Hitachi DB3DL 3.6-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Screwdriver
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List Price: Our Price: $98.40 You Save: $50.49 (34%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Hitachi DB3DL 3.6-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Screwdriver
Customer Review: First understand what this tool is FOR, then compare...
Summary: 4 Stars
(Written as an avid DIYer after three months and 30 projects of ownership) First let me explain the purpose of this type of product - it is a general purpose light to moderate powered drill and screwdriver. For the average homeowner who does not engage in major renovation projects, this is the only tool you need. It is ideal for those general repairs, assembly projects, bathroom fixtures, light fixtures, ceiling fans, doorknob replacement, etc. If you are looking to use this for construction purposes like building walls, decks, attaching drywall, or installing long or thick wood screws you SHOULD BE looking for an Impact Driver, NOT a screwdriver like this one. Please don't get confused as to the purpose or use of this tool and be disappointed as a few reviewers here have.
I am very happy with this purchase. My 10-year-old B&D model of similar design and form factor was more than replaced by this one. Key features that are new to me compared to the old B&D is dual speeds (drill pilot hole & standard driver speed) and torque control (limits how much power goes to the screw to prevent stripping out the hole in softer materials). The amount of torque the driver can put out is impressive for its size and much more torque than the old B&D. I find myself able to complete most non-major construction tasks without reaching for the drill or impact driver at all like I did with the B&D. As far as the main points for a product in this category go - build quality, torque, torque settings, speed settings, and form factor - I can't see how any model of screwdriver designed to fill this niche could be significantly better than this one. More torque could actually be a liability for the typical applications that you would use this driver for.
Batteries - Worthy of mention is that LiIon batteries lose their charge very slowly when stored - like Alkaline batteries - and should last much longer in terms of years and number of charges compared to older technology. Older NiCad and Nickel Metal Hydride batteries lose charge much faster in storage meaning for infrequent use you have to charge before using and the spare battery is also likely dead. With LiIon batteries, this driver is ready to work when you need it - and so is the spare battery. LiIon batteries also have a very rapid drop off when discharging - this means the tool will be fully powered and then die instantly without warning which is a blessing and a curse. My old NiCad B&D would just start losing RPMs until it finally turned no more. This tool is fully powered until the next second it is out of juice. Purchasing a product these days that does not have removable LiIon batteries is a big no-no. Like vacuum cleaners, it is impossible to judge usable power based on volts/amps between models and vendors so don't make this number too important in your purchasing decision. Generally, more amps means more time between charges/battery changes. It doesn't matter so much in this product because it is nearly impossible to drain the spare battery before the dead one recharges. Another consideration is you may want to buy tools that use a battery 'system' where multiple tools use the same battery. From a DIYer perspective this is the only tool available that uses this battery (aside from their gas nailers, but who has those?). Some competitive models have flashlights and other tools that use the same battery, and this can be a plus for some people.
Major pluses:
-Lifetime warranty (unheard of) that is on this product (2 yrs on battery). I have no experience getting an Hitachi product repaired (I have several), so I can't comment on that.
-Light and fits in your pocket easily. Huge plus for those jobs on a ladder or other place where you need two hands to position something, one hand to hold it, while the other one needs to pick up the driver (that is now out of reach by Murphy's law). If it can fit in your pocket like this one, it is a problem no more.
-The driver is locked when not energized. This means you can use it as a manual screwdriver for finer grained torquing. A really stuck screw can be forced to turn easily if you fold the handle to give you more torque. This is an important feature to have!
So, why the 4 stars? To have a 'perfect' product in this niche there are features that can be added, done better, or may be done better in competitive products worthy of mention. If all the important stuff above is identical, use this list to help you make your decision:
- The LED light is not useful. It does not illuminate the area of the tip of the bit, but slightly under it. I can't comment on competitive models, but a useful light would be difficult to engineer in a narrow inline screwdriver.
- Lots of people mentioned the non-locking nature of the pivot as a big negative. I personally have not had an issue with it either bending or straightening when I did not want it to like some reviewers. Over lots of usage, I have not seen this mechanism loosening up either, which was a concern of mine. That said, the old B&D had a lock here and it would make me feel better in those rare situations where I don't/can't have a solid grip on the unit because my elbow is twisted and bent in 3 different ways.
- No on-board bit storage / can't use dual tipped bits. I really don't care much for the quality of dual tipped bits, so not being able to use them is not a biggie for me. I do need (way too frequently) to switch between a straight tip and Phillips and to be able to have one tip in storage on the device would be ideal. Some bits, like my old nut drivers, don't lock into place because they don't have a locking groove (don't use if the retaining ring will be compressed so you don't damage it). For those really short bits you may have laying around, you need to buy a magnetic bit holder.
