DeWalt DW960 18V Cordless 3/8 Right Angle Drill/Driver Only Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've had good luck with DeWalt tools over the years, and so when I needed a cordless angle drill it was a no brainer. So I thought. Unfortunately, this tool is not up to snuff. Six months after purchase, with very light use, the gears apparently gave out since the motor still runs but nothing turns. I'll get a replacement under warranty I am sure, but this is what you would expect for a $49 Ryobi tool, not a $200 DeWalt tool. It even feels kind of flimsy. Compare that to my regular DeWalt 18v cordless drill which I love in every way, and have beat the tar out of for four years - it still performs perfectly.

Fortunately it is covered by a 3 year warranty so at least I'll get three years for my $200. But given the poor performance of this tool so far (and the other negative review above) I don't expect whatever replacement tool I'll have will still work a few months after the warranty expires. I won't be boycotting DeWalt or anything since this item seems to be the exception. Maybe I just got unlucky. I hope so.

Update (11/18/2009):

Though I was not impressed by the tool, my experience with DeWalt's customer service was outstanding. I dropped the tool off at the local service center, luckily only a few miles away. A week later it was returned with the transmission replaced, good as new. I was never asked for a receipt or proof of the purchase date. Though I had these things, it is always the mark of a company that stands behind its products to repair them with "no questions asked."

I have changed my rating at this point to three stars from my original one star. The tool should not have failed, and it simply does not feel as well-built as the many other DeWalt tools I own. However, I will chalk this up to bad luck, and the company stood behind the product as well as anyone could expect.

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Product Description:
Angle drivers are perfect for the tasks that are tight and inaccessible to the bigger and more bulky Drill/ Drivers. Multi-grip trigger provides comfort and convenience by allowing the user to get into tighter spaces while still having access to the trigg