DeWalt Heavy-Duty XRP 1/2" 18V Hammerdrill Kit Review

We love testing drills. One of our favorite articles is the 18V cordless hammer drill roundup, which pitted 7 hammer drills against each other in a head-to-head comparison. Constructed in the typical DeWalt color scheme, our DeWalt Heavy-Duty XRP 1/2″ 18V Hammerdrill came in a black molded plastic case, along with two 18V XRP batteries and a 1-hour charger. The drill body features a metal gearbox and a sturdy yellow plastic body with black over-molded rubber for the handle’s grip surface and the drill’s back. The ergonomics and balance of this drill are fantastic.

As you hold it in your hand, it doesn’t feel front-heavy or top-heavy. The chuck on our test drill is a Jacobs 700 series that features an all-metal keyless locking chuck and carbide jaws that will prevent bits from ever slipping. The drill comes with a high-torque, variable speed motor that develops up to 500 in-lbs of torque, though DeWalt prefers to use Max Watts Out (MWO) numbers in its torque specs.

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DeWalt XRP 1/2″ 18V Hammerdrill Ergonomics and Use

To test the DeWalt Heavy-Duty XRP 1/2″ 18V Hammerdrill out in the field, we first loaded it up with a freshly charged battery and put a 1/2″ masonry bit in the chuck. The challenge was to drill a dozen 1/2″ by 2-inch deep holes in a concrete slab. The purpose of the holes was so that we could install wood dowels in them and use the plugs as a means to fasten down custom-made wood threshold strips on top with nails. We installed the side handle and rotated it to a comfortable position, then tightened it down and started drilling. The hammer function of the drill worked flawlessly, and it was comfortable to handle when drilling. We were able to drill all the holes on a single battery charge, and we still had enough battery power in reserve for another project. These lithium-ion batteries deliver decent run-time.

DeWalt DW988KA Heavy-Duty XRP 1/2" 18V Hammerdrill / Drill / Driver Kit Review — DeWalt Heavy-Duty XRP 1/2″ 18V Hammerdrill / Drill / Driver Kit DW988KA

The XRP batteries that are included in the kit are DeWalt’s extended run-time Ni-Cd batteries. Other models of this drill are coming out, including the new nano lithium-ion batteries. We suggest that anyone not in a hurry hold out for the new battery technology, as it will greatly improve the overall performance of this tool.

One of our other torture tests for the DeWalt DW988KA was to do a task normally left for a corded drill such as mixing mortar for a 500 sq ft tile job. We put a paddle mixer in the chuck and went to town mixing 5-gallon buckets of mud. In the course of this project, we had to set the drill to the highest torque setting on the collar, and we went through two batteries. In the end, the drill was not any worse for wear and we got the job done just fine.

In our standard outdoor noise level test, the drill measured 87 dB SPL on the meter (about as loud as a lawnmower up close). This is a relatively low reading in the power tool world and means that user ear fatigue is kept to a minimum because of the quieter operation, though ear protection is still recommended.

Conclusion

If top-notch quality, functionality, and balance are your specs for an 18-volt cordless drill that you expect to push to the limits, the DW988KA – Heavy-Duty XRP 1/2″ 18V Hammerdrill/Drill/Driver Kit is a must-have tool. This might be a little over the top for the average homeowner, but any construction professional who has used it can attest that this is a fantastic drill for the money and what it can do. The street prices have come down quite a bit on these; if you are a careful shopper, you should be able to find one of these for considerably less than the MSRP.

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