Sick of inadequate tools - time to spend!!

[Time Waster]

This morning I did a simple job but it all took too long for what it was, a simple replacement of gutter support on twwo lengths of gutter. So unscrew the remains of the smapped off hooks and screew a new one in then replace the gutter length. Simples!

Only the hand screwdriver wass slipping, another one was not much better. The old cheapo hand powered screwdriver was low on charge. Annoyingly it took awhile.

So I am sick of this. I think it is time to spend, but what on? I am thinking a new cordless drill and driver to make holes when needed and to screw things together when needed. I am thinkig that I should strandardise finally on one battery standard. Which make? I have a B&D strimmer with battery and charger plus a Spear and Jackson hedge trimmer with batteries and charger. I am thinking these are not great models to have so perhaps a Ryobi or Bosch might be better. IF I am to get new then I could finally fiix on one then switch over to this with all powered tools I decide to get over time.

Then not all tools need to be powered. What hand tools to get? Currently I have a raange of screwdrivers, pliers, adjustable spanners molegrips, wood saw, reciprocating saw, mitre saw and twoo types of mitre box (one for coving and one for flat pieces), tape measures, stanley knives of various typees and styles of blades, 12" mini wrecking bar, claw hammer, spirit levels (small plastic and large metal), junior hacksaw and a longer one that is adjustable to take various length blades. Was given to me with an imperial blade that you can not get now. Then I discoverd it wass adjustable so got a metric blade for it and adjusted the length of the "bow" to fit it.

Not sure what else to get but I am thinking of getting a better set of screwdrivers. I have a few Stanley ones and a few cheapo from the local hardware store (supatook I think) that are actually better but are wearing at the head quicker. So what make of screwdrivers are worth getting if you want something a bit better?

Anything else that you think is needed? Powered or otherwise? We are not heavy DIYers more a case of fixing what needs to be fixed so long as it is not too big a job for us. We will never plasterboard and plaster a wall for example but filler and sand before painting is our think when needed. I have been known to do coving, skirting board, architrave around hatches and a bit of plastering in small patches. Always need to sand after plasstering as I am not that good since I don't really do it much. Have been known to tile and hang doors if needed.

I think I just need to upgrade my powered tools and fill the gap of a decent driver. Perhaps some better hand tools if thee otheer stuff doesn't clear us out. However, am I missing somerthing essential or really useful to have?

 

[Tail End Charlie]

For screwdrivers I'd get a ratchet one from the likes of Screwfix (the Dewalt one is £15/20 and is excellent and is extendable) and a small set of bits. Then replace these, as you discover which ones you use the most, with impact bits.
For a cordless drill/ driver makes such as Makita, Milwaukee or DeWalt are good, but then you have to stick with that make, which, depending on what else you may need, can get pricy. That said, think of the money you save by doing it yourself. Do replace bits regularly (with impact ones) as even a little wear can cause slips.
I also have several Ferrex cordless tools from Aldi which are excellent, and really cheap.
For the other things, you sound like you have enough, but if you do buy again, buy good quality stuff, it pays in the long run.

 

[Profpointy]

Regarding hand screwdrivers at the risk of teaching my grandmother to suck eggs, not everyone really gets the difference between phillips and posidrive. They are similar looking and the same size for a given "number" but they are not the same, even though they "seem" to fit superficially. To confuse matters further there are also JIS screws and drivers which can feature on Jap motorcycles and maybe some cycle parts.


Now that out of the way, I very much like Facom's older style red handled drivers. Not tried their new shape handles, but likely still a good bet. I also like their "Isoryl" range with clear plastic handles, more of an engineer's or instrument screwdriver style.

I do rate Facom generally as they are not silly money like Snap on or whatever and seem to be good quality. Whilst I'm only an amateur, I've not been disapointed with any Facom tool - mostly spanners, screwdrivers in my case

 

[Marchrider]

Regarding hand screwdrivers at the risk of teaching my grandmother to suck eggs, not everyone really gets the difference between phillips and posidrive. They are similar looking and the same size for a given "number" but they are not the same, even though they "seem" to fit superficially. To confuse matters further there are also JIS screws and drivers which can feature on Jap motorcycles and maybe some cycle parts.

They don't do they, people make such an arise when they get it wrong, that along with people trying to use imperial allen keys in metric allen heads (or vice a versa)

 

[presta]

not everyone really gets the difference between phillips and posidrive.

Me: "Do you sell Pozidriv screwdrivers?"
LBS: "What's that?"
Me: Explains
LBS: "Phillips you mean?"
Me: "No, the tips are different"
LBS: "Huh, they're all crossheads to me mate"

TBH, the LBS was my last choice for a place to buy screwdrivers, but I'd been everywhere else and was beginning to give up hope of finding screwdrivers that aren't magnetised.

 

[newts]

Wera Screwdrivers are quality & last a long time. Screwfix/Toolstation have sets for£30-40.
Powertoolwise pick a single battery platform that has all the tools you're likely to use. DeWalt is my choice for the last 30 years, they now have a large range of cordless tools. Ryobi is probably the best choice at the DIY end of the market.

 

[CXRAndy]

DeWalt, Milwaukee, Bosch, Makita.

