Dewalt Cordless Tool Set Review - Steak Or Sizzle?

This is a review of several Dewalt tools I have used regularly in the past eight years. They belonged to one 5 piece set and two 3 piece sets of cordless tool as well as two corded ones.

Cordless Tool Kit

18 v Dewalt XRP cordless hammerdrill: amazing tool. The first one went after 5 years due to trigger malfunctioning, second one going strong. The new Lithium batteries are significantly lighter and have a linear performance (full power till completely dead - versus getting weaker as they discharge) which is great except that you can't tell when the battery is about to die.

Cordless Tool Kit

18v Dewalt cordless sawzall: do not abuse. Went through two sets - and they don't come cheap. Second one lasted a little over one year of heavy duty and made me switch to a corded Milwaukee and I never looked back. Also the blade locking mechanism jams after a while.

18v Dewalt cordless lamp: handle with care. Flimsy contacts between flexible neck and battery base eventually break lose and unit becomes dysfunctional.

18v Dewalt cordless circular saw: use patiently or it will bog down easily.

18v Dewalt cordless impact drill: amazing. Compact, lightweight, built in light - in two words: little monster. In practical applications easily out torques the bigger XRP. One of those tools you are skeptic about until you try it and then you can't live without it.

Dewalt standard corded drill: torquey enough for mixing small quantities of mortar! A good backup tool in case the XRP dies.

Dewalt jigsaw: pretty good tool if used with proper blade for the material. Sturdy feel, worth the money.

Conclusion: This review reflects solely my experience and should not be generalized. Upon extended use of the above tools, I would highly recommend the Dewalt corded tools and the excellent cordless drills, but for heavy use and abuse I would think twice about purchasing the cordless combo sets - unless the sale price of the set is almost the price of the XRP gun - which I have seen happen.

As for the weekend warrior, any combo set will perform well and the XRP drill and impact gun alone will justify the set price as well as the bragging rights.

Dewalt Cordless Tool Set Review - Steak Or Sizzle?
Cordless Tool Kit