Replies

1. 
   jimmar | Nov 13, 2006 03:58am | #1

   I don't  know about  where you  live, but  I'm close to Vancouver (BC). A year ago my cordless screwdriver and dustbuster were dead. Rather than chuck them, I looked in the yellow pages under batteries, found "battery repair", called them up & described the problem. Two weeks later I had them back running as well as ever for a small fraction of replacement cost. Wish I'd thought of it when my 12V drill's batteries died 2 yrs. prior to this!

2. 
   PADDYDAHAT | Nov 13, 2006 04:19am | #2

   Woodman, I gave up on Dewalt as their original chargers cooked the batteries and they obviously didn't care, after all you could buy a new battery for $50+ . they still don't have a reasonable cost for batteries but their "new" wide range charger will trickle charge in a maintenance mode as well as repair sick batteries. I my last trip to home dopy it was $69+ BUT 
   I FOUND IT ON LINE FOR $23 + s&h no problem.   Now I don't have to use the drill for weight in my crab trap. It's not very likely that I will buy another DW tool as I have 3 of their early to die batteries on the back shelf. When the current two die the drill is history and I will donate the charger to an other wood worker suffering from Dewalt . Pat

3. 
   mapleman | Nov 13, 2006 07:09am | #3

   VAW,

   I second Paddy's sentiments about Dewalt, I asked for the new bosch lithium ion compact driver for Christmas. I only wish I hadn't just bougt the 18 Volt circular saw before I realised the problem with the batteries. However, if you don't want to chuck you Dewalt stuff, I know Home depot always runs a special on 2 18 Volt batteries for $100 at Christmas time each year. They are regularly $79 each here in Miss.

   I have never heard of "rebuilding" a battery, but it sounds like it's worth checking into.

   Don't know of any other uses for the things, but I'm sure some organization would take them as a donation, especially if you could find one that helps disabled woodworkers.

   Lee

1. 
   PADDYDAHAT | Nov 14, 2006 08:57am | #9

   Lee, Default dosen't give you the rebuild option(at least with the ones that I have) as the batt case is glued or fused together. Most others use screws and if you look to the sources for radio control model air craft (my other major afliction) you can find batts that are  better cells than the orig. If you rebuild be careful as too much heat will cook a new cell when you solder it-be conservative and tin all parts first, super clean and well fluxed. Pat

4. 
   nikkiwood | Nov 13, 2006 07:57am | #4

   That's why some of us end up with a flock of cordless tools and chargers -- it's not that much more expensive to buy a new drill/2 batts, and a charger.

   Th batteries can be rebuilt, and here's a place that has been highly recommended around here and at BT:

   http://www.voltmanbatteries.com/index.htm

   It would be prudent, though, to tote up the cost of new batteries vs. the cost of a rebuild plus postage

   I have 4-5 Panasonics that are dead, and for me, it makes sense to ship them off to these guys, since the new batts are woefully expensive.

   I don't know about the Ryobi, but you might want to consider switching to another system (vs. Dewalt). There have been lots of complaints, especially at BT, about their batteries.

   ********************************************************
   "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

   John Wooden 1910-

5. 
   RickL | Nov 13, 2006 03:34pm | #5

   I've had good luck with http://www.voltmanbatteries.com for our commercial shop. Rebuilds have 1/2 to 1/3 replacement costs and are better than the original. Some places have options of 2 or 3 higher levels amp ratings.

1. 
   nikkiwood | Nov 15, 2006 08:34am | #11

   When you say the Voltman rebuilds are "better than the original" -- what do you mean?do the rebuilds last as long as the OEM batteries before they go kaput?********************************************************
   "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

   John Wooden 1910-

1. 
   RickL | Nov 15, 2006 03:29pm | #12

   Supposed to be a better quality battery than the originals. For the price it's worked out to be better than buying new batteries. I would buy new pansonic drill sets before I'd buy new batteries. For the really adventurous types get the RC flyng magazines. A lot of sorces for the actual internal cells of batteries if you want to go that route.

6. 
   Jfrostjr | Nov 13, 2006 05:07pm | #6

   "Batteries Plus" is the rebuild franchise in our area. I hear they do a good job.

   Frosty

7. 
   Piccioni | Nov 13, 2006 05:30pm | #7

   I've found that, in general, the battery tools are pretty poorly made relative to corded ones, especially given the price, so usually I find I'm ready to pitch the tools when the pack goes. Plastic gears, crummy chucks, etc..

   However, chances are, only one cell is dead in your battery packs. If you have mulitples of the same type, you may be able to disassemble the packs and swap bad for good cells. I read somewhere you can tell good from bad with a mulitmeter - likely either short circuit or very low volatge across the cell.

   In future, you could consider Rigid. The tools are pretty good (not the best), but they claim to have a sort of lifetime service deal on the tools including the batteries. I haven't actually ever tried to collect on that but thats what they advertise.

    

1. 
   alfie | Nov 13, 2006 11:27pm | #8

   Some time back I had five Porter Cable batteries rebuilt at the local Batteries Plus. They are all dead or near-dead. The local franchise is out of business. The National organization did not answer the phone, so not much luck getting the warranty honored.
   After some research on the topic my conclusion is that it is not worth my while to rebuild batteries. For me, buying new is the way to go. And as others have noted, the way replacement batteries are priced, one may as well buy a new tool.

8. 
   andy302 | Nov 14, 2006 06:38pm | #10

   Here's another outfit doing rebuilds.  I haven't used them so I don't know how they are.  Found them on Craigslist

    

                             http://www.wcbatteryrebuilders.com/