DEWALT DWD115K 8 Amp 3/8-Inch VSR Mid-Handle Grip

For the last five years or so, I have used a 3/8 inch Black and Decker 2.2 Amp 0-1600 RPM variable speed drill with standard pistol grip and standard key chuck. This has been a pretty good drill for what it is, but it is starting to wear out a bit at this point. Hey, I am older now too. When I started to look around for a replacement I was rapidly overwhelmed by the numbers of possibilities. I decided on a corded model because I did not want to hassle recharging batteries in a project although I am sure batteries have improved since my last experience. I wanted to stick with 3/8 inch, but I wanted it to be heavy duty compared to my Black and Decker, but still easy to use. I wanted a quality name I recognized but still wanted affordability. The DeWalt DWD115K fit those needs. As luck had it, it was also the one drill my local Lowes was out of. So, at least it appears to be a popular choice. This is a 3/8" VSR mid-handle drill with keyless chuck. The weight of the drill is listed at 4 pounds. This is a bit heavier than my old drill, which was a concern of mine in my searching. But heavier duty drills I looked at felt heavy in my hand compared to my old 2.2 Amp Black and Decker. This was a concern for me because my hands are not what they were when I was younger, and the pistol grips on current day drills are hard for me to hold on to due to the heavier drill extending away from my hand grip. Although the DWD115 is heavier than my old drill, having the grip in the middle seems to help distribute the weight of the drill so I have no problem holding it in use. The DWD115 is listed at 8 Amps, so it really has a lot more potential power than my 2.2 Amp Black and Decker to do the heavier drilling I may run into in around the house jobs. And it also has higher maximum RPM at 2500 compared to the maximum 1600 for my old drill. The grip itself is comfortable enough, having a combination hard plastic and rubberized feel. The trigger is easy to use and variable speed is easy to control. In use, there are two bubble levels to help hold the drill horizontal or vertical as you drill. The keyless chuck is easy to figure out and I am sure it will be as asset once I can get to the point I stop looking for the key to change bits the old fashioned way. There is a hook of sorts on the top of the drill itself. I suppose this is to hang the drill off of a tool belt. I am not sure how handy that would be since I do not have a belt to hang it on and can see no other possible function for this hook. The one thing on this particular drill I wonder about is the forward-reverse switch. It is true it is located in an easy to access area just above the trigger. But it is a simple plastic switch that sticks out away from the trigger itself. On one side the drill goes forward. Click to the other side for reverse. But the problem I see down the road is that something could catch on this switch and break it off. The DWD115 comes in a plastic case that has a compartment that just fits one of my 4” by 5.25” box of drill bits. It also has space for my 2” by 2.5” box of driver bits. The case may seem a bit awkward to some since the hinge for the door is on the side as compared to the carry handle on top. This is a minor adjustment. The warrantee is 90 day money back guarantee, 1 year free service; 3 year limited warrantee- which seemed a bit better than most I looked at. My contractor working on my house at the time uses a similar DeWalt, so that was also a factor in my choice. Specifications Chuck Size 3/8" Keyless Chuck Yes Amps 8.0Amps No Load Speed 0-2,500rpm Max Watts Out 650W Capacity in Wood (Spade Bit) 1" Capacity in Wood (Hole Saw) 1-1/8" Capacity in Steel (Twist Bit) 3/8" Gear Reduction Single Handle Style Mid-handle grip Anti-Slip Grip Yes Anti-Lock Control No Tool Weight 4.1lbs Shipping Weight 6.4lbs