Cordless power tools

[idleprocess]

Tough call idleprocess, the most pocket friendly would be the rebuilding of the pack. My 5a dewalt have the 25r cells in(the 4a 20r). I will be honest, so far over the last 2yrs or so, they have been awesome.

I opted to procure the new trimmer since my present generation(s) prior trimmer is best reserved for edging duties.

Long term, the situation with Ryobi's 40V system is not so appealing. Best I can tell, none of their 40V batteries offer balance charging nor do they parallel-ize their strings, thus a singe cell deficiency/failure will invariably cause the battery to ultimately fail. And as the pricing above suggests, Ryobi is all too happy to make absurd profits on standalone batteries.

Apparently these details are wrong. I did a more detailed teardown of two old/malfunctioning packs and determined that they consist of pairs of cells in parallel connected in a string of 10 seemingly with sufficient intermediate contacts to balance charge each individual 2-cell components. Cells in my packs were Samsung INR18650‑13Q - 18650 1.3Ah / 15A discharge-rated. I should be able to at the very least harvest numerous working cells from these since open-circuit voltage on the pack itself was around 40V.

Unless you have a small lawn to mow I advise against many battery mowers. I went ahead and read a bunch of Google shopping reviews on this mower and found the following concerns: Runtime not enough, only comes with a single battery charger that takes 3 hours to recharge a 9A battery so unless you have a second charger or another set of batteries you are down for 3-6 hours. I'm also guessing the 9A batteries don't last 10 years in use so have to add that in long term cost. My old Toro self propelled mower costs me about $10 (or less) a year in gas over 10 years that is about $100 which probably won't buy a set of batteries for this mower.

The target market for battery-electric mowers is the suburban homeowner. Living on ~⅛ of an acre, I'm in the prime of the demo. The pack-in 2.6Ah batteries that came with the mower were more than enough for routine mowing for a ~3 seasons until performance degradation started to become too great at which point I got a couple more seasons out of them running the trimmer and blower.

Cost of ownership is surely higher than a gas mower assuming you never need to service it. Ryboi's warranty goes out to five years now; their battery design isn't so great that they can promise much more than that. I see opportunities to prolong the working lives of their battery packs, but that would reduce profits.

The benefit of the battery-electric mower are low noise, light weight, charge-and-forget readiness, and minimal maintenance requirements. End of life for the batteries is an unanswered question for most users since in my experience the pack will act up to the point of rendering it useless long before the cells expire, however the assembly of these things makes cell harvesting time-consuming - rebuilding immensely moreso.

Try as I did, I could not position the DeWALT so as to be able to edge with it. I attached the handle behind the joint, in front of the joint and even upside down. The issue is due to the angle of the cutting head/guard/motor. I just could not see where the line makes contact when the tool is rotated to an edging position. I attempted a variety of trimmer and hand positions. CRAP! :hairpull: Edging was the main reason for the purchase.

This is a slight disappointment with my new purchase as well, however upon inspection of the demo unit at the Home Despot I noted the lack of any sort of consideration (tilting head, guide wheel) that its predecessor had thus wasn't expecting such functionality. Going to speculate that DeWalt - like Ryobi - sells an edging attachment for an added fee. When the original trimmer finally expires I may procure said edging attachment for the new trimmer.

 

[Lynx_Arc]

Yeah we do have the DW 6A packs here I used a pair at work on a rotary hammer drill with vacuum and they were very nice the extra 1-2A over the previous battery impacts I had used is noticeable but I don't have huge arms and often end up working on a ladder holding the drill almost at the end of my reach so any additional amount of weight can wear me out if I have to repeat the action over and over that is why I don't think the flexvolt batteries will catch on with certain tools but with others like a portaband or perhaps even a 60V jackhammer or cirular saw even they would be nice as the higher voltage would actually allow a reduction in weight of the motors that can be geared up/down wiring also could be 1/3 as large and magnets lighter and other electronic components needed to manage power also.

