DeWalt 18v worth picking up used?

[elisa7joy]

Lemme first say. I rarely use power tools. Rarely. Only tools I use are on my old minivan and only need an impact wrench for that. However I want to build a little something...bedroom furniture.... A bed and cabinets in my minivan

I see lots of dewalt/roybi sets used that use the 18v batteries on marketplace/Craigslist. They seem like good deals, and all I want is a grinder, saw, and drill. I've seen three or four different sellers with their random sets most include at least the drill and saw and a battery/charger.

It is older technology though... Still for my super rare use these used sets are almost the same price as a daily rental.

Is there anything I'm missing? Some reason these wouldn't be a good use of $100? Any recalls or major flaws with the technology used in the tools?

 

[mike93lx]

Older brushed saws and grinders are very underpowered. A drill would be fine though.

I'd buy corded before aged cordless tools, especially when you don't really know the condition of the batteries.

 

[kbeefy]

I still have several 18v dewalt tools I bought used almost 15 years ago.
To this day my only cordless circle saw or sawzall are dewalt.
I only use them very rarely, and the batteries have been replaced with lithium ones and 20v batts with 18v adapters.
Having said that, they do work. The egronomics are a bit dated, and brushed tools can't work as well as brushless even with lithium batteries. For small jobs and infrequent use they can fill the need. I still haven't replaced all of mine.

I would be mainly suspect of the batteries. There is no good way to test their capacity, and replacements can easily cost as much as akit on sale. I would probably be shopping some black friday/cyber monday sales, and check out some of the box store brands (Ryobi, Harbor Freight).

 

[finn]

I still use my fifteen year old Dewalt 18v drill, with the adapter to the modern 20v lithium batteries. I wouldn’t even consider buying a used one, though. You will have to upgrade to the newer 20v batteries, or use some half assed will fit aftermarket batteries most likely. If you upgrade, you will need a modern charger for lithium batteries. The old 18 v NiCad batteries had a pretty short lifespan compared to the current 20v lithium products.

Unless you already have the tools, it’s not worth screwing around.

I would consider an inexpensive Skill set, even brushed, with lithium batteries as a much better investment.

 

[honcho]

I bought a used DeWalt 18v powered caulk gun. For that application, it's still a great tool I'd probably steer clear of anything else.

 

[csp]

I use a full suite of 18v DeWalt cordless tools regularly. Every one of them has an adapter to the modern 20v batteries. I have a drill, impact driver, sawzall, jigsaw, and small circular saw. I was always disappointed with the circular saw until I put a really good blade on it.

Not having used a brushless model of any of the same tools I have I don't feel like any of them are underpowered. You can't miss what you've never experienced.

 

[KnurledNut]

The tools will likely be fine. The batteries likely wont. Batteries are expensive. There is a reason these are for sale.

 

[matthew]

We used to have Dewalt 18v at work. I think that was a bit of a low point in build quality. But if those tools survived this long it’s likely they were taken care of.

Not worth buying NiCd batteries anymore. I doubt it’s worth buying a 20v adaptor, battery, and charger. For less use I’d probably buy either Ryobi (which don’t have as good “feel” but are good bang for the buck) or Milwaukee m12 (new or used). Or corded tools, used.

 

[subroc]

I believe they certainly can be usable.

That said, now you are into a battery thing. You have to decide if you are going to use 20v batteries with adapters or aftermarket 18v batteries. I have mostly 20v stuff but there are a few 18v tools here as well including a couple grinders, reciprocating saw, circular saw, a few other things. They work fine.

I wouldn't give more than $5 per tool. I wouldn't believe the batteries were good if it was a kit or set. I wouldnt pay a premium for any set with batteries. Check the date on the top of the batteries. If they are more than 5 years or so old (and they will be) I would expect them to be tired. Unlike lithium batteries that last significantly longer.

