Over at Home Depot, there’s a Dewalt 18V drill and impact driver combo kit, DCK235C, and it’s on sale for $99.
I can’t tell if these tools are built in the USA or elsewhere. I have seen some 18V tools being built in the USA.
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Hmm, looking at my photos from my Dewalt factory tour, it’s a different drill that’s assembled here.
Update: This Amazon listing suggests it’s built in the USA, but I can’t tell if that applies to these kits too. The Amazon listing also shows different specs for the impact.
The drill delivers up to 380 UWO of power, and the impact driver up to 1170 in-lbs of torque.
In comparison, Dewalt’s holiday special DCD777 drill/driver, on sale for $99, delivers 340 UWO, and their original 20V Max DCD780 delivers 350 UWO. Dewalt’s latest generation compact brushless drill/driver delivers 460 UWO of power.
As for the impact driver, the original 20V Max DCF885 delivers 1400 in-lbs, and the latest and greatest brushless DCF887 delivers up to 1825 in-lbs.
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In other words, the drill looks alright on paper, despite its bulky physical looks, and the impact has “just okay but not really competitive for a non-super-compact tool” specs.
These are 18V NiCad tools, not Li-ion. The kit comes with (2) 1.2Ah battery packs.
So who’s buying them? Pros on a very tight budget? DIYers who want 18V-class drill and impact driver combo kit for under $100?
Dewalt says they’re perfect for the HVAC or installation professional.
Looking at Ryobi, they also have a $99 drill and impact driver combo kit. There’s no information about the drill’s max torque, but the impact driver is rated at 1600 in-lbs max torque.
On Home Depot’s site, there are many reviews, with a lot of them being from recent weeks, showing that lots of people are still buying this kit.
I suppose it stands out because it’s one of very few kits that give you a drill and impact driver, and a battery for each, at just under $100.
Looking at the product photos, the impact seems to have an LED worklight, but not the drill/driver. In this day and age, no LED? How barbaric. I say that in jest. I think.
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
That brings forward a good question.
If you needed a cordless drill and impact driver, and only had $100 to spend (ignore sales tax for a moment), which would you buy?
- A: This Dewalt kit
- B: A Ryobi kit
- C: A 12V-class kit
- D: None of the above
Me? I think I’d go with C, a 12V-class kit. If you look at Home Depot’s Black Friday 2017 tool deals, there’s a Milwaukee M12 drill and impact driver combo kit that’ll be going on sale for $99. That’s what I’d spend my $100 on.
Scott K
I would think a nice 12v kit would work well. I’m very happy with my Bosch 18v drill/driver combo, but I occasionally think a Ryobi kit would have worked for me and allowed me to expand for cheaper.
Toolfreak
Ryobi cordless stuff is ok, but doesn’t last nearly as long as Bosch, nor have the same torque.
The main benefit of the Ryobi line is the homeowner-type cordless tools that Bosch doesn’t have at all.
Scott K
I absolutely bought my Bosch kit for longevity and knowing that it will be able to handle anything I need it to. It was also well reviewed here which counts for a lot.
I should have said that I’ve had a handful of house projects that would have been simplified if I were invested in Ryobi’s platform.
glenn
Nicads? After I stopped laughing, I read the article. What would I buy? Just about anything else that was lithium ion.
Seriously though, either Milwaukee M12 or Ryobi 18v would be far better choices as it opens up a huge selection of other tools that can be added later on, Just buy into the brand that has the tools you need/want.
Stuart
That’s the thing – I’m guessing that 95% of the people buying this kit are thinking about short-term drill and impact driver needs, not what tools they might need or want down the line, if any.
The published post looks quite a bit different than the original, and the title too.
What is the best $100 combo kit? Although I wouldn’t vote for this one, there are reasonable arguments in favor of it, under the right user needs, wants, and plans.
The yeti
These sell in cold weather markets . The ni cad batteries work better when it gets really cold
glenn
The problem with this type of kit being supplied with these batteries is that the user it is aimed at will not be educated in the care of nicads. Which will only lead frustration and disappointment with the tools and ultimately Dewalt as a brand.
Not a particularly smart marketing strategy.
