Power Tools & General Tools Recommendations & Advice

My Bosch angle grinder can pretty much deplete a 4ah battery in less than 10 minutes of runtime.

That same 4ah will run my Combi Drill Driver for days without charge however.

Amazon have a great price on a 5ah but i can't get it as they won't ship LiIon to me via Air. Boooo
 
garnett said:
On batteries... what's the advantage of large capacity?

The small capacity batteries seem disproportionately cheaper (ie two 2ah batteries cost less than one 4ah battery), they're lighter, and critically, they generally still last longer than it takes then to charge...

I've got three 1.5ah batteries and as long as I stick the spent one on the charger when I switch over, I'm never without charge. It's cheaper than one 4ah battery and lighter (and slightly less bulky) in use. What am I missing?
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My 4ah batteries will last a day (of diy use) in combi drill or impact driver, but I can easily empty them with the circular saw or SDS drill chiseling. I think 1.5 or 2ah will be fine for DIY use in a combi or driver if you have a spare to charge, but if you want to expand to more power hungry tools, you'll be forever changing batteries and may even empty them all.
 
Can recommend the Dewalt tile removal SDS plus bit from screwfix.

Works really well - cutting into ground/adhesive and the shape curves the tile up and away from the wall whilst directing the chisel along the wall not into it.
 
garnett said:
On batteries... what's the advantage of large capacity?

The small capacity batteries seem disproportionately cheaper (ie two 2ah batteries cost less than one 4ah battery), they're lighter, and critically, they generally still last longer than it takes then to charge...

I've got three 1.5ah batteries and as long as I stick the spent one on the charger when I switch over, I'm never without charge. It's cheaper than one 4ah battery and lighter (and slightly less bulky) in use. What am I missing?
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It's not just about battery life but about the power it can deliver - big batteries can push harder, there's youtube video's demonstrating it where (using the same drill) a 5AHC battery easily drives a very long screw all the way home while the 1.5 runs out of steam halfway.
 
I’m contemplating replacing the laminate flooring in the rear lounge, along with the skirting boards. Thus, I’m contemplating buying a Mitre saw for the job, and was drawn to this one on Amazon.

It seems to be pretty well specced against competitors at it’s price point, but must admit that being somewhat of a brand snob is holding me back from ordering, as I’ve never heard of this Evolution Power Tools before, I’d normally go for Makita or a Bosch.

Does anyone have any experience of owning/using anything by this brand before?

Thanks. :)
 
The Funktopus said:
I’m contemplating replacing the laminate flooring in the rear lounge, along with the skirting boards. Thus, I’m contemplating buying a Mitre saw for the job, and was drawn to this one on Amazon.

It seems to be pretty well specced against competitors at it’s price point, but must admit that being somewhat of a brand snob is holding me back from ordering, as I’ve never heard of this Evolution Power Tools before, I’d normally go for Makita or a Bosch.

Does anyone have any experience of owning/using anything by this brand before?

Thanks. :)
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Yes I used that one for my flooring. Can get "b grade" ones a lot cheaper off their eBay site.
 
The Funktopus said:
I’m contemplating replacing the laminate flooring in the rear lounge, along with the skirting boards. Thus, I’m contemplating buying a Mitre saw for the job, and was drawn to this one on Amazon.

It seems to be pretty well specced against competitors at it’s price point, but must admit that being somewhat of a brand snob is holding me back from ordering, as I’ve never heard of this Evolution Power Tools before, I’d normally go for Makita or a Bosch.

Does anyone have any experience of owning/using anything by this brand before?

Thanks. :)
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FYI this looks cheap

https://www.diy.com/departments/evolution-1100w-240v-210mm-compound-mitre-saw-fury3b/172514_BQ.prd?utm_campaign=bau&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=awin&utm_content=Communities+&+UGC&utm_term=47868&awc=483_1540152388_f60986a3a119d84d026eab04a3ea8911

(taken from hotukdeals)
https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/evolution-1100w-240v-210mm-compound-mitre-saw-fury3b-45-bq-3087403
 
I've got an Evolution Rage S300 sliding Mitre saw which was VERY competitively priced. The collapsing stand accessory was also a bargain.

