Craftsman Lithium-Ion batteries

[Norton155]

Has anyone used the new Craftsman Lithium-Ion batteries in their C3 tools? They have the charger and one battery pack on sale in the Cman club flier this week and I have a gift card burning a hole in my pocket.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00925928000P?keyword=lithium+ion

What do you guys think, worth the $90?

 

[eschoendorff]

Has anyone used the new Craftsman Lithium-Ion batteries in their C3 tools? They have the charger and one battery pack on sale in the Cman club flier this week and I have a gift card burning a hole in my pocket.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00925928000P?keyword=lithium+ion

What do you guys think, worth the $90?

The Li-Ion stuff is nice, to be sure, but I am currently having some issues with my 24v Li-Ion batteries from Ridgid. the tools are very nice... just the batteries don't accept a full charge anymore. But they are under warranty... still it's a PITA.


I'm only bringing this up because, IIRC, TTI is the same company that produces the Ridgid, Craftsman and Ryobi tools and batteries. they also produce Milwaukee, but i would expect their Craftsman stuff to be between Ryobu and idgid as far as quality.

 

[64merc]

The Li-Ion stuff is nice, to be sure, but I am currently having some issues with my 24v Li-Ion batteries from Ridgid. the tools are very nice... just the batteries don't accept a full charge anymore. But they are under warranty... still it's a PITA.

That really ***** man. Isn't that supposed to be one of the reasons why people buy Li-Ion batteries anyway? How old are they?

 

[Norton155]

The Li-Ion stuff is nice, to be sure, but I am currently having some issues with my 24v Li-Ion batteries from Ridgid. the tools are very nice... just the batteries don't accept a full charge anymore. But they are under warranty... still it's a PITA.

Don't quote me on this, but I remember reading the Rigid has a lifetime warrenty on their batteries. Might be worth looking into.

 

[eschoendorff]

Don't quote me on this, but I remember reading the Rigid has a lifetime warrenty on their batteries. Might be worth looking into.

They do... and I signed up for it right when I bough the tools. But you have to take the batteries to an authorized service center and have them **** around with them. It's not like you send them out and they send you new ones.

I was really hoping that 64mers sentiments would have been right... but it seems that the Ridgid Li Ion batteries are a known issue. Wish I had know about that issue before I bought them... oh and there are rumors taht they don't support the 24v platform anymore. That ***** because the tools were really good!

 

[Abodyracer]

We have been selling the C3 Litiom Ion battery/charger like hot cakes at my store. They were even thinking when they made the charger a multi chemical type so that you can charge the ni cad batteries as well as the lithiom ion. The unfortunate thing is that are so new that there isn't any feedback on them yet. If they are every bit as good as the 20 volt litiom ion then they hit the nail on the head.

 

[beardking]

Are the Li-Ion batteries lighter than the NiCd batteries? I know that in my RC hobby, this is typically true, so I figure it probably relates to these as well. If so, I may have to invest in some new batteries.

 

[64merc]

Are the Li-Ion batteries lighter than the NiCd batteries? I know that in my RC hobby, this is typically true, so I figure it probably relates to these as well. If so, I may have to invest in some new batteries.

They are supposed to be lighter than a comparible Ni-cad or Ni-MH battery. For example an 18v lithium battery will be smaller and lighter than an 18v ni-cad battery.

 

[Joe B.]

I'm only bringing this up because, IIRC, TTI is the same company that produces the Ridgid, Craftsman and Ryobi tools and batteries. they also produce Milwaukee, but i would expect their Craftsman stuff to be between Ryobu and idgid as far as quality.

Just a friendly point of clarification... TTi makes some but not all of the Craftsman portable power tools. TTi does make the 19.2v C3 tools. The 20v Cman Pro tools come from another manufacturer.

 

[eschoendorff]

Just a friendly point of clarification... TTi makes some but not all of the Craftsman portable power tools. TTi does make the 19.2v C3 tools. The 20v Cman Pro tools come from another manufacturer.

You sure? Which other manufacturer????

 

[Joe B.]

You sure? Which other manufacturer????

Chervon
http://www.ideo.com/portfolio/re.asp?x=19006926

 

[eschoendorff]

Chervon
http://www.ideo.com/portfolio/re.asp?x=19006926

No chit... I didn't know that ....

 

[Joe B.]

Yeah, thier Roto-zip saw & Dremmel knock off are made by Bosch... just like the real thing.

 

[Norton155]

Thanks for all the background info guys. Question still remains, should I go out and buy the thing this week?

 

[Joe B.]

If you already have the tools, the answer is simple.

If your batteries are running out of power while you are using them, you should pick up the new batteries. If you don't run out of power when you need it, you should save your money or spend it on a wrench.