Tools you wish you'd bought sooner...

[SlimRick]

Teddy Lop said:

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/FXPTS.html

Picked one of these up a short while ago, might have even mentioned it here, but you know when you buy something thinking "that'll be useful" then don't use it for a fair bit then it suddenly does double duties?

There are those that will ask and there are those that will know - basically a telescopic stool which means when I'm doing a fuse board in a cupboard eg under-stairs at an awkward intermediate height I can set the stool so I'm not stooping, donking my head or on my knees for several hours. Real back saver.

I have one of those. I originally bought it for camping when away on the motorbike, but it gets more use at home for painting low areas etc. They're a very clever design and surprisingly strong....I'm definitely no lightweight!

[beambeam1]

Arnold Cunningham said:

Teddy Lop said:

....increasingly inept and idiotic general populace that seem to float along on a cloud of assuming nothing can go wrong no matter how stupid they act

Excactly why I'd like to become a higher education teacher to try to stem the tide of ineptness and idiocy. It is getting worse - graduates who we hire now have brains full of facts, but no clue how to think.

This is pretty much how my brother landed a sweet job recently. Went off and picked up some serious welding skills before he went back and finished his civil engineering degree. His practical experience and problem solving was what they needed when most other graduates struggled to see issues when looking at plans.

[Sporky]

Arnold Cunningham said:

It is getting worse - graduates who we hire now have brains full of facts, but no clue how to think.

My dear old mum graduated in 1970, and people said exactly that about new graduates then.

There's a certain blinkeredness some people have where they forget that their own expertise and experience were formed over decades, and judge younger people quite unfairly.

[98elise]

Sporky said:

Arnold Cunningham said:

It is getting worse - graduates who we hire now have brains full of facts, but no clue how to think.

My dear old mum graduated in 1970, and people said exactly that about new graduates then.

There's a certain blinkeredness some people have where they forget that their own expertise and experience were formed over decades, and judge younger people quite unfairly.

Agreed. It's a particular bugbear of mine, especially when some skilled/experienced people seem unwilling to mentor and pass that knowledge on. I've always been the reverse.

[Arnold Cunningham]

Fair comments both above. I guess I've always been a bit of a maverick in terms of doing what I believe is right and needs to be done, rather than waiting to be told.
That doesn't mean I go off on a tangent - but it means I'm pretty good at finding new ways to solve tricky problems - which I believe is a skill I could teach.

Anyway - back to tools......

Both my mitre saw and multi-tool have arrived!

Edited by Arnold Cunningham on Wednesday 29th June 19:46

[Doofus]

98elise said:

Agreed. It's a particular bugbear of mine, especially when some skilled/experienced people seem unwilling to mentor and pass that knowledge on. I've always been the reverse.

You want to spend time with young people and forget everything you've learned.

[Dog Star]

I’m just putting a new cloakroom, utility room and kitchen in DS Towers. I’ll do plumbing, electrics etc but there’s always been a mystique to me about worktops, so I’ve always got someone in to finish off.

What with the availability, reliability and brain surgeon rates of tradesmen I decided to buy a router, jig etc and do it myself.

Why have I never done this before? It’s awesome! I did loads of practice cuts last night, some sample peninsular unit end profiles and the finish is fantastic. Also did some test slots for back boards on some units I’m having to customise.

However, being a bloke and somewhat childish the very first thing I did was some artwork. For your delectation and appreciation I give you…

[Danm1les]

Looking for recommendations for a garden hoe? Aiming for a one time purchase and looking at spending up to £50ish? Not sure how far that gets you in a the hoe game!

[wong]

Dog Star said:

I’m just putting a new cloakroom, utility room and kitchen in DS Towers. I’ll do plumbing, electrics etc but there’s always been a mystique to me about worktops, so I’ve always got someone in to finish off.

What with the availability, reliability and brain surgeon rates of tradesmen I decided to buy a router, jig etc and do it myself.

Why have I never done this before? It’s awesome! I did loads of practice cuts last night, some sample peninsular unit end profiles and the finish is fantastic. Also did some test slots for back boards on some units I’m having to customise.

However, being a bloke and somewhat childish the very first thing I did was some artwork. For your delectation and appreciation I give you…

One for the "juvenile things that make you snigger" thread.

[jfdi]

Danm1les said:

looking at spending up to £50ish? Not sure how far that gets you in a the hoe game!

and another for the "juvenile things that make you snigger" thread.

