DeWalt DC600

Cordless drivers

Price: £56.95
Voltage: 3.6 volts

Auto Express Car Reviews

Date: August 2006

Rating:

As there are only two bits with the DC600, we reckon DeWalt could have been more generous with the accessories. But we can’t complain about its many features: two drill-style batteries and a fast one-hour charger ensure you can work continuously, while the combination of two gears, nine torque settings plus a pair of piercing yellow lights makes this a doddle to use. The torquey output is second only to Black and Decker’s big HP9048K. Our Recommended choice.

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1 Comment

I have just purchased the DC600. For 4 years have owned a DW920 (7.2v , tigger controlled variable speed, two position swivel handle, 15 torque settings). Bear with me. The 920 I always found a little too powerful (fierce) for 'lighter' work ; as battery now dead, decided to go for the DC600 (3.6v) - which, I believe, was introduced to address this issue.
Upon purchase, the ergonomics of the DC600 I found excellent. Three position swivel handle, large trigger, twin yellowy LEDs, the same robust appearance, similar dimensions and weight - somehow felt really good to hold in all positions. The LED on/off switch and the chuck direction switch a little titchy and stiff - but no doubt would ease off. Mmm - can't wait!
Oh dear - no variable speed trigger (should have checked of course) - just 2 set speeds. This means you cannot gently start a screw off - particularly useful in a confined space, maybe with limited visibility, and, perhaps working in an awkward posture - the LEDs lit the work area quite adequately without glare (though some might prefer brighter, white LEDs).
Next let down - 'only' 8 torque settings. The real problem here was that the lowest setting, I found, just a little high for my liking. Example: I was fixing a plastic electrical box to a flat wall, with the torque on the lowest setting; as the screw tighted up the plastic creaked in a way that made me wonder if it had cracked - I could see no damage, but it did leave me slightly uneasy! And, of course, because it doesn't have a variable speed trigger, I couldn't 'back-off' a little had I wanted to. With the older model, at the lower lower torque settings, you could hold the chuck with your fingers and have the torque limiter operate - so you could really fine tune the torque required for different thicknesses, materials, densities of wood etc.
The DC600 is going back to the supplier, under the useful '30 day no risk satisfaction guarantee' that DeWalt offer.
In conclusion, no variable speed trigger control is, for me, a deal breaker - I am gutted.

By coolhand on 6 November, 2009, 10:15am

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