Some of you might be familiar with the Dewalt 8V Gyroscopic cordless screwdriver, which is powered by a miniscule battery pack. Well, way before it came out, the same parent company had another 7V nominal (8V Max) cordless system – Black & Decker VPX.
VPX was a neat system that launched a bit before Stanley Works and Black & Decker merged.
I wrote about its launch in October 2007, for a different site that I contributed to before ToolGuyd. It didn’t last very long before being discontinued – as you can see above.
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There was a small selection of tool that were tailored towards the interests of DIYers, including a drill, screwdriver, flashlight, hand vacuum, compact saw, and even an inflator.
The Black & Decker VPX cordless power tool system worked with a 7V Li-ion battery pack.
The VPX system followed in the wake of the Black & Decker VersaPak system, which was centered around different battery technologies and form factors.
The VPX drill was especially interesting, and it was powered by 2x battery packs for 14.4V nominal voltage.
Makita’s 18V X2 and other dual battery tools share the same principle, where two batteries can power a higher voltage tool for greater performance.
I ran into frustrations with Black & Decker’s customer support, who was unable to provide me with torque specs for the drill, and also the first time I caught the attention of B&D’s marketing team, who said I should have relied on press materials I never had access to.
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The VPX tools were very sharply designed.
The Dewalt 8V Max cordless power tool battery wasn’t designed to be doubled-up, but maybe it could have been.
At the least, there’s a world of different tools that could have been powered by the same battery.
If the platform had taken off, maybe we’d have a USB-C charged version of the same battery by now.
There are parallels between the Craftsman V4 cordless power tool system and Black & Decker’s VPX. See also: The Mystery of Sears’ Craftsman V4 Cordless System.
The Craftsman V4 platform lasted less than 2 months on the holiday season sales floor in 2011, while the VPX system was on clearance by February 2008, 4 months after it was announced.
Lastly, it looks like Amazon has brought back the Dewalt 8V Max Gyroscopic cordless screwdriver – perhaps for Prime Big Day Deals – with a mid-October ETA.
I’d keep an eye on the pricing and availability, but this seems like good news for tool users who have been searching everywhere to find it over the past year to no avail.
Dewalt hasn’t added to the line in over 11 years, but unlike the VPX system, Dewalt 8V Max is still here, even if its availability has been cyclic.
Jamie Lee Davis
I had these tools from Walmart in 07! The batteries still worked well earlier this year when I donated the tools.
EBT
Back in the day, had used Panasonic Driver EY6220N, a 2.4V (with 3.6 and 7.2V options now). Worked great taking apart Dell and Lenovo laptops. Removable packs. These VPX look modern, almost futuristic.
Jared
What a neat-looking system – especially for the era!
I know people love to hate on tools with built-in batteries, but personally – I think it makes way more sense for tools of this size.
I can’t imagine buying into a 4v or 8v battery platform – like how many of those tools am I actually likely to need? I also dont want a separate charger when a USB cable will do (that’ what I like about small tools like my Dremel screwdriver), nor would I want to pay for extra batteries and chargers.
Maybe we could have a sort of hybrid one day: like a tool that charges via USB, but allows the (presumably proprietary) cell to be easily swapped of it wears out.
Will
Woot had the Dewalt Gyroscopic screwdriver on sale in September. I was really surprised, but figured it was old stock. They sold out in hours.
Frank D.
Oh yes, VersaPack !!! There should still be some small drill & saw, in a forgotten drawer in the garage at the other house.
VPX looked cool too. Both disappeared too soon.
Stopped looking at B&D as a platform at that time. Too much launch and abandon.
fred
I recall having a VersaPak (VPSDK) screwdriver that was powered by the (VP100) 3.6V NiCad battery that Stuart pictures above the VPX drill. That was something like 25-years ago – but recall using it a lot for general household chores. B&D also sold a gold-colored extended run battery as model VP110TB. At that point in time (around Y2k) I only considered the B&D brand for light-duty tasks – where performance and durability could play second fiddle to cost and convenience. By that point in time, B&D had started moving their Dewalt brand (acquired in 1960 – but reinvigorated starting in the early 1990’s after the selloff of the RAS business) as their professional offering.
Dennis
I bought a bunch of the Craftsman V4 at Sears on clearance (when that was a place where people could buy tools). They worked great for small tasks around the house. They were just OEMs of Ryobi 4v. The sad part is Ryobi carried on the line and made the batteries USB rechargeable. But they changed the form factor of the batteries, so they are not backwards compatible. It’s always a bummer when manufacturers force obsolescence.
Stuart
Ryobi discontinued their Tek4 line of cordless power tools and gadgets sometime in the early 2010’s, and then launched a brand new USB Lithium line in 2022. https://toolguyd.com/ryobi-usb-lithium-cordless-power-tools/
You are correct, Ryobi USB Lithium and their former Tek4 tools and batteries are NOT compatible.
