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Black & Decker’s VersaPak tools are great for the homeowner, and to keep them running, you’ll want some spare batteries. Some advantages to these include their freedom from "memory," which keeps you from getting a full recharge and the fact that you’ll get at least 300 full recharges on each battery. They’ll power all the 3.6-volt VersaPak tools, including the ScumBuster and screwdrivers. Of course, once you buy a VersaPak tool, you don’t have a choice of batteries, but we’ve found these to be reliable and well able to power the 3.6-volt VersaPak line. The charger has a light that lets you know you’ve inserted the batteries for a charge, and three hours later, they’re ready to go. Our only suggestion: We’d like to see Black & Decker revamp the charger to let us know when the batteries are fully charged. --Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• Interchangeable batteries work with all VersaPak products
• Batteries be recharged over 300 times and has no memory
• Charger recharges batteries in 3 hours
• Two year home use warranty

Reviews (13)

Time Saver
I am in housekeeping at a camp and we have the VersaPac for our ScumBuster. It is so convenient and fast to change out because, we are very business and don't have time to spend on trying to change out batteries. With the twin charger we always have a battery ready to go. Thank you Black & Decker for making our day.

Battery life
I have a most of the VersaPak tools sold to date and really do like their ease of use. We have the circular saw, 2 reciprocating saws, 5 flashlights, 2 drills, 1 stick screwdriver, 1 scumbuster that I can think of right now. THESE ARE ALL GREAT TOOLS!

They do have one BIG SHARED PROBLEM. Battery life (or lack of it).

I currently have 10 DEAD VersaPak silver batteries in my kitchen drawer and NONE are over 24 months old. The standard silver battery will hold a useful charge for about 30 days on the shelf. NONE of my silver batteries have lasted more than 14 months and a few of them died within 8 months. I do NOT put them through a charge/discharge cycle even once a day - so they are NOT lasting the '300 cycles' that B&D claims.

I just purchased 2 GOLD VersaPak batteries in May 2002 and they REALLY DO LAST LONGER while working. I hope they last longer than 12 months though. I certainly HOPE that B&D will FIX this battery problem. I like the tools, but I may need to switch to another vendor's products if this battery issue is not resolved soon.

they just don't last
Batteries seem smart, but they don't last long when new (except in the flashlight) and they gradually just die off completely (and are not cheap to replace). Be forewarned.

What is the hold-up?
If I ever receice this item, I might be able to rate it higher.
Shipping date keeps moving back......if item is out of stock, please say so.

Bad batteries
I have the entire works of BD cordless power tools including the flashlight, scum buster, vacuum, cordless drill, recip saw etc., but no batteries. I had the ones that came with the tools plus some extras I purchased seperately. After a year of use, none will take a charge. What a waste, it is a great idea, but I guess the technology is not there year. ... ... Read more

Features

• Interchangeable batteries work with all VersaPak products
• No memory
• Can be recharged over 300 times
• Two year home use warranty

Reviews (4)

Low power for the replacement 3.6v I ordered
The new Versapak battery I recieved was weaker than the origional five year old battery I still had. One of the two origional batteries quit working and I ordered a new one. The new one delivered only about half the torque to my screw driver and did not last long even after overnight charge. Perhaps I could have just recieved a defective one. I like the B&D cordless driver and will try again to order another one.

Don't hold charge as long as expected
To those people that can not find batteries without the charger, I say you will need at least two chargers at all times. The batteries need to be in a constant state of charge while you are using the others. The shelf life of the charge is pitiful and the length of charged batteries is not anywhere near your project-required time.
On the positive side you can not find a better "versatile" cordless system and this has make it possible for me to do many projects tat would be clumsy if I needed a cord.

Versatile but weak
I've got a number of the Versapack tools including the drill, screwdriver, and mini-circular saw. For small jobs like putting some screws in or cutting thin pieces of wood, they're fine. Anything that will take more than a few minutes of use will require more batteries because they die so quickly. This line would have been a lot nicer if the batteries were more powerful. Also, it would be nice if the chargers told you when the batteries were fully charged.

