Hitachi DH18DL/JL 18V

A serious rival to the 18 volt SDS drills from the likes of Makita and Bosch. It’s around £100 cheaper with a similar spec that includes 2 quality 3.0Ah lithium-ion batteries which give it the fastest drilling speed in the 18 volt class. It gets stuck into concrete in hammer drilling mode and we like its handy features such as the LED work light and belt-hook. (Review continues below…)

The Hitachi DH18DL/JL 18V SDS-Plus Hammer Drill

Drilling power

The Hitachi DH18DL/JL 18V is all about speed and battery power. Don’t be fooled into thinking you need a 24v SDS drill when an 18v will give you an equally good, if not better performance. This Hitachi will deliver 1.4 joules with the concentrated power to drilling 16mm diameter holes into concrete and brick. The power from the lightweight lithium-ion batteries give this machine the fastest drilling speed in its class ¬(impact rate: 0-3100/6200)

Batteries

One of the best things about this 18 volt SDS drill is the 2 lightweight lithium-ion batteries. These are 3.0Ah top rated models. Their long battery life – is due to a unique protection circuit gives up to 1300 battery cycles. The batteries have a standard fitting, compatible with existing Hitachi cordless tools

Drill weight and length

At 2.3kg it’s about average for a cordless SDS. The length is a tidy 251mm. The batteries are nice and light – 40% lighter than the equivalent Ni-Cad battery.

Chuck type

SDS Plus

Number of drilling modes

Two modes. Drill only & drill and hammer.

Other notable features

• Quickest drilling rate in the 18V category
• Two mode function – rotary drilling and hammer drilling
• Responsive variable speed and reverse
• Handy power save mode minimises damage to smaller drill bits
• Convenient belt hook with built-in LED.

Includes:

Please check with each retailer but a typical package includes:

• Hitachi DH18DL/JL 18V Cordless SDS-Plus Hammer Drill
• 2 x 3.0Ah lithium-ion batteries
• UC18YRL charger
• Side handle
• Depth gauge
• Carrying case.