The 983 drill/driver has a three-speed transmission that produces more rpm for lightning-fast drilling and driving. First and second gears are standard to the industry, but the MAX third speed is another 29 percent faster with a top rpm of 1,800. Driving beefy deck screws is a one-second job, and larger holes and bigger screws don’t make this driver even blink – the torque (450 inch-pounds) is awesome.

The half-inch ratcheting chuck keeps a supremely tight grip on the shank; the automatic spindle lock is great because it lets you easily tighten down on the chuck two times tighter than without, and the ratcheting action keeps the chuck sleeve from loosening during the job.

The gearing and housing are all metal; still, the tool is remarkably light at 5.2 pounds, and it’s designed so seamlessly that it practically balances itself in your hand. In addition to the thoughtful design, DeWalt gets our ergonomic kudos for the anti-slip comfort grip that wraps around the handle, too.

The trim saw is another serious worker, with a no-load speed of 3,000 rpm. Like its companion drill, it’s surprisingly lightweight for the power of it, at just 6.8 pounds, and it handles beautifully.

It has a bevel range of 0 to 50 degrees; the shoe glides easily and locks in securely. The 5-3/8-inch blade cuts 2-by stock at 90 degrees in one pass, and even at 45 degrees, the max cut is still an impressive 1-1/8 inches. The blade mounts on the left on a 3/8-inch arbor and changes out easily and quickly with a handy spindle lock. Line of sight is clear.

DeWalt’s XRP tools come with Extended Run-Time batteries, and there are two in this combo along with a one-hour charger. The ERT batteries don’t develop a memory, and they feature a great automatic tune-up mode that keeps them functioning at the peak capacity. As soon as you notice you’re getting less work time from a battery, just set the battery in the charger for at least eight hours, and the charger does the rest.

This combo set has made a great impression on us.--Kris Jensen-Van Heste

Amazon.com Product Description
User-friendly features and a great power-to-weight ratio make DeWalt's 14.4-volt drill/driver and trim saw combo kit the most popular kit in its class. The 1/2-inch drill/driver features 450 inch-lbs. of torque and an adjustable clutch for optimal power and versatility. A third gear is 24 percent faster, with a range of 0-1,800 rpm for quicker drilling and driving. Carbide jaws keep a tighter grip on the bit for smooth drilling and driving, every time. But that's not all. The trim saw in this combo kit cuts through material at up to 3,000 rpm and features a left side blade so it's easier to see the cut line. A 5-3/8-inch carbide blade cuts up to 75 2-by-4s at 90 degrees on a single charge for optimal production and less downtime.

Technical Details
Drill/driver: voltage: 14.4; speed settings: three; max rpm: 0-450, 0-1,400, 0-1,800; torque: 450 inch-pounds; clutch settings: 22; chuck size: ½ inch metal, single sleeve ratcheting.

Trim saw: max rpm: 3,000; max depth of cut at 90 degrees: 1-5/8 inches, at 45 degrees, 1-1/8 inches.

What's in the Box
DW983 drill/driver, DW935 trim saw, two DC9091 14.4-volt extended run time batteries, one-hour charger, cordless saw blade, screwdriver bit and rugged carrying case.