| Design | | Acceptable Design - While this drill has one or more design features that received a C rating, it can still be a good choice if that area is not critical to your particular needs. |
| Power | | Below Average Power - Delivers up to 175 in-lbs of torque, about 28% less than the class average. Power can sometimes be traded for weight or cost. |
| Speed | | Below Average Speed - Generates up to 1200 RPM, about 7% slower than the average 12V cordless drill. The Black and Decker HPD12K-2 ranks in the bottom 7% of its class for speed. |
| Weight | | Heavier Than Average - Weighs 4.3 lbs, about 27% heavier than the class average. Heavier drills are often more durable, but you should consider operator fatgue. |
| Battery | | Below Average Run-Time - Battery endurance is adequate for many work applications, but is 25% less than the class average. Uses NiCd batteries with a charge rating of 1.3 Ah. |
| User Reviews | | Less Satisfied Users - 36 users rate this drill 3.8 out of 5 stars and are less satisfied with its operation. Users generally rate this drill average to below average. |
| Power Ratio | | Below Average Power Ratio - Power-to-Weight ratio is 43% below average and ranks in the bottom 7% of its voltage class. P/W is a good indicator of drill efficiency. |
| Gearbox | | Nylon Gears - Transmission includes at least some nylon gears that may need replacing after years of extended use. A nylon gearbox helps reduce drill weight. |
| Chuck | √ | All-Metal Chuck - Dropping a power drill is a common mishap. Having an all-metal chuck provides durability and helps prevent the sleeve from cracking. |
| Motor Brushes | | No External Access - The motor brushes can only be accessed internally by taking the drill apart. While not a coomon problem, external access makes the replacement job much easier. |
| Warranty | | Standard Warranty - Comes with a limited 2-year warranty. While this length is common, many drill manufacturers are now offering, 3, 5, and even 10-year warranties. |
| Bit Change | √ | One-Hand - The single-sleeve chuck has auto spindle lock so the drill bit can be changed with one hand. This is a very convenient feature that makes the job go faster. |
| Charger | | Standard Charge Time - The Black and Decker HPD12K-2 battery charger takes 60 minutes to recharge a battery. Longer charge times are not a big issue if you always have a battery back-up. |
| Belt Hook | | No Belt Hook - Does not include this convenient feature that frees-up both your hands to perform other tasks in-between drilling. |
| Work Light | | No Work Light - Does not include an integrated work light. This is a great feature that is now being incorporated into many of the new cordless drills. |
| Side Handle | | No Side Handle - Omits the option to use a side handle that can provide stable support when drilling and driving larger drill bits and screws where additional torque is required. |
| Fuel Gauge | | No Fuel Gauge - Does not come equipped with a handy battery charge indicator that allows you to glance at your drill and check your battery life while you're working. |
