Best deals on M18 batteries?

[MushCreek]

My M18 batteries are getting old, and several of them seem to be losing their oomph. They run down and charge back up very quickly. I checked with Home Depot, and they have a deal with three 5.0 XC batteries for $215. Is that a good deal? Great deal? So-so deal? I'm afraid to buy them from places like ebay or Amazon. I assume HD carries genuine Milwaukee? I don't need bigger batteries. For my use, even my old 2.8's were fine until they started aging out. Most of my batteries are 15 years old or so.

 

[PCustoms]

Most of my batteries are 15 years old or so.

Seems like the batteries alone really aren't a good deal. With the age of your tools is it worth picking up discounted combo kits? Just be careful some of these come with a very small 2.0 batteries.

And yes, home Depot carries genuine Milwaukee

 

[mjdarg]

Check out Way Source. They are an authorized Milwaukee dealer and I’ve found they have great deals on batteries. I’ve ordered some M12 and M18 batteries from them with no issues.

https://waysource.com/collections/power-tool-batteries-and-chargers/products/48-11-1852

 

[67King]

Delete

 

[67King]

2 for $130 at Walmart. About half off.

 

[PCustoms]

2 for $130 at Walmart. About half off.

Not Walmart:

 

[MushCreek]

Shady Groves doesn't have a very good rating- doesn't sound like someone to trust.

Way Source has the best price so far, and they claim to be an authorized dealer.

 

[67King]

Not Walmart:

Yes. At Walmart. Walmart.com to be specific. It may be fulfilled by a 3rd party (like Amazon), but the transaction goes through Walmart, and any issues would be handled through Walmart.



Interesting, it shows as a totally different fulfillment place to me. FWIW, I bought a few 12V batteries a month ago, and that was fine.

Shady Groves doesn't have a very good rating- doesn't sound like someone to trust.

Way Source has the best price so far, and they claim to be an authorized dealer.

Except you aren't trusting them, you are trusting Walmart. Not that I prefer buying through Walmart, but I've done it several times and have always had it work out well. I'd actually trust them over Amazon or ebay. And like I said, it shows a different vendor for me. But if you don't want to buy from online retailers, you can go to Home Depot and pay full price.

 

[PCustoms]

Yes. At Walmart. Walmart.com to be specific.

Yeah, no kidding. Where do you think I took that screenshot? While actually, I started on Google, so I guess I bought it on Google.

It may be fulfilled by a 3rd party (like Amazon), but the transaction goes through Walmart, and any issues would be handled through Walmart.

Good luck, that's not how it works from what I've seen.

 

[dsimatt]

Check out Way Source. They are an authorized Milwaukee dealer and I’ve found they have great deals on batteries. I’ve ordered some M12 and M18 batteries from them with no issues.

https://waysource.com/collections/power-tool-batteries-and-chargers/products/48-11-1852

I just looked through their site and very cheap on batteries versus others to the put it makes me nervous. Like the OP I’m now sitting with older batteries that are not so good, have 2 9amps that can only be used on low draw tools.

 

[PCustoms]

I just looked through their site and very cheap on batteries versus others to the put it makes me nervous. Like the OP I’m now sitting with older batteries that are not so good, have 2 9amps that can only be used on low draw tools.

Well their retail store was/is safety source supply.

From the Milwaukee site:

 

[dsimatt]

Well their retail store was/is safety source supply.

From the Milwaukee site:

And per the wayside site it looks like they bought out or merged.

 

[PCustoms]

And per the wayside site it looks like they bought out or merged.

Like I said

Well their retail store was/is safety source supply.

The details

About Us

Welcome to Way Source Our family business will treat your business like family! Founded in 2013 by Paul Sanz and a partner, Safety Source Supply emerged in Brooklyn with a vision: to cater to contractor's safety requirements with top-notch offerings at competitive prices. Several months into the...

waysource.com

 

[dsimatt]

Like I said



The details

About Us

Welcome to Way Source Our family business will treat your business like family! Founded in 2013 by Paul Sanz and a partner, Safety Source Supply emerged in Brooklyn with a vision: to cater to contractor's safety requirements with top-notch offerings at competitive prices. Several months into the...

waysource.com

Well I will see how well they do now, apparently I had bought something once with the old site as all my information was in it. It’s to hard to pass up getting a couple Forge 8amps batteries cheaper than what one normally costs. They do nail you on the shipping.

