Dead cordless tools-What to do with them?

[astroracer]

I have a half dozen or so dead cordless tools, drill/drivers, lights, handsaw, etc. What can they be used for? Donated to? Repurposed? Any suggestions?
The batteries are completely dead and any attempt to bring them back to life hasn't amounted to much...
Mark

 

[John T]

I've got an old B&D cordless drill in the jeep somewhere.... for emergency?
who knows... never used it yet...

But, I took it apart and soldered in a cord with alligator clips for the car battery.... It works good.

 

[Davefr]

1. Try to revive them by zapping the dendrites assuming they're NiCd. YMMV.
2. Rebuild the battery packs with individual cells or have them rebuilt.
3. Replace the battery packs with OEM.
4. Put them in the free pile at your next garage sale
5. Recycle them where they accept batteries.

Assuming they're not high end/specialty tools, I vote for #5

 

[mowkep]

I just sold 2 DeWalts, a 12 and 18 volt, drills with cases for $20. They sold in the first hour. It was either buy new batteries or in my case I bought a new Milwaukee drill with battery to compliment my impact driver. Cleared up space and now I have 3 Milwaukees and 2 batteries

 

[honcho]

In most cases, the most economical option for your wallet and your time is to just toss them. If the batteries come off / out of the tool, you should at least try to find a recycle bin (I think Home Depot has them for batteries and I know Batteries Plus stores have them). While many of the constituent pieces are recyclable, you'll end up spending way too much time trying to recycle the remainder. Donate them to a thrift store perhaps and maybe they'll find someone who'll think they're useful or get them into the recycling stream. Larger thrift shops have pretty sophisticated recycling programs because they try to capture as much value as they can from donated goods. However, they also throw a lot into the trash.

Welcome to our disposable society. Where is Wall-E?

 

[astroracer]

Thanks, I'll probably pull the chucks off and recycle the rest. These are very cheap Pro-Tools and Harbor Freight tools that I got as gifts years ago and not worth the cost of the new batteries...
I'll get pics of them today so you can see what they are. If anyone is interested let me know.

 

[bonneyman]

I've got an old B&D cordless drill in the jeep somewhere.... for emergency?
who knows... never used it yet...

But, I took it apart and soldered in a cord with alligator clips for the car battery.... It works good.

 

[Rickster]

They make aftermarket adapters for some models, check eBay. I bought one for old B&D drill to go from Nicad to L-Ion.

 

[Tbird22]

I also wondered the same thing. My boss asked if I can find batteries for his Bosch rotary Hammer. It came with a 24v 1.7ah nicad battery. eBay sells them for 70 bucks, even to refurbish hours. Better off buying a new pne


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[finn]

It hurts, but just recycle or donate them. Trash is the last resort, but I have done it, with no long term regrets.

 

[tarmy]

Le Garbaage Can...

 

[Professional Tool User]

Time to get rid of them if the cordless tools and batteries in question are obsolete.

 

[samss]

Check with the local supply houses, HVACR, Plumbing, Electrical...etc. Some of the cordless tool companies/sales reps offer a trade in discount. I've bought several Milwaukee M12 and M18 tools/kits and gotten a $100.00 off with trade in.

 

[pontgta]

The Garbage can... . I purchased a new battery for a dead ridgid...and the tool fried the battery....So you take a chance if you are not careful

 

[ToolPolisher]

Donate to a Habitat for Humanity or other charitable cause that is in need of this and resources. Perhaps they have the batteries or compatible units to make them work again.

 

[thin_concrete]

Do any of the local schools have a shop program? Maybe they can use them if they already have batteries.

 

[toplessHO]

use the drill motors for windmill generators

 

[malibu101]

I've never checked hard to find (or make) an item like this, but I wish for this.....
A way to run my old Milwuakee 18V Ni-Cad tools on 120V.

Reason is I have a 6320-22 metal cutting circular saw. I don't use it often, but often enough that I keep a battery around just for it, as I replaced my Ni-Cad tools with M18 stuff except for this saw.
I only use this saw where I am near 120V. I don't need it to be cordless.
This saw- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009H588S/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I am NOT hijacking this thread! Just adding that if a 120V adapter exists, it could be a way of using old cordless tools.

 

[81turbota]

Im sure you could find a cheap DC power supply to keep it going.

 

[kelpaso1]

I had a cheap cordless 12v drill that the battery crapped out. I removed the battery and wired up a 20 foot cord with alligator clips to hook up to a car battery and kept it in my jeep for emergency repairs or for around the camp site. It's a shame to garbage the tool just because the batteries are no good but the tool is fine.

 

[PelicanPines]

Sell as classic rare tools...

 

[xela456]

I have a half dozen or so dead cordless tools, drill/drivers, lights, handsaw, etc. What can they be used for? Donated to? Repurposed? Any suggestions?
The batteries are completely dead and any attempt to bring them back to life hasn't amounted to much...
Mark

Just do what I do, save them like you might use them one day and when you've moved them for the fifth or sixth time, angrily throw them away!

 

[sberry]

This is a place many have tried, few have succeeded. It's not worth the effort. The brandy new is so much better, the tools such labor and safety savers that it's worth some effort to replace it .

 

[ZRX61]

I'm about to bite the bullet & fork out for two new Dewalt 18v batteries. I realize I could buy the new 20v stuff, but most of my power tools are corded & I'm fine with that.


In fact I only have 3 cordless tools:
Dewalt drill, Dewalt impact driver & a 12v Bosch screw gun.

 

[four.cycle]

Dead tools?

