Rebuilding tool batteries?

[WizeOne]

Has anyone had this done? What were your experiences?

I have a set of Makita 18v tools. ie, 2 drills, a flouresent lite, an incandescent light, a reciprocating saw and a circular saw. They all work flawlessly but my batteries are shot. Two of them (nicads) will charge but have very short legs and my third one (NiMH) will not even take a charge.

New ones cost an arm and a leg so I have been looking at having them rebuilt. It is still not cheap but seems to be about 2/3rds of a new one.

I know that all the new ones are lithium ion but I just cannot justify tossing these things out and buying a new set.

What say y'all?

 

[rbh]

Re: Rebuilding tool batteries?

I was alway told that they, "the batteries" establish a memory over time, if you can put a small light bulb between the post and totaly discharge the batteries, you have a good chance of getting more battery life out of them.
or that may be just talk, who knows.

 

[lowkee]

Re: Rebuilding tool batteries?

I often wonder why they don't sell aftermarket replacements. I've considered cracking open one of mine and simply soldering together a string of ni-mh to replace the ni-cad, but the ROI just doesn't seem to be there. The raw batteries cost quite a bit, plus the effort. It seems to work out buying two ni-cads costs the same as one ni-mh, and I still have the old ones for low draw tools, like the flashlight.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Rebuilding tool batteries?

I've been tossing around the idea of getting a set of batteries off Ebay and rebuilding my 18V Hitachi batteries, it's about $25 for 15 sub-C NiCD batteries.

 

[TexMojo]

Re: Rebuilding tool batteries?

I found a remedy online a few months back, but you have to consistently use your batteries to keep them up. I had a few that would not charge so I downloaded the instructions online and basically it had me connected a car batter to one and zapping the memory, it worked for awhile but I just don't use mine enough and some of them are now dead.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Rebuilding tool batteries?

Has anyone had this done? What were your experiences?

I have a set of Makita 18v tools. ie, 2 drills, a flouresent lite, an incandescent light, a reciprocating saw and a circular saw. They all work flawlessly but my batteries are shot. Two of them (nicads) will charge but have very short legs and my third one (NiMH) will not even take a charge.

New ones cost an arm and a leg so I have been looking at having them rebuilt. It is still not cheap but seems to be about 2/3rds of a new one.

I know that all the new ones are lithium ion but I just cannot justify tossing these things out and buying a new set.

What say y'all?

I was going to go in a different direction and suggest that you look around for a place that can rebuild them for you...but after rereading your post, that seems to be what you are contemplating....not doing it yourself.
So I would say "great option"!
This is a niche market, but there are small companies doing quite well and providing a 60-70% cost option by rebuilding many battery packs.
I have had good luck with a few drill batteries, and managed to redo a saw battery myself.
The problem is getting the shell apart in such a way that you can still reuse it afterwards...
I dropped a Makita battery unintentionally, and it serendipitously cracked open perfectly. That one I did myself.
Once you have the case open, generic batteries can be purchased quite cheaply and are easy to install. I just used a few drops of epoxy to seal it back up.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Rebuilding tool batteries?

Just had a Dewalt 14.4 battery rebuilt. Its just like new.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Rebuilding tool batteries?

I contemplated rebuilding them myself. The Makita battery cases are screwed together, not sonically welded. The big drawback is having to solder the cells together. I came across a vid from a rebuilder that shows them using a nifty little spot welder to attach the new contact straps. They would be a real PITA to try to solder and possibly damage the battery in the process.

I did replace a lone battery cell in my little Norelco beard trimmer and I did use a solder gun but that was only for one cell.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Rebuilding tool batteries?

I have several Dewalt 18V batteries that are either Dead, will not charge, or will not hold a charge very long. I had thought about replacing them one at a time form Batteries Plus, but figured that they might be substandard batteries, so I had not fully decided what to do...

It is really cost effective to rebuild them? Never thought about that before...

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Rebuilding tool batteries?

...
It is really cost effective to rebuild them? Never thought about that before...

That's exactly what I am trying to determine. Several websites claim that their rebuilds are better than new and that if your tools are older, OEM replacements have been sitting around for a long time now and are likely to be weak from the git go.

If you go out an pop for new tools you will soon be back in the same boat.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Rebuilding tool batteries?

I rebuild all my 18v packs,
the trick is to make sure you buy batteries with SOLDER TABS!.

This place has great prices.
http://www.batteryspace.com/

I used these cells, almost 50% cheaper than anything else I could find with solder tabs and at 2100mah they are increased capacity over the 1800mah cells I was replacing. Use the same charger, it just takes a few minutes longer.

http://www.batteryspace.com/nicdrechargeablecell12v2100mahscsizebatterieswithtabs10pcs.aspx

I think it works out to be half the cost of buying new OEM.
Just arrange the cells and hold with masking tape then solder it all up.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Rebuilding tool batteries?