If you are looking at the circular saw, a 6-1/2 a 390 or 392 would be the way to go. The smaller trim saw isn't all that powerful. But, you could probably find someone to recommend one. If you use adapters with these saws you lose some depth of cut. Plus, the blade speed is lower than a 20v model.

The grinders dc411 are more than adequate although they certainly eat batteries. I use them with adapters and no less than a 4a battery.

I would not recommend 18v tools to a family member. I would suggest they buy the few things they want on sale.

Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[californiamilleghia]

" If you upgrade, you will need a modern charger for lithium batteries."
Dewalt had chargers that worked for both NiCd and also lithium batteries , since they sold the 18v later tools with lithium batteries before they changed over to the slide in battery type.
I do not think you can buy OEM Dewalt 18v lithium batteries now , so you are stuck with aftermarket ones ,

Anyone know of a good supplier of the old style batteries in lithium ?

 

[theoldwizard1]

Aftermarket 18V NiCad batteries are available.

 

[mrvm]

Don’t buy old Dewalt 18V tools unless they are super cheap. Don’t waste time with old tech NiCad and generic are questionable quality. Get the adapters to use 20V lithium batteries and never run them down to zero. There are plenty of sellers of 20V chargers out there for low cost.

 

[59ctd]

On the older 18v impact drivers does the anvil/hammer mechanism wear out with lots of use? All my dewalt tools are the older 18v type I've not jumped to the 20v li-ion yet. I've got a few DW056 that are nowhere near as good at driving large screws into wood as my DC827 which is also 18v but definitely newer design I think this one was when they had the 18v li-ion batteries just b4 the 20v li-ion came out.

 

[danski0224]

Is there anything I'm missing? Some reason these wouldn't be a good use of $100? Any recalls or major flaws with the technology used in the tools?

There's nothing that you are missing. The "old" tools will work fine.

The only "risk" is buying non OEM replacement batteries, which may or may not last as long, but they are way less expensive.

Just add the cost of a new replacement or aftermarket battery or two to your "deal" to be fair with a price comparison.

I wouldn't bother with adapters and current batteries specifically for a single set of old tools, that will be much more expensive. You would be better off buying a new promo set.

If one has "Brand X" and wants a "Brand Y" bare tool, then the adapter makes more sense.

 

[mike93lx]

On the older 18v impact drivers does the anvil/hammer mechanism wear out with lots of use? All my dewalt tools are the older 18v type I've not jumped to the 20v li-ion yet. I've got a few DW056 that are nowhere near as good at driving large screws into wood as my DC827 which is also 18v but definitely newer design I think this one was when they had the 18v li-ion batteries just b4 the 20v li-ion came out.

It certainly could, but I would expect the bit holder, the plastic body, or the motor to go a lot sooner

 

[danski0224]

On the older 18v impact drivers does the anvil/hammer mechanism wear out with lots of use? All my dewalt tools are the older 18v type I've not jumped to the 20v li-ion yet. I've got a few DW056 that are nowhere near as good at driving large screws into wood as my DC827 which is also 18v but definitely newer design I think this one was when they had the 18v li-ion batteries just b4 the 20v li-ion came out.

It wears, but I believe that the biggest advance is higher motor RPM, which means that more work gets done in the same timeframe.

If you check motor specs, they are likely different.

 

[Jim greengo]

Batteries would be my biggest concern.

 

[59ctd]

Batteries would be my biggest concern.

Understood. I've got quite a few 18v packs that I've rebuilt with 3800 NiMh cells. I guess I am delaying the inevitable need to switch to the newer tech batteries.

 

[danski0224]

Batteries would be my biggest concern.

The aftermarket batteries will be available for years to come.

 

[liliysdad]

I would not bother with them if they were free.

 

[59ctd]

It wears, but I believe that the biggest advance is higher motor RPM, which means that more work gets done in the same timeframe.

If you check motor specs, they are likely different.

The DW056 says 0-3000 RPM and the DC827 says 0-2700 RPM. The diff could be in gear reduction and possibly the batteries. I will give the older driver another chance today with the newer Li-Ion battery pack.

