DeWalt DCH172: Killer bee

The new compact rotary hammer from DeWalt, the DCH172, has landed downunder and it's made a splash. Here we compare its performance to DeWalt DCH133, DCH263, Milwaukee M18CH, Makita DHR166, and many others.
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00:00 - Prologue
00:18 - Intro
01:02 - Features
04:25 - Price
05:31 - Specs
06:21 - Torque test
07:22 - 8mm speed drill
08:35 - 14mm speed drill
10:01 - Max capacity drill
11:42 - Conclusion

[@BoltahDownunder]

Frothers! The WOBBLE i noted in the Killer Bee vs granite vid wasn't the drill after all! update here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmjUlphne7aBi8k

[@admirosmankovic1065]

This is the 5th tile project we've done where we've removed the old tile before installing new tile, and the first one with this tool kzbin.infoUgkxqqoaX03nrziKwF7Bjjcc71YzLEleMvOS . I want to cry for all the unnecessary work we've done in the past. With this tool, we removed tile surrounding a fireplace, as well as the hearth tile, set in loads of cement, in less than an hour. I highly recommend this tool. It was easy to use, and very satisfying watching the tile literally fall off the wall.

[@jamestheferret]

I'm just looking at buying one of these and it was a good honest review, thanks

[@ryanmoffat9894]

Thanks for the review, I've been looking to get another De Walt rotary hammer SDS to the kit. Your review has made it very clear this is the drill for me

[@BoltahDownunder]

Cheers mate! Yep it's a real winner. I love this little thing. I have about 25 hammers and this is one of my absolute favourites

[@ryanmoffat9894]

@@BoltahDownunder I've persevered with an older, more agricultural DeWalt SDS rotary hammer drill which is too violent for our line of work. I'll be looking forward to getting my hands on this little mosquito of a drill. Stock is really hard to find in New Zealand but I've managed to source one!

[@BoltahDownunder]

Over on the west island Bunnings is the main vendor so far. You've got Bunnings there right? It's pretty new so a bit limited as yet.

[@ryanmoffat9894]

@@BoltahDownunder Yeah, down here in the 8th state of Australia we have Bunnings. Seems to be all sold out everywhere.

[@themodernhandymanchannel1223]

Great video thanks for sharing!

[@BoltahDownunder]

Cheers mate!

[@semilijano]

Great reviews man I’m actually getting one .

[@BoltahDownunder]

Thanks mate! Yeah this little guy is now my go-to hammer out of my whole collection. A real winner

[@WeekendShedHead]

Great review there mate, very thorough and clear! Looks like a great bit of kit, I’ve had dewalt in the past! just subscribed, cheers Rob

[@BoltahDownunder]

Cheers mate! Thanks for watching

[@magnusa24]

Love your reviews, nice with a channel that does not have american spec tools, for us that don’t live there. Perhaps you could try running a larger bit than the max capacity for tools that use less than 10 seconds or so on their max? I get the feeling this hammer might be closer in performance to its two slightly larger cousins/brothers/sisters… I personally have the dch263 with dust extractor and love it.

[@madangel2002]

What type of rope did you buy that you use with your d-ring. I didn’t think out that and that is really smart

[@BoltahDownunder]

That's a little dyneema sling for rock climbing. At 2.5 tons rating it's way stronger than it needs to be, but it was just on hand. You can use any cord tied into a loop

[@BWBrasil]

does it have attachment for the osha vacuum device?

[@garvielloken3929]

nooice

[@XiaoMingMC]

I'd like to see the drill tested on high-strength concrete. Curious how the result compares to granite stone.

[@BoltahDownunder]

Yes! I'm going to do that, but probably with a corded drill so the battery level doesn't confound things. Would this drill be informative too?

[@andrewbabrowicz4526]

@@BoltahDownunder should do it with the cordless

[@garethbarnes2628]

@Boltah, l enjoy your reviews, lots of great info. I picked up the atomic version of this tapper yesterday DCH172... Can you, or anyone, tell me the difference between the Atomic 172 & the XR 172?

[@BoltahDownunder]

Thanks mate, and congrats! I think it's just regional branding. Like how in North America they say 20V but elsewhere it's 18v. Strangely enough, the boxes here say atomic but the tools don't!

[@garethbarnes2628]

@@BoltahDownunder Cheers, lm in Canada & all my Dewalt stuff is XR 20v. Probably no difference other than a slight price point maybe.😁

[@BoltahDownunder]

Nah I think they're the same just named different, like the 18V & 20V max are the exact same except for the name

[@alek-by7rm]

hey! i want to buy this dewalt for bolting new climbing routes and exploring caves, so your review is pretty useful for me. do you know the weight without the front handle?

