How To Battery Hack a Makita 9.6v - Easy Lithium Ion Conversion Upgrade

Is your Makita Drill dead? Do your old 9.6 volt batteries refuse to charge? This easy how to hack will upgrade an old makita 9.6 volt battery and bring it back to life.
Don't throw out those dead Nickle batteries, hack them with a simple Lithium Ion Battery.
Discover a simple way to supercharge your Makita Cordless Drill with a Lithium Ion Battery Replacement.
How to Convert a 9.6 volt Makita Drill from Nicad or NIMH to Lithium Ion.
Watch our Daily VLOGS from the beginning: • Daily Vlogs
All travel episodes of Life Doesn't Suck from the beginning:
• All Travel Vacation VLOGs
Our FaceBook: / deannaandvince
Deanna's Instagram: / deanna_rocca
Vince's Instagram: / vincerocca
Vince's Twitter: / vincentrocca
Camera Gear:
iPhone6 amzn.to/2q32u1L
RetiCAM Smartphone Tripod Mount amzn.to/2qA8Idg
LifeProof FRE amzn.to/2qy5MNT
OtterBox DEFENDER iPhone 6/6s Case amzn.to/2rlj9lE
Rode SmartLav amzn.to/2qA1UfI
Rode VideoMicMe amzn.to/2pZyp3L
YiKaiEn iReader amzn.to/2rkRW2w
Lightning Dock Extender amzn.to/2rkSjtP
Hero 5 amzn.to/2rybQUS
Wasabi Power Battery & Dual Charger for GoPro HERO5 amzn.to/2rxVrQt
Hero 5 Waterproof Case amzn.to/2ry6Cc0
GoPro Breathable Mouth Mount amzn.to/2ryaQQD
GoPro Suction Cup amzn.to/2pZzQzi
GoPro Jaws Flex Clamp amzn.to/2pZQzCD
Canon HF S200 amzn.to/2pZQgaI
Wrist Straps amzn.to/2rl4Iy1
Vantec Smoovie Pocket Video Stabilizer amzn.to/2qDxuqT
Joby MPod Mini Stand for Smartphones amzn.to/2rldsnN
Manfrotto Tripod amzn.to/2ryk5zw
Telesin Dome for GoPro Hero 5 amzn.to/2rT0muU
Litra Lights amzn.to/2tLNCYy
SafeGo amzn.to/2tM1jGY
BROLL and Audio from VideoBlocks Save $50 with this link videoblocks.ref...

[@IAmZen_007]

I thought you are going to replace the internal battery’s by 18650 one

[@milsiart4976]

LOL! Why you did not put those 3 Li=ion batteries in old battery case?

[@Yonder27]

Uniquely contrived solution that can be used in any of the older style 9.6v Makita tools. Both McGyver and the Professor🌴 approved✅👏🏼. But seriously you could just install lith-ion batteries into that original casing for less than $30. I know you just wanted to use that craftsman 12v to repower those older unused tools that you spent good money on 👍🏼. These days a guy could make a video on making shoe laces out of old fence boards and people would watch it 🤑🤑🤑🤑😉.

[@adnanshafique1084]

I have hard wired my old 9.6v Makita screwdriver and used computer power supply with cigarette lighter connector and used for hours and hours without any problems.i use cigarette lighter connector for easy to use with different tools which are around 12v

[@Davethreshold]

Maybe you could put a turbocharger on my '69 Volkswagon Beatle? Seriously, I just found the Makita 6095D for 13 bucks with 3 batts at a Goodwill. Each batt charged in under an hour, and it's a very useful tool. I LOVE the Makita brand. I have a wall plug 1/2 incher, and if you catch the drill on something while you are holding on tight, I seriously think it would break your hand. Great attempt!

[@LolaHouston]

GREAT hack and super video. No life story. No weird music. Assumption that viewers know what they are doing. Yay. Thank you!

[@VinceRocca]

Thanks. Awesome that you get it is a hack to bring life to rarely used tools. So many viewers think it should be a lipo battery change out or want to insist buying a new 9.6 is the way to go, but no... this is a hack.