 

[mike93lx]

The DW056 says 0-3000 RPM and the DC827 says 0-2700 RPM. The diff could be in gear reduction and possibly the batteries. I will give the older driver another chance today with the newer Li-Ion battery pack.

Is there an IPM (impacts per minute) rating?

 

[59ctd]

Is there an IPM (impacts per minute) rating?

Yeah, those numbers I posted earlier are the BPM on the older one and IPM on the newer one. Needed a magnifying glass to read it properly

 

[JeepYJ]

Go to Harbor Freight and buy the Hercules 20v tools with their buy the batteries get the tool free deal. Batteries have three year warranty, tools have 5 years.

 

[Jim greengo]

The aftermarket batteries will be available for years to come.

How much do those batteries cost?

 

[Jim greengo]

Understood. I've got quite a few 18v packs that I've rebuilt with 3800 NiMh cells. I guess I am delaying the inevitable need to switch to the newer tech batteries.

How do you rebuild the batteries,is it a complicated process?

 

[danski0224]

How much do those batteries cost?

About 30 bucks or less for (2) aftermarket DeWalt batteries straight from China on eBay.

 

[59ctd]

How do you rebuild the batteries,is it a complicated process?

The rebuilt batteries Ive bought thus far are rebuilt with Tenergy 3800 mAh NiMh. You get just the batteries tab welded together and they go into the old DeWalt battery case. Unfortunately I cannot find anyone that still rebuilds/sells them so now I have the battery tab spot welder and the Tenergy sub-c cells are readily available on Amazon. I try to get only genuine cells from reputable maker/seller. All of the cheapo DeWalt 18v batteries on ebay are junk imo - they work but nowhere near their rated mAh spec.

 

[californiamilleghia]

The rebuilt batteries Ive bought thus far are rebuilt with Tenergy 3800 mAh NiMh. You get just the batteries tab welded together and they go into the old DeWalt battery case. Unfortunately I cannot find anyone that still rebuilds/sells them so now I have the battery tab spot welder and the Tenergy sub-c cells are readily available on Amazon. I try to get only genuine cells from reputable maker/seller. All of the cheapo DeWalt 18v batteries on ebay are junk imo - they work but nowhere near their rated mAh spec.

Can you put the Tenergy battery pack into an older NiCd casing ? Does it have the same electronics in the old casing ?
I never took one apart yet !

Thanks for the info

 

[59ctd]

Can you put the Tenergy battery pack into an older NiCd casing ? Does it have the same electronics in the old casing ?
I never took one apart yet !

Thanks for the info

You are exactly right - just get the same cell size I think the 18v XRP packs are sub-C size. The non-XRP 18v packs the cells are a bit shorter. NiCd and the NiMh cells are the same voltage so just reassemble the new cells with a battery tab spot welder in the same orientation as what comes out of the worn out pack. Most of the older NiCd chargers will work fine with NiMh cells I just make sure to not leave the pack on the charger overnight or any longer than is needed to get it topped off

 

[Steve_P]

I have some of the old 18V DeWalt tools gathering dust and need to just give them away to Goodwill, or any similar store that will take them. I wouldn't pay more than $5 for any 18V tool that could be demonstrated as working. You're chasing an outdated battery platform, as others have said, and buying batteries for it is just ******* $ away. You'd be much better off buying a new Ryobi package on sale at Home Depot, or similar, because there are all sorts of tools available, and genuine Ryobi batteries, all of which are still being manufactured. And you will eventually want something else, like a tire inflator, or a lamp....

 

[elisa7joy]

Older brushed saws and grinders are very underpowered. A drill would be fine though.

I'd buy corded before aged cordless tools, especially when you don't really know the condition of the batteries.

