Power Tools & General Tools Recommendations & Advice

Got myself a 260mm compound mitre saw the other day. Thing is an absolute beast. Makes cutting stuff super easy and fast though. My poor little circular saw isn't going to get much of a look in any more I fear.
 
I used my new Dewalt 305mm saw at the weekend.

Absolute beast and completely overkill for anything I’d ever throw at it. The torque and blade inertia is absolutely insane compared to my old evolution saw.
 
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danlightbulb said:
Which one did you get
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Picked up a second hand Makita DLS110Z. Wasn't that bothered about it being cordless but Makitas lineup is just a bit of a mess it seems. I wanted something that I could potentially set up in a garage/workshop in our next house so I wanted on that slides forward on rails rather than the rails sliding back ie. you need 1ft of space behind the thing.

This basically fit all the things I wanted and came up on FB marketplace and most of the other stuff on there was junk or the cheapo Evolution ones.

b0rn2sk8 said:
I used my new Dewalt 305mm saw at the weekend.

Absolute beast and completely overkill for anything I’d ever throw at it. The torque and blade inertia is absolutely insane compared to my old evolution saw.
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First time I used my meaty mitre saw it gave me that weird feeling you get when you are handling something you know could seriously mess you up if you do something stupid.
 
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fez said:
First time I used my meaty mitre saw it gave me that weird feeling you get when you are handling something you know could seriously mess you up if you do something stupid.
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A table saw or handheld circular saw maybe, but I've always felt my Mitre saw is one of the safest and easiest to use tools I have.

fez said:
Got myself a 260mm compound mitre saw the other day. Thing is an absolute beast. Makes cutting stuff super easy and fast though. My poor little circular saw isn't going to get much of a look in any more I fear.
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Reminds me that I need to buy a new Circular Saw, as I could do with something for the odd time I need to cut sheets of ply and have no room for a table saw.
 
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Armageus said:
A table saw or handheld circular saw maybe, but I've always felt my Mitre saw is one of the safest and easiest to use tools I have.
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It's the slide return. I was taught before handling one to just always be focusing on where my thumbs are.

Funnily enough I know someone's dad who had the same fingertip cut off by one, twice. The first time they stitched it back on, second time was a no go.
 
fez said:
Picked up a second hand Makita DLS110Z. Wasn't that bothered about it being cordless but Makitas lineup is just a bit of a mess it seems. I wanted something that I could potentially set up in a garage/workshop in our next house so I wanted on that slides forward on rails rather than the rails sliding back ie. you need 1ft of space behind the thing.

This basically fit all the things I wanted and came up on FB marketplace and most of the other stuff on there was junk or the cheapo Evolution ones.



First time I used my meaty mitre saw it gave me that weird feeling you get when you are handling something you know could seriously mess you up if you do something stupid.
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You really aren’t going to like using a big petrol chainsaw then.

Seriously, maintaining a healthy respect for things that can main or kill you is a very good thing.
 
Armageus said:
A table saw or handheld circular saw maybe, but I've always felt my Mitre saw is one of the safest and easiest to use tools I have.


Reminds me that I need to buy a new Circular Saw, as I could do with something for the odd time I need to cut sheets of ply and have no room for a table saw.
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Its not that I think its objectively particularly dangerous, its just a very large spinning blade not that far from my fingers and I don't have a huge amount of time doing this sort of thing so the actual risk vs perceived risk is just skewed.
 
fez said:
Its not that I think its objectively particularly dangerous, its just a very large spinning blade not that far from my fingers and I don't have a huge amount of time doing this sort of thing so the actual risk vs perceived risk is just skewed.
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Don't get me wrong, if not treated with at least some respect I'm sure it could easily go wrong, however I consider it one of my safer tools, and I'm happy to let my 14 year old use it (although I have taught him how to use it safely, and always under supervision - whereas something like an angle grinder I wouldn't dream of letting him use)
 
fez said:
Its not that I think its objectively particularly dangerous, its just a very large spinning blade not that far from my fingers and I don't have a huge amount of time doing this sort of thing so the actual risk vs perceived risk is just skewed.
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Timber should be clamped when cutting, fingers should be no where near it. Cutting freehand bits of timber can go wrong, I've witnessed someone very experienced make an error like that. He lost 2 fingers as the blade cut through the wood, the wood moved and his hand went under the blade.
 
I need to hang some stuff in a pretty typical new build house but also want to do some hidden cable runs so I need a trustworthy stud detector. Are they all much of muchness? Will a sub £50 one get me in the clear?
 
Junglist said:
I need to hang some stuff in a pretty typical new build house but also want to do some hidden cable runs so I need a trustworthy stud detector. Are they all much of muchness? Will a sub £50 one get me in the clear?
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Maybe I have just been unlucky, but I have never found the detectors to be that great.
Instead, I use one of my magnetic tool holders from the shed. I slide it along the wall, and you can feel the resistance when you go over a drywall screw. Screw = Stud.
Once you have found a couple, its very straightforward to mark out the stud locations.
 
Countcussy said:
Maybe I have just been unlucky, but I have never found the detectors to be that great.
Instead, I use one of my magnetic tool holders from the shed. I slide it along the wall, and you can feel the resistance when you go over a drywall screw. Screw = Stud.
Once you have found a couple, its very straightforward to mark out the stud locations.
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I think the method you describe would be fine for someone who has a basic grasp of common sense and DIY skills. I lack in both of those aforementioned traits!

During the house demonstration they explained that the cables on the ground floor go directly up and on the top floor the cables go directly down. So I'm 99% sure it's fine to drill where I want to drill but I'd rather not take the risk.

Though I would like to know there isn't any studs going horizontally across a section I'd like to drop some cables down
 
Junglist said:
I need to hang some stuff in a pretty typical new build house but also want to do some hidden cable runs so I need a trustworthy stud detector. Are they all much of muchness? Will a sub £50 one get me in the clear?
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In my experience, yes, and throwing money at the problem doesn't solve it.

I use one of these. I think that it's the latest chip is more important than the make.


It's mostly about learning to use it properly, so don't throw the manual out :cry:
 
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£30 is my kinda language! £100 is too rich for my blood! I was going to pick up a Bosch one on my way home as it's £48 on Screwfix but could be swayed keeping £18 in my own pocket
 
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I expect you can get the off brand China version of anything you see from Amazon from Ali Express for a fraction of the price.

Delivery will be 4-6 days if you can wait.

I had excellent results with the network tester I bought from there for not a lot of money.
 
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Junglist said:
I need to hang some stuff in a pretty typical new build house but also want to do some hidden cable runs so I need a trustworthy stud detector. Are they all much of muchness? Will a sub £50 one get me in the clear?
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Honestly, I've tried a lot of these stud testers and there just aren't any reliable enough at that sort of price point.

IME.
 
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