ToolCrib.com

ReviewRegardless of whether you're a do-it-yourselfer buying your very first set of cordless tools, or a seasoned pro looking to upgrade your tool arsenal, you'd be smart to consider this six-piece combo kit from DeWalt. This versatile set of heavy-duty cordless tools will handle virtually any drilling, screw driving, woodcutting, metal grinding, metal cutting, and tile-sawing job you're likely to encounter. And all six tools are powered by DeWalt's popular 18-volt XRP (eXtended Run-time Performance) nickel-cadmium batteries.

The kit includes a 1/2-inch hammer drill-drill/driver that's actually three tools in one: 1) Set it in the hammer-drill mode to quickly bore holes through concrete, brick, stone and other masonry surfaces; it delivers up to 34,000 blows per minute of rock-blasting percussive force. 2) Switch to the drill mode for drilling and hole-sawing through all sorts of woods and metals; the tool's three-speed transmission lets you choose the optimum drilling speed for the job. 3) Employ the drill's 22-position slip clutch for precise screw driving; choosing the appropriate clutch setting will help prevent you from overdriving the screw and possibly damaging the work surface.

The other tools included are: 6-1/2-inch circular saw that can cut through 2-by lumber with the blade set at 90 or 45 degrees; reciprocating saw with a tool-free blade clamp for quick blade changes; a two-speed impact driver that delivers 1,170 inch-pounds of torque for driving virtually any size screw quickly and easily; cut-off tool that can be used to grind and cut various types of metal, steel and ceramic tile; and a flexible floodlight that has a bendable goose neck that permits hands-free operation.

The kit includes two 18-volt batteries, a one-hour charger and a convenient soft-sided carrying bag that's roomy enough to fit all of the tools and several accessories. -- Joseph Truini

What's in the Box
Hammerdrill/drill/driver, circular saw, reciprocating saw, impact driver, cut-off tool, flexible floodlight, one-hour battery charger, two 18-volt batteries, soft-sided carrying bag