INTRODUCTION Buying a DIY power tool can be a daunting task. However, although DIY stands for Do It Yourself you don t have to feel alone when choosing Black & Decker. This power tool buyers guide has been put together for you by Black & Decker to help make buying the right power tool easy and hassle free. After all, with more than 100 years worth of experience under our belt, who better to help than Black & Decker? Ever since we filed our first patent for a portable electric drill in 1916, we ve been one of the world s great innovators in power tools for home users. From our revolutionary trigger switch to features that save time and effort, our power tools are continually evolving to make the job easier and your results better.
SCREWDRIVERS An electric screwdriver is an absolute must for any DIYer. When it comes to tightening or loosening screws of various shapes and sizes, to reduce effort it is preferable to use a cordless screwdriver if you can. Screwdrivers are suitable for a variety of basic tasks such as flat pack furniture assembly, putting up shelves, fixing door brackets and hinges, fixing radiator brackets to the wall, and a whole host of other general DIY tasks around the home. Three of the most common screw drive types are the slotted, Phillips and Pozidriv: screwdriver: Volts generally speaking the higher the voltage the more powerful the screwdriver but note that when using a screwdriver what you should be most concerned with is the amount of useable output which the drill is producing i.e. twisting power (or torque) which is measured in Nm. Torque a measure of twisting power and is measured in Nm. The higher the Nm rating, the higher the maximum torque the screwdriver can produce and the greater the overall power of the screwdriver. Speed measured in rotations per minute (rpm). Look for variable speed for better control. Charge time - the quicker the charge time the less down time and the quicker you ll complete your DIY task.
CORDLESS DRILLS The main advantage of cordless drills is that you can charge them up and take them anywhere making them ideal for use outside, as well as inside the home. The two most commonly used types of battery in cordless drills are NiCad and Lithium-ion. Although NiCad is probably the most common, Lithium-Ion does have a number of distinct advantages including very short charging times, longer life, and lighter battery weights. Lithiumion batteries also have a constant discharge rate which means that the power output remains constant until the battery is depleted. Finally, Lithium-ion batteries also hold their charge for much longer than NiCad batteries. There are two types of cordless drill; cordless drill drivers and cordless hammer drills. Drill drivers serve two basic functions. They can be fit with standard drill bits to make holes in various materials such as metal or wood, but not masonry. Alternatively they can be fit with screw-driving bits enabling them to drive screws into materials such as metal or wood, but again not masonry. Hammer drills are capable of carrying out all of the tasks a drill driver can complete but also have the added advantage of being able to be used in masonry or brickwork, thereby making them much more versatile. cordless drill: Volts as a rough rule the higher the voltage the more powerful the drill but don t be fooled. When using a drill what you should be most concerned with is the amount of useable output which the drill is producing i.e. twisting power (or torque) which is measured in Nm. Hammer action/drill driver hammer action is required for drilling into masonry or brickwork and its performance is measured in beats per minute (bpm). Normal drill drivers are only suitable for drilling into softer materials such as wood, metal and plasterboard, or for screw driving tasks. Speed drill speed is measured in rotations per minute (rpm). If your drill offers you variable speed settings you ll generally have much better control. It is often necessary to vary the speed of your drill depending on the size of hole or type of accessory being used. Torque is a measure of twisting power and is measured in Nm The higher the Nm rating, the higher the maximum torque the drill can produce. Being able to vary the torque setting is also useful because high torque settings are generally required for drilling into tough materials and low settings to prevent drilling too quickly into delicate materials and causing unwanted damage. Look for something with variable torque settings if possible and something with a high maximum torque. Charge time - the quicker the charge time the less down-time and the quicker you ll complete your DIY task. Batteries consider the number of batteries included and type. The Amp hour (Ah) rating of the battery is also important as this will give you a rough guide as to the storage capacity of the battery. A 1.5Ah rating doesn t mean that the battery will last for 1.5 hours before running out but it should mean that it has a larger capacity and therefore last longer than a 1.2Ah battery. Chuck look for single sleeve keyless chucks for easy bit change and improved bit retention. 2 gears drills fitted with a two speed gearbox have the benefit of increasing torque in the lower speed setting, therefore achieving improved performance at lower speed.
CORDED DRILLS The electric power drill has come a long way in the last 100 years. Having started the power tool revolution it has evolved into the most popular power tool for the DIY enthusiast. Corded drills are electric drills which use mains electricity for power. Unlike cordless drills, because corded drills are restricted by a power cable you re generally less flexible about where you can take them but in their favour corded drills are generally more powerful making them best suited to heavy drilling tasks. cordless drill: Watts generally speaking the higher the wattage the more powerful the drill but don t be fooled. When using a drill what you should be most concerned with is the amount of useable output which the drill is producing i.e. twisting power (or torque) which is measured in Nm. Hammer action hammer action is required for drilling into masonry or brickwork. Speed drill speed is measured in rotations per minute (rpm). If your drill offers you variable speed settings you ll generally have much better control. It is often necessary to vary the speed of your drill depending on the size of hole or type of accessory being used. Torque is a measure of twisting power and is measured in Nm The higher the Nm rating, the higher the maximum torque the drill can produce. Being able to vary your torque setting is also useful because high torque settings are generally required for drilling into solid materials and low settings to prevent drilling too quickly into delicate materials and causing unwanted damage. Look for something with variable torque settings if possible and something with a high maximum torque. Clutch a clutch will prevent the over tightening of screws and prevent screw heads from being stripped. Chuck look for single sleeve keyless chucks for easy bit change and improved bit retention. SDS SDS stands for Special Direct System. SDS drills are similar to normal hammer drills, but have an improved hammer action that allows more powerful hammer blows. SDS drills require SDS drill bits. SDS drills will allow you to complete heavy duty hammer drilling tasks much quicker and with much less effort than a traditional hammer drill. You can also fit a range of SDS chisel bits and use an SDS drill like a micro concrete breaker. Making them ideal for light demolition, removing tiles, bricks, and creating socket cut ins or cable runs. 2 gears drills fitted with a two speed gearbox have the benefit of increasing torque in the lower speed setting, therefore achieving improved performance at lower speed.
