Tools you wish you'd bought sooner...

[V8mate]

mercedeslimos said:

Accelebrate said:

I've got one of those. For wheel nuts I really like it. I believe it has more torque in reverse. It will happily remove wheel nuts that I've torqued to 120Nm and I know that if I spin them back on using it and let it hammer a couple of times the nuts will then be close but not past 120Nm when I re-torque them.

However, after watching some videos about how Chinese knock-off Makita tools exist, and aren't as terrible as you'd expect I recently invested a whole £25 in a rip-off Makita DTW285Z:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Replace-For-18V-Makita-...

(Out of stock there, but there are lots of sellers selling the same thing for similar prices, including some in Makita teal if that's your thing)



I'm not sure how long it'll last, but it's brushless, has three torque settings and more power than the DTW190, it's also usefully shorter. I figured it would be good for track days as it won't be the end of the world if it goes missing.

If you come across any more that aren't out of stock, that's just what I'm looking for!

Fill your boots!

https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?trafficChanne...

[jjones]

quick change for grinder discs

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Milwaukee-4932352473-Fixt...

[JimbobVFR]

jjones said:

quick change for grinder discs

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Milwaukee-4932352473-Fixt...

How did you know I've just bought a bare DeWalt grinder, yesterday in fact. Just ordered one of those.

[rickygolf83]

skwdenyer said:

Just ordered this; will report back

Been looking for an impact driver myself, but for the amount of times I would need one I haven't managed to justify investing a few hundred in one yet but was planning to soon! Would really cut down on driveway repair times

maybe a daft question, does the one in the ebay link only require a battery compatible with a Makita DTW285Z and it is good to go? Charger too of course....

thanks

[gobuddygo]

mikeiow said:

V8mate said:

If any of you use the Ryobi ONE platform, the 5.0Ah battery is at its cheapest price ever on Amazon today

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ryobi-RB18L50-Lithium-5-0...

& cheaper than the 4 and 3Ah ones.....pretty good deal for a genuine battery: might have to 'invest', thanks (for spending my money for me!)

I bought loads of these last year at £24.50 via my Amazon Business account (easy to set one up) and sold them on for £50 each, you could only buy 4 at a time, will give this thread a heads up next time they are on offer.

[Accelebrate]

rickygolf83 said:

skwdenyer said:

Just ordered this; will report back

Been looking for an impact driver myself, but for the amount of times I would need one I haven't managed to justify investing a few hundred in one yet but was planning to soon! Would really cut down on driveway repair times

maybe a daft question, does the one in the ebay link only require a battery compatible with a Makita DTW285Z and it is good to go? Charger too of course....

thanks

Any 18v Makita ‘LXT’ battery and charger will work.

[skwdenyer]

JimbobVFR said:

jjones said:

quick change for grinder discs

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Milwaukee-4932352473-Fixt...

How did you know I've just bought a bare DeWalt grinder, yesterday in fact. Just ordered one of those.

Having just snapped and then re-ordered a pain spanner for my 9” grinder this looks interesting. But is it flat on the reverse or stepped for those discs that need arbor support front and rear?

[Spurry]

skwdenyer said:

Having just snapped and then re-ordered a pain spanner for my 9” grinder this looks interesting. But is it flat on the reverse or stepped for those discs that need arbor support front and rear?

It might be worth having a look at the Bosch Quick nut. Suitable for all M14 spindles. It may suit your needs.

This listing shows a few pix. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bosch-Angle-Grinder-SDS...

[kev1974]

DonkeyApple said:

gobuddygo said:

Needed to get 2 locking wheel nuts of my Jag as they had rounded off, garage wanted to cut the wheels off!!!!!

How i managed without a Dremel type rotary tool all my life i will never know already used it lots, cut a slot in the locking nut with a diamond cutting disc, smash the head off with a cold chisel and use one of the magic bolt grip removers, job done in an hour for each one.

Highly rated on Amazon and brilliant - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07JLFL6VT/ref...

Bolt grip remover https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000QW6K8I/ref...

I’ve gone for years without a Dremel. Numerous jobs that would have been quicker and simpler with one have come and gone.

The reason I had never bought one was that 20 years ago they were advertised on TV in that really cheap way that tells you the product is junk and for slow witted folk who watch QVC all day.

The other week I used a friend’s Dremel on a quick job and the newer ones are nice, solid tools so when I was recently in B&Q and saw one on the end aisle I grabbed it.

