Replies

1. 
   Len | Jun 05, 2003 01:46am | #1

   Charlie,

   Have you tried Ebay to find a replacement charger? There seems to be a few on there. Since I'm not sure of the battery connection I can't send you a link.

   I've charged older cordless batteries with my fast charger from my RC cars from days gone by. It works, but I have to monitor the battery. If your not afraid of electronics then you could get another 9.6v charger and cannibalize it and your old craftsman one so you could use the battery connector.

   But really is it worth the time? You bought a new Makita. Maybe toss the Craftsman into the garage sale box.

   Enjoy,

   Len

2. 
   Jamie_Buxton | Jun 05, 2003 05:11am | #2

   They're both probably nicad batteries, not something fancy like NiMH, so the charger should work on both of them.  

3. 
   KenWaltsgott | Jun 06, 2003 04:49am | #3

   This may be off the subject but how long did your old drill batteries last?  I have a Craftsman 13.2 volt drill and it came with two batteries a charger and the batteries were both dead after 2 years.  My parents got me one new 13.2 volt replacement battery 1 1/2 years ago and I am expecting it to die in the next 6 months.  It is almost not worth it to replace the batteries when I can get a new drill, two batteries and a new charger for about the same price.  I even looked at getting the battery packs reloaded and it was as expensive as replacing the batteries.  Like you I hate to pitch a good drill when the only problem is the batteries.

   Just curious

1. 
   chacam | Jun 06, 2003 06:08am | #4

   Thanks for your reply,

   I got the drill with two batteries and one of them wasn't worth a damn and wouldn't hold a charge very long so I kept that one in the charger most of the time.  Couldn't hardly kill the other battery which I used 90% of the time.  The drill has been a good one and I am hoping the Makita will also be a workhorse.

2. 
   billyg83440 | Jun 06, 2003 06:41pm | #5

   I'd say either buy a new drill kit, then use the batteries in both drills. This lets you keep two seperate things chucked up. Really handy if you're working back and forth between two locations, or drilling pilot holes then driving screws. Or using 2 different sized drill bits. Or just happen to have a helper at the moment.

   If you want to upgrade to a real drill, I'm not a big fan of the Craftsman ones, sell the old one on ebay. Start it cheap, say at $5 + shipping. Sell just the drill charger and case. You'll likely be surprised what you get for it. Someone out there will have a good drill with a dead charger, or good batteries but the drill fell off the roof onto the driveway, ect. and will want your drill.

   Then, use the money to buy a Makita or some other 'real' tool.

   I sold 2 Ryobi 18 volt batteries with case and charger. Somebody paid me $70 for them. With shipping it cost them almost as much as buying a drill kit at Home Depot. I felt kind of like I'd ripped them off. Still spent their money, but felt kind of bad about it as I did so.<G>