20volt drill

[tphoyt]

Well my DeWalt 20 volt drill went for a swim this morning in salt water. I soaked it in a bucket of WD-40 and blew it out with the air gun. It’s still going but any bets on how long before it gives up?

 

[cyclops222]

No one knows. Use it. Is WD-40 flammable or explosive ?

 

[Bob_VT]

If you are confident - it should last if it was cleaned and dried. There is no oil that is in the motor so there is really nothing to contaminate - you could also place it on a cookie sheet in the oven at about 150 (for about 1 hour)to make sure it's dry.

 

[Scott Danforth]

clean it out with denatured alcohol after you clean it out with filtered water and you should be good. the battery may or may not survive.

 

[rolmops]

I don't know if it will ever be the same. I do know that there are a lot of very discounted sales of Dewalt 20 volt drills right now. I would get a spare now. Maybe wait till Black Friday, but definitely get a spare before this one gives up the spirit just when you need it.

 

[airshot]

No one knows. Use it. Is WD-40 flammable or explosive ?

YES....it makes a great starting fluid ! Won't strip oil off the cylinder walks

 

[tphoyt]

Just an update. It’s been almost a year now since my drill went for a swim. To my surprise it’s still going strong.
I thought about it this morning as tomorrow I’ll be working off a ladder to attach a bracket to the side of a piling and there will be a chance that it goes for a swim again. I hope I don’t as the water is still to cold for me.

 

[airshot]

Just an update. It’s been almost a year now since my drill went for a swim. To my surprise it’s still going strong.
I thought about it this morning as tomorrow I’ll be working off a ladder to attach a bracket to the side of a piling and there will be a chance that it goes for a swim again. I hope I don’t as the water is still to cold for me.

Safety cords save lots of drills and other battery powered tools.

 

[cyclops222]

I tie everything to a rope or line if it can drop.

 

[tphoyt]

I agree and I do tie things off that I may drop as well but in this case I’m planning the install around dead low tide and I still will be just an inch or two from the water. If I do drop it it will save me from diving for it but it’s still gona get wet.

 

[Grub54891]

At the shop a guy dropped a 18 volt dewalt in the lake around 15 years ago. We flushed it out with that electrical spray stuff. It doesn’t get used daily but it still works, just still smells like it does when you have an electrical fire.