Good for around the house jobs
I've got a number of versapack tools--drill, flashlight, Wizard, and multipurpose saw. I've found them useful for little short jobs around the house--light and easy to use. The problem is that the batteries run dead almost immediately, so I've ended up having to have a lot of spares charged for those occasiona when I need a tool for more than a few minutes. It's still cheaper than buying a higher end cordless, and since the tools are so light, for small jobs they are a lot nicer to use. ... Read more

Features

• No need to put project materials down to operate a tape measure
• Power Tape can be used as a powered or manual tape measure
• Sold with four AAA batteries
• First battery-powered tape measure that extends and retracts with the push of a button
• Can be used as a powered or manual tape measure

Features

• Interchangeable battery works with all VersaPak products
• No memory
• Can be recharged over 300 times
• Two year home use warranty

Reviews (11)

VersaPak is underated
True, they are only 3.6 volts each, and the life is not terribly long. However, the VersaPak line is extremely versatile and affordable. The common misconception is that the batteries should last longer...but you have to consider the use -- these small, light-weight batteries were never meant to build a house, sand a basketball court, or cut through concrete, they were made to be small, versatile, affordable and light-weight. VersaPak IS NOT a Contractor-grade powertool. I highly suggest investing in several sets of batteries if you use your tools often for long periods of time (more than 10 mins straight). But consider the alternative, a larger, heavier tool that costs 3 times as much (or more), and that goes for the battery packs too. The fact is, if you aren't getting enough power from a VersaPak tool, it was not designed for you, you should consider one of B&D's other higher voltage, contractor-grade powertools.

Buy Versapak GOLD instead.
The silver version of these batteries just dont last. You will get 60% MORE life from the Gold batteries for a few dollars more. I have many B&D tools that run these batteries, including the "Snake Light"...the Silver will go dead with one days use, as compared to the Gold, which will last up to 5 full days of use. You can get these for the same price at Lowes and Home Cheapo. You'll pay tax of course, but it evens out after subtracting the cost of (not) shipping.

Gold batteries much better
I would highly suggest using the "Gold" batteries. Since purchasing my tools, I have recycled all the Silver batteries and use the Gold batteries exclusively. NiCd batteries are simply too much of a hassle. They have to be drained regularly and simply don't have the capacity of NiMH ones. The NiMH batteries provide reasonably good power and performance. The only drawback is the higher rate of self discharge when sitting idle.

NiCd Batteries ALL Have Memory - Use NiMH Instead
My advice to all of you who made negative comments about the standard VP-100 Versapak "Silver" battery is to replace it with the VP-110 Versapak "Gold" battery. It costs about 30% more than the Sliver but offers 60% more energy (watts x time) and little or no memory effect. Be sure to recycle your old Silver batteries. They contain very toxic chemicals, such as cadmium, which are best kept out of landfills. Black & Decker and Sears have even prepaid the recylcing costs. Just figure the cost of a separate Gold battery into the cost of the tool, at least until manufacturers stop shipping the Silver Versapaks altogether. Read on for the thinking behind this advice.

The Versapak Silver battery, which comes with nearly all Versapak-powered B&D as well as similar Sears Craftsman products, have "battery memory" despite what the creative folks who write the product listings at Amazon and other websites want you to believe. As talented as these folks are, they have not and cannot repeal the laws of battery chemistry. All batteries based on the nickel-cadmium (NiCd) design have memory which means they stop accepting a full charge if they are continually recharged before being fully discharged. Think of it as that "always full feeling" you get if you do a lot of snacking around the house.

The newer battery chemistry is nickel-metal hydride or NiMH. Although not as new as the lithium ion or the even newer lithium polymer batteries found in cell phones and laptop computers, the NiMH design delivers more energy and weighs significantly less than NiCd. The Versapak Gold version is said to offer 60% more battery life than the Versapak Silver version. Most importantly, NiMH batteries suffer little or no memory effect. That makes them useful and valuable even without the big improvement in tool running time.

