With almost 500 in-lbs of torque, a three-speed transmission, ratcheting chuck and a new level of ergonomics, the new DeWalt DCD985L2 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Premium Hammer Drill kit is a must-have tool. This new five-pound drilling and driving machine can handle just about any fastener, drilling, and hammer drilling application you can think of. With the smart battery technology of the 20V MAX platform and the built-in electronics, you can be assured that your cordless DeWalt tools will last and perform better than the current 18V tools. We suspect that this drill will quickly become the tool of choice for many of the tradesmen and contractors that opt for the new 20V MAX lithium-ion battery platform.
The upper portion of the DeWalt DCD985L2 20V MAX Lithium-ion Premium Hammer Drill is nearly the same shape and offers the same functionality of the current 18V hammer-drills. Where the changes come into play is really from the trigger down. Electronics are now built into the switches, making the tool smarter by maximizing the life of the tools and batteries and helping to protect them from overheating, overloading and deep discharge during use. The drill kit includes two 3.0Ah battery packs and a heavy-duty plastic carry case. By utilizing the new slide battery packs, The engineers at DeWalt were able to thin down the handle considerably and make the tool more comfortable to hold and control. The DeWalt DCD985L2’s all metal three-speed transmission has settings that go from 0-600, 0-1,250, and 0-2,000 RPM, depending on which level you have it set to. The 1/2-inch metal ratcheting chuck comes with carbide inserts that helps to reduce bit slippage during high torque applications and provides long life. The drill features a bright LED work light above the trigger, which provides a 20 second delay for use in dimly lit spaces. The word “Premium” in its name really is just a way to differentiate it from its slightly smaller and more compact brother, the DCD785C2.
The included 20V MAX lithium-ion quick charger only takes 30 minutes to fully charge a battery pack. It has dual voltage functionality, making it compatible with the 12V MAX lithium-ion batteries as well as the new 20V slide packs. Unlike the 18V top post design , the new 20V MAX batteries are a slide-on sled style, much like their new 12V MAX cordless tools. The 20V MAX designation for these tools is really just to ensure that there was no confusion with their current 18V line which is not going anywhere anytime soon. The DCD985L2 20V MAX Lithium-ion Premium Hammer Drill comes with a three-year limited warranty, one-year free service contract, and 90-day money-back guarantee. The included 3.0Ah lithium-ion battery packs each come with a three-year free service contract.
Testing and Use
After spending a little time with the DeWalt DCD985L2 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Premium Hammer Drill, one of the first things that come to mind is versatility. With a feature set that makes it a good workhorse; we never were able to stall it in our drilling challenges. This drill has a high threshold for pain, too. Unlike some of the competition that tends to cut off when the drill overloads, we were not able to get it to this point – and we never smoked a motor. We liked the three-speed transmission and the built-in work light. What makes this LED light even better is that, when you let off the trigger, it stays on for an additional 20 seconds. We compared this drill to other 18V hammer drills on the market and the new 20V MAX drill was among the most compact and lightweight models. The balance in the hand is good and the new grip geometry is noticeably better then DeWalt’s 18V models. The ratcheting chuck with the carbide jaws provided amazing grip on round shank bits. The secondary handle worked well and attached in the same familiar way as with all prior DeWalt hammer drills. What makes their secondary handle better than much of the competition is that you can position it anywhere that makes your grip more comfortable. Compare this to some that are locked in at 90 deg increments or less.
Conclusion
Dewalt cordless drills have always been good performers and the new DCD985L2 20V MAX Lithium-ion Premium Hammer Drill lived up to our high expectations. What the old 18V models lacked in run time and battery durability, this new model makes up thanks to the 3.0Ah 20V MAX batteries and protective internal circuitry. We just wished that we knew when it was running out of juice. For our Professional rating, we gave this drill a stellar 8/10 because it does a good job at just about every task that we used it for. The fact that it is a hammer drill, and that it has as much power as it does, makes it a great portable tool. For our Value rating, we gave the DCD985L2 a 7/10 since it gives the users all the features that they need and none that they don’t. In other words, it is a premium tool that offer professional performance – and all at a price point that keeps it inline with the competition.