I haven't heard of any battery longevity statistics for 20V lithium (18V) anywhere I do know that they are hugely better than NiCd and NiMh batteries. I got to where when I needed to do a lot of power tool work I would grab a cord because I got tired of waiting half a day for a battery to recharge and halfway through the job waiting for it to charge again as both the battery had discharged and over time lost too much capacity to be useful. I"ve found lithium ion packs a huge step up myself they can sit for a long time and still be useful and seem to charge faster and run better. I think Nicads are done for in general usage they just cannot compete with lithium cells for 99% of the tasks at hand. I do have a pack that seems to be low in capacity that I need to take apart and discharge it and test the individual cell voltages to see if one is dying way too soon.

 

[ven]

I agree, lithium has changed tool use hugely and for the better. Nicd at the time was OK but then there was not much choice. Nimh again, ok and have a few bits powered by . Even to my head trimmers(clippers) i look for lithium over nimh.

My tool use at home is infrequent, dewalt recommend charging batteries and keeping voltage up. Now measuring a pack, the V can be 4.1-4.15v per cell, maybe 90-95%. Better for storing 6 months than being at 100% i guess. I might use and not top up, keep closer to 4v for some packs. Even then there is enough juice to get stuff done. Or top up for 20-30 mins and go with a full charge.

Work use tends to be daily, or at least 3 days out of the 5. So topping these off is a none issue.

Agree , the bigger packs are more suited for bigger tools. If i was doing a lot of screwing:naughty: i would slap the flex on and go for it. Any fatigue down the line, could swap out for a 20v pack. Same with drill.......

So far i have never needed to swap a battery yet, work or home, even 4a will get me what i need doing . So i could get away with a battery at home, 1 in work. But there could be a day where i may need to(example) open several vessels with 24mm bolts. I know i can finish what i started, peace of mind is something i like. Even if it does cost me more.

This is a guy with about 10 sets of hex keys, 5 sets of 3/8 socket sets, 4 sets of 1/2 and 3 sets of 1/4...........:crazy: I have many multiples of stuff, just in case i loose, break .

Did i say i was a little crazy:whistle:

:)

 

[Lynx_Arc]

I too have multiples of stuff...... 2 1/4 impacts, 6 drills, 2 circular saws and double and triple sets of all sorts of hand tools as I inherited tons of hand tools from my father when he passed away long ago.

 

[ven]

It seems that you may be a tool addict like my self Lynx:whistle::poke:..............;)

I inherited a few tools myself, my dad was awesome at wood working. He was actually worse than me for buying tools! It was his main hobby/interest outside of work. I will never forget him bringing back a nail gun from the states!!!! It was a beast, run off a compressor (obviously not brought that bit back). In fact iirc there were 2 nail guns, imagine that today through customs!!!!

But lathe, pilar drill, maybe at least 15 or so wired saw tools and drills, sanders etc etc. Mikita battery drills, back then nicad so of little use today. Basically, if you could use on wood ,he would have 5 of them!

I think i have at least 2 corded drills in the attic , i have used a few times years back.

Along with lithium fuel, brushless has helped as well. Lithium and brushless in comparison to brushed and nicd/nimh is just a huge step up. So much more efficient.

 

[Lynx_Arc]

I don't have any brushless yet..... can't afford the upgrade at this time. My dad did a lot of word working I have saws and sanders and routers and drills and 2 compressors and nail and brad and staple guns and even a scroll saw and band saw. You can buy 20v nail guns now and I do have about 4-5 corded drills and air impact and air ratchet wrenches and i also have a Dewalt corded 1/2 inch impact that I use to take tires off with words better than the air impact that my compressor can't keep up with it isn't a big one.
I wouldn't give a dime for nicad or nimh power tools these days not worth messing with the batteries as none of them are LSD batteries which is the only type to have in flashlights that don't support lithium rechargeables.

 

[ven]

Well your far more kitted out than me! I don’t do any wood working at all. Most of my tool use is in work with impacts and drill . Drilling tapping helicoil type uses.
Home use is odd screwing together, few holes here and there and a little for vehicle use .

I could probably get by with just an impact or drill for home, but I am not that sensible .

