The toolbox thread

[patches]

On 6/20/2024 at 7:33 PM, dave303e said:

It is quite funny. I am in the process of installing a wood fired pizza oven. I have thrown a slab, built some walls and a concrete counter. We will install the oven part this weekend. On the tool list is not much more than a few screws, a spade, spirit level and some trowels. nothing fancy, but man i am happy with results so far. Will post pics when complete. Sometimes jobs need less tools and more hard work. The whole stoep has been a big labour, but a labour of love. It is going to be ready for summer.

Nice work, keen to see the results!

Speaking of labour and pizza ovens..

...a few years ago my wife was keen on a woodfired pizza oven (I'm a simple Pizza Hut $5 pizza man).

So me being me, did some googling and presented her with a the most "designer" looking option I could find. A beautiful, but pricey, Danish option from Morsoe. She went for it. I was then tasked with building the rest of the outdoor kitchen around it (including casting a concrete counter top, which as you say, minimal tools, but very rewarding).

Fast forward a few years, and add living about 1km from the ocean and the cast iron went from this...

to this (despite being "marine grade" and having a special coating "tested on offshore wind turbines")...

 

I tried to hit up the importer for warranty, but they said "yeah nah mate!, you need to maintain that sucker" (which I missed when I glossed over the instructions).

So then came the labour of loathing as I had to sand back the whole thing and recoat with heat treatment.

I used one of those 3M rust remover pads in my drill. Was a lifesaver

Here it is almost restored to its former glory. I couldn't quite get the looking like new, so I just sanded, coated with rust converter, and threw a concrete paver on top to cover evidence of my past neglect.

Short-story-long, and all expenses and efforts included, this thing produces the most expensive pizzas and labour intensive I have ever eaten! 😐

But it's still worth it!

Oh, and get yourself one of these little guys if you don't already have one! Super useful for fanning the flames to get that oven up to temp!

[dave303e]

That concrete paver looks really good actually...

Thanks for the tip on the blower. I do have a stable of turquoise tools, but that one is missing so I guess I "need" one now... #hewhodieswithmosttoyswins

I grew up about 2km from the ocean as well, we used to buy cases castrol DWF. Everything got a spray down. But is works really well. Braai's, braai grids, outsdie lights, tools, toolboxes, trailer hitches and wheels. If it was metal it got coated.

Living in the platteland now is different, I hate the stuff, dust just sticks to it. But near the ocean it is a necessity.

 

I am very much looking forward to the pizza oven. Need to tile the floor and tile the counter. Held off installing the oven this weekend. Just to give the concrete counter top some time to set up a bit. Pizza oven is close on 100kg

 

[Shebeen]

On 7/24/2021 at 10:20 AM, patches said:

The battery battle. Subscribing to too many platforms. Added the Makita and Milwaukee to the charging station.

 

man the tradeoffs on this one.... an update would be interesting

[Shebeen]

On 6/20/2024 at 9:33 AM, dave303e said:

It is quite funny. I am in the process of installing a wood fired pizza oven. I have thrown a slab, built some walls and a concrete counter. We will install the oven part this weekend. On the tool list is not much more than a few screws, a spade, spirit level and some trowels. nothing fancy, but man i am happy with results so far. Will post pics when complete. Sometimes jobs need less tools and more hard work. The whole stoep has been a big labour, but a labour of love. It is going to be ready for summer.

Speaking of residential pizza ovens, In the depths of lockdown I went all the way down the homebuilt pizza oven youtube rabbithole. Wifey was not convinced, especially when plan A was using a yoga ball.

Instead I relented, and we got our builder to do this.

https://www.ecopizzaovens.co.za/

it cost me a little bit less than this then, but everything came out fine. even though it is in pieces the entire thing is really heavy, build your slab properly! I think it will definitely pay for itself if/when we sell so great move if you have the space.

