The toolbox thread

[BikeisLife]

In the market for a new Impact drill. Still have a Bosch 14.4V which is getting tired. 
 

After some reading, brushless is the way to go. Would like to get a brand with a bit of a range that I can expand on with keeping one battery system.

Budget around R3k. Have seen the Cat DX12 (R3,3k at Makro with 2x2a + bits), Bosch GSB18V - 50 (R2,6k at Makro with 2x2a) Ryobi XBID-18 (R1,5k bare). Anything else I should consider that will be within the budget? Trying to find reviews on these things is harder than finding new bicycles right now….

[mazambaan]

Help. A spoke nipple tightening tool (for the bicycle). Please advise what tool (I'd like one with say 3 sizes in the approx 3.2 to 3.5mm range) is best or even good.

I have one of the round ones with multiple sizes but its a cheapy and doesn't fit well.  Can't seem to find a ParkTool one (SW-7.2) in SA.

[Graham W]

15 hours ago, mazambaan said:

Help. A spoke nipple tightening tool (for the bicycle). Please advise what tool (I'd like one with say 3 sizes in the approx 3.2 to 3.5mm range) is best or even good.

I have one of the round ones with multiple sizes but its a cheapy and doesn't fit well.  Can't seem to find a ParkTool one (SW-7.2) in SA.

Get your LBS to order for you Cape Cycles has stock.

[Wayne pudding Mol]

On 2/17/2022 at 10:39 PM, BikeisLife said:

In the market for a new Impact drill. Still have a Bosch 14.4V which is getting tired. 
 

After some reading, brushless is the way to go. Would like to get a brand with a bit of a range that I can expand on with keeping one battery system.

Budget around R3k. Have seen the Cat DX12 (R3,3k at Makro with 2x2a + bits), Bosch GSB18V - 50 (R2,6k at Makro with 2x2a) Ryobi XBID-18 (R1,5k bare). Anything else I should consider that will be within the budget? Trying to find reviews on these things is harder than finding new bicycles right now….

I’m not sure what they cost but I find the range, availability, service and most importantly, durability of the makita 18v range unrivaled locally

You will pay a bit more but you won’t regret buying into their eco system

Not that others aren’t good but makita is the Toyota Hilux of tools 

[AndrewHemp]

On 2/18/2022 at 8:34 AM, mazambaan said:

Help. A spoke nipple tightening tool (for the bicycle). Please advise what tool (I'd like one with say 3 sizes in the approx 3.2 to 3.5mm range) is best or even good.

I have one of the round ones with multiple sizes but its a cheapy and doesn't fit well.  Can't seem to find a ParkTool one (SW-7.2) in SA.

Gear Change in Mowbray has the ParkTool SW-7.2 in stock, I got one on Thursday and there were still a couple left of the shelf

[patches]

On 2/18/2022 at 9:39 AM, BikeisLife said:

In the market for a new Impact drill. Still have a Bosch 14.4V which is getting tired. 
 

After some reading, brushless is the way to go. Would like to get a brand with a bit of a range that I can expand on with keeping one battery system.

Budget around R3k. Have seen the Cat DX12 (R3,3k at Makro with 2x2a + bits), Bosch GSB18V - 50 (R2,6k at Makro with 2x2a) Ryobi XBID-18 (R1,5k bare). Anything else I should consider that will be within the budget? Trying to find reviews on these things is harder than finding new bicycles right now….

 

On 2/19/2022 at 6:53 PM, Wayne pudding Mol said:

I’m not sure what they cost but I find the range, availability, service and most importantly, durability of the makita 18v range unrivaled locally

You will pay a bit more but you won’t regret buying into their eco system

Not that others aren’t good but makita is the Toyota Hilux of tools 

+1 on the Makita LXT (18V) front.

