Home DIY

When it happened to me I was watching as the apprentice cut part of the way through the fucking things. Not sure how it happened but with no sign of kickback he managed to collapse 2 trestles that were supporting the workpiece fall on top of the saw which he still had running thereby pushing the blade through the track, workpiece, ply that was being used as a benchtop and the tarmac underneath (the idiot hadn't set the depth of cut preferring to leave it at max and guess how deep into the cut he was). When he got up he was still holding the fucking power supply button. As soon as I worked out he hadn't killed himself I developed a severe case of instant sunburn was about to start giving him at bollocking of a lifetime when one of the other chippies managed to magic the prick out of my sight untill I calmed down.

Thats how folk get killed fs...

If it had been anything other than a track saw he probably would have been. The lad had been told about safe use of tools many, many times and had received formal warnings. After that I only ever saw him driving a broom.

We use a rip saw for notching joists but I learned young you never stand behind it and make sure its out the way incase it kicks. These folk won't learn until its too late, I mean I still do stuff that you couldn't do on sites but I dont work on sites so its fine.

Absolutely.

But it does look nicer, so it was an aesthetically driven suggestion, that would still likely be cheaper than x2 electricians.

I wish someone like you had installed the pvc conduit that is in our shed. I'll redo it if we ever insulated it.

Yeah P5 (only just looked up the difference between P5 and P7).

If you gave one to me, I'd assume it's called a track saw because it's for sawing through tracks.

You are forgetting the mechanical properties that 2 screws on each side and 3 or 4 on the back have. They are never going to suddenly come loose unless you have a couple of builders standing on the shelf. They might work loose over a long period of time but it relies on the structure of the shelf collapsing too.

The alternatives I mentioned are not bodges, they're legitimate and long lasting solutions to the problems of victorian walls. If you never need to employ one or 2 of them you must be working in very well built victorian properties or something much newer. Hammering a chunk of wood with PVA on into the wall is way more solid and durable than you would imagine if you've never done it. Also gluing the batten as well as screwing to the wall is an option.

The best method for a professional carpenter dealing with shelves or cupboards is to build the largest square box that fits into the space, then make regular shelves and doors to fit and use trim pieces on either side to make the box fit the space. Trying to use the existing walls is folly and costs so much time cutting and trimming odd shaped shelves it's not worth it. Sometimes you have to and you'll need every trick in the book.

Hanging kitchen cupboards can be an issue but then you need to spread the weight by adding fixing points once the cupboards are level. I've only ever had to do this a few times.

I wish someone like you had installed the pvc conduit that is in our shed. I'll redo it if we ever insulated it.

Ha, cheers. It's definitely worth taking some time over to get it looking right.

Like a lot of things in our place it's functional, but hasn't been done to an amazing standard. Odd though as the previous owner was meant to be an electrician. Although I have the feeling from somewhere he may have actually been an electrical installer or something, but definitely not resi.

Then again, this place often has very high standards, or expectations of work. So maybe I'm not being realistic. Ultimately it works, everything lines up, and provides power and lighting.

That was literally my first job as an electrician, lol. A lot of people just aren't bothered or are unwilling to take the time.

The guy that did my inlaws garage for example, just threw everything into plastic trunking (badly). It looks shit, and doesn't have any fire clips, but he was cheap. I think most people wouldn't be interested in taking the time when they can charge less and get it done quicker. And most clients aren't interested in paying someone to faff around bending conduit when they already think electricians charge too much.

Back to drills etc.
Has anyone an opinion of this DeWalt dril and impact driver.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/dewalt-dck2060m2t-sfgb-18v-4-0ah-li-ion-xr-brushless-cordless-twin-pack/362jt

Question - are the batteries automatically interchangeable with other DeWalt tools or will i have to check each time should I want something else!

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The fence above is shit and needs to come down and be replaced. This post is between two courses of brickwork. Whats the best way to put a new post in? I do have access from the other side of the fence, but shed on this side makes access tight.

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And a circular saw is used for chopping up roads such as the A406.

The XR batteries are interchangeable with all other Dewalt tools. I currently have:

• Drill
  
• Impact driver
  
• Jigsaw
  
• Circular saw
  
• Angle grinder
  
• 1/4" Router
  
• Planer
  
• Strimmer
  
• Torch
  
  

All run off the same 4 batteries I have

Thanks. That’s good to know. And your opinion of the drill and impact driver? This is for DIY not professional use.

I think the consensus is that anything from Makita, Dewalt or Milwaukee in that price range will be more than acceptable. I have similar spec Makita, and it is.

Quick crosspost: anyone know of a good roofer/general builder in SW London to do some repointing work asap?

Think it’s the same deal as this, but Toolstation gets you an extra battery for free.

https://www.toolstation.com/dewalt-dck2062d2t-gb-18v-xr-brushless-compact-combi-drill-impact-driver-twin-pack/p64637

I picked it up last week. Impressed so far for a bit of loft boarding and widening the loft hatch/adding batons etc

Those are supplied with 2ah batteries tho, the screwfix link is 2x4ah batteries.

^ this.

The first deal is much better. The 2ah batteries are shit.

@TGR - you definitely won't need more than those for home DIY stuff. They'll last a lifetime.

Yeah, for some reason you seem to get more oomph out of higher capacity batteries, as well as longer run time. My SDS and circular saw definitely run differently with a 5ah vs 3ah battery.

And the same can be said for 2/1.5ah batteries lacking that aforementioned oomph!

Oh, good spot. Sod's law I get mine the week before this deal pops up.

Knocked this up in half an hour this morning with offcuts and a old curtain pole - very rough and ready but Chef approves!

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That is glorious!