 

[patches]

5 hours ago, Shebeen said:

man the tradeoffs on this one.... an update would be interesting

Oh dear... well there was the next (current-ish) iteration of this (as seen below) that added Bosch Professional and Makita 40V, but got rid of the AEG 12V and Ryobi (althogh I still have that for my small hedge trimmer, which I don't use very often, to my neighbours frustration).

Then I decided to sell a kidney and jump onto the Festool 18V platform via one of their "Energy Sets", which come nicely packaged in a Systainer... so that lives in there... until I 

 

As for trade-offs... the only major one has been money, and maybe charger organization/storage as a minor.

Nearly every other aspect is positives, like:

• Not limited to one brand and their range when eyeing out new tools - So back when Makita didn't (and still doesn't) make a gasless framing nailer, or Milwaukee didn't make a track-saw, I could mix and match to get what I need
• Can buy best-in-class-and-budget - Like Festool jigsaw is head-and-shoulders above the rest for accuracy, so traded in the AEG for that, but Festool drills and impact drivers are crazy expensive with no real performance benefit, so budget dictates Milwaukee.
• Plenty of batteries (and chargers) to go around - with the ability to charge 10 batteries at once, and a stock of about 19 batteries for 19 tools (as seen below). My battery/tool ratios are a little off, particularly on the Milwaukee 18V and Makita 40V, but I still don't have to spend too much time swapping batteries between tools when busy on a project.

 

The trickiest part of the whole thing is not drawing too much attention from my better-half as tools appear to reproduce and multiply 😅

The fortunate thing though, is it's easier to sell her on tool expenses as I usually couple them with the promise of some project round the house that I need them for. Can't quite to that with my MTB and dirt bike spend 😅

Edited June 25, 2024 by patches

[patches]

19 hours ago, dave303e said:

That concrete paver looks really good actually...

Thanks for the tip on the blower. I do have a stable of turquoise tools, but that one is missing so I guess I "need" one now... #hewhodieswithmosttoyswins

I grew up about 2km from the ocean as well, we used to buy cases castrol DWF. Everything got a spray down. But is works really well. Braai's, braai grids, outsdie lights, tools, toolboxes, trailer hitches and wheels. If it was metal it got coated.

Living in the platteland now is different, I hate the stuff, dust just sticks to it. But near the ocean it is a necessity.

 

I am very much looking forward to the pizza oven. Need to tile the floor and tile the counter. Held off installing the oven this weekend. Just to give the concrete counter top some time to set up a bit. Pizza oven is close on 100kg

 

Those little blowers are of the best things yet. Although a little on the small side for leaf blowing, they're great for shifting dust out of the workshop (or off one's person after undertaking dusty activities).

The other useful teal air-shifter I recently acquired was one of their small dust blowers. Lower flow and more targeted nozzle, but higher pressure than the other.

Available in 18V & 40V, and useful for blowing dust out of nooks and crannies, like an air-gun on an air compressor, but cordless.

Also available in camo for outdoorsy types (or if you want to lose it in the bushes while out on an MTB ride... not sure why the heck you'd carry that on an MTB ride, maybe to cool your brakes as the ad suggests, hahaha)

Edited June 25, 2024 by patches

[dave303e]

8 hours ago, Shebeen said:

Speaking of residential pizza ovens, In the depths of lockdown I went all the way down the homebuilt pizza oven youtube rabbithole. Wifey was not convinced, especially when plan A was using a yoga ball.

Instead I relented, and we got our builder to do this.

https://www.ecopizzaovens.co.za/

it cost me a little bit less than this then, but everything came out fine. even though it is in pieces the entire thing is really heavy, build your slab properly! I think it will definitely pay for itself if/when we sell so great move if you have the space.

 

My team mate's husband went that route. His is a masterpiece and part of my inspiration. But to find the time is a big one. I just barely had time to build the base nevermind the oven itself. i got a ready made unit. Came as a base and a top. Insulation under the base and then some grouting and glue to assemble it. But it is a nice easy install and a good unit from what I have seen. We will start to cure/temper it today. They are costly, but I would not have finished one as well anyway.

