I have a Dewalt cordless drill.

I was outside in my planter area doing some formwork and ran out of
fasteners. I stopped and drove to HD to get some more.

During that time it rained...more like poured...

I had the drill standing up on a step stool (smart huh?) The rain or wind
must have knocked it over, and it felt into the planter area. When I got
back it's all wet. I peeked into the housing and saw some sand got inside
the housing. I tried to shake some of it out, but because of the wetness
some sand stayed inside.

It still works...but I am wondering whether I have done big damage to it.

I hope I don't have to get a new cordless drill.

MC

MiamiCuse wrote:

I have a Dewalt cordless drill.

I was outside in my planter area doing some formwork and ran out of
fasteners. I stopped and drove to HD to get some more.

During that time it rained...more like poured...

I had the drill standing up on a step stool (smart huh?) The rain or wind
must have knocked it over, and it felt into the planter area. When I got
back it's all wet. I peeked into the housing and saw some sand got inside
the housing. I tried to shake some of it out, but because of the wetness
some sand stayed inside.

It still works...but I am wondering whether I have done big damage to it.

I hope I don't have to get a new cordless drill.

MC


The essence of pragmatism is......

"If it works, use it."

I don't think you'll have trouble. Sand and dirt when dry is pretty much
non-conductive electrically so shouldnt cause shorts, particularly at
the relatively low voltages used in cordless tools.

I'd recommend leaving it in a warm place for a while to dry ot any
moisture inside it. Maybe blow some warm air through the openings with a
hair dryer.

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight.

On Sun, 29 Mar 2009 18:52:02 -0500, wrote:

On Sun, 29 Mar 2009 18:20:45 -0400, "MiamiCuse"
wrote:

I have a Dewalt cordless drill.

I was outside in my planter area doing some formwork and ran out of
fasteners. I stopped and drove to HD to get some more.

During that time it rained...more like poured...

I had the drill standing up on a step stool (smart huh?) The rain or wind
must have knocked it over, and it felt into the planter area. When I got
back it's all wet. I peeked into the housing and saw some sand got inside
the housing. I tried to shake some of it out, but because of the wetness
some sand stayed inside.

It still works...but I am wondering whether I have done big damage to it.

I hope I don't have to get a new cordless drill.

MC


I hope you let it thoroughly dry before use......
Once dry, any electric device will normally work again.

A plastic bag of rice; said to work on cell phones after dropped into
water.

Place the phone /(tool in the bag) The rice will absorb the moisture.

Got an air compressor? Blow out the sand. If not, I'm sure your
local auto service center would do it for you. Or maybe a strong shop
vac.

MiamiCuse wrote:
I have a Dewalt cordless drill.

I was outside in my planter area doing some formwork and ran out of
fasteners. I stopped and drove to HD to get some more.

During that time it rained...more like poured...

I had the drill standing up on a step stool (smart huh?) The rain or wind
must have knocked it over, and it felt into the planter area. When I got
back it's all wet. I peeked into the housing and saw some sand got inside
the housing. I tried to shake some of it out, but because of the wetness
some sand stayed inside.

It still works...but I am wondering whether I have done big damage to it.

I hope I don't have to get a new cordless drill.

MC


Mine have been rained on manytimes in the back of the pickup. They (all
3) still work just fine.

s

Jeff Wisnia wrote in
:

MiamiCuse wrote:

I have a Dewalt cordless drill.

I was outside in my planter area doing some formwork and ran out of
fasteners. I stopped and drove to HD to get some more.

During that time it rained...more like poured...

I had the drill standing up on a step stool (smart huh?) The rain or
wind must have knocked it over, and it felt into the planter area.
When I got back it's all wet. I peeked into the housing and saw some
sand got inside the housing. I tried to shake some of it out, but
because of the wetness some sand stayed inside.

It still works...but I am wondering whether I have done big damage to
it.

I hope I don't have to get a new cordless drill.

MC


The essence of pragmatism is......

"If it works, use it."

I don't think you'll have trouble. Sand and dirt when dry is pretty
much non-conductive electrically so shouldnt cause shorts,
particularly at the relatively low voltages used in cordless tools.

I'd recommend leaving it in a warm place for a while to dry ot any
moisture inside it. Maybe blow some warm air through the openings with
a hair dryer.

Jeff


DEFINITELY dry it out before trying to use it. A hair dryer is a good idea.
then you may need to relube it.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

Big risk is that the electric motor may rust, and stop
working. Dry it out as soon as you can. A day or two in a
frost free refrigerator may help. The frost free fridges
dessicate anything they can. My copier guy used to suggest I
keep my copy paper in the fridge, to reduce or prevent paper
feeding jams.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"MiamiCuse" wrote in message
...
I have a Dewalt cordless drill.

I was outside in my planter area doing some formwork and ran
out of
fasteners. I stopped and drove to HD to get some more.

During that time it rained...more like poured...

I had the drill standing up on a step stool (smart huh?)
The rain or wind
must have knocked it over, and it felt into the planter
area. When I got
back it's all wet. I peeked into the housing and saw some
sand got inside
the housing. I tried to shake some of it out, but because
of the wetness
some sand stayed inside.

It still works...but I am wondering whether I have done big
damage to it.

I hope I don't have to get a new cordless drill.

MC

On Sun, 29 Mar 2009 18:20:45 -0400, "MiamiCuse"
wrote:

I have a Dewalt cordless drill.

I was outside in my planter area doing some formwork and ran out of
fasteners. I stopped and drove to HD to get some more.

During that time it rained...more like poured...

I had the drill standing up on a step stool (smart huh?) The rain or wind
must have knocked it over, and it felt into the planter area. When I got
back it's all wet. I peeked into the housing and saw some sand got inside
the housing. I tried to shake some of it out, but because of the wetness
some sand stayed inside.

It still works...but I am wondering whether I have done big damage to it.

I hope I don't have to get a new cordless drill.

MC



Dry it off, clean it, and hope. I would not leave good tools
unattended, we have relatively low crime but theft does happen. Take
care of your good tools and you will save money in the long run.