 

[darkzero]

Good luck, that's not how it works from what I've seen.

Speaking from experience, this is true. Only the financial part of the transaction goes through Walmart like any other marketplace & 3rd party vendors. Walmart has no control over the shipment or product being sold or any other issues. If you need to return the item or request a refund for whatever reason, that is handled by the 3rd party vendor. You can have Walmart do it for you but all they are doing is being the middle man, no different than the buyer doing it themselves. If a return label is provided it,s provided by the vendor, not Walmart.

Only if the vendor refuses to cooperate or is unresponsive then Walmart may step in but that doesn't mean the case will always be in your favor.

Earlier this year I broke my rule to never buy from Walmart 3rd party sellers but I took a chance on an item that was kind of scarce. In the end I got my money back. Not saying every transaction on Walmart marketplace will have issues but never again will I risk it.

There's far more shady sellers on Walmart marketplace than on other marketplaces.

 

[PCustoms]

Earlier this year I broke my rule to never buy from Walmart 3rd party sellers but I took a chance on an item that was kind of scarce. In the end I got my money back. Not saying every transaction on Walmart marketplace will have issues but never again will I risk it.

On Amazon I try for (in order):

-Amazon/Amazon
-Amazon/3rd party
-3rd party/3rd party

Been burned a few times on the 3rd party

 

[darkzero]

On Amazon I try for (in order):

-Amazon/Amazon
-Amazon/3rd party
-3rd party/3rd party

Been burned a few times on the 3rd party

Same, if fulfilled by Amazon I usually have no hestation. I try to stay away from Amz ships & sold by 3rd party but not opposed, I'll try to research the seller a bit before purchasing. Luckily I have not had any issues with any Amz 3rd party sellers (yet).

I would buy from ebay or Amz marketplace any day than Walmart marketplace. The marketplaces I will never buy from or even browse are Walmart, Sears, HD, & Lowes. I feel much safer buying from Aliexpress, Banggood, or Temu (although I don’t shop Temu).

 

[jar944]

Best way to buy milwaukee batteries is between black friday and Christmas when HD is having day/week sales on tools with free batteries.

Buying them stand alone is the most expensive way.

 

[PCustoms]

Best way to buy milwaukee batteries is between black friday and Christmas when HD is having day/week sales on tools with free batteries.

Buying them stand alone is the most expensive way.

Only makes sense if you need the tools

 

[MushCreek]

Yeah, I'd have to stretch to think of another tool I 'need'. Of course, this is Garage Journal, where we all need more tools....

 

[PCustoms]

Yeah, I'd have to stretch to think of another tool I 'need'. Of course, this is Garage Journal, where we all need more tools....

Oddly there's a second act of M18 battery thread right now. I described in that how I actually needed an oscillating tool, but it just didn't make sense to buy the battery deal to get the free tool as it was still way more than just buying the tool with the small 2.0 battery.

So now I have a battery just for my flashlight, and an oscillating tool that I'll use for a few jobs and then put in the drawer somewhere

 

[jar944]

Only makes sense if you need the tools

Or you are giving them away as gifts, and keeping the batteries...

Or its the new generation model.

 

[man-a-fre]

My advice is to learn how to rebuild them, and get the high output xc8.0's there a cake walk to rebuild as are the xc 6.0's . I ve have several m18 12.0's which are quite a process to rebuild as are the m18 9.0's stick with battery packs that are 2 rows tall not 3 if you are planning on rebuilding them. Really like the m18 ho xc6.0's and m18 ho xc8.0's.Never had a forge battery ,and really probably will never need one. The welder i use is a seesii brand se209 its cheap and works okay off the jungle site. Rebuilt like 30 packs so far.

 

[theoldwizard1]

My advice is to learn how to rebuild them, and get the high output xc8.0's there a cake walk to rebuild as are the xc 6.0's .

CONCUR ! You can get brand name 18650 cells, various capacities, for a FRACTION of the cost. A rechargeable battery spot welder is under $50 on eBay.