 

I did the slab using a bunch on lintels and then threw a reinforced slab on top of that. It is properly strong. The oven is just under 100kg. I will still smooth out the one corner where my lack of plastering skills got away with me. I will then weld a door for the front and then we will tile the counter and put a wooden screen up behind to hide the bathroom plumbing.

It is part of a bigger project. I built a 36sqm patio, roof, concrete slab, tiling, new security gate. Still need to finish lighting and ceiling but it is totally transforming the little old farm house.

2 hours ago, patches said:

Those little blowers are of the best things yet. Although a little on the small side for leaf blowing, they're great for shifting dust out of the workshop (or off one's person after undertaking dusty activities).

The other useful teal air-shifter I recently acquired was one of their small dust blowers. Lower flow and more targeted nozzle, but higher pressure than the other.

Available in 18V & 40V, and useful for blowing dust out of nooks and crannies, like an air-gun on an air compressor, but cordless.

Also available in camo for outdoorsy types (or if you want to lose it in the bushes while out on an MTB ride... not sure why the heck you'd carry that on an MTB ride, maybe to cool your brakes as the ad suggests, hahaha)

Too many teal toys on my to buy list haha. But living off grid and on a farm means I absolutely hate corded tools. I just wish I had a petrol mig welder, the petrol stick welder is so useful and practical but the mig is just so much nicer to weld with.

[patches]

2 hours ago, dave303e said:

My team mate's husband went that route. His is a masterpiece and part of my inspiration. But to find the time is a big one. I just barely had time to build the base nevermind the oven itself. i got a ready made unit. Came as a base and a top. Insulation under the base and then some grouting and glue to assemble it. But it is a nice easy install and a good unit from what I have seen. We will start to cure/temper it today. They are costly, but I would not have finished one as well anyway.

 

I did the slab using a bunch on lintels and then threw a reinforced slab on top of that. It is properly strong. The oven is just under 100kg. I will still smooth out the one corner where my lack of plastering skills got away with me. I will then weld a door for the front and then we will tile the counter and put a wooden screen up behind to hide the bathroom plumbing.

It is part of a bigger project. I built a 36sqm patio, roof, concrete slab, tiling, new security gate. Still need to finish lighting and ceiling but it is totally transforming the little old farm house.

Too many teal toys on my to buy list haha. But living off grid and on a farm means I absolutely hate corded tools. I just wish I had a petrol mig welder, the petrol stick welder is so useful and practical but the mig is just so much nicer to weld with.

Looking good!

I have the perfect tool for your collection... it's also the cheapest cordless Festool track saw one can buy...

The Festool TS 60 K Pizza Cutter

[Shebeen]

9 hours ago, patches said:

Oh dear... well there was the next (current-ish) iteration of this (as seen below) that added Bosch Professional and Makita 40V, but got rid of the AEG 12V and Ryobi (althogh I still have that for my small hedge trimmer, which I don't use very often, to my neighbours frustration).

Then I decided to sell a kidney and jump onto the Festool 18V platform via one of their "Energy Sets", which come nicely packaged in a Systainer... so that lives in there... until I 

 

As for trade-offs... the only major one has been money, and maybe charger organization/storage as a minor.

Nearly every other aspect is positives, like:

• Not limited to one brand and their range when eyeing out new tools - So back when Makita didn't (and still doesn't) make a gasless framing nailer, or Milwaukee didn't make a track-saw, I could mix and match to get what I need
• Can buy best-in-class-and-budget - Like Festool jigsaw is head-and-shoulders above the rest for accuracy, so traded in the AEG for that, but Festool drills and impact drivers are crazy expensive with no real performance benefit, so budget dictates Milwaukee.
• Plenty of batteries (and chargers) to go around - with the ability to charge 10 batteries at once, and a stock of about 19 batteries for 19 tools (as seen below). My battery/tool ratios are a little off, particularly on the Milwaukee 18V and Makita 40V, but I still don't have to spend too much time swapping batteries between tools when busy on a project.

