Side by Side Comparison of: Hitachi vs Black & Decker

Replaced a similar tool (NICAD powered) with this one. I loved my last one from another manufacturer, but the batteries just died to quickly. Thus far, 6 months, this one is going strong and performs as well as my last one. To sum it up, I love it. It worked great when I used to for everything having to do with moving into a new, but 95 year old house (replacing old electrical outlets, realigning door hinges, drilling holes for wall anchors and their screws, ...). I also used it for fixing my electric stove, specifically unscrewing the back panel and quickly screw it back in before I lose my grip on the panel.I recommend pushing a few screw driver bits to extend its usefulness (1/16, 1/8, 3/16). The traveling case is perfect especially when I don't want to drag my cordless drill to a family member's house to fix something small.

Probably the best bang for the buck cordless screwdriver available. This is priced slightly higher than the more mainstream ones you'll find in the big box stores- but it's way better. It's well designed, ergonomic, and has plenty of torque for most jobs. It also worth mentioning that this has a variable torque clutch that will keep you from stripping many bolts and screws. Having a built in light that is button operated is the icing on the cake. I like the fact that you can turn it off and on at will- not just when you hit the drive button, only to time out after a certain amount of time. I find this extremely handy when working in lower light conditions. I looked at both the Milwaukee, Dewalt, and Makita offerings for cordless screwdrivers- and while the Makita and Dewalt have considerably larger voltages- I still think this is the better value and really hits the target for what these things are designed to do.

This is my third one! Two for work and one for home. I use these 8 hours a day dismantling electronics. Occasionally use them to drill holes. They have an LED light, and the torque is great up to the last few seconds of battery life. The only issue is after five years, the first one I bought switch has failed. My local Hitachi service center had it for 6 months and they could never get the right parts. (Or so they say. I think they were just incompetent). So I shipped it to the factory and they send me a fee replacement.Not something for heavy wood construction use like constant drilling of holes, or driving screws into fresh wood. But the best electric screwdriver I have ever owned. Because it is lightweight, it will not give one tennis elbow or shoulder bursitis like the heaver battery drills do.

Best cordless screwdriver for the money!If you don't need the high torque, then this is the tool to have.Carrying case.TWO Li-ion batteries.LIFETIME TOOL WARRANTY.Under $100!How can you go wrong???Yes, the batteries are rated at 3.6V, but these were made for a specific purpose: lower torque applicationsI use them in short fasteners that are usually buried into plastic or electronics / computer environments which don't need big torque.Adjustable angle handle makes things comfortable.The soft "rubber" (green part) of the handle is soft enough for added comfort.Recharge on these batteries are pretty quick.Lots of torque settings to cover almost any need.The only negative I've found is that it can get accidently triggered if you haphazardly throw it into your tool bag, but that's what the switch lock-out is for...

Works as advertised. Hold a charge for a long time. I don;t understand why this doesn't come with a phillips and a flathead bit. I had to pirate one from by other drill set. Good quality, but I wish the trigger was designed better. Only right handed people can use this, because your thumb operates the trigger. You could use your left and have your index/middle finger operate the trigger, but my wife is a leftie and he hates the design. So, if you're a righty, go for it.

This screwdriver met and exceeded my expectations. Coming from years of use with a Milwaukee nicad cordless screwdriver this was a huge upgrade. This unit comes with two lithium ion batteries, but for you average project around the house one battery will seem to last forever. This Hitachi has a lot a torque for such a small motor and great clutch, so you can dial the power way down to drive small delicate screws. I use this driver mostly for dissembling and assembling equipment and light to med house hold projects. It could probably handler moderately heavy duty tasks, but I would not recommend it as that is what you drill is for.

Pros: Very compact. It appears too small for your hand until you hold it, then it fits well. Heel is wide enough for comfort while applying pressure to screw. Lots of torque, more than you expect for its size. Handy light to illuminate work. I love the USB charger. I have a bunch of left over phone chargers all over to use.Cons: If you are used to using a power drill for driving screws it feels weird. First it is s.l.o.w. This of course is due to the gearing which gives it its torque. And for someone who has not done of lot of mechanical/construction work will appreciate it not getting away from you. After using it awhile the speed felt reasonable. I'm not doing any type of production work now though. Also something I miss from the drill is the torque clutch. I miss just pulling the trigger til it slips but the slow speed makes it easy to draw it up snug. All of these are more than made up for by the fact it doesn't weigh a quarter of what a drill and battery do.One minor complaint. It comes with 2 small bits and has a groove on top with a magnet to hold them in reserve. The magnet only holds one of them securely. Throw them away and get the 2" long bits and one fits snug and secure in the back and one in the chuck.

