When you have holes to drill and fasteners to drive, you reach for your drill. Sometimes there isn’t an electrical outlet close by, so a cordless drill is a very handy tool to have. These Black + Decker cordless drills are made for homeowners and do-it-yourselfers. They have Lithium-Ion batteries that hold their charge even when stored for up to 18 months. Let’s look at all three drills to see which one will be the best for you.
Black & Decker BDCDMT120 20-Volt MAX Lithium-Ion MATRIX Cordless Drill
The BDCDMT120is a light-duty drill/driver. It’s good for household repairs like replacing door hinges or projects like assembling Ikea furniture.
But this otherwise ordinary drill shines with its ability to transform into other power tools, like a saw, router, hedge trimmer, and a sander. Black + Decker sells several Matrix Quick Connect attachments that are compatible with the BDCDMT120.Release the barrel, remove it, and insert the new attachment to have a completely new tool. This is the only drill out of the three in this review that has this capability.
The top speed of the drill is 800rpm, but there is no information about its power rating or torque. The speed alone makes it the fastest out of these three drills. It has a variable-speed trigger for better control, and there are ten clutch settings on a dial around the 3/8” keyless chuck. It comes with a double-ended screw-driving bit so it’s ready for fastening tasks right out of the box (after charging, of course).
The included battery is part of the 20V MAX lithium-ion lineup. It appears to have less than 2.0Ah capacity, but Black + Decker doesn’t clarify exactly what it has. The tool comes with a charger. They say it takes 3-1/2 to 4 hours to refill the battery. Li-Ion batteries have no memory, so you can recharge as often as you need.
More features of the Black + Decker BDCMDT120 MATRIX drill
- Black + Decker offers a 2-year limited warranty
- MATRIX Connect attachments sold separately
- MATRIX Connect attachments include reciprocating saw, high-pressure inflator, impact driver, oscillating tool, router, detail sander, trim saw, hedge trimmer, and jigsaw
Black & Decker LDX120C 20-Volt MAX Lithium-Ion Cordless Drill/Driver
Black + Decker invented the first portable pistol-grip electric drill in 1910. The LDX120C is a compact, cordless descendant of that early power tool. It weighs just 3.4 pounds and balances nicely for one-handed control.
The torque on this drill is rated at 115 inch-pounds with a top speed of 650rpm. This speed is a little slower than the BDCDMT120, so this is not a hole-making or fastening powerhouse. But it is good for small repairs and projects around the house. It has a 3/8” chuck and 11 clutch settings. Black + Decker describes it as being made to drill wood, metal, and plastic. There is no mention of drilling masonry.
There is an LED work-light under the barrel that lights up when the trigger is pressed. The tool’s anticipated battery life is about 1 hour of steady work before it needs a refill on the included charger. Black + Decker doesn’t specify what the battery capacity is. Based on the image and user reviews, we imagine it’s 2.0Ah or less.
If you’re looking for a light-duty, inexpensive drill, this could be the one for you. The Lithium-Ion batteries hold their charge for up to 18 months in storage, so the tool is ready when you want to get to work. Another benefit of Li-Ion batteries is that they can be recharged even when not empty because they have no memory. It won’t diminish their capacity to let them sip on power while you take a short break.
More features of the Black + Decker LDX120C drill
- Black + Decker offers a 2-year limited warranty
- Included charger is the LCS20, battery is the LBX20
Black & Decker LDX220C 20 Volt MAX* Lithium 20V Cordless 2 Speed Drill Driver
The LDX220C is a step up from the LDX120C described above. It’s very similar to the other drill, but it has a two-speed transmission along with the 11 clutch settings. The dual range gearing gives more control over drilling and driving. More control means less chance of stripping screws.
Like the other two drills in this review, this one has a 3/8” keyless chuck and a variable-speed trigger. The forward and reverse selector also serves as a safety feature to lock-off the tool.
There is an LED work-light built into the barrel above the trigger. The drill comes with one 20V MAX Lithium-Ion battery and a charger. There is a place at the foot of the drill to store a screw-driving bit.
If you’ve never worked with Li-Ion batteries, you’ll be impressed at the extra runtime. They work well even in freezing temperatures. They hold their charge for months even when not left on the charger. You can recharge them without running them dry first. Their only downfall is heat. Get them too hot and it damages them. Don’t leave a lithium-ion battery in a hot car. When the lithium-ion batteries have reached the end of their lifespan (usually 3 to 5 years), please recycle them.
More features of the Black + Decker LDX220C drill
- Black + Decker offers a 2-year limited warranty
- Comes with charger LCS1620 and battery LBXR20 (either 1.5Ah or 2.0Ah)
- Charger may take up to 8 hours to refill the battery
- Charger senses if the battery is too hot or cold and will delay charging
Recommendation
These three drills are made to handle drilling and driving into wood, metal, and plastic. It is possible to drill into light masonry, but be sure to use bits with carbide tips and work slowly.
If you want maximum flexibility—the ability to turn your drill into other power tools, get the BDCDMT120. It’s the only one of these three drills that is compatible with the MATRIX Connect attachment system. You can transform it into a saw, a sander, a router, and even more. As a drill, it has power enough for household tasks and projects.
If you want an inexpensive cordless drill for occasional, light-duty projects, consider buying the LDX120C. It’s lightweight to hold, and comes with handy features like a LED work-light and a bit holder.
If you want a little more control for jobs that need precision, consider getting the LDX220C. It has a two-speed transmission and 11 clutch settings.
A single base for multiple tools like on the BDCDMT120 is not popular because; if the base goes bad, all of the attachment tools are useless. There is one other big problem; the Ford Ranchero was nether a good car or good truck. Tools like this rarely out perform a tool built for a sole purpose.