 

The trickiest part of the whole thing is not drawing too much attention from my better-half as tools appear to reproduce and multiply 😅

The fortunate thing though, is it's easier to sell her on tool expenses as I usually couple them with the promise of some project round the house that I need them for. Can't quite to that with my MTB and dirt bike spend 😅

That doesn't make sense to me. Personally I'd much rather have the same brand for battery swapping and lose a bit on some perceived performance on certain items. 19 batteries for 19 tools, I'd rather have 12 batteries for 25 tools (or whatever the budget equivalence is).

but each to his own I'm not that far down on the cordless tool path, so this is a comment from the cheapseats. 

 

 

[dave303e]

14 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

That doesn't make sense to me. Personally I'd much rather have the same brand for battery swapping and lose a bit on some perceived performance on certain items. 19 batteries for 19 tools, I'd rather have 12 batteries for 25 tools (or whatever the budget equivalence is).

but each to his own I'm not that far down on the cordless tool path, so this is a comment from the cheapseats. 

 

 

It is a tricky one. I am well down the teal path with battery tools. but the other day I saw a special for a yellow impact wrench with charger and it was such a good deal I nearly ended up with that. Often the package deals that come with batteries and a charger are just too good to resist. I can see how you can end up with multiple chargers and batteries very quickly even if it does defy the logic.

The below deal for example. I can't get a teal impact and drill for that price, so if I needed then I would be tempted if I needed to replace them.

https://topdogtoolshop.co.za/product/dewalt-18v-impact-drill-impact-driver-combo-dwcombo22/

 

[Shebeen]

8 hours ago, dave303e said:

It is a tricky one. I am well down the teal path with battery tools. but the other day I saw a special for a yellow impact wrench with charger and it was such a good deal I nearly ended up with that. Often the package deals that come with batteries and a charger are just too good to resist. I can see how you can end up with multiple chargers and batteries very quickly even if it does defy the logic.

The below deal for example. I can't get a teal impact and drill for that price, so if I needed then I would be tempted if I needed to replace them.

https://topdogtoolshop.co.za/product/dewalt-18v-impact-drill-impact-driver-combo-dwcombo22/

 

Stating the obvious here, but a loyalty club is such an obvious move for these brands.  It's like the tool makers don't realize their customers are addicts.

[patches]

8 hours ago, Shebeen said:

That doesn't make sense to me. Personally I'd much rather have the same brand for battery swapping and lose a bit on some perceived performance on certain items. 19 batteries for 19 tools, I'd rather have 12 batteries for 25 tools (or whatever the budget equivalence is).

but each to his own I'm not that far down on the cordless tool path, so this is a comment from the cheapseats. 

Oh yeah, it's definitely down to personal choice (and slight obsession in my case 😅)

Performance (perceived or measured) is part of it, but my main driver to branch away from my original platform (AEG) was the need for 2 particular tools during the renovation of our house. I looked to both Makita and Milwaukee, but neither could offer both the options at the time, so I ended up on both.

Unfortunately there's no single tool brand that offers ALL the tools. Some do get close though, but I just backed the wrong horse from the start.

Another reason to branch out is to upgrade for performance, function, or refinement purposes. I'm no master craftsman, but a quality tool with the right features sure makes the job more enjoyable.

Similar to the reason us cyclists are always upgrading our bikes. No mamil really needs to upgrade a Giant to a Pinarello, and no weekend warrior needs a SRAM AXS groupset, but it's a passion and what brings us joy.

As for the battery and charger outlay, it's not as bad as it seems when purchase in kits (as dave303e said below). 

With the exception of the Festool stuff, ALL my other batteries and chargers were bought as parts of kits. Often large 5-10 piece kits where one gets even more free batteries (or tools) via redemption, and can sell off most of the tools making the batteries and chargers almost free.

Selling batteries or chargers individually is the real scam the power tool companies are running! Avoid buying them that way at all costs!