Thanks that's kinda the feel I'm getting after reading everything... I would just get corded always since they tend to be better and cheaper. Unfortunately I don't always have a power source

 

[elisa7joy]

" If you upgrade, you will need a modern charger for lithium batteries."
Dewalt had chargers that worked for both NiCd and also lithium batteries , since they sold the 18v later tools with lithium batteries before they changed over to the slide in battery type.
I do not think you can buy OEM Dewalt 18v lithium batteries now , so you are stuck with aftermarket ones ,

Anyone know of a good supplier of the old style batteries in lithium ?

Just look online... I mean you won't find "reputable" businesses, just small individual sellers. On eBay you can find someone who's bought out deadstock. New in packaging. EBay's returns are very buyer friendly if you aren't happy.

 

[elisa7joy]

I would not bother with them if they were free.

Lol ok good to know. I am not really a fan of buying cordless anyhow if its not necessary, but I won't be working near a power source.

 

[elisa7joy]

Thanks everyone for the input!! In the end I couldn't get the three tools I need at the price that made sense to me.
That's the thing about Facebook or Craigslist, you might not find what you need nearby and what is nearby might not be quite priced within budget.
Anything worth buying is almost always bought in the first few hours and Facebook doesn't update results in real time......makes me wish people would go back to Craigslist

 

[mike93lx]

Thanks that's kinda the feel I'm getting after reading everything... I would just get corded always since they tend to be better and cheaper. Unfortunately I don't always have a power source

Check out Direct tools for refurb Ryobi or Ridgid. Modern batteries, brushless motors, lots of tool options

 

[elisa7joy]

Check out Direct tools for refurb Ryobi or Ridgid. Modern batteries, brushless motors, lots of tool options

Thanks for the tip!!

 

[redragoon]

Not advising that you shouldn't get your own tools, but if it is mainly woodworking for this furniture you may be able to borrow.

Buy a single tool (Ryobi grinder or drill) that suits your budget and speak to a local woodworker's guild hall or Maker's Space.
There is likely some sort of DIY workshop near you.
They will have safety classes and membership price varies, but several have a low monthly cost ($10/month) or are free.
Call to confirm what their requirements are and what tools are available.

My local Woodworker Guild Hall allowed me to enter with a friend who had a membership. He had to run the power tools, but I was able to purchase the material and got him some food in return. Gave me access to professional level equipment so the woodworking part was done in roughly 1 hour for my project.

 

[bonneyman]

I've been watching this tool repair guy on Youtube by the name of Dean Doherty. Spend some time and watch his vids. He tears apart all brands and kinds of power tools - with the camera running so you can see the innards - and gives all sorts of pro/con advice on them. Definitely worth the watch.

https://www.youtube.com/@deandohertygreaser

 

[KnurledNut]

I feel like rambling...

Its a real shame the venture with A123 and their nano-LI batteries was short-lived. I feel safe saying they were among the highest quality batteries to ever bear the Dewalt name. im still sore about that. Now that that's off my chest...

These old 18v tools were good. They had a handful of flops, like the switches that would cook in the recips, but generally they held up well.

We tend to focus on most common tools: drills, impacts, saws. Understandably so.
But this line (12, 14.4, 18) had a lot to offer, some very advanced and expensive: DC490 metal cutting shears, DW932 plate jointer, finish nailers, DW969 steel fastening screwgun, DC530 concrete ********, DCGG570 grease gun, DC212 SDS hammer, DCS372 metal cutting circular saw, laser levels, vacuums, plunge cut saw, caulk gun, etc.

I still use my vacuum, DC527 fluorescent light, and laser level with my aged nano batteries or Makita adaptor.

One of my favorite tools was the DC989 pistol grip drill. Loved that handle design! This format is mostly non-existent today.
The late model 3/8 impact wrench was a great tool. The jigsaw was excellent. I sold it and a right angle drill that I now regret.

I know a metal recycler that has used the 18v angle grinders FOREVER for quick checks of base materials.

While I dont recommend getting into this line if you're just starting, if one is invested in it, by all means, keep it going. The quality will last.