 

[Lynx_Arc]

I don't do much woodworking even though I was once had a job as a carpenter I'm not into woodworking. I use a soldering iron and screwdrivers and pliers more than power tools. I do often use a 20v drill with a magnetic screw tip holder in my tinkering but most of my tools lately have been to work on my vehicle. I do have a project in mind that will make use of my woodworking skills building a tv stand but haven't got a new tv yet to go in it (not quite able to afford it yet).

 

[ven]

Well sun out, tree stump in view.........what could i do!

Topped up with oil, tank was much smaller than i expected! hence spilling out . Lubricated the chain a little prior to running. Slapped on the flexvolt 9a and good to go

It eat through the 9a flex

Pretty darn quick as well, saying that it was full on use. Every 15 mins or so, check chain tension and tweak.

Good clean out

Back up, stopped on the first 5a battery i used with 2 lights left on it. I reckon it took 10 minutes to drop a light! This little brusheless motor works hard


Cleaned and ready to be put away, i filled the oil tank twice, when cleaning up i drained the last 1/4 tank out.

I wont say it was cutting through butter, the dead parts were obviously a breeze. But the more solid, further down was tough! In fairness it was possibly a bit too much for the little saw. At the base of the tree, an easy 3ft diameter, maybe closer to 4ft. So i sectioned it , like a pizza!. The cut horizontal in sections.
It got a good work out, stalled a few times getting trapped. Bar and chain got a little warm(not super hot, but noticeable).
I am glad i got another spare bar and chain, its took a good bit of the sharpness off. Not sure about a sharpener yet or just buy another chain. The next lot of work will be a lot easier going. The thickest branches are at the worst, 4" diameter.

I would say the 54v with the 40cm chain would have made it a lot easier, but overkill for most of its future uses. Holding a larger heavier 54v saw is over kill for what i plan to do.
So i would hazard a guess maybe 40-60 mins of use.......who knows maybe longer. I am annoyed i did not time, so could be way off. So i have little idea of how long the 9a flex lasted. Not that it matters too much , i have another 3 batteries to back me up. In fact i have enough juice to outlast me! It did struggle at times, maybe in part to the chain not being as sharp.

Not really at any time did i get fatigue, thats after a work day to. Weight, well the flex packs are like 2 of the 5a in size and weight. But on the chain saw, unless using with one hand(highly unlikely), its not an issue.

Removing the side guard is easy, adding tension (tool free) is super user friendly. I like my tools clean, so i will admit it was a pita to get it even close to my usual standard. Oil mixed with saw dust n crap = not a happy me come cleaning time:nana:

In fact, tape measure to see diameter at base!! About 41", so near as damn it 3.5ft.

Beauty of 2 chargers, makes this bit easier

Cheers

 

[ven]

Bit of drilling into wood with Callum, drills, screws etc with his drill. He could have done that all evening!

 

[Lynx_Arc]

That is something I haven't seen.... a B&D hammer drill. They don't sell them around here you have to use a PC or Stanley one and adapter the batteries. Personally I no longer recommend B&D power tools instead I say get PC ones it is easier to adapt the batteries on them to B&D stuff but B&D batteries aren't as easily adaptable to PC tools due to the front lip section design of them.
Oh..... I didn't see it was 14.4V.... I don't think we even sell that voltage of tools now they are almost all 18 or 20V or higher. We do have some 4 and 12v tools.... I would suspect that 14.4 would equate to 16v here

 

[ven]

its a Baby Decker drill, still around house it gets small jobs done. Will cover most DIY needs i guess, no use as a work tool though. Thats Callums little drill, we were trying out different wood drills in the bits of tree cut offs.

 

[ven]

Oh and that use with the tree, kind of helped me justify the flex. Yes i could have got it done on the 5a batteries, maybe 2 swaps and the 3rd job done. Either way i got 90% of the job done with the 9a. I was still surprised how fast it eat through the mah!!!! When i come round to doing hedge(end of Sep prob), it will be several hours work. I know i will use the 9a, 5a and whilst the 3rd battery is in use, the others will be getting charged up.

 

[Lynx_Arc]

its a Baby Decker drill, still around house it gets small jobs done. Will cover most DIY needs i guess, no use as a work tool though. Thats Callums little drill, we were trying out different wood drills in the bits of tree cut offs.

