Although the batteries do not seem to last very between charges, there are two of them in the kit along with a quick charger. The specified torque is impressive, but I think that it may be slightly exaggerated. The ergonomics, weight, and overall dimensions are nearly ideal. The box and Hitachi website indicate a 5-year warranty, but the warranty card itself indicates only a one-year warranty. The chuck is pretty cheap, and the trigger doesn't seem very well-made. The design of the carrying case leaves a lot to be desired. All in all, after about 6 weeks, it appears to be a good drill for light to moderate homeowner duty. The quality of the drill is probably a cut above other drills available in the $99 price range, but it is certainly not worth the $150 that Lowes now charges. If you are willing to spend $140-$150, you will probably be able to get a Makita mForce or Bosch Compact Tough 14.4V-18V model and be much happier.

The drill has a great feel to it . Easy to hold. Battery lasts a long time. the flashlight is very good also. The only problem I'm having is with the drill chuck. It doesn't hold the bits like it should. They fall out quite often.

good torque, reasonable battery life for a medium duty drill, charges quickly. the compactness lets it get into spaces many drills won't reach. down side: cheap plastic housing, doesn't fit standard holster, attached belt clip won't hang securely on hammer loop. I dropped mine about six feet and the housing broke completely in two where the handle meets the head. No parts are available yet for this model, so I had to epoxy the housing. If you need a compact drill for the tight places this is a good buy at Lowe's for $99, just be very careful how you carry it. If you need one to use all day, this isn't it.

A real hit on the job site.Very light and compact.Has a lot of torque.I have used it sparingly since I got it but I can say I am happy.Doesnt have the torque of the 16 volt porter cable but it isnt like dragging a car battery around to install.I have been hanging it on my belt and it isnt uncomfortable.I carry a lot of stuff on my belt and the Hitachi fits my belt and my hand very well.Very ergonomic

This 18 volt Hitachi is a little power house and the batteries just seem to work and work. I use the drill a lot and under some heavy duty conditions but it just keeps going. When a charge is needed there is a very short downtime for recharge and you are back in business. I wish it wasn't made in China but that is so much the trend; however, it really is a quality drill at a very affordable price. If I needed another cordless (won't ever give up on my corded Milwaukee) I'd buy another one of these.

Awesome drill...received it last Friday and was put to work right away and all weekend long. I've been doing a lot of DIY at home. Putting up sheetrock, hanging cabinets, drilling holes for cable wires in the attic, and holes for door knobs. This drill has enough power to do most housework. Very satisfied and a great bang for the buck.

The flashlight and two batteries (with ultra quick charge- and auto stop charge) is nice! Also the size is smaller so it can fit in tighter spots than the 6 year old cordless I replaced with this one. The slip clutch seems a little tighter than I'm used to on my old one but hey- when you're on slow setting you can always just let off the trigger.
br /I tossed the plastic case on day two and use a zipper top tool bag- that ended that frustration and the plastic case was HUGE.
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The Hitachi 18 volt 1/2 inch cordless drill is very easy to use and light enough, yet powerful enough to perform most hosehould repair/improvement projects quickly easily - and the price was good. The flashlight is just an extra.

First charge produced over 300 of 1 1/2" Phillips screws (non stripped) plus 3 holes of 2" in diameter in 2 layers of 3/4" OSB and the battery was still good for the flashlight!
br /What also can you ask for?
br /Tork regulator is very gentle on lower numbers 1-6 and very strong on 16-22 and a LOW/High speed switch is very handy. Marvelous little tool!
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This is a great drill. I bought it after doing several hours of research and am very happy! I'm thrilled to get an 18-volt drill that I can handle. I am a woman and have carpal tunnel, so anything heavy was out of the question. I've never been able to get a drill over 14-volts that was light enough, but this one is. It is rather ugly, as other people have mentioned, but I don't think that's a major factor in buying a drill.

I pay $70 for this set when on-sale. This is unbelievable price for the quality. You got to get if it comes back again

This makes my 2nd 18v Hitachi drill. I liked the first one so much I bought a second because I wanted another as a backup so I can have one inside and one in the garage. The feel and handling is great and it has lots of power. I would highly recommend this drill. You get professional quality and power at a price cheaper than Dewatt or the like. I'll put it head to head with any other drill and come out ahead just on value alone.

My husband and I both enjoy this product for household things as well as building things also.

