ToolGuyd

Tool Reviews, New Tool Previews, Best Tool Guides, Tool Deals, and More!

  • New Tools
  • Reviews
  • Guides
    • Best Cordless Power Tool Brand
    • Tool Brands: Who Owns What?
    • Best Cordless Drills (New for 2019!)
    • Dewalt UWO Explained
    • Best Multi-Bit Screwdrivers
    • Best Cordless Impact Drivers (2015)
    • Best Cordless Circular Saws
    • Best Tape Measure
    • Best Cordless Oscillating Tools
    • Best EDC Gear
    • Best Multimeter
    • Best Precision Screwdrivers
    • Best Modular Tool Boxes
    • Ultimate Tool Gift Guide
  • Hand Tools
    • Bit Holders & Drivers
    • EDC, Pocket, & Multitools
    • Electrical Tools
    • Flashlights & Worklights
    • Knives
    • Mechanics’ Tools
    • Pliers
    • Screwdrivers
    • Sockets & Drive Tools
    • Wrenches
    • All Hand Tools
  • Power Tools
    • Accessories
    • Cordless
    • Drills & Drivers
    • Oscillating Tools
    • Saws
    • Woodworking Tools
    • All Power Tools
  • Brands
    • Bosch
    • Craftsman
    • Dewalt
    • Makita
    • Milwaukee
    • Milwaukee NPS19 Tools
    • Ryobi
    • All Brands
  • USA-Made
  • Deals
ToolGuyd > Power Tools > Cordless > Our Awesome Visit to Black & Decker and Dewalt
DEWALT 20V MAX Green Laser GIVEAWAY! - Learn More!

Our Awesome Visit to Black & Decker and Dewalt

Jun 25, 2010 Stuart Discuss

If you buy something through our links, ToolGuyd might earn an affiliate commission.

Black & Decker University Dewalt Training Facility Entrance

I came back just a few hours ago from Black & Decker University, a facility that is largely used for the training of Dewalt employees and business partners. Along with nearly 3 dozen other bloggers, writers, and magazine editors, I had the opportunity to attend the unveiling of Dewalt’s new 12V MAX lithium ion cordless power tool product line.

The 12V MAX unveiling event consisted of two parts, an informal evening session in a Baltimore Orioles party suite, and a morning session at Black & Decker University.

Advertisement

I have to say this early on to emphasize its importance. I truly enjoyed my time at the event, and especially the many conversations I had with Dewalt’s development team members. It was just an absolute pleasure chatting with all of them. Not only did these guys and gals have detailed intimate knowledge of the 12V MAX tools’ designs and features, they were very energetic and seemed to be genuinely proud of the new products.

Day 1 – Evening at Camden Yards

Of course the food at the ballpark was good, but the company was absolutely phenomenal. In addition to the product development crew, there were quite a number of other hosts and attendees, including the incredible PR team that represents Dewalt and a VP Brand Manager.

There was of course an impressive turnout of bloggers and writers, and I had a nice time meeting and chatting with many of them. It was definitely a worthwhile experience to talk with other enthusiasts from both comparable and completely different fields of expertise.

Dewalt 12V MAX Cordless Drill Driver Flashlight MGD Teaser
Dewalt 12V MAX Li-Ion Cordless Drill, Driver, & Flashlight with Miller Genuine Draft for Scale

Although I definitely don’t regret it, chatting with the great folks at Dewalt and checking out the new tools at the ballpark really wired me up. Once I got back to the hotel, I found that I wasn’t tired at all. Unable to sleep, I tried to bleed off some of my excitement with a brief preview/teaser post of the 12V MAX launch. I still had a bit of trouble falling asleep, but I suppose that could be considered a good thing.

Day 2 – Official 12V Max Unveiling at BDU

It happened that some of the Dewalt development team and PR reps saw my preview post. They especially liked the Miller Genuine Draft scale marker. When setting up the tools for a quick pic, one of the Dewalt team leaders suggested I insert something for size comparison, so I used a beer can. What’s more recognizable in size than a 12 oz can?! I’m glad to have been able give them a quick and easy smile!

Dewalt 12V MAX Cordless Tool Display
Dewalt 12V MAX Cordless Tool Display

After enjoying a few breakfast treats, we were given a brief tour of the Black & Decker University facility. Much of the building is devoted to training use, and so in addition to many tool demo stations, there were real world mock-ups and sets.

We then sat though a few presentations that discussed the new 12V MAX tools, their development, and lessons learned from field testing. A great deal of information about Dewalt, its ideals, and its mantra were shared directly and also through their team members’ actions, explanations, and overall attitude.

Toolguyd Testing out Dewalt 12V MAX Li-ion Cordless Drill Driver
Testing Out the New 3/8″ Drill/Driver

The hands-on segment began next, and we finally had a chance to test out the tools’ performance. Before being let loose to try out the new tools, we were briefed on the tools’ designs, features, and competitive advantages, and witnessed quick real-time comparative demos.

Most of the seasoned professionals and long-time writers and editors in the room were obviously used to this sort of unveiling event, but some of us were not. Still, you could almost see everyone’s childlike glee as they picked up one of the new power tools for the first time.

In the pic above, I’m testing out the new 12V MAX 3/8″ drill/driver. Before you ask, I know the safety specs are useless when they’re not on my eyes. I left my favorite Dewalt/Radians goggles at home, and so my options were to wear safety glasses instead of my corrective ones, or see clearly. I figured that it would be safer to see clearly.

Also notice the tension in my hand and arm, I am pushing the tool to its limits! Equipped with a 1/2″ spade bit, I was told to lean in and go at it. Other tools (I won’t name names just yet) stalled out while the Dewalt just plowed through.