NiCd batteries work perfectly well for those applications that drain the battery to its discharge voltage. For example, a construction worker will use a NiCd battery in a power drill until the drill motor won't turn. At that point the battery has been discharged to the point where the memory effect during recharge will be minimal or non-existent. He or she simply pops in a fully charged NiCd pack and drops fully discharged battery on the charger.

By the way, by "discharged" I do not mean zero battery voltage. Discharging a NiCd by taking it to zero volts, either by shorting out the terminals (a very dangerous idea) or by putting a high wattage resistor across it, will effectively destroy the battery. There are many NiCd conditioners around that properly discharge these batteries, but most consumers are too busy to use them on a regular basis. Now back to our story...

NiCd batteries are terrible in those applications where the particular cordless tool is used for a few minutes and then put back on its charger. For example, think of a Versapak-powered DustBuster or ScumBuster. Fortunately, the latter doesn't holster the tool on its charger, which means its battery is more likely to get discharged before being recharged. The ScumBuster also comes with a separate charger because of the shock danger of charging a typically wet tool in its holster.

The DustBuster, unfortunately, is charged in its holster. A quick pick up with the ol' 'Buster and then back in the holster pretty much guarantees most owners will see the memory effect in as little as a few weeks. Performance will just get worse and worse until it will only run for a few minutes before it's dead again.

If you just can't bring yourself to recycle those old Silver Versapaks and go for the Gold, I suggest you don't plug in the DustBuster holder's wall wart. When its Versapaks are pretty much dead (as in discharged), put them in a separate charger. Leave them in there overnight. It takes about 15-18 hours to bring a Silver battery to full charge.

As I said at the outset, the better idea for the DustBuster or any other short use tool is to simply replace the Silver Versapaks with the Golds. Yes, it's a big hit for the DustBuster which probably didn't cost that much to begin with, but it will run for years just like it was brand new.

Have Memory; Don't Last
Unlike what B&D cliams, these batteries do have memory and don't last. Plan on replacing them about every 2 or 3 years (assuming you use and charge them to the letter). The standard battery chargers take 3 to 6 hours to charge these which is too long considering their typical life of only 5 or 10 minutes in use. On the good side, there is a lot of VersaPak stuff out there. The batteries are more suited to the flashlights than the power tools. The Gold versions work much better in the power tools. ... Read more

Features

• Two year home use warranty
• Interchangeable battery works with all VersaPak products
• No memory
• Can be recharged over 300 times
• Three hour charge time

Reviews (1)

Nice to have an extra one
My wife and I have several of the Versa Pak tools and we found that having an extra charge base and extra set of batteries comes in very handy. We keep one set charging in the house and the extra set charging in the tool shed. If you have more than a couple of Versa Pak tools, you'll need this sooner or later. ... Read more

Features

• Powers all 14.4-volt FireStorm units.
• High capacity nickel cadmium
• Two year home use warranty

Reviews (14)

great tools -- bad charger
I won't go into great detail since others have already stated my problem, but the point is well taken that a cordless tool is only as good as the charger. My charger died and finding a replacement seems impossible. I'll stay away from Black and Decker tools in the future for this reason.

(...)

just keeps working...
I have 14.4v Makita, Ryobi, and Black and Decker tools. As far as the actual tools go, the B&D always seem unfinished and kind of crude. (My drill has always sounded like it was full of sand; I also have one of the first rushed-to-market models w/ the bad chuck (a problem they have since fixed)) In spite of these problems, I have more hours on the B&D than on the Makita and Ryobi combined. Some really rough use, too. I have already had to buy replacement batteries for the Makita (expensive!) and Ryobi (very hard to find) and the B&D batteries still work as well as the day I got them. I did have to replace the charger almost immediately after the warranty expired but found one at Wally quite reasonably priced. In my opinion, the batteries are the best part of the Firestorm line.

people that need chargers
You can purchase the inexpensive B&D 1 hour charger online ( I have two, one for each style battery) from www.reliablepowertools.com. Or you can also use the Dewalt 1 hour chargers, the batteries fit with no modifications. These chargers have charge indicator lights that tell you when the pack is fully charged so there's no guessing. This is a simple problem to cure, I hope this helps everyone....

