Time to convert from small engine to battery tools?

[ultrarunner]

And we're back to the problem of one manufacturer's very expensive battery(s) not fitting any other manufacturer's equipment/'skins'.

Last Autumn I bought a new Makita hammer drill with a 6Ah battery + charger. Later on I purchased a second Makita 6Ah battery, which was on sale at the local Ag Show, so that I could have a spare back-up. Then I bought a Makita Blower 'skin'... again, on sale. Everything works great!

Well, last Friday I walked into my local hardware store and, lo & behold, there was a Makita dual battery (36V) 14" chainsaw. I was very tempted but decided to wait, plus do a wee bit of internet investigation... What else was Makita offering? = Not only a full range of 'shop' tool skins but now 'garden' tool skins, all using the one type of Makita battery.

Economically, it looks like I've 'locked myself' into Makita. Fortunately, it's a bloody good brand.

I still have every Makita tool purchased including my 7.2 battery drill/flashlight combo... (circa 1980's) with 12 volt automotive charger... Makita has done me well.

That 7.2 Volt drill did all the drywall screws on my first to the studs remodel... the flashlight was awesome because I always could swap a fresh one from in the van.

The small circular saw not so much but I found it worked well enough for under-layment for vinyl sheet goods...

Brother has a lot of more modern Makita and zero issues... my first purchase was a miter saw with cast iron base.

 

[rangerfredbob]

I have had my Oregon Battery saw for a couple of years, but I guess I never used it last winter. Tried it a couple of weekends ago, and was VERY disappointed. The battery meter said it was fully charged, but it was really lacking power. It was only just below freezing out.

Lithium batteries as with lead acid batteries do not have full potential in cold temperatures. If you warmed up the battery I bet it would work better...

I just used my Lynx or however they spelled it leaf blower to blow off the sidewalk and driveway tonight, love that thing, much easier than a broom and gets in the nooks and crannies of my junk better...

 

[Industrial Toys]

I used it on a fallen tree across a trail when my Dad came to visit. Thought I would show off. As it was, I was quite embarrassed, and my Dad probably thought, what kind of junk did he throw away his money on now? lol I was having trouble getting through a six inch elm.

 

[ernemats]

Battery powered tools have a place in a lot of tasks but there are some that they just aren't up to handling yet, but they are making progress. I use my battery tools a lot now for jobs I used to use corded tools or gas powered for.

 

[dragoneggs]

I used it on a fallen tree across a trail when my Dad came to visit. Thought I would show off. As it was, I was quite embarrassed, and my Dad probably thought, what kind of junk did he throw away his money on now? lol I was having trouble getting through a six inch elm.

Curious as to what brand/model battery op tool couldn’t handle the 6in ‘branch’... should it have? My Stihl cuts that like butter. And I know many others with other brands are having similar results.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Oregon, is it 40 volt? forty something.

I noticed that bringing my I phone outside with me yesterday, which I never do, also quickly died in the cold. Like, just above freezing!

 

[Diggin It]

Skipping pages .... did we know that Ryobi came out with a grease gun?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-18-Volt-ONE-Grease-Gun-Tool-Only-P3410/308848395

Too pricey for me though.

 

[Diggin It]

I hate leaf blowers. I hate the noise. I hate the concept of lazy.

But I've been assimilated into the collective for reasons I won't go into to far.. I've been moving leaves to areas to be mulched into the ground with a tiller, but I got tired (and dizzy) of riding around in circles on the mowers trying to get them in the right spot against the wind, plus that was burning a lot of gas/diesel.

Found a refurbed Ryobi 100MPH 280CFM with a charger and 4AH battery that I can use in my other tools for $80.00 where the charger and battery alone usually sell for near that.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-R...attery-and-Charger-Included-ZRP2180/207136528

 

[rangerfredbob]

I cut the top off of a dead fir tree the other day with the Lynxx chainsaw, fresh charge on two batteries still hit the low voltage cutoff or over amperage or something several times... took about 2 batteries to cut about 6 rounds off the base, about 9' up the tree was the initial cut and it was the diameter of the bar... I imagine the dry wood was harder than wet but it didn't take much to hit the limit I was hitting. It was about 45F outside so not optimal for the batteries but still... I was just curious what it would do so I used it, the saw is a beast when it works as you expect but leaves you wanting more... probably too much motor for the battery. The pole saw is a beast of a machine, powers through and doesn't hiccup...

 

[bcp]

I used my Lynxx chainsaw the other day, first time. Five alders, about 8-10 inches at the base, maybe 40ft tall, were cut from their stumps and limbs trimmed. Two were cut into about 14-16 foot sections. Another two were cut into about 15 inch sections. One was cut into 4ft sections. One 25ft fir was cut into 15 inch sections. Two batteries used, both dead when finished. The last cut, about 10 inch diameter, took about 8-10 tries as the battery would run the saw about 3 seconds and stop.

Bruce