Raoul
The problem with NiCads is there really is no good care for them. They’ll crap out no matter what. I did read an oldish military manual a few years ago that recommended discharging NiCads before long term storage. That actually works as opposed to keeping them topped off. I had some batteries that charged right up after sitting for about 4 years. Other batteries had gone bad within a year that were kept topped off. The problem with that is the tools aren’t ready to go when you need them.
Mizzourob
I’m guessing SBD/DeWalt still sells this outdated tool set simply to not have to pay TTI royalties on lithium ion tools. Snap On just lost their lawsuit and most others settled long ago. It’s a stupid paper that is obvious and should have been overturned by the judge but I digress.
Mike
What royalties on lithium, makita was the first not TTI and you have to have patent on lithium batteries which there are none
JD
Huh? Where in the hell did you get that information? The reason they still sell these is simple. They are profitable to the company. I know, weird concept. A business making money. TTI certainly does not have a patent on lithium batteries, nor does anybody.
Raoul
Perhsps Ni-Cad still works in colder temos than Li-ion?. I haven’t had the problem as of late but I don’t work in as cokd a temp as I used to. The early Dewalt Li-ions didn’t work in the cold so I used Ni-Cad when it freezing. If the temps are on par now there is no need for Ni-Cad and should be forgotten. I’d grab the Ryobi for power 1st then the Milwaukee 12v after I had an 18v setup.
Stuart
The newest Li-ion should be pretty good in cold weather. It’s been a while since I’ve heard any complaints.
Jonathan
If I recall, LiON also have issues in heat, or perhaps it’s just with regards to shorten lifespan and charging.
Hang Fire
I bought into a Bosch Lithium 18/20V drill/driver kit with 2 batteries for $99, 6 years ago, so “none of the above”.
Dewalt 18V NiCad was the dominant system once. We’re just looking at the tail end of something that is taking a long, long time to die. Many buyers are primarily interested in the batteries, more (and most likely duplicate) tools are just a bonus.
Stuart
Me too. =)
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/bosch-18v-cordless-drill-impact-driver-new-versions-for-90/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Nathan L
Ditto. I think most people that would buy into this are not going to need a high-torque tool, and furthermore, will probably get better results from a 12V tool because it will protect them from themselves.
I find that my m12 fuel impact driver actually helps me work smarter, because i have to decide in advance whether it’s a delicate or not-so-delicate job and select the power level accordingly. Even in “high” it’s not going to easily rip the head off a screw or let me do anything too stupidly brute force.
ktash
Ryobi would be my choice, I wouldn’t buy NiCads. Plus Ryobi batteries are cheaper to replace than most others. I just noticed specials on two Ryobi kits at that include the brad nailer. The 5 tool kit with brad nailer is $199. It’s 5 actual tools, plus charger and it looks like 2 batteries. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-18-Volt-ONE-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Combo-Kit-with-Brad-Nailer-5-Tool-P1882/206349864
They also have a 6-tool kit plus brad nailer for $269. It doesn’t get much better than these two kits for someone starting out in DIY, in my opinion.
ktash
here’s the link for the second kit https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-18-Volt-ONE-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Combo-Kit-with-Brad-Nailer-6-Tool-P1885/206349859
Andrew
I’m with everyone here who has commented. It’s almost insulting that they would offer this outdated tool for sale. I checked Home Depot dot com and the LAST review of this product was Sept. 11 2013!!!! Seriously?? What I can’t figure out is if his is a SBD, Dewalt or a Home Depot thing. Who do you think is driving the sale of this product? Did they rescue a cargo container that has been lost for 4 years and need to get rid of inventory? Or are they genuinely trying to sell a product worth a fraction of the $99 price to the clueless consumer? I’m truly baffled and really curious. Honestly it kinda frustrates me that Home Depot would sell this.
Stuart
Check again – there are dozens of September, October, and November 2017 user reviews.
Apparently there were lots of reviews on October 17th and 18th.
If you sort reviews by “newest,” I have to go to “page” 17 out of 26 to get to reviews more than 6 months old.
In other words, more than half of those 739 user reviews are from the past 6 months. And of those reviews, most seem to have been left in the past 2 months.