Its not the battery, but the charger
The battery may be good, but it is useless if it can not be charged. I have three Black and Decker 14.4 volt tools and four batteries. That much battery power was enough to keep the sawdust flying until the charger went south. No problem, I had a second charger at the ready. But it too went dead within minutes of the first one. I am now searching for a replacement charger. I certainly will not buy another tool that uses this type of battery and may have to replace what I have. But it will not be Black and Decker.

Charger
I had a PS140 charger recently die on me. However, the local B&D Outlet store took my old drill/battery/charger and replaced the whole set at NO COST and without question. It did not even matter that I had bought it elsewhere and had no receipt.

I can't complain about service like that. B&D does have a two year warranty. I'm still a happy customer. ... Read more

Features

• Drives more than 600 nails on one battery charge (sold with two batteries)
• Fires a full range of 18-gauge nails from 5/8 to 2 with a firing rate of two nails per second
• Professional nail gun features at an affordable do-it-yourselfer price
• Innovative electronic status indicator tracks condition of nailer
• Eliminates the need for a compressor, hoses or power cord for grab and go convenience

Features

• Includes Wood and Masonry Bits and screwdriving bits and More
• Includes Ratcheting Screwdriver Included

Product Description

This 50 piece drilling and screwdriving set features the most popular sizes in one carrying case. Drills clean, accurate holes in metal, wood and plastic surfaces. Includes: ... Read more

Features

• Includes an assortment of drilling, screwdriving and nut driving accessories
• Storage case included

Reviews (1)

strong and reliable
I am always using my drill and have a lazy habit of not drilling pilot holes, but using the driver bits to drive screws into 2x4s straight from the drill. I have stripped the screw slots on galvanized screws, but these bits don't even have a scratch on them - AND they can pull the damaged screws right back out of the wood.

Just about every drill bit and screwdriver attachment the regular hobbyist will ever need, in an easy to use case w/ snap-in slots for each bit and driver and the case keeps moisture away from your bits. ... Read more

Features

• Powers all 18-volt FireStorm units.
• High capacity nickel cadmium
• Two year home use warranty

Reviews (1)

Battery Charger Solution??
I will add my two cents to many other reviews which mention problems with Black&Decker Firestorm battery chargers --- STAY AWAY FROM Black & Decker battery-powered tools. I purchased a second B&D Firestorm 18V drill just to get a new charger (the one with my first drill went bad). In no time, the second charger went bad. I ordered two MORE chargers from the B&D warranty/service website. One went bad after a few months, and when I then tried the second one IT NEVER WORKED AT ALL. Trying to contact B&D is impossible, you just get an automated run-around. BEWARE!

UPDATE: In all fairness, after writing this review I was FINALLY able to get thru to a Customer Service rep at B&D who is sending a charger -- no charge. Kudos to Holly at B&D and an upgrade to 3 stars. Also, it was explained to me that I should test my battery packs for bad cell(s). Charging "bad" battery packs will ruin the charger. Even a seemingly "good" battery pack can have a bad cell and will fry a charger. I was given a battery test procedure which I also found in a Service Bulletin on the web at www.dewaltservicenet.com. Testing Procedure: Place the battery pack in the charger for 2 minutes, take the battery pack out, put a volt meter on it and if it is less than 18V you have a bad cell(s) and the battery pack is bad. Continuing to charge a bad battery pack eventually ruins the charger (4 times in my case -- duh!). I followed this procedure and sure enough found one battery out of four was bad (although it seemed to run the drill just fine). Kind of an inconvenient thing to have to do prior to charging a battery pack, but it beats buying more chargers and preserves my investment in drills and batteries. ... Read more

