Sick of inadequate tools - time to spend!!

[Marchrider]

I agree that scrapers are very useful tools and in some cases a good alternative for some sanding jobs.

I would say for finishing off they are better in most cases, unlike sandpaper you can go across the grain. Sharpening is important, you have to get it right, and when you do the finish can be as perfect as something cut with a very sharp hand plane,

 

[Alex321]

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.

I bought a Ryobi One cordless drill last year. I was a little doubtrful before, having always used corded drills, but in actual fact it has turned out to be a very good piece of kit.

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.

The previous (corded) drill I had was branded AEG but was actually Milwaukee under the hood. It had done good service for quite a few years before giving up the ghost last year. They do tend to be pricey, though I had bought that one on a good sale.

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 a Bosch circular saw and an electric screwdriver. They are OK, but nothing special. The screwdriver really doesn't have enough power nowadays, but it has been used regularly for over 15 years.

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).

Exactly. I'd probably go one step up from Maccalister, which is B&Q budget own brand, but any of the more general brand names should be reasonable for DIY use.

 

[Electric_Andy]

I'm very eager to erect our new shed; I do have lots of tools from when I lived on my own and had a full garage. Now we have a tiny shed which we're going to upgrade as part of our garden refurbishment (we have taken out a second mortgage).

The way I see it, it's better to have 1 good tool than 3 average ones. I'm looking at you silicon sealant guns! Of which 3 have bent.

I also think that space plays an important part in tool efficiency and care. If your workspace is too cluttered, it's easy for tools to get covered up and forgotten about, they can get damp and rust, or just get jostled about and damaged. Everything in it's place is a nice thing to adhere to, and then you can keep track and take care of the new expensive tools.

As I said, we have 1 small tool shed and 1 very small tool shed; everything has been squeezed into both and now there's tons of stuff stacked on top of things, they are being stepped on, damaged, and some things you forget you had or can't find them so you buy new, only to find the original tool 6 months later

 

[SpokeyDokey]

I'm very eager to erect our new shed; I do have lots of tools from when I lived on my own and had a full garage. Now we have a tiny shed which we're going to upgrade as part of our garden refurbishment (we have taken out a second mortgage).

The way I see it, it's better to have 1 good tool than 3 average ones. I'm looking at you silicon sealant guns! Of which 3 have bent.

I also think that space plays an important part in tool efficiency and care. If your workspace is too cluttered, it's easy for tools to get covered up and forgotten about, they can get damp and rust, or just get jostled about and damaged. Everything in it's place is a nice thing to adhere to, and then you can keep track and take care of the new expensive tools.

As I said, we have 1 small tool shed and 1 very small tool shed; everything has been squeezed into both and now there's tons of stuff stacked on top of things, they are being stepped on, damaged, and some things you forget you had or can't find them so you buy new, only to find the original tool 6 months later

I have always used crappy cheap silicone guns. The ones for about a fiver. And then moaned about them.

A few months ago I had to use a two part epoxy cartridge to repair some damage to a masonry wall. These cartridges require a heavy-duty gun to force the 2 streams of product out. So, I had to buy one.

About £25 and what a difference. It did the job perfectly and has since been used on other 'regular' jobs around the house.

It's almost a joy to use (not a keen diy-er), no more jerky action, everything works smoothly and accurately. I wish I had bought one years ago.

By coincidence, it will be used tomorrow to apply some OB1 (amazing product!)

 

[Time Waster]

@Alex321
Was it the Ryobi one+ you had? I think there is the one and one + range but I am not completely sure.

Our tools are in a garage. Due to the garage being under the house it actually gets a degree of heat from above. So our tools are stored pretty well and things dry out if they get wet outside (garden unpowered tools for example) soi the powered tools will be ok there too.

 

[Profpointy]

I have the Facom black handled with a red band screwdrivers, THE best ones I ever used. In a workshop and engineering environment to boot.

I have these red handles ones in pretty much every size. I think the black handle version was supposedly their superior version though they're very very similar. They've changed the design now and I don't think I like the new handles as much. But as I've a complete set that hardly matters

Also got a load of the Isoryl ones which are also very good. Presumably the shafts are the same in any case

There's a useful variant on the new shaped handle with interchangeable bits. If anything it is better than the old spear and jackson ratchet screwdriver.