As I phrased the title – people are buying this combo. Who? Why?
Saying the combo is worth a fraction of the $99 it’s selling for is a bit harsh. $149? No way! But $99? Even though the tools are… archaic, it’s a good value.
There’s something to be said in how I can only compare it to a DIY-grade brand’s offerings, or another pro brand’s 12V-class offering.
At the same exact price point, there’s no other competitive pro-grade 18V-class drill and impact combo.
And remember, Dewalt isn’t selling this to you, they’re selling it to Home Depot, and Home Depot is selling it to you. Someone at Dewalt convinced the Home Depot buyer to buy a whole lot of these kits.
I’m going to remind you of something that I sometimes remind myself. The person making these types of decisions often have access to a lot more information than we do, such as how many tools they sell of different kinds.
Maybe Home Depot sold enough 18V drill kits last year to make them think there’s enough customer interest in a reduced price drill and impact combo kit, despite the old and chunky designs and obsolete battery chemistry and form factor.
Andrew
Stuart, thanks for taking time to think through a reply. I think you have some great points and are always a great example of being thorough. Strange that for some reason my search only revealed up to the 2013 comments. Thanks for correcting me. Do you think many of the recent reviews are real reviews? … Either way, I must have stopped short of looking deeper into that. Also, thanks for a great reminder to make sure and dig deeper before arriving at a conclusion. As far as the selling of this tool set, it really is a fascinating situation of what seems to be the race for “new and progressive” tool designs only to see such a step back in a product offering. However, if they can sell many of these, then I don’t necessarily blame them. Especially if they don’t think it will degrade their brand. Do you think this has the ability to degrade their brand image? I mean, if I had not read your post tonight, and walked into Home Depot tomorrow and saw this product, for me personally, I would have been stunned.. It would have felt like seeing a brand new Ninendo Game Cube being sold brand new at Best Buy. Maybe that’s extreme, but I really think that’s how it appears. But again, that’s me.. Maybe many people don’t notice battery design or tool design and specs.
Stuart
Home Depot’s review search was being weird for me too. It was initially set to sort them in regard to relevance, which put things into a weird order.
I really don’t know if they’re all legit. It definitely looked fishy to see a very high frequency of simple reviews, and things like “ranking provided by verified buyer.”
A lot of folks who don’t know much about tools are not interested in learning that much more. They know what they might need or want, and then start looking at prices.
Let’s say you need a comb. You head to target, go to the beauty department, and start looking at the combs. There are 8 different brands, slightly different styles, and a wide range of prices.
You just want a comb, not a 2-hour homework assignment where you try to learn everything you can in order to make a more educated purchasing decision.
So what do you do? You start looking at prices, right?
That’s how a lot of people are going to buy tools. They have a need or want, and maybe a rough budget estimate. They’ll go to the store, pick something off the shelf, and go home happy – even happier if their wallet is only a little lighter than before.
These days a lot of people will look online first, or from their phone after the pull into a store’s parking lot.
While you might hopefully find an insightful discussion on ToolGuyd, if not in a post then definitely in the comments, there are lots of other sites that post about tools and tool deals.
I wouldn’t put it past certain deal sites or forums to put this deal on their front page as a “must-buy”.
Scott K
It’s possible that this kit is relying entirely on the Dewalt name rather than the actual tool being sold. If I didn’t know anything about tools/batteries/platforms and was convinced I had to have a drill/driver combo, Dewalt would probably be at the top of my list given their name and color recognition.
I knew my 18v Bosch kit would exceed my needs which is why I didn’t consider brushless- which I assume will be the norm at some point.
If you are set on a 2-tool kit, don’t have the background knowledge, and see this set in black and yellow for $99, a lot probably think it’s a steal.
fred
I agree with Scott K.
The target audience for this kit is not the tool-buying cognoscenti.
Not knowing much about tools – if someone walks into HD – sees what looks like a good tool (by brand name) and what looks like a bargain – they might just buy it.
To be fair – not everyone needs or wants the latest technology – but buying into an old clunker does limit your future options. I’m also reminded that we bought lots of 12V NiCad Porter Cable drills when they were first introduced – and we thought they were the “bees knees” – compared to the 9.6V Makita drills that we had.
