In your situation, I'd definitely look hard at the DCA1820 adapter.

https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DCA1820-Dewalt-Battery-Adapter/dp/B016K1UD0E

Lets you use the new XR Li-ion batteries in your existing XRP tools.

There are also some knock-off clones of the DCA1820 on ebay and amazon for half the price or less, which are getting decent reviews and seem to work OK.

This will allow you to get much better batteries, and then start phasing in new tools as you need them.

The volts are actually the same so dewalt makes this physical adapter

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016K1UD0E/

If milwalkee doesn’t make one, a third party probably does. You could also sell your 18v milwalkee set and buy an 18v dewalt set for about the same price.

Amazon had the adapter on sale for $27 for a daily deal. Here’s the link (regular price now).

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016K1UD0E/?creative=9325&camp=1789&linkCode=ur2&ie=UTF8&tag=slickdeals&ascsubtag=4c01a35e753d11edb756e28ff61c342e0INT

If you're talking about those older style huge clunky 18v rechargeable batteries, just get an 18-20v adapter to be able to use the newer style batteries. We ran into this issue a few years ago, our drill was going but we had the huge combo kit and didn't want to replace every item or get a new kit. My BIL rec'd this adapter and we got a new drill w/the 20v batteries. We are happily using all of our old tools with it.

The newer batteries charge quicker, last longer, and are SO MUCH LIGHTER!

in case you didnt know this exists... dewalt makes an adapter that allows you to run their newer cells in old nicad tools.

https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DCA1820-Dewalt-Battery-Adapter/dp/B016K1UD0E

of course this would be more expensive than creating something yourself.

Get an adapter. Then buy the wiggly saw with a battery, they usually come with one free.

I've never done a ni-cad to l-ion conversion, but I know dewalt makes this adapter to use their new 20v l-ion batteries on their old 18v ni-cad tools.

I'd try to rig something like that up using the hitachi batteries shell.

Looks like they hacked the 18v to 20v adapter, but I don't know if they hard wired into the vacuum or what after that. https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-18v-20v-Adapter-DCA1820/dp/B016K1UD0E/

buy an 18V to 20V adapter and some Dewalt 20V batteries.

NiCads aren't worth sinking a single penny of your time into.

https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-18v-20v-Adapter-DCA1820/dp/B016K1UD0E

Not for nothing, but these do exist.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016K1UD0E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_GQZ2HQSZN26AZFH4Q9R6?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

If you're invested in the 18v platform, than I would think one or two of these in addition to some 20v batteries might be a better option.

Here's a kit from HD. $50 less than the kit from ace, and gives you an option to strech out the life of your current tools

https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-18-Volt-to-20-Volt-MAX-Lithium-Ion-Battery-Adapter-Kit-2-Pack-DCA2203C/206526033

Lowes has the kit in Stock for $149 which includes an adapter, 2 batteries and charger.

https://m.lowes.com/pd/DEWALT-20V-Max-Battery-Adapter-Kit-for-18V-Tools/999981802

Amazon also carries just the adapter for $37

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016K1UD0E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_lmUDybW194P5R

If you are still using the old nicad tools with nicad batteries, I recommend buying the new lithium ion batteries and their adapters for the tools.

https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-18v-20v-Adapter-DCA1820/dp/B016K1UD0E

Title: DEWALT 18v to 20v Adapter - Bare (DCA1820), Yellow/Black

Category: Tools & Home Improvement

Image: https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51G7VoroXQL._SL500_.jpg

Features: Compatible with most DEWALT 18Volt tools and allows for use of 20Volt MAX compact batteries

Price: $33.38 (55% OFF)

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I cannot tell the size of the battery. Those batteries go bad frequently. If the battery is a 18v one there is an adapter to change it over to lithium Ion. The reason I mention this is due to wanting to keep my drill in functioning order. Mine was gifted to me as well and I didn't want to throw it away.

Dewalt 18v adapter

Dewalt 18v adapter kit

Edit: The linked adapters are the ones that u/chrisgreer mentioned.

Yes, if they are no more than $20, and you factor in a DCA1820 adapter into your budget.

I think you're looking for one of these.

I've got it. It works fine to allow the use of older 18v tools with new 20v batteries.

You can buy an adapter to use the new 20v batteries with the old guns

DEWALT 18v to 20v Adapter - Bare (DCA1820),Yellow/Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016K1UD0E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_UMBsFbC74A3ER

That's my problem too. Have an 18v hand circuler saw and 18v drill. I may just get an Dewalt 18v to 20v adapter so I don't need to but a new drill or saw.

They make a 18v to 20V battery adapter, Dewalt doesn't advertise it but in works great and will make the 18V tools last another 10 plus years https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016K1UD0E/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DCA1820-Dewalt-Battery-Adapter/dp/B016K1UD0E

The Dewalt OEM version seems to be much better thought out

I'm not sure. I think what I used was a retrofit-type battery - the batteries that you started seeing on the market 5 - 7 years ago that were designed to fit in existing 18-volt NiCad tools (center battery). Those seem to be getting somewhat scarce, too. I imagine it's cheaper to build a cell pack with just the cells and no charging circuit, thus having more contacts between the pack and charger.

For what it's worth, Dewalt now sells a lithium pack to NiCad tool adapter, but it seems kinda bulky.

I'll be at Lowes later, and I'll see if I can match up what I used. For some reason, I didn't leave myself a note in the charger. I usually do that, reminding myself what I used and the date I built the device, but I really didn't expect the motor to handle the increased voltage more than a few months. I did notice, however, that the donor charger has only one LED (flashing = charging, steady = charged) and that most newer chargers have several indicators. That could help figure out which charger I butchered.