Tools you wish you'd bought sooner...

[Mars]

33q said:

beambeam1 said:

DBPHiL said:

Age not being on my side, I'm thinking of getting a cordless/electric Weed Sweeper/Grout Cleaner.
Any suggestions, thoughts, much appreciated. tia.

Edited by DBPHiL on Thursday 27th June 13:15

My Mum just bought one, the wire brush didn't last long at all and she's moaning about having to find replacements after managing a third of her driveway.

I've got the Ryobi version. Works well. I've modded some cheap brass brushes off eBay.

My neighbour and I share a driveway about 80m in length - all block paved - plus our own individual parking areas (about 4-6 cars in area, each). Although getting mains power to the end of the driveway will be a challenge, a battery brush like the ones above aren't going to last long enough so we're looking at the Karcher version which has a full-width brush in the hope that it'll clean the tops of the blocks as well as dig out the moss. Do you think it'll work for the moss?.. or do I really need one with a narrow brush like you posted above?

The Karcher, for reference:

[bobski1]

Jakg said:

akita sell special SDS grease - https://ffx.co.uk/products/makita-makita-198993-4-...

I use every now and again when I plan on doing something demanding.

my experience is fairly limited but is it normal for grease to come out when its used? I have only used it a few times so I can't image i have lost too much yet but could see it being an issue in future.

Would this do the trick? Something I can get hold of today

[skwdenyer]

bobski1 said:

Jakg said:

akita sell special SDS grease - https://ffx.co.uk/products/makita-makita-198993-4-...

I use every now and again when I plan on doing something demanding.

my experience is fairly limited but is it normal for grease to come out when its used? I have only used it a few times so I can't image i have lost too much yet but could see it being an issue in future.

Would this do the trick? Something I can get hold of today

Where’s the grease coming from?

Some cheap SDS have a rotating cam to mechanically create impacts. You can usually identify them by a circular hatch on top, into which you are expected to put grease. They’re awful drills, very prone to mechanical failure in my experience.

Or do you mean grease is coming out of the front of the chuck? That’s less usual IME.

[57Ford]

Sounds like the wrong grease if it’s melting and running due to the heat of the drill. A high temperature grease would probably be better.

[dickymint]

57Ford said:

Sounds like the wrong grease if it’s melting and running due to the heat of the drill. A high temperature grease would probably be better.

It's a brand new drill so why would the manufacturer use "the wrong Grease"

[markiii]

My cheapy Titan SDS comes with a pot of grease and usually lets a little by the rubber locking collar

I've only added once as it's probably been used a half dozen times at most

[Voldemort]

bobski1 said:

Recently bought an SDS and after it got hot the grease started to leak out of the chuck, it isn't a lot but not sure if that is normal or not and if so how often do you grease it and with what?

What does the instruction manual recommend?

[dirtbiker]

Added a couple of LED panels to my garage ceiling using a cheap Silverline fishing kit and Wago connectors - can't belive I've been mucking about with chocolate block connectors for years, what a revelation!

[JimM169]

Voldemort said:

bobski1 said:

Recently bought an SDS and after it got hot the grease started to leak out of the chuck, it isn't a lot but not sure if that is normal or not and if so how often do you grease it and with what?

What does the instruction manual recommend?

Isn't the grease in the chuck just to lubricate the bit so wouldn't be surprised for some to leak out during use? I put a smear on the bit each time I put one in, or at regular intervals if I'm using one for continued use.

[boyse7en]

JimM169 said:

Voldemort said:

bobski1 said:

Recently bought an SDS and after it got hot the grease started to leak out of the chuck, it isn't a lot but not sure if that is normal or not and if so how often do you grease it and with what?

What does the instruction manual recommend?

Isn't the grease in the chuck just to lubricate the bit so wouldn't be surprised for some to leak out during use? I put a smear on the bit each time I put one in, or at regular intervals if I'm using one for continued use.

That's what I thought. My Screwfix Special came with a pot of grease to dip the end of the bit into before putting it the chuck. The grease means the bit remains free to slide back and forth in the chuck. I guess it got hot it would run out, but it isn't there to do anything except ensure the bit runs free

[GeneralBanter]

bobski1 said:

Recently bought an SDS and after it got hot the grease started to leak out of the chuck, it isn't a lot but not sure if that is normal or not and if so how often do you grease it and with what?

Isn't there a hole in the end of the chuck you could put grease in?

[SlimJim16v]

Ebay are giving 10% off a lot of stuff. I got this nice 6 point ratchet spanner kit.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

SlimJim16v said:

Ebay are giving 10% off a lot of stuff. I got this nice 6 point ratchet spanner kit.

Link?

[SlimJim16v]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151172506096

[A993LAD]

SlimJim16v said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151172506096

Cheers just ordered. Sure it will come in handy at some stage

[GeneralBanter]

SlimJim16v said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151172506096

I just don’t get how they charge so much for so little - a complete ratchet combination spanner set covering all sizes to 22mm would be less and be more practical. I’ve gone right off Facom because of them punting out stuff like this.

[egomeister]

Have the stopped selling conventional ratchet spanner sets then?

[Peter911]

I rhink I should start a new thread ’Tools I’ve bought because of this thread.

It would be considerable. 🥲

[donkmeister]

GeneralBanter said:

SlimJim16v said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151172506096

I just don’t get how they charge so much for so little - a complete ratchet combination spanner set covering all sizes to 22mm would be less and be more practical. I’ve gone right off Facom because of them punting out stuff like this.

They do it, because they know we'll buy it.

£60 is a very good deal for 10 sizes of a well made spanner, I almost ordered before reminding myself that I have a full set of Wera Joker ratcheting spanners so don't really need it. I'll save my pocket money for now.

It could be worse, at least these are useful tools that would get a few witness marks along the way. When putting together my carry-everywhere toolkit I was exposed to the world of "EDC", everyday carry. A subculture of people who buy whatever titanium st gets thrown out of a factory in China that month, and with equivalent functionality to the Swiss Army knife that you had as a kid (and not even equivalent to the huge chunky one that the kid with rich and/or divorced parents got). Never gets used for anything apart from a wky photo showing that they also own a gun and have a cigar that they would only smoke if there is someone to see them smoke it (but not their mum.... because she'd tell them off).

Edited by donkmeister on Monday 8th July 11:17

[Accelebrate]

GeneralBanter said:

I just don’t get how they charge so much for so little - a complete ratchet combination spanner set covering all sizes to 22mm would be less and be more practical. I’ve gone right off Facom because of them punting out stuff like this.

I was about to agree, but I can see how having a compact set that goes up 17mm and is through-hole could come in handy from time to time, and I'm sure the quality will be good. Carrying a full set of jangling ratchet spanners inside a vehicle is arguably less practical.

I'm still a big fan of the Bahco SL25 kits that are nearly always £20-25 on Amazon. I leave one in the glovebox of every car and have given away many as presents. They often seem to cover everything I need for a surprising number of jobs.