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New Lithium Batteries Almost Ripped My Arm Off

30th November, 2007 - Posted by Chance -

Let us talk about manly things for a moment. In the power tool / home improvement category, I’ve always been a fan of Ryobi One+ tools because all 10 or so tools I have from the line use the same batteries. As rechargeable power tool batteries are expensive, its nice to have 1 charger and a couple batteries that will power everything without cluttering up my garage with 10 different charging adapters, etc.

Recently I bought the new lithium ion upgrade kit that came with the new, “twice as powerful, twice as long lasting, 20% lighter weight” lithium ion batteries and a new smart charger. All my old tools are compatible with the new lithium batteries, and the new charger will charge the old non-lithium batteries as well as the new, so it seemed like a no-brainer there.

Well, as I was installing my new big ass TV last night I was using my drill and socket adapter to screw the TV mounting plate to the studs in my wall with some gigantic lag bolts. As the lag bolts bottomed out in the holes I pre-drilled, basic high-school physics say that the torque being applied to the bit had to go somewhere- in this case when the bolt and bit stopped spinning into the hole and the drill started rotating at about 60 miles an hour while I was holding on to it, almost ripping my damn arm off.

The new and improved AWESOME 2X POWER of my drill with brand-spankin’-new lithium-ion goodness applied so much torque that it nearly made my arm spin 360 degrees before I could let go of the trigger.

I’m no stranger to home improvement tasks- I love to work around the house. I have just about every power tool you can think of, and building crap is kinda like my hobby. However, I have never had a tool utterly surprise me as much as it did last night. My drill with the old standard non-lithium batteries used to just bog down and stop and I was easily able to control the torque- this one just kept on spinning with my hand latched on to the handle.

Today my forearm is swollen and it hurts like hell. Stabbing pains shoot up my arm when I barely move it, and I am actually thinking of making an appointment to see the doctor about it.

Damn you “2x the power!”