[@BoltahDownunder]

Good choice! Did you see the other video where I drill rock? Not sure but I think the handle is only 100g or so

[@alek-by7rm]

@@BoltahDownunder well, 100g less is good for me! however, i don't need that handle, i'm using the drilling machine with one hand when aid climbing.

[@alek-by7rm]

@@BoltahDownunder i saw your other video, the number of holes is impressive, i guess i'll have even better results because i'm drilling more in marble and limestone and less in granite

[@BoltahDownunder]

Probably will get more--let us know how it goes! And don't worry about a bit of wobble, it stops doing that once you get into the material a bit deeper

[@alek-by7rm]

@@BoltahDownunder yeah, i know about the wobble "issue", I'm using a lot of big drilling machines like Dewalt, Bosch, Hilti, with 40cm long drilling bits, but I'm looking for a smaller one for 1-2 weeks expeditions

[@jackcolt6875]

I have the 20V version of this drill in the US...are the Dewalt tools 18V in Australia?

[@BoltahDownunder]

They're the same tools, just named differently in different markets. 18v (average) vs 20V max

[@jackcolt6875]

@@BoltahDownunder aaah…marketing…got it…cheers!

[@fredio54]

18v nominal really but average sort of.

[@jonienglish3231]

DCH 133 or This Atomic which is better of the 2 ? Boltah

[@BoltahDownunder]

Depends on your requirements! 133 performs better in most tests, but is more expensive, heavier, and has no light or vibration dampening

[@jonienglish3231]

@@BoltahDownunder thanks. For Reply, ended up picking the dch133 for $240 CAD - New .will use Gel Antivibration Gloves, good Video. I like the fact dch133 has just Hammer Function !!! For Chiseling

[@DwayneDibbley]

have you looked at the DCH273 ?

[@BoltahDownunder]

Sure have! I didn't got one and am testing it now. It's a pretty nice little unit!

[@DwayneDibbley]

@@BoltahDownunder cool, be good to see if it doesn't have the wobble the 172 has?

[@BoltahDownunder]

Check this out, @ 14:45 kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmjUlphne7aBi8k

[@ndolaismail45]

Selaam!

[@DidyRacing41]

Hello, I just discovered by chance your videos ( very good videos !!!) I will have to buy a Dewalt hammer drill. I'm restoring a house, I need to make holes in a concrete floor slab to fix rails ( more than 300 holes ahah diameter 6mm, height 60/70mm) And I need to drill 25mm diameter holes 40cm long to pass heating pipes ( 28 holes ) I also need to remove some tiles on a wall, about 6m2 I hesitate between the DCH 133 DCH 263 or DCH 273. The price of the DCH 133 in France is about 200€ without battery, the DCH273 is 250€ without battery, the DCH263 is between the two ahaha What would you take ? Good Day 😄

[@BoltahDownunder]

Merci! I would take the 263. All will do the 6mm holes but the 25mm will be much easier with the 263, because it's rated to 28mm and has more impact force.

[@DidyRacing41]

@@BoltahDownunder Thank you for your answer, I thought that the DCH263 would be more suitable than the other two. It can be found in France but it's not easy. I'm going to look for it, if not a friend can lend me a big bosch pro for the 25mm hole, so if I don't find a DCH263, I'll take the DCH273 (for the comfort of use) Continue your videos it's really great !!!!!!!!

[@BettyMasterPain]

any difference with the atomic version? mine says 20v, but model are the same without the XR

[@BoltahDownunder]

I think they're all the same. Different names used in different regions, like how it's called 18v here but 20v on the states. AFAIK, XR is brushless and atomic is the sub-compact range of brushless tools. In fact mine says atomic on the box but not on the tool!

[@drbass9677]

Atomic is dewalts lower end, cheaper and less powerful range. XR generally has more power and better features, like most atomic impacts don’t have speed control and have less torque then the XR (except the DCF850).

[@alenagreen3705]

@@BoltahDownunderyour tool does say atomic on the top of it actually

[@DeeLo256]

I just bought one bout two weeks ago, haven't ran it yet but it's going to be well mistreated in two days... lol

[@ProjeKtWEREWOLF]

How did it do?

[@DeeLo256]

@@ProjeKtWEREWOLF Loving it fam...

[@ProjeKtWEREWOLF]

@@DeeLo256 I've bought oone

[@DeeLo256]

How you like it....

[@adamreynolds9028]

Who sells it?

[@bee8583]

Does this have a hammer chisel mode ?

[@BoltahDownunder]

No

[@adamreynolds9028]

Who sells this in AUS?

[@BoltahDownunder]

I got mine from Bunnings. I think they were the first here. But total tools, trade tools, etc should have them by now too

[@stevenhobson2292]

I have this but it doesn't have the xr mark on it.

[@BoltahDownunder]

What country are you in?

