Black & Decker HPD18K-2 18-Volt Ni-Cad 3/8-Inch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit

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If you’re upgrading from a corded drill, you’ll love the freedom and convenience of this cordless model, and it’s a good bet it’s got more power than what you were using before, with 330 in./lbs. of torque, or rotational force. You can adjust this force with the 32-position clutch, setting it to the best position for the material you’re driving into and how large your fastener is – the bigger the hardware, the higher the setting you’ll need.

This 18-volt drill/driver has surprising speed with two gears, giving you 0 to 350 rpm in low speed and 0 to 1,400 rpm, enough to whisk you through any project you tackle, whether it’s hanging wallboard, building a deck putting up a playscape for the kids.

The single-sleeve chuck is all metal, and the spindle lock engages easily for quick bit changes. It’s ergonomically designed, too, with good balance and a nice rubber grip. The spring-loaded battery disengages easily, always a plus for those with smaller hands.

What this drill has over its competition is the fact that it comes with a two-port charger and two batteries, keeping you powered all the time and not having to wait for a recharge.

Professionals sometimes scoff at Black and Decker as a brand for amateurs, but this drill’s worthy of the tradesman’s consideration. It’s well-made, powerful and reliable. -- Kris Jensen-Van Heste

It is impossible to put a drill bit in the chuck, therefore the drill is not usable. The item was described as used and had some scratches. We were not dissappointed in the appearance of the drill. We contacted the seller and hope to get either a refund or a way to make the drill operable. The motor seemed to be fine;however, the chuck was frozen.

I am not thrilled by this drill. I have found that the housing is too light. It has twisted in my hand when I have had to use force for long, 3", screws. The only reason it hasn't been returned is it is the only one I have. The balance is not as comfortable as my last B&D drill, Fire Storm.

The battery life is excellent. The drill has been left in my truck in the HOT sun in Phoenix, and in the cold in Flagstaff and it doesn't affect it at all (except being hot or cold to the touch).I know this drill is priced a fair bit higher than the other 45 varieties available at Home Depot & Lowe's but it's truly worth it. I've dropped this drill from the tops of ladders (6-12 feet) countless times and it's never even chipped the plastic, maybe a scratch on the battery pack but that's expected from a 10 foot fall down to concrete. I'm a professional installer and use this drill on about 3 job sites daily (Mon-Fri). I charge the battery packs only when they're completely depleted to maximize on the life of the battery (kinda like you shouldn't leave a cordless phone on the charger or it will get used to having a short battery life) about once a week per pack. Its performance will make the $39 "Firestorm" look like a kids toy.(UPDATE 7-4-08) I would recommend finding a model with the Lithium Ion (LiOn) Battery packs if it's within your budget, they'll likely be $20 or so more just for the different kind of battery pack, but you won't easily notice the shorter battery life after a year of use (like NiCd). The only single thing I do that kills a battery pack in one shot is using a 6 foot flexible drill bit (3/4 inch tip) going through 12-to-16 inch solid wood beams (old hard wood).The only trouble this drill ever gave me was when I got it soaking wet, the chuck got a little tuff to turn but a few drops of sewing machine oil fixed that in a jiffy and never had a problem since.

The following label on the drill is all the information given:HPD1800 max, @13mm, Type 1 18V DC, no 0-350/0-1400 min(RPM), Use only with HPB18 battery pack. I don't know if the drill is 1/2 inch or not. Is this what happens when you send to a different address:product substitution. Where does it say 1/2 inch. I had this drill sent as a gift and the recepient emailed me the information on the drill.