www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

Hi, I'm the first to admit I don't do much handy-manning, the will is there but the time isn't! My trusty B&D drill is now over 30 years old and is looking forward to retirement. I'm looking round for a replacement and find I don't know enough about battery technology to make an informed choice.
Firstly, will a battery be able to cope with long periods (many months) of lying around unused. If I put it away charged, will it still be charged when I come to need it?
Secondly, how much use will a fully charged battery give me? When I do use it is could be quite intense. Do I need to have a spare battery to see me to the end of the job?
Thirdly, if I need to replace the battery after a few years will I still be able to get one? After all, I would like my new drill to last for the next 30 years, even if I don't! Or would I be better to buy a mains powered model, but it appears to me that these getting more and more difficult to come by, or is that just my imagintion? Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

TC

If you use it that little, id deffinatly be inclined to get another mains powered one. One with variable speed control, so you could use it for the odd bit of screwdriving.


Even the top brands loose some power if sat unused for long periods, and one of the best things you can do with batteries is use them.

What you get from a fully charged battery will vary vastly. A cheap 1.4 amp/hour battery may pilot drill and drive 50 screws in soft wood, where as a quality high capacity battery such as 3.3a/h will give say 250 screws.

Thanks, makes sense, I just wondered how advanced battery echnology had become. Not far enogh, obviously.

all nicad batteries have an automatic discharge feature so over a few weeks the batteries will be fairly run down

other batteries tecnolegies have better charge retaining capabilities but are more expensive

if you want reliable and good quality at a reasonable price you should look at ryobi one plus

it will tackle 80 percent of the bigboys toys at around 40 percent of the cost

http://www.oneplustools.com/

you can buy 2 tools 2 1.7ah batts a charger and a bag for £100

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/96817/Pow ... Jigsaw-18V

Hi tc, from what you say i'd get a mains powered like Hitch has described.

tc wrote:, I would like my new drill to last for the next 30 years, even if I don't! Or would I be better to buy a mains powered model, but it appears to me that these getting more and more difficult to come by, or is that just my imagintion? Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

TC

I know where your coming from I've been though the process myself, doubt anything now will last 30 years, luckly to get 3 years out of some cordless drills.

I've given up, and gone back to mains or air powered drills, yes cordless have a lot of advantages but they and esp the batterys just don't last.

I reconed my old drills, wolf is nearly 40 years old, couple of bosch picked up at car boot sales still going fine.

Hmmm, reconning sounds interesting. But is it worth it? I reckon it needs new bearings and brushes. How do I go about getting new parts?

tc wrote:Hmmm, reconning sounds interesting. But is it worth it? I reckon it needs new bearings and brushes. How do I go about getting new parts?

if you have the model number ect
look here
http://www.mtmc.co.uk/prodtype.asp?PT_ID=241

Corded drills are good for some jobs and cordless for others like screw driving. If you get a cordless buy one with two batteries and a 1 hour charge time. A cheapo mains hammer drill will cover most drilling needs.

BnQ are doing 15% discount this weekend on Ryobi so have a look there.

DWD

You need to buy a drill with Li-on (Lithium-Ion) batteries.

a) they don't lose their charge
b) they charge quickly - probably to 80% in 30 mins
c) they don't have a memory so you can top them up whenever you like