Buy a new tool that comes with two batteries and then sell the toll anone on Ebay.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Rebuilding tool batteries?

Buy a new tool that comes with two batteries and then sell the tool alone on Ebay.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Rebuilding tool batteries?

I rebuild all my 18v packs,
the trick is to make sure you buy batteries with SOLDER TABS!.

This place has great prices.
http://www.batteryspace.com/

I used these cells, almost 50% cheaper than anything else I could find with solder tabs and at 2100mah they are increased capacity over the 1800mah cells I was replacing. Use the same charger, it just takes a few minutes longer.

http://www.batteryspace.com/nicdrechargeablecell12v2100mahscsizebatterieswithtabs10pcs.aspx

I think it works out to be half the cost of buying new OEM.
Just arrange the cells and hold with masking tape then solder it all up.

How many cells do you use in the 18V packs? Just the ten that comes in the 10 cell set, or do you have to use 11 cells to get the 18V? Just wondering because I just might have to find all o fmy batteries and start rebuilding these. If I can open them, it is not outside of the range of my capability...

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Rebuilding tool batteries?

Good links and info Jonesg. Those tabs seem to make the DIY a doable deal. I assume you just use wire leaders between them?

How would you know which mAh capacity to choose and whether or not to use NiMH batts. Two of my Makita batts were 2.1 mAh Nicads and one of them was a 2.6 mAh NiMH. It seems I got better service out the NiCads.

I'm sure either of the cases would accept either of the battery types as they are interchangeable in the tools and the chargers.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Rebuilding tool batteries?

How many cells do you use in the 18V packs? Just the ten that comes in the 10 cell set, or do you have to use 11 cells to get the 18V? Just wondering because I just might have to find all o fmy batteries and start rebuilding these. If I can open them, it is not outside of the range of my capability...

I haven't taken one of my 18 v batts apart yet, but 18 v divided by 1.2 volts equals 15.0 cells.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Rebuilding tool batteries?

Good links and info Jonesg. Those tabs seem to make the DIY a doable deal. I assume you just use wire leaders between them?

How would you know which mAh capacity to choose and whether or not to use NiMH batts. Two of my Makita batts were 2.1 mAh Nicads and one of them was a 2.6 mAh NiMH. I'm sure either of the cases would accept either of the battery types as they are interchangeable in the tools and the chargers.

I have been doing some research on this since I saw the thread. Looks to me that the cells in the link have tabs top and bottom so you just solder the tabs together to put them in series... then add wire where needed to get to the connections...

I haven't taken one of my 18 v batts apart yet, but 18 v divided by 1.2 volts equals 15.0 cells.

I did the math after i posted the question. Until then, I did not see the 1.2v per cell notation.

I did go and look at one of my Dewalt 18v batteries. It has screws in the top for easy disassembly and looks like it is perfect for 15 cells inside. I am going to plan on rebuilding these packs pretty soon. I just have to remember if I have 3 or 4 batteries and find them all...

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Rebuilding tool batteries?

To Wiseone, just saw a video at www.rebuildmybattery.com of a guy that rebuild in FL. I have no affiliation with him, I just mention it because he has a video where he uses a Dewalt 14.4v drill to drill a 2x4 full of drywall screws. His attempt was to use continuosly until the battery was to week. After 30 minutes of screw after screw, he said he was tired, but you can here for the drill it still had not lost power... How is that for a rebuilt battery...

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Rebuilding tool batteries?

To Wiseone, just saw a video at www.rebuildmybattery.com of a guy that rebuild in FL. I have no affiliation with him, I just mention it because he has a video where he uses a Dewalt 14.4v drill to drill a 2x4 full of drywall screws. His attempt was to use continuosly until the battery was to week. After 30 minutes of screw after screw, he said he was tired, but you can here for the drill it still had not lost power... How is that for a rebuilt battery...

I got exhausted just watching him. His price is verrrry good for the 18v. At his price, it is not worth doing it yourself. I'm going to email him and ask a few questions.

Edit: I did call him. He uses 1700mAh batteries. He claims that they are the best option considering price and recharge time. He also sends them back, postage included. I think I am going to go for it.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Rebuilding tool batteries?

I got exhausted just watching him. His price is verrrry good for the 18v. At his price, it is not worth doing it yourself. I'm going to email him and ask a few questions.

Edit: I did call him. He uses 1700mAh batteries. He claims that they are the best option considering price and recharge time. He also sends them back, postage included. I think I am going to go for it.

Cool, let us know how it goes... I may change my mind and send to him vs do my self. But then again, I really like learning things... Will wait for your report before I decide...

EDIT: But you do have to pay postage to get them there, correct???