Out of everything I've ever bought on Amazon, this is the single finest product. I'm astonished.When I got it out of the package it came in, my heart sank. It's so small, I thought, it'll never handle the kind of work I'm planning on doing round here. I also had to buy some new screw tips for it, and that annoyed me a tad.I totally underestimated this little bugger, tho. I've had this screw gun for about 6 months now. It's been at my side in pretty much daily use the entire time, and I have never-- get this-- NEVER-- had to charge it. Not once. It's going as strong as the day I got it. I just drilled a bunch of holes in my deck with it. It's not supposed to drill things, I don't think, but I figured "why not" so I drilled some holes. Still don't need to charge it.I left it outside on a rainy day once (don't try this at home kids), and it got a tad waterlogged. I let it dry for an hour or two, and went back to work. Good as new.I imagine someday I'll need to attach it to its little USB plug and give it a bit of juice......Someday.

Good little tool if one has reasonable expectations from a tool this size. No it will not drill or tighten like an impact driver but need something small with considerable torque for the average small household job and this driver will do the trick. I found the handle to be comfortable with enough bulk for a controlling grip and the lith ion battery does hold a storage charge much longer than older nicad drivers I have owned.

I had a major project (about 3 hours work) putting together a large TV stand with a fireplace insert. This was the perfect tool for the task (had a ton of screws) at hand. No attempt was made to use this as a drill. I have extra large hands and this puppy fit just perfect. The light feature was an added bonus.

This is exactly what I wanted, a simple compact hand drill that I could charge using micro usb instead of keeping a plethora of different ended chargers that work for specific things. I wasn't even aware that this works as a flashlight too, so you can see clearly what you're drilling. Remember that this only has one speed, and only uses hexagonal drill bits.

MicroUSB charging are awesome! Long lasting *3.4V battery able to be charged up to 4V. More than 50 1' screws was applied into the wood with ease. Screwdriver have noticeable width, a little bit more than Bosch IXO. I mean it might be not so handy in certain conditions.

Great handheld power screwdriver. Wish the handle would lock in the two different positions. It has a friction hinge that sometimes does;t hold the angle (which is annoying). Otherwise, works well. Mine only cam with a phillips tip, so had to buy a pack of different "fast change" tips, which weren't expensive.

Arrived quickly (after it got back in stock) and was packaged well. Bought because of positive reviews both consumer and professional reviews. One rating site review mentioned that the driver was capable of driving 300 screws on one charge (I didn't check that out but there seems to be a lot of power).Nice looking and heavy build for a dedicated powered screwdriver. Comes with the charger, two batteries, tool, and lifetime warranty at a cost well below other professional drivers. In operation it was comfortable to use but the switch position requires use of thumb to activate. I would have preferred to use my index finger but it wasn't unusable. Also, once in changing from a straight grip to angled it pinched the web of my thumb (and it hurt) and brought up a blood blister. I won't do that again. Hold it with both hands and bend it instead of doing it on the fly will prevent this but I deducted a star for it.Pros: Quality is great, long lasting batteries (enough juice for most jobs), Power enough to drive long screws into wood without lagging. Well priced compared to comparable competition. Fast charger (about 2.5 hours for empty to full).Cons: Handle doesn't lock in position though I haven't had it slip. I pinched my thumb when switching from straight to angle grip. Inconvenient switch position.Conclusion: All in all I would purchase again it in a heart beat. Very good quality.

This Cordless screwdriver is simply awesome. I have purchased it primarily for my 1/10th scale R/C cars and so far it's fricking perfect! It's tough to find a cordless screwdrive with enough torque AND a sensitive enough clutch for hobby work like this. The clutch is VERY sensitive and definitely won't strip your screws as long as you use a high quality driver and set the clutch properly. It's very lightweight considering the torque and clutch capabilities and feels well balanced in your hand. I agree with the other reviewers it would be nice to have a locking mechanism for the handle but it doesn't seem to be a big deal so far. The LED targeting light is helpful but may or may not point directly at the screw or bolt you are working. It's close enough to help you see in a dark spot though and nice to have. I'm sure I'll be using this for many other projects like IKEA furniture and hanging shelves, assembling racks etc, not to mention many years to come. Nearly the perfect tool.

This is a really good product as a power screw driver. It is not a real powerful drill and as a Handyman I do need a much more power unit to use as a drill. This one is light and has a light, it bends and works really well. It is Hitachi and as with all Hitachi products comes with a five year warrantee. This is my third one and when I had a problem some years ago I sent it back to Hitachi and they promptly send me a new one. It really is a very good product used properly.

