Customer Reviews

Black & Decker RD1440K 85th Anniversary 14.4V Cordless Drill/Driver Kit

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

 

 

I just bought this drill over the weekend. The classic styling of a drill from the 1940's-1950's is what sold me at first--it's a drill just too good looking to pass up. However, more importantly it is a great tool, with some very 21st century features: an automatic electronic level that tells you when you're holding the drill straight in any of three different orientations, and a battery status LED meter.

There is a wide range of torque settings, so it really does work well as a driver, all the way down to small screws. I used it tonight to assemble a portable laptop table without either stripping or overdrilling the self-tapping wood screws like I have often done in the past. And, drilling power is good for a 14.4V drill. The charger is a nice small 3-hour charging unit that fits over the top of the battery--not one of those clunker fast chargers that come with most cordless units. And, the set comes with a padded carry case and even a polishing cloth (you'll want to keep that aluminum housing shiny!). The only negative I've found is that the forward/reverse switch above the trigger is not quite big enough for my fingers, and it could use a more positive feel when switching positions.

I have a DeWalt 18V hammerdrill/driver that is an absolute beast when it comes to cordless power, but a bit hard to use for more delicate screwdriving jobs, and a corded Milwaukee Hole-Shooter drill that is almost too much to handle at times. This B&D 14.4V rounds out my drill/driver set nicely.

Lastly, although you will pay a bit more for the classic styling--if you're like me, once you see this drill close up you just have to get one. I plan to buy two more as Christmas gifts for my Dad and brother this year.

The Black & Decker drill does not live up to its legend. I found out after purchasing this drill it was nearly impossible to get a good grip on the very small drill chuck in order to properly tighten the chuck on a bit. While drilling white oak the bit kept spinning in the chuck. I had to used channel locks to hold the small back ring because I found it hard to grip it with such a large diameter clutch housing behind it. I was not happy with the one battery (NI-cad), which left me going back to the garage for another drill to finish the job, it ran out of juice pretty fast. A drill that looks nice (wall Hangar)however, but not the drill to take to the job site. Took it back to the store and found that the price had been reduced ... I think I know why! ...

Despite some fantastic features, and a cool retro look, the chuck on this drill doesn't grip tightly enough. Even trying to drill small holes was difficult as the bit just spins in the chuck. My previous drill (a much older B&D model) had no such problems. I will be returning this drill.

This is a good cordless drill for light to moderate work around the house. It has adequate torque for most work and the level lights (which light up at angles 90 degrees from gravity) are more useful than I expected.

I wouldn't think of using this drill for building a deck or any serious construction work, but it is a great piece for assembling Ikea-type furniture, hanging piuctures, or basic consturction projects. It seems to fall in line with most Black and Decker consumer tools by providing ~80% of the necessity that Joe 6-Pack needs at a price well below the Makita, DeWalt, Milwaukee crowd.

I think this will be a big hit with the Yuppie-Poser crowd, but that's not to say it's necessarily a bad tool. I had doubts when I saw the vanity polish cloth that came with this drill...I use a high amperage corded drill for serious work anyway, so ultimate capabilities were not my highest priority with this drill. I did think the nice aluminum finish was worth and extra {money]over the standard 14.4V model which I would assume this is based on.

For the money, this drill represents a reasonable value and feels nice in one's hand. It's probably all the drill most people will ever need. Those in a similar budget range who want a bit extra performance may want to check out a SKIL 18V cordless that includes a "stud finder" in addition to the extra power.

I got a great deal on this drill and figured it would probably be as good as any other in it's price range (which were lower voltage). Since there wasn't much to lose- I went for it.

Unlike another reviewer who said he wouldn't use it for a deck- that's exactly the reason I bought it. I had one corded electric for the project already but had more hands so I picked this up. Was pleased that it drove 3 1/2" deck screws into the wood- no problem. My only gripe was that the battery doesn't last forever- but wecome to the cordless world, right? In fact, for the price, I considered buying a second since the set cost me the same as just a battery would, but realized the times I'd need to use it that long were very limited.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this drill to anyone but pro builders who need loads of torque all day long. The torque ratings (which require some research to actually find) show that this drill at 220 in lbs is very comparable to the B&D 14.4v Firestorm (235 in lb) which sells for quite a bit more. The much more expensive Dewalt 14.4v comes in at a hefty 400 in lbs. So there you have it. Want serious torque. Pay serious $$$.

