DEWALT XTREME 12V MAX* Cordless Drill Combo Kit (DCK221F2)

The media could not be loaded. Shortly after placing the order, I was thinking about the 2 tools included in this combo and asking myself, how good they can be? are they powerful enough? relaying on my experience I became critical and skeptical towards this combo (DCD701+DCF801), because I thought the 701 with such small size couldn't have that much power. I wanted to cancel my purchase but it was too late to do this, as the ordered combo was shipped already.When I got it, I thought I will have a deeper look at it and try it first and then decide.But now, I can say I am glad the cancellation didn’t work.The results were so impressive that am convinced I made a good decision to choose it for its size and weight, they are actually even smaller than they appeared to me to be and I gained a value added to them: a noticeable power! - see the attached pictures and a video to this review.- DCD701:Although very small and 12V it has surprisingly and unexpectedly so much power. For a job with whether soft or hardwood the small discrete drill has proven its strength in light to mid-heavy duty. It is in terms of power more than enough and does not need to hide from its bigger brothers in the Dewalt family.For a seriously tough work, the much muscular big brother the dcd999 is in my tools collection at home ready to intervene when needed!*A Word about power:As it is well known at Dewalt the power rating of the drills is given in UWO (Unit Watt Out). There is no direct mathematical conversion from UWO to torque in Lbs-In (Nm)In the brand European site you can read the torque rating of the DCD701 = 57.5 Nm (Newton-meter in SI units system) this means in US/imp. units ≈ 509 Inch-Pound (1 In-lbs = 0,112984 Nm <=> 1 Nm = 8,850745 In-lbs)- DCF801:Concerning this small, really small impact driver, it has equally impressed me for being small and having in enough power, it managed without difficulty in level 2 (low mode) and 3(high mode) to drive thick and long and different types of screws into pine and some beech wood. Remark: the power level 1 (precision mode) is not intended for driving long and thick screws but it becomes very useful when using small screws where precision and controlled power are important.Questions:-Can the DCD701 be used to drill into concrete?I would say NO, it shouldn't , it doesn’t have the hammering function to support this, it is not designed for masonry.-is it necessary to use the 12v/ 3Ah or 5Ah instead of 2Ah battery?Answer: I would say no, not necessary and not up front, I used a lot both the 701 and 801 these days to evaluate my purchase, for what I did, the combo-included 2Ah batteries were sufficient and the charge lasted long enough.From me measured specifications:-DCD701 dimensions and weight:Length/Depth: 152 mm (5,98“)Height, without/with battery: 185 mm (7,28“) / 215 mm (8,46“)Width: 57 mm (2,24“)Weight: grams (lb: oz)Bare tool: 866 g (1:14.4)With 2Ah battery: 1086 g (2:6.3)-DCF801 dimensions and weight:Length/depth: 128 mm (5,03“)Height, without/with battery: 184 mm (7,24“) / 215 mm (8,46“)Width: 57 mm (2,24“)Weight: grams (lb: oz)Bare tool: 792 g (1:11.9)With 2Ah battery: 1014 g (2:3.7)My evaluation for both tools:Weight and dimensions: 5Power: 4,5Battery lasting: 4,5Easiness to use + comfort*: 5Handling*: well balanced and feels good in the hand, note 5/5* After my long experience with various brands and tools something here is immediately noticeable: the well-thought-out ergonomics and comfortable handling which is an important criterion for me and Dewalt excels in this area.Conclusion:Overall satisfaction: 5/5Recommendation: with clear conscience I rate the combo kit DCD701+DCF801 as very good and highly recommendedTo complement a tools collection and having a light to medium heavy woodwork, fastenings, metal or electrical work,... where small tools that are not heavy in weight, with sufficient power and perfect handling are needed, this combo is well suited for it.

I was debating whether to get a 20V set of tools, or if this 12V set would be enough for my needs. After a few months of use, I can say that I'm very happy I got this 12V set.You probably won't be busting off rusty lug nuts with the impact, but the compact size and weight savings more than make up for slightly reduced power.This set offers more than enough power for most of my needs. I've used the impact on lag bolts, deck screws, anchor bolts, deck screws, and a variety of bolts, and have not been disappointed. (The first day I used these tools, I was not used to how much power they had, and snapped the head off of several deck screws.)The drill is equally capable - I've drilled through wood, aluminum, steel; I even drilled through stucco using a masonry bit when I was too lazy to get off the ladder to grab a hammer drill.In my opinion, the best feature of this set is its size and weight. They are extremely light and compact, which makes working in confined spaces and overhead so much easier and less fatiguing. I was just recently thinking how grateful I was for the light weight and small form factor of these tools as I was drilling overhead in a crawlspace. For 95% of the work I do, I would happily trade the power of a 20V tool for the weight and size advantage offered by these 12V tools.The battery life is also excellent - I was able to do a full day's work building a fence gate on less than one charge.I also love the Precision Drive feature on the impact - I've used this to put the covers on junction boxes, switch covers, assembling furniture, etc. where I want to make sure I don't strip the fastener.The one drawback to keep in mind, however, is that DeWalt offers a very limited selection of tools for the 12V system. There are far more tools available for the 20V system.Overall I'm very pleased with my purchase and would highly recommend this set to almost everyone. Even if you have a 20V set, you might consider getting this set in addition -- I suspect you might find that you end up reaching for the 12V most of the time since it'll get the job done with less weight and in a more compact form factor.

Most people seem to buy 20 v tools, but the 12 v DeWalt has plenty of power/torque for anything I do, and the lower weight and compact form factor make it easier to do the job. The quality is superb.