can power tool batteries freeze for sale
I plan to use a power strip for them, so I can kill the power when I don"t need to charge them. I only have a couple NiCad batteries remaining and those are for my weedeater, and it doesn"t get used a whole lot.
#5 – Use the right batteries. Yes, there are loads of “knock-off” imitation lithium-ion batteries for each manufacturer. But it’s always a good idea to use original batteries with your cordless tools. And stock up! The more batteries you have, the less the cold weather will be an issue for you, just follow the steps above the make sure all your batteries are ready to use on a cold day.
No. Each brand of cordless power tools have designated battery platforms specific to their line of tools with different voltages. Now, it may be possible to interchange batteries between the same brand and voltage even with different ampere-hours. Before you run the risk of burning up your favorite cordless drill or screwdriver by swapping batteries across brands, give us a call. We are happy to confirm which battery will work for your tool!
Rechargeable cordless tools are convenient, portable, and ready to work at a moment’s notice. Cordless tool batteries last for several years; and with proper care and storage, you can extend battery life and your investment.
Do Keep Battery Charged: Recharge cordless tool batteries as soon as you notice a decrease in power. Most batteries last longest if recharged when they reach 70% capacity. Even NiCd batteries (the ones with the so-called “memory effect”) only need to be completely discharged every month or so to retain their charge memory.
Do Use Battery Regularly: Battery life decreases with lack of use, so keep those tools in action! If you only very rarely use a tool, you may want to consider a plug-in version, or plan to recharge the cordless tool battery before starting a project.
When winter rolls around in cold climates, we rarely give much thought to the tools we"ve stored in the garage, barn, shop, or shed. This can be an expensive mistake because many tools can suffer damage of some type if they are kept in the cold all winter long. That"s especially true of power tools that you may use in sub-freezing temperatures.
Generally, most hand tools won"t suffer damage from being stored in a cold garage or shed. Freezing temperatures, however, can make many metal or plastic parts brittle and particularly susceptible to breakage if you use them at very cold temperatures. To avoid this, get into the habit of taking hand tools out of cold storage before use; let them sit inside the house for an hour or more before use.
Also, keep in mind that metal tools can rust. Big swings in temperature and humidity can accelerate that process. If you are worried about rust, try to find a good spot inside the house for tool storage. If you do store them indoors, make sure to clean them carefully before storing them, and perhaps apply a fine oil or rust protector to all metal surfaces.
In regions with very cold winter temperatures, the air is typically fairly dry and not likely to rust tools over the course of the winter. But if you bring them into the house, especially to store them in a basement, rust can then be a problem. And if you live in a coastal area where winter air is damp rather than bitterly cold, rust is more likely. If you are storing your tools in damp conditions, consider using a dehumidifier in the space where you are storing your tools.
Rinse off and dry your garden tools, and if you see spots of rust, remove them with a wire brush or steel wool. Rub a light oil, such as WD-40 over the metal parts. Wooden handles can crack and splinter in the dry conditions of a cold winter; now is the time to check them for splinters, sand handles smooth, and coat the wood with linseed oil. Shovels and other digging tools should be hung up on the wall above the floor. Thoroughly wash out and rinse garden sprayers and hoses.
Lawn mowers should be cleaned of all grass residue clinging to the underside of the deck, and power tillers should have their blades cleaned of dirt and polished clean of rust and corrosion.
Any power machinery will face some stress if it is used in very cold conditions, and your power tools are no different. As the motors heat up, the stress of metal parts going from very cold temperatures to very warm may cause some tools to suffer an early death if this pattern happens frequently. For this reason, it is better to store power tools indoors if they will be used over the winter.
Most tools with electrical motors contain oils and grease which should be allowed to warm up a bit before using the tool. So if you have stored a saw or other piece of power equipment in a cold space, bring it indoors for two hours or so before using it. Lubricants will be more effective if they are allowed to warm up to room temperature before using the tools. This applies even if the tools will be used outdoors—bring them indoors first to warm up before taking them back outdoors to cut or drill.
Try to keep cordless power tools and their chargers inside during cold weather. Freezing temperatures seem to accelerate battery discharge, and many cordless tools come with a warning that the chargers won"t work when cold.
Lawnmowers, chainsaws, and other tools powered by gas engines have their own set of guidelines for storage in the winter. If not properly winterized, gasoline left in an engine can gum up the carburetor or other parts, unlubricated engine parts can corrode, and moisture may affect the ignition systems. A standard winterizing procedure:
If you regularly work in a garage or outdoor workshop, equipping the space with a heater is a good idea. You can either heat up the space to a comfortable temperature just before work sessions, or you can keep the heaters running all winter at a low setting to keep the temperature just above freezing. Tools need not be at full indoor room temperature to operate well—a temperature just above freezing is all you need.
Cordless power tools make life much easier for the DIY-ers and professional tradespeople alike. They carry the same power as their corded counterparts without the hassles of extension cords and generators. Who doesn’t love grabbing their cordless drill and heading to the backyard to finish installing deck boards without having to stretch a long extension cord across the yard?
