A while back, I was contacted by Black & Decker, asking if I wanted to test and review their new VPX Interchangeable Battery system of tools. I said - “Sure! Send them on over. ”
Shortly thereafter, a pack of things arrived on my doorstep. I received a hand vacuum, a power screwdriver, a drill/driver, a flashlight, a couple of batteries and a charging station. The way the system works is that you can use the same rechargeable battery to power all of the different tools. Some of them require one battery, some need two.
Freelyx and I enjoyed opening and going through all the packages. We both agreed that the packaging is well designed - attractive and sturdy. Instead of standard square or rectangular boxes, they are packaged in oval shaped canister type boxes with glossy graphics, front and back. Very appealing (one thing that occurred to me is that it would make a fun gift - wrap it in its oval shape and let the recipient guess what it is! Chances are, they’ll never guess tools are in there).
Our first impressions of the tools were that they were what you would expect from Black and Decker - although lightweight, they feel solid in your hand and appear well-made. The grips on the screwdriver and drill are very comfortable. Both the screwdriver and drill have safety locks that keep the trigger from being depressed - a necessary feature these days.
The screwdriver came with a nifty nylon case with a rigid inner liner, shaped to fit the tool. On the outside of the case is a flap secured with velcro that holds a collection of bits, and a strap handle. We really like the case and that accessory pocket. It seems well-made, with good quality velcro that should hold up for some time.
The drill/driver, however, did not come with a case, which we found disappointing. The screwdriver is angled a little differently than the drill/driver, so the case is not interchangeable. This is a shame, as the case is a very useful addition, especially for holding the bits.
We purposely did not use any of the instructions when putting things together, to see how easily we could do it. Most things did not require much in the way of assembly, except for the hand vac, which went together very quickly and easily and with little fumbling, even without using the instructions.
My first thought when I held the vac was that it was weighted awkwardly. But once I tilted it down to try it out - actually put it in a typical use position - I changed my mind. It is weighted perfectly for it’s intended purpose. I quickly sucked up some pet hair from the floor and my first impression was that it seems quite powerful. I’ll be writing more on this in Part 2, where I will tell you the results of some more challenging tests.
The flashlight is the easiest one to test. Freelyx usually ends up staying up later than I do, so he’s been using it to navigate the stairs and bedroom after all the lights are off. He has been quite happy with the amount of light produced, the way the flashlight feels in his hand, and how sturdy it seems. The light can free-stand on its base and also comes with an attached bungee cord so it can be attached to things as needed. The light tilts, but unfortunately doesn’t swivel, which I think would really allow you to put it right where you want it. It’s a good flashlight for casual use. We’ve been using the light regularly for a couple of weeks, and the original battery charge it came with is still going strong.
Keep an eye on this space for Part 2, coming soon. I’ll be telling you more of our findings about the hand vac, the flashlight and the batteries themselves. Part 3 will finish up the series with test results for the screwdriver and drill/driver.
