Tools you wish you'd bought sooner...
Discussion
skwdenyer said:
wolfracesonic said:
If the noggins are that tight you need a spreader clamp to get them in, I’d suggest cutting more accurately. Second, the muppet in the radiator photo seems be staring at the horizontal vial on his level whilst holding it in a vertical orientation, he may be a model
The spreaders do look handy it must be said but for hanging a door, when you’re trying to get the top hinge lined up with its recess, with air bags you can use your foot to raise the door to the correct height whilst having two hands free for screwing.
If your uprights are the typical modern rubbish timber, the noggins may be perfect for getting the framing plumbed up & the spreader needed for getting & holding true whilst you measure cut & fit the noggin. The spreaders do look handy it must be said but for hanging a door, when you’re trying to get the top hinge lined up with its recess, with air bags you can use your foot to raise the door to the correct height whilst having two hands free for screwing.TBH though the off-saw timber I buy now is much more accurately produced than even five or ten years ago. I've stopped paying the extra for CLS.
A quick heads-up for anyone who doesn't yet have a set. The Lidl air wedges / bags are back in the Isle of dreams from the 30th June!
https://www.lidl.co.uk/p/parkside-air-wedge-plasti...
https://www.lidl.co.uk/p/parkside-air-wedge-plasti...
What's the current feeling on pressure washers? My trusty 10yr old Nilfisk was having a wobble already and I lent it to a friend, who returned it even worse for wear and the motor kept hunting when i was doing the patio at the weekend.
I use it mostly for car cleaning, plus the usual jetwashing a patio, outdoor furniture and kids stuff, that sort of thing. I've never done snow foam before so one with a lance for that would be nice to try. Let's say, £200 max budget, what would you buy?
I use it mostly for car cleaning, plus the usual jetwashing a patio, outdoor furniture and kids stuff, that sort of thing. I've never done snow foam before so one with a lance for that would be nice to try. Let's say, £200 max budget, what would you buy?
Edited by eltax91 on Monday 24th June 09:11
eltax91 said:
What's the current feeling on pressure washers? My trusty 10yr old Nilfisk was having a wobble already and I lent it to a friend, who returned it even worse for wear and the motor kept hunting when i was doing the patio at the weekend.
I use it mostly for car cleaning, plus the usual jetwashing a patio, outdoor furniture and kids stuff, that sort of thing. I've never done snow foam before so one with a lance for that would be nice to try. Let's say, £200 max budget, what would you buy?
You can buy a snow foam add-on for most pressure washers, so that shouldn’t be your main criterion (but may factor into your budget).I use it mostly for car cleaning, plus the usual jetwashing a patio, outdoor furniture and kids stuff, that sort of thing. I've never done snow foam before so one with a lance for that would be nice to try. Let's say, £200 max budget, what would you buy?
Edited by eltax91 on Monday 24th June 09:11
I have 2 lowly Karchers that do a good job. If I were to step up, it would be a long way up the price range to something able to supply hot water at much higher pressures for things like graffiti and chewing gum removal, adding a sandblasted attachment, and so on.
But interested to hear what others think, as I may be missing a trick
skwdenyer said:
eltax91 said:
What's the current feeling on pressure washers? My trusty 10yr old Nilfisk was having a wobble already and I lent it to a friend, who returned it even worse for wear and the motor kept hunting when i was doing the patio at the weekend.
I use it mostly for car cleaning, plus the usual jetwashing a patio, outdoor furniture and kids stuff, that sort of thing. I've never done snow foam before so one with a lance for that would be nice to try. Let's say, £200 max budget, what would you buy?
You can buy a snow foam add-on for most pressure washers, so that shouldn’t be your main criterion (but may factor into your budget).I use it mostly for car cleaning, plus the usual jetwashing a patio, outdoor furniture and kids stuff, that sort of thing. I've never done snow foam before so one with a lance for that would be nice to try. Let's say, £200 max budget, what would you buy?
Edited by eltax91 on Monday 24th June 09:11
I have 2 lowly Karchers that do a good job. If I were to step up, it would be a long way up the price range to something able to supply hot water at much higher pressures for things like graffiti and chewing gum removal, adding a sandblasted attachment, and so on.
But interested to hear what others think, as I may be missing a trick
eltax91 said:
What's the current feeling on pressure washers? My trusty 10yr old Nilfisk was having a wobble already and I lent it to a friend, who returned it even worse for wear and the motor kept hunting when i was doing the patio at the weekend.
I use it mostly for car cleaning, plus the usual jetwashing a patio, outdoor furniture and kids stuff, that sort of thing. I've never done snow foam before so one with a lance for that would be nice to try. Let's say, £200 max budget, what would you buy?
Just been through all this myself. Trusty 12 year old Nilfisk finally packed up.I use it mostly for car cleaning, plus the usual jetwashing a patio, outdoor furniture and kids stuff, that sort of thing. I've never done snow foam before so one with a lance for that would be nice to try. Let's say, £200 max budget, what would you buy?
Edited by eltax91 on Monday 24th June 09:11
I spent aaaaaages deliberating and eventually went with the AVA P50 - it is superb.
Do your own research obviosuly but you'll see theres lot reviews of these recently, I did wonder if I was falling for the hype, but its really very good.