Anton
I think that relying on their name to sell these to unsuspecting novices or as gifts will backfire in the long term. Once they start trying to buy either more tools or batteries and realize its last gen technology, I think they will be less likely to upgrade to Dewalt lithium then to switch brands since they may feel like they got a fast one pulled on them.
Joe J
Friends don’t let friends buy NiCad in the year 2017.
JoeM
Sorry, but the only reason I would buy this kit in the age of the 20 Volt Max family is that of powering toys. I still have K’Nex, LEGO, and a few other things from my childhood… don’t judge… they help me visualize any engineering problem I may be having by letting my hands just… build… No worry about materials or screwing up.
The ONLY reason I would buy this kit would be to attach the Chuck on the Drill to a drive shaft on a K’Nex creation, and pull the trigger to power it. Likewise, I have 1/4″ to 3-tooth Chuck adaptors I’ve bought from Lee Valley if I wish to use the higher-torque, smaller package of the Impact Driver for the same reason.
Listen, it’s not that the 18 Volt family is dead… It’s that it’s not Lithium Ion, and the Lithium Ion batteries FOR the line are damned hard to find for any reasonable price. So the $100 price tag on this means you’re buying it for a year or two, until the batteries die. For me, that means it’s a throwaway tool set. The kind you use for parts, disposable projects, and hacking. You buy it so you don’t have to care when it dies.
If you’re buying for it to actually work, you’re not buying this, deal or not.
So for that multiple choice question, I’d be choosing D ) None of the Above. Regardless of the politics, the choices, and the wacky goings on… I can’t afford to buy all new tools all the time, I have to invest in the long-term reliable stuff. DeWALT has proved itself to be my go-to for regular investment and expansion. Only, I HAVE to invest in the full-sized versions, not the scaled-down budget versions, or the investment costs me more in repairs than in buying it. So… If I only had $100, I’d buy nothing, save up, and buy the 20 Volt Max/XR package with the 887 and the 976 (*the latest Brushless Compact Hammerdrill. Hard to keep up with the numbers right now, since my Brushed set is still unstoppable, I have no reason to replace them right now.)
Richard G.
Not sure about this particular set but..I bought the 4 piece set for my father about 8 years ago, when there were only NICA batteries, and i will tell you, that one of those bats still good. First one died after 5 years of use. 3 years ago I bought him another ni-ca one and it was good only for a year or so, now it holds charge just for some easy drilling. By the way, all tools are still in proper working condition despite numerous use and some time work abuse. I guess it was one of the last great DeWalt tool sets they were making.
Hang Fire
DeWalt’s 18V reputation was built on the quality of the batteries. That may have faltered here and there, but by and large they always had very good batteries.
I maintain that people like your Father would be a logical candidate for this $99 tool set- primarily for the 2 batteries, but of the 4 piece set, I bet the drill and driver have the most wear and tear.
Toolfreak
I’m going to guess they’re still assembling NiCd batteries/tools since they still have LOTS of the raw materials and inventory, so they are just going to keep making them until they run out rather than dispose of it and pay hefty fees.
Makes sense given the volume of tools DeWalt sells, they probably kept manufacturing NiCd stuff back when it looked like the cost of Li-ion was going to be higher and the transition was going to be much slower, and got caught out.
I definitely wouldn’t go back to Ni-Cd, even if the tools and batteries were free, much less if they were barely less than Li-ion. Too much hassle to bother with multiple battery types and chargers and all that.
Big Adam
There’s some pretty strong views here but it’s not as if this set isn’t functional.
It’s perfectly fine for anyone needing to do a little work every so often or who has just moved into a new place and now has a dozen Ikea flat-packs to assemble.
For the price of a no-name set, they get brand name reassurance and those ‘outdated ni-cads’ are unlikely to ever be over-worked.
Patrick T
Two years ago, I got one of the dewalt 20v kits with the drill and impact driver for Christmas. My cousin got her husband one of these 18v kits. He was a little peeved that he got the 18v kit once he saw my 20v kit. I’m sure that happens a lot with these kits. Someone is looking for a gift for their significant other and sees two tools for the price of one tool and, it’s a name brand too.
