I bench tested the new drill...
I bench tested the new drill from Black and Decker on varying types of material using an assortment of drivers and screws and liked what I saw in terms of consistent performance.
I could be arrested for the amount of time I spend loitering in big box stores looking for something that begs to be bench tested. Tools that make performance claims are often the best candidates I think. If the product suggests it's the quietest, fastest or most advanced in the world, I want to find out why.
But not all tools need over-analyzing to see if they work as promised. Take for instance the Black & Decker cordless drill/driver with SmartSelect technology called the SS18C. What's there to test in a drill/driver? Well, in the case of this cordless it offers something really special that you don't see all too often in a tool that sells for less than $80 retail.
Setting the proper torque/speed...
Setting the proper torque/speed of the drill is as easy as matching the icon to the hardware you're using.
On the exterior, it looks like every other Black & Decker product with a distinctive black and orange design. It's worth noting that this particular drill/driver is made in China and is encased in a hard shell-type plastic with an ergonomic rubber decked grip that fits nicely in the hand at any angle. I wish it was made in the USA, but it probably wouldn't be as affordable. The large 18-volt SS18C is lightweight and easy to hold, even for extended periods of time as I discovered. Although I wouldn't go so far as to say it was as light as I'd like for larger jobs. It features a slide-in rechargeable battery with a state of charge indicator lamp and screw bit holder. The drill comes with a two-year warranty, too. Where it differs is in its variable speed dial called SmartSelect. It looked rather gimmicky at first and then I tried it and liked what I saw.
The battery has an on-board...
The battery has an on-board power indicator.
Sure, SmartSelect sounded like more marketing phooey better suited to the bottom wrung of the tool bin. But in all honesty it worked if you can get by the drill's Playskool look. The SS18C suggested that by dialing in the SmartSelect it automatically adjusts the torque needed to do the job, eliminating rounded drill bits and stripped hardware. That's what I needed to hear, I've ruined more projects than anyone by overpowering the drill.
Eleven different icons represent screws to drill bits of every size or shape. The idea is that you pick the icon that closely matches the hardware and then simply pull the trigger. What comes of it is the proper power output, so stripped heads and bobbled bits are a thing of the past.
Replacement batteries are...
Replacement batteries are affordable (under $35 each) and charging times are quick. The drill features a 2 year limited warranty.
On the downside what I noticed was that it is probably not a tool for the professional. The plastic covering of the body and its see-through plastic window (SmartSelect dial) couldn't take the abuse. But the SmartSelect feature for the home do-it-yourselfer had great promise.
I felt like I had better control with the SS18C over my conventional DeWalt and indeed my tests of varying screws showed some consistently good results. I'm not much for gimmicks, but I liked the SmartSelect very much and the battery life was on par with my other cordless drills. Again, the drill was a tad top heavy, but if you only use it around the house then you might want to consider it the next time you start a project that requires constant precision.