[@stevenhobson2292]

United States

[@coreyenglish9566]

You probably have the Atomic series.

[@stevenhobson2292]

@@coreyenglish9566 same model number. Is it possible they may both be atomic

[@drbass9677]

@@coreyenglish9566 they’re both the atomic series.

[@Moon-nf5fr]

Does it chisel?

[@BoltahDownunder]

Nope. I don't think any of this size do any more

[@str8menace923]

Can you use a chisel in this model

[@BoltahDownunder]

nope, only drill or hammer drill

[@chriswarren9857]

So in the 🇺🇸 its an atomic?

[@BoltahDownunder]

Yeah, they just do different branding here for some reason. In fact, the box said atomic but the tool doesn't!

[@chriswarren9857]

@@BoltahDownunder ok i just wanted to confirm that because XR is usually the stronger line of dewalt and i would have been pissed off that I bought the atomic and there was an XR.. atomic in the 🇺🇸 is the 20volt version of extreme line 12volt

[@BoltahDownunder]

I just checked the 12v (dch072) and it's labelled "12V XR brushless". I think they just don't really use the atomic label here

[@robimykompot]

If you have to choose between DCH 172 and DCH273.....

[@BoltahDownunder]

If I had to choose, I'd take the smaller one. My requirements are light weight, and can drill lots of 12mm holes in rock, ideally 1 handed and doesn't need to be 3 mode. But then, that's me, your requirements are probably different

[@robimykompot]

@@BoltahDownunder for me weight and size are also important. I'm just wondering if dch 172 won't be too weak if I have to drill in reinforced concrete. I'm from Poland and we have a lot of it here in buildings, especially in old blocks of flats. I am looking for equipment to use once in a while, for private purposes. Maybe you can make some battle between those two ?

[@BoltahDownunder]

It all depends on The hole size you're drilling often, so if bigger than say 14mm frequently I'd go for the bigger drill. For drilling through rebar make sure you use a good 4-cutter bit. And yes I've done a few comparing these 2 tools, check out the powerstack videos (there are 2) and also just the dewalt playlist kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3TRn3dsZpqAo6M

[@robimykompot]

​@@BoltahDownunder DCH 172 is on its way to me. let's see what this stuff can do

[@Szczyrczek]

​@@robimykompot how do You like it so far?

[@ndolaismail45]

Shingapi inauzwa

[@786otto]

Not sure where you got that 18v battery may be bootleg, 20v should be used.

[@adamdavis2788]

20v is just marketing stuff in the usa rest of the world uses 18v even tho they are both 20v

[@786otto]

@@adamdavis2788 Thanks for reply, my battery show 20v when tested.

[@adamdavis2788]

@@786otto yeah they will both show 20v it’s just they can’t advertise the 20v in the uk because of some law if I Remember correctly

[@Lee-lb9qh]

@@786otto ya Milwaukee is actually 20 volts too but under load it goes to 18 volts so Milwaukee is advertising the under load power Dewalt advertises the volts before its under load but in reality Dewalt in UK and dewalt in US and Milwaukee are all 20 volt tools it's just a marketing thing

[@dewaltaholicuk5435]

Nominal voltage vs actual voltage... I am surprised this "discrepancy" is still making the rounds...

[@fredio54]

No hammer only mode for chipping / splitting, right? Deal beeaker for me for now.

[@BoltahDownunder]

Nope. Nobody's making hammers that small with hammer-only mode any more. The smallest one for DeWalt is DCH033 or 133

[@dca860]

No mention of the fact it has no 'hammer only' option

[@BoltahDownunder]

That's what '2-mode' is for smaller hammers. There aren't any 16mm hammers that have hammer only AFAIK (the old Ryobi did but the new version doesn't)

[@bloodxviii7546]

This thing I worthless . I went thought this was gonna be amazing to have today I tried it out on a job and it had no power at all damn near ready to toss it in the trash

[@BoltahDownunder]

Amazing for what? And compared to what? This is about the best sub-compact on the market so if it's not meeting your requirements you'll probably need a regular sized (like 1 inch) hammer and not a sub compact

[@bloodxviii7546]

i tried to make a small 9/16th hole into concrete didnt work at all @@BoltahDownunder

[@BoltahDownunder]

Wow really? That's no good. It might be faulty, or more likely the bit is too tight in the hole. I find the smallest bits actually can fill up with dust cos there's so little space in there. Try a newer/different style bit. You'll want one where the chisel tip is wider than the shaft, not the same size. Or maybe just bigger flutes. And of course when drilling, withdraw the bit regularly to clear the hole

[@bloodxviii7546]

@@BoltahDownunder thanks it seems I was using the wrong sized bit i believe it’s the plus 16mm and I was using the regular sized ones

[@pticapolska9292]

1.4J no worth it. Old models are much more stronger and chaper