It all started when we bought a humongous bookshelf that needed to be assembled. It was going fine until we removed the bag of hardware and what seemed like 1,000 assembly screws.
Picture my family desperately hunting through bins of tools in the garage that after an exhaustive search sent us to Lowes to buy a new cordless drill/driver.
BLACK+DECKER, a Trusted Brand
When we arrived at Lowes, we were shocked by the number of drills to choose from, and even more shocked at how expensive the prices varied. Thanks to a helpful older gentleman clerk, he directed us right to the BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX* POWERCONNECT™ Cordless Drill/Driver. BLACK+DECKER has been a trusted brand for 115 years with an impressive reputation for reliability.
This drill he recommended was designed to handle simple DIY projects at home, not for heavy duty projects constructing a house, as he joked. It sounded good to us and the budget-friendly Lowes price of $99.99 seemed reasonable. I later discovered that the Lowes price was at a savings of $25.00 off the regular price of $124.99 as currently offered on the BLACK+DECKER website.
A Great Deal Got Better: Cordless Drill/Driver PLUS 84-Piece Set
Besides the fact that we brought home a brand-new BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX* POWERCONNECT™ Cordless Drill/Driver, the best part was that it came with the battery, battery charger, some tools and accessories, and dozens and dozens of assorted bits.
This versatile kit from BLACK+DECKER® includes 83 pieces in all (with some duplicates), more than enough for what we needed to tackle assembling the bookshelf and future home improvement projects.
Includes:
:: Drill
:: Battery
:: Battery charger
:: Zippered tool bag
:: Various drill bits for wood, metal, and plastic
:: Screwdriver bits in different sizes and types
:: Pliers
:: Hex wrenches
:: Tape measure
:: Level
:: Hammer
:: Screwdriver
The zippered tool bag keeps the entire set together, ready when you need to use it.
Features We Liked About the BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX* POWERCONNECT™ Cordless Drill
The BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX* POWERCONNECT™ Cordless Drill/Driver has some handy features:
:: Powerful torque
:: Long battery runtime
:: Compact, cordless, lightweight design
:: Easy to operate
:: Ideal for wood, metal, or plastic surfaces
:: Integrated LED lights brighten up the working area
Powerful Torque and Adjustable Clutch Settings
Don’t let this compact, cordless drill fool you. It’s very powerful, the ideal power to handle most drilling or driving applications with a maximum torque of 398 in-lbs. (45nm). Powered by a 20V MAX lithium-ion battery, it can handle tasks on wood, metal, masonry, and plastic with ease, making it a versatile tool.
Another major feature of the BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX* POWERCONNECT™ Cordless Drill/Driver is the control and precision that you feel when using the drill’s variable speed trigger. There are 2 speed settings: a speed for driving and a speed for high-speed drilling.
This drill also offers 11 adjustable clutch settings, designed to deliver the right torque settings to match the job at hand. This can eliminate stripping and overdriving screws which I admit I’ve done in the past (before my BLACK+DECKER POWERCONNECT).
Long-Lasting Lithium Ion Battery Life
The 20V MAX* POWERCONNECT battery life is impressive and lasted through the entire bookshelf assembly. Then, we charged it and left it in the garage and when we picked it up a few weeks later, it was still charged. In fact, the 20V MAX* POWERCONNECT lithium-ion battery has been known to hold a charge for up to 18 months when not in use. If you only use a drill occasionally like us, that’s a great feature. There’s a charge indicator light that shows when the battery is fully charged and ready to use or running low and needs recharging.
A nice extra … if you own other tools in the BLACK+DECKER POWERCONNECT system, the battery from this drill is compatible with the others including power tools, lawn and garden products, and cleaning tools. As for our home, we’ve been dedicated to Ryobi and own multiple Ryobi tools. This is our first tool in the BLACK+DECKER POWERCONNECT system.
Versatile and Easy to Use
We also used it to drill holes in the wall to install hanging shelves. This drill kit made quick work of what would have taken us hours to manually hammer holes in the wall, hoping the resulting hole would accurately fit a wall screw and anchor.
The BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX* POWERCONNECT™ Cordless Drill/Driver really offers a user-friendly design to work on all light to medium projects. I will also say that this drill was a great value for the money, but you can expect to pay a hefty price for higher end (more heavy duty) models.
I also want to mention that this drill is comfortable to use. The soft grip handle is very comfortable, especially when working on time-consuming projects like the bookshelf. The compact size also allows us to squeeze into awkward tight spots and reach overhead tasks around the house to tighten screws that we’ve been ignoring for years. I appreciate how easy it is to switch from the drilling application to the driving application as well.
Get Started on Your Next Project With This BLACK+DECKER Cordless Drill/Driver
If you’re looking for a versatile drill kit that’s budget friendly and reliable, the BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX* POWERCONNECT™ Cordless Drill/Driver 83-Piece Home Project Kit is a good choice. It comes with various bits, tools, and accessories that are typically used for DIY projects. The fact that the 20V MAX* POWERCONNECT lithium-ion battery and recharger was included made it a great value.
The versatile drill is compact, yet powerful, and easy to handle. It makes quick work of projects big and small. We were very impressed by how long the battery lasts between charges. The zippered case has been a huge help to keep the 83-piece kit neat and all together.
We found the prefect place in the garage to store the new cordless drill/driver so we always know where to find it when we need it.
