Tool Box Buzz

DEWALT 12 Volt MAX* Lithium Ion 1/4” Screwdriver Kit ( DCF610S2)

Back in June I had the pleasure of traveling down to MD to Black & Decker University for the unveiling of DEWALT’s new 12 Volt MAX* cordless platform. At that event I had the pleasure of testing the new tools for a limited time. The folks at DEWALT recently sent me the new 12 Volt MAX* Lithium Ion 1/4″ Screwdriver Kit (DCF610S2) to evaluate further. The following is our review of this new 12 Volt offering from DEWALT.

1/4″ Screwdriver Kit (DCF610S2) Features:

• Weight – 2.2 pounds, is compact and lightweight, allowing contractors to easily access tight areas for job-site versatility.
• Three LED lights eliminate shadows on work surfaces and provide improved visibility to ensure better accuracy, compared to existing products on the market.
• For added convenience, a one hand loading 1/4-inch hex chuck allows users to simply push in the bit to lock it in place as well as accepts a 1” bit tip to fit into the tightest spaces.
• The clutch is easy to access, and 0-1,050 RPMs deliver the speed that contractors demand.

Designed and Built For Contractors

Don’t let this 12 volt screwdriver trick you into thinking it was designed and built for home owners. Quite the opposite is true, in fact, this screwdriver was designed and built with contractors in mind. The screwdriver is compact yet powerful enough to handle a variety of professional jobs. It is ideal for remodelers, electricians, cabinet installers, woodworkers and many other professionals whose jobs demand fastening and drilling applications.

“With its ability to drive 207 2-1/2” cabinet screws on a single battery charge, this tool provides users with the power and run-time needed to meet their job-site demands,” said John Castelino, Sr. Product Manager, DEWALT. “During the product development process, our team spent a significant amount of time working side by side with users in the field to develop the ideal product that addressed their concerns. The result is a powerful, ultra compact screwdriver that is durable and packed with innovative features that increase productivity.”

I was very impressed with the balance between torque, speed and battery run time. For me, this is a great tool for cabinet installation and all around assembly of products requiring screws, nuts, etc.

DEWALT 12 Volt MAX Screwdriver Review

I’ve been testing the new 12 Volt MAX* Screwdriver over the last several weeks including letting some of our carpenters take it for a test drive at work. Everyone that’s had the pleasure of using this new 12 volt screwdriver has been very impressed.

Design

Right out of the bag you’ll notice one major change compared to the other manufacture’s of 12 volt drivers and that’s the battery pack / orientation. As you can see in the adjacent photo DEWALT designed the 12 Volt MAX* to include a battery pack similar to their other platforms with it located at the bottom of the handle oriented so the drill will stand up on it’s own. Most all other 12 volt screwdrivers have the battery inserted into the handle grip which doesn’t allow the drill to stand up on it’s own as shown here.

This design feature creates a very well balanced drill at a light weight of only 2.2 lbs.
Most of the sub-compact screw drivers on the market hover around the 2.0 to 2.2 lb range with the batteries installed. Designed using digital scanning and 3D technology, the contoured handle design of the DCF610S2 offers increased comfort compared to products on the market today. They have also included soft bumpers and pads around the tool to protect work surfaces from scratches (see photo above).

Battery Pack

The new 12 Volt MAX* battery pack is significantly smaller than the big brother 18 volt batteries as you can see in the adjacent photo. However, it’s kept that flat, bottom of the tool look which is significantly different compared to most of the competition.

The screwdriver incorporates D EWALT-designed electronics that are built in the switches of all 12 Volt MAX* tools, instruments and lights. These electronics provide maximum life for the tools and batteries by protecting them from overheating, overloading and deep discharge during use.

This kit comes with two 12 volt MAX* lithium ion batteries and a 40 minute charger. One slight improvement that DEWALT might want to think about is the charge time. Most other 12 volt systems are in the 30 minute range so the extra 10 minutes might be of concern to some users.

LED Work Light

DEWALT did a really nice job with the new LED work light design on the 12 Volt MAX*. They positioned three LED lights around the chuck which produces a much better stream of light compared to drills with one light positioned below the chuck.

The new design helps eliminate shadows on the work piece and also provides a much brighter light source. As with most tools today this one allows you to slightly depress the trigger to engage the light before starting the drill.

Overall Impression

Quite a few people have commented to me that DEWALT was really late in bringing a 12 volt subcompact to market. While I tend to agree with that statement I think most users will quickly realize that the wait was worth it.

This tools has an excellent balance between power (torque), speed, battery run time, weight and comfort. This tool really does represent the contractors needs for a lightweight, powerful, comfortable tool. If you too are skeptical then I say just stop by a store, pick it up and you too will quickly understand what I’m talking about.

The 12 Volt MAX* Lithium Ion Screwdriver should be available in stores later this fall.

The new Screwdriver Kit ( DCF610S2) includes two 12 Volt MAX* Lithium Ion battery packs, a 40 minute charger, bit tip, belt hook and contractor bag in addition to the screwdriver. Available in the fourth quarter at home centers and industrial distributors, the screwdriver kit is expected to retail for approximately $139.00.

In addition to being sold as a screwdriver kit, the product will also be available as part of a combo kit ( DCK210S2). The combo kit includes one screwdriver, one impact driver, two 12 Volt MAX* Lithium Ion battery packs, two bit tips, two belt hooks, one 40 minute charger and a contractor bag.

The product will come with a three-year limited warranty, one year free service contract and 90-day money back guarantee. For more information about the warranty or available accessories, visit http://DEWALT.com.

Where To Buy DEWALT 12V MAX Tools

If you’re looking to buy one of the new 12V MAX tools then look no further. Check out: DeWalt 12-Volt Max Tools

*Maximum initial battery pack voltage (measured without a workload) is 12 volts. Measured under a workload, nominal voltage is 10.8.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.