Lowe’s is offering Hitachi’s 18V 1/2″ cordless drill/driver kit for $100 right now as part of their Father’s Day sales — about $40-$60 cheaper than we’ve seen it elsewhere.  Its two-speed transmission yeilds zero-load speeds of 0-400 or 0-1,200 RPM, and it features a 22-setting clutch, a soft rubber grip, and a keyless chuck.  Hitachi claims a maximum torque of 400 in-lbs.

Hitachi DS18DVF3 18V Cordless Drill/Driver Kit [Lowe’s]
Street Pricing [Google Products]

I recently tested four modern cordless screwdrivers for Wired, and I’m happy to report that (as many Toolmongers have discovered) these once-wimpy tools have finally exited the dark ages.  Three of the four screwdrivers tested were quite usable, and two of them were obviously pro-level tools that I’d be proud to own.

I’ve linked to the individual reviews below, but if you get the chance, check out the full test coverage on page 108 of the current (June, 15.08) issue.

The Bosch PS10 I-Driver [Wired.com]
The Hitachi DB3DL [Wired.com]
The Black & Decker 3.6V Firestorm [Wired.com]
The Craftsman 4.0V [Wired.com]

Hitachi’s press release on the their new 7-1/4″ “pro-grade” circular saw touts the inclusion of “patented Internal Double Insulation (IDI) technology” which they claim reduces vibration and wear to estend the saw’s life by 200%.  The core of IDI is a process that intertwines the saw’s aluminum housing with an injection-molded inner nylon core — but most Toolmongers will stop after reading “aluminum housing.”  All-metal housings are all too rare now-a-days.

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Hitachi claims these new circular saw blades are “the fastest on the market” because of their “hollow-ground tooth design,” which they say makes each tooth act like a “scoop” to rip out wood and extend blade life.

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Amazon is offering this Hitachi SV12SG 1.7 amp orbital 1/4 sheet sander for $44.47 with free shipping.  If features a 200W motor, turns 14,000 orbits per minute, and has a dust collection bag.

Via Amazon [What’s this?]
Hitachi SV12SG [Hitachi Tools]
Street Pricing [Google Product Search]

Today Hitachi announced they’re adding four new (larger) sizes to their diamond grit core bit line.  The line now consists of nine sizes ranging all the way up to 1″ in diameter.

As you can see from the photo, these are great for creating perfect circular holes in tile, marble, and even glass.  For lots more information, check out our original post on the line back in 2006 when it was initially released.

Another Amazon deal: use the code HITACH20 to knock 20% off the price of Hitachi’s WH18DL 1/4″ impact driver, bringing it down to $231.94 — about $20 less than the next best deal we found.  The WH18DL features two 3.0 Ah lithium-ion batteries and a “cool flow” that delivers a continuous flow of cool air to the motor system, increasing runtime and decreasing heat wear.  The coupon expires May 7th and applies to most Hitachi Tools $200 or more.

The Hitachi WH18DL 1/4″ Impact Driver [Hitachi]
Via Amazon [What’s this?]
Street Pricing [Google Product Search]

Hitachi launched a new 14.4V li-ion line this week with the announcement of a new drill/driver, hammerdrill, impact driver, and impact wrench.  The best part: Hitachi says the new 14.4V li-ion batteries are backwards-compatible with their 14.4V DMR and DVF3 series tools, so if you pick up one of the new li-ion kits you’d be upgrading your other tools as well.

The new kit’s charger is Hitachi’s “universal” model, which’ll charge any Hitachi battery from 7.2V to 18V including all li-ion, NiCd, and NiMH units.

Other than that, the press release touts standard li-ion benefits such as longer runtime with a lighter battery and extended battery life.

About the new tools:

• The DS1DL Drill/Driver: 460 in-lbs of torque, 0-200/400/850/1750 RPM, MSRP $239
• The DV14DL Hammerdrill: Same as above, MSRP $259
• The WH14DL Impact Driver: 1330 in-lbs of torque, 0-2000/2600 RPM, 1/4″ hex chuck, MSRP $259
• The WR14DL Impact Wrench: 1780 in-lbs of torque, 0-2000/2600 RPM, 1/2″ square drive, MSRP $259

Look for ‘em on the shelves in the next few months.