Between Tek4 and USB Lithium, Ryobi launched a line of smartphone-connected tools with built-in batteries, “Phone Works” – https://toolguyd.com/ryobi-phone-works/ .
Progress typically involves obsolescence.
Dave
Same here purchasing the flashlight drill screwdriver kits on clearance. Still use them and original batteries still charge. Wife still has the flashlight and loves it but I can’t pry it away from her. Led old technology so not the bright in lumens but she loves it. I picked up 2-3 Tek 4 batteries on clearance also a few years ago for backups as I literally have 3 of the drill drivers in use. Dual speeds and clutch make these excellent for around the home!
Mike
That was the best small driver out there at the time. I think we still have it in the kids’ tool drawer. I can’t get behind the DeWalt Gyro, have one and my brain just doesn’t like it.
Jason
Fully hoping for a Jobmax or Matrix article tomorrow. 24v Ridgid?
In all seriousness the 8V gyro was awesome
Stuart
Matrix is still around.
Clyde
The 8V gyro kits have been selling for around $250 (or more) on eBay recently. Not sure how much stock Amazon has, but they may not last long.
JoeM
I genuinely never want to give up my 8V Max Gyro Screwdriver. The original DCE680 Gyro Screwdriver, and DCL023 Flashlight were all they released before just… Stopping. Yeah, there were conduit reamer, and straight-stick versions of the Gyro as well, but, there’s only so many Screwdrivers this tech was good for. I think that might’ve thrown a few random customers off about the 8V System. Screwdriver or Flashlight, that’s all they did!
I wanted to see a snake light. Kinda like the flex-neck 18V DeWALT NiCD/NiMH, in a smaller form factor. More flashlights, a glue gun, maybe a low power (for delicate use) rotary tool or grinder/cutter? And yes, dual slot versions of, say, an ultra-compact impact driver. Drywall or dedicated 4mm Precision versions of the DCE680 for those times you are only repairing something, not a full install. I had so much hope, and so many ideas, for the 8V Max Lineup! Now I kinda talk to my Gyro, and treat it really nice, hoping to extend its life as much as possible. Like I said, I don’t ever want to give up my Gyro!
Michael
I always hoped for a 1/4 and 3/8 ratchet in 8 volt!
Rog
That VPX line looks slick, especially that dual battery drill. I never heard of it before, a shame it didn’t take off. Also that feels like it comes from an era where SBD took risk
Stuart
The Black & Decker Gyro was also great – https://toolguyd.com/black-decker-gyro-screwdriver-review/
The Reviva tools seem exclusive to Amazon https://www.amazon.com/stores/BLACKDECKER/page/7A4A4251-B02C-4A46-A7C2-AE27B6BD7CC3&tag=toolguyd-20 . Craftsman is exclusive to Lowe’s and Ace. Porter Cable is exclusive to Tractor Supply. Dewalt Atomic is exclusive to Home Depot. That might not leave a lot of room for risk-taking.
TomD
That dual battery pack is the closest to my dream tool I’ve ever seen – a double battery break-open sawzall I can “load” like a shotgun.
S
The pattern I’m interpreting out of all this is that SBD releases a new product, and expects it to go viral.
When it fails to meet some crazy high demand numbers within 6 months, they just stop both future development, and sometimes the product line itself.
Whereas Milwaukee very much seems to release a product, and expect marginal sales. After a year or two, they slowly discount it, and work up a fever among the interested parties, which then sells a lot at a discounted rate, and likely at least turns a bit of profit. At the very least, it keeps people within the battery ecosystem.
Interesting to me, at least, is how that shapes my personal perspective of the companies tools. I have generally less faith that DeWalt or other SBD companies are going to carry a tool long term, especially quirky application specific tools. Which definitely hampers my desire to own any tools that might fit my needs.
And it never fails, when I break a quirky tool from most brands, they usually decided to discontinue it a month before.
We’ll never get it, but I would love an inside perspective of each companies sales expectations. I think we’d see very short term expectations of 3-6 months on SBD’s side, where I think Milwaukee tends to shoot for the long game, and projects sales goals 3-5 years out. Which makes SBD’s holiday sales time life-or-death for a lot of their product.
whereas Milwaukee runs deals, but tool availability isn’t very season specific other than for heated jackets.
Stuart
Sometimes products have a short market life. Also keep in mind that this launched before Stanley Works and Black & Decker merged.
Shawn Y
I had the BLACK & DECKER Gyro 4-volt a long time ago. I did all my outlets w it and liked it til the internal batteries died (https://www.lowes.com/pd/BLACK-DECKER-Gyro-4-Volt-Lithium-Ion-3-8-in-Cordless-Drill-with-Battery/50035432). It was unique in it’s compact form and palm trigger. I then switched to the Dewalt 8V gyro. I got their flashlight too. Maybe I should get their conduit reamer just to wrap up their 8V line.