DeWalt Combi Drill review - DCD778

This is a review of the DeWalt DCD772 combi drill. Am I switching from Makita to DeWalt? And what do DeWalt model numbers mean?

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#diy #construction #powertools

[robthewaywardwoodworker]

I started my cordless journey with the really old 12V drill and then a few years later with the 18V Dewalt 5 piece combo kit when I did an addition to a house many years ago. I had been using corded tools on the jobsite for a couple of decades before that. Once those started to fail I moved up to the 20V Dewalt units and it's been a great change. The 20V batteries have lasted without fail for almost 8 years; the 18V batteries started failing within a couple of years. Really like my Dewalts, you will too.I just bought the 20V Pruner, I think its the DCPR320B, and you would likely love that in your back garden! My shop is very "black and yellow" what with the Dewalt, Stanley, Stabila, etc. I just built new shelves in the garage and decided to go all in and paint them black and yellow. LOL Cheers, Andy!

[TheKurtgerber]

Great review, thank you. I have the De Walt Impact driver and it has changed my life. FYI - I just ordered an 8m metric tape measure, I can’t wait to try it out!

[vkrb]

Andy, I'm a senior and just dabble in DIY these days but my battery combi came from Screwfix many years ago. I followed the recommendation of the guy at the counter. He asked about my expectations and likely usage and sold me a model for, I believe, £100. It has been excellent, well behaved, does what I need, 2 batteries and it was definitely £100 very well spent.

[georgeprout]

Model numbers really frustrate me, Currys are the worst. They promise to price match, but will claim ABC123-CURRYS, ABC123-JOHNLEWIS and ABC123-WHOEVER are completely different models. So they will price match, but only with themselves and the public get scammed into thinking they have a bargain with that price promise!

[mcdon]

I bought the 776 as a combo with the 885 impact driver a few years back, and they've been bombproof for all my diy projects.

Have also built up a small collection of Aldi and Lidl stuff for things I need less often, mostly saws. Decent quality for not a load of cash.

[raydriver]

Hi again Andy. A few years ago a friend of mine turned up with a DeWalt screw driver and I was so impressed I bought a case containing a DeWalt DCK296 MS drill and a DCF 815 driver with two 18v and two 10.8v batteries. Having left them in France I bought a DCD 795 drill and a DCF 886 driver. Having been reunited with my first case I now use all of them; the 10.8 drill for light work and the 18v for driving screws through sleepers. Great kit. Keep keeping up the good work 🌞

[alexandercarder]

Hello there, I just purchased mine 3 days ago from B&Q for just £120. It’s on offer here in Great Yarmouth cut down from £150 to £120. Love it. Mine is M1T model and only came with 1 battery.

[AdamJee]

Great video, just bought this myself from B&Q as my handed down Parker drill battery was fizzing and blew smoke lol 😆 I watched many videos, browsed the toolstation catalogue, looked around the Web understanding the different types of drills, powers, sizes etc and B&Q had this on the shelf. Already seems way more solid and wanted a DIY drill with teeth that will last me and my partner for a long time in our new home 🏡 👍

[stevebosun]

Hi Andy, great review as always. That old dilemma, "tools you need" vs "tools you want".

[hardlyb]

I have quite a few 12v and 18v Makita tools, several 12v Milwaukee, some 18v and 40v Ryobia, and the old 14.4v Dewalt (for some tools I rarely use, but am not ready to get rid of). I think buying the tool you need based on total price is probably the best choice, as no platform has everything and all the major brands seem about the same. I love my Makita stuff, but I started on Ryobi just for the hot glue gun (which is the best glue gun I've ever used), and now have a variety of odd tools in the brand, all of which I like. For 12v Milwaukee, I wanted tools for Pex-A and a lantern, but I also have a heated jacket, electric screwdriver, and a few other things, and I love them all (except the little underpowered cutoff tool). I got my dad a Dewalt kit a while back, and he is thrilled with the tools, so I think I could have gone that way as easily, and been just as satisfied. I have three different Makita drills, and the mid-size hammer drill is plenty powerful, while the big one can rip itself out of your grip if you don't put the extra handle on it. I will say I have a Makita variable impact driver which has plenty of settings, and while it's not as powerful as some, it's never failed to drive anything I wanted it to, and with the lower settings I no longer drive screws though things.

