Fast - One of the top-5 hammer drills for speed. Runs up to 2,000 RPM, 14% higher than average.
Hammer - Class leader for hammer blows. Delivers up to 34,000 BPM, 26% higher than average.
Features - Three-speed transmission, 1/2" single-sleeve ratcheting chuck with carbide jaws, XRP batteries, and side-handle.
Durable - All-metal transmission, all-metal chuck, and backed by DeWalt's 3-year warranty.
HAMMER DRILL WEAKNESSES
Weight - Weighs almost 6-lbs, about a 1/2-lb more than average.
Hammer Drill Performance Comparison:
DC988KA
Average
Power
500 in-lbs torque
540 in-lbs torque
Speed
2,000 RPM
1,750 RPM
Weight
5.95 lbs
5.5 lbs
Battery
2.4 Ah
2.6 Ah
Impact
34,000 BPM
27,000 BPM
DeWalt DC988KA Ratings:
A-Excellent B-Very Good C-Good D-Fair F-Poor
Durability
Rating
Above Average
Top 5 Rank
Below Average
Low 5 Rank
Power
B-
-
-
7%
-
Speed
A+
14%
Yes
-
-
Weight
C+
-
-
10%
Yes
Battery
B-
-
-
9%
-
Impact
A+
26%
Yes
-
-
Rating
Transmission
Sleeve
Motor Brushes
Warranty
Durability
A
All-Metal
All-Metal
Internal
3-Year
DeWalt DC988KA User Reviews:
Overall User Rating
- 3.9 of 5 Stars
Favorable Reviews - 17
Critical Reviews - 5
I abuse it - use it for things that I shouldn't, like running a mixing paddle for thinset - but it still runs straight and clean, handles finish work well. It's just a well-made tradesman's standby. I don't see how you could go wrong with it
I bought this cordless to use with a 6" Lazer ice Auger. My expectations were based on other ice fisherman recommendations. I was pleasantly surprised and satisfied with the results.
I ABUSE them pretty good. I have used it to drill 1/2 holes through new brick(I know go through the morter, but cant always do that) I have put 3/4 holes through cement block.
The chuck adjustment was terrible, the speed(transmission switch) would not stay locked in position and the final straw was the distinctive sound of metal on metal and a wisp of smoke.
This hammerdrill I have found can easily outperform even many corded hammer drills. Lately I've been using it to drill mainly into insanely hard 40 year old structural concrete columns in a building and driving tapcon screws in.
I own 3 of these drills and use them for driving lags to building doghouses. Dewalt's quality is very impressive and they have never let me down.
I`m a carpenter, mostly finish, and rarely have to drill into masonry so I can`t speak on that. It has however drilled wood, PT, MDF, aluminium, mild and stainless steel for me and performed admirably with everything from wide spade bits to 1/16 TI bits in steel.
I work construction and use this drill everyday for deckmates, sheetrock screws, speedbores, holesaws, backerboard screws, and other drill bits. Everyone I work with (four people) owns this Dewalt drill and we have yet to take any of them to the repair shop.
when drilling into concrete, i use a rotary hammer, especially if it's old (harder) concrete. but for light-duty concrete drilling in cement block, stucco, adobe, hard plaster, whatever, i use this DEWALT hammer drill and i love it every time i use it.
the DC988KA hammerdrill the obvious choice for my all around daily on the job drilling and fastening.
Chuck is great - positive and easy. Torque is high. Top speed is less than I was expecting. Unit is quite heavy for size, probably related to battery.
Good drill. Speed control is good compared with other drills. Torque is great. Low settings on the 22 position clutch are not that accurate if that bothers you.
I PURCHASED THIS DRILL AND IT WORKS WELL FOR A CORDLESS DRILL. YOU CAN'T EXPECT IT TO WORK LIKE A CORDED HAMMER DRILL I THINK IT WONDERFULL. AND THE TORQUE IS OUT STANDING.