Their DTD153 impact driver is a no-frills workhorse. Sadly though, a quick search on Strand Hardware indicates that they're around R3500 (skin only).

https://www.strandhardware.co.za/makita-cless-impact-driver-bl-dtd153zj-18v

Seems Bosch is a lot more popular in SA, whereas here Makita has the majority of the market. I guess that plays into the big price fluctuation from country to country of sorts.  A month or so ago I bought a Makita kit with a brushless hammer drill, brushless impact driver (the DTD153), 1x 5Ah battery and charger for about R3400 equiv. So yeah, prices may differ, but keep an eye out for combo kits.

Another  option I saw on Strand Hardware that looked pretty cool was the Bosh Impact driver/wrench. The collet/anvil is a 2-in-1 (1/4" hex and 1/2" square). Sadly also over that R3000 mark. Still cool though

https://www.strandhardware.co.za/bosch-gdx-18v-li-impact-driver-south-africa

 

 

[Wayne pudding Mol]

3 hours ago, patches said:

 

+1 on the Makita LXT (18V) front.

Their DTD153 impact driver is a no-frills workhorse. Sadly though, a quick search on Strand Hardware indicates that they're around R3500 (skin only).

https://www.strandhardware.co.za/makita-cless-impact-driver-bl-dtd153zj-18v

Seems Bosch is a lot more popular in SA, whereas here Makita has the majority of the market. I guess that plays into the big price fluctuation from country to country of sorts.  A month or so ago I bought a Makita kit with a brushless hammer drill, brushless impact driver (the DTD153), 1x 5Ah battery and charger for about R3400 equiv. So yeah, prices may differ, but keep an eye out for combo kits.

Another  option I saw on Strand Hardware that looked pretty cool was the Bosh Impact driver/wrench. The collet/anvil is a 2-in-1 (1/4" hex and 1/2" square). Sadly also over that R3000 mark. Still cool though

https://www.strandhardware.co.za/bosch-gdx-18v-li-impact-driver-south-africa

 

 

Strand hardware - I used to live in cape st Francis and drive to PE just to hang out there, pure tool porn

excellent service and good pricing 

 

[justinafrika]

3 minutes ago, Wayne pudding Mol said:

Strand hardware - I used to live in cape st Francis and drive to PE just to hang out there, pure tool porn 

 

I left PE to live at the beach in Seal Point, CStF for a year, pure surf porn.

[BikeisLife]

14 hours ago, patches said:

 

+1 on the Makita LXT (18V) front.

Their DTD153 impact driver is a no-frills workhorse. Sadly though, a quick search on Strand Hardware indicates that they're around R3500 (skin only).

https://www.strandhardware.co.za/makita-cless-impact-driver-bl-dtd153zj-18v

Seems Bosch is a lot more popular in SA, whereas here Makita has the majority of the market. I guess that plays into the big price fluctuation from country to country of sorts.  A month or so ago I bought a Makita kit with a brushless hammer drill, brushless impact driver (the DTD153), 1x 5Ah battery and charger for about R3400 equiv. So yeah, prices may differ, but keep an eye out for combo kits.

Another  option I saw on Strand Hardware that looked pretty cool was the Bosh Impact driver/wrench. The collet/anvil is a 2-in-1 (1/4" hex and 1/2" square). Sadly also over that R3000 mark. Still cool though

https://www.strandhardware.co.za/bosch-gdx-18v-li-impact-driver-south-africa

 

 

Thanks for this. 
 

Realised I missed out the part of adding I wanted it to be a hammer drill. Pretty keen on getting an impact driver as well though. Have a feeling I am going to end up stretching my budget. 

Have heard from a few that Bosch doesn’t seem to last. There are way too many options out there. 

Sounds like you are living in tool heaven with those prices. 

[ChrisF]

13 minutes ago, BikeisLife said:

Thanks for this. 
 

Realised I missed out the part of adding I wanted it to be a hammer drill. Pretty keen on getting an impact driver as well though. Have a feeling I am going to end up stretching my budget. 

Have heard from a few that Bosch doesn’t seem to last. There are way too many options out there. 

Sounds like you are living in tool heaven with those prices. 

 

 

Nothing wrong with Bosch .... 

 

My neighbour is an electrical contractor.  His 18V Bosch units WORKS.  NO complaints.

