The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Bic on October 08, 2015, 11:51:31 AM
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My batteries on my not so old one crapped out so I've decided to just replace the whole thing.
Any thoughts on some of the latest offerings?
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Buy a brand with replacement batteries. With Drills you get what you pay for.
Not so with batteries for them, they're ALL crap.
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My Dewalt is going on 26 years... Don't know if the quality is the same these days. Most are Asian made now.
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they all suck. that being said the newer "brand name" 20 volters are getting better, but still won't replace a corded drill. Hilti makes great stuff, you just pay for it. dewalt, Makita and bosch are all the same just pick your color and go with it.
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For once I agree with TAB! He makes a living with this stuff!
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Don't buy a cheap one like I did. My battery won't hold a charge and I have to charge it the day before I want to use it. Replacement batteries cost almost as much as a whole new drill. You're better off getting one with 2 batteries, and more volts seems to be better. I guess bigger batteries last longer.
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btw often the kits are great deals and check the more industrial suppliers often they will have premotions going like buy this kit get this type deal.
the last one I did like that was last year. I got 2 extra batterys( $90/ each) and a cordless grinder.( which I found myself using a lot more then the corded ones as it turns slower so if it is something that I don't need the speed/power of a corded model)
it is a dewalt 20volt ( also remember to check mAh on the batterys they come in several sizes)
just my$.02 the only cordless tool that is worth anything is the impact driver. the drills last 5-10 mins of actual use. things like hole saws/ spade bits eat up that batterys fast.
ps the batterys will normally cost more then replacing every thing. every guy in construction I know has a bunch of older cordless tools with lots of life left but no batterys. I use to by them by the 6 pack, for about $500 every 3 months when I used them a lot. now I just bring the generator lol
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this is what I bought last year... ( and from this vendor)
http://www.whitecap.com/shop/p/dewalt-20v-max-cordless-lithium-ion-brushless-hammer-drill---impact-driver-combo-kit-dck296m2
I bought a sawzall and 6 extra batterys( with the 4 I got from the promotion in both the bigger and smaller size as the small size is great for the impact driver as it is lighter)
so 10 batterys total in the fall of last year. I have 3 left. the others won't hold a charge very long.
granted I use my tools very hard every day, and take care of them.
now my hilti rotato hammer that is cordless is about 4 years old it runs on a 36 volt system and does not get used very much( maybe once or twice a month, when I can't use a cord for what ever reason) and was $1000. 2 batterys down at ~$450 each ( 6 mAh)
my festool is the same, great for what it does, $$$$$$ to buy( around $600) but the batterys just don't last very long.
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Check the cost of replacement batteries.
Dewalt (black and decker) batteries are sky high in cost and I don't think they're that much better.
Ryobi has cheaper replacement batteries but they're probably not as good.
My maintenance dept went with Milwakee last I noticed.
Now I will admit all mine at home an at work are NiCd. I'm not sure how well the Lithiums hold up.
I'll be replacing the two at work soon. And mine at home as well. So keep us posted.
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B and d owns just about every one, there is no getting away from them unless you spend$$$$$
My hilti and festool battery make b and look cheap.
L ion is the way to go, much higher mAh rating.
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I use a Ridgid 18v, but for a back up a Yankee Screwdriver with adapter chuck
(http://i825.photobucket.com/albums/zz180/LesSnyder/001_zps330ca462.jpg) (http://s825.photobucket.com/user/LesSnyder/media/001_zps330ca462.jpg.html)
(http://i825.photobucket.com/albums/zz180/LesSnyder/DSC00461_zps4df772c9.jpg) (http://s825.photobucket.com/user/LesSnyder/media/DSC00461_zps4df772c9.jpg.html)
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Can't beat the old Yankee screw driver ! 😁
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My problem is like most homeowners. I don't use a cordless tool enough to justify buying a "good one". The batteries will go bad from lack of use. For a guy like me, if I were going to buy one, I would probably go with something like this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/18-volt-12-in-cordless-variable-speed-drilldriver-62427.html
There is no way I could ever justify a $360.00 DeWalt for what my needs are.
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My problem is like most homeowners. I don't use a cordless tool enough to justify buying a "good one". The batteries will go bad from lack of use. For a guy like me, if I were going to buy one, I would probably go with something like this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/18-volt-12-in-cordless-variable-speed-drilldriver-62427.html
There is no way I could ever justify a $360.00 DeWalt for what my needs are.
Same here.