- It only comes with one Philips bit. Come on guys - package it with a decent set of drivers and hex-shaft bits since you DO make them. I'd go to Harbor Freight and pick up a few sets of driver bits of various lengths and a set of hex-shanked drill bits for those pilot holes to have on hand anyway (for a fairly complete set of useful bits for this or any other driver, I suggest item numbers 98902,99860,99755,1800,36555,42191 and 65806 - total of around 35 dollars). The longer bits are a must for getting to screws that are deeply set into narrow recesses, PC cases, doorknobs, etc. No manufacturer packages these long driver bits, so I don't consider this a really bad thing. If this will be your first real power tool or are recommending it for purchase to someone as their first tool then you really need to include/recommend the purchase of at least some basic drill bit/driver set.
- Not variable speed - it is dual speed. Aside from driving really tiny wood screws into soft wood like MDF, I can't think of a case where variable speed is actually a need to have feature when you have finely grained torque control.
- No electric brake. This means the driver continues to rotate when you release the trigger until the motor stops on its own. Again, not a big minus with torque control. I don't think this could be implemented in a screwdriver with this form factor anyway.
A last bit of general advice on products of this type - even if you are buying something for occasional use - don't go cheap. Get a decent quality highly reviewed product or you will ultimately be disappointed. Also get a nice assortment of bit to use with your rig - you will be glad you did. You also want to read the storage information for the batteries and follow their advice on temperature - an unheated garage may be too cold for the batteries to have maximum life and charge.
Customer Review: Good Design and Powerful .. but
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a nice little product. It's the only one I've used so I don't have anything to compare it to but I do have one complaint. It is actually too powerful. On the low setting it has so much speed and torque that it doesn't stop as soon as you take your finger off the trigger. It's pretty hard to use for delicate screws. Sure you can set the clutch but then you are between too loose and overdoing it.
It works fine for regular screws and even drives/removes large wood screws. You just have to be careful turning the thing over to the wife or you may be finding ways to fix all the stripped fastners.
Customer Review: Good and bad...
Summary: 2 Stars
O.K. so this is the most comfortable little cordless driver I've ever come across. I have owned the 18v and the 14v DeWalts and they're GREAT drivers/drills for the money. However, I needed something smaller and more versatile than trying to use my HAMMER DRILL to work on copiers... I bought my first DB 3DL about 18 months ago... I WAS THRILLED.. (at first) It was the handiest, most comfortable, longest-lasting battery I'd ever used in a cordless device... it was GREAT! I wish my electric shaver had that much torque. I work on copiers for a living, so you can imagine the wear and tear on the hand/wrist after taking out THOUSANDS of screws in my 30 years of doing this kind of work. 'Nuff said.
Once I got ahold of this Hitachi (which was a FAR better tool than the Black and Decker/Skil/Ryobis of its day) I fell in LOVE. Lots of torque, excellent balance and features, etc. Then, it went bad one day.. I was heartbroken. Took it to the local Hitachi repair place. Bunch of jokers. 6 weeks and got it back STILL unrepaired. Seemed to work when I picked it up, then failed immediately afterwards. Just gave up after that on THAT driver.
Bought another one shortly after (price had come down a LOT since I bought the first one) and this one hasn't failed yet and it's been about 6 months. It happens to be PERFECT for the work I do, which is mostly removing/reinstalling lots of machine screws, but I don't know how well it would hold up putting wood screws in.
Unfortunately, at 50 bucks, I'm pretty sure Hitachi isn't going to do much for you on the product, so I haven't bothered contacting them yet. The way I look at it, if I have to spend $50 every six months on one of these things, I guess that's the price I have to pay. EVERYTHING'S being made cheaper and cheaper, so I guess I'm not surprised. It just happens to be the perfect driver for my needs so I'm going to have to suck it up and keep replacing them when they blow, I guess.
If you need an "all around" tool around the house, this is a GREAT little driver. But don't expect it to take the place of your DeWalt anytime soon....
Customer Review: Good product
Summary: 3 Stars
This is a handy screwdiver but dont plan on useing it for anything job related. It just isnt built strong enough for the industry worldCustomer Review: Good, with a but...
Summary: 3 Stars
Just opened this item. I am very disappointed it only came with a Phillips bit, and also there is nowhere to store an extra bit (Flathead). The most important thing for me with a power screwdriver is portability. And I always need both a Phillips and Flathead. Not to mention, different sizes of each. With this screwdriver, you have to carry the extras in your pocket. Not like my previous Black And Decker model, which had double-sided bits (one side Phillips, one side Flathead), which was very convenient and easy to switch between them. If only that screwdriver had not died... However, regarding performance, this one seems pretty good. And the ability to swap out re-chargable batteries will come in handy. Even so, I would have thought twice about buying this one given the bit situation.