A Partner's Review of the DeWalt 18V XR Tool Range
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Let's be honest, finding the perfect gift for the man in your life can be a right challenge. Year after year, I'd find myself racking my brain for Christmas and birthdays. Socks? Again? A bottle of something nice? It all felt a bit... predictable.
My partner, bless him, is a keen DIY-er. He's not a professional builder by any stretch, our shelves might have a slight creative lean to them, though he's always got a project on the go. Whether it's putting up a fence, building a flat-pack (the ultimate relationship test!), or attempting to build a rustic-looking welly stand he saw on Pinterest, he loves doing.
A couple of years ago, I had a lightbulb moment. Instead of buying him things, why not invest in the doing? I bought him his first "proper" tool: a DeWalt 18V XR Brushless Combi Drill.
He. Loved. It.
It was tough, it felt substantial in his hands, and that iconic yellow and black colouring made him look like he truly knew what he was doing. Since then, I've been adding to his collection for every special occasion. It's become the ultimate "gift that keeps on giving," and I've accidentally become a bit of an expert on a system I've never even used.
If you're in the same boat, wondering what to get for your home-improver, let me share what I've learned. Let's talk about the DeWalt 18V XR range.
Amazon UK:
The Secret I've Learned: It’s Not About a Tool, It's About the System
This was my first and most important discovery. The real genius of the DeWalt range isn't just one drill; it's the 18V XR battery platform.
In simple terms, "XR" stands for "eXtreme Runtime." These are powerful, efficient lithium-ion batteries. The "18V" is the power level, which is the sweet spot for serious DIY and even professional use.
Here’s the magic: one battery fits every single tool in the 18V XR range.
DeWalt has over 250 (yes, 250!) tools that all use the same battery. From drills and saws to sanders, leaf blowers, and even vacuum cleaners.
Once you've bought the first "kit" (which usually comes with a tool, a battery, and a charger), you can then buy "bare unit" tools (which are just the tool itself in a box) for a much lower price.
This is a game-changer for gift-giving.
It's economical: You're not paying for a new battery and charger every time.
It's convenient: He can just grab any charged battery from the shelf and pop it into the tool he needs.
It solves future gifts: My "what to buy" list is now sorted for the next five years. Next up is the 18V XR Jigsaw, I think!
A Quick Explainer: What Does "Brushless" Mean (and Why Should You Care)?
You'll see this word "Brushless" plastered all over the boxes. I asked my partner what the big deal was, and his eyes lit up as he gave me the full technical breakdown. I'll spare you the engineering lecture and give you the "Mrs. Brown" summary:
A traditional "brushed" motor uses tiny carbon brushes to make the motor spin. These cause friction, create heat, and eventually wear out.
A "brushless" motor is smarter. It uses magnets and electronics to work. There's no friction.
For your partner, this means three incredible benefits:
More Power: Because no energy is wasted on friction, all the battery's power goes directly into the job. These tools are noticeably more powerful.
Longer Runtime: The motor is incredibly efficient. DeWalt claims up to 57% more runtime from the same battery compared to an old brushed tool. That means less time spent swapping batteries and more time getting the job done.
Longer Tool Life: With no brushes to wear out, the tool itself is tougher, more durable, and lasts significantly longer.
In short: Brushless is better. It costs a little more upfront, but the performance and durability are absolutely worth it.
Now, onto the tools themselves! Here are the core items from my partner's collection that get the most use.
1. The Workhorse: DeWalt 18V XR Brushless Combi Drill
This is the one that started it all. As my partner says, "it's the heart of the toolkit." He uses this for everything, from drilling holes in solid brick walls for hanging shelves to assembling furniture.
The "Combi" part means it has three functions:
Drill Mode: For drilling holes in wood and metal.
Screwdriver Mode: For driving screws.
Hammer Mode: Adds a "punching" action for drilling into tough stuff like brick and masonry.
What I've noticed is how compact it is. For such a powerful tool (it has 70Nm of torque, which I'm told is a lot), it's light and fits into surprisingly tight spaces. It has a 15-position torque control, that's the numbered collar behind the chuck. This is a brilliant feature for a DIY-er; he can set it to a low number for small screws in soft pine, and the drill will "clutch out" (make that "brrr-brrr-brrr" sound) rather than driving the screw too deep and splitting the wood.
Oh, and the 3-position LED light! It's not just a dim bulb; it's a bright spotlight (one setting is a 20-minute "torch mode"). I've seen him using it to peer into the dark cupboard under the stairs. He says it's one of his favourite features.
Verdict: If you're buying their first tool, make it this one. It's the essential, all-rounder.
2. The Powerhouse: DeWalt 18V XR Brushless Impact Driver
I used to get this and the drill mixed up. They look similar, but they do very different jobs. My partner explained it like this: "The drill is for making holes; the impact driver is for driving screws."