[@michaelthibault7930]

One man's hack is another man's kludge. The handle of the drill is way over-sized for it's (current) purpose, since it was sized to accommodate the required number of Ni-Cd cells to get the drill up to 9.6V. That being the case, you could, instead, shorten the handle and, ideally, re-pot the battery's Li-ion cells in the handle more-or-less permanently. You might additionally, using a heat gun (or similar), be able to re-shape the mouth of the handle to allow for installation of that end into the Milwaukee(?) charger. The whole idea of the drill is that it is portable and self-contained i.e. a single object to pick up and put to use.

[@cdanielh128]

Great work brother. With more of this in the US china gets less of our trash just to salvage the parts and resale it back to the west for a markup. This throw everything away and buy a new one culture blows my mind. I happen to have the batteries to replace these out of a couple of old laptops that came my way a year or so ago. This is a great alternative to get a bit more life out of the Magic Makita!

[@VinceRocca]

Thanks. Yea, I don’t like to trash. I try to fix, reuse and repurpose. But sometimes I gotta clear the clutter. Glad you enjoyed it. Please subscribe so I can get to 100k subs.

[@yourautoadvocate8863]

Wow! Aren't you My handy! Looks like you have done this 100 times before.. Your hired!

[@bcastano1105]

Hey Vince, I have that makita at work in my tool box. I am going to do that because I love that Makita. I havent used it in a couple years. Thanks . Wow I cant believe it. Take Care

[@ceeweedsl]

I like my Milwaukee M12s, but these Makitas are workhorses. I always liked the leverage of getting your hand and force behind the body for driving force and to avoid cam-out. Not many driver drills allow that, most are T shaped.

[@newscollector6740]

Great cordless drill ...With a lead ?

[@mikemurphy5336]

we need you to convert a stick 9.6v bat to a custom li-ion 18650 x 3 using the bat black case and a protection balance board and the correct charger not to have a clumsy wire hack job you might as well go back to a corded drill and saw in this case your defeating the purpose of cordless

[@JMG-uj4ps]

Rebuilding the Makita battery would be easier and you wouldn't have to deal with the long cord.

[@sinisterx9029]

Ya but nicad batteries are trash

[@wildcat6316]

Great job. I've watched this many times and will do it some day.

[@adembinski110]

I have an old Makita drill like the one you show, but mine was always able to use both 9.6 VDC and 12 VDC rechargeable NiCds. The drill handle has a bulge on the bottom to accommodate the larger 12VDC battery. OEM batteries died long ago. Replacement NiCds cost more than the drill itself. I think modifying the dead 12VDC battery to run off a 12VDC lithium ion won't adversely affect my old drill.

[@WallaceRoseVincent]

Thanks Vince! I was just given a makita drill. Awesome!

[@ajmckay2]

7:50 - no I'm thinking why did he do this in such a way as to leave a giant cord coming out of it? I get it the tools were basically useless but I'm thinking there are ways to do this a little more elegantly and still keeping the "cordless" functionality. Still - thanks for the video

[@VinceRocca]

I hope my video inspires you to make a video with a more elegant solution. For me, I wanted to use the craftsman battery and it wouldn’t fit inside the makita, nor did I want to dismantle the battery, so a wire became the solution to get the battery out of the way. Glad I could help. You can help me by subscribing so I can get to 100k subscribers.

[@drefhill]

@@VinceRocca the battery is out of the way but now you have that huge cable on your way.

[@VinceRocca]

And I have a tool that I can utilize in a pinch.

[@georgeatkinson6023]

Did a similar job, but used a 12volt car jumper pack as power-the motor was fine but the variable trigger switch failed!

[@NE-Explorer]

I am trying to repair the inside of the driver but the case wont come apart....the chuck is holding the left and right half together....how can i free the two halves of the case

[@BMac-qb8xo]

wow your turned a cordless drill into a corded drill, who knew

[@kerolification]

@@brucegerard309 You'd pay $300 to replace this gorgeous chuck wobble-less drill. It has amazing speeds/torque for screwing and drilling.

