Since I have a lot of little jobs around the house this easy to handle light and durable piece of machinery is just the thing I need. The first instinct is to buy a powerful tool but this being a second drill I decided some thing light and easy to use is just what I really need. The drill is quite powerful for its size/weight and its variable speed can be used for driving. The drill would warrant a 5 star rating if it wasn't for the variable speed trigger, which is not as smooth when trying to variate the speed, but with regular use I've learned to feather the trigger for driving screws.

I've had this drill for two weeks and it does the job fine for me (around the house). It drills through wood and plastic with no problem what-so-ever (maybe the guy who had the drill die while drilling through a 2x4 had a defective product). It eats concrete block with no problem (A friend and I have drilled maybe 20 holes in block) and I even used it on poured concrete. It took maybe 10-15 seconds to drill an 1 1/2 inch deep hole, but I wasn't expecting anything better.
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br /One of the best tips I've heard re: power tools is to let the tool work for you. I didn't "get into it" and apply all 210 lbs of me into the drill. ON the concrete, relax, put it on a low setting, and apply modest pressure. The tool, the bit and you will benefit.
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br /Overall, for around the house and for the money, this drill is perfect.

I bought one, tried to drill a 5/16" hole (half the rated capacity) in concrete with a new masonry bit and smoked the bit. The drill is too fast, even on it's lowest speed to effectively drill holes in concrete, maybe concrete blocks, but not concrete. I took it back 20 minutes after trying to use it. I have other Hitachi products that I am happy with, but not this one. If you want a hammer drill, keep looking, this isn't one...

I bought this drill to replace a 3/8" Skil that was 20 years old. I used it for thinset and grout mix it smelled like it was burning but, worked fine no problems. I then used it to drill 1" holes in poured concrete. It lasted for only 8 holes the bits kept coming out of the drill no matter how hard I tightened the chuck. Then on the 8th hole it started smoking and died (brushes are shot). This is labeled a heavy duty hammer drill. I think not. I don't suggest this for anyone who uses a drill alot.

I bought this drill new last year at Home Depot and used it to drill holes for 24,
br /3/16" Tapcon screws in concrete. By the time I got to the 24th hole it smelled like it was burning, the bearing was shot, leaking oil and the shaft was wobbling. Unfortunately, I could not find my receipt and they refused to take it back. If you buy this hammer drill make sure to hold on to your receipt because you will need it.

It is a very powerful drill and gets the job done. Hitachi is one of the best brands. All of our woodworking equipment is by Hitachi.

I have had the drill for a couple of years. I think it is really great and have never had any of the negative experiences listed in these other reviews. I find the slow setting quite slow. I find the high setting quite fast. My nephew and I installed about 30 rock climbing holds using tapcon screws and this drill. It worked absolutely great, and we were trying to do it with two other, much less expensive drills before that. Since then, I have drilled into masonry several times without issue. I have had it break a few screws when I have tried to put them into particularly hard stone, but the drill has always been fine. I haven't had it break a tapcon - those screws are worth the extra you pay, they are great! As of right now, I have owned about five different drills in my life and this is the best one for building, cutting holes, and driving screws or drilling holes into masonry. I haven't used a lot of high-end drills, so I cannot compare this to a Bosch or the like, but I am not disappointed at all with the product. Maybe some of these people got defective ones. If that were the case, I would suggest they do an exchange, because the one that I have works very well. One point, this drill uses a chuck key to tighten the bits, it is corded. I don't use it as my primary drill, I have a cordless drill that I use for everyday tasks, including as an electric screw-driver. I break out this drill when I am building something, cutting something thick or tough, or doing anything with masonry.

I purchased this drill at a local discount lumber yardbr and took it home for a personal try,on installing a 1/2 inch drill on second hole thur a 2x4 the drill made a noise and smoke came out the drill, i do not recommend this drill to no one thanks.