Drilling is inevitably one essential activity we homeowners cannot seem to avoid now and then around the house. To drill efficiently, you have to use a capable machine. Black & Decker LDX120C drill meets all the requirements for the day-to-day work of the home.
Like Black & Decker’s most sold tool in their entire range of cordless drills, the LDX120C has earned loads of positive feedbacks and reviews from their customers. After researches from several platforms, we have concluded that the drill driver consistently makes top sales and gets good ratings around the world. This act is not a surprise since it’s due to the high-quality and affordability of the product.
However, this Black & Decker product is not as available as it used to be in most stores, but you can still buy the tool online or as a used or second-hand item. Our review is aimed at identifying the features that make the Black & Decker LDX120C the best selling model, how it tops the sales, and if the tool suits your needs.
Black & Decker LDX120C Reviews
The tool comes with 11-position clutch settings to give an extra level of control and keep the screws from getting stripped or damaged. It offers a speed setting if 650 RPM. As a result, it can function for small jobs around the home. The maximum torque of 115 in.lbs. delivered by the drill can get most drilling tasks done with ease.
The battery is of lithium-ion technology, which is compact, lighter in weight and more comfortable to handle than standard or generic ones like NiMH or NiCad. This type of battery can remarkably hold its charge for 18 months after the last usage.
Recharging the battery takes approximately 3 hours, and that’s a more decent rate than the other drills in its category. The Black & Decker LDX120C will have no problem fitting into tight spaces or unusual angles when working.
Equipped with a soft rubber handle, you can have a firm and comfortable grip on the tool during a task. In essence, avoid unnecessary accidents or the drill falling from your hand. Also, the drill features an LED light that comes in very handy when you have to work at night or poorly lit areas, especially when your project is on drawers or cabinets.
Black & Decker can easily make the best choice for homeowners since it’s quite affordable and comfortable to hold. But if you need your drill for brick or concrete purposes, this one may not cut out. This doesn’t make LDX120C a bad tool, but it’s not just powerful enough for over tasking uses.
Even though it is more on the budget side, Black & Decker is a decent drill that offers excellent values to homeowners at a convenient time. For more definite read, let’s highlight a few features it provides.
Features of the Black & Decker LDX120C
Just as you would expect from a professional-grade cordless drill, the Black & Decker LDX120C comes with a lot of peck and features. Find out here.
- 20 Volts MAX Lithium-ion battery – Packs a dependable battery with extended run time engineered to deliver superior performance and recharge quickly. The battery is also capable of powering a range of tools from this brand.
- 0-650 RPM Peak Drill Speed – This level of drilling speed can function for most small tasks. There is only a one-speed setting, but it depends on the pressure applied to the trigger.
- Lightweight and compact design – The portability is suitable to effortlessly drill or drive screws in tight and hard to reach places. It weighs only 3.4 pounds and can be used for an extended amount of time without fatigue.
- 3/8” Keyless chuck – The chuck size is small and comfortable. It is useful for drilling ad fastening on a range of surfaces. You can use it for small-time household projects since it would not go more in-depth than expected.
- 11 Position Clutch – The diverse clutch settings ensure accurate controls when executing a task without causing stripped or overdriven screws.
- LED Work Light – The LED light provides illumination and easy controls when working in dark or poorly-lit areas.
- 2-year Limited Warranty
Benefits/ Drawback
What we like
Lightweight and Compact
Black & Decker often describes the LDX120C as one of the smallest in its tool category. The compact design equips the drill/ driver to be used in extremely tight locations without too many inconveniences.
The drill is useful from several angles without compromising the quality of the outcome. It weighs only about 3.4 pounds and will keep the operator working effectively for an extended duration of time. Considering the power of this tool with the size and balance, it’s the real deal.
Powerful and Strong
The size of this unit takes nothing from the power and torque it offers. The 115 pounds of torque and maximum motor speed of 650 RPM enables the drill to deliver and accomplish many tasks reliably. With the LDX120C, you can expect to work on most smooth surfaces and continuous performance effortlessly.
Unless you have to work regularly on bricks and concrete, you may never need a more powerful drill than this unit. It quickly gets through most material and can handle small tasks.
