Which Cordless Drill

7 years ago

Sorry if this is a double post...I seem to have issues all the time getting posts to thru!

So, I have 2 B&D cordless drill / drivers that I used for all drilling and driving when I finished my basement. The batteries are old..the newest from 2012. They lasted a long time but now, on the rare occasion I need to use the drill, the batteries do not last. They need replacement. The sit on what was sold to me as a 'smart charger'...it's not supposed to overcharge the battery or whatever. All I know is they lasted a long time on this charger as opposed to the crappy B&D charger that came with my 18V blower whose battery died within 6 months...I was told it ws not a smart charger. Anyway, I can get 2 generic 14.4 replacement NiCads for $50?

My question s are:

Should I buy generics?

Can I leave the batteries year round on the smart charger or will the lack of use somehow kill them?

With Black Friday coming, should I maybe get a new Dewalt Drill/Drive with 2 - 20V Litium batteries fo $99 and discard the B&D's. Can I leave the lithiums on the charger year round.

I do not use the drill/driver much but when instances arise its nice to have a couple of charged batteries.

Thoughts....

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Comments (7)

K R
7 years ago
Love our Dewalt. Have had it for years and it’s still great. IMO there are certain things to buy brand name. This is a perfect example of one.
andrelaplume2
Original Author
7 years ago
thanks...do you leave the battery on the charger all the time. How has it held up? I understand Dewalt is made by B&D....
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mike_kaiser_gw
7 years ago
Your NiCad based B&D tools have reached the end of their useful life and you're just throwing good money after bad in an attempt resuscitate them. Lithium ion is the way to go, better performance in a lighter, more compact package.

Stanley Black & Decker makes DeWalt, Porter-Cable, B&D, and the Craftsman branded tools sold at Lowe's (but not at Sears). TTI makes Milwaukee, Ridgid, and Ryobi (the second two only sold at Home Depot) plus some of the Craftsman tools sold at Sears. Bosch makes Bosch, Makita makes Makita.

For the average DIYer, I'm a big fan of the 12v platform. Enough power for most tasks in a tool that weighs and costs less. Bosch, Makita, and Milwaukee all offer a 12v impact/drill-driver set that goes for about $160 at the big box stores. You won't go wrong with any of them.
andrelaplume2
Original Author
7 years ago
again...sorry if I end up with a double post. What the heck happened to gardenweb. Half the time you hit SUBMIT and everything dispears!
andrelaplume2
Original Author
7 years ago
anyway, my B&D stuff is 10+ years old but worked fine through many a project and still works fine....allbeit for about 2 minutes until the batteries craps out...LOL!

If I knew the generic batteries would be ok, I have no doubt the two drills would get me through another 10 years...especially with what limited us they would see. However if there is something to be gained by a 20V lithium battery that is half the size..I have no objection.

You say 12V....not sure what the means. Dewalt has a drill and 2 - 20V batteries for $99. Yea, I have 2 drills right now which is nice to have one devoted to screwing and one for drilling...or one a backup should the other fail ...but I could live with one. What do you think of this deal? BTW, how do I know if I can leave the batteries on the charger 24/7 without harming them?

Finally, before I do this, is it safe to assume the 20V Lithium will last as long as the 14.4 Nicad? Both in use and over time?
Kstug
7 years ago
I doubt you'll have any issue with longevity and the charging shouldn't be a problem. For your situation I would get the Ryobi drill/driver and ryobi impact driver. Plenty of budget priced options for additional tools on that battery platform too!
mike_kaiser_gw
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Batteries have always been the bane of cordless tools, they're kind of like processors in computer. For many years it was an upwards race in voltage. My first cordless drill was something like 4.8v, then 9.6v, 12v, 14.4v, and 18v. The problem was as the batteries got more powerful, the tool got heavier. NiCad battery packs are just a cluster of individual 1.2v cells (which is why they are always a multiple of 1.2) Then the lithium batteries came along and offered even better performance in a lighter battery pack. Of course, manufacturers kept upper in the capacity of the batteries (measured in amp hours). I think Milwaukee has now has a 12 amp hour battery that weighs over 3 pounds! Personally, I don't think the average DIYer needs a battery pack that lasts longer than it takes for the second one to charge.

If you are happy with your B&D drill, you can certainly buy new batteries or have the old packs rebuilt. There are companies that will sell you the cells or you can try one of "battery outlet" type stores that will often rebuild packs.

As I said, I would take a good look a 12 volt tools. I have a 12v Milwaukee Fuel impact drive that I absolutely love. It is light, compact and has done everything I've asked of it from light assembly work to driving lag screws. Now it's not the impact I would have picked if I was building decks for a living, but I don't build decks. My only regret is that I didn't buy the matching drill at the same time because they would have came with a case that held both of them. I would suggest a trip to your local Home Depot and try handling some of these 12v tools.

It's not a good idea to leave batteries on a charger indefinitely. I've found that the lithium batteries I have last at least a couple of months off charge and charging takes 20-30 minutes.