Dewalt has come out with a new right angle drill adapter (DWARA100) that allows you to drive fasteners in tight quarters with any ordinary cordless drill or screwdriver.
It features a plastic handle, 1/4″ hex bit holder, a ring magnet for fastener retention, and “5x longer life than [the] competition.”
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It’s currently available for preorder from Amazon for $25, with a 1-2 month ETA.
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If you need a right angle adapter right away, many other brands already offer similar attachments.
Milwaukee’s drill attachment has an all-metal housing and steel gears.
Rockwell’s is a nice size and can be used manually if desired.
Milescraft’s has a plastic handle, slim profile, and more affordable price.
Update: The new right angle adapter is impact-rated, so it can be used with drills, cordless screwdrivers, or impact drivers. Thanks Javier for the great question!
fred says
Nice find.
I have used the Miwwaukee variants over the years with some mixed results. In the shop we also use some dedicated right angle drivers and “aircraft-style” threaded shank tools available from a variety of aircraft tool suppliers like Pan American Tool, Yardstore and others. These devices come in various qualities (bearing quality etc.) and costs – and there are threaded shank drill bits as well as screwdriver bits. An intoductory kit is available from Tight Fit Tools – who also make a hex-shank kit:
http://www.tightfittools.net/
Stuart says
Threaded shank drill bits and adapters might be a bit much for general construction use, but the Tight Fit screwdriver kit does look mighty appealing for fabrication work. It looks a lot smaller than the Dewalt adapter too. Thanks for mentioning it!
*Note to self: add Tight Fit screwdriver and threaded drill bit kits to wishlist.*
Jerry says
Vermont American also makes one. It is bulkier, but it has a 2:1 gear ratio built into it, and can be used either to double the speed of your drill, or to double the torque, depending on which way you use it. It uses a chuck instead of a hex adapter, so it isn’t as compact, but it seems sturdy.
Javier says
Is it impact rated? I do like the price, very affordable.
Stuart says
Yes, it is. I’ve added that part to the post to clarify.
John says
Description on the Amazon link above says “allows access with your current impact driver, with increased gear strength…”
jesse says
Spec Tools makes some ‘offset drivers.’ Assembled in USA, perhaps made in USA depending on the model. http://www.spectools.com
Mati says
Considering that the Milwaukee, Rockwell, Milescraft, Bosch(Vermont American) variations and likely even this Dewalt version are all made in China, the fact that a product isdesigned, engineered, and packaged in the USA is one step ahead of the curve. But that doesn’t mean it’s made in USA though. Still a step in the right direction alas though.
Javier says
Lots of cool new dewalt 20v tools coming out like the new cordless and corded 20v portable shop vacs and a new tool coming soon. Others suggest it might be a dewalt multitool. I would be interested in reading all about it. Hope its a 20v multitool and also hoping for a new 20v premium brushless hammer drill.
Stuart says
The new brushless tools look a bit ho-hum to me. Not much new innovation there, aside from the bottom-mounted LED design borrowed from other manufacturers.
A new multi-tool won’t come out until/unless they can release a complete line of oscillating tool accessories along with it. Or at least that’s my prediction. They certainly know how to make an oscillating tool, as there are a couple under Porter Cable and Black & Decker branding.
John S says
What is the difference between the DWARA100 and the DWARA50 from HD?
http://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-Right-Angle-Drill-Adapter-DWARA50/203867866
The HD one is black and not silver. Not sure what to think about it…
Also, would it be worth another $25 to just get the milwaukee?
Stuart says
It’s unclear to me what the differences are. It could just be that Dewalt sold the adapters with different packaging or different pricing to Home Depot and changed the model number to avoid complaints from other dealers.
The images for both products suggest there are no differences.
Maybe the Home Depot version doesn’t have magnets?
Michael Quinlan says
I know this is an old post, but did you ever get your hands on one of these? I’m looking at this vs a Milwaukee version, and the product is barely mentioned on DeWalt’s site – no specs or anything to support their “impact rated” claim, which would presumably be a higher torque limit than Milwaukee’s 235 in-lbs. But what I’m really wondering, is if this has any positive lock on the bit. If you look at this video, at approximately 1:45 it appears that when the DeWalt rep tries to back out the spade bit, the bit comes out of the adapter, and he removes the bit from the hole with his hand. This may be a workable situation when drilling horizontally through a stud in an open wall, if he were drilling down into a top plate of a closed wall, he would have lost the bit inside the wall.
Stuart says
Wow, that can’t be good! It really seems that this adapter is meant for 1″ bits and not spade bits.
I’ll drop a note to Dewalt and see if they can provide any added information about the locking or non-locking aspect.
Michael Quinlan says
Thanks. I look forward to hearing their response, if any.
Bob says
Just wanted to post a little about the dewalt adapter. It is a great unit for the money ($17 at home depot). I have drilled about 50 7/8″ holes through 60 year old hardwood joists before it broke. The magnetic holder gave away. I also did lose my 1″ spade bit the exact way Michael described it drilling through the floor. It is not a right angle drill and when I use it i I have to hold the adapter with one hand otherwise it tends to spin uncontrollably. Be glad to answer any other questions people have.
Michael Quinlan says
I just bought one of these the other day at Lowe’s – $25 for the DWARA100; it has an additional magnetic piece around the bit that the DWARA50 – $17 at Home Depot – doesn’t have. The one I have definitely DOES NOT have any mechanical bit retention – if you can grab the bit, you can pull it right out – though 1″ bits need to be ejected.
It came in very handy today, but I still may return it and buy Milwaukee’s adapter instead, at $50, but with mechanical bit retention – though it appears that the Milwaukee might need a little more headroom, as the DeWalt looks a little more compact.
Nathan York says
Broke the first dewalt right angle adapter using it impacting some screws in right after i bought it. Replaced it and since then I’m much easier on it.
It’s tougher than the milwaukee right angle but not by much. If you put to much torque on the milwaukee, it has a circlip that pops loose. Put it back in and it works again but dewalts is just broke.
If be hesitant to use the long flex shaft right angle with the full torque of brushless impacts.
fm2176 says
These are on sale at Ace this month for $16.99, plus an additional $5 off with rewards card, making the final price $11.99 plus tax.