Cordless Tools vs. Other Options

[jjeff]

Imo nicads seemed a little more durable in terms of impacts like dropping them off a roof or ladder I had a new 20 volt 5ah DeWalt L ion completely fail after dropping it. The few DeWalt nicads I have left the cases are cracked from use and dropping still hold a charge (barely but still useable) running my older 18 volt stuff.

 

[LittleBill21]

Imo nicads seemed a little more durable in terms of impacts like dropping them off a roof or ladder I had a new 20 volt 5ah DeWalt L ion completely fail after dropping it. The few DeWalt nicads I have left the cases are cracked from use and dropping still hold a charge (barely but still useable) running my older 18 volt stuff.

the physical casing of a Liion cell is almost identical to that of a nicad, the battery casing itself is prolly crappier due to it being newer then the nicad version

 

[jjeff]

the physical casing of a Liion cell is almost identical to that of a nicad, the battery casing itself is prolly crappier due to it being newer then the nicad version

Maybe it was faulty from the getgo or the drop damaged the board or wiring? At over $100 a battery I returned it. Don't get me wrong I really like the runtime of Li ions compared to nicads. More importantly to me is dewalts smart chargers and the fact I still have barely usable 15 yr old xrp nicads, before I had older Milwaukee 18 volt nicads almost 20 yrs ago and I was constantly replacing battery packs. Left a bad taste in my mouth even though I believe Milwaukee has improved chargers and batteries tenfold.

 

[LittleBill21]

Maybe it was faulty from the getgo or the drop damaged the board or wiring? At over $100 a battery I returned it. Don't get me wrong I really like the runtime of Li ions compared to nicads. More importantly to me is dewalts smart chargers and the fact I still have barely usable 15 yr old xrp nicads, before I had older Milwaukee 18 volt nicads almost 20 yrs ago and I was constantly replacing battery packs. Left a bad taste in my mouth even though I believe Milwaukee has improved chargers and batteries tenfold.

I have taken apart a dewalt 12v series, there is no real board in the battery pack itself. I was surprised. but I did have a single dead cell out of 3 that caused the pack not to work.

 

[Hoodoo]

Just saw this thread. FWIW, as a lifelong Contractor, I've always used Makita (probably because they were the first with most of this stuff)
I've had some of their 18V lithium tools and batteries since they came out.....no problems except with one drill I burnt up (my fault) and one battery failed. I leave them on the charger all the time with no issues. I probably have 20 -30 batteries and a couple dozen tools. Love 'em. But they can't replace a corded tool for a lot of stuff...

 

[jjeff]

I have taken apart a dewalt 12v series, there is no real board in the battery pack itself. I was surprised. but I did have a single dead cell out of 3 that caused the pack not to work.

I believe the 20 volt does, I know the 60 flexvolt has a board. But I've never taken it apart either.

 

[newbury]

When I was a kid, we had a different kind of cordless drill.
View attachment 728503

That looks like the cordless drill I grew up using. We lived in Northern Vt and tapped Maples every year for sugar. Gad what I would have given for my DeWalt 20V max 1/2" drill and 4 6AH batteries!!

 

[ultrarunner]

Would be nice if Stihl would have a combo charger/supply like DeWalt battery bank...

 

[Hay Dude]

Would like to see a “battery backpack” for Dewalt 60v trimmer for those longer weed whacking missions

 

[IndyJay]

Back in the day, grinders were foot powered. You sit there pumping alternating pedals turning the belt. Grinding and a workout at the same time. Haha

View attachment 728498

Power capacity was very similar to NiCads... weren't able to run as long as they aged.

 

[ultrarunner]

I had my 12 volt Dewalt and Bosch batteries rebuilt… even boosted.

Just couldn’t see throwing out the tools because of worn out battery.

I have a friend with a Grave Yard of battery tools… he buys a big set when on sale about every year for his business…

Makita, Bosch, Dewalt, Milwaukee, Fein, Porter Cable… you name it

 

[rScotty]

Where did you have them rebuilt & "boosted"? What's boosted? Do you recommend that? It's getting harder to find reasonable M28 batts.

 

[ultrarunner]

Batteries plus in Concord CA did them for me and offered higher capacity for $4 more per battery.

Be careful as Batteries plus must be franchised as prices vary depending on location.

Basically cut open the case, remove old, solder up new and glue case together

I was heading out of town and said I would be back in a week... No complaints... 4 years now

 

[kenmbz]

I have been buying Amazon batteries for my old Makita 9.6V drill and saw.
They work ok, just not as long as I remember the originals working.
I use these as backup in one garage and the Milwaukee M12/M18 as primary.

 

[Pleease]

Back in the day, grinders were foot powered. You sit there pumping alternating pedals turning the belt. Grinding and a workout at the same time. Haha

View attachment 728498

And I think I have arthritis from operating one of these before "weed eaters" were available.

 

[kenmbz]

I still have one of those for some small areas around the pool.
I remember my father had an electric grass shear, now that was not useful. The manual ones work better.