20V Combo took kit w/Case

[big_teee]

I saw this ad and thought it looked like, fun in a kit!
https://www.homedepot.com/p/BLACK-DE...618535#overlay
Here's the ad, check it out!

[Mick Bailey]

My Wife used to do product reviews and got a similar kit for review, maybe over 10 years ago but the product didn't appear in the shops. We got to keep the review items and we still have it. It's an identical concept to the B&D in the video, but the attachments (apart from the screwdriver/drill function) are sabre saw, sander and oscillating multi-tool. It all works quite well, but the tools aren't as good as dedicated individual tools. Plus - my major bugbear - the battery pack only lasted 2 years before I noticed the capacity dropping. All my mains equipment still works after decades of use, but all the battery stuff I've ever bought ends up getting replaced. Maybe it's time to build a spot welder and rebuild the battery packs.

[Chuck H]

The attachments look pretty well considered ergonomically. That video sells me except for one thing. I've never had much luck with B&D stuff in the past. That attitude always needs revaluation anymore since east Asian products are typically repackaged/branded with slightly different cosmetics for several companies. In fact the brand I usually prefer is owned by B&D.

They should sell a table kit for the same setup to make a tiny table saw and chop saw. That would be really cool.

And I agree with Mick about batteries. But that's the breaks. Cordless tools use batteries and batteries are typically manufactured cheaply and with some degree of inconsistency. My old DeWalt 12V NiCad stuff worked for thirteen years with the same two batteries. My last DeWalt 18V NiCad driver suffered failures at one year for the first battery and two years for the second. My newest is a DeWalt 20V Li Ion and no problems so far after about a year with it.

The batteries are stupid expensive too and I've also thought about rebuilding them. After some research on forums I learned that there are A LOT of crappy and cheap cells on the market and they perform poorly and fail early. So you have to buy top quality, known brand name cells if you want a reliable battery build. After pricing the right cells and considering the labor I decided it was a wash regarding any savings. OK for the DIYer but with other priorities not as much.

So I read around and found that people weren't having trouble with the De Walt 20V Li Ion batteries and bought that system. The driver and two batteries on sale at HD cost a little less than buying two batteries for my old driver!

[big_teee]

The B&D kit looked a little light duty, but looked like fun.
I have all dewalt stuff here.
The only b&d product we have, is a 20v stick beater bar vacuum.
It's great. Light and handy.
I just bought 2 aftermarket 6 amp batteries for it.
I keep one in the charger and one in the vacuum.
I wish it used the dewalt batteries, but they are a little different.
T

[Chuck H]

The B&D kit looked a little light duty, but looked like fun.
I have all dewalt stuff here.
The only b&d product we have, is a 20v stick beater bar vacuum.
It's great. Light and handy.
I just bought 2 aftermarket 6 amp batteries for it.
I keep one in the charger and one in the vacuum.
I wish it used the dewalt batteries, but they are a little different.
T

And that's the best thing about any unibrand cordless kit, or collection, or package. All the batteries work with everything. The guys I work with use all HD Ridgid stuff. Same batteries for their radio, drill driver, leaf blower, impact driver, etc. I haven't looked into it much but I know there are some brand to brand adapters around. With batteries changing every year anymore it would be impossible to keep up.

[xtian]

Battery spot welders are cheap now. I just ordered this one from eBay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/125955210038

I'm rebuilding the 2x18650 battery for an Ember mug.

[Mick Bailey]

The first rechargeable drill I bought was second hand when I got it and lasted me 10 years using it mainly for house renovation work. The NiCad battery pack was not removable and when it finally died I removed it and installed a lead with crocodile clips and ran it off a motorcycle battery. When I got fed up with the long recharge time I decided to pay up and bought a brand new Bosch with two batteries and that barely lasted three years before neither would hold a charge. The replacement cost of a single battery was then more than I originally paid for the whole lot.

What I find really irksome is many of these battery packs use standard size industrial cells, but not a single manufacturer offers a battery pack with replaceable cells - they're always spot welded together. Another thing that grinds my gears is how many damn chargers I have lying around. Nothing fits anything else, even if the voltage and current ratings are the same. All to be added to the mountain of wall warts that's accumulated over the years.

Edit: The link xtian posted wishes us a Merry Christmas. Last week I saw a huge illuminated sign advertising Christmas lunch bookings. It's June - can't they give it a rest?