Let's talk cordless tools ... and dead batteries

[dud]

I considered posting this in the "Garage" but I hardly ever use my cordless tools in the garage or on my vehicles for that matter.

My issue is that I have a nice set of DeWalt 18v cordless tools and the batteries are starting to fail. These are th eold Nicad batteries which are notorious for shorting out (and not holding a charge) as they age.

Question: Have you ever had batteries fail on you and what was your solution? Did you take the easy way out and just buy new ones (DeWalt batteries are expensive), did you rebuild or buy third party aftermarket ones off places like ebay?

Thanks ...

 

[vi edit]

How often do you use them? Are your current tools backwards compatible with Lithium Ion batteries? If you aren't using them daily, what is great about Li-ion is that it holds a charge for what feels like forever. I can go a month without using the tool and it's still got a decent charge. The Li-ion packs are also a fraction of the size and weight.

Downside is that they don't seem to pack as much of a punch for as long, so if you are a power user you'll probably be swapping batteries out more often unless you pay a huge premium and go for the giant Li-ion packs.

My Dad works for a municipality and they had a contract with Batteries Plus I think. BP provided all of their aftermarket power tool batteries. Dad said in his experience he got about 50%-75% of the life of an OEM battery. That's been my experience using most after market, non OEM batteries of all shapes and sizes in various technology products.

 

[dud]

How often do you use them? Are your current tools backwards compatible with Lithium Ion batteries? If you aren't using them daily, what is great about Li-ion is that it holds a charge for what feels like forever. I can go a month without using the tool and it's still got a decent charge. The Li-ion packs are also a fraction of the size and weight.

Downside is that they don't seem to pack as much of a punch for as long, so if you are a power user you'll probably be swapping batteries out more often unless you pay a huge premium and go for the giant Li-ion packs.

My Dad works for a municipality and they had a contract with Batteries Plus I think. BP provided all of their aftermarket power tool batteries. Dad said in his experience he got about 50%-75% of the life of an OEM battery. That's been my experience using most after market, non OEM batteries of all shapes and sizes in various technology products.

I don't use them very much but when I do I need them to work quickly (I have a 30 minute DeWalt charger). AFAIK they are not backwards compatible with Li-ion. I have another set of 12v Nextec tools that work great for most jobs but can't hack cutting up a 4x8 half inch thick piece of plywood.

I love my DeWalts but this obcesion with Nicad tech sucks.

 

[highland145]

Bought a replacement at BP once. It didn't preform as well as my spare OEM. And, yes, the dewalt replacements are expensive. I found a new dewalt 18V + 2 batteries on sale at amazon for ~$80 last year. Tossed the old drill.

 

[vi edit]

And, yes, the dewalt replacements are expensive. I found a new dewalt 18V + 2 batteries on sale at amazon for ~$80 last year. Tossed the old drill.

That's the sad reality I faced with my Ridgid stuff. It was just cheaper to buy a new kit with a compact driver/drill and two batteries than two new batteries.

 

[highland145]

That's the sad reality I faced with my Ridgid stuff. It was just cheaper to buy a new kit with a compact driver/drill and two batteries than two new batteries.

My old drill chuck was shot anyway.

 

[radhak]

I considered posting this in the "Garage" but I hardly ever use my cordless tools in the garage or on my vehicles for that matter.

My issue is that I have a nice set of DeWalt 18v cordless tools and the batteries are starting to fail. These are the old Nicad batteries which are notorious for shorting out (and not holding a charge) as they age.

Question: Have you ever had batteries fail on you and what was your solution? Did you take the easy way out and just buy new ones (DeWalt batteries are expensive), did you rebuild or buy third party aftermarket ones off places like ebay?

Thanks ...

It depends on how old your tools are. More than a couple of years, you might benefit in newer, better technology if you replace the whole tool for not much more than what replacement batteries would cost you. Of course, if the tools were fairly new, then I'd be skeptical of spending more money on replacement batteries for the same brand! IOW, you are better off with newer stuff anyway...

But personally I found a mid-path: my craftsman batteries failed after 5/6 years, and I found compatible Li-Ion batteries for them. Pricey enough that I got just one battery for the three drills (regular, angular and hammer), but it's been working fine with just a little bit of hassle for me to swap batteries mid-work. But that's a compromise I liked - I am using existing tools with a newer-technology battery. (I hate throwing away stuff that's not totally dead).

And FWIW, you could try and rejuvenate you nicad batteries : http://media.davebaar.com/wordpress/?p=347 (please don't sue me if something blows up in your face :\)

 

[dave_the_nerd]

My dad and grandpa have both had cordless tools long enough that they had to buy replacement batteries, and then had to replace them when they couldn't get replacement batteries anymore.

All mine are corded.

 

[NuclearNed]

My dad and grandpa have both had cordless tools long enough that they had to buy replacement batteries, and then had to replace them when they couldn't get replacement batteries anymore.

All mine are corded.

I think I'm going back to corded. My cordless drill batteries are shot, and they were never charged when I need them anyway.

 

[Thebobo]

Rip it apart and install your own batteries.

 

[Thump553]

Exactly why I use corded tools almost exclusively, unless it is a situation where I absolutely need a cordless one. I suspect the average homeowner gets maybe 10% of the purported lifetime use out of cordless tools.

Plus those batteries are pretty nasty on the environment unless recycled properly.

 

[radhak]

Corded tools are a great idea, with a caveat - they are powerful.

