DeWalt
DeWalt DCF860 Impact Driver
DeWalt's high-torque XR flagship, out-muscling Milwaukee's 2953 and Makita's XGT drivers at 2,500 in-lbs. The compact Atomic DCF850 remains in the lineup for tight-space work; the DCF860 is the max-power pick.
Specifications
Features
Pros
- ✓Class-leading 2,500 in-lbs of torque — Pro Tool Reviews measured it beating Milwaukee's best M18 Fuel and Makita's top XGT drivers.
- ✓The 9-LED ring around the collet kills fastener shadows completely, and the 20-minute flashlight mode doubles as task lighting.
- ✓Ran cooler than the DCF850 in head-to-head testing, which matters on long ledger and deck days.
- ✓Precision Drive mode gives controlled low-speed starts so it doesn't strip small fasteners despite the huge peak torque.
- ✓Frequent promos push the bare tool under $120, making its dollars-per-torque the best in the pro class.
- ✓Backward compatible across the entire 20V Max battery range including PowerStack pouch packs.
Cons
- ✗Bigger and heavier than the compact class — at 2.7 lbs bare and 4.84 in long it gives back the size advantage the DCF850 built.
- ✗List price sits above the Milwaukee 2953 while the fit-and-finish (rubber overmold, mode button feel) draws mixed reviews.
- ✗Three speeds but no dedicated self-tapping mode like Milwaukee offers.
- ✗DeWalt's 3-year warranty trails Milwaukee's 5-year coverage.
- ✗The high-torque tuning is overkill for cabinet and trim work — owners doing finish work often prefer the DCF850's finesse.
- ✗XR/PowerStack/PowerPack battery-tier confusion makes kit shopping harder than it needs to be.
Common Questions
DCF860 or the compact Atomic DCF850 - which should I get?
Does all that torque make it strip small screws?
Is it really the strongest impact driver in its class?
Which batteries does it take?
What's a fair price?
Compare the DeWalt DCF860 Impact Driver
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