Tools you wish you'd bought sooner...

Tools you wish you'd bought sooner...

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Discussion

Shnozz

27,417 posts

270 months

Wednesday 25th May 2022
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V6 Pushfit said:
davidexige said:
A mini angle grinder sounds interesting, care to share any information about it. I probably don't need one but I think I want onesmile
I bought an Aldi corded Dremel type grinder for about 14 and it’s had astonishing use over the last 3 years using quick change discs I bought elsewhere. Last was on Sunday cutting off seized wc cistern bolts in an impossibly difficult to get to position which it did with ease. I had tried absolutely every other method from grips to a socket but it was the grinder that saved the day.
I feel I need one of these. Appreciate yours is a historic Aldi purchase, but any recommendations for a cheap amazon equivalent?

paulrockliffe

15,638 posts

226 months

Wednesday 25th May 2022
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Arnold Cunningham said:
Going a bit off topic, I also have one of these : https://workshopping.co.uk/jacking-lifting/engine-...

Great for lifting things a long way. I use it to lift my boat engine out - needs to go about 10' in the air. Also used it tift the MG body off the rear subframe when I replaced the engine. It's a good tool.
They look good, but I can't help thinking that the venn diagram of people that are doing jobs that need something like that and people that couldn't make their own for miles miles less than £700 must be pretty small!

Zumbruk

7,848 posts

259 months

Wednesday 25th May 2022
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paulrockliffe said:
Arnold Cunningham said:
Going a bit off topic, I also have one of these : https://workshopping.co.uk/jacking-lifting/engine-...

Great for lifting things a long way. I use it to lift my boat engine out - needs to go about 10' in the air. Also used it tift the MG body off the rear subframe when I replaced the engine. It's a good tool.
They look good, but I can't help thinking that the venn diagram of people that are doing jobs that need something like that and people that couldn't make their own for miles miles less than 700 must be pretty small!
Good point. £700! And you don't even get a winch/hoist!

Mind you, have you seen the cost of 2x4s these days?


Dog Star

16,079 posts

167 months

Wednesday 25th May 2022
quotequote all
Shnozz said:
V6 Pushfit said:
davidexige said:
A mini angle grinder sounds interesting, care to share any information about it. I probably don't need one but I think I want onesmile
I bought an Aldi corded Dremel type grinder for about 14 and it’s had astonishing use over the last 3 years using quick change discs I bought elsewhere. Last was on Sunday cutting off seized wc cistern bolts in an impossibly difficult to get to position which it did with ease. I had tried absolutely every other method from grips to a socket but it was the grinder that saved the day.
I feel I need one of these. Appreciate yours is a historic Aldi purchase, but any recommendations for a cheap amazon equivalent?
I have a Katsu mini grinder from Amazon; it’s in between a Dremel and a proper angle grinder. 75mm discs. It’s very handy for fiddly jobs such as the bd Alfa 159 drop links from hell.




Edited by Dog Star on Wednesday 25th May 12:00

Arnold Cunningham

3,758 posts

252 months

Wednesday 25th May 2022
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paulrockliffe said:
They look good, but I can't help thinking that the venn diagram of people that are doing jobs that need something like that and people that couldn't make their own for miles miles less than 700 must be pretty small!
That is a good point. It was 450 when I bought mine. Nowadays, just the RSJ for it from metals4U is £173.

timberman

1,280 posts

214 months

Wednesday 25th May 2022
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Gin and Ultrasonic said:
beanoir said:
A set of Wera allen keys. I wish i'd bought decent ones years ago after ruining several bike parts with small allen keys.

They're not cheap, but IMO have paid for themselves from not wrecking more bike parts!
Seems almost sacrilegious to say it on this thread, but I prefer the cheaper yikes Bondhus set I have over my Wera ones to use on my (push)bike. The Wera ones will grip even when they aren't properly engaged, and I've nearly stripped a couple of bolts as a result. The Bondhus ones are rock solid and engage better IMO as they aren't tapered. The Wera ones look way nicer though biggrin

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/25009529542?iid=112486160...
Ditto:
I had a full set of Bondus metric T-bars at work which lasted for many years despite often using the bigger ones as a hammer instead of going back to my toolbox to get an actual hammer,

I had several other sets which all failed in one way or another,

I also had some Keys made by Beta which are very high quality but cost quite a bit more to buy


egomeister

6,698 posts

262 months

Wednesday 25th May 2022
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Bondhus are great value for money for quality hex keys, although don't have the brand bling of the usual suspects!

dickymint

24,088 posts

257 months

Wednesday 25th May 2022
quotequote all
Gin and Ultrasonic said:
beanoir said:
A set of Wera allen keys. I wish i'd bought decent ones years ago after ruining several bike parts with small allen keys.

They're not cheap, but IMO have paid for themselves from not wrecking more bike parts!
Seems almost sacrilegious to say it on this thread, but I prefer the cheaper yikes Bondhus set I have over my Wera ones to use on my (push)bike. The Wera ones will grip even when they aren't properly engaged, and I've nearly stripped a couple of bolts as a result. The Bondhus ones are rock solid and engage better IMO as they aren't tapered. The Wera ones look way nicer though biggrin

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/25009529542?iid=112486160...
Not at all. Many years as an 'auto-insert' technician on high speed machines that populate circuit boards. Bondhus was the goto ball end Allen Keys (Bondhus invented ball end) still have a couple of sets. Not only quality but the holder design was and still is really compact for carrying around all shift.



mikey_b

1,770 posts

44 months

Wednesday 25th May 2022
quotequote all
beanoir said:
A set of Wera allen keys. I wish i'd bought decent ones years ago after ruining several bike parts with small allen keys.