Set out at the end of the driveway.
I take half a dozen photos.
Post an ad on Craigslist in the "FREE" section:

"FREE Ryobi 3/8" variable speed electric drill motor
works great, but on/off switch is frozen in the "ON" position.
motor good. keyless chuck good. cord good.
use at your own risk.
FREE!
As shown. As is.
ON CURB on North Adams Street between North 12th and North 13th
East side of street under power pole."


no phone number. no address. no email. no headaches.
items are gone within 24 hours 99% of the time.
occasionally some real oddball junk might take two days to disappear.
The weedwhacker took four days to disappear:








easy peasy.

 

[Com_VC]

I just bought an adaptor so I can use Makita 18V lithium batterys on my old Makita 18V Nicad tools.

Some of the skins are still worth using. Not worth selling and not worth throwing out.

If it was some junk brand I would probably just bin them.

 

[1320stang]

I'm about to bite the bullet & fork out for two new Dewalt 18v batteries. I realize I could buy the new 20v stuff, but most of my power tools are corded & I'm fine with that.


In fact I only have 3 cordless tools:
Dewalt drill, Dewalt impact driver & a 12v Bosch screw gun.

You can buy an adapter to use the newer 20v batteries in your 18v. I almost did that but got a 20v set for Christmas.

 

[yhprum]

I got some replacement batteries on eBay from some guy that breaks down medical battery packs. They are brand name batteries that don’t get much use as they are calendar dated and must be changed out. I just have to get set up to spot weld them together.

 

[ddawg16]

I have a half dozen or so dead cordless tools, drill/drivers, lights, handsaw, etc. What can they be used for? Donated to? Repurposed? Any suggestions?
The batteries are completely dead and any attempt to bring them back to life hasn't amounted to much...
Mark

Handsaw? Dead? I've never seen a handsaw with batteries.

What brand of cordless tools?

And this illustrates why ALL of my cordless tools are the same. For the money, Ryobi has the largest selection....and I think they are very decent tools....especially for the money. Even my mower is electric....uses two of the 18V batteries....does a fine job.

HD is having a sale right now.....buy 2 of the 4 AH batteries (comes with charger and case) for $99 and get a free cordless tool with it.

 

[Citation]

Depending on the tool you might find a cost effective replacement battery. I bought a pair of aftermarket Nicad 12v batteries for my DeWalt drill for something like $30. That drill is about the same capabilities as a modern, good, compact 12v drill so worth the money.
Most of the time the numbers don't justify new batteries.

 

[acer66]

It hurts, but just recycle or donate them. Trash is the last resort, but I have done it, with no long term regrets.

This, most of my stuff goes to the local habitat.

 

[Ign]

My HD has a bin up front that accepts old batteries.

Offer the tools here in the classifieds for shipping
OR
you can put 'em on CL free but the mouth breathers and flakes that come out of the woodwork for free stuff is more trouble than it's worth 99% of the time

Please don't just put them in the "garbage can." These are electric motors and have some value as scrap, even if it's not directly monetary to you. Ask a local steel yard or metal fab shop if you can put them in their scrap bin, ask a local electric motor rebuilder if they'll take them, or just carry them into your local scrapyard....they might even put them on the specialty scale (vs the drive-on) and give you a buck or two. You'd probably get more if you open 'em up and just sell the motor with the windings, etc. Unfortunately, *I would* just toss the plastic cases 'cause my city makes "recycling" too expensive and too difficult, but they probably have a # stamped in the case somewhere for recycling classification.

Also my local scrap yard will just take cordless tool batteries, but they only pay for auto batteries (a $10 GC at AZ or O'Reilly is a better deal, though, for the latter)

 

[dr_clyde]

I put any dead tools directly into the circular file.

Not worth my time to F with any of it. One phone call to the industrial supply and I have brand new tools delivered to my shop ready to work.

Cordless tools are disposable. Use em until they quit, buy new ones and keep going. They aren't "heritage" tools meant to be passed on to your grandkids.

Scrap prices are so bad, I couldn't fathom taking even 10 minutes to take apart a drill for the tiny little motor in there. I just threw away a few actual 1 or 2 HP motors because it wasn't worth the time to take back to the scrap yard.

 

[MacMcMacmac]

I saw a guy use a cordless drill to power the chute controls on his snow blower. You'd need to have enough jam from the alternator and a rectifier plus a few switches. My 8hp Brute (Murray) is rated at 60w electrical output. At 12v that's 5A. Should do for a light intermittent load.

 

[yatg]

I had a cheap cordless 12v drill that the battery crapped out. I removed the battery and wired up a 20 foot cord with alligator clips to hook up to a car battery and kept it in my jeep for emergency repairs or for around the camp site. It's a shame to garbage the tool just because the batteries are no good but the tool is fine.

If somebody's wanting to do this, I bet you could gut the old battery and use it as the connection point for the cord.

 

[Whitworth]

You can have the batteries rebuilt, and I've done such in the past, but only if the tool is in good condition and worth it for the cost. But considering how inexpensive new cordless tools are it's not really cost effective in most cases.

Otherwise, the trash can.

 

[Com_VC]

Most are out dated brushed motors now anyway, the new brushless stuff is so much better

 

[Balor]

I have a DeWalt (DC759) 18v I would like to find some way to wire it permanently to 120vac, any one have a solution? I want to use it with my reloading equipment.

 

[nikerret]

I set my old Ryobi set at the curb with a sign that said, “FREE”. They didn’t last an hour. Everyone wins.

 

[ZRX61]

You can buy an adapter to use the newer 20v batteries in your 18v. I almost did that but got a 20v set for Christmas.

I probably would if I had any plans to buy 20v cordless tools. I'd rather just buy a pair of 18v batteries for $94 (amazon price for 2 5ah 18v XRP's) than buy 20v batteries, adapter & a charger etc