[headleshydra]

I have lots of Dewalt, Makita, Milwaukee, and Bosch tools. I also have a parkside Plunge saw and Wired SDS hammer drill(bought mainly to use as a breaker) - The Parkside tools have been great! No complaints at all. The Parkside as a breaker has saved me a few times! Couldn't really ask for more from either(The one negative of the Parkside plunge saw is that it doesn't come with enough track to cut a full length of board, which is basically it's purpose)

[maze]

My original combination and impact drill were Makita but were more suited for DIY. When I needed something above that level my cousin had Dewalt and s we were working in my son’s salon I purchases Dewalt. Very pleased and over the years have bought body only cordless tools and have quite an extensive range. Combi drill gave out smoke and was replaced with the same model you have. Can’t complain at all about reliability or durability as they really have had a lot of use and continue to do so. Purchased additional batteries when I find an offer.

[seanoreilly]

Got 2 of them years ago and were well used when i got them. Still going strong. Hammer action isn't great so got and SDS for that. Torque is great for IKEA stuff! Sometimes connectors rust out so maybe open the handle in the Makita one. The makita multi tool is a beast IMO.

[tonysutch]

Bought my first Dewalt combi 15 years ago and it's still going strong. I've tried both Aldi and Lidl battery tools but they have never performed well for me. You get what you pay for most of the time. Old adage but true!

[iaingovan]

Great content as always. I’ve had a dcd778 for a few years and it’s done everything I’ve asked of it. Interestingly the front chuck housing on mine is fluted plastic, not metal as yours is - they must have changed the manufacturing run at some point. Keep teaching us 👍

[ianfinch]

I’ve had makita for years and moved over to dewalt for newer purchases and extremely satisfied. I gone through two makita drills ( smoked on anything tough) the angle grinder would overheat and switch off. A multi tool great for a year or so the packed up. All replaced with dewalt and going strong working hard every day.
Love the impact driver and multi tool ( lever blade change fantastic) oh and dewalt reciprocating saw a beast.
Makita jigsaw has been great as has 36v mitre saw. Festool plunge saw amazing ( will replace with cordless at some point. Cordless really has moved forward making main’s powered outdated.

[Marcuss]

I had the 778 for 4 years and it was an excellent medium sized lighter household DIY drill, handy for around the house; though chuck had to be replaced for a decent Rohm. Problem was when I worked it hard as a pro-tool, as shortly after it started smoking and then the clutch went. I know someone who bought the drill with 2ah batteries and regretted it, as they just didn't last. If I just needed one drill for occasional jobs around the house then I would buy it again.

[scalewarmachines]

I go for Dewalt and Ryobi as my two platforms for cordless tools and my choice is based on budget thinking and price points, if I need a tool but can’t justify a Dewalt, I go Ryobi and they often do deals via their mailing list. I mostly tend to go yellow. Also, the platforms are somewhat interchangeable via an adapter (Dewalt batteries to Ryobi tools). I’ve never ever been disappointed with Dewalt, Ryobi has some great tools but they are a bit hit and miss and some are poor. I’m also not a pro so they don’t get constant use day in day out. Red always seems at a marginally higher price point, so I stick to Dewalt and have been happy so far.

[quirkygreece]

I have four different battery platforms for different tool makes, but as 95% of my work is done in the workshop it just means I give up a little extra space in the corner of the shop. My motto is always to get the best tool for the job that you can afford - different batteries or not.
Most of my battery tools are DeWalt, but I also use Bosch plus a couple of Parkside (Lidl) tools and a couple of Budget tools with their own rechargeable batteries.
On a side note I originally bought a Budget (brand) drill for about €10about five years ago just to get me out of a jam, it obviously doesn’t have all the features or the power of a more well-known branded tool, but the battery lasts forever and I use it every day for light work - it’s possibly the best €10 I’ve ever spent on a tool and since then I’ve added a few others simply because they are so cheap that they are almost disposable, although they are all plodding on and all get used regularly!

[frederickwood]

Thanks for sharing.
Re SDS. I am impressed with the Evolution unit. It’s so light and yet goes through anything like butter with apparently no hand vibration. You might have more experience so be able to criticise it more.