Tools you wish you'd bought sooner...

[Bill]

Doofus said:

Balls.

Sorry.

[KTMsm]

Disco You said:

What's the consensus on which pressure washers are worth buying? I've just bought a house and so need one (for things like a patio and cleaning the car).

I was putting off getting one, but there is one in Lidl from this week for £130: https://www.lidl.co.uk/p/garden-event/parkside-pre...

I'm thinking that worst case scenario is that it breaks quickly and I just use the 3 year warranty? Or am I just wasting my time and I should do what everyone else does and spend £? on ?brand instead?

Nilfisk was a PH favourite but I've got through them - one every 2 years, the pressure switch breaks BUT if you buy them "refurbished" they're £50 ish so £25 / year and I wash probably 3 cars a week and the odd patio

Just checked and they haven't got any really cheap ones but this better model is discounted - just ordered one myself

https://www.nilfiskoutlet.co.uk/products/product.a...

Edited by KTMsm on Tuesday 7th March 20:27

[hidetheelephants]

Bill said:

So, fellow threadists and tool fetishists...

I need to cut a load of rebar for a garden project. I have an angle grinder and a small set of bolt cutters that can't get through rebar.

I guess the question is whether to stick with the grinder or whether bolt cutters are going to make life easier/quicker for the 30+ cuts I need to make.

A pack of the very thin cutting discs(1mm for 4-5", IIRC 2mm for 9") for your angle grinder will chop up rebar very quickly.

[markiii]

Bought a kranzle 10 years wago. Still going strong because they are all brass and easily rebuild able.

[pquinn]

KTMsm said:

Plasma Cutter !

Finally managed to buy a Lidl one on Sunday £150 with a 3 yr warranty

If I'm honest I struggle to justify it but IT BURNS THROUGH STEEL !

https://www.lidl.co.uk/p/diy-heroes/parkside-plasm...

Did you remember to buy the box of consumables to go with it?

[KTMsm]

markiii said:

Bought a kranzle 10 years wago. Still going strong because they are all brass and easily rebuild able.

Last time I looked they were over £500 so it would have to last 20 years without needing any repairs with my usage, I doubt that it would


and I doubt I'll live another 20 years !

[Doofus]

Bill said:

Doofus said:

Balls.

Sorry.

It's because you used the word so many times, it began to look wrong.

[leglessAlex]

markiii said:

Bought a kranzle 10 years ago. Still going strong because they are all brass and easily rebuild able.

Kranzle is the correct answer, particularly for a thread that loves Wera so much.

Very German, very high quality, very high priced. I love mine, even though a cheaper machine would absolutely have done me just fine.

[heisthegaffer]

Sford said:

heisthegaffer said:

On the recommendation on here I bought an Nebo big Larry torch, really good and feels well built, bright etc.

Wasn't happy when it fell off the bonnet down into the engine bay when using the magnetic end but at least it stayed on as I removed the wheel arch liner and undertray to retrieve. My own fault for filling windscreen washer in the dark.

On the back of this torch, I've just ordered a lil Larry and inspector as its always handy to have lots of torches.

I bought the Big Larry after recommendation on here, already had a rechargable inspector so knew the quality was good. I probably use the inspector at least once a week atm, keep it in the kitchen drawer. It's a great little torch.

I'm actually thinking about buying another big Larry as it's always handy to have spares and they're so cheap.

[Disco You]

KTMsm said:

Disco You said:

What's the consensus on which pressure washers are worth buying? I've just bought a house and so need one (for things like a patio and cleaning the car).

I was putting off getting one, but there is one in Lidl from this week for £130: https://www.lidl.co.uk/p/garden-event/parkside-pre...

I'm thinking that worst case scenario is that it breaks quickly and I just use the 3 year warranty? Or am I just wasting my time and I should do what everyone else does and spend £? on ?brand instead?

Nilfisk was a PH favourite but I've got through them - one every 2 years, the pressure switch breaks BUT if you buy them "refurbished" they're £50 ish so £25 / year and I wash probably 3 cars a week and the odd patio

Just checked and they haven't got any really cheap ones but this better model is discounted - just ordered one myself

https://www.nilfiskoutlet.co.uk/products/product.a...

Edited by KTMsm on Tuesday 7th March 20:27

Ordered, thanks pal

[GliderRider]

Bill said:

So, fellow threadists and tool fetishists...

I need to cut a load of rebar for a garden project. I have an angle grinder and a small set of bolt cutters that can't get through rebar.

I guess the question is whether to stick with the grinder or whether bolt cutters are going to make life easier/quicker for the 30+ cuts I need to make.

You can get a stand with a vice which converts your angle grinder into a chop saw:

Angle Grinder 'Chop saw' Stand

Edited by GliderRider on Tuesday 7th March 23:23

Edited by GliderRider on Tuesday 7th March 23:37

[AdeTuono]

Doofus said:

Bill said:

Doofus said:

A whether is a sheep.

