Home DIY

Dammit, where'd you live and what style house is it?

My flat? It's in a 1930's Art Deco block in Forest Hill

Was thinking lining paper. But that'll be a lot more hassle than paint.

Walls still need decorating so think for the price of a big tub of trade paint it could be worth it to paint the whole room first.

The plaster is light grey so could be hard to conseal anyway.

Your right picture rails do look good sometimes but our house isn't a period build was built in the 30's we've got high ceilings but I always find it hard to decorate and design rooms with picture rails.

My flat? It's in a 1930's Art Deco block in Forest Hill

Oh yeah, I know it

I have cash monies for my birthday (tomorrow) with which to buy a drill.

Hit me with recommendations... probably around £100.

Not taking the piss here- what do you want to drill with it?

I've got a cordless 18V drill/driver which is mainly used as a screwdriver and a corded SDS drill which is used for drilling, chiselling and mixing.

Definitely dont want a cordless one as my experience of them is of dead batteries etc.

It'll be used for general DIY stuff, nothing special. Just want something decent that will last for ever.

If you're not drilling into any heavy duty concrete and it's just for plaster/brick walls and some occasional woodwork, I have the below which was bought for me by my dad. I really rate it.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bosch-18v-Li-ion-Combi-Hammer-Drill-inc-2x-Batteries-PSB18LI-2-PSB-18-LI-2-NEW-/330828955340

Extra batteries are easy to come by too

Plus, mine had sat unused for 10 months, took it to my friend's new place yesterday for some DIY and it was still showing a full charge.

Get two batteries, always keep one in the charger.

Might as well get this one - http://www.screwfix.com/p/makita-bhp453sh-18v-1-3ah-li-ion-cordless-combi-drill/58614

I've had mine 5yrs. Original batteries, they only lose charge if you keep them in cold places like the shed. I only charge it once a week and that's when I use it at work. Only takes 20 min to charge too.

The hitachi drills are also good.

I got a hitachi 18v li-ion for around £100 and am very pleased with it. Look around on screw fix, b&q etc and go for the best deal on a Mikita or hitachi. I've also briefly used a dewalt and it seemed pretty good, not li-ion though so it's heavier.

If you sign up to the B&Q newsletter they have 20% off weekends (sometimes on everything, sometimes on just one department) so if you can wait it might be worth holding out for one of them to come up.

I have cash monies for my birthday (tomorrow) with which to buy a drill.

Hit me with recommendations... probably around £100.

Not taking the piss here- what do you want to drill with it?

I've got a cordless 18V drill/driver which is mainly used as a screwdriver and a corded SDS drill which is used for drilling, chiselling and mixing.

This combo will cover most requirements. Make sure the SDS drill has rotor stop for chisling duties. Also a hammer drill setting on the cordless is very useful for light drilling jobs.

Thanks absurdbird and o'shane... Turns out that pressure from the pipe I repaired was part of what stopped the taps leaking! Putting the right length of pipe in lead to no extra pressure and a joint leaking... Put a piece that was too long in and now have no leaks!

Plumbing is like some kind of sorcery.

Cheers

This combo will cover most requirements. Make sure the SDS drill has rotor stop for chisling duties. Also a hammer drill setting on the cordless is very useful for light drilling jobs.

I agree - mostly.
Most light DIYers will be fine with just a combi drill.

If you think you're going to really get involved, I'd go for an SDS with a chuck adaptor so you can use straight shank bits, and an Impact driver rather than a combi drill.

Depends how much screwing you do.

My bor-in-law is giving me two Wolf drills. No idea about them but apparently they work for ever.

Bad idea to have the storage heaters off this weekend. Woke up this morning and it was -2.

Central heating going on soon and the gas in 10th April.

I have cash monies for my birthday (tomorrow) with which to buy a drill.

Hit me with recommendations... probably around £100.

I've got Ryobi One+ drill, along with a circular saw and dustbuster that use the same Li-ion batteries (which is what the One+ system's all about). It's been pretty good at everything (screwdrivingk, brick and block walls, wood, forks, frames). Not without its little irritations (non-locking chuck) but seems to be a pretty good all-rounder for a DIYer. The circular saw is pretty tough for a battery-powered tool too. It's gone through 40mm oak worktops without any problems.

... and an Impact driver rather than a combi drill.

A guy that works for us uses a Makita Impact Driver for pretty much anything. It certainly makes light work of putting screws in and weighs bugger all making it ideal for continuous use, but the noise does my head in when he's using it in our workshop! The advantage seems to be the impact action keeping the driver tip firmly engaged with the screw so not needing as much 'leaning on'. I probably should have borrowed it when I laid some decking last summer.

My drill climbs out of plasterboard screws unless you give it a significant amount of pressure- are you saying that an impact driver would reduce this annoyance?

If so I will purchase one.

I have a Makita 14v li-ion impact that's been in daily use for over 4 years. I cant imagine doing my work without one now. The noise for non users is a pain (better than a Paslode though). If you use screws with an unthreaded shank or drill a clearance hole you can assemble really strong carpentry as the screws pull everything together so tightly.

You need to use strong bits though as cheap ones explode.

It very much would reduce that annoyance. I use mine in work, the other guys hate the noise but it makes the job so much easier. I probably go through 1 bit per month at work.

My drill climbs out of plasterboard screws unless you give it a significant amount of pressure- are you saying that an impact driver would reduce this annoyance?

If so I will purchase one.

Are you sure you're using the right bit?
Plasterboard screws are plain old Plillips head not Pozi drive.
The extra little cross makes all the difference.

I am using the correct bit- it is not pozi

Then you need one of these:

http://images.toolstop.co.uk/product/4639d4f67763adaa011af134146cba6b.jpg