DEWALT DWD215G 1/2-Inch 10-AMP Mid Handle Grip Drill Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've had a Milwaukee 18V cordless drill for years (Lok-Tor serie, not the new Chinese made M18 cordless serie) and it's served me well. However batteries for these are unreliable and the Li-ion replacements cost too much (still had to buy a set to revive my cordless tools, cost is close to $200) so I decided to look for a corded alternative to take its place whenever possible. After HOURS of reading reviews and specs, I decided to go for this Dewalt one. It has power, speed and other features that I really like. My brand of choice is Milwaukee in the past but Milwaukee has decided to make most of their tools in China now and I'm definitely NOT a fan of Chinese products. I've had bad experiences with Dewalt brand in the past (10+ years ago) but thought they probably have improved. Not so.

Pros:
1. Decent price.
2. NOT "Made in China" craps. This is made in Mexico.
3. LOTS of power (10 AMP). In fact, it is the most powerful drill in its class.
4. Mid-section handle give a balanced hold.
5. SPINDLE LOCK!!! Can't stress how important this is on keyless chucks. You can tighten bits a lot tighter than free-spinning spindle, which requires 2 hands to tighten bits. Very helpful when drilling large holes with round-shanked bits because the chuck clamps on the bits a lot tighter hence, eliminate bit spinning. For people who has never used a spindle-lock corded drill before: it's like the chuck tightening system found on most mid-range to high end cordless drill or corded drills with single sleeve chucks. Trust me, you won't want to go back to drills without spindle lock after using one.
6. High RPM for 1/2" drill. Most 1/2" drill goes for around 850RPM spindle speed. This one goes to 1200RPM. This is great for drilling small holes (faster, requires less push-down force).(Some hammer drills can go as fast as 3000RPM free spinning but they're of a different class, for different purpose.)
7. Nice LFA single-sleeved keyless chuck with brazed-on CARBIDE jaw liners. It will last a long time, even when your bit spins in it often.

Now the CONS:

1. Biggest draw-back for me is the concentricity of the spindle. I've used LFA chucks and know that they're very good chucks so that eliminates the question about the chuck's concentricity. A test piece of 1/4 diameter X 6" long ground Thompson shaft wobbled a lot at the end when spun in this drill. Estimated about 0.020"-0.050" run-out on it. Naturally, I brought back to to local store where I bought it to exchange for a better one. Tested the new one at the exchange counter to make sure and it did EXACTLY the same. Went and grabbed another one, same thing. They had only 3 in stock so I got a refund to go to another store in hope to get a better one. The clerk thought drills were meant to be like that so I brought in my 1/2" Milwaukee 18V Lok-Tor drill (German made) and chucked to shaft into it. It ran extremely straight with no run-out detectable by eyes or finger placing at the end of the shaft. He just shook his head in disbelief. Tested 3 more drills at a different store and the exact same thing happened. Got really pissed because I really liked the "Pros" mentioned above. I assemble machines together and precision drilling is a must so a wobbling chuck won't do it for me. It makes the drill "walks" out of a center-punched mark easily and makes a tap-drilled hole a lot bigger than anticipated (which results in very shallow thread depth or you can't tap it at all).

2. Close examination of the chuck mounting system revealed another short-cut adopted by Dewalt: there is NO chuck screw to hold the chuck in place. Not even a tapped hole for the screw. In place of this hole is just a center-drilled mark. This is normally a left-hand screw to hold the chuck in place when you're running it in counter-clockwise rotation. It prevents the chuck from being unwound out of the spindle in reverse when a lot of torque is applied to the chuck in that direction. If you ever need to drill a large hole into metal (5/8" and larger) and the bit binds when it exits the hole, this whole chuck+bit may just unwind from the spindle when you put it in reverse in an attempt to take the bit out of the hole. This is NOT a good thing.

