Black & Decker VPX903X1 Li-Ion VPX Starter Set with Power Screwdriver, Cut Saw, Flashlight, and VPX Battery with Charger
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Black & Decker VPX903X1 Li-Ion VPX Starter Set with Power Screwdriver, Cut Saw, Flashlight, and VPX Battery with Charger
Customer Review: B&D's Next Generation of Toy Tools
Summary: 4 Stars
Years ago, I purchased a Black and Decker Versapak Tool kit, consisting of a drill, flashlight, jigsaw, sander, Nicad battery, charger and hard plastic case. It made a great toy tool set, but the batteries were notorious for either failing, or losing charge when you really needed them. Fast forward to 2007 and B&D introduces another toy tool kit, this time based on Lithium ion batteries. Why do I call this a toy set? Because other than the flashlight, nothing really qualifies as a tool any bona fide contractor would bring to a job, unless he liked using inexpensive tools that other people would steal. And then, the pain of losing such tools would be lessened. Not every tool in the VPX lineup is homeowner grade. The VPX1212 14.4-Volt Drill Driver is pro quality. But it costs nearly as much as this entire tool kit. Let's look at the kit's driver/drill first. This has two speeds, 195 and 625 rpm. The torque is adequate for driving 1/4" holes in wood, assuming you purchase a good hex-head shank drill bit set, such as the one made by Bosch. You cannot use regular drill bits unless you buy an adapter chuck with jaws. Such is progress. The new B&D driver/drill is a much better portable tool than the Versapak unit (which, to its credit, has a chuck), and much lighter too. You will not blitz through any drilling job, but the fact that the drill is battery powered means you can use it in more places than a corded drill. But for driving screws, I suggest you opt for the Bosch PS20-2 driver. This has a clutch and a more variable range of speeds. I can drive screws with either the Bosch or the B&D drill without stripping the screw head, but the finesse of the Bosch makes a world of difference in consistency. If the B&D is your only driver/drill, then pulse the switch when you use it as an electric screwdriver. There is at least a fraction of a turn overshoot, which takes some getting used to. One accessory I recommend for this drill is a Milwaukee 49-22-8510 Right Angle Drill Attachment Kit. When you are in tight quarters, you will appreciate the ergonomics of this attachment. Make sure you have short shank driver bits to take advantage of this combo. Next, I will cover the cut saw. This is not bad, but get a T-shank wood blade vs. the universal shank one that B&D supplies. As an accessory, the B&D wood blade makes no sense because the metal one they give you does have a T-shank. Some bean counter was hard at work trying to save 10 cents here. I'd estimate the throw of the saw is around 3/8 to 1/2", enough to cut most thin or soft materials, including 1/4" plywood, 1/2" drywall, or PVC. I would not use this saw to cut hardwood flooring, unless you really are cheap and cannot afford anything beyond this tool kit. But, cheap is ok, so long as you work slow and steady. The speed of this saw is actually conducive to free hand cutting without a guide. Kickback is low. The safety release on the saw is easy to work with, unlike the one on Makita's battery powered mini-circular saw. (That has to be one of the worst examples of industrial design I have ever had to contend with). Saws of any kind can be dangerous to use, but B&D gets points for making their saw a good bit safer to use, since you can hold the barrel with your non-trigger hand, and not have to use it to fiddle with the safety release. Plunge cutting with the saw is not something I would recommend to the average user, although it can be done. Drill a hole first, if you intend to do an interior cutout. There is something about a lightweight tool that worries me for this function. Anyway, you already have a drill to make the opening, so use it. Finally, we get to the flashlight. This is wonderful and efficient, being based on LEDs and not a filament bulb. It could save your life during an electrical outage, seriously. They say the cord is made of bungee, but it doesn't have the stretchiness you're probably used to. But there is a plastic tightener that allows you to cinch the tool to a hold down. So there you have it. A nice inexpensive set of tools, that are way better than the Versapak. Not contractor grade, but then again, you are not paying contractor prices. I just wish B&D could have supplied us with a hard plastic case instead of the cheap cardboard box they did package everything in. So long Versapak, hello VPX. Next item I'll buy is B&D hand vac. After all, I really only wanted the flashlight and a vacuum. The extra tools are just (redundant) icing on the cake. But that's another story.Customer Review: Best Deal
Summary: 5 Stars
Best gift I ever puchased! My father loves it! I have most of the tools for myself and they work well for small duties around the house!Customer Review: Better than expected
Summary: 5 Stars
I do odd jobs around the facilities and many times the big cordless drills are very heavy and dont fit into areas. I found these products to be powerful enough to accomplish every task I expected them to and performed well and lasted much longer than expected. It is so light it fits most everywhere can even put it in my pocket. Very pleasedCustomer Review: Black & Decker VPX903X1
Summary: 5 Stars
Very handy, performed like expected. Great for the small jobs.
As happy as I am with it,
just be warned not to expect a replacement for the full size type saw.
Cordless screwdriver works excellent & flashlight is good too.
I would recommend a 2nd battery to avoid pausing a project for the few hours it takes to re-charge from dead.
That is all.
Customer Review: Black & Decker no longer makes these 7 volt VPX tools
Summary: 4 Stars
This tool set has excellent power for a 7 volt system. Tools are small, light weight cousins of full size, high voltage portable tools.
If you are use to a "clutched" drill/screwdriver, the clutchless drill/driver can take you by surprise when a screw reaches it's depth, or a drill bit suddenly stops turning. Defiantly a 2 handed operation if you want save your wrists. It has very, very good power. I drove several 3-1/2" screws fully into 2 x 4's without any problem at all. The chuck is a quick release 1/4" hex.
The charger charges quickly and you can power extra chargers off the upsteam one without needing separate 120 volt outlets. These portable power tools should always be sold with 2 batteries, at a minimium. This set had one battery.
The light is handy and light weight. It should hold it's battery power for use in emergencies a long time being LiIon, like cell phone batteries.
I bought the set mainly for the cut saw. It worked well for trimming small branches on my trees.
I had the cut saw lock up on me while using it to cut sheet metal and had it sent to a B & D repair facility. I was told several weeks later that they had no repair parts to fix it, nor do they have a replacement units, since they don't build them any more. I received a generous(based on the price I paid for the kit) refund from B & D for the cut saw. I was so satisfied with the refund and the tools that I took the refund and used it to buy another 7 volt VPX starter set. I'll just use the cut saw for light duty work, like tree branches.
I do think Amazon should have indicated on the tool's description page that this is a B & D closeout tool set and that it is no longer made, or serviced under the 2 year warranty.