[@ceeweedsl]

@B12Mac54 Whereas your talent would be throwing a good durable tool into garbage due to old battery tech, right? Good consumer. Go back to work and earn some more so you can buy more products. Working is far easier than taking care of things. Hope you still have a job.

[@ceeweedsl]

@@brucegerard309 Another wasteful person. A good consumer.

[@ceeweedsl]

@@brucegerard309 Of course. It's more like $130 for the Milwaukee but yes, if you don't have a decent lithium cordless rig, you need one. But waste is about respect also. Time spent to fix things when you can is care taken and respect for what you have. Look, I have two sets of Milwaukees drills in two countries: drills, impacts, their hackzall, angle drill for jobs. Pretty decent system, good batteries. I chose it to upgrade from the Makita system a few years ago. Will use M12 for as long as practical. But I also have 4 Makita drill drivers, plus their 3" saws one with the water feed that I have setup on a slider jig for tiles. The 9.6 battery system is too obsolete to be useful, not worth buying more nicads or NIMH, but building two battery inserts to run off of AC power means that we will now have some spare drivers we can keep stashed at the rental house, in the shop for details etc. That 3" saw with a diamond blade is just fine plugged in. I was actually looking for a plug-in drill driver for a specific use but there are almost none on the market. Adapting old Makitas lying around makes perfect sense! It's about having a power driver tool ready to go more than portability. I just modded the battery with a cord. Took less time than driving to the store! I understand sometimes we just don't have time to fix things. But I would NEVER make fun of somebody for doing this. Much respect.

[@TheRipdub]

Neat. You made a drill with the downsides of both. A cord you have to work around and a battery that you have to charge.

[@christopherthiessen9040]

Thank you for posting this video. You did a great job! 👍🏻

[@uncle_dud1908]

My Makita battery died today. (R.I.P.) Thanks for the video. It saved me a lot of time from opening up the battery. Awesome job on modification (gauge wire). Hopefully the battery contacts remain good. My thoughts: ditto on the life span of a Makita. But that darn cord would get in my way, or I would accidently unplug the battery. So, I might have to do away with the cord & put in a modified battery/plug right in the handle somehow. It would be cool to see a way to do it. But probably not cost effective.

[@mikelrobles6106]

Hey Vince thats Crazy I happened upon this video while fucking with my MaKITA BECAUSE I recognize you from the scary movie that you and your wife made that I watched on I think it was Prime Video lol!!!

[@VinceRocca]

Awesome. I entertained you and helped you. If you get a chance leave a positive review on IMDb or Amazon about 8ight After. It’s really appreciated.

[@ebikeruss2058]

Cordless to Corded!!! You Funny!!!

[@punkerpanda131369]

You can buy batteries for these all day long for around 20$ on Amazon. 30$ if you want to upgrade to nimh 3000mAh. If you want to rebuild the original pack you can buy high quality 2200mAh cells for around 3$ each.

[@vernfowlkes8110]

Exactly what I was thinking. Personally I think it's ridiculous. This is nearly useless and more expensive than simply replacing the original batteries.

[@VinceRocca]

You are right, it nearly is useless. You could spend $20 for a battery, but then you have to keep nicad or nimh batts charged regularly. Otherwise your $20 goes down the drain. For me I keep my Craftsman batts charged because its my goto drill. But occasionally I need to use my old makita saw, stapler, jig, or right angle drill, and why should I spend $20 and have to keep a battery charged, when I can just use my charged craftsman battery in a pinch??? It wasn’t more expensive. It didn’t cost me anything.

[@vernfowlkes8110]

And your point is? All batteries need charging (which you state you keep some charged) and now you have this wonderful corded battery that took how long to make? And cost how much? Just so you can drag around a corded battery pack? The whole concept of portable battery powered tools are so you don't have to drag a cord around. Cute but not very practical. (Veteran carpenter/contractor.) Have fun with your "toy".

