I have a DeWalt 3/8" drill I've enjoyed using the last half dozen years,
but it's Ni-Cad and I've already bought two batteries for it as they
have started deteriorating. Grrr. They aren't cheap. I wondered about
buying an Li Ion battery pack for it but couldn't find any, and I didn't
bother determining whether the existing Ni-Cad charger might have worked
properly with a Li Ion battery pack.

So, I remember Gregg mentioned he had some luck with Makita Li Ion
drills. I don't have any need for really heavy duty unit, and I have a
1/2" wall power drill, anyway. I ordered a Makita 12-volt 3/8" Li Ion
drill today with two batteries and a charger.

It better work out for me. Otherwise it is Gregg's fault.

Now, I have to figure out how to keep it properly charged when I'm not
using it, which is pretty much all of the time. I don't want to
overcharge the battery packs, which is probably what killed the ni-cads
in my DeWalt.

On Thu, 29 Aug 2013 17:55:29 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

I ordered a Makita 12-volt 3/8" Li Ion
drill today with two batteries and a charger.

===

For what it's worth, I've found the 18 volt LION tools to have
significantly better power and battery life than the 12 volt models.

On Thu, 29 Aug 2013 17:55:29 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

I have a DeWalt 3/8" drill I've enjoyed using the last half dozen years,
but it's Ni-Cad and I've already bought two batteries for it as they
have started deteriorating. Grrr. They aren't cheap. I wondered about
buying an Li Ion battery pack for it but couldn't find any, and I didn't
bother determining whether the existing Ni-Cad charger might have worked
properly with a Li Ion battery pack.

So, I remember Gregg mentioned he had some luck with Makita Li Ion
drills. I don't have any need for really heavy duty unit, and I have a
1/2" wall power drill, anyway. I ordered a Makita 12-volt 3/8" Li Ion
drill today with two batteries and a charger.

It better work out for me. Otherwise it is Gregg's fault.

Now, I have to figure out how to keep it properly charged when I'm not
using it, which is pretty much all of the time. I don't want to
overcharge the battery packs, which is probably what killed the ni-cads
in my DeWalt.


Timer.

John (Gun Nut) H.
--

Hope you're having a great day!

On 8/29/13 7:12 PM, wrote:
On Thu, 29 Aug 2013 17:55:29 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

I have a DeWalt 3/8" drill I've enjoyed using the last half dozen years,
but it's Ni-Cad and I've already bought two batteries for it as they
have started deteriorating. Grrr. They aren't cheap. I wondered about
buying an Li Ion battery pack for it but couldn't find any, and I didn't
bother determining whether the existing Ni-Cad charger might have worked
properly with a Li Ion battery pack.

So, I remember Gregg mentioned he had some luck with Makita Li Ion
drills. I don't have any need for really heavy duty unit, and I have a
1/2" wall power drill, anyway. I ordered a Makita 12-volt 3/8" Li Ion
drill today with two batteries and a charger.

It better work out for me. Otherwise it is Gregg's fault.

Now, I have to figure out how to keep it properly charged when I'm not
using it, which is pretty much all of the time. I don't want to
overcharge the battery packs, which is probably what killed the ni-cads
in my DeWalt.


I have the 18v but it comes with a smart charger that is supposed to
keep the LiONs up.


Yeah, I saw one of those and also a 14.x volt drill but my needs for a
battery operated drill are light and infrequent. I have larger AC
powered drills and lots of extension cords.

In article , says...

On 8/29/13 7:12 PM, wrote:
On Thu, 29 Aug 2013 17:55:29 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

I have a DeWalt 3/8" drill I've enjoyed using the last half dozen years,
but it's Ni-Cad and I've already bought two batteries for it as they
have started deteriorating. Grrr. They aren't cheap. I wondered about
buying an Li Ion battery pack for it but couldn't find any, and I didn't
bother determining whether the existing Ni-Cad charger might have worked
properly with a Li Ion battery pack.

So, I remember Gregg mentioned he had some luck with Makita Li Ion
drills. I don't have any need for really heavy duty unit, and I have a
1/2" wall power drill, anyway. I ordered a Makita 12-volt 3/8" Li Ion
drill today with two batteries and a charger.

It better work out for me. Otherwise it is Gregg's fault.

Now, I have to figure out how to keep it properly charged when I'm not
using it, which is pretty much all of the time. I don't want to
overcharge the battery packs, which is probably what killed the ni-cads
in my DeWalt.


I have the 18v but it comes with a smart charger that is supposed to
keep the LiONs up.


Yeah, I saw one of those and also a 14.x volt drill but my needs for a
battery operated drill are light and infrequent. I have larger AC
powered drills and lots of extension cords.

Are they stored in the trailer that was in the picture of your deck being built?

On 8/29/2013 9:00 PM, wrote:
On Thu, 29 Aug 2013 19:39:10 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On 8/29/13 7:12 PM, wrote:
On Thu, 29 Aug 2013 17:55:29 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

I have a DeWalt 3/8" drill I've enjoyed using the last half dozen years,
but it's Ni-Cad and I've already bought two batteries for it as they
have started deteriorating. Grrr. They aren't cheap. I wondered about
buying an Li Ion battery pack for it but couldn't find any, and I didn't
bother determining whether the existing Ni-Cad charger might have worked
properly with a Li Ion battery pack.

So, I remember Gregg mentioned he had some luck with Makita Li Ion
drills. I don't have any need for really heavy duty unit, and I have a
1/2" wall power drill, anyway. I ordered a Makita 12-volt 3/8" Li Ion
drill today with two batteries and a charger.

It better work out for me. Otherwise it is Gregg's fault.

Now, I have to figure out how to keep it properly charged when I'm not
using it, which is pretty much all of the time. I don't want to
overcharge the battery packs, which is probably what killed the ni-cads
in my DeWalt.


I have the 18v but it comes with a smart charger that is supposed to
keep the LiONs up.


Yeah, I saw one of those and also a 14.x volt drill but my needs for a
battery operated drill are light and infrequent. I have larger AC
powered drills and lots of extension cords.

I bought the one I have because it is the same size and a little
lighter than the two 9v Makitas I have.



I find that a 12 volt is pretty good really although the 18 is stronger.
The 12 volt will drive 60 or more 3 1/2 inch deck screws on a good
battery. Most of the years I built boats, I did a lot of my work with a
12 volt 3/8 inch chuck cordless with two batteries.

Now I have an 18 volt system that came with a fancy (useless) vacuume, a
fancy (useless) skill saw... the cool thing is it came with four batteries.