[Collectingbrass]

Dog Star said:

I’m just putting a new cloakroom, utility room and kitchen in DS Towers. I’ll do plumbing, electrics etc but there’s always been a mystique to me about worktops, so I’ve always got someone in to finish off.

What with the availability, reliability and brain surgeon rates of tradesmen I decided to buy a router, jig etc and do it myself.

Why have I never done this before? It’s awesome! I did loads of practice cuts last night, some sample peninsular unit end profiles and the finish is fantastic. Also did some test slots for back boards on some units I’m having to customise.

However, being a bloke and somewhat childish the very first thing I did was some artwork. For your delectation and appreciation I give you…

needs the traditional colour

[trails]

Dog Star said:

I’m just putting a new cloakroom, utility room and kitchen in DS Towers. I’ll do plumbing, electrics etc but there’s always been a mystique to me about worktops, so I’ve always got someone in to finish off.

What with the availability, reliability and brain surgeon rates of tradesmen I decided to buy a router, jig etc and do it myself.

Why have I never done this before? It’s awesome! I did loads of practice cuts last night, some sample peninsular unit end profiles and the finish is fantastic. Also did some test slots for back boards on some units I’m having to customise.

However, being a bloke and somewhat childish the very first thing I did was some artwork. For your delectation and appreciation I give you…

I hope that is staying somewhere in the final build, bottom of a draw maybe?

will tickle whoever find it in the future

[Dog Star]

trails said:

I hope that is staying somewhere in the final build, bottom of a draw maybe?

will tickle whoever find it in the future

Sadly not - it’s an old door.

I have, however, got a well wrapped up VHS machine in a wall cavity of our cellar office conversion. Someone may find that interesting in years to come.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

I think I will go with the silvery one then looks exactly same as the SGS one so likely all same oem with different stickers

managed to get it for 113.04 for the silver one

Edited by Trustmeimadoctor on Wednesday 29th June 10:50

Well it's arrived not sure what bits aluminium as it's fking heavy but it can lift me up hapily and certainly safter than the 20 year old Halfords one with a 2 ton plus car on it

[Doofus]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

Well it's arrived not sure what bits aluminium as it's fking heavy but it can lift me up hapily and certainly safter than the 20 year old Halfords one with a 2 ton plus car on it

Lifting yourself up on a trolley jack isn't safe at all.

HTH.

[wong]

Doofus said:

Trustmeimadoctor said:

Well it's arrived not sure what bits aluminium as it's fking heavy but it can lift me up hapily and certainly safter than the 20 year old Halfords one with a 2 ton plus car on it

Lifting yourself up on a trolley jack isn't safe at all.

HTH.

Don't listen to Doofus, do it again, but record it and put it up on YouTube. Don't forget to start the video with "watch this".

[Trustmeimadoctor]

Doofus said:

Trustmeimadoctor said:

Well it's arrived not sure what bits aluminium as it's fking heavy but it can lift me up hapily and certainly safter than the 20 year old Halfords one with a 2 ton plus car on it

Lifting yourself up on a trolley jack isn't safe at all.

HTH.

Your no fun I had to do it my self as the Mrs wouldn't get on it she wasn't happy that it's only 2.5 ton weight capacity

[basherX]

Danm1les said:

Looking for recommendations for a garden hoe? Aiming for a one time purchase and looking at spending up to £50ish? Not sure how far that gets you in a the hoe game!

Can’t recall if it was here or elsewhere but I’ve seen people recommending oscillating hoes as the best bet. Been meaning to upgrade my simple Dutch hoe, bought from B&Q years and years ago, to one.

Something like: https://www.crocus.co.uk/product/_/kent-and-stowe-...

I’ve been meaning to get one to give it a try.

[anonymous-user]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

I think I will go with the silvery one then looks exactly same as the SGS one so likely all same oem with different stickers

managed to get it for 113.04 for the silver one

Edited by Trustmeimadoctor on Wednesday 29th June 10:50

Just seen this, £120 after the tenner discount. With PU coated wheels n’all

https://www.halfords.com/tools/garage-workshop/axl...

[anonymous-user]

skwdenyer said:

https://www.vevor.co.uk/floor-jacks-c_11489

I've no relationship to the site, but YouTube reviews of the products seem positive.

Great bit of kit but too wide for me, I need room to get an axle stand in next to the jack and there just wouldn’t be room. 5.5” min height is a bit restrictive too.