there buying their tools based on color?
Thebear Koss
Nope. I just paint them myself… Any tool can be whatever color you like. All of my tools are dark gray #1e1f20 with blue #2277dd
Kizzle
What kind of paint do you use that’ll hold up to use?
Thebear Koss
Any paint will wear over time, I’ve tried many different paints. Best is an automotive paint (touch-up paint works). I have free reign to paints and a sprayer, but really any decent multi surface spray paint would work. Key is sanding the parts you want to paint before and in between coats. You can probably get a good paint sprayer and paints for models on Amazon for relatively cheap. There are some great videos on YouTube for some good tips and how tos… Custom painted power tools have become quite popular as people see stuff on TV and want to emulate the look of their favorite “celeb” handyman/mechanic.
Raoul
In a way yes. The batteries I have only fit yellow tools so I tend to buy yellow battery operated tools.
I actually dislike the fact that all my battery operated power tools are yellow so whenever I buy a non battery operated tool I avoid yellow ones.
Tom D
I buy red but only a certain red. There is another red that is very red but the batteries don’t work and I don’t really like them.
Matt
I actually like black tools. It’s one of the things I really liked about Sears Craftsman. They don’t show the grease and grime from work environments like brighter colored tools. Lowe’s has great deals on these HPT’s right now if you can find them. There was a whole stack of these on sale yesterday at our store.
Concerning the red that’s very red though (I assume new Craftsman), I’m curious if they are toning it down? I noticed yesterday they had an old Versastack radio out on display mounted to a stack. It’s been there a few months at least and was very bright matching everything else. They also had a new unit up on the rack for a new display around the corner and it was a darker red. Closer to the original red of Sears Craftsman and boy did it look good. Both were the same radio’s but if you set them side by side, the bright one looks like a toy. The darker red looked like a serious tool you’d be proud to own and take to a jobsite. I also noticed they had new heaters that were also this darker toned down red. SO so so much better…. I hope this wasn’t a fluke.
Robert L
Not a Fluke- those are yellow:)