[@VinceRocca]

Nicad and nimh batteries shouldn’t be left on the charger. Also they will stop working if left on the shelf unused. If you use a makita regularly then you should definitely buy a nimh battery. But if you rarely use a makita, and you buy a $20 battery, charge it, then go to grab it a year later its voltage will have dropped below the recharging point and be useless. Lipos do not have this issue. They can be charged and shelved for years. Yes you can convert makitas to lipos, yes there are videos on youtube on how todo that. On RARE occasions I could use my little makita circular saw, or a the makita power stapler, or the makita right angle drill. For those RARE occasions I built this so I can use my already charged and available craftsman battery for the 10 minutes I’m going to use that tool. I’m surprised carpenters would even be interested these old 9.6v tools. I would have thought they would have moved on to 12v lipos. I am not a veteran carpenter. I’m a hobbiest just having fun. I’m sorry if that bothers you.

[@ceeweedsl]

@punkerpanda131369 I have bought those replacement batteries. Never as good as the Makita brand, which are not so great anymore. You need 3 to really do anything with this. So figure $120 for 3 real Makitas. Or buy one Milwaukee M12 kit to have a cordless with much more battery life and power. My Makita sits at a remote cabin rarely used. When needed, the issue isn't portability but that the dang batteries are dead again, won't hold a charge. If we can just plug in and have it work, then the cord is not a problem for a spare driver.

[@tombrownca]

Nice for what it was, but why not fashion some solution where the new battery fits up into the drill, so that it can remain cordless?

[@VinceRocca]

Thanks. Be inspired by what I did and run with it. Make a video of you fashioning a battery into the drill.

[@szentagostonka]

Can I use this Makita without battery, only with a car baztrry charger?

[@johnnygeejr500]

Very clever. Well done, Thank you. Cheers

[@VinceRocca]

Awesome. Glad you found it interesting and useful. Please subscribe so I can get to 100k subs.

[@TheMxpwr12]

Hey. I loved your video. Nicely done. The yellow crimps you put on you world squeeze them tougher with the wire to hold.

[@Ntinosg]

what about the discharge protection? its inside the battery ?

[@VinceRocca]

There is none. I’m pretty sure this could drain the battery past the recharge point. But I only use this briefly on the rare occasion I need an old unique tool. I don’t nor would I use this as a regular drill. There are now better and cheeper drills than the 9.6 Makitas. But this works great for quick use of the jigsaw or angle drill. Glad I could help. You can help me by subscribing so I can get to 100k subscribers.

[@faeriepurdy3438]

Since when is black positive and white negative?

[@VinceRocca]

In America: AC current black carries the load, white is neutral. With DC red is positive, black is negative. White never has a designation with DC. Since I had a black and white wires, I choose to follow the AC color scheme, which I usually work with anyway.

[@pcchiu4027]

good job!

[@ibringthelastwords1358]

Hey bro how is it today? I planning to do that the same with my 9.6v authentic makita which is rarely used. Planning to put 3 lithiums but my only concern is the lithium voltages is much higher than 9.6v which is about 12v. but when I tested the original nicd packs they registered in about 10-11v. But some other guys said that it should always be match the voltage because it can harm the motor. What do you think? Cheers ☺️

[@VinceRocca]

It probably could harm the motor. But mine weren’t getting use anyway. And motor harm will probably takes years. Mine are still going but I hardly use them. This was a hack to access my old tools in a pinch. Like the stapler, jig saw or the right angle drill. I never have a use of my old 9.6 regular driver. I just use a new craftsman for that.

[@Linescrew1Canada]

I'd love to replace the heavy lead acid batterirs in my portable inverter power packs with lithium ion but I'm terrified of the potential fire hazard should they go bad and ignite.

[@VinceRocca]

Actual replacement of batts, requires changing of chargers, heat sensors, discharge sensors, etc. my drill method here works, but I think theres more science involved with inverter packs.

