Welcome to my review of the Black & Decker LD120VA 20 Volt MAX Lithium Ion power hammer drill/driver kit. I would not be a huge fan of Black & Decker, but every now and then, in my opinion, they do release a very good product.
This particular 20 Volt Powered drill/driver is one of them and many of the people who have reviewed this, think exactly the same thing.
This one has an RRP of $99.00 but there are some great deals to be had online, so be sure to shop around for those. One things is certain, you are certainly getting quite a lot for your money, and that is always a good thing.
This drill uses a 20V Lithium-ion battery which is powerful, and even better, it gives you the user a long run time, and properly holds its charge.
Overall online buyers, and there are over 1,000 online buyer reviews, have given this drill kit an overall buyer satisfaction rate of 88%. In a competitive market that is a high rating, and you are getting good value for money with this Black & Decker kit.
Let’s have a look at the main features of this new and very popular arrival from Black and Decker.
Main Features of the Black & Decker LD120VA
You can see from the picture above, that you the drill/driver. You also get the battery and the appropriate charger. In addition to that you also get some pretty good accessories that are more than enough to get you started.
There are 30 of these accessories, including drill bits, screwdriver bits and several hex heads. That means that you can get the most use out of your new drill and driver. You also have more than enough to allow you to do about 90% of all tasks around the home and garden.
So if you can find this drill/driver kit at the right price, there is no doubt that you are getting plenty of value for your money.
Size and Key Features of the LD120VA Drill/Driver
This one measures 8.9 by 4 by 7.8 inches and weighs 4.7 pounds, so that in my opinion is a good working size. This also has a rubber grip on the handle, which allows for good gripping, and feels comfortable in the hand. The manufacturer describes this as compact, and that is an accurate description, based on what I have seen and read.
Any drill/driver under a 5 pound weight is light enough to work with, and will not cause any aches and pains in the hands and arms.
This one can be used in areas that are tight in space. Some of the reviewers said they used this to put up shelving, build cabinets and work under sink units.
Battery Power
This is what makes or breaks any good cordless tool. As I mentioned earlier, this Black & Decker LD120VA uses a 20V battery.
What I particularly like about this one, is that if you charge it up, and don’t use it right away, it will actually hold its charge for up to 500 days. (Over 15 months).
That means, if you are not using it all the time, it will be ready to go, when you do need it. 20 Volt batteries are quickly becoming the new standard, and all new batteries are Lithium Ion which means they charge faster and hold that charge a great deal longer.
If you have been used to the older NiCad batteries, you will notice an amazing change when you start using Li-Ion batteries.
Power Into Use
We know that the battery is good. The power from this can produce different speeds from 0-750 rpm which in turn gives you control. That is important when it comes to the different uses of this product.
Some screws you just want to push in quickly, and others will need more delicate handling, to stop the screw heads from stripping.
There is a 24-position clutch that helps put you in control, when it comes to applying the correct torque. You can get up to 300 inches per pound of torque with this one, which is excellent.
This drill/driver has a 3/8″ chuck and there is some storage for a few different heads. That is handy as you don’t have to search around for the right size bit.
Buyer Reviews of the Black & Decker LD120VA
With a high rating of 88% this is clearly a popular choice for many online buyers. I have summarised below what they liked and disliked about this particular LD120VA drill/driver kit.
What Buyers Didn’t Like
Around 5% of all online buyers rated this one very low. The reasons that they gave were as follows:
- Most of the complaints were that they received a faulty drill or a kit with some pieces missing
- A few buyers said the power on this drill was very poor
- A couple of complaints that there was no LED worklight
In summary there were complaints about the product either being faulty or simply not powerful enough to do the tasks the buyer wanted it to do. Clearly any of these two reasons would justify giving the product a low review as the buyer has had a poor experience.
Thankfully the number of complaints was very low, and most buyers did not have that unpleasant experience.
What Buyers Did Like
- Buyers clearly liked the price and especially when they could get this kit for under $50
- They also liked the light weight and the fact that it was compact, as that allowed them to get into difficult places
- Buyers understood for the most part that at this price you don’t get a fully featured drill, but you got enough to do all the basic jobs.
- Buyers said that this one had adequate torque, and would allow them to do tasks such as drilling 3″ screws into decking
- Buyers also appreciated that this kit came with a battery and charger, but recommended buying an additional battery especially if you were taking on a bigger job
That sums this drill/driver up pretty well in my opinion. It is not one at the top of the range that a contractor would use, but it is ideal for people who want a drill/driver and some useful accessories to use around the home.
It is an extremely popular choice for many buyers online. There are thousands of reviews on this particular Black and Decker Drill/Driver Kit. It has maintained a very high 88% buyer satisfaction rate over all of those reviews.
It is a good choice for home owners and for anyone who wants the best bang for their buck. It will not be suitable for professionals or contractors and it is not suitable for anyone wanting to take on a range of bigger DIY tasks around the home.
If this is not the Black & Decker for you, then why not check out our top 10 list of Black and Decker drills y clicking here.
In my opinion you would be better going for something more powerful like the Dewalt DCD 790 . For many buyers though this basic and affordable Black & Decker is certainly a good choice.