I have used Bosch for 10+ years still have them. Last year I moved over to Milwaukee mostly 18V

I have few Makita 18V tools too.

 

[Profpointy]

Me: "Do you sell Pozidriv screwdrivers?"
LBS: "What's that?"
Me: Explains
LBS: "Phillips you mean?"
Me: "No, the tips are different"
LBS: "Huh, they're all crossheads to me mate"

TBH, the LBS was my last choice for a place to buy screwdrivers, but I'd been everywhere else and was beginning to give up hope of finding screwdrivers that aren't magnetised.

Never mind purchasing I'd not let such monkeys work on my bike !

Lucky you had the conversation.

 

[Time Waster]

I was slipping with a pozidrive on matching screws so really should not be slipping. I know philips have a cam out to protect the screw heads so would slip but I didn't think PZ wouild do that. JIS do not have the cam out but are similar to Philips but IIRC the cross has 90 degree inner corners not curved corners like on a PH. If that makes sense.

I also read a few years back that there are or were alternatives to the PZ with similar features but I just looked it up and can't see them. Google-fu failure.

 

[Time Waster]

Ryobi one seems to appear on TV adverts a lot. My local B&Q sell a lot of Ryobi stuff but I get put off by a company that needs to use advertising to sell.

Makita I have had recs from pros that they are good. Milwaukee are an old USA brand IIRC and I thought that they do high end pro stuff and average pro stuff but perhaps a bit overkill for amateur domestic occasional use.

Bosch used to get good reviews but I did read some negatives about something from them last year and made me wonder about them.

I am thinking too much. I guess at the end of the day for my needs I could buy pretty much anything from B&Q and it'll do the job good enough for my needs. I guess the thing is to decide on one brand and battery type then stick to it. After that I guess it is to choose what model of each type to get (as in driver, drill, etc).

 

[stephec]

Another vote for Wera here, their screwdrivers, and socket + bit sets, are well worth the money.

I'm lucky that when I need them for work I can stick them on my expenses, but they're that good that, when I needed one that I couldn't justify for work, I even splashed out my own cash.

 

[PaulSB]

You are mixing two different functions - DIY and garden - as far as I know there isn't one brand which will cover both activities. My recommendation, based only on personal experience, would be Bosch for DIY equipment and Stihl for garden equipment. For DIY I have a Bosch drill/driver and a sander, neither have let me down to date. For the garden I have battery operated Stihl chainsaw, strimmer and leaf blower. These are brilliant. The battery is interchangeable and there is nothing on the individual items to go wrong. After 7 years I had to replace the charger this week, £40, but I'm still using my original battery seven years since I bought it with the chainsaw.

For chainsaw use the battery supplies enough power for a morning's logging, splitting and stacking - about three hours work. An hour charging at lunchtime gives another three hours.

The leaf blower, constant use, runs for 25 minutes against a claimed 20 minutes.

The strimmer gives more than enough time to strim my garden and allotment. I've never timed it.

I'm sure there are several good DIY brands but I doubt you will find anything to better Stihl for garden equipment. Each item I've used is very well balanced making the work very easy to do. I wouldn't look at anything else. I'm considering a Stihl mower for this year.

 

[Time Waster]

Ryobi one has a lot of tools for home DIY and Garden. Same for Makita, but thaat is just two brands. I know Bosch are highly regarded for garden equipment.

Ryobi one+
Makita

However, it does not mean that one brand is the best in both garden and home DIY. However for most people best is not needed however more than good enough for both uses is perhaps better for home user with garden and DIY needs. Perhaps Bosch or Ryobi One+ or Makita brands make a good one to fix for garden and home DIY use. IT is the idea of fixing on one battery solution as more economical so you are not buyinng two or more sets of battery charging technology.

I don't know which is best hence the post. I am thinking one of those three brands might be good to consider fixing on. Bosch and Ryobi one+ are sold in the only nearby DIY store (B&Q). Makita is not. The nearest screwfix, wickes or other is a bit too far away it those two braands are good enough.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

This little gizmo revolutionised my very reluctant and unenjoyable forays into the world of DIY.

https://www.bosch-diy.com/gb/en/p/psr-select-0603977071

I got it on offer for around £40 from Homebase a year or two ago.

Plenty of charge to power a whole heap of 75mm decking screws in. Masses of torque. Ideal for screwing in confined spaces (don't be rude!) - it made short work of a set of IKEA PAX wardrobes that I built recently.

The multi-head selector is brilliant as is the onboard spotlight.

Since purchased I have never needed to use a conventional screwdriver.

 

[presta]

Bosch used to get good reviews but I did read some negatives about something from them last year and made me wonder about them.

I have two Bosch tools, and I wouldn't recommend either of them.

First was the strimmer, I decided to buy a new one because it was so difficult to get the spool case cover off the Flymo one I have, and I checked before I bought the Bosch that the cover came off easily. The problem with it is that you're lucky if you get 5-10 seconds use out of it before the cord breaks and you have to stop and rethread it. No wonder it's so easy to remove the cover.

The other is a sander, and quite apart from my dim view of the usefulness of electric sanders in general, it's nigh on impossible to get the dust box off it. It's far too tight, and with nothing to get a grip of. Not quite as useless as the strimmer, but still a PITA to use.