13 years ago, my parents took me and my sister to open up our first checking accounts as we headed off to college. As a bonus for opening up new accounts we each received a freebie – a Black & Decker cordless screwdriver. This was my first cordless power tool, and I still keep it in one of my tool bags.
The exact model I have is a little different than this one – mine has a slightly different grip and a rounded battery compartment cap with no hole.
Advertisement
This AS6NG cordless screwdriver is powered by 4 ordinary AA alkaline batteries. That’s right, there’s no special battery pack to charge. You simply load it up with AA batteries.
As you can imagine, this simple cordless driver isn’t very strong. And it’s not very fast either. But, it does come in handy for quick and easy repetitive tasks. Black & Decker rates the screwdriver as being able to deliver up to 20 in-lbs of torque, and it drives screws at 130 RPM.
The driver can drive fasteners in forward and reverse directions, and it can also be turned as a manual driver in case you need a little hand power to finish a task.
I kept my B&D screwdriver, my sister gave hers to our father. I believe he’s used it a couple of times over the years, as I have. I definitely got my money’s worth out of this driver over the years, and I’m not just saying that because it was free. This was my only powered screwdriver for a couple of years, and it came in handy. Not for high strength applications, but ones where I prefered to not have to drive or remove many long fasteners.
The newest version of this driver retails for just under $13. There’s also a slightly more powerful pistol-grip version available for around $18.
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Compare(via Home Depot, although it is marked as “out of stock” as of the time of this posting)
Buy Now(Pistol grip driver via Amazon)
Advertisement
adam
I had this, actually I think I still do in some drawer still. I think I used it earlier this year. No true drill, but has always worked (must not have been made in China yet)
Tyler
I concur. I’ve given these types of drivers out as house warming gifts to those just setting out with their first apartment. It’s perfect for general assembly or hanging a picture. They aren’t high power, but they aren’t meant to be and they do what they are meant to with out being a hassle.
I’m inspired to go dig mine out now. Maybe the battery pack is easily rebuildable as I’m not as fortunate to have one that takes standard AA’s.
Grady
I have the pistol grip version. Don’t remember when I got it. It’s in the kitchen hardware draw. For those simple task around the house I wouldn’t take for it,
Joe M
My family had one of these while I was growing up. My Dad bought it for putting stuff together. BIG mistake. Not because of the tool, because of my Dad. He never maintained it, he never charged it, he just plugged it into the wall one day, and forgot it was there. Our model was during the 1980’s when it was one of those really crappy never-stays-charged rechargeable models. The battery died quickly, and wouldn’t hold the charge, because it was never used or maintained. As such, when we needed it, it was dead. When we didn’t need it, it was plugged in and waiting like we did.
For a first screwdriver, it is perfect. General around-the-house stuff, putting up stuff on the wall, assembling Ikea furniture, whatever. It’ll do the job. Just… look at the thing and be thankful you’re not as tool-stupid as my Dad is. Poor thing never stood a chance against him.
Jim
@Joe M. Great use of this public forum to beat up on your father.
Joe M
No beating-up involved. It’s a running joke in our family that my Dad doesn’t know how to use tools. I learned my love of tools from my Mother.
Some people are just not tool people. My Dad is one of them. Considering how I turned out, it’s funny as hell. Anyone in any tool-using industry has at least one person or family member they know like this. “Doesn’t know which end of a screwdriver to hold” as the saying goes. Just happens to be my Dad for me. And the Black and Decker screwdriver is a prime case of why.
It’s more funny than anything else.
Allen
Didn’t Skil have something like this ? I seem to remember having a black one, rechargeable. I think it was called the “screw-up” or some such thing.
Toolfreak
Glad to see B&D finally make one of these that will last, using AA batteries.
Everything they make with internal recharagable batteries, from cordless screwdrivers to worklights, always fails and becomes a paperweight.
As long as you don’t leave the batteries in these things too long so they don’t leak and corrode and destroy the tool, they should be pretty good for small tasks.
joe
“As long as you don’t leave the batteries in these things too long so they don’t leak and corrode and destroy the tool…”
Never in my life have I seen any leaking, non-rechargable, battery destroy a tool. The batteries get destroyed but not the tool. You just scrape the white stuff from the contacts and the tool is good as new with new batteries.
Benjamen Johnson
I have seen many toys and remote controls destroyed by leaking alkaline batteries, I don’t see why the same thing couldn’t happen to tools. It really depends on how the battery compartment is sealed and what’s around it. I have one Lego controller where leaking batteries complete covered the circuit board damaging the components so badly that it doesn’t work even after completely cleaning it.
I have two of these screwdrivers. I bought them because I liked that they used standard AA batteries, but they spin so slowly that I can tighten screws faster with a regular screwdriver, I guess if you have a lot of screws to drive your hand might get sore, but by that point I’d run and get a cordless driver or drill.
They are really cool to take apart though if you want to learn about planetary gears. You just remove the metal clip from the back side and you can access the gears.
Robert
I’ve had one of these for years now. While it’s not a high torqueing machine, that’s not always the point. While rechargeable batteries have come a long way, there’s still something to say for a light duty tool that runs on alkaline’s. Some people, myself included, reach for something like this on very limited occasions.
Although the shelf life on today’s rechargeable’s is much better, they are usually proprietary and expensive to replace. There is nothing harder on a battery than to sit for extended periods of non-usage. I’ve lost many a rechargeable battery that way. For light duties, sometimes it’s nice to forget battery maintenance and charging. It’s nice to throw in a few alkaline’s for a light task and being done with it.
I don’t see this as a “starter” tool at all. They all have their places and usage. There are times that this is all I need and it fits the bill nicely.
Dirk
Will it accept double ended bits though, i want one that will in this form factor, the bit shaft too shallow always! Why?
Stuart
Because using 1″ bits allows for a shorter tool profile than 2″ bits. Some tools are designed with chucks sized for 2″ bits and bit holders. Not this one, although it might work with 2″ power bits.
Double-sided bits are often better suited for use in drills with 3-jaw chucks, or hand tools specially designed for them. They can sometimes work with driver chucks designed for 2″ bits, but not always – it really depends on the bit.