Power Tools & General Tools Recommendations & Advice

Russinating said:
What tool should I be looking at for cutting laminate/skirtings/covings and the like? Router or mitre?

The Evolution Mitre Saw that people are mentioning above looks good but there's no B/C grades on eBay fitted with a 3-pin (240v). Does this have to be the case or can the 110v's be converted?
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Buy one that slides, I bought a cheap non sliding one years ago to build a fence and have since used it whilst flooring several rooms. It's done a good job but each piece of flooring needed two cuts as the wheel isn't big enough to go the full width without sliding.
 
Plus you would need a slider to mitre 5-6" skirting. I'd email the seller to see when they might be getting more stock. For 110v you would need a transformer, which will set you back around £50 new or £10 second hand on ebay if you can collect.
 
Can anyone recommend an impact driver/combi drill for around £150?

I'm moving house soon so will be used for general DIY. Not sure if an impact driver is overkill.

One of the first things i'll be doing is fitting loft legs and boarding in the loft. Will a decent combi drill cope with driving the screws?
 
I recently bought the Makita DK1493WX which comes with a HP330DZ 10.8v LXT Combi Drill/Driver and TD090DZW 10.8V Impact Driver for that exact purpose. I chose 10.8v as I already have a mains drill for masonry and wanted something small and light. I believe B&Q do an 18v Makita combi and impact driver set for £150 if you're after something more powerful.
 
dazz25 said:
Can anyone recommend an impact driver/combi drill for around £150?

I'm moving house soon so will be used for general DIY. Not sure if an impact driver is overkill.

One of the first things i'll be doing is fitting loft legs and boarding in the loft. Will a decent combi drill cope with driving the screws?
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Yes it will. I went for the DeWalt DCD785 a couple of years ago, I think the DCD795 is the newest version of that range which comes with a brushless motor and should be in budget or theareabouts. I think you will struggle to get the DCD995 in budget unless you do some selective importing from the US.

Once you have a battery and charger, units themselves are quite cheap - I have a DeWalt impact driver from the same range and it really speeds things up.


Speaking of DeWalt, I have just hit the button on the DCS355 Multi Tool. Can't wait for it to arrive!
 
jellybeard999 said:
I recently bought the Makita DK1493WX which comes with a HP330DZ 10.8v LXT Combi Drill/Driver and TD090DZW 10.8V Impact Driver for that exact purpose. I chose 10.8v as I already have a mains drill for masonry and wanted something small and light. I believe B&Q do an 18v Makita combi and impact driver set for £150 if you're after something more powerful.
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Lopéz said:
Yes it will. I went for the DeWalt DCD785 a couple of years ago, I think the DCD795 is the newest version of that range which comes with a brushless motor and should be in budget or theareabouts. I think you will struggle to get the DCD995 in budget unless you do some selective importing from the US.

Once you have a battery and charger, units themselves are quite cheap - I have a DeWalt impact driver from the same range and it really speeds things up.


Speaking of DeWalt, I have just hit the button on the DCS355 Multi Tool. Can't wait for it to arrive!
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Thanks guys. I'll take a look at all options. The Makita set sounds good if I can get both within budget. I don't mind upping the budget if really needed.

Am I right in assuming that all combi drills mentioned would be good enough for what I mentioned in the op but the impact driver would just make things quicker/easier?
 
Looks like the Makita DK1493WX set would suit me perfectly. I've also already got a corded masonry drill for more heavy duty stuff.

The Makita LCT204 set seems to be the same but slightly cheaper (and green not white!). Is there any difference that i'm not seeing?

Also, if i'm going to get an impact driver can anybody recommend a good set of bits?
 
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Wouldn't bother with an impact driver to be honest, most people even in trade don't use them - noisy as hell and not all too much benefit for it.

Better off with a standard drill driver.
 
Russinating said:
Bought it, thanks :).
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Hope it'll do for for skirting you plan to mitre, around 4" will be your max with a non sliding saw. Just had a look and there are B&C grade sliding mitre saws on ebay ... So I guess they restocked as I didn't check before.

pitchfork said:
Wouldn't bother with an impact driver to be honest, most people even in trade don't use them - noisy as hell and not all too much benefit for it.

Better off with a standard drill driver.
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I thought the same thing, until I bought one. It is very useful for putting in concrete bolts and other fixings that require a lot of torque. With a normal combi drill it can often try to twist the drill, but with an impact driver you could hold it with one hand and it would sink the bolt with ease, with no danger of the drill twisting.

They also have other benefits, like being lighter, more compact and better lighting from the built in led due to there being no big chuck in the way.

But I agree for DIY there is not much point in getting one over a normal combi. Plus you would need a combi and an impact driver as you cant drill with an impact driver, or at least not in metal.
 
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When I was drilling screws into joists I would have loved an impact driver, not because doing it with only a cordless was a pain it just took long plus impacts are usually more compact and when you're feet are 600mms apart it's better :p
 
A lot of mixed opinions in here about impact drivers. I think fir the price of the Makita DK1493WX I might as well get both.

It will help when I can drill pilot holes or countersink without having to change the bit all of the time to drive the screws in.
 
All the tradesman I know including myself use impact drivers, simply handy for everyday use. Could be seen as slightly ott for DIY use but as they seem to be included as sets now they're certainly more then useful.
 
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