Tools you wish you'd bought sooner...

[SlimJim16v]

eltax91 said:

My (pukka) trusty old branded dremmel just quit working today.

You can get spare parts for them.

[skwdenyer]

MajorMantra said:

I'd been meaning to ask about ladders on here. I'm wondering what the best option is for something to get up to gutter/lower roof height on a 2-storey house, without taking up excessive space in storage.

Whatever ladder you get, make sure you also get a standoff so you're not conflicting with the gutters / eaves.

Such as this (although better designs are available):

[skwdenyer]

Teddy Lop said:

Brilliant stepladder, sadly no longer available, mines 20 years and with a recent sloshing of WD-40 to the hinges is as good as new; except that is the rubber feet which are a bit "manky". Is there a hard wearing product I can coat them with?

Lots of replacement feet available out there; that would be my first start.

As a quick Google result, for instance: https://www.rubberferrules.co.uk/trim-2-fit-001-01...

[MajorMantra]

skwdenyer said:

Whatever ladder you get, make sure you also get a standoff so you're not conflicting with the gutters / eaves.

Such as this (although better designs are available):

Good tip, I didn't even know these were a thing.

[MajorMantra]

Boom78 said:

Pretty funny thinking of us rank amateurs rocking around our houses with our tool belts and every makita under the sun to do some basic picture hanging or ‘extreme’ skirting

Don't know what you're talking about.

Actually though, I'm doing a whole property at the moment and I'm starting to appreciate the small stuff that makes life easier. Some examples:



1)Clothing: I've always just worn tired old jeans that offer no protection and have limited pockets, plus separate knee pads that constantly fall down my skinny legs. You can get a decent pair of Dickies 'Pro' work trousers on ebay for under £25. These have loads of useful pockets and you can slip in knee pads that cost an extra £8.



2)Entertainment: I've done loads of flooring with crappy headphones underneath normal ear defenders, and got sore ears. I finally bought some 3M Worktunes Bluetooth defenders. They're a bit primitive (sound quality nothing special, no volume control) but they're just a better solution overall. I paid £72.



https://www.toolstation.com/wessex-led-twin-tripod...

3)Illumination: I've toiled away in semi-darkness far too often. This light from Toolstation is properly bright and it's £40. QC is a bit rubbish (first one had a stripped thread, second was missing some small hardware), but it's bloody useful. Btw I don't buy Chinese battery-powered lights anymore – the batteries always die in short order and then they end up in landfill – I much prefer the reliability of mains power, plus I have a small Makita light for portability.

And so on...

[Chumley.mouse]

But sweet mother of mary dont put it close to the edge of the building like that numpty has unless you fancy a bit of sky diving ……….weeeeeee

[tight fart]

Chumley.mouse said:

But sweet mother of mary dont put it close to the edge of the building like that numpty has unless you fancy a bit of sky diving ……….weeeeeee

That looks very scary.

[Teddy Lop]

MajorMantra said:

skwdenyer said:

Whatever ladder you get, make sure you also get a standoff so you're not conflicting with the gutters / eaves.

Such as this (although better designs are available):

Good tip, I didn't even know these were a thing.

I have this type, the v can be used on corners/posts etc.

[mcbook]

For anyone who has been thinking about getting a track saw, the Makita has just gone on sale at Powertool World. It's down to £373 (saw and two guide rails) which is the cheapest I've seen it in a long time. I bought it.

https://www.powertoolworld.co.uk/makita-sp6000j2-p...

[Baldchap]

mcbook said:

For anyone who has been thinking about getting a track saw, the Makita has just gone on sale at Powertool World. It's down to £373 (saw and two guide rails) which is the cheapest I've seen it in a long time. I bought it.

https://www.powertoolworld.co.uk/makita-sp6000j2-p...

The 36v is currently on offer at ITS with a box and single track too.

I have the twin battery one and it's absolutely superb. The factory finish is always the crap one since this turned up. Such a good tool

[C n C]

Teddy Lop said:

MajorMantra said:

skwdenyer said:

Whatever ladder you get, make sure you also get a standoff so you're not conflicting with the gutters / eaves.

Such as this (although better designs are available):

Good tip, I didn't even know these were a thing.

I have this type, the v can be used on corners/posts etc.

I have the same one, and it has worked well.

£25 from Amazon and for a change not made in China. Made by Kermell Ltd who are based near Birmingham.

[B'stard Child]

C n C said:

I have the same one, and it has worked well.

£25 from Amazon and for a change not made in China. Made by Kermell Ltd who are based near Birmingham.

I was going to make one as it’s gutter cleaning time but at £25 it’s not worth my effort so thanks for the link and it’s purchased

[gareth_r]

MajorMantra said:

Good tip, I didn't even know these were a thing.

You can also buy stabilisers for the other end.

[Radec]

C n C said:

Teddy Lop said:

MajorMantra said:

skwdenyer said:

Whatever ladder you get, make sure you also get a standoff so you're not conflicting with the gutters / eaves.

Such as this (although better designs are available):

Good tip, I didn't even know these were a thing.

I have this type, the v can be used on corners/posts etc.

I have the same one, and it has worked well.

£25 from Amazon and for a change not made in China. Made by Kermell Ltd who are based near Birmingham.

Exactly the kind of thing I need to sort out some awkward to reach gutters so will be ordered.

Is there any sort of recommended attachments to use a ladder on sloping ground?

[BlackZeD]

Ladder stops or ladder mates are good at the base, stops them slipping.

[GeneralBanter]

Chumley.mouse said:

But sweet mother of mary dont put it close to the edge of the building like that numpty has unless you fancy a bit of sky diving ……….weeeeeee

Now that you’ve mentioned it, it’s an accident about to happen.

[skwdenyer]

Radec said:

Exactly the kind of thing I need to sort out some awkward to reach gutters so will be ordered.

Is there any sort of recommended attachments to use a ladder on sloping ground?

Lots of options, depending upon your needs, such as:








But TBH I often knock something up out of wood to do the job - allows me to spread the load as needed

[GeneralBanter]

skwdenyer said:

Lots of options, depending upon your needs, such as:








But TBH I often knock something up out of wood to do the job - allows me to spread the load as needed

Apart from Big Grip these are bloody dangerous !!

Falling from height is lethal as I nearly found out from a tower scaffold and that has 4 legs !!

[anonymous-user]

B'stard Child said:

I was going to make one as it’s gutter cleaning time but at £25 it’s not worth my effort so thanks for the link and it’s purchased

In that case a set of gutter cleaning tools are also handy. I think I got the whole set from screwfix but you can buy just the type that fits your gutter profile. They screw into a harris pole and means you can climb in one position and pull the crud to you.

https://windowcleancentre.co.uk/products/progutter...

[5s Alive]

Teddy Lop said:

MajorMantra said:

skwdenyer said:

Whatever ladder you get, make sure you also get a standoff so you're not conflicting with the gutters / eaves.

Such as this (although better designs are available):

Good tip, I didn't even know these were a thing.

I have this type, the v can be used on corners/posts etc.

Is the V type adequately attached to the ladder? From the picture it appears to only be secured via a spring clip whereas the D type is U bolted. I need to buy one of these shortly to paint some woodwork although it's not the best weather for it currently!

Bought some Bedec barn paint for the job as recommended here previously.