Power Tools & General Tools Recommendations & Advice

Sin_Chase said:
Went to use my Bosch blue drill driver this week and the 18v battery was proper dead. Could not even get a LED illuminated on the charge level test function and battery would not charge. Was about to bite the bullet and buy a new one but fortunately did some Googling and found out about jumping the battery!

Connected it directly to one of my DeWalt 18v batteries which had charge (+ to +, - to -) and was able to do a charge level test on the busted Bosch! Disconnected after 15 seconds and then put in charger, started charging immediately and has been successfully resurrected!
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Never heard of that fix. But then I never had a battery fail, apart from explosively. I once made the mistake of buying some cheap Chinese batteries that caught fire when charging.

DeWalt batteries they have always "faded" just slowly holding less and less charge until useless. Can't say I ever tried to resurrect them.

Interestingly, where do you all store your batteries? It just occurred to me that I store them in a plastic container in a wooden workshop! Maybe I need to buy a steel cabinet.
 
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Most Li-ion chargers require a minimum voltage in the battery before they will start charging for safety reasons.

If the voltage drops below the minimum threshold, they will not charge.

Batteries slowly discharge over time and are affected by external conditions such as temperature. A battery at a low state of charge at say 20c, if you then cool it to 2C, its voltage will drop materially.

Likewise if you store your battery in the tool, the discharging will be accelerated and they can be ran completely flat.
 
b0rn2sk8 said:
Most Li-ion chargers require a minimum voltage in the battery before they will start charging for safety reasons.

If the voltage drops below the minimum threshold, they will not charge.

Batteries slowly discharge over time and are affected by external conditions such as temperature. A battery at a low state of charge at say 20c, if you then cool it to 2C, its voltage will drop materially.

Likewise if you store your battery in the tool, the discharging will be accelerated and they can be ran completely flat.
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This may be why I have heard of cheap Chinese tools destroying DeWalt batteries. I believe that some of the tools/lamps will completely flatten the battery, and what you have just said explains why people think it killed the battery. Some of the manufacturers now state that they include circuitry to not completely flatten batteries.
 
SpellowHouse said:
This may be why I have heard of cheap Chinese tools destroying DeWalt batteries. I believe that some of the tools/lamps will completely flatten the battery, and what you have just said explains why people think it killed the battery. Some of the manufacturers now state that they include circuitry to not completely flatten batteries.
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Yep, most/all of my modern battery tools have a point they stop rather than running slower and slower. My circular saw stops the blade and blinks the lamp. Drill stops dead and won't restart, etc.

I think it came in around when tools went from NiMH to Li-ion batteries.
 
I lost all my Bosche batteries 24v years ago. on 18v now so I have two in garage and two in house -those in garage are permanantly plugged in and on -Thats one on charge and other sitting there - I regularly swop them over so both batteries never get discharged especially when the temp is low outside.
 
LuckyBenski said:
Yep, most/all of my modern battery tools have a point they stop rather than running slower and slower. My circular saw stops the blade and blinks the lamp. Drill stops dead and won't restart, etc.

I think it came in around when tools went from NiMH to Li-ion batteries.
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Yes, I have noticed that with my tools. They don't slow down (well, they do a bit) they just BAM! stop. I suppose the electronics just switches them off.
 
DXP55 said:
I lost all my Bosche batteries 24v years ago. on 18v now so I have two in garage and two in house -those in garage are permanantly plugged in and on -Thats one on charge and other sitting there - I regularly swop them over so both batteries never get discharged especially when the temp is low outside.
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Apparently the ideal is 80%. I wish they made a charger with an 80% option.
 
I might add that there are several points with the PowerStack batteries that are a bit deceptive. The adverts tend to indicate that they are smaller and lighter. This just isn't true. What I found with them was...

Pros -
* Higher current (tools run noticeably faster).
* Greater number of recharges.
* Cooler operation.

Cons -
* Same capacity.
* Significantly larger size.
* 20% heavier.
 
Portable / folding workbenches.

I've had a B&D Workmate Delux for about 20 years, which has served me well. But tbh I've always found it a bit fiddly - the one-handed cranking is useful (when it works) but I've never really used the vertical clamping option, and it's quite large and cumbersome when folded down. (Plus after being mostly outside for 6 months it's a bit knackered beyond rescue now.)

Any recommendations on a replacement? I'm not sure whether to get just a simple Workmate or go for one of the 'slab' types like the Stanley Fatmax Express or the Keter Folding Workbench.
 
WillyNelson said:
Portable / folding workbenches.

I've had a B&D Workmate Delux for about 20 years, which has served me well. But tbh I've always found it a bit fiddly - the one-handed cranking is useful (when it works) but I've never really used the vertical clamping option, and it's quite large and cumbersome when folded down. (Plus after being mostly outside for 6 months it's a bit knackered beyond rescue now.)

Any recommendations on a replacement? I'm not sure whether to get just a simple Workmate or go for one of the 'slab' types like the Stanley Fatmax Express or the Keter Folding Workbench.
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I've got the Stanley Fatmax Express, given the choice again the I'd probably get the Keter.

The Stanley is quick to deploy and collapse, but lack of clamping options really lets it down.
I've put quick clamps in the long holes, but had to remove the end to fit it through the hole and then reattach, but they then reduce the work area and it's a pain to keep doing.
 
Fyi looks like Costco have a Keter one. I was just googling as I wanted to see what one look like. I occasionally chop stuff in the garden in better weather. Normally with some temp setup. This would be better.
 
nst68 said:
I've got the Stanley Fatmax Express, given the choice again the I'd probably get the Keter.

The Stanley is quick to deploy and collapse, but lack of clamping options really lets it down.
I've put quick clamps in the long holes, but had to remove the end to fit it through the hole and then reattach, but they then reduce the work area and it's a pain to keep doing.
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Useful info, thanks. Will give that one a miss then.
 
nst68 said:
I've got the Stanley Fatmax Express, given the choice again the I'd probably get the Keter.

The Stanley is quick to deploy and collapse, but lack of clamping options really lets it down.
I've put quick clamps in the long holes, but had to remove the end to fit it through the hole and then reattach, but they then reduce the work area and it's a pain to keep doing.
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That looks interesting. I like the number of holes. What size are they? I have a fair number of dogs and clamps to fit 19mm holes.
 
I have a bunch of old paraffin blow torches, testing one of them and the flame ended up going green! I'm wondering if it's something in the paraffin (barrentine) or perhaps some oxide from the torch itself?
 
What's the best cordless drill/driver to buy? Sick of requiring a drill for a basic task only to find it struggles.
 
LeeUK said:
What's the best cordless drill/driver to buy? Sick of requiring a drill for a basic task only to find it struggles.
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Any of the pro range really - Bosch Pro, Makita, Dewalt or Milwaukee.

Entirely depends on whether or not you’ll get more tools at any point, as some of these are a pretty expensive buy in for more tools and batteries.

I’ve got Bosch Pro, and to be honest I’m wishing I’d gone down the makita or Dewalt route, as some of the Bosch kit is crazy expensive!
 
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SpellowHouse said:
That looks interesting. I like the number of holes. What size are they? I have a fair number of dogs and clamps to fit 19mm holes.
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Pretty sure they're 19mm, only because I bought some 20mm ones and they are a little bit too big............. :p
 
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