DEWALT 11 Amp 1/2 in. 13 mm Variable Speed Reversing Stud and Joist Drill Kit

Dewalt quality and reliability. Has good power and torque.

GREAT FEATURES BUT IS VERY HEAVY COULD BE LIGHER FOR MOST PEOPLE TO USE

I’m an electrician and have used Dewalt drills since we first started. I’ve watched the line of old hole hawgs do some amazing things in the past, as well as some frightening things (breaking wrists, knocking men off ladders, locked bits twisting the handles and ripping through 2×4’s). Up until now I’ve avoided them like the plague. Two years ago my plumber bought one of these new ones (after years of the old dangerous ones) and liked it so much he bought 3 more for his small crew. He showed it to me, I lifted it up and put it down, telling him I couldn’t possibly use this tool overhead every day.Today this same plumber brought the same (very used) drill to have me use on a totally-remodeled house (I’m playing his helper to save $). I laughed and said I’d try it, but no promises. Although only 5 pounds heavier than my usual right angle drills, it seems heavier than advertised and more awkward to carry and use than my right angles, possibly because I had no idea it comes with a side handle (not offered to me today). Key for the chuck poorly designed – needs to be deeper to clear head (little things get to me, sorry). Put various sized hole saws, self-feed bits, Forstner bits, auger bits, etc. on it and away I went.Holy mackerel. Dull as most of his bits were (aren’t all contractors bits shot?), this drill (presumably 2.5 horsepower or something like that) was flying through everything I touched. Self-feed bits chewed so fast through 2″ stock I was peppered with wood shavings. We put some brand new Bosch Nail Killer auger bits in this and they chewed right through nails, staples, deck screws, even 3/4″ lag bolts, you name it, like they weren’t even there. It powered through even the most challenging of metal-embedded wood as long as our bits were sharp, and so fast. Hole saws, auger bits, etc (dull ones at that) cut through wood like a hot knife through butter. One hole saw was a bit slow in cutting until I realized I had the drill in reverse, and it had been going faster through the board than would my own right angle drill in forward!I braced myself, keeping hands and head positioned for kickbacks that never happened. Not once did I hear the safety clutch kick in or did I experience even one kickback. All day drilling and not one kickback, not even when hitting a lag bolt, not even when I abused the drill grinding out angled holes that surely would have thrown me off my ladder with the Milwaukees. I was laughing all day, saying over and over “I can’t believe this tool”…”Did you see how fast I drilled that hole?” The drill’s rotating speed is so fast the hole saws never “grab” on initial full contact with wood like my drill does. Your fingers never act as the bumper once the drill exits through the wood like when using my right angle. Tight stud bays were no harder to get at than with my right angle Milwaukee, too. Although heavy, just lift it like you mean it and the tool does the rest.My plumber even used this to drill out shower/tub valve holes. I held my breath while he simply kneeled, rested the huge drill on his knees and used his body as a drill press to delicately slice through the 1/8″ fiberglass as if using a utility knife.I’m generally not a big fan of Dewalt but I found their drills, certain saws, and (Perform and Protect) angle grinders to be excellent.My 15+ year old right angle drill had trouble the other day drilling 1 1/4″ through 50 year old douglas fir floor joists (new bit, too), and I thought, well, time for a new right angle. My plumber offered me one of those to use for a few days, as he has spares. No need, because guess what I’m buying online tonight? Another one of these.

great

I’m a mechanic installing an earthquake retrofit to my garage and I amvery happy with this heavy-duty drill. Plenty of torque and the 2-range variable speed with forward and reverse gives it great versatility.This drill has so much power that I was able to drill through 8 inches of studs with ease.I also use it to drill through steel plates for the retrofit and it eats through everything easily.The bind-up control stall-sensing technology delivers as promised.For extra tight spots, I remove the adjustable front handle and just use the 2-position side handle which gives me plenty of control since it has variable speed. It is a manageable beast.This is the same as model DWD460 , 11.75 lb drill, except for $17 more you get a great case to protect it.

Doing great so far, it’s hard to stop it!