[@lawndogmoon2]

Expert level stuff here.

[@thespiritof76..]

I don't understand why you put that long ass cord on it? Why not just put the lithium batteries inside the old Nicad housing?

[@VinceRocca]

Then I would have had to destroy the new lithium battery housing and It would no longer work in my new drill. This allows me to use an old makita tool on the rare occasion that I need it. Glad I could help. You can help me by subscribing so I can get to 100k subscribers.

[@ceeweedsl]

@@VinceRocca Not to mention the issue of charging now that it won't fit the modern charger.

[@barneylongacre8123]

You are Mcgiver!

[@brokendown63]

You can get a replacement 9.6v battery for $20.

[@josemedeiros007]

I found your video very ingenious in your method, Nicad batteries are still sold on Ebay for under $15.00 for the 9.6 Volt Makita drill we both have. Where did you get your Lithium battery pack, did you just have them from another broken Drill, and how are you charging it? What is your opinion on the Lithium Drill Harbor Freight sells for $19.99, $69.99 and 89.00 which is comparable in torque to the Makitia?

[@VinceRocca]

Thanks. My issue with nicads is you MUST charge them regularly. I hardly use my old 9.6 makita tools, so keeping a battery charged is not something I want to remember. I currently use a Craftsman drill, which uses the lithium batteries. So I devised this way to be able to utilize those batteries on the 9.6 tools for the rare occasion that I need the 9.6 jigsaw, panel saw or angle drill. Apparently there are drawbacks as you could drain the lithium too low for it to take a recharge. But I’m okay with that as I only use it occasionally and not regularly. I don’t know anything about the Harbor Fright tools, but if you need an everyday drill, any new drill that uses lithium batteries is going to be better than an old 9.6 makita.

[@VinceRocca]

Also. Please subscribe so I can get to 100k subs. Thanks.

[@josemedeiros007]

@@VinceRocca Good point, thank you for the reply.

[@ceeweedsl]

I wouldn't waste money on the Harbor Freight. Buy a Milwaukee M12 (or M18) kit from CPO instead, get reconditioned if necessary to save $$. Once you are in, you can buy various bare tools and replace the batteries easily as needed. With cordless you want to buy into a system that is popular, well built and has an extensive line of tools running off the same battery.

[@grandprixuse]

Instead of doing all that to the original battery casing, how about just trimming the handle, glue the custom socket to the handle and done, smaller, easier to work with

[@VinceRocca]

Sure. That’s an option. Thanks for the suggestion. Please subscribe so I can get to 100k subs.

[@ceeweedsl]

Nice idea. Make a video!! I don't think that these long handle Makitas (I have three drills and two diamond saws) will lend themselves to that as well as a shoe style battery.

[@VinDcator]

Why not just get a 9.6v 3500 mAh battery?

[@VinceRocca]

You absolutely could, but why not grab some stuff from around the house and make what you currently have work? Please subscribe so I can get to 100k subs.

[@ceeweedsl]

Need more than one. Chargers are old tech also. Too expensive. Battery tech won't last. Go with Lithium for new.

[@breadbutt]

why not just replace the internal NiCad cells with Li-ion cells and use the original charger casement so that it can patch the battery into a Li-ion charger? more work, but you'd be truly cordless. also, they sell 9000 battery replacements for like $20-$30 a pair.

[@graniteridgegreens6278]

Why not just upgrade batteries?

[@VinceRocca]

9.6v are made in nicad and nimh, neither of which hold a long shelf life and when drained past a point, become dead. For me, I barely have a need for these old 9.6 tools, so I found a hack that lets me use them on that rare occasion without having to make sure I have a 9.6 batt always charged. Glad I could help. You can help me by subscribing so I can get to 100k subscribers.

[@ScimPeep]

"...and This batteries also drop to the floor once used some time ...."...

[@lwh7301]

"Easy." Teeheehee.

[@bigdaddyvince182]

Why couldn't you shorten the wire? It's not really even cordless anymore!

