How to fix your dead NICad Batteries for FREE!!

I came across this helpful fact on Pinterest and yet I have not tried it I do find it very helpful and could save myself or other folks with these types of batteries a lot of money. I always thought that once a battery on a power tool is dead that there is no way to save it. I am not sure if this works with lithium batteries because its a completely different type of battery. You could try it but don't expect the same results.

I pulled this info from Superior Remodeling L.L.C Kitchen and Bath Experts website.
The Principle

Nickel Cadium (nicd) batteries have a tendency to grow internal whiskers called crystal dendrite growth. Those whiskers prevent the battery from holding a charge. This often happens due to overcharging. The growth can be blasted away with a quick jolt from car batteries, DC power supplies, or even a welder do the trick. The process revives the cells or batteries by the injection of a short duration, high-magnitude, zap of current through them.

The Procedure

Most nicd batteries require 24 volts of zap to clear them out. Most people use two 12 volt car batteries  for the jolt, which produces 24 volts total when wired together as shown below but any 24 volt source will do. A good car battery charger will work, but only if it has a strong boost mode. If it doesn't, a car battery and a car charger wired together in series as shown below will work. I've even heard of people snapping 3 little 9 volt batteries together for the juice, But I haven't tried that yet. An AC welder will work also, though probably not too many of you have a welder at your disposal. For tool batteries under 9.6 volts, one car battery or a 12 volt equivalent is sufficient.

Use the same concept when using 12V batteries

How long you zap your tool battery depends on the voltage of the rechargeable. The chart above shows the different surge times, but first let's deal with how to wire the car batteries together.

Wire your two car batteries in series. You can use common jumper cables if desired, or use lamp chord and a couple of alligator clips or anything that will keep temporary contact will work. Any wire will do as its not drawing very high voltage.

Explanation of series wiring

Series wiring is where two or more sources are hooked together in series (i.e. positive terminal of the first buttery is hooked to the negative terminal of the second battery). The resulting voltage is the sum of the individual battery voltages. If two 12V batteries are hooked together, the resulting voltage will be 24V.

There is no danger connecting batteries in this way. In fact, it's quite commonly done. This principle can be seen in everyday flashlights where the positive of one battery is butted up against the negative of the next battery. It produces the some of their voltage

SnakeClamp Camera Mount Review

I can’t say enough for this phone clamp (replaces a tripod). If and when I find my mini tripod I used for my phone it will get tossed into the garbage. Snake clamp puts out an extremely well-engineered product. You actually get to build the clamp to your specifications given that they have quite a few different options to choose from. I went with a 18 inch and 24 inch goose neck, Camera mount with a weighted base. What is great about the weighted base is that it comes with a 3 pound magnet. You get a weighted base and the option of securing it to something metal.

If you decide to get that same setup as I did I would recommend just going with the 18 inch goose neck because the 24 is over-kill because it is so rugged that using it for a tripod is a little tough. The 24 inch does flex but will need to have some force behind it to do so. The 18 inch works much better as it is easier to manage. I would use the 24” if I had something heavier to attach to it but at this time I don’t have anything I need to use it for so It will go on the shelf until I need it.

The phone mount is simple to use. There is a button to open up the clamps which are spring loaded. Making it easy to open up and secure your phone. There are foam pads so it grips the phone nicely and secure.

It unit does not move unless you move it. There is no slippage with the goose neck giving you a sturdy phone for those videos you want to do while you are working.

I would highly recommend anyone who takes videos or pictures in there shop to have one of these. You will be pleased with Snake Clamps product. Here is there web address SnakeClamp




Disclosure: I was provided this product in exchange for this review, However receipt of a free product has not swayed my opinion.

300 Lumens LED Ultra Bright Lantern Review

I just received  300 Lumens LED Ultra Bright Lantern today. This would of been nice to use less than a week ago when our power went out for roughly 4 hours. We used candles and Flashlights but they were not nearly as bright as this little bugger. I was impressed with how much light this thing puts out. Its lightweight so you can pretty much hang it anywhere you want. It has 3 settings. Low - High - Strobe. All it takes is 3-D batteries.

LOW SETTING

This would be great for multiple of things. Sitting outside at night, Camping, Stored in your emergency roadside kit or just keep it home for when the power goes out.


HIGH SETTING

Disclosure: I was provided this product in exchange for this review, however receipt of a free product has not swayed my opinion.

NiTex P-200 / NiTex P-12 Gloves Review

So I have received these gloves about a week ago and have been testing them out with a lot of different applications. I have used them from working on my truck, yard work and working in my shop. They have held up very nicely. Granted its 10-30 degrees here and my hands get cold but they are not meant to keep my hands warm like winter gloves would. My only issue was that I ordered a large and should have ordered an extra-large. They are a tad small but I am still able to use them.

Here you can see me using them sanding down a piece to a picture frame that my son and I made for a painting that he picked up for a friend. They grip the board nicely which is great because when its cold out, wood seems to be a bit more slippery than usual.

Disclosure: I was provided this product in exchange for this review, however receipt of a free product has not swayed my opinion.

Simple DIY Curtain Rod Hangers

So we just bought some new curtains for our Dining room and after putting them up we decided to get one for the Kitchen. After my wife purchased the rod she realized it would not work and we needed a simple rod.

My daughter picked one up while she was out with her grandmother shopping. It was perfect but the rod holders we had were to short so I would of had to make a spacer to extend it out. The top of the shade was wider then the brackets that came with the rod. Then I thought well heck why not just make two that were long enough to extend past the shade that we have. So I grabbed a piece of 1x4 pine and cut them out. It took me all of about 10 minutes to cut, sand and stain. Here is what they look like now holding up the rod.