This fall, the university I work for has been installing solar panels on our basketball arena. I noticed the crew that was doing the install had a bunch of these nicad dewalt tools. Not sure if it was a cost or temperature performance issue.
I guess enough people are buying (for whatever the reason may be), that they are still worth selling.
Jeremiah
My guess with the install crew would be Most if not all the nicad tools were at least 4 years old. Keep in mind the dewalt nicad line probably had around half the market share of 18v level tools for construction trades people for a long time
Mattd
It is imo preying on un informed people. Selling an inferior product (nicad batteries) by using brand association is kindof shameful imo. The fact that dewalt still sells these makes me sad. The tools themselves I dont mind. But I dont see why they are not packaged with lithium batteries.
Bruce
I’d be much more inclined to go to the pawn shop and pick up a set. You can probably find a 20v Dewalt kit with homeowner level use for $60 with a little shopping around.
Ron
Ni-Cad? No way. Batterys don’t last.
Anyway, you can get a Craftsman Li-Ion 19.2v drill/impact driver combo at Sears for 109$.
I’m going to buy it today.
firefly
I think people still buy these as long as the $99 price point are semi permanent. I know that better deal can be had for that price point but when someone need a tool they usually not going to wait around. Sometimes whatever cheapest that they can get their hand on that seem to provide a good value. For somebody who only need a driver and impact and doesn’t use them enough to care about ergonomic then these provide pretty good value.
I am curious about the reviews however. I would think those who care enough and savvy enough to post reviews would fall more on the type that frequent toolguyd, at the very least they would be the deal hunter type so they would know this might be an ok deal but not a great deal by any stretch.
Tiberious
Thrift??
Maybe these older tools are just not worth taking and some companies/ job sites have high loss of good tools. They buy these because no one wants to steal them?
Old phart
Some of you sound like ” drill snobs”! I have this set, or the equivalent from 5 years ago. I still use it, it drills holes. I used the drill and impact both to replace my entire garage roof. Does it look like a new pair of Nikes? No! Does it drill and drive screws? Yes! I am about to order new batteries (nicad!)
I have used Dewalt drills at work as a locksmith for decades. I guess there are better drills, lighter, more powerful, look more like tennis shoes. But I see no need to spend a few hundred dollars for one.
For some people, this kit is a good deal. Its just a good old drill that does the job. If I was buying a new set, I might not buy these. I would a lot of research. But for now, I’m buying batteries.
Stuart
Thanks for your input! I was hoping for someone like you to chime in. Well, maybe without the name calling.
Question: Have you considered buying the 20V Max to 18V adapter set and batteries instead of NiCads, or do you still prefer the NiCad packs?
Jeremiah
About the reviews, maybe they have out a bunch free in order to get good recent reviews in anticipation of this?
The way HD and lowes do that i find very annoying and less than useful when researching a product. Most recently I was looking at reviews of kobalt 24v stuff months ago and there were nearly no reviews from people who seemed to have enough experience using power tools to make insightful comments. Many 5 star reviews were from people who got the tools for free and had never used that type of tool before. Like any impact driver will be amazing if you’ve only used a drill to drive screws.
Jeremiah
Sorry, gave out
Jim Felt
I no longer have any Dewalt stuff but here’s a wonderful reminder of my first 18v Ni-Cad Dewalt driver I bought at Costco in around 1996. Probably Costco “discounted” at around $250-300.
When I gave it way in 2015 the original No-Cad batteries still worked just dandy! Held a charge and would twist your arm off if they had the chance.
No. Really.
Hang Fire
NiCad’s (fully charged NiCad’s, anyway) were always good at the “energy dump” which makes for a good powerful portable tool. I’m sure your old batteries didn’t have the staying power of newer ones, though.
Koko The Talking Ape
When my old Dewalt 18-v tools were stolen, I got the M12 set. So far I am happy. They are considerably lighter than my old tools, and are powerful enough for my needs (furniture making, mostly.)
I do wish they would stop selling ni-cad batteries though. The insides are pretty toxic, and are a disposal issue.
Anton
If its for around the house, then Ryobi since they are cheaper to expand.
