The Bottom Line
While not for the discerning heavy user, this cordless Hitachi 12V Cordless Drill Kit is perfect for the occasional user who wants something better than most of the flimsy off-the-shelf models.
Pros
- Price - One of the Better-Priced 12V Cordless Drills.
- Good Grip - Comfortable.
- Respectable Name Brand.
Cons
- Weight - 3.3 lbs.
- Power - Only 12V, Not 18V
- Packaged as Part of Useless "Kit" (Do You Really Need that Flashlight?)
Description
- Hitachi: a major name in power tools since 1948.
- While not lacking in the standard features, no real "bells and whistles" either.
- 12V is respectable mid-range power.
- Swift battery changing.
- Good feel, in terms of both grip and balance.
- Comes with carrying case, flashlight, driver bits, and two batteries.
Guide Review - Hitachi 12V Cordless Drill Set
Here is the caveat: we deliberately searched for good low- to medium-priced drills to review. So, right up front, let's be clear that this cordless drill is not a super-powered, goosebumps-inducing, pro-quality DeWalt drill. That said, this Hitachi 12V Cordless Drill Set is an adequate cordless drill, without having to scrape the bottom of the barrel for the no-name, no-brand drills out there that poop out soon after you buy them. Hitachi, while not the most stellar name in home power tools, is respected enough that you can have some comfort buying it.
Now, this is only a 12 volt drill, so you will not be drilling into concrete blocks with it anytime soon. Voltage is a prime indicator of a drill's worth, with 9.6 V representing the bottom end of the scale and 18V the top end.
A few extraneous clutter up the product and help Hitachi justify calling this a "kit" rather than simply a "drill." Chiefly, there is a flashlight that uses the same ni-cad battery as the drill. This makes little sense: you are draining your spare drill battery, and will not have any juice available when it comes time to switch.