This is a great drill kit. It has lots of power and the batteries charge in about a half-hour. It is light weight and easy to use. Everything you would want in a cordless drill.

I have been using a Ryobi 18v drill for the last few years, and although it owes me nothing (it has performed very well over the years), it was worn and needed to be replaced. A friend of mine has been using this model of Hitachi for the last few years and his battery life has always been superior to my Ryobi, which made me jump on this product when I saw it on sale for $69.99 with two batteries and a flashlight. Delivery was ridiculously prompt (four days after ordering.) The belt hook is a great feature which the Ryobi is missing. So far I am very happy with Amazon and the product.

I bought this drill based on the ergonomics. I picked up and held every drill at the store and this one has perfect ergonomics. The handle is very comfortable and it appears to be perfectly balanced, the weight is perfect, feels light but well made. This drill is the most comfortable to hold by far of any drill I have seen or tested and I looked at every brand in several stores.
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br /The drill has a lot of torque and the clutch is great. I use it as a cordless screwdriver most of the time and a drill on occasion. Most chuck less drills have a hard time holding the bits, but you can use the DeWalt drill bits that have a hexagonal base and it solves the problem completely.
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br /The batteries last a long time and charge in about 30 minutes. It comes with two so you can charge one while using the other. They won't charge until they cool down however (the charger will not charge a hot battery).
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br /If you need a longer run time, you can get NiMH or Li-Ion batteries in anywhere from 1.5Ah to 3.0Ah that fit this drill. If you go with either of those however, you will need a new charger since the supplied charger is only for Ni-Cad batteries. The UC18YRL is a universal charger that can charge all 3 types of batteries.
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br /You can also buy the DS18DFL package which appears to be the same drill with Li-Ion batteries but without a flashlight. For some reason the Li-Ion drill is rated about 6% less torque of 374in/lbs vs this one is 400 in/lbs, although I doubt anyone could tell the difference.
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br /The flashlight is bright and lasts a long time, I use it all the time. The light comes with a spare lamp inside if you unscrew the cover. I had a hard time finding replacement lamps for the light for a while, but then found out the Makita ML180 lamps work perfectly as a replacement so I just pick those up at a local Makita dealer.
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br /I have dropped both the flashlight and the drill onto a concrete floor about several times and both survived without damage except killing the flashlight bulb if the light was on.
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br /I bought two kits I use in two locations and this set has been great in every way. The batteries are getting old so I'll replace them with NiMH or Li-Ion and get the universal charger.
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br /All rechargeable batteries self discharge so if you charge it and store it, it will be dead when you need it. If you use it only occasionally, it is best to store the batteries with a low charge or near empty, not fully charged to extend their lifetime.
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br /When you replace them, you can recycle them at most hardware stores or any Radioshack will accept them. Don't throw them out, the Cadmium is toxic and like all rechargeable batteries, they should be disposed of properly.

I got this drill in the 4-piece set, it works pretty good. Batteries don't hold up as well as DeWalt, when they start going, they're just dead. I dropped my drill about 4 feet and it broke in 2 pieces, drill still works great, but has no handle. I had to use a panduit strap to hold it together. I've talked to the good people at Lowe's about getting it repaired under warranty, because this is obviously a defect and it was only a month old, but they suggested I just buy a new one because Hitachi will refuse the repair, and to "be careful and not drop it".
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br /So, it's a good buy for the money, but, just don't drop it.

I like this drill because it feels great in my hand and is very comfortable to use. The grip is great. I hate the keyless chuck. On certain bits, I just can't seem to get the chuck tight and it will come loose during the job. I have dewalt drills that don't have this problem. The batteries with this drill are horrible. They don't last long at all. Hitachi makes a another battery that fits this drill that last a lot longer. Overall a decent drill.

Works well, plenty of power. Nice case with set and really appreciate the charger that shuts off when charge is done. Would puchase it again. Only flaw, ugly color. But don't lose it in the the other tools.

This is a great to tool. Small for tight places but powerful for most jobs.

