I have a Dewalt 12V cordless drill that I have been using and it has always worked fine for what I do.
However, recently the battery pack is lasting shorter and shorter (I have two) and I think I would need to get new ones or have them reconditioned.
But one thing I noticed is that with the battery lasting a shorter time, it seems to be losing the torque as well, in other words, I am getting trouble with putting in 2-1/2" long screw (or extracting them) when I did not have any trouble before. It seems that even with a short live battery fully charged, the torque is reduced, or may be it's just me hallucinating after breathing in too much fiber glass insulation.
The other thing I found is that the old studs that are in my 35 year old house, they are A LOT harder than the new studs I get at Home Depot. When I sister a piece of new 2x4 to an old 2x4, the screw cuts through the new wood like butter and when it hits the old wood, it slows down. Same thing with cutting, I can notch new wood with a saw much easier than the old wood. It seems the old wood is almost as hard if not harder than today's PT wood.
The old wood might be douglas fir, well dried. Before you chuck the battery make sure it's just not a "charge memory" problem. When people re-charge batteries without letting them go completely dead first, over time, the charge becomes increasingly "shallow", its called "charge memory" (or something like that). Completely drain the old battery so it wont spin the drill at all with no load, let it cool, then give it a full deep charge. If that doesn't work then its the battery.
I have two 9v Makitas, one bought in 2002 when the original 1995 batteries went bad on the first one. A drill and 2 batteries was about the same price as 2 batteries then. Recently I found a guy in the net who sold me new batteries, better than the original (more AH) for $35 or so and it is like having a brand new drill. I forgot how well a new one works.
On 3/2/2009 1:44 PM snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com spake thus:
It's a problem with all nickel-cadmium batteries, no matter how "modern". It's an unfortunate consequence of the chemistry that can't be engineered away.
We are listed at D&B as Cunard Associates Inc. located in Bedford, Pennsylvania.
The division dealing with rechargeable products is called Primecell.
The company is a small, privately owned corporation. We have been involved with the rechargeable battery business since 1986.
We qualify as a small, woman owned business. Sandy is the owner - manager - and she allows us to work for her.
Our size grants us the flexibility to deal with even the smallest of customers (one battery at a time), or the largest ( In the world ).
We operate as a mail order service company, and have no store front to visit, which minimizes our overhead cost.
We are located in the foothills of the Allegheny mountains, in South Central Pennsylvania, we love it here, as have the five generations who passed before us.
Our rebuilding service has often been renowned as "better than new".
We consider our skills of our craft, and the quality of our product, to be the lasting evidence of our life's work.
If a task is considered worth while - we believe that it must be done well, or not done at all.
Our equipment is of the best design, and made by reputable manufacturers. All of our equipment is maintained to be in perfect condition, and in adequate quantity, for immediate business expansion when required.
We have developed many proprietary methods and process' that are unique to our business.
These methods and specialized equipment, allow the opening of the battery cases, the replacement of internal components, and the sealing of the cases to perform and appear to be as good as new.
There have been instances of customers who have received the serviced product - and immediately call us to report that we could not have opened the case.
Once they learn that it has truly been serviced, and experience the performance which works better than new - the question is always ... how do you do that?
It is our pleasure to hear the remark, and our duty to decline any comment. Requests to see the operation or to learn of the processes employed are politely refused.
Our satisfied customer list includes: AT&T, NASA, GE Motor Division, Paragon Cable, TCI, All American Pipeline, Caterpillar, Lufkin, and many others.
It also includes literally thousands of individuals, Hams, Paramedics, Fire Departments, American Red Cross, Construction Contractors, and Municipal law enforcement departments. The value of Amateur Radio is appreciated (KB3TR), so we understand the needs and interests of the Ham.
We have compiled rebuild specifications for over 1000 different battery applications, and the list just keeps getting larger every day.
We like what we do, and look forward to serving your needs.
Give us a try, it is our intention to make you a happy customer.
Don't........Never completely drain any multiple cell nicad battery pack. That is the surest way to damage a battery pack.
Did you leave the batteries on a charger when not in use? If not in what state did you leave the batteries, charged or uncharged? How long between uses?
Um, yeah. That's what happens when the batteries start getting weak. You won't have as much torque even with a fully charged battery because it's not as "fully charged" as it was when new.
I find drill batteries last two years. Doesn't seem to matter what brand. I've never tried Primecell for rebuilding. I will, one of these days. I've got a 14.4 Makita that isn't holding charge.
I was going to use one of the rebuilding services for my old crapsman drill but now I think I'll just buy the sub-c soldertab batteries and do it myself.
I have the same drill bought new in 1998. Batteries lasted til 2005. I got the weakest one "rebuilt".. It only lasted a few months so I waited til the whole DeWalt 12V drill "kit " went on sale for $ 60.00 and picked one up. Both Lowes and HD wanted $ 100.00 for two batteries alone.
Now I have two good batteries and one charger for the garage and one in the basement. (I also have the brand new drill, still in the original box)
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