Black + Decker BCD700S1K-GB combi drill review: A great budget drill for beginners
The Black + Decker BCD700S1K-GB combi drill offers cordless drilling at a budget price but can this low-priced bundle handle our home improvement testing?
If you're looking for a cordless drill bundle for basic DIY tasks then I'd happily recommend the Black + Decker BCD700S1K-GB combi drill. Its budget-friendly price belies its ability for everyday jobs. But, if you're looking for something that charges quicker and has more strength for larger renovation jobs, you may need to consider something more powerful.
Pros
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Amazing bundle price
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Simple, compact, beginner-friendly design
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Great at screwdriving and drilling light or moderately hard materials
Cons
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Slow battery charging
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Not great for drilling into hard brick
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The Black + Decker BCD700S1K-GB combi-drill is a beginner-friendly drill, with a lithium-ion battery enabling its cordless operation.
Featuring basic drilling, a screwdriver mode with 10 torque settings, and a hammer drill mode for drilling into brick and other hard materials, the BCD700S1K-GB promises to do everything a casual DIYer might need it to do.
What’s more, the drill comes at a staggeringly low price. Bundles of the BCD700S1K-GB plus a lithium-ion battery, charger and plastic carry case are currently listed for £59.99 at Amazon UK – and we’ve seen that price dip below £50 during sale periods.
The battery and charger can be used with other 18V cordless tools from the Black + Decker ‘POWERCONNECT’ range, which includes other DIY must-haves such as sanders and jigsaws.
On paper, the BCD700S1K-GB looks like the perfect purchase for newcomers to DIY – but as we all know, a low price and lots of features can sometimes come at a cost to quality and performance.
So, to find out whether Black + Decker’s tool really is one of the best drills for beginners, I put it to the test around my home, which I’m busy renovating. With the drill’s full feature set in mind, I tested it by driving screws and drilling into wood, plaster and brick. Read on to find out what I thought of the drill’s performance and design.
Where to buy the Black + Decker BCD700S1K-GB combi drill
Black + Decker BCD700S1K-GB combi drill
Black + Decker BCD700S1K-GB combi drill
Black + Decker BCD700S1K-GB combi drill
What's included
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(Image credit: Pete Wise)
(Image credit: Pete Wise)
The BCD700S1K-GB comes with a good range of accessories – but not quite everything you need:
BCD700S combi drill
1.5Ah 18V lithium-ion battery
Battery charger
Plastic carry case
Double-headed screwdriver bit
Instruction booklet
Only one drill bit is included: a double-headed screwdriver bit for turning cross-head (Phillips) and flat-head screws.
You’ll need to purchase additional bits for other tasks, such as masonry drill bits for hammer-drilling into brick, or wood bits for drilling into wood. Buying a basic Black + Decker drill bit and screwdriver set for £15 on Amazon will probably cover most of your requirements.
It's worth noting that the drill’s chuck also has a 10 mm capacity, so wider drill bits (such as 13 mm bits) will not fit.
Performance
I tested the BCD700S1K-GB by using it to carry out a selection of basic DIY tasks around the home, assessing all of its settings and features in the process.
Key specifications:
Manufacturer’s guarantee: 2 years
Voltage: 18V
Max. torque: 40 Nm
RPM: 0-1,400
Power source: cordless (lithium-ion battery)
Chuck capacity: 1-10 mm
Wood drilling capacity: 25 mm
Steel drilling capacity: 10 mm
Masonry drilling capacity: 10 mm
1. Uninstalling old screws
The BCD700S1K-GB proved really effective at removing old screws from wood and plaster, including screws that had been tightly installed.
To get the best out of the BCD700S1K-GB’s screwdriving mode, I made use of its range of ten torque settings, which can produce turning force up to 40 Nm.
Torque can easily be adjusted using the numbered adjustment collar on the barrel of the drill. I found that the higher torque settings provided the necessary turning force to uninstall stubborn, old screws, while the lower torque settings caused noticeably less vibration – so they’re kinder on the hand. Most screws required only a low torque setting of ‘2’ or ‘3’.
The chuck kept a really tight, stable hold on the screwdriver bit during screwdriving.
2. Installing new screws
Fixing new screws into wood and/or Rawl plugs is the BCD700S1K-GB’s specialty. With its screwdriver bit fitted, the drill turns screws with great control, or with decent power, depending on which speed setting you’re using.
The BCD700S1K-GB really excels at tightening screws up, when they’re almost fully installed. With its strong, secure chuck gripping the bit, the BCD700S1K-GB tightens screws fantastically well, achieving a level of tightness that some higher-priced drills can’t match.
3. Drilling holes in wood or plaster
When I used the BCD700S1K-GB to drill through wood (or a softer material such as plaster), the drill proved pretty effective and very controlled. Some other drills can bore through wood faster, but Black + Decker’s combi will work quickly enough for most casual DIY users.
The BCD700S1K-GB also proved great at countersinking – where a mushroom-shaped countersinking bit is used to create a depression in wood, allowing a screw or other fixing to be hidden with filler.
In my testing, the drill countersunk wood very easily, and more quickly than some of its premium competitors. To get that good effect, I was using the BCD700S1K-GB on its maximum speed settings.
4. Hammer-drilling holes in brick
During my testing, the BCD700S1K-GB proved capable of drilling holes in brick – but only just. I found that the drill took a very long time to drill into hard, old brickwork even though it was fitted with an appropriate masonry drill bit.