My husband has used Milwaukee to the exclusion of all others for something like 25 years. They've been failing in quality control for awhile. I've probably gotten him 2 replacement batteries and a charger in the last 2 years. Maybe less. And their screwdrivers really don't have the options a professional tool should have. Not to mention that they're really overpriced for the features you get.He says he's never looking back. This set charges in less time and holds a charge longer than his Milwaukees ever did. And the tool itself has more options. The built-in flashlight could be better (for technical work), but is good enough in a well-lighted situation. The only possible improvement beyond that would be the ability to leave the extra battery in the charger. For people that use their tools every day, the condition of the spare is one of those things you've got to know about. These are really the only possible improvements that could be made.All in all, for technicians this is a fabulous tool. With the options available, he really hasn't had any trouble with it, and it's also got enough power for chores needing more. An all-around fabulous driver.

This is my 2nd Hitachi power driver....same one. I had my 1st one for over 3 years , which I totally rely on for work as a PC tech. The forward / reverse switch started getting sticky. I will be sending it in under its life time warranty for repair (a big plus). The new model apprantly is a little thicker with a grip and almost an inch longer....the switch feels better...comes with a brighter LED light...and overall its more quieter / smoother. There's a lot of torque...too much even @ the lowest setting (1) for my personal use most of the time. I also use it for personal home jobs...which has the potential for heavy duty functions. The battery life is good....and uses the same type. It only takes 30 minute for full charge. Great tool!

Not a work horse, but gets the job done. I use it for speedy removal of football helmet facemasks to establish an airway. Small and easy to carry. USB recharable. If it holds up, will upgrade to 5 stars.

So far, have used this for two bookshelves and one lateral filing cabinet assembly. Powerful on one charge. Bought to replace SKIL screwdriver which I had had for years. Chose this one because of the price. Directional button is tough to switch, but not a problem for me; feels secure that way. Would be nice if light could turn on without tip turning, to see better when removing a screw. All in all, perfect for small projects around the house.

Works,,,, but the trigger does not have a guard and it LARGE. I frequenrtly hit the trigger just picking it up. But it also has a nice magnetic place to store another bit.... That adds an extra star back. Still would buy again.....

As advertised but weaker than I had hoped, don't expect this to drive a screw through a stud.

This power screwdriver works well and I like the led light. I don't like the USB power cord. You have to get it in just right for it to fit. My other power tools have the better mini phone jack type charging cord which plugs in easily no matter which way you attach it.

It works as advertised, and I especially like that it recharges from any USB charger. It is single-speed (forward and reverse) so doesn't run slow enough to allow precise tightening of screws into wood. I have to stop it short of what I want then use a regular screwdriver to finish the job. It seems well made and I expect it to last for years.

A design flaw makes this one annoying to use. The handle doesn't lock into position, so while using it, it often folds up on the hinged part. If your hand is in the wrong position when this happens, it catches skin -- basically, it bites me if I'm not careful!I like the swappable battery and will look for that feature in the future. I'm not sure the need for hi and low speed or the lock -- nice to have maybe, but mostly have to move them back to a useable position when the screwdriver doesn't work as expected.For the money, this should have been so much better. Three stars as I have been able to use it on multiple projects the past year -- but I was close to giving it just two.

The size is good, I can see the foldable handle can be good for some users, and I like the torque ring. I HATE the lack of torque and the very short battery life.

Decent power but not nearly what most reviews said it has. There is also an annoying rubber sleeve of some sort that gets in the way of using it easily.

The unit is okay. Gets the job done but for the price I would simply buy a black and Decker similar one. I haven't used it for more than a week and the body of the unit is peeling off! I've been using this to drill in screws for cable clips and with little use the green rubber protection grip is already peeling off and excessively. I haven't had this issue with black and Decker tools and for what I paid for this unit I expected much better quality. Especially after reading all the great reviews. Apparently there is lifetime warranty on the body so I'll have to check that out of its an option.

I haven't quite figured out how the torquing works, but I haven't broken or locked this up yet, as I have done with every other brand of cordless driver I've bought at this price level. I like that it comes with an extra battery, but find it annoying that it only comes with a phillips bit. Luckily, I have the bits that came with the other drivers. One thing I don't like is that there seems to be no lock on the bendy part, and it bends when I don't want it to.

This Model DB3DL2 cordless screwdriver should definitely be labeled as light duty. I found it to be incapable of completely screwing in #8 screws even though the holes were predrilled. It should be fine for #7 screws or smaller.I do like the light weight of this screwdriver, and the lithium batteries recharge very quickly.Compared to other 3.6-volt screwdrivers I would rate this unit much higher than all others. But for my general use, I'll find it only occasionally useful. Bottom line is for light work, I'd rate it 5-stars. For anything remotely difficult to screw down, it like all other 3.6-volt cordless screwdrivers, I can't rate it nor them any of them better than a 3-star.

