DeWALT DT71517-QZ Impact Right-Angle Drill Attachment

Brilliant little tool that got me out of a scrape. Needed an attachment to drill pilot holes for lag screws in a stair tread. Only problem was that the overhanging nose from the tread above meant that a normal drill couldnt be used. I have a set of DeWalt small hex shank drill bits which fit straight into the right angle drill which in turn inserts into my impact driver. Loads of clearance and a straight hole drilled! Worked pefectly and is weighty and well built. Wont be a tool that gets used everyday but its a tool that will pay for itself the first time you use it - godsend.Only tiny gripe is small bits are not the easiest things to remove unless you have something handy poke them out through the top - thin screwdriver etc.

This is a very very fine piece of kit. Beautifully solid to feel and simple. And very tough. Used with impact driver it'll get any screw in (make sure it's tough enough to not strip thread, cos if you are using this thing, you know it's a tight space and you'll never get it out if you strip it!). Works brilliantly, I've been holding it with my hand and typically able to get a bit of leverage pressure onto it so the 'impact' drilling works perfectly - obviously because you only use this in very tight spaces you will always be able to get your hand onto it and something behind it to give it the push it needs to get good traction on the thread.Can't recommend it highly enough. It took some serious abuse from my impact driver, and broke no sweat...!

Nicely made sturdy piece of kit which I have used a few times while installing kitchen units. Unusual as far as I can tell in as much as it allows the impact function of a driver to be used in a right angled format; great for narrow spaces. It does take a bit of getting used to and needs a really firm grip to drive in screws or the bit will slip in the screw head and make a mess. Hex based drill bits are essential if using for drilling.What I am not clear about is the function of the magnetic bit holder. It does not appear to hold the bit in at all well, hence the four stars.

Such a handy tool, can take a beating in an impact driver, not let me down yet & had it years, highly recommend

As a bench joiner/cabinet maker and site fitter of over 30 years experience I can confirm that this DeWALT unit will take a beating driving stubborn screws, enough to break the tips of top quality PZ2 bits but time will tell for how long. Anything can be broken but I don't see it happening without some serious abuse, maybe driving large hex-shafted flatbits through MDF and jamming them at high rpm when you lose your centre half way through the hole without a backing piece clamped to it. You can get into some pretty tight spaces with this attachment but it's still up to you to hold it in place and will obviously slip if you don't keep the driver buried in the screw head and usually, even if you do. You need to hold it square to the screw which is difficult if you can't see it as the circular magnet covers it.The gears are very smooth and don't seem to inhibit torque at all with cogging or friction and transmit maximum power to the selected driver or drill. The perimeter screw head magnet is strong but not enough to make up for a good, solid grip on the gearbox whilst driving screws as that wasn't it's purpose and the tool can't really be used one handed for anything requiring much welly, though you can start screws at a reach if you have to before it just slips and rotates.The bit sits very deeply in the hex socket which makes changing it very difficult with dry, let alone wet or oily fingers unless you use a 2-3mm screwdriver, hex key, drill bit or rod to push the bit out from the back as far as it will allow. Just poking another PZ2 bit in the back recess is not really enough to eject the driver. You can buy similar tools for a fifth of the price which might work ok for light duty use but you take your chances with the gears and I even had one pop open as the retention circlip groove wasn't machined but cast into the housing way too shallow and the bevel gears thrust it apart.Basically, if you're a professional tradesperson like me, just buy one already and be confident that it will perform as well as any other DeWALT product. It's not the kind of tool you need often but when you need it you can't do the job without it. A screw-in side handle would be a good addition Mr. DeWALT, as even the really cheap plastic ones have these and it gives a much better grip if there's room for it. Knurling could be incorporated into the gearbox as it is, for a slightly better purchase also. This adapter doesn't want to spin in your hand but it does want to push away from the screw head if you have a worn bit, obviously and without an extended driver bit you can't grip it fully near the head once the screw is driven home where you need the most pressure, right at the last moment when you have to grit your teeth and go all caveman on it!

It seems to work fine but would like to have it grip the hex bit more strongly as it can pull out fairly easy so may not be so good for housing my impact driver chuck, or a large drill bit in some situations.

Perfect

Didn't know I needed one until I bought this. Don't use very often but invaluable when I do. I would say that it could be improved by the addition of a side handle to give you a bit of leverage at the business end.