When visiting my b-in-law last year I borrowed a corded drill from his neighbor for using with a hole-saw, and barely escaped a broken wrist! Damn that think was entirely different from a cordless which would have just stopped at the end of the cut...

Needs some caution, all I'm saying.

 

[brainhulk]

Harbor Freight tools are super cheap. Like disposable cheap.

Ive never used their cordless stuff before though

 

[DrPizza]

Moved to H&G -Admin DrPizza
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For the typical homeowner, I'd recommend mostly corded tools, with cordless only for drills. And, personally, I love my (Ryobi?) set of drills; both are small, powerful, and the impact drill really helps with not stripping phillips head screws. Just 2 nights ago, I was driving 3" screws into a 2x8 to attach it to a 2x4.

For tools like a circular saw, they generally aren't used often enough by a typical homeowner to justify the cost, not to mention that that the batteries very well may become a problem. I'm not "up to date" on whatever the latest advice for recharging batteries is, but I've been told enough times not to recharge them if they're only slightly discharged. Discharge them most of the way, but not all the way, before recharging them. So, for the casual user who uses the saw to cut through a piece of plywood or two; something that drains the battery to 90%. Do you put the battery back on the charger, shortening its life? (Or, so I've been told), or do you leave the battery out, forget about it, and find out you've got a dead battery when you need to use the circular saw a year later.

2 100-foot extension cords, plus a corded homeowner quality circular saw costs less than a typical battery operated circular saw; so it doesn't make sense financially either.

 

[dud]

My set of DeWalt's were purchased in 2004 and are in near-mint condition and would hate to chuck them. I've looked at rebuilding but that is about the same cost as new.

 

[tsiunltdus]

I have cordless also and my batteries are not wanting to hold the charge like before. I think for the cost of replacements I am going to just invest in a new one. This one has been well worth the money that I spent. and if the new one lasts as long for a good price then it will be worth the money also.

 

[skyking]

There are battery outfits that will put new cells in for a fraction of the cost of new. I think batteries plus offers that service.

 

[edro]

Throw the tool and batteries away and buy LITHIUM.
You can get drill and driver sets for $150-300, depending on brand and deals.

You can't go wrong with lithium: Ryobi, Rigid, Milwaukee, DeWalt, Festool($$), Hitachi, Bosch, Makita.

Rigid $139 deal.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-1...210757&cj=true&cm_mmc=CJ-_-4150373-_-11210757

 

[marvdmartian]

I know I'll probably catch hell for saying this (especially from the Ryobi, Dewalt, Rigid, etc. owners), but that's what I love about the Craftsman cordless 19.2v tools I own.

When Sears started offering a Li-ion battery for their tools, they made sure they were compatible with the old tools, as well as the new ones. All I had to do was buy a charger and battery with the same voltage as my old Ni-Cad batteries. :thumbsup:

And for occasional home use, there isn't a damn thing wrong with Craftsman.

 

[skyking]

I for one am not THAT guy. I started years ago with 12v makita drills. My wife got me this huge makita 18v set about 7 years ago at costco.
I have a dewalt 18v 1/2 impact, two batts and a charger I got used from the job.
The best value for working man's tools seems to be milwaukee right now.
your sears tools are just fine for most things. I can't say they are worse than any other until I personally take one and break it on the job.

 

[Imp]

I chucked a perfectly good Nickel Cadmium battery for my cheapo Black and Decker drill recently. Didn't want that toxic stuff in my house and barely used it.

Probably going to replace it at some point with a Lithium-Ion. Corded is great in that it has reliable, non-stop power, but the cord. I hate using extension cords.

 

[skyking]

up on ladders, roofs, down under cabinets is where the cordless shines, literally too. My makita has the best lighting, it comes on with a touch of the trigger and stays on like a modern car's dome lights. Gives you time to get things positioned. The dewalt goes right out when you let your finger move, and I did not know how much better the makita's was until I was trying to work the dewalt under a cabinet.

 

[SparkyJJO]

I chucked a perfectly good Nickel Cadmium battery for my cheapo Black and Decker drill recently. Didn't want that toxic stuff in my house and barely used it.

Probably going to replace it at some point with a Lithium-Ion. Corded is great in that it has reliable, non-stop power, but the cord. I hate using extension cords.

Unless you're cracking the battery pack open or chewing on it that "toxic stuff" isn't going to harm you.

That said, I had a Craftsman 18V cordless drill and saw, one battery died and a few years later the other started getting funny on me. Plus as mentioned NiCad is always dead when you go to use if it has been sitting for a while. So... down with NiCad! I bought a Makita 18V lithum set (hammer drill, circular saw, sawzall, flashlight) and holy crap that thing has way more power than my Craftsman did, in a much smaller body too. I also got their 1/2" impact. Heavy beast but it does short work of seized bolts and stuff on the car. Awesome.

 

[LegendKiller]

My dad's ~15yr old dewalt XRP NiCad drill's two batteries recently both died. I have thought about getting new batteries but for $100 I can spend $40 more and get the Rigid set linked above and be able to use my brothers 4ah batteries.

The corded thought is interesting. Not as convenient at times but my brother has one of my dad's corded drill that was my grandfather's. Sucker is ~50yrs old and goes through anything.

 

[highland145]

The corded thought is interesting. Not as convenient at times but my brother has one of my dad's corded drill that was my grandfather's. Sucker is ~50yrs old and goes through anything.

My Grand died in 1976. His Sears/Roebuck drill still kicks ass. Although, I mostly use the dewalts.