Black & Decker Professional Power Tools

[BDFan1981]

What do you folks remember of the Black & Decker Professional line of power tools from the 1980s and early 1990s?

What I mean is what experiences have you had with them and, were you inspired to buy these after watching Hometime (in particular the Dean Johnson-JoAnne Liebeler period from 1987-91) on TV (PBS, TLC) and VHS?

Some B&D Professional tools that come to my mind:
*1179 3/8" VSR HOLGUN (0-1200 RPM)
*1301/1348 1/2" Right Angle Drill (400/600/900 RPM)
*1309 1/2" VSR HOLGUN (0-600 RPM)
*1349-09 TIMBERWOLF 1/2" Joist & Stud Drill Kit (300/1200 RPM)
*1703-1 10" Power Miter Saw
*1963K 3/8" UNIVOLT 9.6V VSR Cordless Drill Kit (0-350/1200 RPM)
*1966K/5912K 3/8" SUPER CYCLONE UNIVOLT 12V VSR Cordless 2-Speed Hammer Drill Kit (0-500/1200 RPM, 0-5500/13,200 BPM)
*2651K 3/8" KODIAK UNIVOLT 13.2V VSR Cordless HOLGUN Kit (0-1400 RPM)
*2665K 3/8" SUPER CYCLONE UNIVOLT 12V VSR Cordless Drill Kit (0-400/1300 RPM)
*2666K 1/2" KODIAK UNIVOLT 13.2V VSR Cordless HOLGUN Kit (0-700 RPM)
*2765K -- like 2665K with keyless chuck
*3104 Dual Range Variable Speed CUT-SAW Kit (0-1800/2400 SPM)
*3158K Variable Speed Orbital Jig Saw Kit (0-3100 SPM)
*5071 "Screamer" 3/8" VSR Hammer Gun Kit (0-2500 RPM, 0-50,000 BPM)
*5073 "Screamer" 1/2" Dual Range VSR Hammer Gun Kit (0-1400/3100 RPM, 0-22,400/49,600 RPM)
*5991K 3/8" KODIAK UNIVOLT 13.2V VSR Cordless Hammer Drill Kit (0-1400 RPM/0-16,800 BPM)

I am also hoping you guys may have some pictures of some of these tools in question.

~Ben (BDFan1981)

 

[awdblazer]

i have a 3/8 drill converted to 1/2 keyless chuck i will try and get a model number and pic for you

 

[BDFan1981]

i have a 3/8 drill converted to 1/2 keyless chuck i will try and get a model number and pic for you

I would love to see pics of your Franken-drill.

~Ben

 

[WWIIjeep]

What do you folks remember of the Black & Decker Professional line of power tools from the 1980s and early 1990s?

What I mean is what experiences have you had with them and, were you inspired to buy these after watching Hometime (in particular the Dean Johnson-JoAnne Liebeler period from 1987-91) on TV (PBS, TLC) and VHS?

I've never even heard of Hometime, Dean Johnson, or JoAnne Liebeler, but I know the tools, and that was the end of the era of good Black & Decker power tools. After that, Black & Decker completely abandoned its roots and the 60+ years of quality industrial power tools they were known for.

You left one off your list--the No. 1065 "Shorty" angle drill:

No, I didn't just find a NOS one, I bought it in 1982 and simply store it in the box, because it's not something I've needed every day, but there have been times when no other drill would fit where that one will, and it's paid for itself several times over.

 

[BDFan1981]

I've never even heard of Hometime, Dean Johnson, or JoAnne Liebeler, but I know the tools, and that was the end of the era of good Black & Decker power tools. After that, Black & Decker completely abandoned its roots and the 60+ years of quality industrial power tools they were known for.

You left one off your list--the No. 1065 "Shorty" angle drill:

No, I didn't just find a NOS one, I bought it in 1982 and simply store it in the box, because it's not something I've needed every day, but there have been times when no other drill would fit where that one will, and it's paid for itself several times over.

I have this same model, but it says on its nameplate #6015 which seems to be specific to the automotive power tool line. That was an inheritance from my paternal grandpa, who died in 2000 at age 76.

~Ben

 

[jeffmoss26]

I don't remember those tools in particular but I always watched Hometime as a kid!

 

[FlyBy]

I have a B&D Pro sawzall, still runs like a champ! Only annoying thing is there's no quick release for the blade, need an hex key.

 

[Harvey Melvin Richards]

The B&D professional line was relabeled with yellow housings and became Dewalt.

 

[Davefr]

B&D Professional was top notch!!

However the B&D brand name was "dumbed down" when they started selling toasters and $9.99 **** drills at K-Mart, etc.

B&D had to save the premium tool line and they did so by resurrecting the Dewalt name and changing the color.

 

[sberry]

However the B&D brand name was "dumbed down" when they started selling toasters and $9.99 **** drills at K-Mart, etc.

I am going to agree with that, bought a toaster that was a pos.

There is a star, its the 7750 angle grinder. If push comes to shove I hope they raise the price a little vs cheapening it.

