Power Tool batteries rebuilt?

[gsganzer]

I was looking on ebay for some new Milwaukee 18V batteries and noticed a number of companies offering to rebuild batteries.

Has anyone tried this? It's about 2/3 ($35 each) the cost of purchasing new ones. A pair of new batteries will cost me about $100.

 

[Soundguy]

Many battery packs use sub c and aa cell type rechargeables. I guess those companies just buy bulk batts and repower your old housing.

Lots of stuff available from old Nickle cadmium (nicad), nickle metal hydride (nimh), and lithium ion (li).. etc..

Soundguy

 

[LMTC]

Yep. Don't remember the exact place, somewhere in PA I think. About two years ago, battery pack for an older Dewalt 12v drill. New battery pack has been just fine, and the savings was substantial.

 

[slowrev]

Batteries Plus in Tampa used to do this. I thnk they are a chain and on the net.

Ben

 

[heehaw]

if your battery pack is screwed together, not glued, you can take it apart and get aa rechargables from walmart and put them inside. quite a bit cheaper.
heehaw

 

[jmc]

I dropped a Makita 9.6v off at a local auto battery store and they did it for about $17 vs $30 for new. Might be worth calling around locally.

John

 

[Chuck52]

Anyone have a favorite source for the Sub C rechargeables? I need to rebuild both of my 14.4v Ryobi packs and the local prices for the cells run from $4.50 up. I've found several sources on the web with better prices, and if I order 10 the price plus shipping doesn't get too bad. The worse pack has three dead cells....still using the other one, though I bet it has at least one dead cell. Wouldn't mind having a few extra cells around, and I think my son-in-law has a couple of dead packs lying around also.

Chuck

 

[Soundguy]

Back when I needed one or two I hit ratschack... I'm guessing something like trw/battery store might be a good source.

Soundguy

 

[bota7800]

Also do an internet search.

A couple years ago I had to replace some unusual batteries and found several sites. One I used was BatteriesAmerica.com, if I remember right. I recall that they had quite a variety. I think they had sub-c and the like.


We have a BatteriesPlus here. They seem to have a good inventory as well.

 

[Chuck52]

I found several sites by searching for sub c batteries. A friend at work and I were going to order a bunch together, but when he opened his bad Dewalt, eight of twelve cells were dead. At that point, he just gave me the good cells and tossed the pack because he had three more. I only needed three cells for my pack, so I used those.

I found one place where the sub c cells were less than $1@ if you bought 100. I assume the rebuilders get them for that, but then around here they sell them for $4 to $4.50 each. Also, you can get them with and without the solder tabs. The tabs should make it easier to do the rebuild, but at least in my pack the direction the tabs are welded on varies.

Chuck

 

[orangebluegreen]

The battery problems and cost is infuriating. It would appear to me the tool builders try to obsolete you and force new tool sales. I bought a Black & Decker firestorm 14.4 drill/saw combo several years ago after I lost my Makita. Either the battery died causing charger failure, or visa versa, but it was only about a year old and I found batteries were almost impossible to find and the design changed.

Last week I looked again and see they are now into a third generation of design since mine. The kicker.....the new 14.4v was only $23!!!! Vs mine at around 60-70 (also understand the Dewalt and B&D were the same at that time). I have had my batteries apart, wondering if it’s possible to buy the newer cheaper ones, break them open and put the batteries in my old packs. I know some of the B&D’s were recalled, I need to see if mine was, if not, they SHOULD be.

BTW.....a few years later I found my Makita under a drawer, the battery was dead after not being charged for years......well last week I was able to buy a 9.6v Makita battery for my 20 year old drill at Home Depot for $29. Hello B&D.....do you intend to stay in business like this?