Show HN: I built a Rotten Tomatoes-style platform for durable products

Re:Show HN: I built a Rotten Tomatoes-style platform for dur... by ghaff on Wednesday October 07, 2020 @10:31AM (#24708615)

Yes. Sometimes a manufacturer will switch battery types but I've seen this more with real consumer grade products than prosumer/pro ones. (Have a couple Black and Decker products I've had to throw out because batteries died and couldn't get replacements even online.)

But it's pretty much a given that anything like a cordless drill will have the batteries give out long before (and even multiple times) before you need to replace the tool itself. Batteries are consumables in any mis- to high-end product with a long lifetime, like it or not. (Same with cameras.)

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Re:Show HN: I built a Rotten Tomatoes-style platform for dur... by robocat on Wednesday October 07, 2020 @01:38PM (#24710657)

> because batteries died and couldn't get replacements

Search for “battery repack”. The batteries inside are always a standard size, and can be replaced by cracking the case. There are specialist companies that do it, but you have to find them.

You can do it yourself if the tool is worth spending the time on - basic soldering skills, and glue the case back together after you break it open to replace the cells (ugly, but works).

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Re:Show HN: I built a Rotten Tomatoes-style platform for dur... by ghaff on Wednesday October 07, 2020 @03:04PM (#24711484)

One I threw out many years ago. The other one (a hedge trimmer), the main problem is that I don't have the charger (or can't find it) and I couldn't find a replacement anywhere. In any case, I bought a (better) substitute that works with a tool that lets me switch out heads.

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