Posted Jan. 31, 2008
A lot of home-improvement tools can feel so cheaply made as to verge on disposable. But I’ve been testing the new VPX system from Black & Decker, an affordable, expandable line of compact cordless tools (drills, flashlights, saws, hand vacs, etc.), and I’ve been impressed with how substantial they feel, and how smoothly they operate. They’re all built around state-of-the-art quick-charge lithium-ion technology, so you can use the same rechargeable battery (which clicks into place in about a second) across the system. If you’ve got minor stuff to do around your apartment—like, say, installing an extra shelf in your closet—the under-$100 VPX Starter Set (which includes a battery, a charger, a power saw, a flashlight, and a power screwdriver that doubles as a small-diameter drill) is a good place to start.
$99.97 at Homedepot.com.