Balls.

Sorry.

No balls, surely?

[Sporky]

egomeister said:

Surely a cordless rebar cutter from the powertool system you have bought into is the only answer worthy of this thread?

Particularly as they're so affordable.

https://www.lawson-his.co.uk/makita-dsc163zk-18v-b...

[Hereward]

leglessAlex said:

markiii said:

Bought a kranzle 10 years ago. Still going strong because they are all brass and easily rebuild able.

Kranzle is the correct answer, particularly for a thread that loves Wera so much.

Very German, very high quality, very high priced. I love mine, even though a cheaper machine would absolutely have done me just fine.

The previous owner of my house left behind a Kranzle that is still going strong 13 years later.

On the basis that it requires a periodic oil change I figured it must be a decent machine.

[egomeister]

Sporky said:

egomeister said:

Surely a cordless rebar cutter from the powertool system you have bought into is the only answer worthy of this thread?

Particularly as they're so affordable.

https://www.lawson-his.co.uk/makita-dsc163zk-18v-b...

There's probably a brushed motor option for those on a budget

[Baldchap]

GeneralBanter said:

All this Wera/Makita adulation- doesn’t anybody shop for tools at Aldi or eBay to get the cheapest for the routine crap stuff that’s going to be used rarely or get lost regularly, and eBay for the top notch used stuff that’s going to last a lifetime.

Used stuff: 1950’s-80’s Snap On /4” to 1/2” square drive ratchets - £10 a pop at an antique place near me. Lifetime guarantee anyway so they can be swapped for new but no need as they all work fine.

New stuff: Aldi Aldi Aldi. It’s only a fking screwdriver so im not spending a days wages on a Wera logo !

It depends what you use them for. I renovate houses so I need tools that aren't made of Chinesium. Parkside kit is good for occasional use (like the bench grinder in my workshop and my pullsaw), but for something that gets used most days like a screwdriver or a drill, buying cheap is false economy.

I started off with a Black & Decker impact driver and it burned out quite quickly when batoning off a whole house. My Makita has done about three years so far. They withstand heavy use in a way that domestic or very cheap products simply do not. I personally think they are better to use as well. The breadth of tools offered is fantastic, coupled with an interchangeable battery system means you always have power for whatever tool you need.

I do have some Wera screwdrivers for home just because I'm a tart and I saw them on here, but for Grubby Man work I use Stanley insulated ones and they're a good product at a sensible price. Again, if I used a disposable screwdriver to remove painted over door hinges I'd probably end up with a dead screwdriver, an impossible to remove screw and maybe an appointment at A&E.

I'm not saying all tools are worth what they cost, but to a point you definitely get what you pay for. Doubly true for screws and fixings - cheap ones from Amazon and the like are truly awful.

[TimmyMallett]

egomeister said:

There's probably a brushed motor option for those on a budget

Kind of


https://www.lawson-his.co.uk/makita-dsc162z-18v-li...

[Mikey G]

egomeister said:

Sporky said:

egomeister said:

Surely a cordless rebar cutter from the powertool system you have bought into is the only answer worthy of this thread?

Particularly as they're so affordable.

https://www.lawson-his.co.uk/makita-dsc163zk-18v-b...

There's probably a brushed motor option for those on a budget

Aldi or Lidl will no doubt be releasing there own versions shortly..

[akirk]

GliderRider said:

Bill said:

So, fellow threadists and tool fetishists...

I need to cut a load of rebar for a garden project. I have an angle grinder and a small set of bolt cutters that can't get through rebar.

I guess the question is whether to stick with the grinder or whether bolt cutters are going to make life easier/quicker for the 30+ cuts I need to make.

You can get a stand with a vice which converts your angle grinder into a chop saw:

Angle Grinder 'Chop saw' Stand

if you do use one of these - bolt it down to a workbench - it is a total accident waiting to happen with the torque from the angle grinder / a lightweight stand and only one hand on it...

[EmBe]

GliderRider said:

Bill said:

So, fellow threadists and tool fetishists...

I need to cut a load of rebar for a garden project. I have an angle grinder and a small set of bolt cutters that can't get through rebar.

I guess the question is whether to stick with the grinder or whether bolt cutters are going to make life easier/quicker for the 30+ cuts I need to make.

You can get a stand with a vice which converts your angle grinder into a chop saw:

Angle Grinder 'Chop saw' Stand

Edited by GliderRider on Tuesday 7th March 23:23

Edited by GliderRider on Tuesday 7th March 23:37

I had one of those. Don't. Just, don't.

Makes an already dangerous tool twice as dangerous. They don't hold the grinder securely, so the minute you start to use it, the grinder moves and you need 3 hands to steady the tool, hold the workpiece and make the cut......