The unit comes as pre-charged.It does not seem to be powerful enough for hard surfaces.Will test it and update if I am wrong.

It's OKAY it's not super powerful...it's just okay. Good for little things like drilling for holding picture frames but doesn't seem powerful enough for a lot of other things. Still debating on keeping it

It's okay. Certainly not a drill. It's only good taking screws in and out of places without needing power. I returned it because I needed the power of a drill instead.

Great drill but don't get the recommended drill bits. They do not fit. Very upset. Makes no sense why they would recommend things that don't fit

Good product overall but the fwd/rev switch is way too difficult to switch from fwd to rev and vice versa. It's almost a 2-hand job; one to keep the thing stable and the other to provide enough force to switch it. I've used many, many drills in my day and this one is the most difficult one to switch over, by far. This was confirmed because my replacement driver is just as tough. I wouldn't recommend it.

The directional switch failed on day one after removing a license plate from car on mine. Had to take apart and noodle around with the contacts to get it running again.

Let me first mention the pros about this tool. The case, 2 batteries, the light on the tool, and its bending function. Now the cons, it looses power very fast and even with 2 batteries you will not get past 30 2" screws. Also the charger will not last more than a year it did not for me and I did not even drop or put it in any tough situations.

I thought Hitachi would produce a better product then this screwdtiver/drill. To change the torque to the drill position, I had to use a pair of pliers. It was impossible to do it by hand.

Works very nicely for the short time it works. I bought a second one because I couldn't believe it would die so soon. Neither lasted more than a couple of days of light use. It seems a gear strips if you try to use it for anything besides small easily turned screws.

Compared to my Black and Decker power screw driver from 1991 this is a little under powered....or hard to set the torque right since it is either too weak or jumps easily. The long handle and placement of the forward reverse switch is also not well thought out.Case with spare battery is nice but I would not buy again.

This cordless screw driver has no power at all. It is okay for little things around the house like putting together something that does not weigh over 10 pounds! I bought it to put together a microwave cart (over 80 pounds solid wood), forget it! I did not even get the first screw in...Really disappointed in the weakness of this drill....

Weeeaaaaak. Seriously! This thing pretty much maxes out at opening the battery box for my kids electric toys, or removing the screws from a wall plate, etc. Very very weak. I have a 20 year old craftsman that my dad got me when I was a kid that has better ergonomics (trigger vs awkward side switch), better light, and waaaay more torque - all for the same size gun.I guess it's like they say, "they don't make'em like they used to"

Nice compact unit but unfortunately the quality is not what I expected from B&D. My biggest complaint is I'm constantly sliding the direction button back and fourth because it fails to lock. I would not recommend this product.

very weak You will have to drill lots of pilot holes

Screw-Driver did not work I sent it Back.

Weak!

It was cheap but it was cheap. The worst part is the switch.

It's ok for small items that aren't hard to get to. I wouldn't buy it again though. It won't fit into most places and won't hold onto the screw.

Don't buy this I did and it's worthless! It's a piece of junk not Worthy to be called a screwdriver or a drill!It works great as a regular screwdriver locked in place but you can get one of those for $5 at Walmart! Buy anything but this product!

My reverse no longer works. I can't find any info to return item. I hope someone will respond back to me.

This tool worked great -- for an hour or so. The torque limiting mechanism failed before I had a chance to exhaust the first charge. The motor runs but the bit does not turn. Don’t waste your money on this tool. I replaced this with a Dewalt DCF680N2. It actually works.

Screwdriver died after only 60 days of use, this unit was clearly defective but seller only honored a 30 day window for return. We used the previous generation version of this model and it lasted 8 years.

Its the second time I had to replace the charger and now its no longer under amazon warranty

After using only about 40-50 times, the clutch failed rendering the tool useless.Additional poor design issues:1. Light does not point at the screw head2. Handle does not lock so it tends to fold up when manually turning screw.3. Location and orientation of switch makes it awkward to use.

Bit Lame!!! Battery dies before I can even change a set of strings!! I bought it to use with a guitar string winder attachment. The battery goes dead before I get the new strings on. :(

out of order when it full charged.I have warranty, But I can not find how to get service.....

Within 60 days of purchase the forward/reverse switch has stopped working correctly. To reverse drive you have to continue to squeeze the switch while pressing the trigger. I'd like to have it repaired under warranty but the nearest repair center is too far from my home.

Trigger disengaged repeatly would not recommend this product

Spend the extra $ on something a bit higher quality. It took me one pull of the trigger to know we needed something a little bit more heavy duty.

So little power that the rotor barely moves. I doubt I will find any use for it.