Battery: 18 volts; 3.0 Ah Battery gauge: No Weight: 4.96 pounds Lenght 9-3/16 inches RPM 0–300; 0–600; 0–1,700 LED headlight: Dual lights above trigger; 10-second delay Belt hook: Included Web price: $280
Includes: Two batteries; charger; side handle; plastic case Warranty: 3 years tool; 1 year battery and charger; 30-day satisfaction guarantee Country of origin: China Comments:— Pro: Three-speed gear box; drill/drive mode separate from clutch; thin comfortable grip; bright dual-LED lights; includes belt hook; excellent fan-cooled charger; available as bare tool (BDF451Z) Con: Feels somewhat top-heavy; trigger could be more responsive; no battery gauge
Battery: 18 volts; 3.0 Ah Battery gauge: Yes; on battery Weight: 4.68 pounds Lenght 8-7/16 inches RPM 0–400; 0–1,400 LED headlight: On base; no delay Belt hook: Not available Web price: $285
Includes: Two batteries; charger; side handle; plastic case Warranty: 1 year tool; 3 years battery and charger; 30-day satisfaction guarantee; register for XXL 3-year tool warranty Country of origin: Germany Comments:— Pro: Feels powerful and well-made; mechanical clutch is paired with electronics that cut power to the motor at desired torque; dual side-mounted gear switches; sensitive trigger; fan-cooled charger Con: Thick grip isn’t a good fit for smaller hands; no belt clip available; awkward battery release; only seven clutch settings
Battery: 18 volts; 1.5 Ah Battery gauge: Yes; on battery Weight: 3.82 pounds Lenght 7-3/4 inches RPM 0–350; 0–1,400 LED headlight: Above trigger; 8-second delay Belt hook: Sold separately Web price: $190
Includes: Two batteries; charger; blow-molded plastic case Warranty: 5 years tool and charger; battery: 2 years or 1,000 charges (100%), 5 years or 2,000 charges (pro-rated); 30-day satisfaction guarantee Country of origin: China Comments:— Pro: One of the more powerful compact models; comfortable grip; easy to shift gears; only compact with full metal chuck; available as bare tool (2601-20) Con: Lowest clutch setting could be lower; trigger somewhat sloppy; does not include belt clip
Battery: 18 volts; 3.0 Ah Battery gauge: Yes; on battery Weight: 5.56 pounds Lenght 9-1/4 inches RPM 0–450; 0–1,800 LED headlight: Above trigger; no delay Belt hook: Sold separately Web price: $320
Includes: Two batteries; charger; side handle; blow-molded plastic case Warranty: 5 years tool and charger; battery: 2 years or 1,000 charges (100%), 5 years or 2,000 charges (pro-rated); 30-day satisfaction guarantee Country of origin: China Comments:— Pro: Feels very powerful; drill/drive mode separate from clutch; responsive trigger; thin comfortable grip; stiff metal side handle; available as bare tool (2610-20) Con: One of the heavier models tested; does not include belt clip; side handle has only three positions: left, right, and up
Battery: 18 volts; 3.3 Ah Battery gauge: No Weight: 4.74 pounds Lenght 8-9/16 inches RPM 0–430; 0–1,650 LED headlight: On base; manually operated Belt hook: Not available Web price: $305
Includes: Two batteries; charger; side handle; plastic case Warranty: 2 years tool; 1 year battery and charger; 30-day satisfaction guarantee Country of origin: China Comments:— Pro: Good power; excellent runtime; thin comfortable grip; very responsive trigger; one of two models with 3.3-Ah batteries Con: Manually activated light; no belt clip available; no battery gauge; overly large case; plastic chuck sleeve; limited number of tools in this battery system
Battery: 18 volts; 1.5 Ah Battery gauge: Yes; on battery Weight: 4.02 pounds Lenght 7-1/4 inches RPM 0–450; 0–1,650 LED headlight: On base; manual and automatic; 8-second delay Belt hook: Included Web price: $180
Includes: Two batteries; charger; side handle; soft zippered case Warranty: 3 years tool, battery, and charger; register for lifetime coverage of tool, battery, and charger Country of origin: China Comments:— Pro: Feels more powerful than average compact model; light can be activated by trigger or separate switch; only tool of its size that comes with a side handle Con: One of the heavier compacts; soft case has no dividers to prevent contents from bouncing around; 3.0- Ah batteries available but can’t be purchased as part of kit
“Passionate” is the best word that can be used to describe Greg DiBernardo. His professional world revolves around constructing beautiful outdoor spaces for his clients using cutting edge materials and methods that will stand the test of time.Greg is a nationally recognized figure in the deck building industry. He’s a regular contributor to the industry’s trade publication, Professional Deck Builder magazine, writing feature articles that dictate the deck and outdoor industry’s best practices for design, construction and management. He’s also a Contributing Editor for Tools of the Trade magazine and a frequent author for The Journal of Light Construction and Fine Home Building.He has been a presenter and speaker for the National Association of Remodelers (NARI) and large building supply companies on advanced deck building and business topics.A deck and construction industry insider, Greg’s notoriety affords him close personal connections with major industry manufacturers assisting them with product development, design and testing of new and existing building materials. Greg has also made TV appearances on the The Today Show, DIY Network, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, House Smarts, and the Food Network. He resides in Canton, GA with his wife and daughter.