Features

• Includes High Speed Steel drill bits, Spade Bits, Masonry Bits and More
• Self Standing case included

Features

• Powers all 12-volt FireStorm units.
• High capacity nickel cadmium
• Two year home use warranty

Reviews (4)

The drill works ok but the batteries die very fast.
I bought 4 of these drills - two for me and two for friends.
All batteries get tired quickly with usage and they die quickly ( in that they no longer hold a charge at all ). A new battery costs $35 and I only paid $45 for the complete drill/charger/bits so buying new batteries seems like a waste. I bought the Dewalt drill ($180) which came with two batteries and _really_ like it. It charges fully in 1 hour has _lots_ of power and the batteries last quite a while.

I CAN TELL YOU WHERE TO GET THE CHARGER
...but if you've got the cash, you might as well go ahead and get a REAL drill. The number one problem I have with this lemon is that it can't hold small bits...the chuck is poorly designed. I just had the charger conk out on me...first of all, these batteries don't hold a charge for too long; now, no one carries the charger...

Well, almost no one:
http://doityourself.com/store/028877325163.htm

So I hope that helps the person who posted about not being able to find the charger.

warranty
I am trying to find a battery charger for this type battery and can't seem to find one. Our drill is not been used much at all and now we need a charger. If anyone knows where we could get one I sure would appreciate it if you would let me know. Thanks in advance.
We loved having the drill in our home for the convience but, without a charger it is no good to us. We have 2 batteries but, no way to charge them.

Great Battery - Never Get Caught With a Dead Power Tool!
I own a Black & Decker drill and love it! One of the great things about it is that when it runs low on juice, I can just pop in a spare one of these great Firestorm battery packs and never have to stop and wait for my battery to charge back up! Totally handy for when I'm on a roll and don't feel like stopping everything for recharging. These battery packs are also interchangeable with other Firestorm tools - saws, screwdrivers and more. Definitely well worth the money if you are a tool junkie or just impatient like most of us. ... Read more

Features

• Tool free jam release allows user to quickly fix jammed screw
• Extended attachment allows user to drive screws standing up and avoid bending back or working on knees
• Accepts every day loose screws, Feeder tube holds up to 20 screws at a time
• Fits to all 3/8" and 1/2" corded and cordless drills,Tool free bit change alllows user to switch from Phillips to Square bits without using a tool
• 3 depth adjustments for driving screws flush and countersinking screws

Features

• Titanium Drill bits for durability and longer life
• Includes a variety of drill bit sizes and screwdriving bit tips

Features

• Includes 13 spade bits up to 1-1/2"
• Flexible storage case included

Features

• Powers all 9.6-volt FireStorm units
• High capacity nickel cadmium
• Two year home use warranty

Reviews (2)

Don't buy ps120 charger Made in China
I bought TWO chargers in the last year and both are dead. Transformer of very low quality

B&D 9.6 volt batteries - decent performance for the price
I have been using these batteries in my drill/driver for quite some time. I have found that the batteries provide a surprising amount of power and life for the voltage, and I have not noticed any memory effect. I have not compared them to other brands, nor to higher voltage batteries, but I am happy with the drill/driver and the performance of the battery. I suspect that the newer, higher voltage batteries probably give equal or better performance at less or equal weight, respectively. ... Read more

Features

• Includes 17 Titanium drill bits up to 1/2"
• Includes Storage case

Features

• Powered by two AA alkaline batteries for portability and easy maintenance
• Audio and visual indicators for working in noisy environments or where visibility is a problem
• Detects studs from edge to edge for precision mounting
• Detects framing studs in walls for secure hanging of pictures, closet shelving, railing and more
• Detects studs through walls up to 3/4" thick for use with most walls

Features

• Hig Speed Steel drill bits up to 1/2"
• Heavy Duty Mteal Storage case included

Features

• This 10pc drill bit set contains the most popular range of drill bit sizes 1/16" to 1/4"
• It is organized by a handy bit bar that makes storing this set in any tool box or kitchen drawer easy