Cordless power tools come with batteries that are the powerhouse behind getting your jobs done. They may seem a little tricky and bring their own questions. With the right answers, you can not only keep that to-do list short, you will have a piece of equipment ready for any task for years to come. Here are twelve common questions about power tool batteries.
Brand new batteries should be charged overnight to ensure you have a full charge on each individual cell, so that the life of the cell is not compromised. From that point on, future charges on a the proper/adequate charger can take between 30min to 2 hours to achieve a full charge. Never use under-powered chargers for high capacity batteries. Newer chargers are designed so that you cannot overcharge your battery (though don’t store it here, plugged in), and lithium-ion batteries have little to no memory, so you don’t have to worry about emptying it before charging.
When in doubt, check out Ottawa Faster Supply. We have a wide selection of tool batteries and cordless drills, saws, and tools to meet your DIY needs.
Cordless power tools make life much easier for the DIY-ers and professional tradespeople alike. They carry the same power as their corded counterparts without the hassles of extension cords and generators. Who doesn’t love grabbing their cordless drill and heading to the backyard to finish installing deck boards without having to stretch a long extension cord across the yard?
Cordless power tools come with batteries that are the powerhouse behind getting your jobs done. They may seem a little tricky and bring their own questions. With the right answers, you can not only keep that to-do list short, you will have a piece of equipment ready for any task for years to come. Here are twelve common questions about power tool batteries.
Brand new batteries should be charged overnight to ensure you have a full charge on each individual cell, so that the life of the cell is not compromised. From that point on, future charges on a the proper/adequate charger can take between 30min to 2 hours to achieve a full charge. Never use under-powered chargers for high capacity batteries. Newer chargers are designed so that you cannot overcharge your battery (though don’t store it here, plugged in), and lithium-ion batteries have little to no memory, so you don’t have to worry about emptying it before charging.
When in doubt, check out Ottawa Faster Supply. We have a wide selection of tool batteries and cordless drills, saws, and tools to meet your DIY needs.
When winter rolls around, we think about keeping ourselves warm, along with our houses, but we don’t give much (if any) thought to the tools stored in the garage, shop or shed. That can be an expensive mistake. Many tools can suffer damage of one kind or another by being kept in the cold all winter long. Here are some tool storage suggestions for protecting your investments.
Most hand tools will not suffer damage from being stored in a cold garage or shed. Freezing temperatures, however, can make many metal or plastic parts brittle and particularly susceptible to breakage. To avoid this, get into the habit of taking hand tools out of cold storage before use; let them sit inside the house for an hour or more before use.
Also keep in mind that metal tools can rust. Big swings in temperature and humidity can accelerate that process. If you are worried about rust, try to find a good spot inside the house for tool storage. Alternatively, apply some rust protector to all metal surfaces.
The biggest problem you can run into regarding power tool storage in winter stem from plugging in a cold tool and operating it before it has a chance to warm up. This causes a big, rapid temperature swing from very cold to very hot, which is a stress that will cause some tools to suffer an early death.
Tools containing grease or oil should be allowed to warm up before starting. The lubricants just aren’t as effective as they need to be when cold. Pneumatic tools often come with instructions on which oil to use in cold weather.
Try to keep cordless power tools and their chargers inside during cold weather. Freezing temperatures seem to accelerate battery discharge, and many cordless tools come with a warning that the chargers simply won’t work when cold.
If you have some source of heat in your garage, shed or shop, turn it on for awhile before turning on any power tools. You might also want to consider keeping the heater on throughout the winter; all it really needs to do is maintain a temperature above freezing.
Your power tool batteries will lose power gradually. That is bound to happen. Eventually you will have to throw out the lifeless battery from your cordless woodworking tool and get a new one. But there is a LOT you can do to increase the life of the battery. You can even make it last for the life of the tool itself if you are willing to take on restoring and refurbishing the battery. But that’s another topic.
In this post we talk about some great tips for battery care and maintenance that will extend the life of the woodworking cordless power tool battery to its absolute maximum. What you have to do depends on the kind of battery your power tool has, which in technical terms is known as the ‘chemistry’ of the battery.
Do not deep discharge your battery. If the power tool starts showing signs of weakening in power, charge it up or use a 2nd backup battery. Do not run down the battery till its drained. Hard use of your woodworking tool may be unavoidable at times. But avoid deep discharges whenever you can.
Adjust tool power settings. Your cordless woodworking tool may have settings for variable speed and power. Using a lower setting when its sufficient for the job will run the tool for longer for every charge.
Do not overcharge. Most modern woodworking tools have chargers that will not overcharge a battery. Some are designed specially so that you can leave your NiCd and NiMh batteries on them to keep them charged. Unless the user manual tells you differently, do not leave your batteries on the charger once they are charged. Overcharging can damage the battery and reduce its life.
Following the correct charging and discharging methods for your cordless woodworking tools can enhance the life of the battery and save you from buying expensive replacement.
Li-ion batteries do not like complete discharge. Do not discharge below 20% when you can help it. Stop using the tool when it shows signs of weakening in power and slowing down. Re-charge the battery at this point.
