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creeky
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# Posted: 20 May 2016 08:43am - Edited by: creeky
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My Sears "pro" drill sits on a shelf useless. It charged fine for about a month on modified sine inverted power and then I noticed the batteries start to lose capacity. Soon they were dead.
The "updated" manual said "do not charge on modified sine." Unfortunately my manual was not the updated one.
The good news was, for a 100 bucks more than replacement batteries I got a sale on a Hitachi kit. Drill/driver, circ, recip. Lithium 18v. 5 years and still rippin'.
I also had a chance to use the new Ridgid drill driver from HD last week. Man that thing is sweet. Near tore my arm off when driving lags.
Edit: the new tools use plastic instead of oil to smooth out the bearings. watch the sun on your tools and watch for excess heat for longest life; is what I was told.
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Julie2Oregon
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# Posted: 18 Jun 2016 11:54pm
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Thanks, dsmith14469!
Must say that I'm doing fine with the two batteries and chargers I have. I have a B & D lithium batt weed eater, too, so I use that battery with my power tools, as well. 
Amazon had a Father's Day B & D sale going on. If you bought $50 worth, you got $10 off. So I picked up the Matrix trim saw (neat little circular saw!) and the jigsaw. Free Prime shipping, too. For $41, I couldn't go wrong.
I haven't tried out the jigsaw yet but we've been merrily cutting away with the trim saw! It got about 3/4 of the way through an inch-thick hardwood board so my son simply flipped the board over and finished the cut. I've been zipping through plywood. Rather proud of myself, actually.
I'm loving the Matrix system. The tools change and handle so easily -- even for someone like myself with arthritic hands!
My Sun Joe lithium battery mower, on the other hand, pretty much fell apart on its third use. Weird. Was mowing along when it started making a loud noise and vibrating and the blade fell off. I thought the blade was loose, hence the noise, so I put the blade back on, started her up, clank-clank-clank, blade fell off, and the battery wouldn't come out. I noticed white stuff had formed around the battery, too. Not cool. Back it went for a refund.
I bought another lithium batt mower but this time a Ryobi. Similar but it seems to be a better build. Fingers crossed.
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Don_P
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# Posted: 19 Jun 2016 08:45am
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Who owns who is kind of interesting although those affiliations and the quality of what each brand makes constantly changes.
Back in the day we would look for B&D's industrial line, then they acquired Dewalt and that became the heavier line from them, I don't really think so anymore... it breaks down (that had to be Freud at work) more to a tool by tool review.
I've had a lithium drill/driver combo for about 5-6 years that has done pretty well. There are times when it is plugged into cheap generators. The fast charger it came with died and I could replace it with the same unit or a cheaper slow charger that doesn't have a cooling fan. Having heard reports of several construction fires related to bad chargers I opted for the slow charger, seems to be fine several years in. I don't think you can count on a line lasting through much time, I've been through multiple sets of voltage changes starting with 9 volt... glad I didn't try to hold onto that line of stuff!
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NorthRick
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# Posted: 19 Jun 2016 11:51am - Edited by: NorthRick
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I've got DeWalt 18v NiCad hand tools. They've been great. Only complaint would be that they are on the heavy side. That tends to only be a problem with using the drill to drive a lot of screws. I have a couple of batteries nearing the end of their useful life. Need to decide whether to change but I'm leaning towards simply getting more NiCads.
I've been eyeing the battery powered yard tools for a while. However, when I need to replace/upgrade, so far I end up going with gas powered, as I'm not sure the battery powered ones are quite there yet.
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Julie2Oregon
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# Posted: 19 Jun 2016 05:39pm
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Quoting: Don_P I don't think you can count on a line lasting through much time, I've been through multiple sets of voltage changes starting with 9 volt... glad I didn't try to hold onto that line of stuff!
Wow, right? Did the 9-volts have much power? My tool batteries are 20 volt and they do great but I'll bet they up the ante in time. I'm covered there, though, because my lawn equipment uses 40-volt batteries.
The pricing is interesting on these systems. You can buy the tools and lawn stuff with 2 batteries, 1 battery or no batteries. The price difference is rather negligible between the 2 and 1 battery inclusions but large between tool only and having a battery and charger included. Buying a battery alone costs about $100 for the Ryobi lawn stuff. What's weird, though, is that it's just the battery -- the charger is sold separately.
Soooo, I ended up going with the Ryobi lawn mower that came with 1 battery and charger. One charged battery gives me 45 minutes of mowing, enough time to do my front yard and sides. I'm tuckered out by then so it's perfect. I can charge the battery, rest, and do the back yard later or the next day.
I figured the 1 battery package made the most sense, even though the 2 battery kit was only $30 more. Why? It still only has one charger. If this mower serves me well, then I'll buy other Ryobi 40-volt tools in the family, like the lithium chain saw and the snow blower. Each will come with another battery and another charger. I don't see the point of having far more batteries than chargers sitting around.
That theory has worked well with my Matrix tools. A charger for each battery and I always have one ready to go, whether I'm using the weed eater or my drill and saws on any given day.
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Julie2Oregon
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# Posted: 19 Jun 2016 05:54pm
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NorthRick
Yeah, for me, it's all about the weight. Because I have Lupus, my hands are weak and I just don't have the dexterity and coordination in my fingers that most people do. Years ago, I had bought a drill with a rechargeable lead acid battery pack and it was just too heavy for me to use and maneuver for any length of time so I ended up giving it to my son.
So the lithium batteries are a godsend. The batteries are smaller and lighter, which makes the tools lighter and more maneuverable for people like me. The Matrix stuff is ergonomic and SO easy to change the various tools on the base that even I can do it.
As for the lawn equipment, same concept. Gas mowers/trimmers are too heavy for me. I was doing corded electric, which was OK, but I stumbled over the cord at times and always having to be cognizant of that cord on the mower slowed down mowing.
These mowers are rated for a half-acre or less. You'd need 3 batteries, I think, to mow a half-acre at one time unless you're far faster and more efficient at it than I am. I have a city lot and I need the juice of a bit more than 1 battery.
They cut SUPER well, though. Mine came with a bagger and a mulch attachment. No messing with plugs, oil or gasoline. Very convenient.
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Don_P
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# Posted: 19 Jun 2016 09:29pm
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I haven't taken apart a lithium battery yet... which speaks well I guess. I tried to stay at 14.4V Dewalt through several sets of batteries and a couple of drills. I do like to buy the same tool over and over if it works well, this has worked with corded tools better than battery stuff because the batteries are evolving. aanyway, I opened up several dead NiCad battery packs, they are wired with a series of subC batteries, slightly smaller than a flashlight "C" sized battery. I had charged the batteries so unsoldered them and checked for the good ones then resoldered the pack back together. It got a little more life out of fading batteries. You can order fresh subC's online and rebuild a pack as well, I think that's what the guys at the flea markets are doing. Generally though, by the time my batteries are gone the tool is about there.
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