Tools you wish you'd bought sooner...

[CoolHands]

Since I have radio control cars and equipment I made a lead so I can store my dewalt batteries at storage voltage! Yes I will keep it providing maximum power forever haha

[The Road Crew]

Can anyone recommend a decent laser measuring device?

Just feel its something I need!

[pquinn]

The Road Crew said:

Can anyone recommend a decent laser measuring device?

Just feel its something I need!

For what sort of measuring? Level or distance?

[AJLintern]

I got a Leica Disto D210 a few years ago for about £90. I think it depends what extra features you want beyond just A to B measurement - I think some do area and volume calculations too. There are many cheaper options available these days - I think Leica is one of the better brands though.

[The Road Crew]

pquinn said:

The Road Crew said:

Can anyone recommend a decent laser measuring device?

Just feel its something I need!

For what sort of measuring? Level or distance?

Distance, something small ish

Although I might now have a need for a laser level! I've got dewalt and milwaukee batteries...

[Trustmeimadoctor]

I picked up a Lidl laser measure years ago and it's been great it's accurate enough for DIY use and quite possibly for more but I don't have the equipment to tell

[Sporky]

I have a Leica D110 - small, accurate, and if you want you can link it to an app on your phone to record measurements and produce a floor plan sketch.

[beambeam1]

The Road Crew said:

Distance, something small ish

Although I might now have a need for a laser level! I've got dewalt and milwaukee batteries...

Grabbed this one recently for £30 but seems the offer has expired now, worth keeping an eye out for.

[Dog Star]

stevensdrs said:

This has put me off ordering anything from Aldi online and in future I will stick to what is available instore.

As for the generator requirement, I will source a more expensive and higher power branded item.

I have just gone through ALDIs so called customer service experience. Ordered two of there really very good hanging egg chairs online - a single and a double. Payment taken.

Received one egg chair (single). The other has just vanished from their entire system, though they can see the payment and order. Of course they haven’t got any more. Staff utterly useless. I should have just gone to the shop. Ffs.

[Sway]

Just managed to find a bargain barely used Festool TS55f plunge saw - but need track...

Makita track OK, or should I stump up for Festool track?

[akirk]

Sway said:

Just managed to find a bargain barely used Festool TS55f plunge saw - but need track...

Makita track OK, or should I stump up for Festool track?

I have a makita equivalent - the track is great, no issues - however I don't often join the track and I think that is possibly the biggest difference - not sure if that is worth the price difference

[The Gauge]

Sway said:

Just managed to find a bargain barely used Festool TS55f plunge saw - but need track...

Makita track OK, or should I stump up for Festool track?

Makita track fits Festool, as it does my Mac Alister plunge saw. I just bought 2 x 1.5m Makita tracks from Amazon for £99

[Sway]

The Gauge said:

Sway said:

Just managed to find a bargain barely used Festool TS55f plunge saw - but need track...

Makita track OK, or should I stump up for Festool track?

Makita track fits Festool, as it does my Mac Alister plunge saw. I just bought 2 x 1.5m Makita tracks from Amazon for £99

Ooh, got a link? 2x 1.5m with connection kit would be perfect - and that's half what I've seen it for elsewhere.

[AJLintern]

I believe the 2.8m Evolution track is also compatible with Festool and Makita, and often available under £80.

[Sway]

Might be a daft question - but I noticed the most common track sizes don't quite match up to the most common sheet sizes...

Assume a 1400mm track is good for full width cuts across an 8x4 sheet? It'd seem logical the saw can extend the additional 40mm cut whilst still being guided by the rail?

[The Gauge]

Sway said:

Ooh, got a link? 2x 1.5m with connection kit would be perfect - and that's half what I've seen it for elsewhere.

Search Amazon for

Makita 199141-8 1.5 Metre Guide Rail,Clear

They are £49 per track but no connecting bars, but I already had them

[guitarcarfanatic]

Just be careful with non-Festool tracks. The Makita ones seem to have slightly lower QC - some people report having to really tighten the cams up to get a snug fit. But seems hit and miss and suspect it’s the rail varying slightly, rather than the tool.

[Teddy Lop]

The Road Crew said:

Can anyone recommend a decent laser measuring device?

Just feel its something I need!

AS with other things laser Huepar have a few VFM offerings, have a couple Inc the outdoor- camera 200M model.

[gazzarose]

I havnt got the festool saw, only the lowly Erbauer for me, but I have got 2 makita rails. I've got the 3m and the 1.5m. 1.5 is perfect length for cross sheet cuts, and the 3m is only a shade longer than absolutely necessary. Depending what your regularly doing, a longer length and a shorter may be worthwhile. I bought my 3m first when I was making high level shelves around the perimeter of my garage, so lots of full length cuts, I then bought the 1.5 when I got fed up of adding the 2 Erbauer 700mm ones together. One annoying factor is that the Erbauer and Makita rails have a VERY slight difference in the width of the guide bit. If you snug the saw on the Makita, it jams on the Erbauer, and vice versa it ends up loose and wobbly on the Makita if snugged to the Erbauer. so if your getting multiple rails, consider getting all the same brand.

[Sway]

First job is 93 cuts (assuming no cock ups ) across nine sheets of ply to make some fitted wardrobes/drawers.

Can see the logic of having a long, medium and short dedicated rail, but also trying to keep the cost somewhat down so I don't end up feeling I should have just gone with Sharps...