Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Dewalt's Lithium-Ion, 36V, 4 Tool Combo Kit, Provide The Power & Run Time For Heavy Applications Typically Done With Corded Power Tools, 36V Technology Has 2-3 Times The Run Time & Twice The Power Of Dewalt 18V Products While At A Weight Comparable To A 18V Product, Includes: #DC900 Hammer Drill, #DC300 7-1/4" Circular Saw, #DC305 Reciprocating Saw & #DC509 Flexible Light, 2 Each 36V Batteries, 1 Hour Charger, Bit Tip, 24T Carbide Blade, Rip Fence, Reciprocating Blade & Kit Box.
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Customer Reviews: Read 12 more reviews...
 First two posters are Wrong!! May 3, 2006
C. Conklin
29 out of 32 found this review helpful
I am sorry gentleman, but you have not handled and used the new 36 Volt Dewalt tools yet...I HAVE!!! You will be amazed by their weight and balance...I have held both the Milwaukee 28V in one hand and the DeWlat 36V in the other and the DeWalt is better balanced and lighter.
I have also talked to a few contractors that are currently using the 24 Volt DeWalt tools and cannot wait for the 36 Volt products to arrive because they are so much lighter and more powerful than their 24 Volt tools... and yes they were able to demo the 36 Volt tools at a DeWalt event recently.
As compared to the Makita mentioned...These new 36 Volt DeWalt tools are built and designed to replace your corded tools...the Makita 18V lithium are not. Simple as that...for people that need the power of a corded tool, but want a cordless tool these 36 Volt tools will do that and then some. Also if you want the tool weights...go to their website!!!! It is right there under the specs for each individual tool.
So please know what you are talking about before posting an inaccurate review.
Awesome power, but not for everyone. July 4, 2006
A reviewer.
24 out of 24 found this review helpful
This paragraph is background info, you may skip it to get right to my review. To put my review into perspective: I am a student, not a pro. I have built a couple of decks, completed a room renovation, and numerous smaller tasks. That said, I first got interested in do-it-yourself work four years ago while working in a bar my junior year. I was advised by the bar manager (and handyman) to invest in good tools if I want to learn how to build/fix basic things. On his recommendation I bought the Dewalt 18v 4-tool cordless combo kit. This kit is great but there are a couple of negatives: It is hard to use larger diameter hole saws to drill into wood; The circular saw is underpowered and the 6.5 inch blade preventes the use of the variety of blades available in the standard 7 and 7.25 size; NiCad batteries have relatively short lifespan, charge capacity, and have trailing performance as the charge decreases. In other words, you need a corded circular saw and possibly a corded drill depending on the job. When I saw the new 36v kit, I asked myself if I really needed it. I decided that I could get rid of some of my corded tools (and my 18v kit) if this 36 volt kit lived up to it's potential.
Circular Saw:
My favorite part of this combo kit. Weighs a bit more than the 18v, but it's still pretty light. In any case, I like a circular saw to have some weight since it makes it easier to guide. Powerful enough to cut a brick (I used a thin kerf Dewalt diamond blade), it cuts through lumber with ease. Best of all, the saw accepts standard 7.25 inch blades. This gives the user access to the blades not available to users of standard cordless 6.5 inch circular saws. Also, the base plate is pretty good and some users may like the blade positioned on the left. The circular saw is the reason I upgraded to the 36v kit and I'm not disappointed. I'll probably sell my corded before I move to my new apartment.
Reciprocating saw:
Amazing. Feels like I am cutting with a corded Milwaukee 11 amp saw (probably sell that too now). Weighs only .2 lb more than the 18v! The reciprocating saw has always been my favorite tool (it's fun to be destructive) and this one lives up to all of my expectations. I was happy with the 18v, but the 36v brings the game to a new level. The saw never bogs down, the shoe has three positions (good for blade life and setting depth), and there is a horizontal blade clamp for flush cutting (sooooo useful). The only feature lacking is an orbital option (not a huge deal). This saw can do anything a corded can.
Hammerdrill/Drill/Driver:
Powerful enough to do anything a corded can do. While a drill/driver is probably the most used tool, I rarely use the 36v version because it's heavy for extended work. It will benefit anyone purchasing this kit to have a basic 12v drill/driver for extended use. I would like to emphasize this point for homeowners and DIYers because it is frequently the case that one goes into a home store, handles a 6.5 lb. drill/driver and thinks, "hey, this isn't bad." Unfortunately, having that weight in your hands for more than a few moments may bring about fatigue which not only makes working difficult, but dangerous. Start with a lighter, cordless drill/driver and consider buying a corded drill for power unless you're gonna need it enough to justify the additional cost of cordless.
Flashlight:
It's a light, flex neck is nice, great 8 hour runtime.
Batteries/Charger:
The best part of this kit are the Li-Ion batteries. Compared to NiCad, these batteries deliver consistent power to the very end of the charge, have two to three times the runtime, self discharge at a much slower rate, stay cool under heavy usage, and the 36v Li-Ion WEIGHS THE SAME as the 18v NiCad. It is VERY IMPORTANT to stop using the battery as soon as you see a drop in usable power (happens at the very end of the charge), otherwise the battery may be permanently damaged. I wish Dewalt had built a charge indicator into the batteries for this reason, but they do provide a 2 year warranty on them. The charger functions well and has indicators for charge level.
