Anyone ever hacksaw thru a D cell maglite & battery?

[lumen aeternum]

I have two 3D maglites, and one of the batteries leaked. Of course, its the deepest, so can't get a drill or tool on it. I hate to throw away the perfectly good switch, but it comes out from the bottom, so thinking of using the hacksaw.

OTOH might cutting thru the battery & casing cause a short in what's left of the chemicals?

Unless someone can suggest a solvent that will dissolve the white stuff that sticks it to the casing (presuming its not too swollen to break the plain friction).

 

[jacobd]

Vinegar can help remove the corrosion, plus some standard WD40 and a strap wrench can help. I'd recommend against sawing through, that's far more effort and risk than a cheap switch is worth.

 

[bluflaam777]

Just be careful with WD40 and plastics. It can be safe on some, but there is a list where it isn't, same for some rubber types.

I can't say "don't use it", but I have used it or have seen where is was used on some types of plastic and it made it very brittle (including some used as insulators on electronics) and some rubber types (I've had a phone case crumble to pieces after touching it with some WD40 on my hands). It may take a few days to notice the damage, but by then the damage is done.

But I have used vinegar or baking soda (making a paste) to clean my Maglites. The latest I used vinegar first, then baking soda to clean the housing after the battery was removed.

 

[jacobd]

Just be careful with WD40 and plastics. It can be safe on some, but there is a list where it isn't, same for some rubber types.

I can't say "don't use it", but I have used it or have seen where is was used on some types of plastic and it made it very brittle (including some used as insulators on electronics) and some rubber types (I've had a phone case crumble to pieces after touching it with some WD40 on my hands). It may take a few days to notice the damage, but by then the damage is done.

But I have used vinegar or baking soda (making a paste) to clean my Maglites. The latest I used vinegar first, then baking soda to clean the housing after the battery was removed.

That's an excellent point, WD40 should only be used on the metal threads to loosen them, not anywhere else in the light

 

[bykfixer]

If it's an incan version pour coca cola into the barrel and let it soak over night.
Once the battery is out you'll need to take the light apart, wash the parts, let dry and reassemble

 

[Monocrom]

I agree that sawing through, not worth it.

 

[ABTOMAT]

Acids like vinegar and Coke dissolve the white corrosion. If it's soft it'll happen quickly, if it's hard it can take weeks. Problem is they also corrode most metals so the contacts in the switch will probably end up damaged if you fill it up. Don't use any kind of oil--unless you're trying to move metal against metal. Oils will basically waterproof the corrosion and you can't treat it with acid any more. The plastics in a Mag switch are resistant to petroleum so I wouldn't worry too hard about that, however.

You can saw through a Mag-Lite, no sweat. I wouldn't want to get the battery stuff on your skin but you're not going to cause a larger problem by cutting into one. Might be cleaner to cut around the battery instead of straight through it. I've sometimes had to do that with lost causes I needed parts from. Takes less than a minute if your hacksaw is sharp.

 

[NiOOH]

Not worth the effort and risk IMO. Acids may loosen the gunk, but corrode metals (except aluminum). In the best case you'll have one light that you cannot rely on. I'd say, just let it go.