The CONS are deal-breakers for me. I'm sure a lot of people will find that negligible. If that is the case, by all means, buy this drill. It seems to be very good build, very powerful drill and will last for years to come. It's just not what I needed from a high-end drill. Ended up buying a used 7 AMP Chinese-made Milwaukee 3/8" drill from Amazon Warehouse. This drill has 1/2"-20 spindle thread so I just needed to buy a new 1/2" LFA chuck with carbide jaws to replace the OEM one. Everything is well. Chuck runs extremely true (thank God). I do wish Milwaukee (or any other brand, for that matter) makes a corded drill that has ALL the features of a high-end cordless drill (spindle lock, adjustable clutch, 2 speed selector switch, electric brake...). So far, only Ryobi makes one with a clutch (not a very good clutch at all, lowest setting is still too stiff). I'd like to see other better brands jumps on this wagon and I'm willing to pay extra for those features. Hope you find this lengthy review helpful.

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Product Description:
Versatile and easy to handle, the DEWALT DWD215G 1/2-Inch VSR Mid-Handle Grip Drill with Keyless Chuck delivers the power you need for all your home-improvement projects. The drill features a variable-speed trigger, a convenient reversing switch, a comfortable mid-handle grip, and an auxiliary handle.
1/2-Inch VSR Mid-Handle Grip Drill with Keyless Chuck
At a Glance:

Reliable, 10 amp DEWALT-built motorReversible, variable-speed control from 0 to 1,200 rpmConvenient, keyless chuck holds bits securelySoft, non-slip grip and two-finger trigger for comfort and controlThree-year limited warranty, one-year free service, 90-day money-back guarantee

Take on jobsite projects large and small with the VSR Mid-Handle Grip Drill.
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With a speed of 1,200 rpm, this drill allows you to take on a variety of masonry, metal, and wood projects. View larger.Patented DEWALT-Built Motor with Overload Protection
With its powerful 10 amp motor, the DEWALT 1/2-Inch VSR Mid-Handle Grip Drill is capable of delivering speeds of 0 to 1,200 rpm. At the heart of this drill's performance is a patented DEWALT-built motor that generates 50 percent more power than a standard motor of the same size, while also providing increased overload protection for extended tool life. This translates to quick, versatile drilling and driving.
Versatility, Durability, and a Convenient Keyless Chuck
As versatile as it is powerful, the DWD215G functions well for both steel and wood applications. When working with a spade bit in wood, the drill offers a 1-1/2-inch capacity, and with an auger bit in wood, it can handle a 1-1/8-inch bit. The drill can handle a 2-9/16-self-feed bit and a 3-1/2-inch hole saw in wood. It can also handle a 1/2-inch twist bit or a 2-inch hole saw in steel.
The DWD215G's 1/2-inch, single-sleeve, ratcheting keyless chuck is all-metal for durability and features an automatic spindle lock that provides greater bit retention. Along with the convenience of tool-free bit changes, the drill features a metal gear housing for added security against wear and tear.
Built with Comfortable, Accurate Handling in Mind
Comfortable handling goes a long way toward ensuring accurate results. The DWD215G is built with an ergonomic grip, and its two-finger rubber trigger makes power control easy. A 360-degree, locking, soft-grip side handle gives you hand-position options for improved user comfort and better overall command of the drill. And it weighs an easy-to-manage 5.2 pounds, decreasing user fatigue after extended use.
The DWD215G 1/2-Inch VSR Mid-Handle Grip Drill with Keyless Chuck comes with a DEWALT warranty package that includes a three-year limited warranty, a one-year free service contract, and a 90-day money-back guarantee.
What's in the Box
DWD215G 1/2-Inch VSR Mid-Handle Grip Drill with Keyless Chuck and 360-degree locking side handle with soft grip.


Reversible, variable speed VSR Drill handles
1/2-inch twist bits or a 2-inch hole saws in steel.
The 360-degree locking side handle gives you control for precise drilling applications.

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