SAWING There are a wide variety of saws designed for various DIY applications. Two of the most common types of saw in DIY are jigsaws and reciprocating saws. Jigsaws are probably the most versatile and popular of all DIY saws due to their flexibility in being able to cut in straight lines or curves and even for pocket cutting. Coupled with the wide variety of blades to suit different materials, there is not a lot the jigsaw cannot handle. The rotary energy of the motor of Jigsaw is converted into a linear energy to move the blade up and down through the material. This up and down motion is called the stroke. The longer the stroke length the faster the cutting speed as more teeth pass over the material. The limiting factor is the ability of the jigsaw to clear away the debris of the cutting action. In thicker materials the gullet can become blocked and the material will not be cut as efficiently. Jigsaws with pendulum action will aid the clearance of debris and therefore cut much more efficiently than standard basic jigsaws. However, although pendulum action will increase cutting speed the outcome will generally be a poorer finish of cut. saw: Strokes per minute the higher the number of strokes per minute, the higher the number of cuts and therefore the faster and more efficient the machine. Stroke length the longer the stroke length the faster the machine will cut as more teeth will pass over the material. Keyless blade change for quick and easy blade change. Variable speed for improved control. Different speeds are required for different applications so being able to vary speed improves the versatility of the tool. Pendulum action - the normal action of a jigsaw blade is a straight reciprocating action, up and down. On pendulum action the blade also travels back and forth. By adjusting the amount of movement the aggression of the cut can be increased to make the blade cut faster, although the finish may not be as fine if cut at speed. Dust extraction Collects dust for a cleaner work environment. Universal blade clamp there are two different types of jigsaw blade fitment T shank and U shank. Some jigsaws will only accept one type or the other but universal blade clamp models accept both T and U shank blades. Bevelling shoe a moveable shoe plate which allows you to cut at angles. Look for the Accubevel feature on certain Black & Decker models for tool-free preset bevelling shoe adjustments.
SANDING There are very few sanding applications that cannot be undertaken by a power sander. Different sanders are designed to perform various tasks, it is therefore important to understand which machines are best suited to which applications. The most commonly used sanders in DIY are: Orbital sanders (sometimes called finishing sanders) for finishing and roughing. Random orbital sanders for paint and varnish removal, roughing and finishing. Detail sanders for roughing and finishing in confined spaces. Multi sanders one machine that combines all of the above (i.e. orbital, random and detail) Belt sanders for paint and varnish removal but primarily used to level flat surfaces. Power files for stock removal, sharpening, grinding and finishing. All sanders use coated abrasives, or sanding sheets, to complete their work. Sanding sheets are graded in grit size, which will determine the removal rate and the smoothness of finish. The lower the grit number the larger the particle of grit and therefore the higher grit numbers will remove less material but leave a smoother finish. There are various grades of abrasives, although most DIY applications will be covered by coarse (40 grit), medium (80 grit), fine (120 grit) and extra fine (240 grit). sander: Wattage generally speaking the higher the wattage the more powerful the sander but note that RPM is also an important consideration. Speed slower speed means more control and higher speeds mean faster, less accurate sanding. Sanding speed is usually measured in orbits per minute or RPM. Dust extraction since sanding can create a lot of dust, some sort of dust extraction facility to help remove dust and keep your work area clean can be a useful feature. Paper attachment there are various types of sanding paper attachment. Look for quick fit sanding paper for faster sanding action and easier paper fitment.
WORKMATES Safety should always be paramount for any DIY enthusiast. No matter whether you are sawing, planning, drilling or any other activity one of the primary concerns of any DIYer is how to retain the work piece if it is not part of a structure. The professional will usually have a mate at hand to help secure work. For most DIY enthusiasts however, this is a luxury rarely achieved until the introduction in 1973 of the portable workbench and vice under the name Workmate in 1973. The Workmate deservedly received an award of excellence from the Design Council and the development since, into a wider range of Workmate models, ensures it is chosen as a vital accessory in most DIY tool kits. From planning a door to cutting a bar of metal the Workmate is indispensable. Key features to look for when choosing a Workmate : Dual height dependent on the application there is an option to use some of the Workmate models at one of two different heights Vertical clamping - for increased flexibility to clamp odd-shaped objects, such as doors. Foldable look for foldable frames for compact storage and easy transportation. Load capacity a measure of the maximum weight the workmate can hold, measured in kg. Clamping size provides a good indication of the size capabilities of the workmate, measured in mm.