The cordless DeWalt DW988, 18-v ½ inch hammer drill features a 3 speed, all metal transmission with a max power speed of 2000 RPM. A lot of our customers use this drill because it weighs less than 6 pounds, has great balance and the battery holds a good charge. With the power and performance behind this drill, you can finish any job.
The hammer drill feature is great when drilling holes for anchors in concrete walls, floors, and ceilings. This drill uses a 1/2″ keyless metal ratcheting chuck [330075-45] with jaws to prevent bits from slipping. After the bit is centered, the ratcheting mechanism locks it in place. This delivers great holding power without the usual two-hand twist. For our customers that are framers, the drill also has slip rings on the front that make it easier to drill in corners without grinding the chuck.
After years of use, these drills may start working only on one speed. With DW988 parts so readily available, it was surprisingly easy to replace the transmission [397892-05], and the drill works great at all speeds again.
More recently, DeWalt has replaced the DW988, with the DC988. Replacement parts are still available for both models.
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