Finally, a Makita battery fix.

[johnnielsen]

Every time Makita improves their battery technology, they change the way the battery fits to the tool with no backwards compatability. So I have an older circ saw, a recip saw and a couple others and no Makita battery to power them. I've been hesitant to grind away parts of the old tools' battery seat. John (Dabbler) came up with a Rube Goldberg solution. I bought an adaptor from the 18 volt Makita tool to 18 volt Milwaukee battery. Then I bought an adaptor from the 18 volt Milwaukee tool to an18 volt Makita battery. Eureka it worked. Now I can use newer style 18 volt Makita batteries on my older Makita tools.

 

[Former Member]

There are "universal" adapters that allow one manufacturer to fit another, believe I saw them on Amazon.

 

[Ironman]

John, you did it right. It is the way to go.
If you got the chinese ones you are good.
If you like the yellow plague, the Dewalt 18-20 volt adapter has a circuit board inside, for no sane reason, and even with the battery removed from the tool as long as the adapter is connected to the battery, it will suck it dry. I have one Dewalt that has not burnt yet, and found this out so I chopped out the curcuit board and rewired it direct. No Problem now.

 

[RobinHood]

Well done John.

Reminds of working with hydraulic lines or plumbing…. Go from one system via adapters / couplers / intermediaries to another and then back again…