And with all the tradies here in NZ, there's a huge 2nd hand power tool market. Some real bargains to be had, often with brand new tools from people splitting out kits like I do. Quality tools also hold their value well on the second hand market. Heck I've even made money off some tools I bought 2nd hand for a specific job, then auctioned off after I didn't need them anymore.

8 hours ago, dave303e said:

It is a tricky one. I am well down the teal path with battery tools. but the other day I saw a special for a yellow impact wrench with charger and it was such a good deal I nearly ended up with that. Often the package deals that come with batteries and a charger are just too good to resist. I can see how you can end up with multiple chargers and batteries very quickly even if it does defy the logic.

The below deal for example. I can't get a teal impact and drill for that price, so if I needed then I would be tempted if I needed to replace them.

https://topdogtoolshop.co.za/product/dewalt-18v-impact-drill-impact-driver-combo-dwcombo22/

Yup! that's exactly it!

4 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

Stating the obvious here, but a loyalty club is such an obvious move for these brands.  It's like the tool makers don't realize their customers are addicts.

Totally! It essentially comes down to "what's your favourite colour?", and kitting your garage out to look like a YouTuber in all red, yellow or teal.

I was initially a loyalist. Not too much to AEG (that was just my entry into the market), but more to Makita. But when when loyalty hindered function, I said to heck with it. Best tool for the job and within budget is my motto.

That said, if I HAD to pick (and stick with) just one brand, it would be Milwaukee. Quality tools, with a huge range, and they seem he most interested in meeting their customers needs by expanding that range.

[patches]

16 hours ago, dave303e said:

My team mate's husband went that route. His is a masterpiece and part of my inspiration. But to find the time is a big one. I just barely had time to build the base nevermind the oven itself. i got a ready made unit. Came as a base and a top. Insulation under the base and then some grouting and glue to assemble it. But it is a nice easy install and a good unit from what I have seen. We will start to cure/temper it today. They are costly, but I would not have finished one as well anyway.

 

I did the slab using a bunch on lintels and then threw a reinforced slab on top of that. It is properly strong. The oven is just under 100kg. I will still smooth out the one corner where my lack of plastering skills got away with me. I will then weld a door for the front and then we will tile the counter and put a wooden screen up behind to hide the bathroom plumbing.

It is part of a bigger project. I built a 36sqm patio, roof, concrete slab, tiling, new security gate. Still need to finish lighting and ceiling but it is totally transforming the little old farm house.

Too many teal toys on my to buy list haha. But living off grid and on a farm means I absolutely hate corded tools. I just wish I had a petrol mig welder, the petrol stick welder is so useful and practical but the mig is just so much nicer to weld with.

Another useful tool for your pizza oven...

Infrared temperature gun.

Doesn't have to be a particular colour though, any will do.

This one was a Christmas prezzie from my father-in-law for use on our pizza oven, however it has spent most of its time in my office for use on site to check pipe temperatures before we do big liquid nitrogen freezes.

[The Ouzo]

9 hours ago, patches said:

Selling batteries or chargers individually is the real scam the power tool companies are running! Avoid buying them that way at all costs!

The problem is, from what I've seen, these packages normally come with the smallest battery the company can offer, which for some tools is not nearly enough.

 

9 hours ago, patches said:

And with all the tradies here in NZ, there's a huge 2nd hand power tool market. Some real bargains to be had, often with brand new tools from people splitting out kits like I do. Quality tools also hold their value well on the second hand market. Heck I've even made money off some tools I bought 2nd hand for a specific job, then auctioned off after I didn't need them anymore.

not sure about the higher end tools, but on the consumer level SAFAs want things for free, and preferably with a battery and charger, so not much chance this side to split package deals up.

 

 

[Alouette3]

Just went to get some sanding discs and walked out with one of these. Already had the batteries so this option was great

1/2" and Hex quick adaptor make a good pair

[patches]

Decided to show the hand-tool collection some love, for a change.

 

Only tested out the #2 phillips so far and I must say, one can genuinely feel the "bite" of the Wera Lasertip blades.

Edited July 16, 2024 by patches