Old cordless tech - buy new batteries or just replace drill?

[monomach]

My home cordless drill/driver was a 12v NiCad Milwaukee Hi-Torque from the 90s. I paid top dollar and got the best thing around with this purchase. The original two batteries amazingly lasted me until 2011. It has a 1/2 hour charger, so that's pretty sweet. The torque was good. It is quite capable of tearing **** up and slamming screws into hardwood.

I'm a cheapass, so I've been running extension cords and using a corded drill/driver when I need to drive screws (I have one of only two on the market with an adjustable clutch). It works fine and dandy when I'm in my shop or doing a major project, but sometimes I only need to drive a dozen screws away from the shop and running cord for that is a pain.

I'd kind of like to bring this cordless back to life...it was made in the US, it works fine when hooked up to a charged battery, and I'm leery of dumping significant cash in Milwaukee/Makita/DeWalt's shiny new tech because in three years it'll be discontinued in favor of the next big thing anyway. Also, I don't need an impact driver, have impact wrench on air, and I like my corded reciprocating saw and circular saw just fine, so I don't need to commit to a battery that fits 30 freaking tools.

I can get brand new replacement batteries for my ancient workhorse on ebay for $22.50 each shipped.

I guess my option would be to replace it with this cheap new Li-Ion thing: http://www.menards.com/main/tools-h...-kit-with-led-flashlight/p-2166698-c-9072.htm

Lifetime Li-Ion batteries for $6 shipping and handling does sound nice...

What do you guys think?

Pic of old drill:

 

[lakota]

Go to youtube and you can see how you can re-build the batteries yourself for cheap. Buy new cells and solder together.

 

[Davefr]

Go to youtube and you can see how you can re-build the batteries yourself for cheap. Buy new cells and solder together.

^^^What he said

1. You can try the NiCd rejuvination method. (ie zap the battery with a higher voltage to burn off the dendrites). It does work on some packs and will give the pack extra life). (see youtube)

2. Just replace all the old cells. It's easy on the old NiCd packs and cells are pretty cheap on Ebay. (It's all or nothing, don't replace individual cells)

P.S. You should try and avoid soldering directly to battery terminals. Order the cells with the solder tabs.

 

[monomach]

After shipping, the cheapest equivalent cells ebay has to offer to fix one battery cost only $1.50 less than just getting the battery, so that's not really an option. I looked into that before posting.

Not too sure about zapping them. That was my very first thought, but they're almost 20 years old. I've never heard of someone zapping batteries THAT old. With my luck, being a pioneer there is going to just pop the ends off of the cells or melt the pack or something.

 

[timbitca]

I was visiting my uncle at his cottage the other day getting some help with my chainsaw.

He was showing me his ancient Mastercraft 14.4v system that he had just rebuilt 4 batteries for. He had found some 19.2v batteries at Canadian Tire for cheap, bought 2 packs of 2 for 15$ each and ripped them up and rebuilt his batteries. He was keeping the left over cells for his even older Makita tube style batteries back home.

Can't go wrong with that, 6 cordless batteries for 30$.

As for me, right now I'm living in an apartment and I have only the Black & Decker Matrix drill I got from CT free with gift cards and CTC money. When I move out though I'll likely upgrade to a set that includes a drill and impact driver. Once you work with an impact driver you want nothing to do with driving screws with a drill anymore.

 

[cheechi]

It should be noted that zapping or rebuilding are potentially dangerous. Even if you already know and are ok with it, not everybody who comes along reading this might be able to infer it.

I like the idea of continuing to use something that really isn't broken, but I promise you The M12 line at least won't be gone in 3 years like you predict. Much as anyone could, I would guarantee you that. I'm not going to try to convince you about cordless vs air, I have one of each and use them when I think it's the best for the job. But if you think all others are going away when the next best thing comes around, you can still buy the full line of Dewalt 18v tools and Li Ion batteries to go with them if you chose to. And that'll be around for years to come, between used and resellers' markets.