--SUMMARY--
The battery won't last long under HEAVY use (2hrs on my deck project). The cool factor of the aluminum casing can't be beat. Neither can the price. I gave this product 5 stars because it delivers to expectations and beyond FOR THE PRICE.

Buying a potential collectors item?... buy this. I must admit I had a rush of nostalgia when I saw this drill (I had one of the originals and it literally served me for decades before I finally killed it), and I raced out a bought one (for considerably more money than it is offered here). Athough it looks like the original, all comparisons should stop there, and as a drill I must say this was a major disappointment. First, the chuck is the cheapest chuck I have ever had on any drill at anytime. I defy anyone to get it tight enough to hold drill bits without slipping in use, on driver bits and holders it's fine. Second, if I had a nickle for everytime I've pinched my finger in the trigger I wouldn't need to worry about making a living using tools. Hard to explain but there is a gap between the metal case and the plastic trigger, and when you pull the trigger the gap opens, and when you let the trigger go my finger is generally in that gap... youch! And finally, the drill cannot stand on it's battery it must be laid down flat. All it would have taken to rectify this was a miniscule adjustment of the angle of the battery to the handle.

When I bought the fore-father of this "look-alike" Black and Decker made industrial quality tools for use and abuse on a daily basis, today they make "consumer products" that happen to include "tools". This drill is a classic example of the poorly designed, poorly made in China junk B&D now try and fob off as real tools. If you want a drill for daily use, buy something else, if you want something that is a potential collectors item buy this. But don't make the same mistake as I did and take it out of the package and use it... it then becomes worthless as both a tool and as a collectors item.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS UNIT. I BOUGHT IT STRICTLY FOR NOSTALGIA PURPOSES , BUT THOUGHT IT MAY BE A DESCENT TOOL. WHILE USING IT THIS PAST WEEK I FOUND OUT THAT THE KEYLESS CHUCK WILL NOT HOLD THE BIT TIGHT, NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY TO TIGHTEN IT. WHILE DRILLING ONLY 1/4 INCH HOLES IN OAK THE BIT WOULD SPIN IN THE CHUCK AS SOON AS ANY PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. I TOOK THE SAME BIT AND PUT IT IN MY PORTER CABLE CORDLESS DRILL AND HAD NO PROBLEMS. ALSO THE BATTERY HAS NO LIFE AT ALL , SO DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY IF YOU PLAN ON USING IT AT ALL.

I recently purchased the Black & Decker RD1440K 85th anniversity 14.4v cordless drill
The drill/driver has excellent power. The battery lasts a long time. The charge indicator that allows the user to check the current state of battery charge is very helpfull also the keyless chuck is a timesaver. This is an excellent product of which I give a five star rating.

I picked this up at the Hopkinsville, KY K-Mart back in 2002. The box was torn to shreds and it was the only one I saw. Fortunately, it was also in the clearance section. I can't quite remember, but I think I paid about $30 for it. It was used very little until last year, but was always on standby when I needed it.

Flash forward to now; I am a homeowner and constantly doing small improvements. Black and Decker amazed me by still making compatible batteries. My old 7.2 and 8.4 Univolt drill has been trash for a while and I needed a backup battery to have on hand. A quick trip and $20-something dollars later and I had a drill I could use constantly. The charger recently died; no LED and doesn't work at all, so after I finish this review it's time for another trip to buy one. The original battery may be getting weak, it is hard to tell and I'll find out once it gets a full charge.

The downsides: it is a bit on the heavy side and the chuck is hard to tighten enough, especially with smaller bits when drilling metal. Honestly, it is not much of an issue and hand tightening the chuck usually works.

The upsides: eight years and still going, B&D still makes batteries and chargers for it, powerful enough to handle most of my projects.


I realize these are no longer made, but if the standard 14.4 drill is anywhere near as reliable, get it. If you happen upon one of these at the right price, I highly recommend it. It is unique looking and great for the average homeowner despite its quirks.

This is such a great drill. If you're not all that experienced with using drills, this is the one for you. Unlike the corded drill I also have, this drill has speed settings so you can slow it down, or speed it up. It has a keyless chuck that makes bit changing quick and easy. Also, there's an electronic level that illuminates at all 90 degree angles, for accurate drilling and screwdriving.
The only downside is that it only comes with one battery pack. But I'm sure you can pickup a spare.