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Hitachi DS18DSAL 18-Volt 1/2-Inch Drill/Driver
 
Manufacturer: Hitachi
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $350.00
Sale Price: $145.99
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Product Description
Powered by a long-lasting 1.5Ah lithium ion slide battery, the Hitachi DS18DSAL 18-Volt Compact Pro Lithium Ion Drill/Driver packs a powerful punch. Efficient and easy to handle, this variable-speed tool provides professional power in the most compact, lightweight, and ergonomically designed body currently available. For added convenience, it comes with Hitachi's UB18DAL Lithium Ion Flashlight.



The powerful DS18DSAL features eco-friendly Lithium Ion batteries and a comfortable grip.View Larger.


At only 3.5 pounds, the compact frame is well-suited for overhead work.View Larger.


The clutch has twenty-two driving stages, allowing you control over torque and precision.View Larger.

The kit comes with a flashlight, battery charger, Phillips Driver Bit and carrying case.View Larger.
Compact Design Minimizes User Fatigue Without Sacrificing Performance
The first in Hitachi's compact Pro Series of cordless tools, the DS18DSALmeasures only 7.7 inches in length and weighs 3.5 pounds, making it easy to hold and use all day without stress or strain. The compact design also provides the power and performance of a pro-grade 18-volt tool, making operation as efficient and dependable as it is comfortable.

Variable Speed and 22-Stage Clutch for Versatility
This impressive driver drill features a variable speed trigger to set speed from zero to 350 RPM or zero to 1,500 RPM so you always match the right speed to the job. Additionally, the clutch has 22 driving stages and a special mode for drilling, allowing for both high torque applications and precision driving.

First-in-its-Class Torque for Heavy-Duty Jobs
With unmatched torque in its class, the DS18DSAL powers through even the toughest jobs. 460 in./lbs. of torque gives this easy-to-handle model the necessary boost to take on hardwoods, masonry, and other heavy-duty drilling.

Belt Hook, LED Light, and 1/2-Inch Ratcheting Chuck for User-Friendly Operation
The DS18DSAL comes with a convenient metal belt hook and an LED job light to illuminate your work surface. It also features a keyless 1/2-inch ratcheting metal chuck that accepts a wide variety of bits, giving you greater flexibility. Finally, externally accessible carbon brushes allow you to easily and economically replace the brushes when they are worn, thus ensuring longer tool life.

Lightweight 1.5 Ah Lithium Ion Slide Battery for Long-Lasting Power
This driver drill is powered by a long-lasting 1.5 Ah lithium ion slide battery. Designed without the vertical chamber of a post-style battery, this battery glides easily into place and allows the DS18DSAL to have an ergonomic handle. And because this Lithium Ion battery weighs roughly half as much as a NiCd or NiMH battery, you can work longer, with better accuracy.

Steady Stream of Power for Precision and Consistency
As with all of Hitachi's lithium ion batteries, the tool receives a steady stream of power for the duration of every battery charge, from the moment the trigger is pulled until the charge cycle is exhausted. And with up to three times the number of charge cycles of traditional batteries, you won't have to waste money on costly replacements.

Included Lithium Ion Flashlight for Added Flexibility
As a bonus, the DS18DSAL comes with Hitachi's UB18DAL Lithium Ion Flashlight. Adjustable to five lighting positions, this flashlight stands alone while you work and can be aimed where you need illumination. A shoulder strap makes for easy, comfortable carrying, and a low-battery indicator light helps ensure that you don't run out of power mid-use. And because the UB18DAL runs on the same 18-volt slide batteries as the driver drill, it shares the same lithium ion benefits of long battery life, lasting power per charge, and lightweight convenience.

Warranty Information
For even more value and peace of mind, each of these tools is covered by Hitachi's 10-year lithium ion tool warranty and two-year lithium ion battery warranty.

About Hitachi: Breathing Life into a New Era
Founded in 1910 as an electrical repair shop, Hitachi offers a diverse line of professional grade power tools and accessories for woodworking, metalworking, drilling, and fastening, and concrete drilling and cutting, as well as a complete line of pneumatic nailers, staplers, compressors, and collated fasteners. From home electronics to social infrastructure, materials, logistics, and services, Hitachi maintains exacting standards of development and production while making social and environmental sustainability a key priority. They currently have headquarters in Japan, the United States, and Canada, and over 1,000 authorized service centers.

What's in the Box
Drill, flashlight, two 1.5 Ah lithium ion slide batteries, quick charger, dual-tipped Phillips driver bit, sturdy carrying case, manual, and warranty card.

Product Details
  • Compact and lightweight at 3.3-pounds
  • 1/2-inch 18-volt driver/drill
  • Provides 460-inch-pounds of torque
  • Uses lithium ion battery technology
  • Includes super-bright flashlight

Video Reviews
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Customer Reviews
460 lbs of Torque? ....You Bet!!!!
 
Review Date: September 4, 2009
Reviewer: Marvin Cohn, San Antonio, TX
My rating of five stars is actually a solid four stars in order to help make up for the undeserved two-star rating, which one reviewer gave.

I did a lot of research before buying this drill. It is well balanced, easy to control, and will drive just about any screw into anything and do it for a long, long time on each battery. It is a powerhouse with more torque (460 lbs.) for the buck than any other drill in its class. I have found that, for me, two 1.5 amp-hour batteries are better than one 3.0 amp-hour battery (which is available) in that the smaller battery is much lighter; and if you are working with the drill all day long, you will appreciate not having to carry around the extra weight. The 1.5 ah battery charges in less than half an hour (not in 15 minutes as claimed), so you are always ready to go.

