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A cordless drill and DIY go hand in hand, but there will come a time when either The best cordless drill Just don’t have the strength to tackle the project. When it’s time to call in an SDS drill. This one boasts what’s known as a slotted drive system (hence the SDS moniker), which works differently than a standard cordless/corded drill with a grip chuck.
To keep it simple, he uses a different type of drill bit that gives the drill more of a hammer action. Making it ideal for heavy-duty tasks that a standard drill can’t handle.
Like most Black + Decker tools, this SDS hammer drill is for DIYers and not professionals. So how does it tackle DIY jobs? Read on to find out.
specification
- Motor: 650W
- Impact energy: 1.4J
- Cord Length: 2 meters
- Weight: 2.3 kg
- Chuck Capacity: 2mm-13mm
- Chuck Type: SDS+
- Guarantee: 2 years
- Features: 1 x keyed chuck, 8mm SDS-PLUS bit, 1 x 6mm SDS-PLUS bit, 1 x adjustable and removable side handle, depth stop, 3 x drilling and hammer modes.
First impression
Unboxing a power tool is always a highlight for me, but it didn’t take long with this Black & Decker BEHS01 Hammer Drill. The drill itself sits in the box, without the plastic wrap, a small cardboard box containing the handle, gauge stop and drill chuck and SDS+ drill bits. From an environmental perspective (which, in my opinion, matters), there is little packaging to get rid of, and what little there is is 100% recycled and chlorine-free.
Lack of hard case or carry case is a minus point. All my other Black & Decker tools always come with at least one carry bag. I’ve noticed that some sellers show the drill with a carry case, but I haven’t seen one that actually comes with one. Shame because I would have loved a hard carry case.
The Black & Decker BEHS01 is heavy, but in SDS Drill Terms, it is relatively light. It is well balanced and has a soft-grip handle that holds the drill firmly in the hand. Other notable features are a thick 2m cord (usually means more power), a mode selector that locks into place (I like that), a reverse switch and a small mystery button, which I suspected was the power lock button, but we’ll find out later. Overall, I liked what I saw.
Set up
A corded drill like the Black & Decker BEHS01 means you don’t have to worry about charging the battery before you get started. One less step in the setup process. And, because it comes with a UK plug, you can plug it in right away, hit the trigger, feel the power and appreciate the sound.
Like most drills, the Black & Decker BEHS01 has three modes. You have drills, drills and hammers and hammers. You just need to choose the most suitable one for the job. The selector is the right size, and operation is easy. A push button releases the selector and locks it in place when you reach your chosen mode. For me, I loved the extra peace of mind.
Elsewhere, the keyless chuck is a breeze to use. Pull back the sleeve, insert your bit and you’re ready to go. It is the same process to free it. And let’s not forget the included side handle to help stabilize the drill. This fits behind the chuck and can be placed in your preferred position thanks to the inbuilt notches. A small plastic nut tightens the handle into position, ready for action.
Finally, an interesting addition was the chuck adapter for use Standard drill bits. I can see Black + Decker trying to add value and purpose, but I’ve already acquired mine. Einhell cordless drill It does what I want so wasn’t sure if this was necessary.
That means you can get extra power without splashing out on SDS-friendly drill bits, but it seemed awkward, and I wasn’t sure about it.
performance
The Black + Decker BEHS01 came with 6mm and 8mm SDS drill bits, which immediately limited how I could use it. So I invested in this 3-piece Erbauer SDS Plus Shank Chisel Set from Screwfix To better test the Black + Decker BEHS01. This includes a 250 mm point chisel and 2 x flat chisels (20 x 250 mm and 40 x 250 mm).
To begin the test, I decided to use my new chisel bits to break up some large blocks of concrete that I dug out of the ground a while back. I initially tried to break them with a lump hammer and a cold chisel, but without success.
The mystery button turned out to be the lock button, which I immediately decided to call into action. A hammer mod and a small chisel did a good job of breaking up the pieces. It still took me a good 15 minutes to crack a large chunk of concrete, but without having to worry about swapping batteries, the drill didn’t miss a beat. A return visit a few days later yielded similar results on the remaining blocks.
Next, it was time to try out the provided drill bits. Drilling was first done in concrete, which he handled with ease. Next, it was Drilling in external brickwork For hooks, an absolute breeze. Then it was indoors Drill into the walls To place some shelf brackets; It can’t be easy. The masonry I attempted, guided by the drill.
Next, it was back to the chisel and tile removal. I had two layers of tile on tile and the first layer came out pretty easily, but the original layer (hanging on the wall) was more challenging. But again, the Black + Decker BEHS01 was up to the task.
The final test used a keyed chuck with standard drill bits. While it looked and felt awkward, (and I’m not a fan of keyed chucks, especially when I’ve lost the key), it worked well and provided extra power where needed. In some cases, much more power than my trusty cordless drill.
One issue I had with the Black + Decker BEHS01 was the attachable side handle. It was easy to fit, but no matter how tight I tightened it, it kept slipping when tackling tough tasks. For lighter tasks, however, I used a handy depth gauge that slips into the handle.
Who should buy?
The Black + Decker BEHS01 is a great choice for DIYers who need extra power for projects that their cordless drill can’t easily handle. It’s easy to struggle with using a cordless drill when it doesn’t have the power you need, but this is not good for your cordless drill and will shorten its working life.
An SDS Type of exercise A smart addition for DIYers, the Black + Decker BEHS01 is an affordable, easy-to-use tool that offers enough power to tackle most home DIY and home renovation projects. All you need to do is fit your chosen SDS bit, select your mode and press the power trigger.
final judgment
I would definitely recommend the Black & Decker BEHS01 to any DIYer who likes to tackle lightweight demolition and drilling masonry jobs and needs a bit more power than their favorite cordless drill offers. This is a great starting point for anyone who doesn’t own an SDS drill, or the occasional DIYer who wants to replace an old, worn out drill.
The addition of a key chuck may seem like an odd choice, but it works and allows your SDS drill to double as an everyday drill that uses standard drill bits. Personally, I prefer to use my Einhell cordless drill and SDS drill for standard drilling when a project calls for extra power.
I would have liked to see the inclusion of at least two chisel bits and a carry bag or hard case, especially since it is aimed at DIYers. I think this would make it a complete package. However, these are minor issues because you’re getting an inexpensive SDS drill that will get the job done, in fact, a DIYer will solve almost anything.
