I was given a Milwaukee 1/2 inch magnum, one of those with a detachable cord. But no cord. I found cords online, but $30 seems a little steep. Any ideas where I could find one for less?
Scott, how do you rebuild a battery?
First I save old cords from burnt out tool that are good. Finding a match for your Milwaukee you can just slide on for less than retail? Will likely not happen. But you can open the case and do a little plastic surgery on the handle, and splice on any old Sears or B&D or whatever that still has its strain relief block/connector. It won't be detachable, but too bad. heehehehe
Rebuilding a battery is not that hard.
Shop for, any buy, enough sub c batteries.
When you begin to look, you will see many tools come with 1200 to 1500 (milli amp hour) batteries. Replacement sub c's you can get all the way to 2900mah. This is near double the power the tool came with new, also double what a factory replacement has.
Any battery you buy will be coming from Hong Kong where the big factories are. There are no US battery makers left. Eliminate some of the middlemen and buy closer to direct.
Be sure to order batteries with tabs!!! You cannot solder the little tabs on yourself!!!
Here are 12 NI-CD (ni-cad) 2500mah batteries (with tabs) for $17 (shipping included!). This will rebuild a 14.4v tool.
(Take any voltage written on the tool and divide by 1.2 to get the proper number of batteries for your own tool. )
http://www.ebay.com/itm/12-x-Sub-C-SubC-1-2V-2500mAh-Ni-Cd-Rechargeable-Battery-/270859955003?pt=US_Batteries&hash=item3f1082eb3b These are 2500 mah so roughly 75% stronger than what your tool came with.
Take you old battery apart. There will be 4 small screws holding the case together.
Look over the battery pack well and copy it.
Arrange your new batteries in the exact same way. Each tab connects to its neighbor the same as your old pack.
I like to stand the old and new side by side and cross check as I work.
You may have a long jumper you need to cut off the old pack but you'll have enough tabs to make up when you solder it up.
A little tape will hold your new batteries in a block shape while you work.
Take any soldering iron and solder them together. I use good old lead solder (60/40 is common) but use whatever you like. I recommend extra flux, always.
Nobody puts enough flux inside solder for me, I don't care whose it is. I get Nocorode solder flux and brush it on every joint.
When you have enough flux you can substitute solid wire solder if you like. Its cheaper.
That's it. Clean up extra flux with a clean cloth and re-assemble your battery pack.
The first time you charge and use it, you will be totally blown away how much power your old tool has!
yours Scott