The old Stanley Yankee ratchet drivers were pretty good too. Don't think they are made anymore, but useful kit. Mine was one of the last brand new ones

Never seen much benefit of a battery drill-driver, but I'm not a professional kitchen fitter

 

[Electric_Andy]

a heavy-duty gun

Would be interested to see where you got it please, can't find it on toolstation. I have bought 3 chep ones in the past and they've all bent and broken, like you say, I should have bought a good one years ago!

 

[Alex321]

@Alex321
Was it the Ryobi one+ you had? I think there is the one and one + range but I am not completely sure.

Our tools are in a garage. Due to the garage being under the house it actually gets a degree of heat from above. So our tools are stored pretty well and things dry out if they get wet outside (garden unpowered tools for example) soi the powered tools will be ok there too.

The one+ - This one
https://www.diy.com/departments/ryo...l-2-x-1-5ah-r18pd3-215sk/4892210187468_BQ.prd

 

[newts]

Would be interested to see where you got it please, can't find it on toolstation. I have bought 3 chep ones in the past and they've all bent and broken, like you say, I should have bought a good one years ago!

I've been using Cox Powerflow caulk guns for >20years, good smooth flow.
https://www.coxdispensers.com/cox-products/manual/1-k/68/powerflow™-hp

These both appear to be a clone of the cox gun, not sure the build quality is the same though.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-heavy-duty-sealant-applicator-gun/136fr

https://www.toolstation.com/minotaur-rotating-sealant-gun/p95440

 

[Electric_Andy]

I've been using Cox Powerflow caulk guns for >20years, good smooth flow.
https://www.coxdispensers.com/cox-products/manual/1-k/68/powerflow™-hp

These both appear to be a clone of the cox gun, not sure the build quality is the same though.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-heavy-duty-sealant-applicator-gun/136fr

https://www.toolstation.com/minotaur-rotating-sealant-gun/p95440

Thanks, I have a feeling I had the Miinataur one before and the handle bent; granted I may have squeezed too hard on a tube that had a blocked end, but the screwfix one looks to be around the right price/quality balance

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Would be interested to see where you got it please, can't find it on toolstation. I have bought 3 chep ones in the past and they've all bent and broken, like you say, I should have bought a good one years ago!

I did get it from Toolstation too.

Here you go:

https://www.toolstation.com/roughneck-vari-flow-heavy-duty-adhesive-gun/p58135

 

[Gwylan]

A vote for Makita.
We used them at work on our mobile show kit.
As long as you could stop them being nicked.

So, in a similar situation of buying cheap and buying often I took the plunge.
Told people that for birthday and Christmas I'd like Makita.
People clubbed together or gave me the Dosh.

Then I discovered cheap Chinese Fakekita. I have sundry tools, but all run on Makita batteries.
Suits me, the drill, saw and jigsaw are the real thing and excellent
The angle grinder, impact driver and multi tool are Fakekita. Adequate for the amount I use them.

My favourite is the battery powered tyre pump. Even pumps up the tyres on the camper.
Work light is next on the list.

 

[CXRAndy]

Several years ago a neighbour of my mum's was cutting his large hedge with a pair of hand shears. He was about the age I am now; 71, I was 41 at the time. As I was using electric hedge cutters on my mum's hedge, I offered him their use. He politely declined, saying he preferred shears as it was 'very theraputic'. I thought silly old sod and carried on.
Thirty years on, I clean our brickweave drive by sitting on my backside using a very old kitchen knife and yard brush.
I often think of those wise words of my mum's neighbour when I'm doing this - !

We had a old neighbour, she was in her late 80s at the time. When we first moved there she said that's her hedge - fair enough I thought.


She would cut her side of a 2.5 metre 70 metre long hawthorn hedge with sheers every year. Sadly having got into her mid 90s, had major stroke , died quickly afterwards.
We did ourside with electric hedge cutter. I would rope the kids to help. 6-8 building 1 metre cube bags later down to the tip each spring or late autumn only took a fees hours start to finish. She would spend several days trimming away

 

[simongt]

I agree with this point of view, doing gardening tasks by hand is therapeutic.

If I'm not listening to an audio book which isn't that often outside, my mind simply wanders, sometimes rerunning the same subject over and over - !
I'm now at the age when my mind wanders, I don't ever realise it's left the station - !

 

[Pat "5mph"]

If I'm not listening to an audio book which isn't that often outside, my mind simply wanders, sometimes rerunning the same subject over and over - !
I'm now at the age when my mind wanders, I don't ever realise it's left the station - !

Indeed!