battery repairs....

I reckon it's the same material as the battery casing so can be soldered. If soldering direct to a Ni-Cad use a hot iron and do it quickly. Tagged cells are available as replacements to get round this problem.

Everything scrapped before it's worn out is a major loss. ;-)

The message from Tim Lamb contains these words:

Actually it's nickel. They're not hard to re-spot, though for a drill, which (compared to model aeroplanes, for example) is a low current device you might get away with soldering it together. You'll need to scrape the mating surfaces clean and use a large iron so it doesn't take so long that the whole cell gets hot and dies.

As for re-spotting it -

I dont know the details of the construction, but often one can simply insert some metal to conduct and wedge the cells together, no solder or weld needed.

NT

I did read of someone making a mini spot welder for this using some parts from a microwave, personally I just solder them together or send the whole lot to re-cell for a proper rebuild.

mrcheerful

IMO. If you need to use a large iron, you're doing it wrong. Get the cell scrupulously clean - 600 grit new bit of sandpaper - followed by scotch-brite type pad - also new, while wearing clean gloves. Now, hold the cell vertically, with the cell face horizontal.

Clean the very hot iron tip, and holding it horizontally, build up a bead of flux-core solder, and then touch it upwards to the cell. The last two steps should take under a second. The solder blob should be touchable in under 5 seconds. Then you repeat the process - after the cell is cooled - with a bit of tinned wire in between the hot iron with the solder blob, and the cells tinned patch.

In message , Tim Lamb writes

Nickel eh!

Thanks to all. I'll have a go a soldering mindful of the heat issues.

regards