However, there are a few minor cons: 1) No drill bit holder (You can install one yourself...I prefer a magnet.) 2) The kit comes with a useless flashlight, not even l.e.d. It would have been better to have added a few doo-dads to the drill, such as a level, instead of wasting the money on a flashlight. 3) No battery meter. 4) Comes with a belt holder, which is very sturdy; but I wouldn't trust what one might hang it on to...and then there is always the possibility of drilling a hole in your leg. I removed it. 5) The case for the kit measures 16" x 18" x 4" and would do justice as designer luggage or as an overnight airline carry-on ...another waste; and when was the last time you lugged around (or even kept) your work drill in its case? However, it is recyclable. 6) The charging light on the bare-bones charger is recessed in the top of the charger and can only be viewed by looking down on it. The charger also has a rather cryptic light readout.

With all these complaints, I wouldn't trade it for any of the other 9 drills (for under $200) I tried out. Why? It outperformed every one of them.

For the past two weeks, we have been reconstructing a small country house. I included the Hitachi and a good corded drill (just in case)in my tool kit. So far, I have yet to plug in the corded drill.
great drill...
 
Review Date: February 24, 2009
Reviewer: Danny,
THIS DRILL IS AWSOME I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE LAST REVIEW BUT I TOTALLY DISAGREE THIS DRILL HANDLES GREAT I USE IT FOR MASONARY DRILLING WICH IS CONCRETE AND IT WORKS AWSOME I'VE HAD IT FOR MORE THAN 3 MONTHS NOW AND IT IS STILL RUNNING STRONG THE LIFE IN THE BATTERIES ARE INCREADIBLE THEY SEEM TO LAST FOREVER I KNOW DRILLING THROUGH MASONARY HAS GOT TO BE TOUGHER THAN OAK AND THATS WHY I TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH THE LAST REVIEW ALL I COULD SAY IS THAT FOR AS SMALL AND AS LIGHT AS IT IS BOY DOES IT PACK SOME POWER...
Weight and Balance
 
Review Date: March 30, 2009
Reviewer: Cary Secrest, Bethesda, MD
This tool is my first foray into the world of Hitachi. What attracted me most is the feel of the grip and the way the tool doesn't cant forward or backward very much when using it. It's well-balanced, and the motor housing is short which is helpful in tight spaces. The design is different from most other drills. The battery doesn't project into the handle, but instead, slides in like a sled. I do like the "press and drop" battery design of other tools, but this "press and slide" design is easy to get used to. The clutch settings do seem a bit lighter than other drills, but on the other hand, the lighter settings on the drill are very nice for doing delicate work like setting #6 pan head screws to 1/8-inch oak plywood without imbedding the pan into the plywood. I haven't tried driving #10 screws into oak without a pilot hole. Personally, I like to drill a pilot in hardwoods so I don't risk breaking the head off of the screw. A #10 of any length will go in hardwood just fine with a pilot hole drilled first.

Positives: light weight, small for tight spaces, ergonomic, lithium ion batteries, ease of drill bit lock-up in the chuck, LED work light, and a very nice carrying case.

Minus(?). My only concern is to echo a previous review...I had no idea when I bought the tool that it is the only one Hitachi makes at this time with this battery design. It is new. Though lithium ion batteries last a long time and they have no charge "memory," at some point (1,000 charge cycles or so) they need to be replaced. It would be more comforting if the battery was universal to the product line.

One more thing...why the flashlight? The carrying case could be made smaller without it.
very light drill
 
Review Date: January 25, 2010
Reviewer: QHAN,
Had to buy a new drill in the middle of putting up 5 tiers, 4 sections, warehouse wood shelving. The Dewalt 14.4v, which I liked, went up in smokes after 5 yrs. Bought this Hitachi without any research, and was not disappoint. This drill is very compact and light, lighter than my 12v Dewalt. The battery came out of the box already charged, ready to go, which I appreciated cause I didn't have time to wait for initial charge-up. Each 1.5A lit-ion battery lasted about the same as a Ni-Cad, but much lighter and slimmer. Recharged takes 15-20 minutes. At 460in-lb, it easily drives 2 1/4 screws and sometimes 3in ones I was using, and 2 1/2 masonry screws pre-drilled. Was initially very skeptical of the belt hook but turned out to be a very convenient feature and didn't drop the drill through a lot of movement up and down the ladder. The led light gives a good added feature to work under low lighting conditions like under the shelves.

The extra flashlight is something I don't plan to use and seems a useless extra that could be taken out of the package to save buyers money. The case is ridiculously big. I had to put out a little more money for a bag to carry the drill and charger.

The green color and the stupid design on the drill make the drill look like a toy, but the performance is far from being one. I highly recommend this drill for extensive use. It lessen the wrist fatigue with its light weight and gives you very good driving power.
Nice drill but!!!!
 
Review Date: February 8, 2010
Reviewer: M. Dobson,
Pros: Very lite and good torqe.

Cons: Battery Life, Driver clutch.

My 5 year old Craftsman needed to be replaced because of a sticky trigger. I liked the Hitachi because it was lite and had the torqe I was looking for. Plus, it was the least expensive Li-ion drill set I found. It lasted all of two days and 50 screws (#12 1 & 1/2" self tapping into 14 ga steel). I had the clutch set at 22, and the first time the clutch slipped, it stripped the gears. Plus, I would average about 20 screws per battery charge. My 5 year old Craftsman would drive twice that many screws on a single charge, and I grinded it's clutch numerous times. I drove about 200 screws with the Craftsman into 1/4" steel.

This would be a nice drill for wood working or just drilling. But for metal work, its not tough enough.

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