Rechargeable Tools, rebuildable battery packs

[Don]

Hey, Guys. Do you have any rechargeable tools with dead or dying batteries? I have an old pistol grip handled Craftsman 12 volt drill that they will have to pry out of my hands. I've bought several "replacement" batteries at inflated prices; more than a new cheaper one costs. But, everyone's design for battery drills now is a T-handle style. I don't like those as much because of the wrist strain. A pistol grip lets you push right on the heel of the body.

Anyway, I found a great place online, http://www.primecell.com/index.html you mail them your packs, they take them apart and reinstall larger and better nicads than you can get at the stores. Cost is about the same but you get a better pack, and one that lasts longer. Check them out before you toss those old packs or get another tool you don't like as much.

http://www.primecell.com/index.html

All the best, Don

[rzims]

Thanks for the link - I have a Craftsman 12V that I love and have had for several years and the batteries just won't hold a charge anymore.
I'd rather not contribute to the landfill and to be honest, sears has a new 18V that is less than 2 replacement batteries.
I'm having these guys quote the rebuild....

Thanks again
-Rich

[thekl0wn]

Very nice! We've got about 30 batteries to send them! :D

[Don]

RZ, sounds like we might have the same 12V drill. I can vouch to the quality of the new packs, they were never were this strong when new.

kl0wn, sounds like you go through more batteries than tools, I'll bet these rebuilds last longer. The tool companies make a lot of money on replacement batteries, then guess what, the battery style is changed for something "improved" and you have to start over again. There are many different levels of quality and capacity on the same size cell, anyone that's been into RC (radio control) knows this. Many companies offer a standard battery and an "extended run," the case is the same size, they're just using a smaller capacity (read cheaper) cell to begin with.

If you're really savvy you can buy the cells and change them yourself and save even more. The tool makers discourage this by making the packs tough to get into though.

dawjr

[rzims]

Well, I just sent off the two battery packs, so we'll see how fast they turn it around.
I like the fact that I don't have to throw perfectly good tools away.
Of course I've had the same hammer for 20 years and many of my hand tools used to belong to my dad and my grandfather.

I went to Orchard Supply to buy a new ax handle last year and they didn't understand why I just didn't buy a new ax - it was almost the same price :-)

[Don]

Hey, rzims. Did you get your batteries back yet?

dawjr

[rzims]

I did - they came in at the end of last week. Charged them both Friday night and used them Saturday.
Don't know if it's any stronger, but I used it most of the day and they definitely hold a charge again which is exactly what I was hoping for....
So, total cost including shipping was actually a couple of dollars more than sears replacement batteries, but if they're better batteries and I don't have to throw anything away, then it was a good investment.

[Don]

Good deal. Yeah my replacement batteries were $49.95 at Sears because mine are so old I guess, so I came out a little better funds wise.

You probably won't be able to tell a difference in power because your charger will only charge them to the required voltage (1.2v per cell) but you should see a big difference in capacity meaning they will run quite a bit longer between charges.

Somehow they screwed up one of mine and I had to send it back, it was almost like one cell would not take a charge because it would only charge to over ten volts out of a needed twelve. We'll see how they respond to a warranty claim and I'll post here.

I was a little disappointed when I e-mailed them about it. I explained everything and two days later I got a one word reply, "when?" That meant that I had to dig out all of my paperwork and respond to that. They never responded back to me - so I just sent the battery back with all of the info I had. The battery was no good to me anyway like it was.

I'm afraid that some companies don't appreciate how much their business can be affected by bad press on the net. We'll see.

Glad you got your's back and they work.

dawjr

[woodman43]

Hey, Guys. Do you have any rechargeable tools with dead or dying batteries? I have an old pistol grip handled Craftsman 12 volt drill that they will have to pry out of my hands. I've bought several "replacement" batteries at inflated prices; more than a new cheaper one costs. But, everyone's design for battery drills now is a T-handle style. I don't like those as much because of the wrist strain. A pistol grip lets you push right on the heel of the body.

Anyway, I found a great place online, http://www.primecell.com/index.html you mail them your packs, they take them apart and reinstall larger and better nicads than you can get at the stores. Cost is about the same but you get a better pack, and one that lasts longer. Check them out before you toss those old packs or get another tool you don't like as much.

http://www.primecell.com/index.html

All the best, Don

Thanks for the link. Great site.

[Don]

And the bonehead award goes to . . . me! My last post in this thread lamented on how PrimeCell messed up repairing one of my batteries. I sent it back to them rather indignantly, "fix it right this time please." They called, "Don, do you have more than a pair of these batteries?"

"No, I have only two."

"The battery you sent to us is not one we rebuilt, it does not have our cells inside, nor our sticker on the outside."

My palms began to sweat on the steering wheel. "Let me call you right back, okay?" Ten minutes later I'm in my shop and "find" the other rebuilt battery on a shelf where an "extra" battery had been tossed aside. I had bought an extra a couple of years ago and forgot about it. Somehow, my dumba** picked up the old one and thought it was a rebuilt one, EVEN AFTER I MARKED THEM!

So, to them I'm sure it looked like I was trying to get a free battery job. Called them back, ate a bunch of crow, asked them to rebuild that one too and send me the bill.

Just another sign to me that my a** is getting older. And to be even more careful because of it.

Sorry, PrimeCell - ya'll are doing a great job.

dawjr