Don't buy cheap tools - Rant

[fred55]

Well since I am forced to have the rest of the day off I may as well rant ; in one week two of my power tools have burned out or disintegrated - 1. a power plane 2. SDS power hammer/chisel/drill - worse because I keep buying crap ( black n d and any tools from Aldi). This has suspended two jobs which I will have to go back to. So the lesson of the week is; buy good stuff it will save money in the long run and more important time. That's it rant over now source Dewalt or Makita SDS hammer. My dreams will be shattered if once I have some good equipment from them they also burn out and fail. Please don't send lies about Dewalt and Makita failures because they don't fail; I'm sure I can hear a pint calling my name at the pub. Thanks Fred

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

you tell 'em Fred. I'm just off to Aldi for some cheap tools

 

[Mark A]

Regarding the SDS... I bought a Wickes Professional several years ago and it's really good in my opinion. Made by Kress, comes with a 5 year warranty and was on sale at the time so only set me back about £80. May be worth a look before you go down the yellow or turquoise routes?

Here's a link:

http://www.wickes.co.uk/620W-2kg-SDS-Ha ... l/p/195538
Mark

 

[fred55]

Will do Mark - since I've left a job half done having to break out 9" breeze blocks to make a doorway I need something with guts - personal recommendation welcome and better than sales blarb.

 

[John Brown]

How is Pontefract these days? Is the castle still standing? My dad hailed from there, and every year he would drive my sister and me up from Surrey to stay with his sister and her family. We always made the journey overnight in his 1930 ash-framed(wood reference) fabric bodied Riley Monaco. After a week in Pontefract we went to Scarborough for a second week, and then home. Funnily enough, my uncle's name was Fred, but without the 55.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I'm with Mark. I bought a Wickes 14.4v drill and It was excellent.

 

[Cheshirechappie]

There's an argument for only buying the power tools you use frequently, and buying top quality. For the things you only use occasionally, hire an industrially rated one.

I can't remember where I read this, but some of the big names deliberately design their DIY rated power tools for a life of only a few hours, on the grounds that most amateurs will only use them for one or two jobs, and they then lie idle. The design life of trade and industrially rated kit is years, and the price reflects better bearings, better motors and more rigid casings.

 

[kostello]

Bosch multi drill.....expensive but worth it...... I've had smoke pouring out of the motor of mine and it still keeps going... Must be at least 15 years old

 

[wizard]

Back in the late 1950’s at the age of 9 I remember being given a hammer and chisels and told to make a doorway in a concrete wall. No power tools no electric no I am only 9 years old, it was just get on with it or milk the cows. What is the matter with people these days.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Next you'll be telling us it did you no harm...

 

[Phil Pascoe]

CC -I read years ago that for B&D it was three hours. It sounds stupid but they reckoned apparently that if you used a drill for five minutes once a month for three years (which for household use is possibly about right) and were happy with it, you would be happy to buy another one for £16.99 or whatever when it packed up.

 

[fred55]

Thank for joining in my rant - some caring and not so caring but funny - looked a few drills and I've realised I need a demolition type power hammer this job needs power; sounds a lot like top gears Clarkson - eeeee I remember the day when you could just run a bagging from pit top and tek a jigger t do job; n all it cost was a cuppa tea fo't overman - now I'm as bad as some of you. Sorry language not for Southerners you will need a Dicky Dird translation app.

 

[MMUK]

Regarding the SDS... I bought a Wickes Professional several years ago and it's really good in my opinion. Made by Kress, comes with a 5 year warranty and was on sale at the time so only set me back about £80. May be worth a look before you go down the yellow or turquoise routes?

Here's a link:

http://www.wickes.co.uk/620W-2kg-SDS-Ha ... l/p/195538
Mark

Made by Draper actually :wink: The companies are tied together somehow....


FWIW to the OP, I'd opt for either Makita or Bosch SDS+ drills. Can't remember the last time I used my electric plane.....

 

[mailee]

Around 10 years ago I bought a cheap SDS drill/breaker from B&Q (power pro) It is still going strong and has taken a lot of hammer in that time. Not a bad buy for £49.95! I also have a large electric planer from Lidl (Parkside) and this is still working well after 6 years again this has done a lot of work. I do however buy good quality tools for things that need to be accurate like my routers, saws, ETC. :wink:

 

[StevieB]

Bosch GBH2-26 from Axminster - £119 for an SDS with drill, hammer and drill+hammer. I have just bought one after using a mates for a week. Axminster was the cheapest place I could find it surprisingly.

Steve

 

[MG1977]

Back in the late 1950’s at the age of 9 I remember being given a hammer and chisels and told to make a doorway in a concrete wall. No power tools no electric no I am only 9 years old, it was just get on with it or milk the cows. What is the matter with people these days.

They gave you a chisel? Luxury!

When I were a lad I had I use me teeth!

 

[MG1977]

But seriously....I know what you mean. I broke a rexon sliding mitre saw pretty quick and have been dissapointed with the cheap erbauer router I had for not long before demanding a refund.

FWIW I have a 2kg Dewalt SDS that I've abused hacking off several complete rooms of plaster amongst other things.

It's not the most powerful out there but it has stood up to the job and I love the fact that decent tools come with long and flexible power cables. Was around £60 IIRC...one of the screwfix clearance deals.

I love my makita 3612c router...not the poshest out there but power where needed and had been über reliable. But my Dewalt DW707 baby mitre saw has been by far the most used tool in my house refurb. I've broken a few bits but MTMC have been brilliant for spares and the motor just keeps on going. I must have used it 4 or 5 days a week for 7 years...it's like a part of the family!!

Life is too short for cheap wine or cheap tools. Proper tools=proper job done first time=more time to spend with family...just my take on it!

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Funny you mention cables - I had an Elu 1/6 sheet sander that had about six feet of lead on it, and about a week after I bought it I ran it up a door lining and it yanked out off my hand, fell on the floor and something inside it bent. It never worked properly again. After that I tend to avoid tools with short leads or else put long ones on from the beginning.

 

[woodfarmer]

I used to rate Bosch highly, now I wouldn't touch one with somebody elses barge pole.

I have two Bosch tools from the 1980's a jigsaw and reciprocating saw, also the same age a BnD circular saw and a drill which has had and still gets a hammering. I also have a wolf power plane and little angle grinder. all excellent. in the last 18 months I bought two Bosch tools, the first had to be repaired under warranty and the second I fixed by buying a replacement tool from Ikra. never again.

The best tool I have is near 90 years old and it will outlast everything I have, including myself.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

I've had the same experience with Bosch. Older tools were superb, ones I've bought in the last five years are rubbish. It's like Bosch have exchanged their engineering or quality director for a total git!