DeWalt DW511 Review

DeWalt DW511 Product Image

Editor Rating: 4.9/5

Amazing

DeWalt DW511 Review

Reviewed by: Timothy Henderson

Published on: March 12, 2018

Last modified: Aug 19, 2022 @ 1:34 am

  • Design
  • Functionality
  • Price

DeWalt DW511 Review Summary:

When it comes to hammer drills, DeWalt is definitely one of our favorite brands. Their models are well-known for reliability and efficiency.

The DeWalt DW511 is sure to catch the attention of all those in a market for a hammer drill. Not only does it come at a reasonable price, but it also sports a number of convenient features – such as the lightweight design, high-performance motor, variable speed, a 360-degree side handle, and many more.

We gave this model an in-depth look and tried to find out if it’s really as good as the users deem it to be.

DW511 Specifications:

  • Weight – 4.3lbs
  • Dimensions – 12″ x 10.2″ x 3″
  • Chuck Size – 1/2″
  • Max Speed – 2,700 RPM
  • Motor Power – 7.8 AMP

DeWalt DW511 – The Basics


Even though it’s been around for quite some time now, this hammer drill is still a pretty good choice for everyday tasks around the household. It sports an efficient 7.8 AMP motor that achieves the maximum speed of 2,700 RPM and is operated via the two-finger trigger. It sports a lightweight design, which is sure to be appreciated by all handymen who know about cramps that come with prolonged drilling sessions.

Other than that, the DW511 features a side-handle (included in the package) that gives better balance and greater control, as well as the depth rod and the chuck key (with a holder). It’s sold at a reasonable price, which is precisely the reason behind its immense popularity. Let’s have a closer look at its features:

DeWalt DW511 Features


The Design


Sporting the DeWalt’s well-known black & yellow color combination, the DW511 has a pistol-grip style and weighs just a bit more than 4 pounds. With a great ergonomic design, working with the DW511 is very comfortable and convenient. The machine’s form factor will allow long drilling sessions without tiring your hands.

But it’s the side-handle that steals the show! It’s included in the package and gives the user greater control over the operation, as it can be rotated up to 360° and positioned in any way you like it. The side-handle lets the user balance the weight during the drilling and makes it easier to accurately achieve the desired depth.

Power


The DW511 is powerful enough for all types of household repairs. It sports a 7.8 AMP motor that easily tackles all kinds of materials, such as masonry, steel, and hardwood, with its Dual Mode feature allowing the user to turn off the hammer action when it’s not needed.

The unit’s maximum capacity in steel and concrete is 1/2″ and 1-1/4 in wood, and it’s capable of achieving 0-46,000 BPM (Blows per Minute) and 2,700 RPM (Rotations per Minute). The fact that its maximum power output stands at 650 watts gives one the power of premium models at a reasonable price, which is a huge plus in our book and something that deserves special praise. The model’s chuck, even though not keyless, has an all-metal construction and can accept a broad spectrum of bits.

Warranty


For this model, DeWalt offers a 3-year limited warranty, a 1-year free service contract, and 90-day money back guarantee. It’s the standard deal and one that we really can’t complain about.

DeWalt DW511 Top View

Pros:

N

A high-performance hammer drill

N

Lightweight design

N

360° side-handle

N

Great value for the money

Cons:

N

Keyed chuck

N

No carrying case

R

Things we liked about it

Fortunately, the price of DW511 is not the only thing that had us impressed. This hammer drill is packed with a number of convenient features, and when we combine these with an affordable price, we get a genuinely tempting deal. Suitable for all kinds of masonry, hardwood, and steel materials, the DW511 comes with a powerful motor and a lightweight design – it’s something we’re quite used to when it comes to DeWalt drills.

Two things had us especially impressed. The first of them is the inclusion of a 360-degree handle, which works just as advertised and provides the user with full control over the drilling operation. The second is the so-called Dual Mode, allowing one to turn off the unit’s hammer action when it’s not needed.

We were also quite pleased with the machine’s warranty deal, as well as with the fact that it produced minimal kickback during our testing period.

Q

Things we didn’t like

Unfortunately, the cost of making a mechanism whose purpose is to open/close a keyless chuck is a very expensive one, and that cost is usually passed onto the consumers. That’s why the DW511 doesn’t come with a keyless chuck, which is a shame when we consider the sheer amount of its convenient features.

Other than that, we were displeased to find that the deal doesn’t include a carrying case. This is something important to every serious handyman and a serious omission from DeWalt – we hope to see it fixed in the next revision of the model.

What Users Say About The DeWalt DW511


Consumers are praising DW511 for a number of reasons. They’re quite pleased that they have an opportunity to purchase a branded hammer drill for an affordable price, saying that it’s a great deal, especially when one considers the included 3-year warranty.

They’re quite fond of the unit’s 360° handle, with one user saying that it’s “worth to buy the drill just because of the 360-degree handle”. Another consumer praised the device’s powerful motor, stating that it allows him to easily drill even through the densest materials.

Conclusion


The DW511 has excellent construction quality, a highly-efficient motor, and the ability to turn off the hammer action when it’s not required. The DeWalt DW511 is also great value for the money

We liked both the design and the power of the DW511, as well as its warranty deal, heartily recommend it to our readers

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