Customer Reviews

Black & Decker LI4000 3.6-Volt Lithium-Ion SmartSelect Screwdriver with Magnetic Screw Holder

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I am of the senior citizen class of 1938. I have had many tools in my lifetime with a keen eye always on the lookout for something new and useful.
Well I found one that covers both criteria and even though I have owned it for about 3 months it has been well used.
Anyone that does any amount of household maintence will be delighted with the Black & Decker SmartDriver with the Magnetic Screw Holder. It makes every job much easier and that is why I titled the review "The third hand."
Charles C. Anderson
Shawano, Wisconsin

This would have been be the last cordless screwdriver I would ever buy if it wasn't for one tiny detail; battery life is horrible. I was very disappointed when I ran out of battery after drilling 8 (eight) 1.5" screws into drywall. Excellent torque on the first four screws though. If you can afford it, I recommend you buy 2 and use them for very light projects since the battery can not be replaced on these. Otherwise, save your money and buy a real cordless drill!

I often only have one hand to work with and this screwdriver makes jobs around the house so much easier. I hesitated buying it because of the price, but decided to get it mostly because of the magnetic screw holder. I am glad I did because it has made a huge difference for me. Enough power for many odd jobs and makes tasks much less frustrating! Also, being a woman, I appreciate the fact that this is very light. I bought it at Target...it's a tad cheaper there.

For higher quality and heavier duty tools I usually would not pick Black & Decker, but their quality has been improving and their innovation is frequently ahead of the other manfacturers, so I though I would try this new Lithium powered screw driver with a built in screw holder and led light because of its combined features. I must say I was very surprised to find a pocket sized driver with a variable clutch that has plenty of power to drive most screws with relative ease. The magnetic screw holder works very well and and even though it's plastic construction may not be up to the quality of the rest of the tool, I can understand that some flexibility in the plastic holder is necessary to accomodate different screw diameters. Overall I am impressed with all aspects of the tools operation except for the braking force of the motor which takes a little longer to stop than higher grade drivers. But this should not be a real problem for the average home project because the motor is not as strong as some other higher torque drivers and accordingly is less likely to strip a screw head as long as force is applied to the screw for the extra fraction of a second until the motor stops from use of the clutch or letting up on the trigger.

I did not disassemble the drill to inspect its drive mechanism. I suspect the gears are made of a high strength polymer, and not steel, based upon the weight and the quite comfortable balance of the tool. All other parts of the tool, mostly a type of strong plastic) seem to be of high or higher quality one would expect a tool made for this purpose. Overall, subject to any long term problems which could surface, I am impressed with this driver and I think it is a perfect tool for one to have around the house to take on minor fixit or construstion projects. I am most pleased with the amount of power that it delivers with a 3.6 volt battery and its overall comfort and convenience given its reasonable cost. I am considering buying one for my wife for her occasional needs when I am not around and so I will know that mine is where I store it if she had a need for one. Keep it charged for use and I think you will be quite satisfied.

Review update as of November 29, 2011: I have used this tool regularly for some time for around the house projects. I am not sure how I missed this weakness, but it is important enough to mention. The on/off/reverse switch does not permit gradual increases in speed by depressing the trigger gradually. Since the tool has an adjustable clutch, this may not be a significant weakness in the tool's performance. When you depress the trigger, it turns the tool power to full-on. There is no ability to start the tool and gradually increasing speed. If gradual speed control is important to you, you better be prepared to spend more for a tool with this feature.

Great little gadget but low on power. We had another electric screwdriver in the past that really outdid this one. But once you buy it and use it, you're stuck with it. You have to make sure the red light is lit or it won't charge. It doesn't sit really well on the charging things. Great for hanging pictures and light jobs. Just don't try hanging window blinds with it.

This is a wonderful product. It is so easy to use and it has a bunch different bit types to do any job around the house. It even has a small drill bit and it stays charged for a long time. The magnetic screw holder makes it so easy to get the screw in and it has a size selector for different screws. I love this product!

Love the slide out screw holder on this little baby! Very light ad comfortable in your hand. The LED light that shines on your work surface when you squeeze the handle is a nice touch too. Finally a tool for the non-tool person. Anyone can work this thing. VERY USER FRIENDLY!!

This Black and Decker has been a great tool for me,
Not only in the house but i've also found that it would be a great use for some construction, where a normal 12Volt or 18Volt couldn't fit, this SmartDrive fits nicely.

This thing has some real power for something so small. I used it yesterday to remove some 3.5" screws from some kitchcen cabinets, and although it let me know it was a tough job, it did the job, and had plenty of mojo left for other things. Comes with a good assortment of bits, but the drill bit falls out easily (an issue I also had with the bits in the Pivot Plus that I owned previously). Be sure to read the manual for proper battery care (for example: can't really leave it in all the time, needs to be used, or at leat undocked, monthly).

Very handy to have around, and slips on and off the charging stand easily.

This is one of the most useful tools I purchased. Excellent for light jobs on electrical outlets and wiring screws. It has a lot of torque so it was good on installing blind holders but also has a torque adjuster so you will not over tighten screws such as outlet covers. It holds a charge very well. I have charged it and left for 2-3 months and it still worked well. I keep it handy and hardly use a hand screwdriver any more. The magnetic hold is OK but does not work well on small screws. I plan to get one for my son who likes all kinds of tools. This is for small infrequent jobs not for installing drywall or large projects.