Tools you wish you'd bought sooner...

[Voldemort]

basherX said:

I think I need (want) a belt sander. It’ll be used on a lot of vertical surfaces so ideally not too heavy. I’m a buy-once-buy-right type of guy so budget can be as flexible as it needs to be but bearing in mind this is for DIY not trade use. Any suggestions chaps?

The Screwfix (Titan) one is all you'll ever need.

[markcoznottz]

Piersman2 said:

Worth every penny if you're dicking around with those clamps regularly. I bought one for when I was changing out the AOS on my old boxster. You need to release a couple of those clamps, from about half a metre away, through a letterbox aperture in the subframe. Only that tool is capable of doing it!

Now I've got the tool, I don't have to go find a pair of pliers , mole grips, grippers, etc... that inevitably slip off. Just clamp the spring in that tool and move it to where you want it to go.

One of the best ‘new’ tools that have come out in the last few years. Those clamps are almost impossible in some locations.

[ThumperMc]

Voldemort said:

basherX said:

I think I need (want) a belt sander. It’ll be used on a lot of vertical surfaces so ideally not too heavy. I’m a buy-once-buy-right type of guy so budget can be as flexible as it needs to be but bearing in mind this is for DIY not trade use. Any suggestions chaps?

The Screwfix (Titan) one is all you'll ever need.

Yup. Second this

[bristoltype603]

Apart from the obligatory Cramer Fugi tool, my latest favourite purchase is the Irega 6" Xtra slim adjustable...


So handy for getting into tight spaces.

[C n C]

Hereward said:

Hereward said:

Bill said:

Accelebrate said:

Another tool that’s so much less hassle for being cordless.

Damnit! Managed to forget about those...

Damnit indeed. Didn't know they did this. Just bought it now, will be very useful for me.

Thanks OP. This is a game-changer. 4 cars, 3 lawn tractors and 2 trailers with limited access to mains power, so now I can stop faffing with extension leads and bike pumps.

Ordered yesterday, arrived today and inflated this big tyre effortlessly. 65 quid delivered (battery is mine).

I've been considering one of these as they do look very useful, and the very old 12v cigarette lighter plug in one I have is next to useless (so much so that I prefer to use a foot pump if needed).

My only issue was that I don't have any other Makita kit, as I've standardised on Bosch blue corded and cordless (18v), so off to the well known auction site and took a punt on an adaptor which claimed to enable me to use my Bosch 18v batteries with Makita 18v tools. It arrived yesterday, and the Makita inflator arrived today.

Works perfectly - Bosch battery clips in firmly and the adapter clips in securely to the Makita inflator.

Much as I like the Bosch tools, when it comes to their cordless range it's limited in what is available in comparison to the Makita range, so this now opens up a much wider selection (oh dear....).

Adapter link here - it was £13.50.

[Robb F]

Two reasons why I wish I bought one sooner.

1. Because the novelty of being able to glue bits of metal together won't wear off for a long time

2. I wish I'd been practicing long before now, because I'm terrible at using it. Good fun though

[Watchman]

Robb F said:

Two reasons why I wish I bought one sooner.

1. Because the novelty of being able to glue bits of metal together won't wear off for a long time

2. I wish I'd been practicing long before now, because I'm terrible at using it. Good fun though

I like it..!!

I keep looking at them, and then keep giving myself an excuse that I need to do a short refresher course when in fact I should just buy one and use it.

Is it a gasless torch?

[eps]

Watchman said:

Robb F said:

Two reasons why I wish I bought one sooner.

1. Because the novelty of being able to glue bits of metal together won't wear off for a long time

2. I wish I'd been practicing long before now, because I'm terrible at using it. Good fun though

I like it..!!

I keep looking at them, and then keep giving myself an excuse that I need to do a short refresher course when in fact I should just buy one and use it.

Is it a gasless torch?

It says MIG on the box....

[Watchman]

eps said:

It says MIG on the box....

It does but I couldn't see a hose.

[Robb F]

Watchman said:

I like it..!!

I keep looking at them, and then keep giving myself an excuse that I need to do a short refresher course when in fact I should just buy one and use it.

Is it a gasless torch?

Exactly my thought process, was on furlough and figured it would be a good time to just get one and get some hours practicing in. It seems it's one of them skills where the theory is all well and good, but practice is everything.

It uses gas, just wasn't hooked up in that picture

Edited by Robb F on Wednesday 14th October 10:13

[eps]

Watchman said:

eps said:

It says MIG on the box....

It does but I couldn't see a hose.

What does the G in MIG stand for....?

[DocJock]

eps said:

Watchman said:

Robb F said:

Two reasons why I wish I bought one sooner.

1. Because the novelty of being able to glue bits of metal together won't wear off for a long time

2. I wish I'd been practicing long before now, because I'm terrible at using it. Good fun though

I like it..!!

I keep looking at them, and then keep giving myself an excuse that I need to do a short refresher course when in fact I should just buy one and use it.

Is it a gasless torch?

It says MIG on the box....

The 'gasless' flux core wire machines are usually still referred to as MIGs.

[Mr Pointy]

Someting I wish I'd bought before moving the first radiator are these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0721YL264





They work really well & prevent any sludgy water spilling out all over the carpet. A bit pricey for what they are but at least they work.

[dazwalsh]

Or you could just take the radiator off the wall and turn it upside down for bringing it outside.

Top tip - make sure you have closed the bleed valves first, ask me how I know.

[Baldchap]

Mr Pointy said:

Someting I wish I'd bought before moving the first radiator are these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0721YL264





They work really well & prevent any sludgy water spilling out all over the carpet. A bit pricey for what they are but at least they work.

New rads come with 4 caps in to prevent the paint going into the thread that get thrown away!

[Fastpedeller]

Mr Pointy said:

Someting I wish I'd bought before moving the first radiator are these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0721YL264





They work really well & prevent any sludgy water spilling out all over the carpet. A bit pricey for what they are but at least they work.

But how do you disconnect the nut from the valve and screw the nut onto the super-dooper plastic bit before most of the water comes out of the radiator and flows all over the carpet? As someone else has said, turning the rad upside-down is very effective.

[Watchman]

DocJock said:

eps said:

Watchman said:

Robb F said:

Two reasons why I wish I bought one sooner.

1. Because the novelty of being able to glue bits of metal together won't wear off for a long time

2. I wish I'd been practicing long before now, because I'm terrible at using it. Good fun though

I like it..!!

I keep looking at them, and then keep giving myself an excuse that I need to do a short refresher course when in fact I should just buy one and use it.

Is it a gasless torch?

It says MIG on the box....

The 'gasless' flux core wire machines are usually still referred to as MIGs.

Thank you.

And to all the clever dicks who jumped on the chance to show off

[LeadFarmer]

Mr Pointy said:

Someting I wish I'd bought before moving the first radiator are these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0721YL264





They work really well & prevent any sludgy water spilling out all over the carpet. A bit pricey for what they are but at least they work.

Love the idea, but surely water still comes out whilst you're unscrewing the radiator nut and whilst you're trying to screw on the capping tool?

[Hashtaggggg]

I am no plumber, but surely you drain the system first and this gadget is to stop any residual water from coming out when moved?

[Doofus]

Hashtaggggg said:

I am no plumber, but surely you drain the system first and this gadget is to stop any residual water from coming out when moved?

You don't need to drain a system to remove a rad. Close the valves at each end, and remove just one.

It will be full of filthy water, though, so I don't really understand how that tool works either.