Chicago Electric Cordless

[DFB]

Wow would I never dreamed I would hear a such a thing...but seems there are (were) many happy users of the Chicago Electric Ni Cad battery powered tools that are now all upset that Harbor Freight no longer supports what was once their Flagship line of cordless offerings

Who'd a thunk it hey

Damn you Bauer and Hercules


Must be some aftermarket offerings out there I would think


https://toolcraze.net/rip-chicago-e...8X4PxtPsFybRkRqE9oY54di5a_j0jXTItXMIzw0QJ5CWc

 

[seagull369]

I was a bit surprised, as well, to read the positive reviews on those tools. I used to own some of the ubiquitous Ryobi Ni-Cad 18Volters and run times on those things were truly pathetic- even back then. I just assumed HF's stuff would be even worse than that, but perhaps not.

Maybe the packs on the HF's can be disassembled and cells inside replaced. On the old Ryobis, all you had to do is unscrew 4 screws on the bottom and then just dump out the bundled cells. It would take some time and bunch of soldering, but if you own a lot of those tools in might be worth the trouble. Using higher capacity cells would probably increase run time, as well.

 

[darkzero]

People still use Ni-Cad power tools?

When the batteries on my Dewalt XRP drill died I never looked back. Replacement batteries were too expensive. And aren't HF Ni-Cad tools one time use anyway?

I was gonna say that I don't think I own any tools that use NiCads any.ore but I do. Well they're Streamlight Stinger flashlights that I converted to LED. The original NiCads died & I got NiMH batteries for them. I still use them often.

 

[dsimatt]

People still use Ni-Cad power tools?
.

Yes we do, lots of nicads still getting the job done where I work.

 

[zendriver]

The funny part is how many people believed those "cheap-***" tools could never last.

Apparently they do.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[DFB]

People still use Ni-Cad power tools?

Yes we do, lots of nicads still getting the job done where I work.

I have to say I have two Makita NiCad powered drill /drivers one a 12volt and the other was their top 18v before the change over to Li-on. The 18volt Makita IMO in many ways is finer clutched screwdriving drill compared to my Milwaukee 2604 FUEL Hammer Drill..

They weigh just about the same with only 1/4 lb difference between the two Milwaukee with a 5.0 lithium ion bat and the Makita with a 3.0 Ni Cad aftermarket replacement battery. The Makita is the heavier one.

I still have a HF 5 3/8 Ni Cad 18v circular saw right hand blade, Its yellow that shows how old that one is. Original battery and fast charger still work to this day. Though I never really use it anymore it's very underpowered compared to todays offerings

 

[Cheapskate]

As long as they don't stop supporting the Drillmaster brand I'll be happy.

 

[Cheapskate]

The 5 hour charge time can be a bit inconvenient but other than that they're fine.

 

[DFB]

As long as they don't stop supporting the Drillmaster brand I'll be happy.

Ha but you can buy drillmaster batteries on Amazon now

Go figure hey

 

[dsimatt]

I have to say I have two Makita NiCad powered drill /drivers one a 12volt and the other was their top 18v before the change over to Li-on. The 18volt Makita IMO in many ways is finer clutched screwdriving drill compared to my Milwaukee 2604 FUEL Hammer Drill..

They weigh just about the same with only 1/4 lb difference between the two Milwaukee with a 5.0 lithium ion bat and the Makita with a 3.0 Ni Cad aftermarket replacement battery. The Makita is the heavier one.

I still have a HF 5 3/8 Ni Cad 18v circular saw right hand blade, Its yellow that shows how old that one is. Original battery and fast charger still work to this day. Though I never really use it anymore it's very underpowered compared to todays offerings

At work I have a impact, drill, light and 5 batteries that would cost well over $1k to replace, I'll use them till they dont work and then update.

 

[Cheapskate]

Ha but you can buy drillmaster batteries on Amazon now

Unfortunately they don't support this battery style anymore, Harbor Freight and apparently Amazon only sells the new style which doesn't fit the older style Drill Master tools.


That's why I started transitioning over to the NEW Warrior 18V Lithium Ion platform.