[@VinceRocca]

I could shorten the wire. I wasn’t trying to make it cordless, I was trying to find a functional way to use my old tools when I needed them in a pinch. I rarely need the right angle drill or the jigsaw, but now if I do, I have a way to utilize them.

[@bigdaddyvince182]

@@VinceRocca okay I see, that was pretty crafty then. good video.

[@VinceRocca]

Thanks. We have a bunch of fun videos (some crafty), so please hit that subscribe button. :)

[@craighess959]

well now that you have turned the old useless drill into something that you can use , I assume that you did this just to use around the work bench since the cord would be a pain in the A$$ . why not connect it to a deep cycle marine battery and do away with the need to charge more than once a decade ! all in all pretty cool hack !

[@pumpkinprincess1031]

I miss your English vlogs. 😉

[@VinceRocca]

LOL! I’ve got some old style travel ones coming up.

[@QuanTran-fy1lp]

2018, not good. 3 pin 18650 is okey

[@christophermendonca7969]

Anybody got a cordless drill I mean a corded drill

[@dpownall8115]

WTF??? Buy battery, drill, charger at Goodwill $5-$12 and new battery $10 on Ebay.

[@alohahoward1]

Easy upgrade? right....

[@JasonDrennen]

Next time use a balanced charging bored and just slap your batteries back into the battery holder. Quicker easier and looks better. The wood blocks kind of funny though.

[@VinceRocca]

Do you mean using a balanced charging board with lipo batts? That’s a whole different goal, with many videos in yt that discuss it. My goal was to be able to occasionally use the right angle, stapler, and small circular saw without having to buy anything. Without having to keep a NEW type of battery charged. Without having to keep old nimh 9000 batts freshly charged. This hack cost a few pennies and allows me to use those tools on the rare occasion that I need them. For everyday drilling the craftsman drill that I borrow the battery from kicks butt.

[@JasonDrennen]

@@VinceRocca here is the problem., not all Lithium powered batteries have their own safety shut-off. But 95% of lithium drills have safety shut-off. The last thing you want to do is drain lithium batteries too low. Now by going with balance board not only will it safely charge the batteries equally it will also drain the batteries equally and kill them at around 3.2 volts per cell. Now the board would cost you around three to four dollars for a 12 volt 3 cell board. The batteries on Amazon will run you about $8 to $9. So yeah this would be a usable hack in the situation of the cordless drill. Sometimes safety needs to come first. I have witnessed a 18650 battery pop do to no safety shut-off. The guy is definitely on to something here I'm just trying to give a little pointer how to make it a little safer.

[@VinceRocca]

So if my craftsman batteries don’t have a safety shut off, then they could drop below 3.2 and pop. You mean explode? If you drain too much they can explode???? If I got such a board and installed it in the makita battery shell, then could I still use the craftsman batteries? BTW, I’m the guy who made the video.

[@JasonDrennen]

@@VinceRocca depends on the battery pack. Craftsman is a decent brand they might have safety shut offs in the battery. Now whether it'll pop or vent depends on the battery pack itself. If it has vent holes most likely it will just vent out and stink up the place. Plus it don't happen every time I've accidentally ran quadcopter batteries down into the 2 Volt range it did destroy the battery but it didn't catch fire. But I've had other guys have their e-cig mods catch fire in their hand due to no safety and cheap batteries. Lithium batteries are not something to play with. That's why you keep button cells away from dogs and kids. Especially if you get them wet and they're not sealed. Now that is a scary thing.

[@VinceRocca]

My googling efforts don’t show a danger for discharging them too low. It might ruin the battery, but it actually appears there is less of a chance they will “pop.” The lipo explosions appear to be caused by puncture, shorting (water), and overcharging. Still I’m going to look in to that board you suggested. Thanks. And be sure to subscribe.

[@alekpop1625]

You are hot man

[@midimagic7097]

Go buy a new battery.

[@VinceRocca]

Or buy a new drill. Or a new house. Maybe a car... or make a fun DIY project and retrofit what you have.