Black & Decker AD600 6-Volt Alkaline 1/4-Inch Hex Cordless Drill/Driver with Accessory Assortment

by Black & Decker

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

This 6-volt cordless drill/driver is ready to take on any around-the-house task with quick, efficient ease. It's perfect for smaller jobs that don't require huge, heavy power tools but do require real power. This small but mighty hand-held model is the go-to device for hanging blinds, pictures, or curtain rods -- and it makes assembling furniture and shelving a quick, painless procedure.

The AD600 is designed for heavy-duty performance with minimum fuss. It uses four ordinary AA batteries to give you plenty of project power, and it's loaded with all the right features to get you started and keep you going from start to finish, whether you're setting up bookshelves or just swapping out drawer knobs. The forward/reverse rocker switch makes it easy to move between screwdriving and screw removal, and the spindle lock holds the bit in place for manual use, in case you require extra precision. The AD600 even has the Quick Connect bit change system for fast drilling and driving and less downtime between projects.

This 6-volt drill/driver produces up to 130 rpm, and 40 in./lbs. of torque. It includes four AA batteries, plus an accessory set that expands its versatility. The accessory set includes 20 anchors and screws, two hex shank screwdriver bits, and two hex shank drill bits. -- Cherie Priest

What's in the box:
Black & Decker cordless drill/driver, four AA batteries, 20 anchors and screws, two hex shank screwdriver bits, two hex shank drill bits.

Product Description

Includes 6V Alkaline Drill-Driver - AD600, (4) AA Batteries, (20) Anchors and Screws, (2) Hex Shank Drill Bits, (2) Hex Shank Screwdriver Bits

See all Product Description

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 3.5 x 12 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000077CPQ
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: AD600
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,313 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)
  • #25 in Home Improvement > Power & Hand Tools > Power Tools > Drills

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for light to medium applications., March 4, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Black & Decker AD600 6-Volt Alkaline 1/4-Inch Hex Cordless Drill/Driver with Accessory Assortment (Tools & Home Improvement)

The driver feels very solid and nice in your hand. It comes with 4 hex-shank bits - a medium philips, medium flathead, 3/16 and 1/16 drill bits, which should be fine for most jobs. While there is plenty of torque for drilling, there is no torque range adjustment, so you'll have to be careful not to overtighten screws. For that purpose, it has an intuitive manual spindle lock that clicks firmly into place, allowing you to use it like a regular screwdriver.

The bit holder shaft has a convenient quick connect sleeve. You simply pull back on the sleeve insert or remove the bit. The bits have a groove at the end to keep them in the shaft when you work, solving the common problem that I always run into previous power screwdrivers and drills, where for various reasons, the bit gets stuck in the hole or screw when I pull away.

The handle has cartridge style battery pack. Also included with the drill/driver are 4 AA batteries, 20 screws, and 20 plastic inserts (for dryway)-- everything you need to get started. It comes with a full 2-year home use warranty.

I really like this unit. It was very inexpensive, does the job, has the fit and finish quality that one expects from Black and Decker, and has an ergonomic look and feel.

While it would have been nice for this drill/driver to run a bit faster (it runs at only 130 rpm versus the more desirable 180/rpm) and have a torque adjustment ring for worry free screw driving, I think the price makes up for it considerably.

Overall, the AD600 is an excellent value.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A nice compact screw driver with some flaws, August 2, 2004

By 

C. MacPhail (Solana Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Black & Decker AD600 6-Volt Alkaline 1/4-Inch Hex Cordless Drill/Driver with Accessory Assortment (Tools & Home Improvement)

With Lithium Ion models now available in all price ranges, this model is now really dated.

Maybe still a good value, if you find it for under ten buckss at discount store beginning with "W".

Handy for driving screws.

Fits in your pocket while climbing a ladder.

Fits in a small tool-box.

Good for low-clearance uses (6 or 6-3/4 inches from driver tip to heel).

Wimpy, but enough torque for medium duty. Sinks drywall screws without pre-drilling.

At 130 rpm, it's painfully slow for drilling. It's much slower and wimpier than 35 dollar or 95 dollar Li-Ion models. Buy this only as a screw driver - if you already own a cordless drill.

Nice feel, ergonomic handle. Forward & reverse triggers are handier than a separate F/R switch.

The owners manual says to use only alkaline batteries (4-AA), but I find that rechargeables (2100 mAh NiMH) work great, last a long, time, and only cost as much as 5 sets of throw-aways.

One disappointment is the spindle lock, which you can use when hand turning a really stubborn screw. It does not disable the motor. There is no motor OFF option when stowing. It would be nice if the spindle auto-locked whenever the trigger is not pressed and if there was a motor-OFF switch.

**Update 1-15-2010: After 5+ years of moderate use (including one 12-foot drop from a ladder onto concrete) it still works.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not a toy, February 28, 2010

By 

dallas7 (Phoenix AZ USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Black & Decker AD600 6-Volt Alkaline 1/4-Inch Hex Cordless Drill/Driver with Accessory Assortment (Tools & Home Improvement)

The product description clearly states, "for smaller jobs that don't require huge, heavy power tools" yet some reviewers don't read the details or packaging or have trouble distinguishing this product from heavier and larger purpose-built corded or cordless power tools. Anyone thinking this less than twenty dollar AA battery powered tool could compare with the likes of Dewalt or Milwaukee pro tools perhaps shouldn't be using tools at all.

Upon removing the drill from its packaging, I entered the man cave and drove a couple of 2" screws into a pine 2x4 and drilled several holes into a piece of hardwood. No sweat. This will do as well, and better, than the dozen or so small, household class cordless screwdrivers I've owned over the decades.

My motivation for selecting this cordless tool is its use of regular old alkaline AA cells; as far as I can tell, B&D is the only manufacturer on the planet doing that. Every one of my rechargeable screwdrivers have gone bad simply because I needed them just every now and then. They died because I did or didn't leave them constantly plugged in, either of which will waste rechargeable batteries over a long period of time. Or the chargers burned out. To add insult to injury, the cost of replacement batteries and chargers exceeded the price of a whole new screwdriver.

It's most likely that in five or six years when I pick up this tool and press a button, it'll work. If not, I'll throw in some new AA batteries. Thank you Black and Decker.