How to properly remove the aluminum pull-tags that new batteries come with?

Tubercle · 2019-11-16T23:20:40.000Z

I bought these batteries from Liitokala on Aliexpress. They come with these attached aluminum tabs on both terminals. These are definitely not pull tabs and cannot be easily pulled off. If I do pull them off, they leave 4 little dots of aluminum pieces where there’s either glue, or solder holding them down to the terminals. It’s unsightly and I’m sure interferes w/ the contact of batteries to terminals. For the life of me I couldn’t figure out the proper way to clean those off. Is there a simple/right way to do this or am I just an idiot?
Thanks in advance

SIGShooter · 2019-11-16T23:36:49.000Z

I just pull them off with needle nose pliers as well as any remaining bits sticking up. Afterwards I flatten anything left down on a hard flat surface until everything is flush with the top or file them flat depending on how I feel.

Cereal_killer · 2019-11-16T23:47:20.000Z

I pulled them off for a long time but always hated the little nubbins doing that left (yes there’s ways to deal with it but that can induce rust spots). Now I grind the welds with the cut-off wheel on my dremel, if you’re careful and go slow you can get it cut just perfectly down to the actual battery can and the tab easily and cleanly falls away leaving a smooth terminal.

Helios_azimuth · 2019-11-17T00:06:50.000Z

New batteries? Or laptop pulls or something? Never have my new batteries come like that. Were they really cheap?

Macka17 · 2019-11-17T00:19:01.000Z

I’ve done a few from Laptop Packs. Pliers and small flat file.

BUT. Why buy that type new?. They a speshul.
Usually for a Pack assembly/Multiples of.

Just buy std battery’s, either flat or raised top.

Tubercle · 2019-11-17T03:06:47.000Z

These were bought from LiitoKala’s store on AliExpress. These were pretty cheap so I bought a bunch. They didn’t have pics or description that indicate it is like this, or I wouldn’t have bought it.

Oh well lesson learned. Maybe I’ll get a file later and see if they can be filed flat (although it looks like it might file the wrapper away too)

Barkuti · 2019-11-17T02:29:04.000Z

Tubercle:

…

Oh well lesson learned. Maybe I’ll get a file later and see if they can be filed flat (although it looks like it might file the wrapper away too)

First of all, what you got ain't close to Samsung 30Q cells discharge-wise. They may be decent 2C or 3C 3000+mAh cells, though.

Other than this, :-)) as Cereal_killer says a Dremel or Dremel clone rotary tool is your friend, just attach a proper grinding stone to it…

https://www.epicworldstore.com/products/hilda-15-pcs-set-abrasive-tools-mounted-stone-for-dremel-rotary-tools-grinding-stone-wheel-head-for-dremel-tools-accessories

… and have fun! You can leave cells nearly unblemished this way if you're dexterous. :-)

amishbill · 2019-11-17T03:11:42.000Z

Be careful filing on the positive contact, The case (negative contact) is only a thin layer of insulation away from that end.

xevious · 2019-11-17T08:12:33.000Z

clip around the tab and leave most of it attached, within the circumference of the battery contact. No need to pull of the tab and have to deal with sharp bits that never smooth down well.

Henk4U2 · 2019-11-17T09:38:47.000Z

Looks like someone cancelled an order, and left the middle man with a bunch of pre-installed batteries. Does not mean they aren’t any good. But certainly not looking like I ever bought them. Even if you can remove the additional metal successfully, I would mention those things in a review. Maybe you can get some sort of refund. It’s like ordering a Toyota Hi-Ace and receiving a technical. Not everybody is pleased with that.
And eh,… there are a lot of Liitokala stores on Aliexpress.

Tubercle · 2019-11-17T16:00:31.000Z

Thanks. Yea I think I’ll leave the square of the tab on the terminals. Don’t think it should affect anything. I’ve used these batteries in my D18, MF01S etc. Seems to do ok. Need to do a discharge test to see the capacity.

chops728 · 2019-11-17T16:45:31.000Z

use a utility knife to cut away most of what’s left after pulling the tabs off—then I dremel the remaining tac weld off off —the side of a cut off wheel works best—more flat surface area to guide you straight

Barkuti · 2019-11-17T19:31:27.000Z

Just a brief remark: the “aluminum pull-tags” are neither pull-tags nor made of aluminum. They're meant for battery pack assembly, and they're made of nickel.

xevious · 2019-11-18T15:05:11.000Z

Barkuti:

Just a brief remark: the “aluminum pull-tags” are neither pull-tags nor made of aluminum. They’re meant for battery pack assembly, and they’re made of nickel.

Does the nickel present any concern touching a contact in a flashlight casing made of other types of metal like brass or steel?

wle · 2019-11-18T16:09:32.000Z

they are steel = for spot-welding

i just pull them off with pliers, then grind the top flat on my bench grinder

no big deal

[[if they were aluminum, you are not supposed to grind that, but i do that too anyway]]

wle

xevious · 2019-11-18T16:19:52.000Z

wle:

they are steel = for spot-welding

i just pull them off with pliers, then grind the top flat on my bench grinder no big deal

[[if they were aluminum, you are not supposed to grind that, but i do that too anyway]]

wle

I don’t have a bench grinder but I do have a Dremel. Hadn’t thought to do that, but may go ahead to “clean up” on ones I’ve already pulled the tabs. But going forward, I’ll probably leave them on. A little extra thickness can be helpful with some flashlights.