 

[BWS]

Yes,some of those old industrial B&D's were good.About the same level as Milwaukee.

My best "new" B&D story....bought one of their SS toaster ovens at chinamart.Got it home,plugged it in...hey look,it makes toast.I swear,the very first ______ time the little ****** got wiped off,ALLL of the writing on the knobs came right off.It was brand new?So,got pissed and its now in the shop.We abuse the snot out of it in welding world for pre and post heat..

 

[racingtadpole]

I still have the B+D pro (here they were called "Black series") 7 1/4" circular saw I was given for my 21st in 1991. Had to replace it earlier this year after the outboard spindle bearing runout got too feral. Might put it aside and give it a love up when I have a weekend spare.

 

[coolreed]

Black and Decker Professional Power Tools is an 'oxymoron'.

 

[awdblazer]

so looking at the drill its not a professional series
i should have wrote it down last night but i forget the series

 

[Bret888]

The B&D professional line was relabeled with yellow housings and became Dewalt.

That was my understanding at the time. They used to sell the same tools in black or yellow. I had a 1/4 sheet orbitals, and 3/8" drills that were the same in different colors.

 

[RM209]

Agreed; they were very high quality power tools in their time. I bought a model 1175 3/8" VSR drill many years ago. It's got a lot of torque, and very well made.

RM209

 

[wornoutoldman]

I have two BD pro drills and a 1/2 electric impact gun with a drill chuck adaptor for the big stuff. I'll post photos later.

 

[sk farmer]

i have a "wildcat grinder". it is a beast, plenty of real steel in it and will more than likely outlast me.

 

[b974k]

B&D didn't abandon quality tools. They are alive and well and being sold as DeWalt, a company they have owned for probably 50 years.

 

[dledinger]

I just put a new cord on my Sawcat over the weekend. I LOVE that saw....and it's got a LOt of miles on it!

 

[stonesfan68]

What I mean is what experiences have you had with them and, were you inspired to buy these after watching Hometime (in particular the Dean Johnson-JoAnne Liebeler period from 1987-91) on TV (PBS, TLC) and VHS?

I remember watching the show. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it is still on the air.

http://www.hometime.com/home.html

 

[elvisslipperman]

Hi , i use a black&decker profesional 1/2 impact gun and it has been outstanding for many years of use .

 

[adriandiamond]

What do you folks remember of the Black & Decker Professional line of power tools from the 1980s and early 1990s?

What I mean is what experiences have you had with them and, were you inspired to buy these after watching Hometime (in particular the Dean Johnson-JoAnne Liebeler period from 1987-91) on TV (PBS, TLC) and VHS?

Some B&D Professional tools that come to my mind:
*1179 3/8" VSR HOLGUN (0-1200 RPM)
*1301/1348 1/2" Right Angle Drill (400/600/900 RPM)
*1309 1/2" VSR HOLGUN (0-600 RPM)
*1349-09 TIMBERWOLF 1/2" Joist & Stud Drill Kit (300/1200 RPM)
*1703-1 10" Power Miter Saw
*1963K 3/8" UNIVOLT 9.6V VSR Cordless Drill Kit (0-350/1200 RPM)
*1966K/5912K 3/8" SUPER CYCLONE UNIVOLT 12V VSR Cordless 2-Speed Hammer Drill Kit (0-500/1200 RPM, 0-5500/13,200 BPM)
*2651K 3/8" KODIAK UNIVOLT 13.2V VSR Cordless HOLGUN Kit (0-1400 RPM)
*2665K 3/8" SUPER CYCLONE UNIVOLT 12V VSR Cordless Drill Kit (0-400/1300 RPM)
*2666K 1/2" KODIAK UNIVOLT 13.2V VSR Cordless HOLGUN Kit (0-700 RPM)
*2765K -- like 2665K with keyless chuck
*3104 Dual Range Variable Speed CUT-SAW Kit (0-1800/2400 SPM)
*3158K Variable Speed Orbital Jig Saw Kit (0-3100 SPM)
*5071 "Screamer" 3/8" VSR Hammer Gun Kit (0-2500 RPM, 0-50,000 BPM)
*5073 "Screamer" 1/2" Dual Range VSR Hammer Gun Kit (0-1400/3100 RPM, 0-22,400/49,600 RPM)
*5991K 3/8" KODIAK UNIVOLT 13.2V VSR Cordless Hammer Drill Kit (0-1400 RPM/0-16,800 BPM)

I am also hoping you guys may have some pictures of some of these tools in question.

~Ben (BDFan1981)

Hi Ben, I am a newbie on here but saw your post. I have just bought a B&D 5912k Professional hammer drill c/w 2 batteries but unfortunately no charger. The drill and both batteries look to be in immaculate condition but without a charger I can't test or use it. It even came with its original steel case, again fantastic condition. I have tried to get a charger for it this afternoon but nothing doing. Looks like I might be flogging a dead horse. Even if I can get one there's nothing to say the batteries still work. I will try to upload some photos.

