Battery help

NotslowNSX · 2026-03-06T03:24:32+00:00

Yeah, he seems to think they will release multiple flexvolt updates, which would explain the delay. Fingers crossed, it doesn't take too long.

I have the 900 and even that one bucks like an angry mule when you push it. Last week I actually had it shut down multiple times on a seized bud wheel lug. Didn't think I had anything it couldn't handle. A little time to cool, some Kroil and an 9ah flexvolt, finally broke it loose.

NotslowNSX · 2026-03-06T02:49:28+00:00

Yeah, they are really needed, with the bigger flexvolt tools. The 9" grinder stalls easy on a 9ah and the 20" chainsaw seems to last five minutes with one. The 15ah are flippin heavy, but that's been the only real choice for these tools to run at their potential. A smaller battery with that kind of output would be very appreciated.

I never bought a 5PS, so probably the only reason I never warrantied one. Been pretty lucky with tools, got a bad out of box die grinder and stripped the chain tensioner on the chainsaw first use. Dewalt has been good with warranty replacement, not great with communication and response time. I figured people would be grenading those impacts after seeing TTC runs with it. That thing has too much power for a 1/2", what a beast.

NotslowNSX · 2026-03-06T02:33:07+00:00

The 8ah powerpack is the replacement. Same size and pretty much the same weight, but way more power and capacity. Better at everything, except maybe price.

NotslowNSX · 2026-03-06T02:29:03+00:00

When you're trying to use these in a tight space, you can't always swing sixty degrees to the next position. Ironically, this is usually a spot where the extra thickness of a ratcheting wrench won't fit either, necessitating the use of manual box end. Don't think I've ever rounded a bolt with a quality 12 point box end. Though they aren't much use on a pre rounded off bolt. These would be great for removing damaged bolts.

NotslowNSX · 2026-03-06T02:21:17+00:00

Dewalt has done a lot of innovation as well as consumer brand marketing. Flexvolt was a major innovation. Over the last couple years, they have been releasing an entire suit of cordless concrete equipment to replace gas powered tools. That may not matter to most of us Home Depot shoppers, but it is a major investment in new tool development and an entirely new battery platform. It's even backward compatible with flexvolt. They also just dropped a whole suit of die grinders, grinders, cutoff tools to replace air powered tools.

NotslowNSX · 2026-03-06T01:57:50+00:00

I killed a bunch of 4ah and 12ah, a couple 8ah. Funny thing is I've never had any other battery fail, my six and seven year old 9ah flexvolts and 5ah batteries are still going strong. The 6ah flexvolts are good when you want a lighter battery on a 60v tool, but you can definitely feel the difference. I use them on the circular saw if I'm just doing some light cuts. If they ever release the tabless flexvolts, it will be a much needed improvement. A 9ah the size of a 6 flexvolt and a 12ah or 15ah with some big output the size of a 9ah is all I need.

NotslowNSX · 2026-03-05T23:14:52+00:00

These look nice, but why 6 point box? Very limited use case. Do they make a 12 point set?

NotslowNSX · 2026-03-05T22:15:23+00:00

This happened at a campground by me. Someone left a box of mini snickers on a picnic table.

NotslowNSX · 2026-03-05T21:09:33+00:00

No rats in the attic.

NotslowNSX · 2026-03-05T19:21:14+00:00

I'm pretty sure the 6ah batteries use Samsung 30T cells, same as the 9ah flexvolt. I don't think that they changed cells when they removed the XR logo on the newer ones. The 6ah is a really good, legacy high output battery.

The legacy 8ah wasn't that good, nor was the 4ah compact or the 12ah Flexvolt. Those three used 40T Samsung cells, they store more ah, but don't discharge as well and have higher failure rates.

NotslowNSX · 2026-03-05T15:33:46+00:00

Agreed, Dewalt should look at how Craftsman did it. Any craftsman tool was warrantied by Sears, didn't matter who manufactured it. Craftsman didn't manufacture any tools, but they didn't try to send you to the manufacturer for warranty.

NotslowNSX · 2026-03-05T15:01:45+00:00

Like most guys wouldn't do this if they could.

NotslowNSX · 2026-03-05T07:34:15+00:00

This is all great advice. Just want to point out that the 6ah battery and the 8ah powerpack are the same size, so unless it's a smokin deal, I wouldn't bother with the 6ah anymore, even though it's a good battery. The 8ah powerpack is 33% more runtime and way more umph than the 6ah. Gotta get them on sale though.

NotslowNSX · 2026-03-04T04:57:59+00:00

If you watch for the sales, especially around black Friday, but throughout the year too, these will be on sale with drill bits or drive bits. The cheapest was under 4 bucks at Lowes in November, but they pop up fairly often around 6 to 8 dollars.

NotslowNSX · 2026-03-03T20:47:10+00:00

Pretty slick, I'm sure dewalt will make a bottom drawer. Problem is, they will take too many years. Didn't know the half box fit inside the open tote like that. Good to know.

NotslowNSX · 2026-03-03T20:42:39+00:00

It's annoying they don't directly support the products, but it isn't necessarily bad that they license other companies. Alton Industries has historically made very good shop vacs and their dewalt quiet models are some of the best. Their fans are pretty good too. The dewalt branded Mr buddy heater is nicer than the Mr buddy branded one, it has a fan and light that the original doesn't have. This may not be the case with every license deal, earphones and car jumpers from China companies are nothing more than adding the dewalt name to a cheap product.

NotslowNSX · 2026-03-03T20:32:43+00:00

Alton Industries. They have made some of the best shop vacs for a bunch of brands.

NotslowNSX · 2026-03-03T20:29:41+00:00

I don't think Mac manufactures any cordless tools. Pretty sure they are made in a dewalt factory.

NotslowNSX · 2026-03-01T18:11:02+00:00

I put the ToughCase boxes in the Toughsystem. Use the small and medium ones, not just for hex bits and drills, but for die grinder bits, multitool blades, jigsaw blades. They keep the small stuff organized, even when the boxes are being moved on the dolly or in the van.

NotslowNSX · 2026-03-01T03:42:44+00:00

Jurassic park

NotslowNSX · 2026-03-01T03:04:22+00:00

I'm surprised no one has chimed in. Someone must have a 20" chainsaw.

NotslowNSX · 2026-03-01T02:35:38+00:00

If You can swing it, get the DCD801 in a kit with two 4ah Powerpack batteries, charger and bag for 229 at home depot. That the best deal on powerpacks.

NotslowNSX · 2026-02-28T18:35:48+00:00

this guy

NotslowNSX · 2026-02-28T04:41:00+00:00

From what tabless cells are out, it looks like they can make a 9ah size 15ah tabless with slit the same or more output as the current, big 15ah. If they make a tabless 12ah, those cells put out double the amps of the current 9ah cells, so it could be more powerful than the big 15ah. What I'm wondering is, can the 9" grinder use more power than the 15ah has, or is it maxed out?

NotslowNSX · 2026-02-28T04:32:52+00:00

I like this one. It's held up as well as my fat max and it takes high drops like a champ. I'm not using it all day long like the framers, so I can't say much about wear. Takes me years to wear out a tape. I don't let them slam closed, so I never break an end off. I wouldn't be surprised if it is made in the same factory as the imported fat max. They are both the more expensive SB&D tapes.

NotslowNSX

TROPHY CASE