 

 

I have since bought 2 off these 18V Bosch units.  As a hobbiest mine certainly has an easy life.  

 

 

But one probably needs to see which brand has the range of wireless products you want ...

[patches]

1 hour ago, BikeisLife said:

Thanks for this. 
 

Realised I missed out the part of adding I wanted it to be a hammer drill. Pretty keen on getting an impact driver as well though. Have a feeling I am going to end up stretching my budget. 

Have heard from a few that Bosch doesn’t seem to last. There are way too many options out there. 

Sounds like you are living in tool heaven with those prices. 

Haha no my bad. I used my don't-read-too-good eyes and the word "impact" had me jump straight to "driver". 

As for tool heaven, it's not too bad all round, but we get reamed on the Milwaukee stuff when compared to the US.

There's a kiwi YouTuber called "Tools and Stuff", who is probably the biggest Makita reviewer out there. He also posts links to ebay as he gets some of his tools direct from Japan. May be worth a look.

Also Project Farm and Toolbox Buzz are pretty good for some head-to-head reviews.

 

 

[BikeisLife]

Ended up exploding my budget.

 

Dewalt DCD796 impact hammer drill & Dewalt DCF887 impact driver.

Just got 1x 5ah battery but will get a second smaller one once my bank account has recovered.

Put up a vanity and built side tables today with them, don’t know how I lived without them. 
 

 

[patches]

On 2/26/2022 at 4:59 AM, BikeisLife said:

Ended up exploding my budget.

 

Dewalt DCD796 impact hammer drill & Dewalt DCF887 impact driver.

Just got 1x 5ah battery but will get a second smaller one once my bank account has recovered.

Put up a vanity and built side tables today with them, don’t know how I lived without them. 
 

 

That's what I like to hear!

...as it helps me justify my own budgetary blowouts. (I'm not alone).

 

Congrats on the purchase and great job on making them pay for themselves right away! Hope they serve you well!

Edited February 28, 2022 by patches

[BigDL]

On 2/25/2022 at 3:59 PM, BikeisLife said:

Ended up exploding my budget.

 

Dewalt DCD796 impact hammer drill & Dewalt DCF887 impact driver.

Just got 1x 5ah battery but will get a second smaller one once my bank account has recovered.

Put up a vanity and built side tables today with them, don’t know how I lived without them. 
 

 

Those are beast. I have them in a set. Only issue I have currently is that I cannot get the batteries to charge past 1 light out of three. Need to explore a solution 

[BigDL]

On the subject of battery life. I had to clear an area maybe 60 metres long and about 3-5 metres deep of thick bramble growth and stuff yesterday. Makita brush cutter on the highest setting, batteries lasted roughly 25 minutes of intense work. 3 battery changes and the job was done. Had to cut a tree that had fallen (not huge but not tiny either) yesterday as well to remove it. Same story with the chainsaw. One battery change and got the job done, at least until I caught the fence with the chainsaw and buggered the chain. I don’t miss petrol  tools at all and can’t see myself going back to them. I’m not a heavy user compared to some but it’s such a blessing not messing around with spark plugs, petrol and oil etc and the noise levels are not remotely comparable. 

[patches]

Blessings from Amazon arrived yesterday...

Milwaukee 12V Installation Driver with the 4 different heads, 2x 2Ah batteries and a useless US 110V charger (fortunately I have a charger already).

 

Here's how it stacks up next to the its 18V "big" brothers.

Weight wise it nice and light. Power wise it's pretty impressive for 12V. The 34Nm of torque is in the same ballpark as some entry level 18V tools, and more than enough for most jobs.

The quick-release 14/" hex (impact driver style) collet makes it super handy. And the hand-guard is magnetic for storing bits or fasteners while one works.

Only gripe so far is the un-intuitive forward-reverse button. Don't know why they went with a digital push button on the top in stead of the traditional sliding/push-through toggle by the trigger.

But yeah, this will likely be my go-to for most odds and ends, with the 18V variants only coming out for the heavy lifting.