And my word, does it drive screws. This is his go-to for big jobs, like building the new garden decking or putting together the frame for a log store. Where the combi drill might struggle and "cam out" (slip out of the screw head), the impact driver uses a special mechanism that delivers bursts of rotational impact (hence the name).
This little beast (and it is little, only 122mm long) packs a "Class Leading" 282Nm of torque. That's four times the power of his combi drill. It sinks 4-inch screws into thick timber like it's soft butter, and it does it with less effort, saving his wrists.
The model he has also has a 4-mode switch, including a "Precision Drive" setting that stops it from over-tightening small screws. It's loud, it makes an aggressive "ratt-ratt-ratt" noise in use, though it's the sound of a job getting done fast.
Verdict: Perfect for anyone doing lots of screwing, building flat-packs, or working on big wood projects (decking, fencing, etc.). It's the drill's very powerful best friend.
3. The Finisher: DeWalt 18V XR Brushless Planer
Now we get to my personal favourite, because it tidies up his "creative" cutting! As I mentioned, my partner is enthusiastic, but his cuts with a handsaw aren't always perfectly straight.
This is where the planer comes in. It's a specialist tool that shaves off thin layers of wood to create a perfectly smooth, flat, and straight edge. He uses it most often for trimming doors that stick, or for smoothing the edges of a shelf he's cut.
It has a 2mm depth of cut, which is plenty for DIY tasks, and a 9mm rebate depth (which he showed me is for cutting a "step" into wood, like on a door frame). It's cordless, which is a massive bonus for a planer, no cable to accidentally shave! It's also surprisingly light (2.5kg) and ergonomic.
It does make a lot of wood shavings, but it has a dust-extraction port that you can hook up to a vacuum (or the included dust bag) to minimise the mess.
Verdict: A fantastic tool for giving his woodworking projects a professional, smooth finish. It’s the "tidy-up" tool that makes all the difference.
4. The Problem-Solver: DeWalt 18V XR Brushless Multi-Tool
This tool is the "get out of jail free" card of the toolkit. It's versatile, precise, and gets into places no other tool can.
Instead of spinning, the head oscillates (vibrates back and forth) at up to 20,000 oscillations per minute. This tiny, rapid movement allows it to do all sorts of jobs. My partner has used it to:
Plunge Cut: Cut a perfect, neat rectangle out of a plasterboard wall to install a new socket.
Trim Skirting: Cut the bottom of a skirting board in place to fit new flooring underneath, no need to rip the whole board off the wall.
Sand: Attach the sanding head to get into tiny, awkward corners on a piece of furniture he was upcycling.
Cut Metal: He even used it to cut off a rusted-on bolt under the sink.
The DCS356 model has a 3-speed selector, so he can use a low speed for delicate control or high speed for aggressive cutting. The best bit? It has a "Quick-Change" accessory system. He can swap from a wood blade to a sanding pad in seconds, with no Allen keys or tools required. It's pure genius.
Verdict: Probably the most versatile tool he owns. It solves a thousand awkward little problems that would otherwise be a nightmare.
5. The Secret Weapon: Kreg Rip-Cut Circular Saw Guide
Okay, this last one isn't a DeWalt tool, but it's the single best accessory I've ever bought him.
My partner has a circular saw, but he always struggled to cut long, straight lines in large 8x4 sheets of plywood. He'd try clamping a piece of wood as a guide, but it was always a faff.
The Kreg Rip-Cut is a jig that attaches to any circular saw. You slide the saw onto the sled, lock it in, and then set the width you want to cut (up to 24 inches) on the guide rail. The large guide arm then just runs along the factory edge of the plywood sheet, and the saw glides along the rail, delivering a perfectly straight, perfectly accurate cut, every single time.
I watched him use it to build a set of shelves for the garage. He cut down a massive sheet of plywood into perfect strips in minutes. The confidence it gave him was amazing to see. It effectively turns his handheld circular saw into a precision table saw, but without the cost or the space.
Verdict: For anyone who works with large sheets of wood (plywood, MDF, etc.) and struggles to get a straight cut, this accessory is an absolute must-have. It’s a huge confidence-booster.
My Final Thoughts
Investing in the DeWalt 18V XR system has been one of the best gift-giving decisions I've ever made. The tools are tough, the brushless motors are powerful and efficient, and the "one battery" system is just so smart.
My partner's DIY skills have genuinely improved, not just because the tools are good, but because they give him the confidence to take on projects he would have shied away from before.
So, if you're looking for that perfect "Gifts for Him" idea, I can't recommend this range enough. Start him off with a Combi Drill kit, and you've got your birthday and Christmas presents sorted for years to come.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I can hear him using the multi-tool to cut something... I'd better go and check on the skirting boards.
Happy gifting!
FYI, Don’t forget the batteries and accessories!!!
