DeWalt ELITE SERIES Lighted Right Angle Attachment

A compact problem-solver for tight quarters

Some accessories earn a permanent spot in the pouch because they quietly save a job. This right‑angle attachment is one of them. Over the past few weeks I used it where my drill or impact simply wouldn’t fit—inside cabinet frames, between studs, under a sink lip, and tucked up near a joist. The compact head let me drive fasteners and drill pilot holes without reaching for a stubby tool or pulling a piece apart. The addition of an onboard, rechargeable LED changes the daily rhythm more than I expected; having light coming from the attachment rather than my forehead or a standalone work light made tasks faster and cleaner.

Size, reach, and ergonomics

The head is compact—about 1.5 inches tall at the business end by my measurement—which is the critical dimension when you’re fighting a stile or chasing a screw in a corner. DeWalt also lists an item height of 1.4 inches in the specs. Either way, it’s a notably low profile for this category. The body is easy to index with one hand while the other controls the tool, and at roughly 0.56 lb it doesn’t turn your driver into a brick. I found the overall balance predictable on both a compact 12V drill and an 18V impact.

Because it uses a 1/4-inch hex shank, swapping it on and off is as fast as any bit change. It’s impact‑rated, so I didn’t baby it; I ran cabinet screws, structural screws in pine, and a handful of self‑tappers in HVAC sheet metal with an impact driver without drama. For maximum clearance, stubby bits are your friend. Standard two‑inch bits work fine, but every extra millimeter counts when you’re inside a frame or behind a bracket.

The LED and rechargeable battery

Integrating a light into an attachment seems obvious once you use it. The LED puts light exactly where the bit meets the work. In practice, that meant fewer awkward headlamp angles and less shadowing as I shifted grip. The LED runs off its own rechargeable battery, charged via the included USB cable. DeWalt rates runtime up to three hours on a full charge. That held up for me across start‑stop use over a couple of days; if you leave it on continuously, plan to top it off at lunch or keep a power bank handy.

A small but important point: if the LED’s battery is dead, the mechanical attachment still works—your driver powers the rotation, not the light. That said, having the light on the attachment is the main reason to pick this over a simpler right‑angle head, so I got in the habit of plugging it in at the end of the day. Brightness is in the “worklight” category—plenty to illuminate a junction box or cabinet corner, not a floodlight for a whole closet. For precise driving, that’s exactly what you want.

Performance under load

With a drill, the attachment tracks straight and resists deflection well. I didn’t notice excessive wobble, even when using a brad‑point bit for pilot holes. With an impact driver, the forged gear train feels tight, and the attachment didn’t complain through repetitive fastening. DeWalt claims the forged gears deliver significantly longer life than a specified competitor. I can’t verify the long‑term math, but the build feels stout and the action remained smooth after an assortment of tasks.

As with any right‑angle attachment, restraint pays off. It will transmit a surprising amount of torque, but you’ll get more life from it by avoiding high‑torque structural work at full‑tilt impact mode unless you really need to. For big lags or heavy timber screws, I still reach for a compact right‑angle drill. For everything else—cabinet screws, outlet boxes, brackets, drawer slides, hinge plates, hose clamps—this attachment is faster and easier.

Access in real spaces

The reason to carry this is access. That 1.5‑inch head gets you into spaces a drill simply won’t. It fit between face frame rails, under a sink flange, and inside a base cabinet toe‑kick opening without chewing up the edges. The overall body depth and width are manageable; you can rotate the head orientation relative to your work to find an angle that clears. If you’re often working inside 1‑1/2-inch cavities behind appliances or within narrow metal channels, measure: the attachment is compact, but there are still spots where nothing but a right‑angle screwdriver or a stubby ratcheting handle will fit.

Build quality and durability

The attachment feels purpose‑built rather than an afterthought. The engagement with bits is positive, the hex shank sits snugly in both drill and impact chucks, and the head tolerances feel tight. Forged gears are the headline durability feature. While I haven’t torture‑tested it for months, repeated use with an impact driver didn’t loosen anything up, and the head didn’t heat more than warm to the touch. For maintenance, I wipe the head clean after dusty work and avoid blasting it with compressed air to keep fine grit out of the gear path.

One oversight worth noting: I couldn’t find a listed limited warranty for this model in the specs. That’s unusual in a pro‑oriented accessory. It doesn’t mean it won’t last, but it’s a factor if you’re deciding between otherwise similar options and you’re hard on gear.

Practical tips from use

• Use shorter bits whenever possible. A stubby driver bit or short nutsetter dramatically improves reach.
• Let the tool do the work. Keep speeds moderate with an impact, especially on hard steel fasteners.
• Charge the LED at the end of the day. With up to three hours of runtime, a quick top‑off keeps you covered.
• Keep a USB cable in the bag. The attachment charges from any USB source; a compact power bank covers you onsite.
• Start fasteners by hand at the head. The integrated light makes it easy to see threads catch cleanly.

Limitations and trade‑offs

No tool is a magic wand. The LED is a big convenience, but its battery is finite; if you’re on a marathon install with the light continuously on, you’ll be charging mid‑shift. The attachment accepts only 1/4‑inch hex bits, which covers most driver tasks but limits drill bit options unless you have hex‑shank drill bits. There’s a Prop 65 warning for California users. And if you lean on it constantly for high‑torque structural fasteners, expect wear sooner than with a dedicated right‑angle drill.

Who will benefit most

• Cabinet installers and finish carpenters who constantly work around face frames and tight corners.
• Electricians and HVAC techs driving fasteners in boxes, channels, and behind ducting.
• Plumbers and maintenance pros reaching clamps and brackets under sinks and behind fixtures.
• DIYers looking for a compact, impact‑rated solution that doesn’t require buying a separate right‑angle drill.

If your work is mostly open framing and decks, you’ll use it less. If you’re in finished spaces and tight chases all day, it pays for itself in time saved and fewer chewed edges.

The bottom line

This lighted right‑angle attachment hits a smart sweet spot: compact enough to matter, tough enough for impact use, and genuinely more usable thanks to the onboard, rechargeable LED. The forged gear train inspires confidence, the 1/4‑inch hex shank keeps it compatible with just about every driver you already own, and the weight and balance don’t penalize you for keeping it in the bag. I’d like to see a formal warranty, and the LED’s three‑hour runtime means you should build charging into your routine, but those are manageable trade‑offs.

Recommendation: I recommend this attachment for pros and serious DIYers who regularly work in confined spaces. The combination of a truly compact head, impact‑rated construction, and a practical, rechargeable worklight adds real value on site. If you need all‑day light without charging or you expect to drive high‑torque fasteners nonstop, a dedicated right‑angle drill may be the better investment. For everyone else, this is a reliable, thoughtfully designed solution that earns its keep.