DEWALT 20V MAX XR Brushless Quiet Hydraulic Impact Driver (Tool Only) DCF870B

DEWALT 20V MAX XR Brushless Quiet Hydraulic Impact Driver (Tool Only) DCF870B

By DEWALT · Impact Drivers · Power Tools

  • Quiet hydraulic mechanism instead of a hammer-and-anvil
  • 3-speed mode select switch
  • 0-3,800 RPM no-load speed
  • Up to 500 in-lbs max fastening torque
  • Multi-LED lighting around the nose

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Summary

A 1/4-in hex impact driver built around a hydraulic oil mechanism instead of the usual hammer-and-anvil, made for quiet fastening in occupied or tight spaces. Check the torque: it is quieter and smoother than DEWALT’s conventional compact drivers, but deliberately less powerful.

Strengths

  • Genuinely quiet: testers held a normal conversation while it drove lag bolts and 6-in structural screws.
  • Very low vibration and a stable, well-balanced feel in the hand.
  • Compact head about 4.0 in, useful between tightly spaced joists.
  • The nine-LED ring is bright enough for attics and crawlspaces and doubles as a 20-minute task light.
  • Rated 500 in-lbs, above the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Surge 2760’s 450 in-lbs.
  • The tool-only listing suits anyone who already owns DEWALT 20V batteries.

Weaknesses

  • Noticeably less powerful than conventional compact impact drivers.
  • Torque can fall off as the oil thins under sustained heavy fastening.
  • No independent dB or dyno test settles how quiet it is against rival hydraulic drivers.
  • Battery and charger are sold separately on the DCF870B.
  • One owner who also runs a DCF850 said it is not smaller or faster and is louder than a Milwaukee M12 Surge.

Verified specifications

ModelDCF870B, tool only; the kit version is DCF870E1.
Chuck1/4-in hex quick-release.
Voltage20V MAX (nominal 18V).
Motorbrushless.
Drive mechanismhydraulic (oil) impact.
No-load speed0-1100 RPM low and 0-3000 RPM high.
Modestwo speeds, plus a high-speed mode that keeps the worklight on for 20 minutes.
Max fastening torque500 in-lbs.
Impact rate4200 IPM.
Worklightnine LEDs with four settings (low 20 s, high 20 s, high 20 min, off).
Controlsvariable-speed trigger with brake, forward/reverse with lock-off.
Tool Connectchip ready, chip sold separately.
Belt hookincluded.
Dimensionshead length about 4.0 in; bare weight about 2.2 lb (review-measured).
Working weightabout 2.9 lb with a 1.7Ah PowerStack battery, about 3.0 lb with 2.0Ah, about 3.6 lb with 5.0Ah and about 3.8 lb with 5.0Ah PowerStack.
Full research notes and sources

Quiet hydraulics and the torque trade-off

DEWALT claims up to 57% quieter operation than its DCF787, measured as an RMS sound-pressure difference with a 3-in deck screw into a pressure-treated 4x4. In practice, Pro Tool Reviews kept a normal conversational volume while driving 3/8 x 3-1/2 lag bolts and 6-in GRK RSS structural screws, and Fine Homebuilding’s tester called it “seriously quiet” after months of use. Against DEWALT’s Atomic DCF850 it was significantly quieter, especially on large fasteners, while the DCF850 stayed more powerful.

That is the trade. DEWALT rates the DCF870 at 500 in-lbs and 4200 IPM, strong for a hydraulic driver and above the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Surge 2760’s 450 in-lbs, but below mainstream conventional impact drivers. Hydraulic drivers lose some torque as the oil heats up under sustained use, a caution an owner of a competing Makita oil-impact driver raised; no DCF870-specific failure pattern was found.

Controls, light and ergonomics

The DCF870B is compact: about 4.0 in across the head and about 2.2 lb bare, rising from about 2.9 lb on a 1.7Ah PowerStack battery to about 3.8 lb on a 5.0Ah PowerStack. The selector offers low (0-1100 RPM) and high (0-3000 RPM) speeds, plus a high-speed mode that keeps the worklight lit for 20 minutes. Nine LEDs ring the nose, with low and high 20-second settings, the 20-minute setting and off. There is a 1/4-in quick-release hex chuck, a variable-speed trigger with brake, forward/reverse with lock-off, a belt hook and a slot for an optional Tool Connect chip. Warranty is 3 years limited, 1 year free service and 90 days satisfaction.

What it costs to own

Tool-only means you supply the battery and charger, and the hydraulic mechanism has no documented consumable. DEWALT published reference pricing of $199.99 for the DCF870B and $299.99 for the DCF870E1 kit; Pro Tool Reviews noted the tool was not carried at Home Depot or Lowe’s at the time and was in stock at Acme Tools. Accessories are standard 1/4-in hex bits, and the Tool Connect chip is optional.

Which model this is

This page covers the tool-only DCF870B, DEWALT’s first battery-powered 1/4-in impact driver to use a hydraulic (oil) impact mechanism instead of hammer-and-anvil. The same tool sells as the DCF870E1 kit with a compact XR POWERSTACK battery and charger. Do not confuse it with DEWALT’s conventional impact drivers such as the DCF787, DCF845 or DCF850 (Atomic), or the high-torque DCF860, which are hammer-and-anvil tools with different torque and speed figures. A separate Japan-market variant, DCF870E2T-JP, appears on third-party pages with conflicting specs and should not be merged with the US model.

Is it worth it?

This is a specialty buy. If you are on the DEWALT 20V platform, already own batteries and need quiet, controlled fastening indoors or in tight spaces, the lower noise and vibration justify the lower torque. If you want the most power per dollar, a conventional DEWALT impact driver or the high-torque DCF860 is the better fit, and no independent test settles which hydraulic driver is quietest in absolute terms.

Sources

Manufacturer:

Independent reviews:

Owner reports:

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