Amazon’s offering deals on a number of cordless drills today including this Hitachi 18V 1/2″ number complete with light for $118, but we found it for less than the “deal” price just by hunting around the site.  $99 compares favorably to the $135-$140 at which we normally see these listed.  Froogle turned up a couple for less, but they were on eBay or uBid.

Anyway, if you’re looking for a good 18V starter kit, this isn’t bad for the price.  Any decent 18V drill/driver with light for under $125 is a pretty decent deal.

Buy It Now from Amazon [What’s this?]
Street Pricing [Froogle]

Update: We thought this was pretty good at $99, but one reader indicated in comments that this was a past Amazon “deal of the day” for even less.  Might be worth keeping an eye on!

Milwaukee’s V4 announcement inspired reader Copsey to send in a link to Hitachi’s current 3.6V li-ion cordless screwdriver offering, pictured above.  It includes many of the same features coming in the V4, including a 21 position clutch, two-speed 200/600 RPM operation, and (of course) li-ion batteries.

But in the bateries lie one of the major differences: Hitachi’s screwdriver ships with 1.5 Ah batteries as opposed to the V4’s 3.0 Ah cell.  While I’d imagine the tools are quite similar from most other performance standpoints, I’d guess that the V4′ll provide a much longer runtime — maybe twice as long.

Of course, we’ll see this summer when we get the chance to pit the V4 against the Hitachi directly.

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After all the positive comments on Hitachi’s very-powerful-for-the-price-point router last week, we thought you might want to check out their new 4″ dry-cut masonry saw.  It features an 11.6 AMP (!) motor that spins the blade at a no-load 11,500 RPM to plow through tile, marble, granite, brick, and such.

They also claim that it’s somewhat “quiet” at 85 dB — which, while closer to a screaming jet aircraft than a peaceful nap, actually isn’t bad when you consider what you’re cutting.  A “one-touch” lever lets you adjust cutting depth, and the switch is claimed to be “dust-proof.”

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Paul wrote us to tell us how much he loves Hitachi’s M12V, a 1/2″ 3-1/4 hp plunge router, calling it “the best value in its class.”

Interestingly, I haven’t seen that many Hitachi plunge routers in use, and I’ve never owned one personally.  It sells for around $200 according to Froogle, which compares to Makita’s 3612C, which seems to sell for around the same price — possibly $20 more.  Though I’ve seen almost nothing but Porter-Cable in high-end cabinetry shops, Porter-Cable’s 7539 sells for more like $320, which seems to put it in a different “class” than the M12V.  DeWalt’s DW625 is a 3 hp model, selling for around $250.  Would that be in the same class?

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Today Hitachi announced a “redesigned” 15-gauge angled finish nailer with the memorable NT65MA3 name.  Primary changes include a “selective actuation switch” that lets you change from sequential fire to contact fire, a tool-free depth of drive adjustment, and an integrated air duster with an adjustable exhaust deflector.

Its magazine is tilted 34-degrees to help it fit into tight spaces.

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Hitachi released an updated and re-designed version of its 1-1/2″ narrow crown pneumatic stapler.  The biggest change: a selective actuation switch that lets you select between “bump fire” and “sequential fire” actuation.

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Hitachi released a cool set of diamond grit bits today for use with materials such as tile, marble, porcelain, and glass.  The bit’s hollow, and the outer ring of diamond abrades through the material leaving a core that’s removable via a window in the side of the bit.

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Today Hitachi announced the addition of two new products featuring their HXP 18V batteries: the WH18DL impact driver and the WR18DL impact wrench.  Both models offer similar features with the impact wrench delivering a bit more torque and a 1/2″ square chuck (for standard 1/2″ drive sockets) as opposed to the driver’s 1/4″ hex chuck.

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With more and more cool 1/4″ hex-drive (”quick change”) tools on the market, we’re finally starting to see some killer bit sets hitting shelves as well.  Pretty soon you’re gonna have to break down and pick one up. 

Hitachi’s 40-piece set caught our eye on a recent trip to the local big-box for some project materials.  For $20 (or so), it’s a pretty thorough set.

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