Dewalt FLEXVOLT Advantage Drills and Drivers
DeWalt FLEXVOLT Advantage drills give you more shove when the job turns heavy, using smart tool electronics to pull extra power from the right battery setup.
If you're drilling masonry all morning, driving long fixings into timber, or swapping between first fix and snagging, this is where DeWalt FLEXVOLT Advantage tools earn their keep. These are proper site drills and drivers built for trades who already run 18V kit but want more out of it when paired with DeWalt FLEXVOLT batteries. Match the drill to the work, not just the badge, and you'll get quicker holes, stronger fastening, and less bogging down under load.
What Are DeWalt FLEXVOLT Advantage Drills Used For?
- Drilling repeated holes through masonry, block and brick for fixings, brackets and first fix runs is where a DeWalt FLEXVOLT Advantage drill saves time, especially when a standard combi starts running out of puff.
- Driving long timber fixings, structural screws and coach screws into stud, joists and roofing timbers is far easier when the drill driver has the extra torque to keep pulling instead of stalling.
- Working through mixed refurb jobs suits this range well because you can go from wood and metal drilling to hammer drilling and heavy screwdriving without dragging extra corded kit round site.
- Fitting steel, plant or fabrication work on site calls for proper holding power and drilling strength, which is why trades also look at DeWalt FLEXVOLT Advantage magnetic drills for tougher metal boring jobs.
Choosing the Right DeWalt FLEXVOLT Advantage Drill
Sorting the right one is simple. Buy for the hardest job you do every week, not the light job you did once last month.
1. Combi Drill or Drill Driver
If you're regularly going into brick, block or older plastered walls, get a combi. If most of your day is timber, metal and fixings, a drill driver is often lighter in the hand and better for repeated fastening work.
2. Battery Setup Matters
This range only shows its best when paired properly. If you want the extra output that makes DeWalt FLEXVOLT Advantage worth buying, run it with the right FLEXVOLT battery rather than the smallest pack you have knocking about in the van.
3. Body, Kit or Bare Upgrade
If you've already bought into the platform, a body only drill makes sense. If this is your main site drill, buy a kit with decent batteries and charger so you're not losing half the day swapping packs or waiting on charge.
4. Match It to the Trade
For general first fix and site drilling, start with DeWalt FLEXVOLT Advantage combi drills. If you're boring steel on install or fabrication work, move over to the magnetic drill side of the range instead of trying to make a combi do a job it was never built for.
Who Uses These on Site?
- Sparkies use a DeWalt FLEXVOLT drill driver for fixing tray, drilling joists, and hammering into block for clips and boxes, especially when they need one drill to cover first fix without feeling underpowered.
- Chippies and roofers swear by these for driving long screws into carcassing, stud and sheet material, where a weaker drill starts snatching or gives up halfway through the fixing.
- Plumbers and heating engineers reach for them when drilling timber routes, bracket holes and occasional masonry fixings, because they cope better with mixed site work across the day.
- General builders and maintenance teams keep DeWalt FLEXVOLT Advantage kit in the van for refurb and fit-out jobs, where one solid combi or drill driver needs to handle a bit of everything without fuss.
The Basics: Understanding DeWalt FLEXVOLT Advantage
The key thing with this range is not just the drill. It is how the tool electronics and battery work together to give you more usable power when the job starts loading the motor up.
1. It Is Still Part of the 18V System
A DeWalt FLEXVOLT Advantage drill is built on DeWalt's 18V platform, so it stays familiar in size and day to day use. That means you still get a site-friendly drill driver or combi, not some oversized lump that only comes out for one job.
2. Extra Output Comes Under Load
When paired with a FLEXVOLT battery, the tool can draw more from the setup and turn that into stronger drilling and fastening performance. On site, that means less slowing down in tougher timber, less stalling on long fixings, and better pace in masonry.
3. It Is About Getting More from One Drill
For a lot of trades, the real benefit is carrying one cordless drill that covers light work and heavy work better. You are not replacing proper breakers or SDS kit, but you are stretching what your everyday drill can handle before you need to step up.
Accessories That Keep Your DeWalt FLEXVOLT Advantage Drill Working
The right extras stop downtime, save repeat trips to the van, and let the drill do the job it was bought for.
1. DeWalt FLEXVOLT Batteries
This is the obvious one, but it matters. If you buy into FLEXVOLT Advantage and then run tired or undersized packs all day, you are leaving performance on the table. A second or third proper battery saves you getting caught out mid run of fixings or halfway through drilling overhead.
2. DeWalt Drill Bits
A strong drill is pointless with blunt or wrong-spec bits. Keep a decent spread of DeWalt drill bits for timber, metal and masonry so you are not burning out one poor bit trying to cover every material on site.
3. Spare Charger
If this is your main drill driver or combi, a spare charger at the workshop or in the van keeps the packs moving. It is a simple fix for the usual problem of one battery on the tool, one flat, and the next job already waiting.
