Power Tools & General Tools Recommendations & Advice

The first weighs a tonne, so I wouldn't want to be using it for long!

I'd be looking at the ~2kg ish SDS drills personally, unless you are just looking to use it more as a breaker.
 
dl8860 said:
Borrowing my neighbours corded drill for the 4th time or something so thinking it's time to buy my own decent drill. I've got an 18V cordless which is fine for bits and bobs but probably time to buy something with some grunt.

I can see you can either spend about £60 and get something like this
https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-SDS+-Corded-Rotary-Hammer-Drill---1500W/p/141156

or spend roughly double and get something with a brand name
https://www.wickes.co.uk/Makita-HR2630-2-SDS+-Rotary-Corded-Hammer-Drill---800W/p/169583

If I had a big DIY project coming up or planned to ever take on a huge project I'd get the latter for sure.

Just wondering what difference in quality and longevity there might be between the two, e.g. is the latter made up of much superior parts and will last 20 years whereas the first will be more like 10? Or would I just be paying more for the brand name?

Basically looking for a reason to justify the more expensive one even though I don't have a need right now!

The makita is also only 800W compared to the 1500W wickes model. I guess 800W should be plenty though?
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I have a corded 850W, 3.2J SDS, 2Kg class (900rpm). 3.2J will blow the back out of modern house bricks if you're not careful. I've cored 150mm holes with it through block+brick walls, drilled foot long 2cm holes through concrete (with stones). It is on the limit of being over-powered for DIY work.

The makita's 2.4J hammer action will be plenty. Although the picture is of a 2Kg class and the spec says 5Kg. The Wickes one is going to be heavy up a ladder and needs a lot of support.

Check that the drill has a all-metal gearbox (that wickes has an aluminium gearbox! :eek:), a safety clutch, and the three modes - rotate, hammer and chisel. If it was me I'd go for the Makita out of the two - if you have a castle and heavy big walls made of stone then perhaps look at the heavier class. However in the end there's only so many holes you can drill in a house :D
 
I’d avoid it, no hammer action so getting through brick will be next to impossible.

If it’s not going to be used often, you are not really into your DIY and price is a concern then get a corded one. You’ll get a decent powerful drill much less than an adequate cordless one.

Have a look on places like screwfix or tool station for a better range/deals.
 
Generally speaking the bosch green stuff is pretty crap. You could probably pick up a cheapo drill in aldi or lidl that is the same spec for cheaper if you all you need is to put some shelves up in wood.
 
200sols said:
Generally speaking the bosch green stuff is pretty crap. You could probably pick up a cheapo drill in aldi or lidl that is the same spec for cheaper if you all you need is to put some shelves up in wood.
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Thanks. One of the jobs was putting up shekves in the shed, which is brick. Along with a bike holder thing.

There is.a black and decker model with hammer setting: https://www.amazon.co.uk/BLACK-DECK...rds=drill&qid=1580419627&sprefix=Drill&sr=8-8

I'm assuming, that at £50 it will also be awful?
 
Begbie said:
So I'm getting to the age where I should really own a drill. That and I need to put some shelves up in the shed etc.

I thought about going second hand, but with it being a motor and batteries it could prove to be false economy. So I've seen;

https://www.diy.com/departments/bos...W3SZBttfzOnEmFyrLyUaAh7CEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Should I spend more? Normally floats about £90. So seems good.
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Hmmm I have basically that model the torque dial rotates and the last setting is hammer but I can’t see any image with that for that specific drill. Batteries are still going strong after 7+ years of abuse. The drill has a rotation break when you release the trigger. It’s a hard break that can cause the chuck to come loose.
I think mine has more paint and scratches on it that trademen kit!

I has it’s issues (chuck) but a happy as Larry doing all the diy activities however I would say the design has been superceeded by smaller designs. Works well in one hand (I’ve banged nails in with the rear of the drill) but the hammer action is hammer drill action and not a patch on a SDS. As a screwdriver it works nicely and the torque limit works well. Mixes paint well too (just use the low speed setting!).

If that drill has hammer action then it will work but I couldn’t see it on the spec sheet.
 
NickK said:
That’s the updated version of my drill :) see the comments above and check reviews for any chuck issues.
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I've got this drill. I'm hardly Mr DIY but I use it quite a lot and works well for me. Nice to have 2 batteries. I do have the odd issue with the chuck where the drill bit becomes loose though.
Incidentally, I had a bosch non-hammer drill previously and found it really hard work as soon as you go anywhere near brick. Deffo worth going for a hammer drill as they're only a few quid more.
 
Marvt74 said:
I've just ordered the Ryobi 18v angle grinder as it's on offer at Amazon for £52

Anyone used a brushed cordless grinder that can advise how long it lasts? Wondering if i'd be better paying the extra for the brushless version, or just use the difference to pick up another battery.
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Bit late for a response but for general diy (e.g. Cutting out mortar) my 5AH makita one lasts a good while! Also used it for cutting metal sections for my carport and was fine. Tiles also and it would last ages too. But thru concrete drive did chew through batteries. Id always say have a couple batteries (i have like 4 now even for infrequent diy)

Only time ive had significant issues with the battery was cutting thru concrete/stone drive to add fence posts.
Similarly when using my cordless saw ive only ever had an issue with battery life was when it happened to be cutting thru knots in long 2.4m lengths of pressure treates timber. The saw needs to up the torque, keep the rpm and it rinsed thru batteries

Example of wood used for fencing here

http://imgur.com/a/OkbQ0fl
 
JRJ said:
Anybody using the DeWalt DCS365 18v Mitre Saw, I will have a lot of skirting/architrave to do come spring and the mitre saw I've been borrowing doesn't seem to cut square any longer so looking at investing in my own?
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Picked this up this week as I had a voucher, £270 delivered. For anybody with the XR ecosystem its a cracking little saw, I know I could have had a cheaper 240v but the ability to be cordless is so much easier.
 
Mine seems to still be working nicely. Although it's an old one and i believe they did used to be better made. If anything i'm waiting for it to die so i can replace it. Warranty is just for the refurb, they're usually around 2 years i think but obviously that comes with a bigger cost.

I did try a Nilfisk, think it was the C125 but the pressure from it just seemed really disappointing. They seem to get good reviews though.
 
I currently have a 4ah Ryobi battery which doesn't hold a charge very well, Ryobi batteries cost a fortune and i only really use them for garden tools so was looking on Amazon at the cheaper replicas.

However i've just seen and bought up a "Badaptor" which allows me to use my Dewalt batteries with the few Ryobi tools i have, rather than needing to buy more Ryobi batteries.

Be interesting to see how well it works.
 
Marvt74 said:
I'd be temped by the Karcher K4 from the refurb store

https://www.karcheroutlet.co.uk/pro...rErkC5vvB77_5naivv2C3bB3hLBbR-NMaArmgEALw_wcB
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bought my K4 full control from there nearly two years ago now i bought the extra warranty to give it a year thought it would be wise. when the unit arrived it looked basically brand new and had no signs of previous use at all. I got mine on a really good deal as it was under £100 at the time. I wouldnt hesitate to buy from them again.
 
Best drill for under £200? I only have a really small makita set which doesn't have hammer action and I need to drill into brick which it understandably won't do. Thinking a good cordless combi drill would do it or maybe get a corded sds drill for the job.
 
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