If I have to carry it around with me, then M12s.
If I just want something super cheap but usable, I’d grab one the WalMart 12V lithium for $25. Which reminds me. Have you ever though about doing super cheap tool comparisons? I once bough the $15 HF drill just to see how bad it was.
STEVE
I saw these too and figured the only people who would be buying them are the folks who are still invested heavily in the old platform and just won’t bite the bullet….OR, it’s folks who just don’t know any better. I personally think they’re worth $50 as a backup/loaner drill set or maybe a dedicated purpose, like mixing paint.
Ray
I own a small cabinet shop and carpentry company, we also build some ground up homes. We use this stuff here and there and I’ve bought that kit a few times in the past year or two. We travel for work and have had some issues in Pennsylvania and Upstate NY doing winter work with the lithium ion stuff as recently as last winter.
The reliability of that kit versus an M12 or other compact kit in terms of chuck strength, arbor strength, and cooling is night and day. The larger fans allow much better sustained use, the hammer drill version of the same 18v Dewalt drill is infinitely tougher than the 12v makita, milwaukee, and rigid offerings.
I’ve tried them all and personally use a old corded drill for myself most of the time anyway(and all the time in the shop ) and I’m not brand focused. I will always go made in the USA over foreign stuff when available though so have found myself purchasing more Dewalt recently.
For hobbyist or DIY use the 12v stuff may compare but not when drilling or driving hundreds of tapcons or 3″ deck screws a day. I have several carpenters who furnish their own m12 stuff because they are so invested in the whole system they are willing to replace an impact or drill here and there.
I’ve personally gone through 2 m12 impacts, 2 hammer drills, and a hackzall . I’ve yet to replace a 18v Dewalt drill in over 15 years of ownership of over a dozen of them, it’s a pretty stout piece of equipment. The USA made impacts have taken super heavy use too and haven’t fallen down yet.
Steve
When I saw this article the first thing I thought of was my mom this Christmas. This is something that she would buy for me because she thinks it’s a good deal and knows I like Dewalt tools . She simply wouldn’t know any better about it being a ancient platform . She would just be happy she got something she believes I would like for a great price. I suspect this is the target audience and is not intended as much more
skfarmer
wow some of you sure have a chip on your shoulder. those are solid proven tools.
fancy? nope
state of the art? nope
batteries the best? nope
is anyone mislead by the contents in the box? i doubt it
they work, work well and have stood the test of time. some guys may even prefer them because they don’t want to change even if something is better. there are some things that people just like things like they had . i gave that exact type of stuff to my son when he bought his house last summer . all stuff i had bought, used and abused for years that i finally upgraded. it works great for him and i have no issues using it when i go to help him on a project.
i don’t know if it is funny or sad, the guys that are bitching at dewalt for offering this set. if someone wants to buy it why is it bad for dewalt to sell it? more choices for the consumer is bad? hardly ripping anyone off at that price.
Stephen
Just bought the drill featured in this set for my sister. I have DeWalt Ni-Cad batteries that are well over 10 years old that work fine. Is a lithium battery going to last that long? For someone who wants a decent drill on the cheap but is not intending to branch out to a whole system of tools this kit is fine.
MisterMe
Your sister will hate how much they weigh.
Hang Fire
Agree with MisterMe. Two more batteries for a guy with an old but functional 8 piece DeWalt tool set, sure. Gift for your Sister? So many more appropriate choices. Any of the primary brand 10.8V/12V systems would be as powerful, and so much lighter and handier.
Kenneth Stephens
Just took a look on Metabo’s site looking around at tools, and they have an Impact Driver with an advertised 1328 lb, ft of torque. Im sure its a typo, but id love if it was real.
Hang Fire
That number would be credible for inch-pounds. It works out to 110.6667 ft/lbs. Not a barn burner but a typical value for first gen lithium ion impact drivers.
MisterMe
NiCad weighs waay too much. I have both of these, purchased a long time ago and compared to lithium, it’s night and day. Pay the extra for lithium and forget these anchors. I’m beyond surprised they still sell NiCad
John
Everybody is right…for $99.
James C
Probably some crossover with people who still buy flip phones and unsliced bread.