Customer Reviews

Black & Decker MT1203K-2 12-Volt Multi-Tool Cordless Kit

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

The FireStorm 12V Cordless Kit is one handy tool to own. I do a lot of work for elderly people in their homes and never know what I am getting into. I usually have to do much more than what they indicate needs to be done. With this tool, I have the advantage of having brought three tools in one convenient caring case, allowing one to do multiple things. It uses one motor/Power/Handle unit to which you can quickly add/change three attachments (drill/driver, jigsaw, or a sander). The Motor with the 12V-power supply provides adequate for most all jobs. Not having to worry about finding a grounded outlet has got me working quickly and safely with no time lost getting setup as with corded tools. I have used similar units in the past, most which did not have the power and durability of the FireStorm, else they where far more expensive to have this much power. It is a great advantage to having this item ship with two batteries. I will usually get a good 30 - 80 Minutes of continuous use on one 12V battery, depending on the load. Having the second battery allows you to keep on working while putting the other battery in the charger. Doing this usually allows me to get through a long day without a problem. Since one almost never use a tool in a continuos operation, I find I can usually get three to four hours use out of each charge, which allows the charger to do its thing on the low/drained battery. If you haven't used a cordless tool in the past... this FireStorm is a great way to go. Cordless tolls will be larger than a corded unit providing the same power, but you don't have that pesky cord and three separate tools. I highly recommend this multi-tool both for a first cordless tool buyer and for someone upgrading from lower ended/smaller cordless units. The FireStorm does come with a minimum of attachments. As with other tools you will need to provide additional accessories (i.e., drill bits, nut/screw driving attachments, additional blades, sandpipers of different grits, etc.) to make this unit to a fully functional for most jobs. However, this is true for most tool buys. The carrying case holds everything that comes with this multi-tool including the extra battery and charger, but I do wish Black and Decker made the case to hold the many accessories you will find yourself using with this tool. The two-year warranty is an added plus.

I received this as a Christmas present last year, and it has been very, very useful ever since. The versatility is its main advantage. The primary drawback that I have found is in battery life. While using the sander, the charge on the battery is only good for 10-15 minutes of continuous use. It is better with the jigsaw, and even better yet with the drill attachment. The tool had a good sturdy feel to it, and yet not too heavy that it becomes unwieldy.

I do recommend this kit, but wish there were some way to extend the battery life.

Was not used to the slow rate of charge nor how quick the battery depletes when used with the drill. (this is good for battery life though)

Sander is nice to have, saw is o.k.

Overall it is a nice home use unit that gives you some nice choices when it comes to tools. Am happy with the out put of the unit for home use.

Looking for it in 14 volt.........

This item is perfect for little things around the house. It doesn't pack any power nor battery life. It's handy for quickly changing tasks, but the batteries don't last.

All around, I'd recommend this for little, ity bity projects. If you want power try Dewalt, Bosch or Porter-Cable.

On the whole I have been pleased with the kit. I am not someone who needs to use this tool every weekend, but I have found it to be reliable and convenient. The battery packs are pretty good though I wouldn't start on a project without having both batteries fully charged. The saw and drill are great, but I found the sander to be the least usable of the three. It has been difficult to gauge the sensitivity of the trigger and therefore the speed of the sander, and also found that it drains the batteries quickly. Since sanding is not a 30 second job I would probably use an electric cord sander for larger projects.

Overall great tool for work around the house.

But, once that house was built, this would be an excellent tool to have around. The B&D Multi-Tool is great for basic projects, but as others have mentioned, battery life leaves something to be desired. I haven't used the sander module much, but the jigsaw sucks the battery dry very quickly. The 12V battery just doesn't have the capacity for this sort of continuous application.

I suppose B&D could have designed it to use a higher voltage battery, but that would mean more weight, and I suspect that might have been too big a trade-off for the user that this tool is intended for.

Viewed as a good light duty cordless drill with the sander and saw options for 'casual' use, the Black & Decker Multi-Tool should be up to the job.

This multi-tool set is really pretty, but it is all show and no go. The tools are so heavy and clunky that they are difficult to use. The jig saw has an extra button on the power head that makes it very difficult to use. You actually have to push a button with both hands to get it to work. All of the tools are very noisy and require ear protection to use. The batteries have a very short life and a very long charging time. If you accidentally leave them on the charger it will distroy them. I bought this set for my son for Christmas, but the little elves that built it were obviously not tool makers. I'm sending the whole mess back. No more Black and Decker for me!

this tool has no power. the jigsaw is only vertical movement so it only cuts thin things with any speed, so it drains the power when up against anthing substantial.

As you can see, the other reviews date all the way back to 2000, which tells you that this product was designed a long time ago compared to other cordless tools and batteries available today. This set was, in it's prime, pretty good. I bought it for my mom for Xmas 2001 (which has only been used a couple of times,) and bought one for myself (to replace my Ryobi 12v) a year later

One of my (2) batteries became very aenemic after a year, and the other one's pretty much shot now. For light household use, the driver's pretty much average for a 12v, but the saw and sander eat up the poor capacity NiCD's pretty quick. Forget about replacing the batteries, too, since they are the same capacity as the originals, and about $50 a pop! I may share in some of the blame for the relatively short life of the batteries, because the charger has no trickle or shut-off feature, and who can remmber to remove them from the charger in a timely fashion every time?

I saw a MUCH newer B

I have used this tool to help build a large extention to our house and have found it to be a great unit. I have screwed ~75 roofing screws through galvinised iron roofing on 1 charge. The saw was a very pleasant surprise it cuts faster than expected even through tin. The sander appears to work well but I have only used it for a small job. You should not compare the saw to 500+ watt pendulum saws, but the convenience of no cord is superb and it does feature a roller guide.
In Australia it comes with a one hour charger that works well, and as a bonus the drill and saw work (suprisingly well) with older 9.6 volt B&D batteries.