 

[adriandiamond]

Here's some photos of the 5912

 

[rsanter]

I used to work for B&D back in those days and still have may of the professional tools.
They are very good quality and I have used the **** out of them for years.

There was a time that many of those B&D professional tools were relabeled for snap on and craftsman professional.

When the change/rebranding was done for the DeWalt name, the first thing they did was to drop the B&D pro name and made them all DeWalt.
Dewalt has remained the professional line of B&D

Bob

 

[hammerhead611]

Hi Ben, I am a newbie on here but saw your post. I have just bought a B&D 5912k Professional hammer drill c/w 2 batteries but unfortunately no charger. The drill and both batteries look to be in immaculate condition but without a charger I can't test or use it. It even came with its original steel case, again fantastic condition. I have tried to get a charger for it this afternoon but nothing doing. Looks like I might be flogging a dead horse. Even if I can get one there's nothing to say the batteries still work. I will try to upload some photos.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_od...1&_nkw=dewalt+dw9104+battery+charger&_sacat=0

 

[oldwino]

I Haagen a 4" B&D Pro angle grinder with paddle switch. Still my go-to grinder. Has a little bearing noise but the dagone thing just keeps going. Probably as many hours of use as any tool I own

 

[BDFan1981]

Here's some photos of the 5912

Adrian,

You must be from the UK... 'cause that's where this 5912 is made.

~Ben

 

[stock z/28]

Hello,

I have a lot of the "old" B&D "industrial" "professional" "automotive" etc., power tools, some even pneumatic. I my opinion they are excellent tools.

Why I am posting today is that I ran across a B&D Professional drill (1437/1) that I bought back in the early 80s. Its rated 1 1/4" capacity and it has a 2 speed gear box and I think a no. 3 Morse taper spindle.

I cant find any info on this drill.

Anybody here have any sources of info.?

Thanks

Jeff

 

[dutchgray]

This is one I picked up NOS this year, an Italian made 13HM.
View media item 84155My Dad had two 12v cordless black and decker drills in the early 90's, they were good drills, replaced with an 18v DeWalt

 

[Fialaja]

Even rarer are the quantum pro line of tools that B&D produced for a very limited time. I have a 3/8ths standandard drill and a 1/2 hammer drill from this series that have both earned their keep. Both tools were made in Maryland. These were an olive green color and were around in the mid to late 90s.

 

[Fialaja]

 

[Fialaja]

These were the last of the worthwhile B&D tools after this came the firestorm line that I felt to be really crappy stuff that wouldn’t stand up to any real heavy work

 

[6PTsocket]

In the distant past B&D bought the DeWalt saw company When they decided to stop making radial arm saws they sold the rights or machining or whatever for the big lumber yard saws to a company that continued to make them as The Original Saw Company. The little 8" home saws were discontinued and the DeWalt name was put away for future use. Later, B&D started to make the yellow tools. The line, in many cases, was just the B&D Pro line with a new color scheme. There was so much duplication that B&D eventually took what they still wanted to produce in the Pro line and shifted it over to DeWalt and shut down the Pro line. The De Walt line used to say B&D professional tools The Pro line never went away, it just got a yellow paint job.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[finn]

Don’t knock the toaster ovens.

I still have one in the shop office. I probably use it three days per week to heat up something for lunch.

Must be getting close to thirty five years old by now, and still working.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

My B&D Industrial 7" angle grinder is the same beast it was in 1993, but I did have to change the cord.

 

[Milton Shaw]

I have a couple, one is an 8" skill saw, all chromed and very heavy and accurate to cut with. Just about as accurate as a table saw, and weights about the same LOL>. I also have a B&D gobbler, metal nibbler, that will cut 1/4 inch plate. Extremely heavy duty and heavy too but no other tool I have ever seen will do what it will do. Gobbler some of the parts are still available, I had punch and die set replaced a couple of years ago and it cuts like new now. Those were some heavy grade tools that are not nearly as heavy grade under the Dewalt name..

 

[dnschmidt]

B&D Professional were as good as it got. H. K. McJunkin toos in Pittsburgh is where I bought mine. The Super Sawcut saw was awesome. Modern DeWalt is nowhere near as good or as well built as the B&D Professional were. Absolutely top of the line.

 

[6PTsocket]

B&D Professional were as good as it got. H. K. McJunkin toos in Pittsburgh is where I bought mine. The Super Sawcut saw was awesome. Modern DeWalt is nowhere near as good or as well built as the B&D Professional were. Absolutely top of the line.

DeWalt may have slid but I remember when they phased out B&D Pro there were many identical tools in both lines. Many tools of the day were heavy metal affairs. Tools are no longer made that way due to cost , weight and just modern improvement.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[BDFan1981]

This is one I picked up NOS this year, an Italian made 13HM.
View media item 84155My Dad had two 12v cordless black and decker drills in the early 90's, they were good drills, replaced with an 18v DeWalt

Looks pretty good except for the cord having a missing plug.

~Ben