Black & Decker BDL200S Bullseye Bullet Manual Laser

by Black & Decker

Product Description

Amazon.com

Need a reliable straight line without spending a bundle? This is our choice. Granted, this laser’s not self-leveling, but it’s easy to level and does produce a dead-on accurate horizontal or vertical line. It attaches easily to a wall with either the magnetic hanging pin or the included drill anchor wall mounts. Because it’s a single pin hanger, adjustments are as easy as the touch of a finger. Nice storage bag keeps the tool clean and protected. Just the right tool for the homeowner who’s adding a chair rail, wallpaper border, shelving, cabinets, tile, or a host of other projects. You could spend more for a self-leveling unit, but we think this suits most homeowner’s needs.--Kris Jensen-Van Heste

Amazon.com Product Description

Ideal for hanging pictures, evenly spacing decorative items, and installing flooring and lighting sconces, the Black & Decker BDL200S Bullseye Bullet Manual Laser projects a line in any direction on walls. This laser projector can be used on the floor for layout assistance and comes with an easy wall mount system that uses one pin for hands free convenience. This laser projector includes a 9-volt battery, a drywall mounting attachment, an expanding mounting attachment, and a storage case. Categorized as a class III laser, this laser level comes backed by a 2-year limited warranty.

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Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.8 x 1.8 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000C6DWO
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: BDL200S
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #236,639 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not what you think it is..., May 4, 2004

By 

SpinnieBoy (Penfield, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black & Decker BDL200S Bullseye Bullet Manual Laser (Tools & Home Improvement)

"It's my favorite tool" or so I told my kids when they gave it to me for my birthday. In reality, it is a basic laser pointer in a fancy package. Yes, it produces a straight laser line on the wall or floor, but you need to use a manual level to get it correct. It is difficult to hang on the wall and cannot be done without putting a small nail hole in a spot where you probably don't want one. Spend the extra money and buy a better mounting, self leveling and more accurate one if you need things to be absolutely perfect.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Poorly designed, poorly engineered., March 14, 2005

By 

Stevie-Z (San Luis Obispo, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black & Decker BDL200S Bullseye Bullet Manual Laser (Tools & Home Improvement)

The purpose of this tool is to project a relatively long and straight laser line for alignment, construction, or what have you. As an engineer and general fan of Black and Decker's products, I was sadly surprised to find out that this product is neither useful or accurate.

The good news:
It runs on a 9v battery (cheap and easy to replace). Comes with two different mounting options in addition to the magnetic base.

The bad news:
1. The line is inconsistently bright along it's projected path. It seems about 2 to 3 times brighter in the center than on the far edges. This effect is disturbing because it's also thicker in the center. At the edges, the line is so dim that you need enhancement glasses (sort of like safety glasses, but red in color) to see it OR you have to use it in near total darkness.

2. The bubble levels inside the unit are too small, inaccurate, and not adjustable. When I placed this unit on my tablesaw (which was precisely aligned and leveled) it shows (incorrectly) that the saw is tilted about 2-3 deg. This is a huge problem and makes the unit difficult to justify. The owner's manual says that the levels are only calibrated to the laser line when held or hung up against a vertical surface. Okay, but what if you want to lay tile, place a fencepost, or align cabinets?

3. Mounting the laser to the wall requires drilling a hole. The base for wall mounting requires a small hole in the wall and as you rotate the base, three prongs expand out, temporarily locking the base to the wall. It's a pretty good system, but other manufacturers have systems that allow vertical surface use without drilling. It'd be a hassle to have to fill and paint the little holes constantly.

4. The bonehead that designed this did NOT for some unknown reason, make the sides square. So you cannot simply lie it on either side and expect a horizontal line...I'm lost on this one. Miserable engineering at it's worst.

In short, this unit is really only good at projecting a straight line. YOU have to level that line. Get a plumb bob or a 4' level, set this up and adjust the line it projects to level, then you're set. But, on the other hand, if you have a 4' level and plumb bob, all this unit provides is a simple, straight line, confirming your measurements.

Pros: Small, simple, 9V common battery power supply. Comes with case.

Cons: Not self-leveling. Must use other tools to adjust. Case not square. Cannot project line from a horizontal surface.

Even on sale for $20, it's hard to justify this product. It really only projects a line...and not even a straight one. A straight edge would work as well.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars good concept, incomplete design, December 30, 2005

By 

Mr. J. Kunysz "Rockerjim" (Rockerjim) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Black & Decker BDL200S Bullseye Bullet Manual Laser (Tools & Home Improvement)

I purchased mine for $5 at a clearance bin at one of those big hardware outfitters. A great price considering it started off at $30.

The concept of a magnetic base was great but the magnet is too weak to hold itself up, even on a sheet of iron. It could've been really usefull with a stronger magnet for leveling a row of server cabinets in a computer datacenter and I guess I'll try to retrofit a stronger magnet in it.

I haven't given the pinhole mounts a try yet but since you have to make a hole in the drywall, it's probably best suited for shelving a garage or a project basement or toolshed.

I couldn't go wrong for the price but if it just had a stronger magnet I would have given it 3 stars.