Should you get a Black and Decker 18v Cordless Drill or not? Do they live up to the hype? Here are the 4 most important factors of any model to help you decide:
#1) Price
18 Volt Cordless Drill
It's CHEAP-one of the least expensive 18 volt models out there. In many cases it can be purchased for under 0 depending on what you get with it (i.e. battery charger, number of batteries, etc).
#2) Power
It only puts out 122 lbs of torque-certainly not enough to go through steel or metal--simply certain kinds of wood.
#3) Keyless chuck
One of the negatives about the Black and Decker 18v Cordless Drill is that the chuck often times becomes loose as you use it.
This is annoying because you often have to stop in the middle of the job and tighten it back up. This shouldn't be surprising-you can't expect perfection for a machine this cheap.
#4) Batteries
This is a BIG strength of this model-the batteries last a LONG time. Assuming you limit yourself to smaller projects, you can plan on the batteries lasting for quite awhile without needing replacements.
Just MAKE SURE you don't let them get all the way down to empty before recharging them. Many have made this mistake and had to replace the battery MUCH sooner than they needed to.
The VERDICT
This is a "handyman" machine-nothing more. Don't let the 18 volts fool you-it's really not that powerful. It's not designed for commercial use--strictly residential.
If you plan on doing some light work around the house, the Black and Decker 18v Cordless Drill is a terrific machine. Just don't attempt cutting through metal or steel