Tool Tests

The testing scenarios were well setup, and seemed to perfectly exemplify the typical situation the tools would be used in. A wide range of competitors’ product offerings were available for comparison purposes, and this really helped highlight some of the 12V MAX tools’ advantages.

Dewalt 12V MAX Li-Ion Flashlight vs Competing Models
Dewalt 12V MAX Li-Ion Flashlight vs. Competing Models

Despite how awesome it was to check out and test the tools firsthand, I am itching to try out the new tools in an uncontrolled environment. I want to slap a hex-shanked spade bit into the screwdriver. I want to use the 3/8″ drill/driver to drive large lag bolts. I want to see how well the 12V impact driver compares to a compact 18V one.

A Few More Words About the Event & Disclosure

All in all, I had a blast of a great time. I truly enjoyed the many interactions the event made possible, and I just loved the level of energy that everyone was just oozing out. [Oh, goodness, I know that’s just going to be quoted somewhere.]

In addition to various tchotchkes (including some tasty Old Bay seasoning!), Dewalt sent everyone home with a 12V MAX cordless screwdriver and a Dewalt Magnetic ToughCase with bit kit. Dewalt also covered our meals (the barbecue lunch was quite tasty!), and handled overnight accommodations.

ToolGuyd always discloses this type of information, but it is always a pleasure to see companies proactively encourage such transparency. Dewalt also made it clear that they value our honesty (again, ToolGuyd maintains a strict policy to be as sincere as possible).

There’s so much about the new product line to write about! As you can tell, I am extremely optimistic about Dewalt’s 12V MAX tool designs, and cannot wait to get the whole lot in my possession for some real-world testing. In some of the quick hands-on tests I performed, I witnessed a few of the 12V MAX tools absolutely shaming one or more other of their competitors’ tools.

To those of you at Dewalt that may be reading this, thank you for a very nice show, and it was great talking with all of you! Unfortunately but understandably, there were quite a few unfinished conversations – one about interesting new motor winding configurations, another about the alarming absence of clock radios in Europe (get it? alarming?!), and a few others. I would love to be able to pick all your brains again in the future!

Check back soon for additional updates and info on Dewalt’s 12V MAX cordless tool line.

Collective Dewalt 12V MAX Li-ion Cordless Tool Coverage on ToolGuyd

Enjoy the following gallery of a few pics I took of the facility. Some of the pics (#s 2, 3, 4) were taken by Dewalt during the event.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Related posts:

Dewalt FlexVolt 12Ah Battery PackDewalt FlexVolt vs. Milwaukee M18 High Demand Cordless Power Tool Systems, Revisited Milwaukee NPS2018 TeaserMilwaukee Tool: The Next Breakthrough is Coming – Can You Guess What it is? (2018 Media Show Teaser) Dewalt Tool Connect Brushless Drill DCD792Cordless Power Tool Trends: Bluetooth Connectivity vs. Built-in Features Dewalt Xtreme SubCompact 12V Max Brushless Drill DriverThis is the Dewalt Cordless Drill the Lowe’s Exec’s “Small Hands” Comment was all About

Sections: Cordless, Editorial, Power Tools, Workshops & Events Tags: Dewalt 12V MaxMore from: Black & Decker, Dewalt

« Lowes Stops Selling USA-Made Estwing & Dasco Pro Tools
Dewalt 12V MAX Lithium Ion Cordless System Preview »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Newsletter

Sign up to receive the latest tool news.

ToolGuyd Forum

Recent Comments

  • Aaron on New Kobalt Workbench and Garage Storage Products: “Home depot’s store brands are mostly exclusives with a single manufacturer where kobalt is a mishmash. Seems like the Flex…”
  • Stuart on Combination Tap Drills – Pros and Cons?: “Yes, they do come in metric! https://toolguyd.com/metric-combination-tap-drills/”
  • Joe on New Kobalt Workbench and Garage Storage Products: “Kobalt has nice tool boxes, tool storage and power tools… so why are their hand tools such crap? I looked…”
  • Jared on Combination Tap Drills – Pros and Cons?: “These are neat, but I can’t imagine using them often. When I’m taping (tapping?) I usually want to be pretty…”
  • Bruce on Giveaway: DEWALT 20V MAX* Green Laser Level and 12V MAX* XTREME Combo Kit: “Great for the volunteer projects we work on upgrading parks in the older sections of town to show kids that…”
  • Eric on New Olight April 2021 LED Flashlight Sale: “It’s getting to be a pretty common feature on the more enthusiast focused flashlights. It started with light up buttons.…”

Recent Posts

  • Metric Combination Tap Drills
  • New Kobalt Workbench and Garage Storage Products
  • New Olight April 2021 LED Flashlight Sale
  • Combination Tap Drills - Pros and Cons?
  • Giveaway: DEWALT 20V MAX* Green Laser Level and 12V MAX* XTREME Combo Kit
  • Don't Buy Cheap Self-Centering Drill Bits at Inflated Pricing
  • Bora Portamate Wall-Mounted Lumber Rack (New Lower Sale Pricing)
  • Exploring the New DEWALT 20V MAX 3x360 Green Line Laser
ToolGuyd New Tool Reviews Image

New Tool Reviews

Buying Guides

  • Best Cordless Drills
  • Best Cordless Impact Drivers
  • Best Cordless Multi-Tools
  • Cordless Power Tool Brands
  • Modular Tool Storage Systems
  • Ultimate Tool Gift & Upgrade Guide
ToolGuyd Knife Reviews Image

Knife Reviews

ToolGuyd Multi-Tool Reviews Image

Multi-Tool Reviews

ToolGuyd LED Flashlight and Worklight Reviews Image

LED Light Reviews

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Stores
  • Videos
  • Gear
  • AMZN Deal Finder
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Disclosure