Reliable and Quick Charging Battery
Most buyers are attracted to the reliable battery of the LDX120C. Being a lithium-ion battery, when unused and kept aside, it can hold the charge for a complete one and half years before it depreciates. So, you are assured of the power whenever it is needed.
The ability to reserve power between long uses makes the drill ready for action and suitable for prolonged projects. It takes only between one and two hours for it to recharge to full power restoration and this is important especially for users who may always forget to charge the battery before use,
Comfortable Grip
Holding the Black & Decker LDX120C for a long duration is safe even in tight angles since it’s made from quality materials and equipped with ergonomic design. You don’t have to expect harm or fatigue on your hand or body during the job.
The soft and anti-slip rubber material handle gives not only give a good and tight grip of the tool but also minimizes the sweating of hands and ensures safety.
Adequate Illumination
LDX120C comes with an LED work light to illuminate the surface of the material you are drilling or screwing through. The light on this handy model reduces the chances of encountering errors like drilling at the wrong spot or driving screws at wrong angles. It also keeps the operator from overstraining their eyes. The good thing is that the light lasts for long and needs no constant replacements.
What we don’t like
Torque Not Ideal for Heavy Use
The LDX120C Cordless Drill delivers 115 inches per pound. This torque is good enough for small jobs. Unfortunately, it’s not the best choice for heavy usage. Attempting to use this drill on heavy jobs may cause sparks and smoke and eventually damage the tool.
If you need to drill through concretes or granites, this is not just it; you would prefer to use something like a powerful hammer drill.
Not for Commercial Grade Projects
As we have mentioned, the LDX120C cordless drill should suffice for small and medium activities around the home like installing curtains, drilling small holes, fixing small features. It runs on only one-speed settings of 0-650 revolution per minute, which doesn’t deliver adequate power and a fast toque that is needed for contractors, professionals of intensive use.
Bits Can Slip
The chuck on this Black & Decker does not always hold its tightness. It can begin to slip out during use or cause wobbling. This will make the operator have to interrupt their activity to tighten it again
Also, tightening the chuck can be a bit of a problem especially if it’s your first time using a drill. You will need some good leverage and enough effort to tightening it appropriately and avoid slippage.
Reviews/ Testimonies
Thousands of buyers have reviewed this product on like, and from those we came across, 90% are positive. The review is a reassurance that the Black & Decker LDX120C is a reliable product capable of delivering on most jobs. A reviewer said:
I had it for more than months now and have used it extensively. I haven’t identified any real weaknesses or drawbacks to it yet. Battery life is good to excellent. It’s light and effective. It’s a bit smaller than my previous black and decker drill. Bit install is quick, easy, and right. Two of the best things I like about this drill is the LED light that illuminates the area to I want to drill, and it stands up on its own when placing the battery base on a table or floor. Highly recommended unit.
Another one said:
This is a great drill for the price. This drill is on par with drills 2 to 3 times the price. The only bad part is if you are going to be using this drill for an entire day, you might need to pick up a replacement battery to keep working. However, I have used this drill for 4-5 hours at a time without it having any inclination of losing a charge. When I am working all day, during any downtime, I will simply put the battery back on the charger and charge it until I need it again. By doing this, I have never had an issue.
Although there are some negative reviews like a customer said the drill is made of cheap plastic and looks like a toy. Basically, they rated it lowly because they were expecting a more powerful drill and were disappointed. But compared to the positive feedback, we feel most users are getting what they paid for.
Black and Decker LD120VA vs. LDX120C Drill Comparison
Another top-rated product amidst the Black & Decker brand is the LD120VA. If you have to choose between this tool and the LDX120C, the least you can do is to know the differences and also how they relate.
They both feature the same battery type, lock-on button, belt hook, rubber-coated handle, and reverse action. Although the chuck types are keyless, the LD120VA features 24 toque level of chuck settings, while LDX120C ranges only to 11. If you only have to carry out basic home drilling tasks, then you do not necessarily need the 30 extra accessories of the LD120VA, and LDX120C suits you well.
But LD120VA offers more speed and more torque, but one thing this drill misses is the built-in LED light, which could be a lifesaver at any time. To us, this illuminating ability is necessary for cordless drills, and the LDX120C has this feature.