Here's something interesting though. Reading through your post I started thinking 'what are you driving screws into' and a thought occurred. Dewalt & Makita are still the only ones that make cordless drywall screw guns (except Senco but theirs is entirely different of course) while everyone makes multiple models of corded screwguns. Maybe there's something to that.

 

[mrvm]

Test out the 12V cordless from Bosch or Makita and you will see a big difference in torque, handling and overall size for around $99 (drill+impact) on sale versus your older unit.
Otherwise, order the replacement batteries to power up your older drill because soldering or zapping batteries may not be as safe as it sounds IMO

 

[bonneyman]

Convert it to a "corded" drill running off a car battery charger.

Yours is a genuine 12 volter - just perfect. I run an old Makita 9.6v off of a charger now. Just finished installing new gutter on the house with it. Worked great!

 

[Josey Wales]

I would already have one or two of those $22.50 Ebay batteries.
But being you're on the Garage Journal, it's your duty to get your old drill running AND buy the new drill. Even though you don't need it now because you got the old one running.

 

[mybuick6]

you can look into a company called batteries plus. they have batteries for everything and dont cost much than name brand batteries.

 

[LumpyMusic]

I found a new DeWalt half inch with carger and two batteries on sale for $60. I'm pretty sure I can't buy two batteries for that price. So I just bought the new drill. The new DeWalt is cheaper built than the one that's decades old, thinner plastic and metal etc. But I still got batteries and charger plus now I have an extra driver.

Then I saw a DeWalt right angle driver at the "Contractor's Desk" at HDepot for $40 with one battery. That's apparently where they sell stuff that people buy, use, then return for refund. No charger with this one but I got a new battery plus I added a R angle drill to my corral of drivers.


Sgt Lumpy

 

[chadster1]

How much is your time worth? How much time have you spent running extension cords? How much time have you spent scouring the internet trying to find a replacement battery $1 cheaper.

I value my time and I also appreciate having tools that I can count on. I would go out and buy the M12 drill and be done with it. Especially if I was making money with these tools.

 

[wafrederick]

I had to do it last month,buy a new cordless drill which is an 18 volt Dewalt.My 13 year old 18 volt Dewalt died,smoke came out and it was best to buy a new one.The batteries are still good.

 

[monomach]

This was so predictable.

If I'd asked this forum whether to warranty an old Craftsman screwdriver or buy a cheapo Kobalt set to assemble household furniture and remove a couple of vent registers, everyone would be telling me that I need to go get Snap-on and Wiha.

Never mind, guys. Occasionally needing to drive a few screws really far from my garage means that I need to run out and waste money on expensive shiny new Li-Ion drill/driver and an impact driver to boot? Yeaaaaaaaah. Sure it does.

I have a brand new Milwaukee drill/driver and an impact wrench at work. NO ONE needs that for home use unless they just want to prove that their ***** is of adequate size. Most homeowners don't truly NEED a single cordless power tool, in fact...and 100% of homeowners don't need an impact driver.

Ordered batteries off of ebay because garagejournal is garagejournal and that's what I was leaning toward before making a thread no one would read the original post of.

"Hey, guys. Should I repair my ****** or buy a new Corolla to drive to my job? It's only only 10 minutes from home. Just need a work car, nothing fancy."

"You should get a 2014 Mustang and a Harley. Never know when you'll absolutely, positively need more power on that 10 minute drive than a compact 4 cylinder car can provide."

 

[fitz11]

This was so predictable.

If I'd asked this forum whether to warranty an old Craftsman screwdriver or buy a cheapo Kobalt set to assemble household furniture and remove a couple of vent registers, everyone would be telling me that I need to go get Snap-on and Wiha.

Never mind, guys. Occasionally needing to drive a few screws really far from my garage means that I need to run out and waste money on expensive shiny new Li-Ion drill/driver and an impact driver to boot? Yeaaaaaaaah. Sure it does.

I have a brand new Milwaukee drill/driver and an impact wrench at work. NO ONE needs that for home use unless they just want to prove that their ***** is of adequate size. Most homeowners don't truly NEED a single cordless power tool, in fact...and 100% of homeowners don't need an impact driver.

