Hints & Tips
Think you know about batteries & chargers?
- Battery Memory: Fact of Fiction?
- How do you maximise the life of a battery?
- How do you store a battery you won't use for a long time?
- Battery Hints & Tricks
Woodworking hints from Neil Scobie
Make your Makita tools last
Putting together pelmets
Useful terms
Circular Saw & Ripping
Think you know about batteries & chargers?
Battery Memory: Fact of Fiction?
The "memory effect" refers to a phenomenon noted in the early 1960's during NASA's satellite program. They found Ni-Cd batteries discharged to a precise amount every day and then recharged, eventually would "remember" the amount of discharge and give up only that amount even when called upon to deliver their full capacity.
"Memory effect" is almost impossible to achieve with a power tool. Due to the fact that there is no electronic circuitry in a typical power tool to shut off the battery at the exact level every discharge.
How do you maximise the life of a battery?
There are four main points:
- Do not keep using a tool once you feel the power or the rotation decreasing. It is time to recharge the battery.
- Do not overcharge. Never recharge a battery that is already fully charged. It may shorten the life of the battery by causing cell leakage and over heating.
- Stay cool. Try and keep all of your batteries as cool as possible, ideally charge them in a cool room or in the shade (between 10° C and 40° C is the recommended temperature range for charging). When a battery is removed from a tool it may need to sit and cool for a few minutes before going into a charger. You'll get a better charge and longer battery life if it's charged in the recommended temperature range. Do not put them in fridges or alike to cool them before charging, this will cause condensation to form inside the battery case. Also when your batteries are not on charge or in your tool store them in a cool place
- Only charge your batteries when needed. All rechargeable batteries have a life span; one life is one charge and discharge. The life span of a battery will depend on a few factors:
- Whether the battery is being used for the full charge. If a battery is put on charge, when only half discharged you're not getting the full run time from that life. Also if a battery is removed from a charger before charging is complete you will get reduced run time and it will be back in the charger sooner. There for the battery will reach its maximum life span quicker.
- The environment the battery is being used in. If batteries are continually exposed to high temperatures this will reduce the life of the battery
- Charging procedures. If a battery is continually being over discharged or overheated this will lead to premature failure.
- Try and charge your batteries as close to the time you want to use it. All batteries are affected by self discharge, if you charge your batteries and then they sit for a day or more you may notice a reduction in power compared to a battery that has just been charged.
- When charging a battery always do so in the shade and unplug your charger when not in use.
How do you store a battery you won't use for a long time?
When not using a battery for more than three months, Ni-Cd (red) batteries should be stored discharged; Ni-MH (Black) batteries should be stored fully charged. Both battery types should be stored in a cool place with a temperature range between 10° C and 30° C. Deterioration of internal battery components through chemical action is slower at lower temperatures. When storage is over it will take 7 to 10 charge/discharge cycles to regain the full battery performance.
Battery Hints & Tricks
- A new battery may take several charges/dischargers to bring the battery up to its full capacity
- Batteries need regular exercise. In some work situations it is not always possible to use your tool until the battery is ready for charging, for example if the next job site you'll be working on has no power you may need to charge a half discharged battery. If this is the case and you are doing it consistently you should regularly excise your batteries. Battery exercise is when you fully charge and then discharge (only to the point of loss of power) your battery. By doing this at the below intervals you will keep all the internal chemistry of the battery in an active state
- Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd) - every 2 to 3 months. Nikel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) - every month.
Woodworking hints from Neil Scobie
When you're setting the depth gauge on your router cutter, unplug the cord, plunge the cutter down to touch the surface being routed and lock the lever lock. Then use a feeler gauge arrangement between the depth stop and the depth stopper pole. Try the shank of a drill bit. A 10mm bit measures a pretty good 10mm Or make your own feeler gauges out of 1mm and 3mm laminex or sheet metal. Put floor wax on the slides, base and fence of your router to keep it sliding freely - but make sure you polish off any excess to stop dust build-up. Oh, but avoid silicon waxes. If they get into the wood they’ll stop any glues and finishes from taking.
Make your Makita tools last
Like anything mechanical, power tools suffer wear and tear to bearings, gears, carbon brushes and the motor itself. So use a compressor to blow your tool clean every day. Keep all your bits and blades sharp too, so that you’re not putting extra strain on the motor. Never store your tools with loose screws, nuts or washers - they could work their way inside. And finally, a good annual service by an approved technician should only cost about $30 to $50. But that’s well worth the extra 10 years or more you could get out of your tools.
Putting together pelmets
When you’re putting together pelmets, whack a Makita Quad Driver on your drill. You’ll make countersunk pilot holes in one drive - and they’ll stop your wood from splitting. Flip the Quad Driver over and it’ll drive your screws home. Piece of cake! See page 6 of Grip 4 for more info.
Useful terms
Volts (V) = raw power
The voltage of the drill motor indicates the power of the drill. More volts equal more power. But more power means the drill will use its charge up faster.
Amp-hours (Ah) = capacity
The Amp-hours indicate the amount of battery capacity. That’s like the amount of fuel in a car’s fuel tank. The higher the Amp-hours figure, the more fuel in the tank - or capacity the battery - will have.
Battery type = efficiency
New Ni-MH (Nickel Metal Hydride) batteries are more efficient than the traditional Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd) type.Thanks to the technology, despite being no bigger physically, a black 18V 3.0Ah Ni-MH battery can give you about 50% more capacity than a red 18V Ni-Cd 2.0Ah battery. It’s like getting 105 litres worth of travel out of a 70 litre tank.
Circular Saw & Ripping
If you use your circular saw for a lot of ripping, make sure you get the right kind of saw blade. A high-quality tungsten carbide tipped (TCT) blade will do the job - but thin kerf is the new cutting edge. Even reducing blade thickness by 0.5mm can make an amazing difference. Less material being removed means less resistance and a faster cut. Plus, the reduced drag on the motor means it should last longer.
Makita Recommends:
- A02031, 9-1/4” x 25mm x 20T - RRP $29.00
- A02032, 7-1/4” x 20mm x 24T - RRP $24.00
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