Both are very good.

I've also got a Fury Circular saw from them. Perfect price / performance ratio for domestic use.
 
The Funktopus said:
Cheers, that does look startlingly cheap, which sort of makes me suspicious. Perhaps I have the wrong mindset.
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You need to make sure you either get one with a big enough blade or a sliding model or you wont be able to cut the laminate in a single cut and it'll make the job grim!

Don't be put off Evolution products though. For DIY use they're excellent
 
Anyone got any experience of cordless leaf blowers/vacuums?

I’ve seen the Dewalt Brushless one which is £170 and comes with a 5ah battery. It’s also in a promotion to get a free DCD996 drill and TSTAK case.

Given I have a few Dewalt tools it’s be handy to keep to the same battery type. Plus I could always sell the new 5ah one to recoup some cash.

The drill is also better than my current drill so could either sell this one to get extra cash back or sell mine on along with the case.

Other benefits being the long warranty and known reputation and good reviews.

Only downside is that it’s only a blower rather than a vacuum. I’m struggling to see any decent branded leaf vacuums though and am thinking just having a decent blower and some gloves will work much better.

Really don’t want a corded version as I think that’d make me much less likely to actually use it!
 
Do love my Stihl leaf collecting shredder, makes the whole thing easy. Has to be corded unless you're willing to spend lots on the petrol version though I think.
 
@Marvt74 If you want something reliable go petrol and get yourself a second hand Stihl BG86 off eBay, they're about £170.

Not sure if they come with one as standard (I have an old Stihl BG85C which didn't) but you can buy a shredder/vacuum kit for them them.
 
Always wondered about people using batteries for everything.

I use a battery for hand tools such as screwing and basic drilling. After that coring, SDS, grinding (4”) for concrete, routing or sawing flooring etc I tend to be concerned with the cost/length of battery life given the tasks.
I would possibly go with a battery reprecating saw for plasterboard as board isn’t that hard.
 
Marvt74 said:
Anyone got any experience of cordless leaf blowers/vacuums?

I’ve seen the Dewalt Brushless one which is £170 and comes with a 5ah battery. It’s also in a promotion to get a free DCD996 drill and TSTAK case.

Given I have a few Dewalt tools it’s be handy to keep to the same battery type. Plus I could always sell the new 5ah one to recoup some cash.

The drill is also better than my current drill so could either sell this one to get extra cash back or sell mine on along with the case.

Other benefits being the long warranty and known reputation and good reviews.

Only downside is that it’s only a blower rather than a vacuum. I’m struggling to see any decent branded leaf vacuums though and am thinking just having a decent blower and some gloves will work much better.

Really don’t want a corded version as I think that’d make me much less likely to actually use it!
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Just got an email from Screwfix that featured this:-

https://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-ttl-684-bvc-27-6cc-2-stroke-petrol-blower-vacuum/3044p

The email presented it like a special pffer, but it seems like it may be the standard price - still, good reviews for not much money. No experience of it myself.
 
Would like a Makita cordless leaf blower and hoover with variable speed, any recommendations?

Id be using it suck up leaves on the gravel bed in my garden, reckon a blower is up to this? (I've stated variable speed for this reason I. E. Don't want to vacuum the gravel.

I saw this for cheap but figure no variable speed it would break it/try to mulch gravel?
https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/dr...g-15m-cable-2974-wcode-robert-dyas-cc-3091886

Needs to be Makita if cordless, will consider cheap corded by anyone though!

Yellow gravel in background here (now full of leaves!

WLX6AfK.jpg
 
Doesn't look like the Makita has the vacuum function either (same as the Dewalt i mentioned), there's one where it can come with a bag but i think it's more aimed at dust extraction rather than leaf vacuuming.

@garnett - Cheers for the link. Ended up getting the Dewalt as convinced myself i needed the extra drill! Now to decide whether to actually sell the 5AH battery or keep that too!
 
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