I purchased new for $75 plus a free battery totaling 3 batts. I am glad I got the third one since the 1.4 amp batts do not last long. Hitachi makes higher amperage batts, and I would suggest purchasing them for those who use the unit extensively. The drill is well balanced and well made with plenty of power.

this was an upgrade to my old 13.2 volt firestorm which died recently. Definatly can tell the extra torque, and the speed of recharge is great too. The included light really comes in handy too, and it's BRIGHT! I named mine Drillzilla because the colors remind me of Godzilla

Got a great price on a Goldbox Deal. I have used this many times and it
br /has taken care of each task performed. Some one came to install a storm door at my house and his Dewalt drill had no power. He used mine and stated it was a great drill and finished the job easily

I've owned one of these sets for roughly 5 months and am absolutley pleased with its performance. I'm the Maintenance Supervisor of the multi-use building where I work so I have used this drill on dozens of occasions for a variety of purposes.
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br /This drill is very comfortable to use and is relable in its' performance. The battery life is usually sufficient to get the job completed, but on a more lengthy task which may require changing batteries they charge quickly enough that I always have a fully charged battery ready for use.
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br /When I first got the drill I did have a slight problem with the bits coming loose but that was mostly caused by my not adequately tightening the chuck. That's not an uncommon problem with keyless chucks, I've experienced that with other drills.
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br /The only negative comment I might have would be more of a personal feeling than a comment about this tools performance. I just don't feel this drill has the power to tackle a real tough job, such as drilling through metal or sheet steel more than about 1/16"; I use my heavier duty drill for those real tough projects. That one is also a Hitachi product and I believe their top of the line drill powered with Lithium Ion batteries, however it is a rather expensive tool.
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br /Overall, this a great little drill. I have no qualms in giving it a 5 Star recommendtaion for anyone looking for a dependable drill at a reasonable price for use around the home, in the home workshop or even on the job site.
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This is a really balanced drill. Feels really good in my hand and clips onto my belt when not in my hand. The batteries charge quickly and last a long time. It has excellent power and speed, I have sold my other drills after I got this one. I also got an unbeatable price on it.

Like the other guy said, dont drop it. I dropped mine from about 12ft. and it in pieces. This drill is made for homeowners. It doesnt stand a chance in the real world.

I;ve had the 18v set for about 2yrs (since they first came out)
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br /These tools are excellent!
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br /IMHO they have excellent balance and power-to-weight ratio. Outstanding durability and from my expierence, GREAT battery life, sometimes I wear out B4 they do!
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br /Dropped numerous times from height (10') with no problems.
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br /The flashlight is the weak link here - not very bright and the buld burned out within the first 15min - I never replaced it so I can't say how nice it is.
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Great drill, just don't drop it on a hard floor. I dropped a 1 week old drill on a concrete floor from 4 feet and severely cracked the handle which rendered the drill useless. Hitachi said dropping is not covered by their 5 year "professional" Warranty. Seems they could have used a more resiliant plastic. My kids have plastic toys you can throw against a concrete wall and they will not crack. Oh well, guess I stay with DeWalt for quality professional power tools. I'd like to see a DIY'er or carpenter that hasn't dropped a tool.

I have used Makita (12.2 v) for years. I dropped on floor from above 4 ft. and I have never have any problem. Now my batteries dead, so I got Hitachi(14.4v) by yesterday (Father's day) at Lowe's. I paid for $99 with bonus card' lowe's $25 = I paid total $74 +tax. good price I have seen before ($149).
br /But it was made by China. I had DVD, camcorder, TV, lap with batteries bad very soon (all China made). So I returned this drill and get Dewalt (14.4 V) $99 + tax (was $149). A man works for Lowe's he referred me to get Dewalt. See how much value Dewalt can give you. I trust men gave review about Dewalt 14.4v.
br /Think twive before get any power tool which use cordless( batt) which was made China.

Hitachi DS18DVF3 18 volt Cordless Drill Kit
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br /Nice unit compact well designed for easy to handle. Flashlight accessory nice as well as case and charger.

I owned this piece for about 4 months. I tend to do heavyer work then the average home owner, but needed a cordless drill with a 1/2" chuck for my 3/4" wood augger bit to drill through studwork on an addition I was building. It works fine when drilling through 1 2X4, and even 2. I was a bit supprised that when I was drilling through 3 boards that the drill didn't stop, but catch fire. Most every other tool that has an electric motor has a thermal override that would cut off if the motor got hot, but this didnt. I only paid $70 for it, and feel that is all it is worth. If you want power that is not comprimised by un-intelegence in manufacturing then go with a Dewalt.

The battery charges in an hour, but it doesn't keep a charge longer than 1.5 hrs.?????

A great drill! light powerfull.
br /Good luck getting the free battery with purchase! I bought mine in October 27th 2005 know its December 31 2005! Happy New Year!
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