Ordered batteries off of ebay because garagejournal is garagejournal and that's what I was leaning toward before making a thread no one would read the original post of.

"Hey, guys. Should I repair my ****** or buy a new Corolla to drive to my job? It's only only 10 minutes from home. Just need a work car, nothing fancy."

"You should get a 2014 Mustang and a Harley. Never know when you'll absolutely, positively need more power on that 10 minute drive than a compact 4 cylinder car can provide."

Wow you act like people buy cordless tools for fun. I use my Milwaukee M12 tools whenever possible because it makes life easier, even in my garage right by an outlet. Why would you want to mess with corded tools if you don't have to? My impact driver is used just as much as the drill, it's an amazing tool and all homeowners should have one. It sounds like you are behind the times and want to stay that way, that's fine but you don't need to insult people who don't agree with you.

 

[franzdom]

100% of homeowners don't need an impact driver???
How on earth would I have assembled the playset for my daughter 10 years or so back driving large lag bolts into cedar without an impact driver? It was hard enough doing with the impact, I think it would have been almost impossible without it.
Swapping suspension parts also which I do fairly often, would be miserable without an impact driver.

 

[SweetD]

If you already knew what answers you would get, why did you bother asking?

My ten year old C-Man cordless driver **** the bed a month ago. I hemmed and hawed about whether to get new batteries for it, or buy new.

I ended up buying the $99 Ryobi drill and driver set with two batteries, charger and case for $99. "Homeowner grade". Works great for me around the house and I'm glad I got it.

But you already knew all that I guess, monomach?

 

[mrvm]

I paid top dollar and got the best thing around with this purchase.
I'm a cheapass, so I've been running extension cords and using a corded drill/driver when I need to drive screws (I have one of only two on the market with an adjustable clutch). It works fine and dandy when I'm in my shop or doing a major project, but sometimes I only need to drive a dozen screws away from the shop and running cord for that is a pain.
What do you guys think?

 

[timbitca]

This was so predictable.

If I'd asked this forum whether to warranty an old Craftsman screwdriver or buy a cheapo Kobalt set to assemble household furniture and remove a couple of vent registers, everyone would be telling me that I need to go get Snap-on and Wiha.

Never mind, guys. Occasionally needing to drive a few screws really far from my garage means that I need to run out and waste money on expensive shiny new Li-Ion drill/driver and an impact driver to boot? Yeaaaaaaaah. Sure it does.

I have a brand new Milwaukee drill/driver and an impact wrench at work. NO ONE needs that for home use unless they just want to prove that their ***** is of adequate size. Most homeowners don't truly NEED a single cordless power tool, in fact...and 100% of homeowners don't need an impact driver.

Ordered batteries off of ebay because garagejournal is garagejournal and that's what I was leaning toward before making a thread no one would read the original post of.

"Hey, guys. Should I repair my ****** or buy a new Corolla to drive to my job? It's only only 10 minutes from home. Just need a work car, nothing fancy."

"You should get a 2014 Mustang and a Harley. Never know when you'll absolutely, positively need more power on that 10 minute drive than a compact 4 cylinder car can provide."

Thanks for telling us which tools we are and aren't allowed to buy and use and also for wasting your time and ours by asking a question to which you obviously didn't want our opinions.

I'll use an impact driver to drive screws 100% of the time over using a drill if the option exists. You're the one missing out.

 

[RedneckWelder]

This was so predictable.

Never mind, guys. Occasionally needing to drive a few screws really far from my garage means that I need to run out and waste money on expensive shiny new Li-Ion drill/driver and an impact driver to boot? Yeaaaaaaaah. Sure it does.

I have a brand new Milwaukee drill/driver and an impact wrench at work. NO ONE needs that for home use unless they just want to prove that their ***** is of adequate size. Most homeowners don't truly NEED a single cordless power tool, in fact...and 100% of homeowners don't need an impact driver.

I don't even know why you started this thread, if you don't NEED a cordless power tool as a homeowner then you damn well don't NEED batteries for your old cordless tools that you don't NEED, homeowner.