I lucked up a few years ago and got a steal on a Craftsman kit: 18v drill and a sawzall with two batteries and a bag for $20. Regular price was $150. One of my d-i-l has kin-folk that managed a local Sears store and they were liquidating items that didn't sell at Christmas. My son got two sets for himself, one like mine and the other a drill/circular saw set.
I seldom have a need for it, but it is nice when the need arises. I try to charge the batteries regularly so they keep their life. Mine are NiCad and one of his uses Li-ion....the lithium seems better, but you never know when they are getting near depletion......they tend to just stop when it is time to charge, where the NiCads will slowly begin to weaken over time.
I have a 12v B & D cordless with a charger that plugs in like a cell phone.... just plug the charging cord into the back of the drill for a few hours. I probably use it more than any other drill (not often, but I grab it first when I need one) if it doesn't have enough umpf, then I grab the 18v....or a 110v corded drill.
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My problem is like most homeowners. I don't use a cordless tool enough to justify buying a "good one". The batteries will go bad from lack of use. For a guy like me, if I were going to buy one, I would probably go with something like this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/18-volt-12-in-cordless-variable-speed-drilldriver-62427.html
There is no way I could ever justify a $360.00 DeWalt for what my needs are.
you can buy dewalt 18 volt drill for about $80 at the box stores it comes with 2 batterys that are worth the $80 alone.
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http://www.homedepot.com/p/Makita-18-Volt-LXT-Lithium-Ion-1-2-in-Cordless-Hammer-Driver-Drill-Kit-XPH012/205382798
not bad for $100
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My old Dewalt I mentioned earlier runs as well today as it did when I bought it! Still using the original battery and it still holds s good charge. Heavy though!
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http://www.homedepot.com/p/Makita-18-Volt-LXT-Lithium-Ion-1-2-in-Cordless-Hammer-Driver-Drill-Kit-XPH012/205382798
not bad for $100
I think we may have a winner - Thanks TAB!
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Check for the kit with the impact driver, trust me, they are the only good cordless tool.
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While my drill has held together well, the NiCd batteries don't last and are very expensive compared to other brands such as Ryobi. BTB, Batteries Plus will replace individual cells in NiCds. Last I checked it was about $20/cell. If only one is prematurely bad, then it's a good deal.
Speaking of expensive, that Makita drill above, DOES come with the battery. Good thing too, because replacement batteries are, $99.99.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Makita-18-Volt-LXT-Lithium-Ion-3-0-Ah-Battery-BL1830/202213952 (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Makita-18-Volt-LXT-Lithium-Ion-3-0-Ah-Battery-BL1830/202213952)
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While my drill has held together well, the NiCd batteries don't last and are very expensive compared to other brands such as Ryobi. BTB, Batteries Plus will replace individual cells in NiCds. Last I checked it was about $20/cell.
I've had very similar problems with cordless, land line phones. The batteries go bad long before the unit itself fails. Now I always look at the type of rechargeable batteries they take BEFORE I buy them. I look for AA batteries, and not these battery packs that are contained in shrink wrap, and have soldered connections with non standard, impossible to find connectors.
That way you can simply replace the batteries instead of tossing the phones. The battery packs cost more to replace than the phones do. Not so with individual AA type rechargeable cells. Especially if you have 4 or 5 remote handsets. When you do replace them look carefully at the rated output. They're not all the same. Buy the highest rated output for whatever cell size you require. Also, stick with the name brands like Duracell, Eveready, or Ray-O-Vac Ni-Cad Rechargeable Batteries. These units usually come from the factory with cheap, Chinese, no name batteries that don't last long, or have much capacity.
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.... not these battery packs that are contained in shrink wrap, and have soldered connections with non standard, impossible to find connectors.
I know you know this, but for those that might not. Battery packs are not soldered together. The heat would damage the cells. They are tack-welded. A special machine just for that purpose is used. Thought of buying one for this and other projects but decided it wasn't worth it.
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When I needed batteries for a cordless phone it was the kind of battery pack Bill described. I found one with the right connector at Radio Shack. I think it was even more powerful than the stock battery pack but I'm not sure anymore.
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If you are a contractor, by all means buy a contractor grade drill. If you are a homeowner, buying a drill made to be used 10 hours a day for years is overbuying, IMHO. I have a Ryobi with 10+ years on it. A year or so ago, upgraded to the new NiMH batteries and a smart charger. NiCADs were 5 years old and still working, but the new tech has double the capacity. They also hold a charge, basically forever.
I also have several other tools that use the same batteries, which is nice. After several years the motor in my circular saw burned out. I thought I would have to buy a new saw. Nope - new motor was less than $20.00 shipped. Saw is back in service.
All in all, I am happy with Ryobi tools, for my purposes.