Cordless Tools

Porter Cable 18V to 20V battery adaptor.

Posted on June 3, 2022 by akadventurer

Been about a month ago, I’m trying to get caught up on stuff I haven’t had time or energy to post.

Got an adaptor to run my lithium 20v max Porter Cable batteries on my 18v (lithium, not the older NiCad ) PC tools.

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All assembled with a 2Ah battery and its not any(or much) bulkier than the original 18v 6 Ah.


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This was my test to see if it works, and how the quality was…

The tools work flawlessly, no issues I could see in a 10 minute test anyway.


I do actually still have 4 working 18v batteries for these tools, 2 in 6Ah and 2 in 2Ah. Not bad after a decade of use.. But they’re getting tired, don’t hold up as long anymore. I could have them rebuilt rather cheaply, but I wanted to try this, its simpler and easier(probably still cheaper). This thing was $21. Its nice cast/molded plastic, well made.(I expected 3D printed to be honest… surprised me its not!) This one is actually a 3 in one, takes Stanley, Black+Decker, and Porter Cable 20v batteries. (all of which interchange on PC 20v tools anyway, or nearly so with small mods IIRC.)


Works so well, I’m going to go ahead, as I can, and get the ones needed to cross all, or almost all my tools. I’m running Kobalt and PC 20v for work, Kobalt and PC 18v in my garage, and Craftsman in my home wood shop… And they get interchanged a bit too. I have more Craftsman 20V batteries than any other, but Kobalt batteries are the cheapest to buy, so I’ll get those crossed to my PC and Craftstman tools.. Or maybe just get what I need to use Kobalt batteries on everything if needed, then only buy the Kobalt batteries unless the Craftsman are on sale(both Porter Cable lines are no longer made/available anywhere). Ill figure it out.. lol.

Got the sucker here BTW, for anyone interested.
https://www.ebay.com/str/xtools99

Categories: Automotive Work, Construction, Cordless Tools, Customized, Modifications, New Work Tools, old tools, Remodeling, Reviews

Craftsman 4V power screwdriver

Posted on May 25, 2022 by akadventurer

Picked this up last weekend on sale, I was curious,  and for $35, figured it was a small risk.

It’s the old concept of a power screwdriver,  remember those from the 90s? Even in the early 2000s when cordless tools were gaining ground and power those things were still basically useless.

Somewhere I have one thats about 9v, that came with my big 18v Dewalt drill, circa 2006. That drill was a power house, a monster at driving screws for construction… The screwdriver,  not so much. Not exactly useless… But then the tool itself was too big to really be handy.

Batteries and motors sure have come a long ways! 

This thing is only 4V, but it has a surprising amount of torque,  and so far great run time IMO for its size.

Built in battery,  an oddity these days,  came with a wall wart w/cord that charges it. 

My main idea was for automotive work,  where you can have lots of little screws, a slow pain by hand, but an impact driver is overkill, or won’t fit.

So far I’ve had great fun with it installing a bunch of door knobs and latch plates at work,  removing and installing cabinet hinges, and even driving some small 1.25″ construction screws(amazingly well even without pilot holes!) .

Finally a compact power screwdriver that works as needed! Its a keeper!

One nifty feature, is the onboard rotating bit storage.  Has a little door that covers it. Came with bits in it! Little magnet on top next to it to hold screws or bits is actually kinda handy too.

Wish my big 20v impact drivers had that bit storage magazine!  Thinking they could do it in brushless tools and still be pretty compact.

Categories: Automotive Work, Construction, Cordless Tools, Craftsman, New Work Tools, Remodeling, Reviews, Work Tools

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