Dead Cordless Drill Batteries - Eco-Friendly Solution?

[underpants]

The batteries on my 2nd cordless drill won't hold a charge any more.

Does anyone know where I can get replacement cordless drill batteries for cheap?

It seems a shame that I have 2 working cordless drills but no functional batteries.

Do I have to go out a buy another drill again?

I am eco-frustrated here

[pshch]

Are you looking for cheap or eco-friendly solution?

For cheap one - buy a new drill. For eco-friendly try to rebuild battery or in worst case buy a new battery but keep a drill.

[boyoflondon]

Might help if you specify which drill you have ...

[BartBandy]

I take the packs apart and replace the cells, but you need some soldering skillz.

You usually have to replace NiCD with NiCD, and NiMH with NiMH, because the NiCD chargers often aren't sensitive enough to know when a NiMH pack is fully charged. Otherwise, NiMH is the better battery technology.

The best deals I've found on new packs is on eBay, but you can get individual cells there for cheap as well.

[stealth]

For my B&D drill battery, the best deal I found (even after ebay) was Wal-Mart.

[DavidY]

I just bought a CORDED RIGID VSR drill from HD. My old McCulloch drill's two Nicad batteries no longer their charge anymore. Went corded since I don't use a drill that much. Got an inexpensive B&D screwdriver from Costco for my cordless jobs.

If I went cordless, I would get one with Lithium batteries. CT has one 18V (their own brand) for $90 on sale this week. Name brand ones are usually quite a bit more $$$.

HD recycles old rechargeable batteries from power tools, etc. See their drop off containers near the power tooll section.

Dave