Choose the Right DeWalt FLEXVOLT Advantage Drill for the Job
Use this quick guide to sort the right type for the work in front of you.
| Your Job | Drill Type | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Daily first fix in brick, block and timber | Combi drill | Hammer mode, strong torque, all-round site use, good battery runtime |
| Fast screwdriving and timber drilling on fit-out work | Drill driver | Lighter handling, clutch control, cleaner fastening, less bulk all day |
| Long structural screws into joists and carcassing | High torque drill driver or combi | Higher load performance, better pull through, less stalling under pressure |
| Drilling steel on install and fabrication jobs | Magnetic drill | Secure magnetic base, accurate metal boring, built for heavier steelwork |
Common Buying and Usage Mistakes
- Buying FLEXVOLT Advantage for light occasional work only and never pairing it with the right battery means you pay for extra capability you never really use. If your jobs are only basic shelf fixing and flat-pack work, a standard drill may do you fine.
- Using worn or cheap bits in masonry or metal makes the drill feel worse than it is. The fix is simple. Match the bit to the material and replace tired accessories before blaming the tool.
- Choosing a drill driver when you regularly need hammer action into block leads to slower progress and more strain on the tool. If masonry drilling is a weekly job, go combi from the start.
- Running one battery for a full day of first fix usually ends in downtime. Keep charged spare packs ready or you will spend more time waiting than drilling.
- Trying to use a combi drill for proper steel boring work instead of stepping up to a magnetic drill wastes time and gives poorer results. Use the right machine when the material gets serious.
Combi Drills vs Drill Drivers vs Magnetic Drills
Combi Drills
This is the best all-rounder for mixed site work. You get drilling, screwdriving and hammer drilling in one body, so it suits sparkies, plumbers and builders who are in brick one minute and timber the next.
Drill Drivers
Drill drivers are the better shout if most of your day is fixings, pilot holes and timber or metal work. They are usually easier to control for repeated fastening, but they are not the tool to buy if masonry is a regular part of the week.
Magnetic Drills
Magnetic drills are for steelwork, fabrication and heavier install jobs where accuracy and holding power matter. They are not general van kit, but for boring metal cleanly and securely they leave standard drills behind.
Maintenance and Care
Keep the Chuck Clean
Dust, swarf and plaster muck build up fast around the chuck. Brush it out after heavy use so bits seat properly and do not start slipping under load.
Look After the Batteries
Do not leave packs loose in a damp van or cooked on the dashboard. Charge them properly, store them dry, and rotate them through the week so one pack is not doing all the graft.
Use Sharp Bits Only
Blunt bits make the motor work harder, flatten batteries quicker, and give rougher holes. If a bit is burning timber or skating on metal, swap it out before it starts punishing the drill.
Wipe Down After Dirty Work
After drilling block, chasing dusty rooms or working in wet cut timber, wipe the casing and vents down. Keeping the tool clean helps airflow and stops site grime getting dragged deeper into the body.
Know When to Repair or Replace
If the chuck wobbles, the clutch stops behaving, or the tool is sparking and losing power, do not just push on with it. Get it checked before it ruins fixings, damages bits, or leaves you stuck on a live job.
Why Shop for DeWalt FLEXVOLT Advantage Drills at ITS?
Whether you need a single body only DeWalt FLEXVOLT Advantage drill, a full kit for daily first fix, or want to compare the wider DeWalt FLEXVOLT Advantage range, we stock the lot. From combi drills to specialist options, it is all in our own warehouse and ready for next day delivery to keep your job moving.
DeWalt FLEXVOLT Advantage Drill FAQs
What is DeWalt FlexVolt Advantage?
It is DeWalt kit built to give extra performance when paired with a FLEXVOLT battery. In plain terms, the drill stays part of your 18V setup, but under heavier load it can pull harder than a standard version, which is exactly what you notice when drilling masonry or driving bigger fixings.
How does FlexVolt Advantage differ from standard FlexVolt?
Standard FLEXVOLT usually refers to the battery platform or tools built around it. FLEXVOLT Advantage is the bit where the tool electronics are designed to make better use of that battery for more output. So the difference is not just the pack. It is how the drill is built to take advantage of it.
Are FlexVolt Advantage batteries compatible with standard 18V tools?
Yes, DeWalt FLEXVOLT batteries are made to work with the 18V XR system. The main thing to remember is that a standard 18V tool will run from the battery, but it will not automatically gain the same extra performance that a proper FLEXVOLT Advantage tool is designed to deliver.
Is a DeWalt FLEXVOLT Advantage drill worth it over a standard combi?
Yes, if your week includes tougher drilling, bigger fixings or longer runs of work where a standard combi starts to feel flat. If you only use a drill for light duty snagging and odd household-type jobs, you probably will not see the full benefit.
Will these drills replace SDS or corded kit on heavy jobs?
No, not completely. They bridge the gap well and cover more than a basic drill driver or combi, but if you are drilling repeated larger holes in concrete all day, proper SDS still makes more sense. Buy this for stronger everyday drilling, not as a magic replacement for every tool in the van.
Do I need FLEXVOLT batteries to get the best from the range?
Yes. That is the whole point of the setup. The drill will fit into DeWalt's wider cordless world, but the extra shove that makes FLEXVOLT Advantage stand out is most noticeable when you run the proper FLEXVOLT battery packs.
