Flex DD 2G 10.8-LD Drill D


Independent Review


by Peter Brett


Size Isn’t… Most, if not all, trades have already worked out that 18


or 24volt drill/drivers are not always needed on every job. When it comes to the need for sheer power - then 18v or more, is the answer. But what I have found out from


experience, is that there is quite a range of lighter duty jobs that are more than adequately catered for with a 10.8 or 12v tool. With the smaller and lighter drill/drivers, I find they can be slipped into the


front flap pocket of work trousers, or even into a side pocket. So, finding somewhere to put them while working on a ladder is solved. Their significantly smaller size also means that they can be used inside cabinets and in tighter spaces where bigger tools simply can’t fit. Because of the type of usage they are put to, even the smaller Ah (say 2.5 or


4Ah) battery packs often last a day or more, even for a busy kitchen or shop fitter. The new Flex DD 2G 10.8- LD fits nicely into the above category – it is light and compact and fulfils all my criteria for a smaller and lighter drill/driver without compromise. It looks like a smaller version of an 18v drill driver, but it has the advantage of feeling lighter without lacking all the ergonomic rubber grippy stuff of bigger drills. In other words, this is no poor relation to a more powerful 18v model. On top of that it is very well priced – roughly £110 ex VAT. Good enough to


tempt non-professionals into buying a professional quality tool. Specs… With a top torque of 34Nm I had no trouble driving 50 or 60mm long screws


into softwood or some less dense hardwoods. Certainly, the most commonly used materials like chipboard and MDF are not really a challenge for the screwdriving ability of this drill driver. The drill driver benefits from having a 10mm keyless chuck that clicks tightly


onto drill shanks with the twist of a wrist, and stays put under working pressure. The machine can drill up to 25mm diameter in wood and up to 10mm in steel, and


has two speeds – 0 to 350 rpm in slow gear and 0 to 1300 rpm in fast. The speeds are selected via a slider switch on top of the drill body. With a 2.5Ah battery pack on board, the drill weighs just over one kilo and the


same pack will take approximately 40 minutes for a full charge via the diagnostic charger supplied. Battery packs have a charge indicator so you can see how much juice you have left. Supplied as standard are a belt clip and a bit holder. These can be screwed onto


the base of the handle with the hex screws provided and can fit either on the left or right hand side of the handle to suit the user. The belt clip is one that you will use because it is strong and rigid, so it does actually catch on your belt when you want it to. A trouser pocket may not be the only holding solution for ladder related work. A few years ago I would have dismissed the idea of a light on a drill, but nowadays I find them very useful indeed, and the big bright LED just above the front of the trigger is placed well to illuminate the work area in front of you. There are 17


torque settings and a driver setting selected via the usual collar behind the chuck. The settings are easy to select and most users will probably not use them very often, but for delicate work - inside kitchen cabinets for example, attaching drawer slides – it is actually very important not to overtighten screws into chipboard carcases. When I


tested them, all it took was a minute or two of trial and error with the screws concerned to decide on the correct torque setting. The trigger and forward/reverse arrangement is one commonly used on most


drill drivers. The trigger is easily big enough for a forefinger, and the forward reverse switch above it is easily selectable without having to move your hand from the handle. And then there is the Build Quality To me this drill feels like a pro product in the hand, and I could find no signs of


shoddy manufacturing on it. The body mouldings are precise and fit together well, and do not flex under drilling loads. Rubber overmoulding is carefully placed for a comfortable grip on the main handle. The rear of the motor casing has a


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