Note: A lot of cordless woodworking power tools don’t have a built in battery meter that shows the amount of charge left in the tool. Even the ones that do give a rough idea. Not like the exact percentage that we are used to seeing on our computers and smart phones. So its difficult to tell when the battery is 20% or 90%.
Check if your charger has a ‘reconditioning’ or a deep dis-charge mode. This is also know as a ‘maintenance cycle’. The better cordless tools have chargers with the ability to run the batteries through a maintenance mode.
No. Charge the battery as soon as you feel the power and speed of the tool considerably reduced. Draining the battery completely can damage it. people sometimes try to do this by lying up the trigger switch in the on position.
Memory is a condition in which a battery ‘forgets’ its full capacity to charge and deliver. But this happens in low drain devices. For memory effect to set it, the battery must be drained at the same small rate every time and to the same level i.e. partially. This very rarely happens in wood working tools. The rate of discharge is high since these are high load machines.
Memory effect happens usually in devices that consume less power like cordless phones and electric shavers. Secondly, tools are rarely discharged to the same level on every usage. And the rate of discharge is not uniform. It varies constantly with user handling, intensity of the job and the material it is being used upon.
Therefore, power tool batteries rarely see the occurrence of memory effect. If your tools have Li-ion batteries, memory effect is completely ruled out.
There are many ways that you can use your cordless drill. Many projects around the house can use these drills and take proper care of it, and the battery that helps power the drill will help this tool last for longer. Knowing how to store your cordless drill battery makes it easier to power up the drill for your next home improvement project.
The battery will have a natural self-discharge rate. This means they lose power over time, even when not in use. If you keep them plugged in, this increases the self-discharge rate.
Hi there! My name is Jack and I write for ToolsOwner. I have a passion for everything related to tools and DIY projects around the house. You often find me in my workshop working on new projects.
Storing your power tools properly for the winter months can extend the life of your tools by years. View our simple tips to help store your power equipment.
When the cold weather rolls around, we tend to put a lot of things in storage, only to break them When the cold weather rolls around, we tend to put a lot of things in storage, only to break them out at the first sign of a spring breeze. This is why having a storage shed can be a very useful addition to your home. But, some things may not be able to be kept in the cold shed during the winter months. This can be true for some power tools. “Knowing how to get your power tools ready and where to store them can lengthen the life of your tools”, says Dave Malcolm, expert, and shed builder at Mediage LLC.
The winter months have higher humidity than the summer months which means there’s more moisture in the air. Paired with less sunlight, this can be damaging to any tools that are made from metal and plastic. Condensation and moisture on your metal tools will lead to corrosion over time.
Make sure your tools are cleaned well before storing them. Wipe dirt, grease, leaves, grass, or other debris off them with a rag or towel. If anything other than this is needed, follow the recommendations of the manufacturer for cleaning. Make sure the tool is completely dry before it goes into storage. There are different things you have to do to get different types of tools ready.
Throw away broken or defective tools. If it’s something that cannot be repaired, it will only take up space and will likely just sit there for seasons to come if not dealt with.
For gas-powered tools: Empty any remaining gas from the tool into an approved gas can.Top up the oil levels. If needed, completely change the oil.Start it up to burn excess fuel out of the carburetorClean the air filter, replacing it as needed.Clean and dry the chassis.Sharpen blades, chains, or knives and coat with mineral oil.
For battery-powered tools: Take the battery out of the tool and put it on the charge.After it’s charged, put it into its storage bag and store it somewhere dry.When you clean these tools, avoid excess moisture around the battery port.Sharpen blades, chains, or knives and coat with mineral oil.
Once your tools are ready for storage, you should determine where the best place to store them is. Keep in mind cold weather and freezing temperatures can cause havoc on power equipment. So it’s best to store items like outdoor power equipment, lawn equipment, battery operated cordless tools , the leaf blower, and pressure washer indoors and out of the freezing temperature. Turning a regular outdoor shed into a power tool storage shed may be the best investment you can make to save on replacing expensive power tools. Simply take a little extra care to seal up any areas that would allow for water and wind to get in.
When possible you should store all your power tools back inside the box in which they were purchased. This will help keep dust out and help prevent rust from forming on them.
You can use a tool chest or cabinet to store power tools but, again, you would need to keep the moisture low because that can cause rust so you can use anti-rust papers as a precaution.
To save space you can hang tools on pegboards on your wall in the garage or shed and this will help you stay clean and organized. This will also keep them off the floor and away from ground moisture.
If you are storing your power tools in a shed make sure it is a well-insulated and properly ventilated shed. Sheds don’t typically come with insulation so you might have to insulate it yourself. You will also need the ability to have a heater or dehumidifier running to decrease moisture.
Most power tools have oils and grease that do not run when they are cold. Because of this, power tools should be brought into the house and given a chance to warm up before using them. You should give it at least two hours for this.
Use plastic bins for smaller tools. This is an extra layer of protection for them. They are also stackable and easy to carry, making them more convenient.
In conclusion, it is safe to store most electric tools in your shed as long as the temperature and humidity can be controlled. Freezing temperatures can cause the metal or plastic to become brittle on some tools, which can cause them to be damaged or broken, especially if they are used while still cold. Taking the necessary precautions should help you safely store your power tools and help them have a long life.