I’ve just finished a job in a few days with the Dremel that would have taken ages and been very fiddly without.

I keep forgetting to buy a proper hacksaw though.

As well as the proper Dremel I've got one of these pocket cordless versions made by Tacklife permanently in my tool bag

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B074X92L5D

Obviously not as powerful as the corded real thing but nevertheless so handy to do a quick cut through a bolt or smoothing a sharp edge somewhere.

Charges by USB. Takes all the standard Dremel accessories. £23 and has more than paid for itself.

I see they have an 8V version at the bottom of the same link now, goes twice as fast, is twice the price though. Haven't tried that one.

[dickymint]

Spurry said:

skwdenyer said:

Having just snapped and then re-ordered a pain spanner for my 9” grinder this looks interesting. But is it flat on the reverse or stepped for those discs that need arbor support front and rear?

It might be worth having a look at the Bosch Quick nut. Suitable for all M14 spindles. It may suit your needs.

This listing shows a few pix. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bosch-Angle-Grinder-SDS...

I can’t remember the last timeI’ve had to use any tool to remove or fit a grinding wheel disc. Hold the button and a sharp twist with the hand and it’s off.

[JimbobVFR]

skwdenyer said:

Having just snapped and then re-ordered a pain spanner for my 9” grinder this looks interesting. But is it flat on the reverse or stepped for those discs that need arbor support front and rear?

Mines 4 stops away according to Amazon so I'll let you know in half an hour or less.

[cml24]

I've just ordered the Milwaukee one. Seems like a great idea, so I really want it to work well.

Was just about to purchase a second identical grinder to keep one with thin cutting disc and one with grinding disc on.

[Pat H]

Jakg said:

fter years messing round with cheap but rubbish impact wrenches, and loving (but abusing) my bosch impact driver (but just wishing it was more powerful) I finally shelled out on the Dewalt.

I've only had to use it a couple of times but it's just effortless.

Crusty rear shock bolt that's not been touched in 15 years? No bother.



Only complaint would be it's heavy and large - it's difficult to get into some awkward places. I'm now eyeing up it's smaller brother.

I recently bought one of these with a 5ah battery pack.

In all honesty, I am astonished by how capable it is.

Not cheap, but if you need to loosen crank pulley nuts, hub nuts, motorcycle fork top nuts etc, it is a fantastic tool.

I really wish I had bought one years ago.

[imck]

Another Impact Driver Adopter.

Einhell Drill and Driver Twin Pack
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B06W2JYKSC

Got a Customer Return for £120
Sold my old Dewalt Ni-MH with a dodgy Battery and buzzing Charger for £50 on Ebay.

First proper outing at the Weekend. Hammer Drilled and Impact Screwed my Neighbours Gate Post.
Very satisfying sound and so much easier with separate Drill and Driver.

Use Einhell 12V Drill/Drivers for Electronic Repair at Work and have been reliable.

[gazapc]

jjones said:

quick change for grinder discs

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Milwaukee-4932352473-Fixt...

Just purchased. Looks great.

[Ynox]

Thinking of treating myself to a track saw.

Anyone seen any particularly decent deals? Only for my amateur wood butchery, so I probably don't need a Festool

[Voldemort]

Ynox said:

Thinking of treating myself to a track saw.

They're great if you need to use one out on the road but if it's for home use and you have the space get a table saw.

[Sebastian Tombs]

Ynox said:

Thinking of treating myself to a track saw.

Anyone seen any particularly decent deals? Only for my amateur wood butchery, so I probably don't need a Festool

I bought a Titan from Screwfix a while ago, which now appears to be sold as a MacAllister: https://www.screwfix.com/p/mac-allister-msps1200-1...

It's a brilliant piece of kit and for £100 you can't go wrong. I removed the anti-kickback 'feature'. You need to buy some rail clamps, and I also bought a 1400mm Makita rail (the first of which wasn't straight!!) for longer cuts. The cuts are really neat and accurate and I've made a load of bookshelves and so forth with it. Current project is a desk.

[33q]

I treated myself to a Festool track saw . Superb piece of kit

For panel work it's better than a saw table

[robwilk]

Ynox said:

Thinking of treating myself to a track saw.

Anyone seen any particularly decent deals? Only for my amateur wood butchery, so I probably don't need a Festool

I got the one from lidl , changed the blade and it fantastic , i bought festool tracks as they were on offer but you can now get evolution tracks if you want longer tracks.