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How to use a HiKOKI cordless drill

Updated: 2026-10-23

The drill is already in the case, and the first hole shows whether the collar is on screws, on drill or on hammer. For the bodies in this comparison, use comes down to that collar, the two-speed gearbox, the side handle on the heavier combis, and Reactive Force Control where the listing states it. This page follows HiKOKI's handling points and the amazon.co.uk cells that disagree with them, checked on 22 October 2026. It is not a lab test. Which body you should have bought is the [Hikoki cordless drill comparison](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/hikoki-cordless-drill). A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The drill is already in the case, and the first hole shows whether the collar is on screws, on drill or on hammer.

Our top picks

Hikoki Hikoki KC18DCJAZ, combi and impact driver

Best overall

Hikoki Hikoki KC18DCJAZ, combi and impact driver
7.1/10about £359.99
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Hikoki Hikoki DS18DDW4Z, body only

Rank 2

Hikoki Hikoki DS18DDW4Z, body only
8.0/10about £66.71
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Hikoki Hikoki DV36DCW2Z, body and case

Alternative

Hikoki Hikoki DV36DCW2Z, body and case
6.5/10about £209.99
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Collar first, then the trigger
  2. 2.Low gear and high gear
  3. 3.Side handle and Reactive Force Control
  4. 4.When to put the drill down

Collar first, then the trigger

Set the mode before you lean on the trigger. Numbers are for screws and the drill mark is for holes. The DS18DD listing prints 20 stages plus a drill setting. Those numbers are a slip point, not newton metres. The DS18DD and the DS18DDQ have no hammer mark. On the combis the third mark is the hammer, and impact drilling on the DV models is clockwise. The collar does not choose the speed.

Low gear and high gear

These bodies are two-speed tools. Low gear is for large screws and large holes. High gear is for small screws and small bits. The DS18DD maximum is 1,700 rpm, the DV18DC high speed is 0–2,000/min, and the DV36DC high speed is 0–2,200/min. Change gear only when the switch is off and the chuck has stopped. Shifting while the motor turns can damage the gears. A 100 rpm note on the KC18DCJAZ is a soft start, not a cue to move the lever. If the clutch clicks while you are drilling, the collar is still on a number.
Hikoki Hikoki KC18DCJAZ, combi and impact driver

Testsieger

Hikoki Hikoki KC18DCJAZ, combi and impact driver
7.1/10about £359.99
View offer

Side handle and Reactive Force Control

Fit the side handle on the DV18DC and the DV36DC before you drill. The DV36DCW2Z includes the handle. The DS18DD bodies do not name one. Reactive Force Control is a gyro that stops the motor when the body swings past a threshold. HiKOKI says it may miss, and that a sudden movement can trip it. It is stated on the DV18DC and DV36DC, not the DS18DD. If the motor stops, release the trigger and clear the bind. On the DV36DCW2Z, 33,000/min is the impact rate, not chuck speed.

When to put the drill down

At work, PUWER applies. Wear hearing protection for impact drilling. Noise action values are 80 dB(A) and 85 dB(A). The DS18DD vibration figure is 2.5 m/s² (K 1.5), on the HSE action value, not under it. DV18DE impact drilling into concrete is declared at 14.9 m/s² (K 1.5), above the 5.0 m/s² A(8) limit. If you cannot identify cables or pipes, stop. A combi is not a rotary hammer. If the charger is Schuko-only, do not force it into a UK socket. That check is on the HiKOKI drill body only or kit page.

Common questions

Which collar mark is for screws, which is for drilling, and which is for brick?
Numbers are for screws. The drill mark is for holes in wood and metal. The hammer mark, on a combi, is for masonry, and impact drilling on the DV18DC and DV36DC is clockwise. The DS18DD and DS18DDQ listings have no hammer mark. The DS18DD prints 20 stages plus a drill setting. Do not borrow an older DS18DGL dial.
When do I use the low gear?
Use low gear for large screws and large holes. Use high gear for small screws and small bits. The DS18DD's listed maximum is 1,700 rpm, the DV18DC high speed is 0–2,000/min, and the DV36DC high speed is 0–2,200/min. If the clutch clicks while you are drilling, stop, then move the collar to the drill mark.
Can I move the gear lever while the chuck is spinning?
No. Change speed only with the switch off and the chuck stopped. Shifting under power can damage the gears. A soft start, such as the 100 rpm note on the KC18DCJAZ, is not a cue to move the lever while the motor is turning.
Which of these drills need the side handle?
The 140 Nm DV18DC class and the 155 Nm DV36DC. The DV36DCW2Z includes the handle, and the DV18DC page describes 11 positions. The DS18DD and DS18DDQ do not include a side handle, so there is nothing to fit on the £66.71 body.
What does Reactive Force Control do, and can it fail to trip?
It uses a gyro to stop the motor when the body swings past a threshold. HiKOKI says it may not act in some conditions, and that a sudden movement can trip it when you did not hit a bind. It is stated on the DV18DC and DV36DC listings here, not on the DS18DD. If it stops the tool, release the trigger and clear the bind. It does not replace the side handle.
Is 33,000 rpm the speed of the chuck on the DV36DC listing?
No. On the DV36DC catalogue, 0–33,000/min is the impact rate and 0–2,200/min is the high spindle speed. The 22 in the speeds cell matches slip stages, not 22 gears. The DV18DC product page uses 0–30,000/min for its own impact rate. Do not merge the two.
When should I stop and call a professional?
Stop for repeated holes in structural concrete, for walls where you cannot identify services, and for silica dust you cannot control. At work, daily hammer drilling needs a look at PUWER, noise and vibration. The DV18DE concrete figure of 14.9 m/s² (K 1.5) is above the 5.0 m/s² A(8) limit. A combi is not a rotary hammer.

Related pages

HiKOKI cordless drill buying guide

HiKOKI 18V or 36V drill

Hikoki cordless drill

Best HiKOKI cordless drill for the job you actually have

HiKOKI drill body only or kit: what the carton includes

Sources

Public UK sources and manufacturer pages, last checked on 22 October 2026. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk listing figures.

  1. Hikoki UK catalogue 2025 (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  2. Hikoki DS18DD (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  3. Hikoki DV18DC (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  4. Hikoki DV36DC (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  5. Hikoki DV18DEW2Z (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  6. Hikoki Multi Volt (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  7. Hikoki UK warranty terms, 25 August 2025 (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  8. HSE, hand-arm vibration regulations (retrieved 22 October 2026)