Independent comparisons. We may earn from shop links. More info

How to use a DeWalt combi drill

Updated: 2026-10-23

The box is open and the first hole is a hinge screw or a plug in a kitchen wall. What should be clear is which way the collar goes, which speed to use, and whether a missing battery is a fault or the listing you bought. The steps follow DeWalt charger notes and the complaints that repeat on these amazon.co.uk listings, checked on 20 October 2026. We did not film a lab procedure. Which model to buy stays on the [DeWalt cordless drill driver comparison](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/de-walt-cordless-drill-driver). A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The box is open and the first hole is a hinge screw or a plug in a kitchen wall. What should be clear is which way the collar goes, which speed to use, and whether a missing battery is a fault or the listing you bought.

Our top picks

DeWalt DeWalt DCD803KN-XJ, 4 heads

Best overall

DeWalt DeWalt DCD803KN-XJ, 4 heads
9.6/10about £263.99
View offer
DeWalt DeWalt DCD796P1, 1 x 5.0 Ah

Rank 2

DeWalt DeWalt DCD796P1, 1 x 5.0 Ah
9.4/10about £119.98
View offer
DeWalt DeWalt DCD776 body only

Best value

DeWalt DeWalt DCD776 body only
9.2/10about £54.50
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Check the box before the first hole
  2. 2.Collar and the two speeds
  3. 3.Hammer, bits and wrists
  4. 4.Charge, then the faults reviews repeat

Check the box before the first hole

The DCD776, the DCD709N-XJ, the DCD795N and the DCD803KN-XJ do not name a battery in the included line. That is the listing, unless the title you ordered said otherwise. The DCD701 and DCD799 titles name batteries and a charger, and the DCD796 included line names one 5.0 Ah pack. Put the pack on only if the rail matches. An 18 V XR slide does not take the DCD701's 12 V packs. Forcing a pack that does not click damages the shoe. That split is in the DeWalt cordless drill driver buying guide.

Collar and the two speeds

The numbered ring is the clutch. Start low on a new screw and move to the drill symbol only when you are boring. Use speed 1 for screws and large bits. Use speed 2 for smaller bits in wood. Do not change speed while the chuck is still turning. If the drill screams and the screw stops, drop a speed and lower the clutch before you lean on the tool. On the DCD803, owners say the ring must go past 14 and the dial is hard to grip. The manual runs from 1 to 15, then drill, with no hammer symbol. Set it before you are in a cupboard.
DeWalt DeWalt DCD803KN-XJ, 4 heads

Testsieger

DeWalt DeWalt DCD803KN-XJ, 4 heads
9.6/10about £263.99
View offer

Hammer, bits and wrists

Hammer mode belongs with a masonry bit. It is a light blow, enough for a 6 mm or 7 mm plug hole in ordinary brick, not a concrete lintel. If the collar has no hammer mark, there is no hidden setting. The DCD701 manual leaves masonry blank. Stop if the hole is not moving and the bit is hot. Leaning walks the hole oval. Which listings claim hammer mode is on the DeWalt combi drill for brick page.

Charge, then the faults reviews repeat

Charge a DeWalt pack fully before first use, indoors, on 230 V, between 4 °C and 40 °C, and only on a DeWalt charger. Let a cold pack come indoors first. On the DCD796, reviews report play in the forward/reverse selector. If it will not stay in gear, return it. On the DCD776, bits much under 2 mm are awkward. The DCD795 file includes a trigger fault, a failure after 32 days, and a warranty cell that says no warranty.

Common questions

What do the numbers on the collar do?
They are clutch settings. A lower number lets the clutch click at a lower torque, which helps you avoid stripping a small screw or splitting a thin batten. The drill symbol steps past the clutch for boring. Start low on a new screw and raise the number if it clicks early. There is no universal setting for every timber in a UK house.
When do I use hammer?
Only with a masonry bit, and only if your collar has a hammer mark. It is for occasional plug holes in ordinary brick and block. It is the wrong mode for wood, for screws, and for concrete lintels. If your model is the DCD701 or the DCD803, the manuals do not give you that mark.
Should screws be speed 1 or speed 2?
Speed 1. You want the lower gear so the screw does not cam out, and you want the clutch in play. Speed 2 is for smaller bits once you are drilling rather than driving. Change speed only when the chuck has stopped.
What if the box has no battery?
Read the title you ordered. Body-only and N-suffix listings in this set, including the DCD776, DCD709, DCD795 and DCD803, are sold without a battery. A missing pack is then your next purchase, on the same rail, not a courier error. If the title promised two 5 Ah packs, as the DCD799 does, an empty box is a reason to contact the seller.
How should an XR pack be charged?
Charge it fully before first use, on a DeWalt charger, indoors, between 4 °C and 40 °C, from a UK 230 V socket. Do not use another brand's charger, and do not charge a pack that is still ice-cold from the van. The DCD701's 12 V packs need the 12 V charger in that kit, not an 18 V slide.
Why does the DCD803 clutch feel awkward?
Reviewers say the ring has to be turned all the way past 14 and that the dial is hard to grip. The manual numbers screwdriving 1 to 15, then drill, with no hammer. Set it in the light, before you are reaching into a corner. The offset and right-angle heads are the reason to own it, and the clutch is the part owners grumble about.

Related pages

Best DeWalt cordless drill driver

DeWalt cordless drill driver

DeWalt 12V or 18V drill driver: which battery rail

DeWalt cordless drill driver buying guide for the UK

DeWalt combi drill for brick and household plug holes

Sources

Public UK sources from the research digest, last checked on 19 October 2026. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures in the display file.

  1. Toolstation drill buying guide (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  2. DeWalt UK, DCD709N-XJ (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  3. DeWalt UK, DCD799P2T-GB (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  4. DeWalt UK, DCD701D2-GB (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  5. DeWalt DCD701 manual (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  6. GOV.UK, Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  7. HSE, vibration regulations (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  8. Top 7 Tools battery platforms (retrieved 19 October 2026)