Gadgets: Black & Decker HP188F4L 18V Lithium Cordless Hammer Drill

For more information see www.blackanddecker.co.uk; available from www.amazon.co.uk for 69.98.

Putting up a mirror doesn't sound like the trickiest of tasks. Having attempted this simple DIY job with my own drill which has more in common with a Fisher-Price toy than anything else, I was staring at scatterings of wall shrapnel and a large gaping hole. Further efforts left my wall looking like it had been chewed by a drunken beaver, with my toy drill coughing and wheezing in the corner.

I needed a quick result, so I turned to Black & Decker's new Lithium Cordless Hammer Drill. As drills go, the Black & Decker is a handsome devil. It's 33 per cent smaller and 27 per cent lighter than previous efforts. Alongside futuristic styling, this combined drill, hammer drill and screwdriver uses the latest Lithium Battery technology. Most cordless drills suck power from electrical sockets, and although the battery still only lasts for about 12 minutes of constant use, the Lithium power pack means that it can be fully charged in only an hour, with the battery retaining most of its power even while it's in the cupboard.

Back to my mirror - the 18V fan-cooled motor roared through the plaster and brick, with the only limitation being my own bargain-basement drill bits. My enthusiasm to drive screws home often leaves them stripped therefore one feature that I found particular handy was the automatic electronic brake.

The Black & Decker 18V Lithium Cordless Hammer Drill is a sound DIY investment. If you shop around, you can get this power tool for less than 70. With the minimum of wall craters created and with my mirror still hanging, that price seems like pretty good value.

As drills go, this is a handsome devil

This article was first published in The Scotsman, Saturday August 14, 2010