The toolbox thread

[Wayne pudding Mol]

32 minutes ago, Long Wheel Base said:

Have you used the 3.0ah batteries? I'm now wondering if I should rather go for the 5.0ah. 

I bought in early and have everything from 3 to 6 - huge difference after 4ah 

[mazambaan]

Can anyone comment on what is best for cutting light steel sections (up to 50mm square say and 3mm wall) accurately?  Cheapest is the abrasive wheel cut off but beastly; sparks and accuracy; cold saw or full size metal cutting bandsaw a bit pricey. Anyone used a portable bandsaw or recip saw?

[danievj]

On 6/1/2021 at 8:40 PM, ChrisF said:

Finally found a nice digital pressure gauge.

 

 

Rather than the standard connector hose I fitted a cycle pump hose and connector.

 

 

R265 at Addendorf

Awesome idea - stealing your idea this weekend 😊

[dave303e]

59 minutes ago, mazambaan said:

Can anyone comment on what is best for cutting light steel sections (up to 50mm square say and 3mm wall) accurately?  Cheapest is the abrasive wheel cut off but beastly; sparks and accuracy; cold saw or full size metal cutting bandsaw a bit pricey. Anyone used a portable bandsaw or recip saw?

I find that a cutoff saw with an abrasive wheel is within accuracy range that is ok. It is not perfect, but if you set your piece up well enough for the weld you can correct for the inaccuracies when you weld it.

I have heard good things about a metal cutting disc in a cutoff saw but they seem hefty, I will buy one when my current abrasive is work out.

But ya cutoff saw if used well is good enough for most of us. I got a Metabo from leroy merlin, very happy with the saw, sits mid price range

[MTBeer]

16 hours ago, Hairy said:

Been to my builders a few times, and every time I ask them they have a perplexed look on their face.

most useless shop I've ever had the misfortune of visiting. And waaaaaaay overpriced.

[mazambaan]

1 minute ago, MTBeer said:

most useless shop I've ever had the misfortune of visiting. And waaaaaaay overpriced.

Agreed, best avoided if possible.

[Hairy]

18 minutes ago, MTBeer said:

most useless shop I've ever had the misfortune of visiting. And waaaaaaay overpriced.

100% agreed ... but they are just around the corner from me, so quick to pop in.

In hindsight, I do go there, but very rarely do I actually buy anything 🤣

[The Ouzo]

11 minutes ago, Hairy said:

100% agreed ... but they are just around the corner from me, so quick to pop in.

In hindsight, I do go there, but very rarely do I actually buy anything 🤣

unfortunately I use them way to often, but that is out of convenience (they are less then 1km from my house) and lack of other options. Leroy Merlin is about 1.5km from home, but the local branch just never seem to stock what I'm looking for. Have often followed a stream of cars out of LM and into BW.

Really wish there was a proper hardware store close by, not a hardware supermarket. 

[TheoG]

10 minutes ago, Hairy said:

100% agreed ... but they are just around the corner from me, so quick to pop in.

In hindsight, I do go there, but very rarely do I actually buy anything 🤣

Same here, they are the closest to me so yes its convenient but for sure overpriced on many things. 

Same goes for Cajees, walking distance from me, overprized, useless customer service but yet if I need something in a hurry its convenient.

[BigDL]

On 2/3/2022 at 3:50 PM, Long Wheel Base said:

Have you used the 3.0ah batteries? I'm now wondering if I should rather go for the 5.0ah. 

Nope - only the 5’s. Got two with my brush cutter; bought two extra and makita had an offer on at the time for two free batteries as well after a month of ownership, so I started with 6 and have so far not had to worry 

[dave303e]

On 2/3/2022 at 5:50 PM, Long Wheel Base said:

Have you used the 3.0ah batteries? I'm now wondering if I should rather go for the 5.0ah. 

Honestly, go with 5.0ah.

My initial purchase was the really entry level drill, came with 2 x 1,5ah batteries and the charger. 

I abused the drill for a good 2 years before it eventually went boom after putting in around 20 10mm coach screws doing post and rail fences. 

I then upgraded to the 458 drill, when overheats and kills the 1,5ah batteries a bit fast and that is when I went to 5ah batteries.

When we started doing a lot of the roofs we bought an impact driver for the pozi's and that is pretty much useless on the 1,5ah batteries, but you can work nearly a full day with it on a single 5ah battery and it is a pleasure. 

I honestly think go big, never has anyone said oh no my battery lasts too long...

[Long Wheel Base]

OK you okes are convincing me. I'll save up for the 5.0ah. Also, one very kind hubber who saw my post sent me a WhatsApp and could get me a good price. 

[patches]

On the Makita battery front I have 4x 3Ah and 1x 5Ah, and the only ones I "bought" were 2 of the 3Ah. All others I got as part of kits which I ended up splitting and selling to recover pretty much all my cost.

It also sounds like Makita has the free battery redemption deals in SA, so there's another way to expand the battery collection.