If your property has very hard bricks, then I wouldn’t recommend using the BCD700S1K-GB to drill into them, as you’ll expend a lot more time and effort than you need to. However, if the building has softer bricks, then the BCD700S1K-GB’s hammer drill function might be up to the task.
5. Battery performance
Battery charging and runtime are key to cordless combi drill performance – so I rated these aspects of my experience with the BCD700S1K-GB while testing its drilling and screwdriving capabilities.
You’ll need to charge this drill’s lithium-ion battery before use. It slots easily into the charger, which has an LED indicator that shows the battery’s current charge state: full, charging, broken, or paused due to incorrect operating temperature.
I found that the battery charged slowly, taking just under three hours to reach its 1.5Ah capacity. This could cause delays for users who are tackling big projects with their combi drill – so if that sounds like you, be sure to charge in advance of DIY work, or purchase the BCD700S1K-GB with two 1.5Ah batteries (£88.95, Amazon) so that you can keep both charged, ready for lengthier tasks.
On a more positive note, the drill’s 1.5Ah battery demonstrated good runtime during our testing, providing power long enough for me to complete a modest DIY project (re-fitting a loft hatch), without requiring a re-charge. The battery only ran out after longer-duration testing of the BCD700S1K-GB’s hammer-drilling.
Ease of use
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(Image credit: Pete Wise)
(Image credit: Pete Wise)
With the BCD700S1K-GB, you get all the basic features you’d expect of a modern combi drill in a simple-to-use, unfussy product. These include:
a keyless chuck
two speed settings
forward and reverse drilling
a drill bit holder
variable speed trigger
I found the drill particularly easy to use, without any unusual mechanisms or gimmicky features to master. A simple twist of the adjustment collar lets you choose between operating modes: drill, hammer drill, and ten torque settings for screwdriving.
Rotational direction can be easily changed with the same hand you’re using to hold the drill, using the selectors on the sides of the drill – which is very useful when you’re holding a screw in the other hand. Meanwhile, the variable speed trigger gives you some control over the drill’s RPM, with roughly three speeds within each of the two gears (as far as I could tell).
This is a really nice drill to hold, with a soft, rubbery handle that’s shaped ergonomically to fit the user’s fingers. It’s a light, compact tool, weighing just 0.9 kg (or 1.3 kg with the battery fitted). If you tend to find drills too heavy or unwieldy, you might find a comfortable companion in the BCD700S1K-GB.
Switching between drill bits requires you to turn the keyless chuck with one hand, while holding the barrel above it with the other. This isn’t the most convenient method for changing the bit, but crucially, it provides a secure, reliable grip on the drill bit.
If you’ve used a combi drill before, you’ll easily master the BCD700S1K-GB - and I believe this would be an accessible drill for beginners to use too, thanks to its simple design and lightweight build.
Who should buy it?
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(Image credit: Pete Wise)
(Image credit: Pete Wise)
There are no innovative features here that’ll surprise or delight experienced drill users - so power tool fanatics should look elsewhere.
Similarly, users who are tackling a very big DIY project such as a home renovation or house extension will probably require a combi drill that has more power (particularly for hammer-drilling) and faster battery charging.
With that said, for beginners or occasional DIYers, the BCD700S1K-GB could be ideal. This drill has all the basic features that provide real benefit to the average user, such as multiple torque levels and speed settings.
The basic design of the drill is great for beginners too. Its secure chuck (meaning fewer dropped drill bits), compact form, ergonomic handle and relatively low power and vibration make this a very accessible drill for users who are just getting to grips with their first power tools.
Add the BCD700S1K-GB’s very cheap price and the bundled-in battery, charger and carry case, and there you have a recipe for the perfect bargain cordless combi drill for beginners.
Final verdict
I’m happy to recommend the Black + Decker BCD700S1K-GB to beginner DIYers who are looking for a great first drill, or occasional users who need an effective tool to help around the house.
Unlike certain other cordless drill bundles priced around the £60 mark, Black + Decker’s package is actually fit for purpose. Its performance is pretty good, especially when it comes to screwdriving and drilling into softer materials like wood and plaster. And while the drill’s battery charges slowly, you’ll get enough runtime out of it to complete a run-of-the-mill, beginner-friendly DIY task.
If you’re a DIY fanatic, you might want to spoil yourself by buying a more premium product from our roundup of the best cordless drills. But for users who just want an affordable, accessible tool to get stuff done, the Black + Decker BCD700S1K-GB cordless combi drill would be a fine choice.
About this review and the reviewer
Pete is a freelance writer and reviewer from Leeds, with work published by titles including The Guardian, BBC Good Food, The Independent and the London Evening Standard. A keen DIYer and home renovator, Pete frequently contributes reviews and how-to guides to Homebuilding & Renovating. Pete tested the Black + Decker BCD700S1K-GB by using it to drive screws and drill into wood, plaster and brick during a loft hatch refitting project.
Pete Wise is a freelance writer and keen DIYer from Leeds. Pete's tool reviews have featured in titles including Homebuilding & Renovating, Ideal Home and The Independent. He also writes features and news articles for publications such as The Guardian, BBC Good Food and T3. When he isn't busy writing, Pete can often be found at libraries, pubs and live music venues. He finds tile-cutting strangely zen.
