DeWalt DCF809B Atomic Review

The Atomic DCF809 is one of the most compact impact drivers in terms of front-to-back length that still packs a decent amount of power. It might be worth considering if you already have compatible batteries and are always working in cramped areas; otherwise, the Atomic failed to impact us much.

Speed

This tool was also a little faster than average in our speed tests, only taking five to six seconds to drive a 3.625" ledger screw into stacked sheets of plywood or 2x12s. It also was quite quick at driving in a ½" x3" lag bolt in our tests, only taking 22 seconds to sink it to its full depth and 10 seconds to remove it.

Torque

The Atomic DCF809 did do fairly well in our torque tests, fastening a ¾" nut to an average of 215 foot-pounds over three independent trials, which is a respectable showing for these tools but far from the best. However, this impact did quite a bit better at breaking fasteners free, able to successfully loosen a ¾" nut that we had tightened to 300-foot pounds in four seconds.

Convenience

The Atomic DCF809 does provide plenty of light when working in dimly lit areas, with a trio of LEDs around the chuck to prevent any obnoxious shadows from covering where you are working. However, you have to turn on the impact for a brief second to get them to light up, though they will stay lit for about 20 seconds after you release the trigger.

This model has one of the shortest front-to-back lengths of all those that we tested in our impact driver review, particularly when you discount the smaller 12-volt models, measuring in at 130

mm. It also has a quick-insert chuck, so you can just stick ¼" hex bits in without releasing the locking collar.

Battery

Our biggest complaint with this tool was its overall unimpressive result in our battery life test. To compare the battery life of each product, we alternated between setting 14 ledger screws and driving a large lag bolt in and out with each product and awarded points based on the number of cycles completed. The Atomic made it through 2.5 sets before it called it quits, compared to the 5+ cycles the top tools persevered through. This impact also lacks different torque settings and an integrated holder for an extra bit.

Noise

We measured an average of 92 decibels for the user when the Atomic was in use, which isn't the loudest impact we have tested to date, but we wouldn't exactly describe this tool as quiet.

Should You Buy the DeWalt DCF809B Atomic?

It's hard for us to identify an audience for which the Atomic is particularly well-suited. We didn't think it was a bad tool by any means, but it struggled to earn recognition compared with the top-ranked impact drivers we tested.

What Other Impact Drivers Should You Consider?

The DeWalt Atomic isn't the most expensive impact we have tested. But it still costs quite a bit more than a few models that outperformed it, making it a mediocre bargain buy. Alternatively, you could spend a few more dollars to get a top-tier model like the award-winning Milwaukee M18 Fuel.