As for performance (not duration) I haven't noticed too much of a difference between the 3Ah and the 5Ah, in my Trim Router or small blower. My other 2 Makita tools (Track saw and dust extractor) are 2x 18V so until I get another 5Ah I'll have to mix and match. That said, 5Ah seems to be the standard used in tool reviews and shootouts.

Recently I added yet another Milwaukee tool to the collection. The Fuel 18V Impact Driver

Not sure why I got it as my AEG one was a beast and I have a ton of batteries for it, but I figured a change is as good as a holiday, plus it just looks better to have matchy-matchy drill and impact driver sets.

The downside... I only have 1x 5Ah Milwaukee battery, and retail on one of those is about double the price of a new Makita 5Ah. No idea why they're so pricey... seriously, nearly R2800 equivalent for 1 battery!! Madness!

[stefmeister]

15 hours ago, Long Wheel Base said:

OK you okes are convincing me. I'll save up for the 5.0ah. Also, one very kind hubber who saw my post sent me a WhatsApp and could get me a good price. 

It depends on application which size battery you should go for. Impact drivers for screws etc, and working long hours, then 2Ah is plenty and your wrists will thank you at the end of a long day. 12V options are actually ideal for this.

Drilling bigger holes (hole saws, auger bits etc), and wrenching large lag bolts, you'll drain a small battery in no time as the motor draws more current with these.

Blowers, vacuums, and high velocity motors generally are thirsty for amps, and it's usually a case of the biggest is best. 

Big batteries are heavy, and does impact handling. You don't necessarily need one battery to last you the whole day, as they recharge within 30 min nowadays. I'd rather have 2 x 3Ah than one 5Ah, or 2 x 2 Ah + 1 x 5 Ah than just 2 x 6 Ah batteries. 

 

Anyway, I'm shopping for new cordless impact drill, impact driver and grinder, seeing as my stuff got stolen recently. Now I've to decide if I'm sticking with Bosch or adding Makita to the mix.

[patches]

19 hours ago, stefmeister said:

It depends on application which size battery you should go for. Impact drivers for screws etc, and working long hours, then 2Ah is plenty and your wrists will thank you at the end of a long day. 12V options are actually ideal for this.

Drilling bigger holes (hole saws, auger bits etc), and wrenching large lag bolts, you'll drain a small battery in no time as the motor draws more current with these.

Blowers, vacuums, and high velocity motors generally are thirsty for amps, and it's usually a case of the biggest is best. 

Big batteries are heavy, and does impact handling. You don't necessarily need one battery to last you the whole day, as they recharge within 30 min nowadays. I'd rather have 2 x 3Ah than one 5Ah, or 2 x 2 Ah + 1 x 5 Ah than just 2 x 6 Ah batteries. 

 

Anyway, I'm shopping for new cordless impact drill, impact driver and grinder, seeing as my stuff got stolen recently. Now I've to decide if I'm sticking with Bosch or adding Makita to the mix.

Prior to acquiring the compact yet beastly Milwaukee 18V drill and impact driver, my 12V AEG set was my go to. Like you say, most stuff doesn't require an 18V, unless they're large diameter bits or big lag bolts.

(Here you can see the the Milwaukee 18V tools are more compact, bar battery, than the AEG 12V options).

And I've already got my eye on the Milwaukee 12V brushless kit to replace my AEG brushed one

 

This will likely be my "everyday" go-to with the 18V variants being brought out for the heavier lifting.

As for Makita or Bosch... I have always like the aesthetic of the Bosch professional range, but I would probably go with Makita 18V (or 40V if you're feeling rich). Makita has a huge tool range (probably the biggest 18V range out there), and they're every expanding. Not to mention they do outdoor/garden tools too.

The only place I have found them lacking is on nailers (which Bosch doesn't do at all).

Keep it real, go teal!

Edited February 11, 2022 by patches

[stefmeister]

2 hours ago, patches said:

Prior to acquiring the compact yet beastly Milwaukee 18V drill and impact driver, my 12V AEG set was my go to. Like you say, most stuff doesn't require an 18V, unless they're large diameter bits or big lag bolts.

(Here you can see the the Milwaukee 18V tools are more compact, bar battery, than the AEG 12V options).

And I've already got my eye on the Milwaukee 12V brushless kit to replace my AEG brushed one

 

This will likely be my "everyday" go-to with the 18V variants being brought out for the heavier lifting.

As for Makita or Bosch... I have always like the aesthetic of the Bosch professional range, but I would probably go with Makita 18V (or 40V if you're feeling rich). Makita has a huge tool range (probably the biggest 18V range out there), and they're every expanding. Not to mention they do outdoor/garden tools too.

The only place I have found them lacking is on nailers (which Bosch doesn't do at all).

Keep it real, go teal!

 

Yeah, I'm leaning towards replacing the Bosch drill and impact driver with what I had - the equivalent Makita drills are ~7k, so Bosch is slightly more affordable. The grinder I can replace with the Makita cordless one - seeing as I've my eye on their router and would probably need a brush cutter too.