Home DIY

They're fucking terrifying when they dig in though.

I use ear protection in the workshop but not on site at the moment. The early Fein in particular really gets to me though. It's not uncommon to come home a bit deaf in any case and I'm trying to stop doing that as much these days.

I look at the battery one but as much as the cable takes time to sort out it never really bothers me that much. I would probably find the batteries run down between use which would give me a problem every time I went to use it anyway.

I do get frustrated with the cables but it was a lot worse before switching to Festool and the plug it system. Largely you keep one cable plugged into the hoover and switch between them at the tool end. I forget that other tools don't have that.

For years now I've been working with a hoover on pretty much any job I do so that's where most of my frustration gets directed. Having to deal with hoover hose and power in tight spaces is a pain.

Found this out with my 1st multitool (lost/presumed stolen from same car) that it was the absolute perfect tool for cutting out old sub frame bushs insitue in the car, much easier than dropping entire sub frame away from the engine and gearbox, pressing them out in a hydraulic press, then putting back in the car. Went through old subframe bush material like a warm knife through butter.

Impact driver. Far better than a drill driver.

Recently liquidated all my random battery tools (mostly hand me down's from mates as they've got newer and better stuff), totally fed up with constant finding chargers and batteries and remembering which one's I've already charged, then driving 2-4 hours to a job to find I forget the battery I need as its still on a charger, or the charger was missing.
Nope.
Dumped everything and went Milwaukee. I like the ergonomics of them, I like the abundance of power that most of their M18 brushless tools give (some of the brushed stuff is 'better' than the brushless fuel range, but depends on use) and mostly very controllable. I like the chargers do M12 and M18 on the same unit, I like that they charge in order (so clicking another one on to the other side of the charger doesn't stop the 1st one from finishing its charge). Their batteries are reasonably priced and I only need a few as they charge quick and same batteries now fit everything. The current Gen3 units have really good lighting on the front of them.
I don't like, the drill/driver has an electronic clutch, its essentially useless, on the lowest setting its break away torque is equiv to approx 8 10 12 out of 24 on my old dewalt, so any fine work or setting a torque limit so I don't pulverise small drill bits constantly is an impossibility. An M18 fuel drill driver will run a paddle in muck quite happily, more so than previous bosch blue 20/24v machine.
Also do/don't like the M18 non fuel RO sander, broke after 4 hours use over 2 days. Doesn't random orbit anymore, just spins like a turbine in overspeed until it flings the sand paper disc off at approaching the speed of sound into you/face/your finished work. Until it broke I was super impressed with it though, good control, easy to hold, powerful when you want it, gentle the rest of the time, vacuum's its own dust pretty effectively and could also use it for hours without any discomfort/dead meat hands from the vibration like i've experience with every sander ever, so some kudo's for them working out how to effectively eliminate that!
Their impacts/car wrench tools are fantastic though, replacing air for me on most tasks around the workshop, still need air for the big impacts and die grinders etc though.

Just don't get the 18/20v Bosch blue one, has about as much power as a wet lettice. Do like the fact the anvil offers 1/2" and hex outputs without an adapter (others should defo copy this), just a shame it doesn't have enough power to warrant a 1/2" drive!

Why

@stevo_com @hoefla

https://boilerchoice.com/boiler-in-bathroom-regulations/

British Gas engineer advice was more regarding humidity affecting boiler performance and risk of electrical shock. Mine is not in a cupboard, close to both shower and hand basin. New boiler will be re-sited when my bathroom moves up stairs.

from screwfix community forum

Open flued boilers are a total no no, Balanced (or room sealed) are safe as long as the controls cannot be touched from the bath as far as I know, but I am out of the industry since retiring. I never liked boilers in bathrooms for the reasons you suggest electrical safety, rust, damp with the ever more complicated electronics of modern boilers. If you plan to have one fitted I would avoid bathroom (and bedrooms for that matter, the noises will drive you crazy) kitchen would be my favourite.

Decided to hold off for a bit on the wholesale swap out until I get the shed/workshop built. Found out my Stanley manual staple gun will at least out 15mm Brad's in better than the electric tacwise, so there's that. I did buy myself a black and decker work mate today though.

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Sound. Mine's in an airing cupboard in the bathroom, well away from the bath. Warm and dry. Only issue could be ventilation, although the door doesn't stay catched.

Because the manufacturers will do anything to claim your warranty is void ;)

I'm sure they are rated to operate fine in the conditions you find in bathrooms if installed properly and the bathroom is ventilated properly.

So if it's installed correctly it's ok?

My brother is a plant mechanic and uses Milwaukee gear, the 1 inch wrench is a monster, have yet to find something it can’t handle, including changing tracks on a 30 tonne slew.

I’m all about the DeWalt 18v XR system

I basically wear my bose QC2 headphones all the time on jobs when im doing stuff as it takes the high end out which is what you want and can listen to music or a podcast ay the same time.

Sometimes I don't like the feeling of having had in ears in all day, I have to mix it up and have a portable speaker some days.

Apparently Santa is due soon - what’s on your diy Santa list??

Also, has anyone experience of using an automatic centre punch? Came across them on YouTube and they look like a useful tool. I’m looking at this one or similar - any advice appreciated.

Neiko 02638A 5" Automatic Center Hole Punch | Adjustable Impact Spring Loaded Puncher Tool, Original Version, 5 inches https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008DXYOLC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_30ADP2VVFD1JR1CDY3ZN

A palm router.

The gift of no longer having to procrastinate over which one to buy will be almost as much of a gift as the tool itself.

Although I wonder if I should have at least dropped a hint about having mainly DeWalt tools to see if they could be nudged to the dual palm/plunge one.

I use one that looks exactly like that, but cost maybe £3 or £4

A fleece gilet with chest pockets* is on my list for christmas.

For phone and markers.

Be warned, most palm routers are actually laminate trimmers and don't have the cooling that the larger ones do. They're great for rounding over corners, flush cutting and routing out hinge mortices. They will struggle with trenching, cutting out deeper mortices or complex profiles, you can do these jobs but they will need to be done in small passes.

If you push a palm router too far you run the risk of actually melting the commutator bar in the motor, you'll know you've done this when the motor starts to make a crackle-y pop--y sound.

I know this as I have a couple of palm router shaped paperweights in the workshop.

I melted my DeWalt plunge / palm. Luckily it was within warranty and got repaired for free. Such a nice tool, but you need a 1/2” for chunky stuff.

I think most of their auto gear is aimed at getting people away from air powered, not practical in workshops where its non stop, don't have time for faffing with batteries just need to ugga dugga the hours away, but for lighter weight workshops, absolutely, if nothing else my hearing is a lot better for it and I haven't tripped over an air hose in months now.

Yeah he is fully mobile, works out the back of an Iveco. The van obviously has a compressor on for air tools, but he doesn’t use if for Ugga Dugga. And when he has to tramp over 6 fields to get to my broken down digger in a ditch…

I have to mix it up and have a portable speaker some days

The neighbours thank you ;-)