It should do rather well with the exception of the hammer part it has 80% of the power of 20v tools with 4 batteries instead of 5.
Some people like the 12v tools of the DW and Milwaukee lines for the less bulk and weight. I've used a few tools using the 12V batteries and at my job they are good for the vacuum attachment on hammer drill and smaller band saws but not much else IMO as in constant use the 60% amount of power leaves you changing batteries too often and many use 4-5A batteries in everything so that makes for less than 30% of the power available. My dad used a 9.6V and 12V drill for a long time (but were NICD). I got rid of his drills and my 9.6v drill when I got a 20V B&D drill and realized how wonderful lithium batteries are.

 

[ven]

The B&D is not really that small or light for a 14v drill, its similar size(well in fact its longer) than the dewalt

Nipped off for pics!

Without the big difference in battery size

Yes dewalt heavier, chunkier, much nicer in hand. The B&D feels noticeably lighter, but if anything maybe too light which gives a flimsy feel.

I can see the advantage of some 12v stuff though, dewalt, milwaukee etc m12 looks a cool set up. It might even do me for most stuff, but i am more all or nothing type . Benefits of the 12v system for sure if driving small screws in all day, the lighter weight will sure help out hours into a job.

 

[Lynx_Arc]

Oh and that use with the tree, kind of helped me justify the flex. Yes i could have got it done on the 5a batteries, maybe 2 swaps and the 3rd job done. Either way i got 90% of the job done with the 9a. I was still surprised how fast it eat through the mah!!!! When i come round to doing hedge(end of Sep prob), it will be several hours work. I know i will use the 9a, 5a and whilst the 3rd battery is in use, the others will be getting charged up.

I sort of figured it would either be a wimpy saw and chew big time through batteries as even gas powered saws can bog down cutting through thick wood. If DW has a hedge trimmer I bet you only use half the batteries on that. I can trim all my hedges on less than a small battery.

 

[Lynx_Arc]

The B&D is not really that small or light for a 14v drill, its similar size(well in fact its longer) than the dewalt

Yes dewalt heavier, chunkier, much nicer in hand. The B&D feels noticeably lighter, but if anything maybe too light which gives a flimsy feel.

I can see the advantage of some 12v stuff though, dewalt, milwaukee etc m12 looks a cool set up. It might even do me for most stuff, but i am more all or nothing type . Benefits of the 12v system for sure if driving small screws in all day, the lighter weight will sure help out hours into a job. (pics removed for quoting)

It looks like the B&D uses the same case mold that the PC and Stanley does with the exception of battery connector. If I were buying tools for someone small in stature like a 5' tall woman or 12 year old kid I would consider the 12v line otherwise a 1 layer battery and 20V tool line is IMO the best of all worlds as I've learned having separate batteries for many lines of tools makes for more chargers and more expense.

 

[ven]

It had some tough work Lynx, it performed pretty well for an 18v saw. I think the chain got a little blunt towards the end. There was some tough wood/knots or what ever in there. Only time it stalled was horizontal cuts, my fault not the saw. I will see on next use, i did try it after on some of the wood it cut off easy, it still cut through that pretty well. i have a spare and as i am one of those for back ups, may get another chain anyway. I dont like being down to my last one of anything type of guy:crazy:

The size of tree it took on(stump) at 3.5 feet diameter is far more than what the saw was designed. With a 12" bar, even using it on double the size is 2ft. However i did not buy it mainly for that tree, that was more " why dont you cut down that stump".. So it was a hell yes, suns out and a new toy to play with!

Hedges will be much easier, but much more time demanding due to size.

 

[Lynx_Arc]

I did have a gas powered chain saw but it was loaned to my sister who loaned it to her son and the automatic oiler got broken and I haven't seen it since. I use the saw off my electric pole saw for now and a circular saw and a sawzall with a gnarly wood cutting blade. As rarely as I use a chain saw I'm not sure having a gas or electric one is needed as it would sit for a decade perhaps.

 

[Chauncey Gardener]

ven,

Please use a reciprocating saw with a pruning blade if you decide to have a go at the roots of that big-*** stump. It only takes contacting a tiny pebble for a second to dull yer chainsaw blade.