One thing you’ll notice about the AirCat 4450 1/2″ DR Reversible Composite Drill is its structure – it has a patented exhaust that also acts as a handle.
This allows you to use both hands more effectively for increased stability. And since it is patented, you probably won’t see any other composite drill that offers the same functionality.
The other unique thing about this composite drill is its low noise feature. It operates at about 85 decibels, which is about the noise of traffic from inside your car.
If you like to work smoothly and with as little noise as possible, then this is the composite drill for you.
Of course, that sound level is only the sound of the drill itself; it does not take into account the noise it makes when the drill bit starts making contact with the object being drilled.
Features
- A feather trigger
- Free speed of 400 rpm
- Average air consumption of 3.5 cubic feet per minute and air flow pressure of 90 – 120 PSI
- Sound level is 85 dBA
- It meets EU safety, health and environmental requirements
- Lightwieght
- A one year limited warranty
- A multi-patented exhaust muffler/filter technology
Comparisons
For a better understanding of the relative performance of this composite drill, it would be useful to compare it to other drills.
The AirCat 4450 has a free speed of 400 revolutions per minute. That’s the speed of revolution when the drill bit is not in contact with the object being drilled.
The Dewalt DWMT70786L, on the other hand, can operate at 2,100 revolutions per minute.
Assuming that the Dewalt’s 2100 rpm is also free speed, you would clearly see that the Aircat is completely left behind; that is probably why it is relatively quiet, as it also has a relatively low rpm.
The Aircat 4450 costs at just under $90. It costs considerably more than the Dewalt DWMT70786L, which only costs around $50. Again, that is a step back for the Aircat 4450, considering that both it and the Dewalt are pneumatic power tools.
Both the Aircat 4450 and the SP Air Corporation operates at a free speed of 400 revolutions per minute, but the low-noise feature doesn’t seem to be highlighted in the SP drill.
Both of them have a side handle, but only the Aircat 4450 has a handle that also works as an exhaust that blows air away from the user.
The SP, at nearly $250, also costs more than the Aircat, and with both operating at about the same rpm, there is hardly any reason to choose the SP over the Aircat 4450.
The Bacho Reversible Air Drill seems to be in close proximity with the Aircat 4450 when it comes to specifications. The Bacho drill has slightly more revolutions per minute at 450 rpm.
With that comes a louder sound at 88 decibels, but that doesn’t seem to justify choosing the Bacho Air Drill over the Aircatm considering that the former costs about nearly three times that of the latter.
The Kawasaki 840775 offers a no-load speed of 1750 revolutions per minute at just about $40. It certainly leaves the Aircat in the dust when it comes to affordability and power. The Kawasaki seems to be a very good choice when it comes to reversible air drills.
Operating at 2000 revolutions per minute, this reversible air drill also seems to be a better choice than the Aircat 4450, except if you are looking to work on light duty jobs and unless you value low noise more than rpm.
Bottom Line
All in all, there is just a lot of reversible composite air drills out there that beat the Aircat 4450 when it comes to affordability and power. The AirCat 4450 1/2″ DR Reversible Composite Drill would have been a relatively strong candidate for a good reversible air drill if it wasn’t for its price. It is not the most expensive, but it is the air drill that least justifies its price when it comes to power.
You might say that the patented exhaust and the low noise are things that one could consider in buying a composite air drill, but those features can hardly be considered as distinguishing features that can propel the Aircat 4450 ahead of some, if not all, of the competing air drills out there.
You may not be disturbing your neighbours or waking you sleeping kids, but the more important question is how fast and effective can you get the work done with the Aircat 4450? Overall, it’s a 5 out of 10.