Hitachi KC14DVF 14.4-Volt Ni-Cad Cordless 2-Tool Combo Kit Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I reviewed this item before, but for some reason Amazon deleted my review!(And I didn't use no cuss words or nothing.)Anyway, I bought this kit in Aug 2006 for 100 bucks, and at that price it's a good deal.Here's most of what I said in my first review:

Saw: 14.4 volts is not enough for a 61/2' saw IMHO.On 14.4V the blade speed is low and the battery does not last long.I have an 18V Hitachi saw that works great.(You can easily modify this saw to run off of 18V batteries.I've been running this saw on 18V batteries for months now with no problems.Perhaps it is this advice in my first review that got that review deleted!)This saw also does not have a light like other Hitachi saws.Having a light is very nice.The LH blade is good for right handers.The blade that comes with this saw has fewer tips that blades that come with more expensive Hitachi saws, but its carbide teeth stay sharp for a long time, so fewer teeth is no big deal.This 61/2" saw will can cut 2x4s at 45 degrees.I'd give this saw 4 stars at 18V, and 3 stars at 14.4V

Drill:Very nice at 14.4V.It's light and well balanced with enough power for 99% of my jobs.The batteries last long enough; no need to go to 18V with this drill.The chuck is small and sometimes slips with round shank drill bits, so I have to use pliers to tighten the chuck.This kinda defeats the idea of a keyless chuck, does it not?The belt clip does not have a light like other Hitachi drills do.Again, Hitachi is trying to save a few bucks on this kit.I'd give the dill 4 stars because of the slipping chuck.

Light:It's ok as a work light, but it's great as a camping lantern.I don't like those Coleman gas lanterns because they are way too bright; this one puts out just enough light. 5 stars.

Charger:For some reason, Hitachi says you can only get 300 charge cycles from their batteries using this charger, vs. up to 1000 cycles using their fancier chargers.I don't know why this is so, but it comes directly from Hitachi.If you have a better Hitachi charger, I'd use it and keep the charger included with this kit as a backup.2 stars.

I've been reading a lot of Hitachi reviews that have said the batteries won't hold a charge. I have 12 Hitachi batteries: 3 are the 3AHr NiMH batteries and 7 are the 2AHr NiCads, and 2 are 1.2Ahr NiCads.They all seem to hold a charge just fine. The flashlight in this kit is great for discharging the batteries all the way before recharging. A battery will still light the flashlight quite a while after the battery seems to be "dead" in one of the tools.

So this is a good, not great kit.The higher end Hitachi kits are great, but they are much more expensive.

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Product Description:
Right off the bat, the 14-volt tools in this combo kit look just plain cool. The ergonomic grip just begs to be grasped, and when you wrap your hand around them, these tools feel good. But pull the trigger and discover something even better than good looks and a good fit: Power.The DS14DVF3 drill offers two speeds, with ranges from 0-400 and 0-1200 rpm, and the 22-stage clutch insures up to 300 inch-pounds of torque and precision driving into whatever material you're working with. The redesigned 3/8-inch keyless chuck opens smoothly and is easy on the hand. The belt hook is a nice feature, and it's got multiple positions to keep the tool just where you want it. Best of all, it's amazingly lightweight and compact, so it's a breeze to control even with smaller hands, and working overhead is no strain.The circular saw, like the drill, is surprisingly lightweight but definitely powerful. It cuts with a 6-1/2-inch blade, plenty for most circular saw jobs, but the thing we like best is the awesome molded grip that just fits beautifully into your hand. Because of that, it's supremely easy to maneuver and a pleasure to use.The lantern is a nifty accessory, easily providing enough light to work by in a spot where electrical power is a problem. And the bag is sturdy, handsome and feels like it will hold up to years of tool-toting. We think this is the perfect kit for the home do-it-yourselfer as well as the pro.

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