Final note:
The first two reviewers have written their reviews without having used or even handled these tools; that much is clear from reading what they have written. Whatever their motives, it would be wise to take their opinions with a grain of salt. Also, the review by MDT seems heavily biased toward Makita tools. His point is valid regarding the weight of the drill/driver (I address this in my review also), but he is wrong when he claims that all of the tools are too "bulky and heavy." The tools actually have excellent balance and reasonable weight for the intended application. Go to your local homestore and hold them for yourself. If I am wrong about MDT's bias, he may be appeased by purchasing a Makita Li-Ion 18v drill/driver and this combo kit. This way, the 18v Li-Ion, weighing the same as a 12v Dewalt, can be his light weight drill/driver and he has the 36v for more demanding applications.
Forget the extension cords May 23, 2006
Mr.D
16 out of 18 found this review helpful
For years I used the Dewalt 18 volt system in construction and they always have worked for me. But these new 36 volts just blew my 18 volts away. I aways wanted a full-size cordless circ saw and I love the new saw. Its got all the power and features I need for custom home building. My 18 volt dewalt drills have always had the power and run-time I've needed but again the 36 volt is incredible, I LOVE the self tightening chuck. I've always used my recip saws hard and the run time of the 36 volt recip is like 2 or 3 times the run time of my 18 volts. My favorite cordless tools have always been the saws and this combo is no exception. The combo is expensive but its worth it for the excellent power and run-time. Forget about the weight or handling, it is not a problem. If you are really in construction the slight increase in weight won't bother your worked-toned muscles. I recomended this combo to anyone who is serious about their work.
Update: I'm really loving the drill, the balance and weight of this tool are surprising. More than enough power for anything I use it for. LOVE the circular saw! Power, runtime, and everything about it is awesome. Recipsaw has performed flawlessly. My 18volt recips have all the power I need but this has even more power and MUCH more runtime. You got to get this combo
 Worth The Money July 28, 2006
Ed Navera
12 out of 13 found this review helpful
07/27/06
Ok, so almost everyone who commented had a rave review. I will not rehash the positives here. Everyone has pretty much explained them already. I had these tools for over a month now and used them every day, so I will just express some thoughts.
Drill; Everything you would expect from a cordless hammer except for the relentless power. First thing I did was chuck a 2 9/16 bit and start blasting holes through some PT 2x8. Amazing! Best feature is the chuck. It is so easy to chuck and unchuck a bit without having to wrench it with your hands. Worst feature is the bit storage. I wish they would go back to the old bit storage on the body of the motor housing and store two bits on either side and streamline with the tool.
Now I would like to see a full size 36v right angle.
Circular saw; Without a doubt is what I have been waiting for for a long time. Obviously it could cut wood, but I decided to stick a diamond in it and start hacking away at a brick wall. Wow! No problem. Best feature is the tooless blade clamp they got from PC. Hell, if it were me, I would have bought out PC just for that nifty little device alone. Even though this tool was the "buy it" factor for me, I do have some disappointments. 1. Saws of this size should not have a top oriented handle. A handle that gives you more push from the rear of the tool allows for more control and comfort of the wrist. This is very evident when you do shallow depth cuts. Top handle may be ok for the 18v (6 1/2") and under tools, but a full size saw should feel like a full size saw in the hand. A handle with more rise in it like the 24v version would be better. Would be cool if it had some kind of a hook on it too like the framer.
2. Believe it or not, but it is a bit of a pain to get blades in and out of the saw. I find I have to fight the lower guard and saw arbor to slip the blade in. I have changed blades on so many saws so many times that I could probably do it with my feet and blindfolded, but not on this saw. One would think that having a tooless clamp is to make things easier, not trade one hassle for another.
All in all the convenience of this saw, the blade clamp, and rubber grips make up for the small shortcomings.
Recip saw; This is a major improvement for cordless recip saws. Cordless recip saws eat batteries like crazy, but Lithium makes this saw top notch. Best feature is the four-way blade clamp. I know the corded models have a bad reputation for the blade clamp, but I have yet to experience any trouble with this one so far. Nothing bad to say about this tool.
Flashlight; Came in handy when the recip saw chewed up a wire in the wall.
10/14/06
UPDATE ON CIRCULAR SAW: After making quite a few blade changes on this saw I have realized my disappointment. The plastic lower guard flexes too much where the lever molds into the guard itself causing interference with the blade. I have found that holding the guard open by grabbing the lip (part that engages the material being cut) makes changing blades nice and neat. Back to the blindfold and bare feet!
 Are they serious? April 23, 2006
I. Shepard
10 out of 48 found this review helpful
I think that dewalts 36v kit must be a joke. Heavy duty with high stress on the heavy. I work at a hardware store that stocks both Dewalt and Makita and I will be the first to admit that our Dewalt tools are better selling and in general good tools. But when Dewalt came out with the 24v tools we decided to give them a try. No one bought them!! They're just too heavy to be carrying around the job site.
The only reason i can see for coming up with these even bigger tools is to try to match what Makita has just released. They came out with there Lithion Ion tool set in an 18v combo pack. They are 18v tools at a 12V weight. And they patented a new motor design. It is a 4 pole design rather than a coventional 2 pole. The only way for Dewalt to match the power is to make a bigger tool.
I generally think Dewalt is a good company, but i think in this case they made a big mistake.
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