Best thing - it comes with a long reel - 12 metres - unlike almost every other cheap washer.
Bonus - my nilfisk fitting stufbby gun fits!
https://www.avaofnorway.com/gb/en/pressure-washers...
Absolute bargain here IMO, there were loads in store when I got mine a month back.
https://www.diy.com/departments/ava-easy-corded-pr...
Bonefish Blues said:
First I've heard of that brand, is it relatively new to the UK?
Relatively new, a few years now I think. They have a growing reputation for quality, with metal pumps instead of the usual budget plastic versions. I'm not sold on the extending lance design however. If money is no object then Kranzle would be the professionals choice.
Hmm...
Ava pressure washers seem to be well made.
Up to 2.2kW.
My pressure washer with Honda GX engine was less than £180 three years ago and has an all-metal pump.
7.5hp (5.6kW).
I got it from a refurbished machinery seller. Never regretted it, and it's done a lot of work.
I did have to replace the hose and lance last year, but that was down to enemy action when I lent it to an idiot.
Ava pressure washers seem to be well made.
Up to 2.2kW.
My pressure washer with Honda GX engine was less than £180 three years ago and has an all-metal pump.
7.5hp (5.6kW).
I got it from a refurbished machinery seller. Never regretted it, and it's done a lot of work.
I did have to replace the hose and lance last year, but that was down to enemy action when I lent it to an idiot.
Just bought a 'proper' scarifier...
I previously had a little electic Titan one, which I killed (bearing failure), this year I decided to replace it with one on offer from Screwfix. Reduced from £100 to £70 - I wasn't expecting much, but it did turn out to be woefully inadequate.
Screwfix were fine about it and it went back, to be replaced by...
It seems perfect for turning mossy lawn in to - er - mud.
It has a 212cc engine on it, so it is the equivalent of four and a bit mopeds - which of course you might expect to be able to rip the lawn up.
I now feel like an Elbonian Mud Farmer.
I thing we were not on a particularly deep cut, but the amount of rubbish it brings out is phenomenal.
Getting all the moss off the lawn is now a problem. Trying to mow it up, I get a grass bag full in about 1-2m of travel.
A seriously good bit of kit.
I previously had a little electic Titan one, which I killed (bearing failure), this year I decided to replace it with one on offer from Screwfix. Reduced from £100 to £70 - I wasn't expecting much, but it did turn out to be woefully inadequate.
Screwfix were fine about it and it went back, to be replaced by...
It seems perfect for turning mossy lawn in to - er - mud.
It has a 212cc engine on it, so it is the equivalent of four and a bit mopeds - which of course you might expect to be able to rip the lawn up.
I now feel like an Elbonian Mud Farmer.
I thing we were not on a particularly deep cut, but the amount of rubbish it brings out is phenomenal.
Getting all the moss off the lawn is now a problem. Trying to mow it up, I get a grass bag full in about 1-2m of travel.
A seriously good bit of kit.
We recently got the AVA P80 Evolution after our 12 year old Nilfisk started playing up,
I've used it a few times now and am pretty impressed so far,
Build quality is on par with our old Nilsfisk
It's rated at 160 bar compared to 140 in our old Nilfisk but pressure feels quite similar
where it wins out is in the time and effort put into its design
the hose reel swings side to side to follow the user, it's easier to pull out the hose without pulling the washer over and to wind up the hose when finished, plus the hose itself is a proper heavy duty reinforced flexible rubber one unlike the plastic hoses often supplied as standard with other brands,
the lance extends which is useful to avoid getting soaked when blasting somewhere where there's a risk of blow back,
the nozzles attach directly to the trigger handle turning it into a stubby gun and the vario nozzle can be adjusted for spray pattern and pressure making it perfect for car washing
everything stores away easily and neatly and feels well made,
the only thing I'm not keen on is the cable storage, It works okay but feels a bit clumsy and doesn't feel as robust as the rest of it,
tbh I'd have been happy with just some posts to wrap the cable around like on the Nilfisk.
When looking to buy I also considered getting the Nilfisk 180 premium which was available for less money and had a higher pressure rating, but decided to go with AVA based on reviews,
No regrets so far
I've used it a few times now and am pretty impressed so far,
Build quality is on par with our old Nilsfisk
It's rated at 160 bar compared to 140 in our old Nilfisk but pressure feels quite similar
where it wins out is in the time and effort put into its design
the hose reel swings side to side to follow the user, it's easier to pull out the hose without pulling the washer over and to wind up the hose when finished, plus the hose itself is a proper heavy duty reinforced flexible rubber one unlike the plastic hoses often supplied as standard with other brands,
the lance extends which is useful to avoid getting soaked when blasting somewhere where there's a risk of blow back,
the nozzles attach directly to the trigger handle turning it into a stubby gun and the vario nozzle can be adjusted for spray pattern and pressure making it perfect for car washing
everything stores away easily and neatly and feels well made,
the only thing I'm not keen on is the cable storage, It works okay but feels a bit clumsy and doesn't feel as robust as the rest of it,
tbh I'd have been happy with just some posts to wrap the cable around like on the Nilfisk.
When looking to buy I also considered getting the Nilfisk 180 premium which was available for less money and had a higher pressure rating, but decided to go with AVA based on reviews,
No regrets so far
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