Black &Decker Re-Chargable 18 volt drill

J

Joseph Loveland

Joined
Jul 9, 2013
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134
I have this Black & Decker 18 volt re-chargable drill and when I charge up the batteries (2) I always have ta put the batteries back on charge and get my corded drill. Has anyone got any deas of what the problem may be or are these batteries designed ta not hold a charge that long? Any info will greatly appreciated.
 
Old Batteries?

You might want to try this question in the BFC Gadgets & Gear forum. :)
 
Black and Decker is a lower-end brand, so I wouldn't expect the same performance from the batteries as say a Makita drill. And even Makita offers a variety of product levels.

How old are the batteries? And how long do they last when drilling?
 
Well Bob, ta truthfully answer ya question I bought this about two years ago. When IN charge the batteries they last less than an hour of use. I've just about decided ta go and buy me a Black&Decker corded drill. Since I'M have drop cords in my shop wrapped on a nails, I can just use them. I may just go with the corded drill for I end up using the drill that belonged ta my dad anyway.
 
An hour of steady use is about what I'd expect. And considering that most Black and Decker cordless models cost $30-$50 and the cheapest cordless Makita is $120, it's still reasonable to consider you're getting your money's worth from the B&D.

I wouldn't recommend anyone buy cordless tools unless they absolutely have no access to an outlet. Corded tools last longer, perform better, and cost less. And I find them more convenience since I can drill for as long as necessary without battery charging, and they're always ready to go.

go and buy me a Black&Decker corded drill.
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Those are OK for a homeowner who needs a drill only occasionally. You might consider something a bit better instead since you drill for hours at a time. For only $50 you can get a basic 3/8" DeWalt that'll probably last for decades and hold up better under hard use. Other brands might be better but cost even more, like $70 - $80 for a similar Makita or Milwaukee.
 
The batteries should have a date code on them, but after two years of regular use they are probably at the end of their useful life span. Of course, a new battery costs about $40, so you might as well buy a new drill with a battery for $50.

B&D owns DeWalt and Porter Cable now, so they aren't quite the tools they used to be.
 
For what it's worth, I work on a facilities team maintaining a mega-church (we could fit 10,000 people on a sunday morning, so... It's big) and for most of our smaller work we use cordless Ryobi drills. The batteries seem to hold up for a good long time and the drills are quite decent for the money.

But yeah, a corded drill would always be preferable for larger tasks. Cordless stuff is designed to be weaker (eg: slower speed, weaker motor, etc) so the batteries last longer. Corded equipment has unlimited power, so they can build them as strong as they need. For small tasks, it isn't a problem, but if you have to, say, drill lots of holes in metal or concrete, you definitely want a corded drill.
 
Nickel Cadmium batteries are notorious for losing a charge quickly. They also have poor lifespans. Many manufacturers are phasing them out.

If you've got a lithium ion battery it should hold a charge much much longer and be far more reliable.
 
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