The DeWalt DCF870 20V Hydraulic Impact Driver: Quiet, Compact, and Powerful!
The DeWalt DCF870 20V Max Hydraulic Quiet Impact Driver is a long-awaited addition to DeWalt’s most popular battery platform. Has it been worth the wait? I took a closer look to see how it compares to what’s available from Makita and Milwaukee.
Pros
- Quiet operation
- Well-balanced design
- Plenty of power for common fastening tasks
- LED light with extended runtime to use as a task light
- Extremely compact head design
Cons
- Noticeably less powerful than traditional compact models
DeWalt DCF870 20V Max Hydraulic Quiet Impact Driver Performance
- No-Load Speed: 1100/3000 RPM
- Max Torque: 500 in-lbs
- Impact Rate: 4200 IPM
If you’re new to hydraulic impact drivers, the first thing you need to understand is that they aren’t as powerful as standard impact drivers. The system relies on a hydraulic pulse that delivers a softer blow than the fast, hard strike of a hammer striking an anvil.
That said, DeWalt has this hydraulic impact driver rated at 500 in-lbs, which is very strong for its class. Combined with 3000 RPM and 4200 IPM on the high end, it’s highly productive at driving small to medium-size screws.
Here’s how it compares to other Pro brands:
| Model | Top Speed | Impact Rate | Max Torque |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeWalt 20V Max DCF870 | 3000 RPM | 4200 IPM | 500 in-lbs |
| Makita 18V LXT XST01 | 3200 RPM | 2700 IPM | 355 in-lbs |
| Milwaukee M12 Fuel Surge 2551 | 3000 RPM | 3400 IPM | 450 in-lbs |
| Milwaukee M18 Fuel Surge 2760 | 3000 RPM | 4000 IPM | 450 in-lbs |
Hands-On Testing
To kick things off, we set the DCF870 to high speed and started driving some 2-inch drywall screws and 2 1/2-inch deck screws. Unsurprisingly, it confidently drove these screws with minimal effort and almost no noise until the very end.
With these results in mind, we stepped up the intensity with some smaller 3/8 x 3-1/2 lag bolts and 6-inch GRK RSS screws. It was able to handle these fastening tasks confidently, and our team was able to maintain a normal conversational volume during the testing.
When tested against DeWalt’s Atomic DCF850 impact driver, the DCF870 was significantly quieter during operation, especially when driving larger fasteners like the 6-inch RSS screws. While the Atomic model unsurprisingly exhibited more raw power, the noise reduction of the DCF870 makes it a standout for quieter job sites or indoor applications.
Should You Make the Switch?
The entire reason you give up the higher torque of a traditional impact driver is to get lower noise. Hydraulic impacts aren’t just a little quieter, they’re impressively quieter. These specialty tools are what you turn to when you want fast, controlled screwdriving but need to keep the noise down. For most Pros, it’s the fastening tool to use in occupied workspaces such as schools, office buildings, or even remodels in homes where people are working remotely.
DeWalt DCF870 20V Max Hydraulic Quiet Impact Driver Design Notes
- Model: DeWalt DCF870
- Power Source: DeWalt 20V battery
- Head Length: 4.0 inches
- Weight: 2.2 lbs (bare tool), 2.9 lbs (with kitted compact PowerStack battery)
Size and Weight
In addition to making sure this driver can compete with the best in its class, the DCF870 is remarkably compact. Fans of the DeWalt Atomic DCF850 impact driver will no doubt recognize the foundation. At just 4.0 inches across the head, this model fits into much tighter spaces than other impact drivers.
The weight stays in check, though its 2.2-pound bare weight is slightly higher than its Atomic counterpart. Here’s what the working weight looks like with a variety of battery options:
| Battery | Total Working Weight |
|---|---|
| 1.7Ah PowerStack | 2.9 pounds |
| 2.0Ah | 3.0 pounds |
| 5.0Ah | 3.6 pounds |
| 5.0Ah PowerStack | 3.8 pounds |
Considering the number of impact drivers I’ve tested over the years, I’m hard-pressed to think of a more well-balanced tool than the DCF870. The compact head design is perfectly offset by the weight of the 1.7Ah PowerStack battery, ultimately resulting in less wrist fatigue over the course of the workday. Naturally, using a larger battery will add more weight, but even the larger 5.0Ah battery isn’t unwieldy.
LED Work Light
Like the DCF860 High Torque impact driver, DeWalt’s updated LED lights and settings are on board. Nine LEDs illuminate your workspace, and you have four settings to work with. Repeatedly press the light button to cycle through:
- Low intensity for 20 seconds
- High intensity for 20 seconds
- High intensity for 20 minutes
- Off
DeWalt DCF870 20V Max Hydraulic Quiet Impact Driver Price
You can get DeWalt’s hydraulic impact driver for $199.99 as a bare tool. There’s also a kit option that includes an 1.7Ah PowerStack compact battery and charger for $299.99.
As more of a specialty tool, you won’t find the DCF870 at as many retailers as you find other DeWalt impact drivers. While we didn’t see it at Home Depot or Lowe’s, Acme Tools has it in stock and ready to ship.
The Bottom Line
The DeWalt DCF870 Impact Driver delivers on its promise of quieter operation while maintaining enough power for most fastening tasks. While it may not match the raw torque of some traditional impact drivers, its noise reduction, compact size, and thoughtful features make it a fantastic choice for Pros working in noise-sensitive or confined environments. If noise is a concern in your work, or you simply want a quieter tool without sacrificing performance, the DCF870 is worth serious consideration.
