I've had this drill for about a year, and have been very happy with it. The torque settings are pretty much standard, bit with images instead of numbers. It is powerful enough for everything I've thrown at it, seems well made and sturdy, and battery life is not bad at all. It has low speed low torque through low speed high/fixed torque and high speed for drilling. It fits comfortably in the hand. The drill bit holder on the side is pretty hard to get the bit out of, and I don't really use it as a result. Great tool, would buy again. Black & Decker BD12PSK 12-Volt Smart Select Drill
This is a great "lite" power tool to have around the house. For handling screws, drilling drywall, etc, it's excellent. The battery life is really good and the multitude of torque settings are useful. However, if you're wanting to do some serious home improvement projects, you should look elsewhere. I've found it to be a bit anemic when dealing with anything other than soft wood or drywall. If you need to drill metal, concrete, or tile this definitely will not get the job done adequately. I'm happy with it for what it is, which is a great tool for small jobs at a great price.
After using this for about seven years, my old version of this drill died only becuase I drilled through my wrought iron fence which meant constant use for several minutes at a time while I put about 50 lbs of weight on it in 100 degree F heat in the sun!! What I'm saying is this drill was not made for the conditions I put it in. I sill worked for a year, though it would smell burnt becuase I had cooked the insulation.
Don't let the other reviewers who claim the battery will die in a few years fool you. As with any NiCad battery, the key to long life is simple: fully charge, then disconnect from charger. Use the drill till the battery is dead or almost dead before recharge (don't use it shortly, then put it back on charger). If you do so, it will last almost indefinitely. My battery was good as new after 7 years.
I'm going to buy a new one now and will now use my corded drill for super heavy duty work. Use it for what it's made for - light to medium duty.
-Professional Mechanical Engineer
This was about my 5th rechargeable drill and definitely the strongest, but it finally smoked after a couple years. I used this a lot building my house, especially driving all the screws when hanging drywall. But had to use my 3/8" plug-in drill for 1/2" and larger wood boring, and for putting screws in metal roofing. The cordless chuck works better than B&D plug-in 3/8 drill, but still slips some. The batteries hold a charge for a long time, and were still going strong when the drill smoked. I have had a few good B&D tools (compound mitre saw and reciprocating saw) and a few junk ones (nice variable speed sabre saw that won't hold onto the blade no matter what I do). In the long run it would be much less expensive to buy better quality tools that would last and not be so aggravating to use.
it's exactly what i was looking for and there are a couple of things other consumers need to know ... 1. the plug- in charger is small, so keep an eye out for it.....it plugs into the back of the handle...2. this drill has NO charger indicator anywhere on it, so when you plug it in, be mindful of how long you've had it on the charger and DO NOT keep it plugged in constantly or you'll kill the battery fast. other than that, it's very stable, very well constructed and it CAN handle some heavy work!! try 1/2 inch steel with a titanium drill bit...chewed thru it like a fat man at an all you can eat buffet!! i'm very happy with this product and for what it lacks in lights, it makes up for in raw power. all the of "scrunity reviews" that a lot of people have submitted thus far for what it can and can't do?...listen, i've been a tradesman for going on 20 years and have toolboxes taller than anyone reading this and i can assure you, if this product was worthless, i would most definitely give it the heave. if you're on a budget or are looking for a good replacement for your old beat up 12-volt, this is a great start and it WILL get the job done, but be mindful, EVERY portable tool has it's limitations..as does DeWalt, Makita, Craftsman, Snap-On, Mac or any other toolmaker's products. use the right tool for the right job and you'll be amazed at just how long it will last. overall, great product in an economical package! now go buy some stuff!!
I got this drill from Lowe's for $35.00. It is about the same price at other places. Why is the advertisement here saying it is in the $150 range normally and that they are saving you $113? Also, you have to add in the (sometimes really steep) price of shipping! Something smells here!
Here's what you need to know about ALL Black and Decker cordless products: The batteries have a 3 to 5 year lifespan, according to the manufacturer, after which they must be replaced. (I just got off the phone with their 800 number)
If you call and ask to purchase a new charger, as I did, you will be told that using a new charger with old batteries will simply destroy the new charger. Therefore they will not sell you a new charger without you also buying a new battery.
Coincidentally, a single replacement battery costs as much as running down to Lowes and buying a new drill with a charger and not one, but two, new batteries.
So every 36 months, Black and Decker would like you to throw away your present B&D drill and buy a new one. If you have any problems with it whatsoever, as I did, you can expect that they will refuse to sell you repleacement items and you will be forced to buy a whole new unit.
Black and Decker just lost me as a customer.
If you are like me you are probably looking for a drill for hanging curtain rods and general use. Before buying this drill I was looking at a lot of different brands (milwaukee, dewalt). I understand that this drill is probably not cut out for hardcore construction use like other brands, but it performs the tasks I need it to. Many of the reviews I read about Black and Decker were not very promising, and after owning there electric screwdriver (total waste of money) I was nervous that I wasn't getting a quality product. I am happy with my purchase. I just spent today completing 5 or 6 tasks that I bought it for (shelves, assembly, etc). I give it a "novice drill users" thumbs up. - Electric Drill - Cordless Screwdriver - Black And Decker - Cordless Tools'
Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information
