Battery tools, how to make the most of them
I remember a few years ago one of the salesmen at my local hardware store told me they were expecting a new battery-powered circular saw, I think it was a Makita. Hearing the phrase “battery-powered circular saw,” I laughed out loud and told him to call me when the battery-powered table saws arrived. Within a couple of years he had bought one of those battery-powered circular saws I had so willingly made fun of only a couple of years earlier. I soon discovered that having portable tools had huge benefits. That’s why companies like Porter-Cable, Makita, Delta and others have focused on these areas.
Today, battery-powered tools are available like drills, screwdrivers, impact drivers, routers, jigsaws, portable planers, circular saws, reciprocating saws, and miter saws, and even Ryobi has a battery-powered chainsaw that works well for big jobs than others. tools can do. not drive So to see how to get the most out of these tools.
Let’s stop for a moment and look at the batteries that power these units. Most of the power packs that power these tools are a series of small rechargeable batteries, all connected together to provide the optimum power. These rechargeable batteries are very similar to the flashlight batteries you buy for your TV remote control and garage door opener and various other household products.
The difference between rechargeable batteries like Duracel and Eveready is that rechargeable batteries have higher quality casings and consist of slightly different components to make them safer to recharge. The rechargeable batteries that are connected together are typically 1.2 volt nickel cadmium (nicad) batteries. When connected in series… 8 together equals 9.6 volts, 10 together equals 12.2 volts, 12 together equals 14.4 and so on. This generates more power, more batteries, more power, and of course, more weight.
The more batteries are connected together, the higher the torque (or twisting power) of the tool. Torque is created by a combination of horsepower and speed, and high speed doesn’t necessarily mean high power. On the contrary, high power does not necessarily come with high speed.
You will find another type of battery on the market called “Nickel Metal Hydride” (Ni-MH). These batteries use compounds that give the batteries a slightly longer life (they also cost a bit more to buy). Some contractors prefer tools that give them a longer battery life, which is why this version of the rechargeable battery is more advanced.
As carpenters, we all know one thing, HEAT is our greatest enemy. When saw blades get too hot, they lose their tension and become dull, screws driving into hardwoods can break due to the high heat created by friction, and the heat can burn out the electric motors in our machinery if we’re not careful. . Heat is also the enemy of batteries. All batteries get hot when recharging. Larger battery packs like 18 volts and larger tend to get even hotter because there are many batteries in the packs and do not have heat dispersion characteristics like smaller packs because there are many batteries side by side. other. Batteries tend not to charge when they are hot, so keeping the room temperature between normal and cool is an advantage.
On the other hand, the batteries also do not work well when cold. Once the temperature drops below 14 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 10 Celsius), the batteries don’t work well (if at all). Most batteries will lose their power when the temperature is this low.
Battery recharging is a mystery to many people. The trend is to keep batteries fully charged at all times. In truth, batteries need to be exercised to keep them in top shape. This means that they need to be fully discharged every few months and then fully recharged. “Recharging” the batteries will cause the batteries to lose their effectiveness, and after a while they will only take a partial charge because that is what they have become used to. This means that they will lose the ability to use the full charge. If your old wireless device is doing this, you can sometimes rejuvenate the battery by FULLY charging and discharging it several times.
My old Craftsman 9.6 portable drill, now 10 years old, has been one of the best tools I’ve ever owned. I have no idea how many screws he’s put in, holes he’s drilled, or blades he’s ground, but his batteries are almost dead now. I checked the price of new batteries and it will be more cost effective for me to upgrade to a whole new unit… but I have no intention of getting a big hulking unit with tons of power, I don’t need it. and I refuse to pack all that battery weight, so I’m currently looking into some 12 volt units and looking forward to another 10 years of service with my new drill, and when I need more power, I always have my trusty plug-in drill, and the hassle of accompanying extension cords.