Doing M12 is a royal pain. Very difficult to disassemble.

 

[dnschmidt]

The answer is GENUINE TOOLS. Best price on Milwaukee batteries. And they are the real deal and not knock-offs.

 

[AEAdam]

Couple questions:

1. What tools are we talking about specifically?
2. How do you store your batteries? If high heat is inescapable, I'd go with cheaper batteries because yours won't likely last as long as they should.
3. What batteries are you looking to buy specifically? IIRC, 5amp XC batteries are among Milwaukee's worst batteries. You might do better with 3amp HO batteries.

I did ok with Amazon new in packaging or Homedepot. Note that with HD, there is a different page where you can get bogo deals, typically free batteries when you buy a tool or....Rarely is the tool you are buying the absolute best price, but when the battery is factored in, it can be a good deal.

 

[CJM8515]

ive gotten several tools and batteries from clarkes before, good stuff

 

[MushCreek]

I use a variety to tools- Drill, driver, sawzall, 1/2" impact, circular saw. I'm retired, so it is hobby use. I store the batteries in our basement during the hottest/coldest parts of the year, between 62-75 F. I really like the 5.0's. I have two; all of the rest are old 2.8's. The 5.0's are noticeably better. I've heard the 6's aren't that great.

 

[AEAdam]

I use a variety to tools- Drill, driver, sawzall, 1/2" impact, circular saw. I'm retired, so it is hobby use. I store the batteries in our basement during the hottest/coldest parts of the year, between 62-75 F. I really like the 5.0's. I have two; all of the rest are old 2.8's. The 5.0's are noticeably better. I've heard the 6's aren't that great.

My (general) advice is to use 3.0s for drill driver, sawszall, and circ saws. They are much smaller, lighter than the 5.0s. And I often use my sawzall in conjunciton with circ saws, drills and drivers (and I have nailers). So if I run out of battery, chances are 100% I have another compatible battery within arm's reach.

The bigger batteries, I have on stuff like SDS drills, my track saw etc. These things I use for prolonged periods of time on their own. If I had a battery powered chop saw (would like one), same. For automotive, ditto I like the bigger batteries.

Sounds like you store your batteries properly. If you don't like the interruption in stopping to charge, definitely spring for the higher output models. The HO battereis are really nice. But give a think about whether you need the larger batteries for everything. If that's an upgrade or a down grade in usability.

 

[MushCreek]

I rarely run out of battery. The other day, I put up some shelving in the shop. Drilled pilot holes with the drill, ran the lag screws in with the driver, and used the circular saw to rip 3/4" ply for the shelving. I have six batteries all together, but as I said, some of them seem to run out of juice very quickly. I also find it odd that those batteries charge must faster. I guess that's a symptom of reduced capacity. I have two 5.0 XC's, and they work fine. I have four of the old 2.8's, and at least two of them are circling the drain. In all honesty I could get by with what I have, but I'd like to retire some of those older ones.

I looked into rebuilding them, but between the cost of the cells (for good ones) and the equipment needed, I don't think it's worth it. If I had dozens of batteries that were getting used a lot, then it might be something to consider.

 

[AEAdam]

I rarely run out of battery. The other day, I put up some shelving in the shop. Drilled pilot holes with the drill, ran the lag screws in with the driver, and used the circular saw to rip 3/4" ply for the shelving. I have six batteries all together, but as I said, some of them seem to run out of juice very quickly. I also find it odd that those batteries charge must faster. I guess that's a symptom of reduced capacity. I have two 5.0 XC's, and they work fine. I have four of the old 2.8's, and at least two of them are circling the drain. In all honesty I could get by with what I have, but I'd like to retire some of those older ones.

I looked into rebuilding them, but between the cost of the cells (for good ones) and the equipment needed, I don't think it's worth it. If I had dozens of batteries that were getting used a lot, then it might be something to consider.

Agree. Makes perfect sense.

I saw youtuber AVE, do a tear down of aftermarket, may have been Milwaukee, tool batteries. He said the cells were identical and in some ways better on the aftermarket. But the battery management chip was the difference. He said we'd better be wary of aftermarket.