 

[lbhsbz]

I bought one of their orange 18V drills when my Makita 12V batteries all died on the same day and I ran that $30 orange drill for 14 years...I finally knocked it off a ladder and broke it. It had more balls than the Rigid that replaced it. I've still got about 5 of the orange angle grinders too...had a switch go bad in one, but the rest just keep taking all the abuse I can dish out.

 

[kctyphoon]

I had one of those $15 orange 3/8 corded hf drills for a while. Someone dropped it (brand new) out of bucket from like 18’ up. Landed on the pavement, bounced, cracked, still worked.. i used a $19 hf sawzall for years with no complaints. I think someone else at work still has it.

Never had any of their cheap cordless stuff, but i imagine as long as the batteries worked, the tools were enough to do what most people asked from them.

 

[cajunrebel`]

Unfortunately they don't support this battery style anymore, Harbor Freight and apparently Amazon only sells the new style which doesn't fit the older style Drill Master tools.





That's why I started transitioning over to the NEW Warrior 18V Lithium Ion platform. [emoji106]

At work my cheapskate boss bought one of those 3/8" drills for removing panels on our aircraft. It works fairly well. I have all M12 stuff, and let helpers use that thing. But it does pretty well and its light. Have to charge it every day if its used.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[JRC3]

Hmmm, so the tool becomes useless at the drop of a hat...Reminds me of a 90 day warranty.

 

[kctyphoon]

Hmmm, so the tool becomes useless at the drop of a hat...Reminds me of a 90 day warranty.

Heaven forbid...
They were only sold for HOW LONG?
They had what? 4 tools?
The problem is so widespread, theres only about 20 listings on all of eBay with CE tools.
You make it sound like they abandoned this huge line that people were so heavily invested in financially that people expected lifetime support..

Much bigger brands, with much bigger followings, have done the same. Sometimes you just have to move on. Nothing is stopping those people from getting packs rebuilt, or buying a $12 drill master battery and swapping the cases.

 

[kctyphoon]

At work my cheapskate boss bought one of those 3/8" drills for removing panels on our aircraft. It works fairly well. I have all M12 stuff, and let helpers use that thing. But it does pretty well and its light. Have to charge it every day if its used.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

The new lithium Warrior drill KIT - (w/battery & charger) is only $35 with no discounts. The work light is like 8 bucks.. battery & charger is like $22

They probably looked at sales and just gave an upgraded replacement for the 2 most common cordless tools sold. But i think the drill master brand is still on the shelves. Same 2 tools as the Warrior, but cheaper still..

 

[American Locomotive]

Much bigger brands, with much bigger followings, have done the same. Sometimes you just have to move on. Nothing is stopping those people from getting packs rebuilt, or buying a $12 drill master battery and swapping the cases.

Makita replaced their NiMh lineup ~14 years ago, and still makes batteries for those tools. Not just Makita either. DeWalt and Milwaukee still sell new OEM NiCad/NiMh batteries for their older platforms.

This is why I try to steer people away from "investing" in a HF tool platform (be it a drill, welder, etc..). They're not a manufacturer - they're an importer and distributor. When one faceless Chinese company closes up shop and stops making a product, they find another, ditch their entire lineup and replace it with something else.

 

[JRC3]

Heaven forbid...

You make it sound like they abandoned this huge line that people were so heavily invested in financially that people expected lifetime support..

Who said anything about "lifetime support?" What I keep bringing up is an unacceptable 90 day warranty. I've only compared it to the industry norm of a 3 year warranty. And I've only said the minimum should be a 1 year warranty, at the very least. No "lifetime support," nobody every said that. I don't know why anybody would defend a 90 day warranty so vigorously.


If HF wanted to dump Herc or Bauer it would be so easy because their commitment to their customers would only be 90 days. That's sorta what I was hinting at in my previous post.

 

[barracudadave67]

I just tossed my 3/8th and 1/2 in HF Drill Master drills, and dead batteries, and the worthless chargers. I have more room on my work bench now.
Im not jumping into any of the "New Name brand" HF tools either.

Hate to say it but my Craftsman C3 is probably next. I like my Craftsman, but if the Batts get hard to get, theyre gone.

Might just go back to all corded tools.
Dave