They're not cheap, but IMO have paid for themselves from not wrecking more bike parts!
I have a set of those too, they’re very good. They do a similar set of Torx wrenches - would recommend those as well. I like the plastic holder, it’s easy to see instantly if one is still out hiding on the floor or workbench somewhere. Much better than a pile of loose tools, or those crappy sets that look like a big bunch of keys.

Quality hand tools should last a lifetime, so are always a good investment - plus they usually make a job easier and more pleasant to do.

thebraketester

14,191 posts

137 months

Wednesday 25th May 2022
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mikey_b said:
I have a set of those too, they’re very good. They do a similar set of Torx wrenches - would recommend those as well. I like the plastic holder, it’s easy to see instantly if one is still out hiding on the floor or workbench somewhere. Much better than a pile of loose tools, or those crappy sets that look like a big bunch of keys.

Quality hand tools should last a lifetime, so are always a good investment - plus they usually make a job easier and more pleasant to do.
That old adage. Buy a good tool and it hurts once. Buy a cheap tool and it hurts everytime you use it.

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
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thebraketester said:
That old adage. Buy a good tool and it hurts once. Buy a cheap tool and it hurts everytime you have to buy it again
FTFY

Cheap tools aren’t always inferior, they’re more often just the cheaper in price versions of the label brands these days…

mickk

28,769 posts

241 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
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Depends how often you use it, if it's just for a one off job or to be used every now and then you could get away with buying cheap.

But where's the fun in that.

WindyMills

290 posts

152 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
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Going back a bit, but thanks to whoever recommended the NoCry electric screwdriver. Just done an Ikea kitchen and it's great for those fiddly screws where normal drill is too big.

Thoroughly recommend.

Only issue is the drill bits are made of cheese, but most of us here probably have good ones anyway!

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
Shnozz said:
V6 Pushfit said:
davidexige said:
A mini angle grinder sounds interesting, care to share any information about it. I probably don't need one but I think I want onesmile
I bought an Aldi corded Dremel type grinder for about 14 and it’s had astonishing use over the last 3 years using quick change discs I bought elsewhere. Last was on Sunday cutting off seized wc cistern bolts in an impossibly difficult to get to position which it did with ease. I had tried absolutely every other method from grips to a socket but it was the grinder that saved the day.
I feel I need one of these. Appreciate yours is a historic Aldi purchase, but any recommendations for a cheap amazon equivalent?
This is it with a quick change blade. It’ll go through a 1/2” bolt easily. The kit parts are a bit naff but the unit itself is great.





Ps I’ve bought two cordless versions since and they’re very poor so I use the corded one whenever needed now. It’s nipped off no end of frozen bolts.

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
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bennno

11,502 posts

268 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
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Sorry for delay, my ‘mini’ angle grinder is 18v hitachi and takes 115mm disks.

Used to cut drainpipes, cut metal / metal curtain poles, channel walls, grind open wall render cracks for repair, sand wood and grind concrete.

Silly things like slotting rounded off screw heads or chopping top off nails that are fully wedged in plasterboard etc.

Makes most 5 minute jobs about 10 seconds. Just need selection of disks, grinding cup, flappped sanding wheels, diamond cutting blade etc.

https://www.angliatoolcentre.co.uk/hikoki-g18dsl-w...

I also have a Dremel for smaller tasks but it’s only been helpful a couple of times by comparison to many and a frankly scary full size petrol angle grinder also affectionally known as ‘paddy’s motorbike’.

Edited by bennno on Thursday 26th May 14:22

5s Alive

1,771 posts

33 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
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Not bought but inherited in 1981 from my father who was using it before I was born in 1957 so could hardly have 'obtained' it sooner. A Record quick release vice bolted to a robust 6ft wooden bench, a combination that has stood up to a serious hammering over the years. Invaluable, in regular use and of no small sentimental value.


anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
5s Alive said:
Not bought but inherited in 1981 from my father who was using it before I was born in 1957 so could hardly have 'obtained' it sooner. A Record quick release vice bolted to a robust 6ft wooden bench, a combination that has stood up to a serious hammering over the years. Invaluable, in regular use and of no small sentimental value.

I’ve got exactly the same vice but set it much nearer the edge of the bench.

AdeTuono

7,240 posts

226 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
V6 Pushfit said:
5s Alive said:
Not bought but inherited in 1981 from my father who was using it before I was born in 1957 so could hardly have 'obtained' it sooner. A Record quick release vice bolted to a robust 6ft wooden bench, a combination that has stood up to a serious hammering over the years. Invaluable, in regular use and of no small sentimental value.

I’ve got exactly the same vice but set it much nearer the edge of the bench.
I'd imagine it's use is severely restricted that far away from the edge.

5s Alive

1,771 posts

33 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
AdeTuono said:
I'd imagine it's use is severely restricted that far away from the edge.
Cant imagine how and I've never encountered a problem with it. scratchchin Obviously the clamp and arm move away from the edge in use.