New DeWALT XR Impact Driver Testing Suprise!

The new Dewalt 20V MAX XR 1/4" Impact Driver (DCF845B) is finally here. We share a comparison of this new top of the line XR impact driver from Dewalt to the DCF840 as well as it's XR predecessor the three speed DCF887 1/4" brushless impact driver.


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[Meme-zccw]

The 887 has been the work horse in my tool box and has never let me down.

[jporreca]

Alright… let’s get the testing done asap so that new toy finds its way into my tool box!

[Garage]

The bongos killed me. DeWalt has generally been killing it lately. I still think they generally present good value vs team red, even if they aren't always the top dog. You know how I love my DeWalt bit insert and ejection too!

[tylerbaumbaugh]

Whats up vince. I love watching you get so excited using new tools. Its the same excitement that a kid has when he/she gets that one toy they've wanted.

[JUSTShowMeHow]

The 887 is a beast, I've tried to beat that thing to death and it still runs like new after 6 years.

[patrickkinnaird]

You gotta love this guy! Full of energy and always on point! Thanks for always putting out such wholesome content that we can learn from and have some great laughs at the same time! Keep up the great work!

[JB]

I just picked up the 840 yesterday…such a great value for the money. Beast!

[lukasvilla]

Just got the deal at Lowes. Bought the two 5AH batteries with a charger and got 2 free tools. Got the 4 directional blade saw zall and the 20v XR 845 impact. Going to use them at work tomorrow. I'm excited to get some tapcon driven.

[SpyCamera]

I use the 887 and enjoy it, in my opinion it's better than what people came up with in the 20th century of tools.

[jasonvandervalk]

I'm a dewalt guy its nice they made another impact driver! I personally use the dcf850 every day the power in the compact size is Great. For me I don't think I would by the new one.

[southsidetom]

I have the 840 and luv the way this handles like a drill via the variable speed trigger. It's suits my usage style better. Nice vid!

[skolsaw]

Might be to close of a call to put that up against the 840 on a TTR but I’d love to see it. 🤙

Love that little rebar man! 😂

[ManCaverTools]

Having a speed switch is a big deal. That new 845 is an awesome impact. Great video Vince

[ferraridan]

I have loved the 840 ever since purchasing it. No regrets ! Plus the price is right

[trekmcdonald]

I've been waiting for this tool for awhile. I loved my 886. Got an 887 and altho I didn't realize it for years it had an issue out of the box. If you squeeze the trigger and shake it, it cuts in and out. I never liked this tool because it felt like it was not working correctly when driving screws. Would make extra noises and just seem unhealthy. So therefore never used it, stuck with the 886. It wasn't until I got a second 887 I realized my first one had issues. Unfortunately everything got stolen before I could use it much.
With the other new impacts that DeWalt has released that absolutely hit it out of the park I had high expectations for the new xr 1/4 inch. I got a 921 and really liked it. It got stolen with everything else so I bought another one. Still really like it. Just a really good tool.
With the power of the 921, 891, and 900 leaps above the other manufacturers (and bounds above the previous gen) I figured the 840 (as it turns out) would be similar. And it just isn't. Just like all other current gen impacts I also expected it to have a not outdated control board, or in this case, still a dumb control switch. Once again disappointed.

Their numbering lately, and especially with this model has me confused. Previous The 885 was the brushed version, step up you got the 886 brushless, then the 887 was the successor with the 888 being a kind of side step of sorts. The 995 then 996, then 998 and 999 kinda being the same gen. (997 was the tool connect 996) The high torque impacts.... 899 then 900. The numbers commonly go up with better versions of the tool. Even the multitools did this. Yet with the 1/4 inch impacts we went 885, 886, 887, then 845? I mean even the atomic has a label of 850. According to their own numbering system the new xr is lower than the atomic and both are lower than the last 2 Gens of xr. This same dumb numbering has happened with the mid torque. They went from 894 to 891 (altho the 891 has way more power) just seems odd.

In reality the new xr should have been labeled dcf889 (since 888 is the tool connect 887) but 889 is taken by an old crap brushed 1/2 inch. Then it should have been 890 but 890 is taken by the crap 3/8 drive. 891.... The successor of the 894, which should have been labeled the 895 but unfortunately that's also already taken by an old odd 1/4 inch with a button release kinda like what flex did. This tool came out in 2012 before even the 886 released which means it shouldn't have been labeled 895. Pin version of the 891. 893 was open but with the models surrounding it doesn't really point to a 1/4 inch impact. Basically they've ran out of numbers and now having issues.
Models like the 888 likely should have been labeled 887tc (tool connect) or similar. same with drill 996 and 997. And stuff like the 892 should have been 891p (pin) and 891r (ring) but it's clearly too late for any of that, point is their numbering is messed up now.

The new xr impact should have been a slightly detuned 921 or 923 with a 1/4 inch collet. The 850 doesn't put out the power it should for that design. They could have gotten way more. The 921 does 300 ft pounds while the 850 does 150 in basically the same sized tool.
I was expecting a large step up for the new xr and it just didn't happen. If I buy a new one I'll be going for the 850 altho it's not what it should be either.

[tuckersdoghouse]

As an installer I'm very impressed with what DeWalt making a great come back to be very completive.

[TheCrystalGlow]

I’m not sure if you know this, but on speed level one, if you hold the trigger once the fastener is driven all the way in, it will continue on to impact at a very low speed after a short 2 second delay. Presumably to make sure you actually want or need it. I’ve done this 20 times so I know it was done intentionally by dewalt. It’s not talked about in the manual on my dcf887. I use this impact driver on all my network racks and it’s absolutely wonderful at getting one single impact on the screw so it stays tight. Speed level one isn’t stalling out. It’s an intentional protection measure.

[barrywhite]

Just want to thank you for what you do. I've always heard good things about Dewalt, that they make quality products but are pricey. I've recently started started building up a toolset because i'm getting into woodworking and I just got a dewalt drill off of Amazon because their doing a deal, but I didn't realize that its good to also have an impact drill so i'm hoping to get one here shortly. I also got some Tstacks which I love. I came across your channel and I love how you explain things simply. Probably like most people I generally only know what are the good brands from hearing people talk about them but as a novice I don't know alot so I love how you actually show the good and bad and as someone in construction give your first hand opinion. I don't mind paying for quality but I also don't want to be wasting money buying things that I don't really need or aren't good quality. So keep up the good work.

[mikesand]

The speed switch is a must for me,
@VCG can you test the 845 with some heavy-duty loads like big spade bits or step bit in metal? That would put it to the test

[TC-hswy]

Black and yellow, black and yellow. Like the tightening mode. Good enough for
Me.