Building and Construction Tools
tested and reviewed by fred-in-the-shed
Updated 9th March 2010
Latest and Best Cordless Hammer Drills
Best Tough Phone for builders and outdoor pursuits
New Exakt Deep cut saw and other models
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DeWalt or Makita? which brand is best for cordless drills? To put these top brands to the test I had 3 builders use the 14.4v Makita cordless hammer drill against an 18v DeWalt model. Despite having less voltage all 3 of my testers chose the smaller Makita machine as it had more power. If you look at the manufacturers product specs for these tools you will see that the 14.4v Makita has 70 Newton metres of torque whilst the larger DeWalt has 52! When buying a drill for professional take time to look at the important stats - voltage is just current and is not a true measure of a drill's power. Look for its power as torque, represented as Newton Metres. Also compare batteries by amp hour for the same voltage. As you can see below, 18v batteries vary enormously.
The cheaper Makita combi drill has larger capacity 3 amp batteries and us much better value than the Dewalt offering Best 18v Li-ion Batteries Dewalt = 2.0 amp hour Ryobi = 1.2 or 2.4 amp hour Makita = 3.0 amp hour
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Cordless Hammer Drills tested and compared
* Makita, DeWalt & Ryobi Combi Drills are now available with Lithium Ion Batteries. Replacement DeWalt and Ryobi Batteries
18v Nicads are approx £50 whilst 18v Li-ion range from £70 upwards
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Best Cordless Hammer Drill ? Latest 18v versions with Lithium Ion Batteries The latest developments in cordless tools is the addition of new battery technology that makes the tools lighter AND more powerful. The Lithium Ion batteries (or Lithuanian batteries as my friend Gary calls them) cost more but transform the way you work by reducing the time you spend pissing about with chargers. If you are a professional builder up against a deadline on a big job the last thing you need is a visit to a huge shop with a knackered drill....while the gormless spotty youth wanders off to find a supervisor you are losing money and your men have probably gone to the pub. For power and reliability Makita really do set the standard. Combi drills have the hammer action vital for drilling into masonry and the 18v Li-ion batteries have a whopping 3 amp hour of charge. The 18v models have an electric clutch that prevents motor burnout and all metal gears Makita use the best quality batteries available and are leaders in the field of rechargeable batteries. This is the drill that the others copy, Makita don't compromise on quality and that is why they initially cost so much. If you want a cheaper option then Ryobi make an acceptable option but the batteries are only 2.4 amp hour. |
Best Cordless Hammer Drill ?
Lithium ion batteries do not suffer the memory effect that ruins NiCads and are much lighter than Nimh batteries.
The Makita comes with the best available 3 amp hour battery The Ryobi has 1.2 amp hour and a 2.4 is available separately.
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Latest News Under testing Bosch bring out cordless version of the 3 in 1 multi-tool. This Bosch GOP tool uses 10.8v lithium ion batteries and the same blades as the Bosch 240v 3-in1 tool featured on this page. The new 10.8v GOP costs about £150 and comes with a range of accessories like the plunge cut and segment saws, and also a sander head. Each kit has 2 Lithium Ion Batteries that also fit other Bosch tools. Obviously with the small batteries it wont be up to long jobs but has ample power for small fiddly jobs and the batteries can be partially charged in minutes.
use the links below to see prices from my partners at tooled-up.com buy Bosch GOP naked £108 approx or the full kit for £180 approx buy Bosch GOP from a fredshed partner also blades for this tool buy the bi-metal segment sawblade for the Bosch all rounder buy 6 wood sanding sheets for the Bosch all rounder buy 6 paint sanding sheets for the Bosch all rounder
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The same 10.8v batteries fit other Bosch Tools such as the GDR impact driver and GSR drill driver.
SEE ALSO DUROFIX CONCEPT VERSIONS BELOW
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Best Angle Grinder- Change disc without tools Stops Spinning faster Two of the most annoying and possibly dangerous features of angle grinders have been solved by Metabo of Germany in their new range of power grinders. Changing blades on an angle grinder often involves using a special spanner that is easily lost and requires 3 hands to use. The other problem with most angle grinders is that the blade continues spinning after you have turned it off. This wastes time as you have wait for it to stop before putting it down and can be dangerous if you don't.
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Metabo bring out new low vibration angle grinders!
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The Exakt precision saw (Small plunge cut circular saw) The Exakt precision saw is one of the most exciting and innovative products that I have seen for a long time. If you have laminate flooring or plywood to cut then you will probably be thinking of using a circular saw or jigsaw. Both these machines have serious drawbacks. Circular saws can be dangerous, and cant make small, accurate cuts. Jigsaws great for curves but are difficult to keep in a straight line. This new tool has a small circular blade that can be precisely adjusted to cut material up to 14mm deep. The blade is retractable and only appears when you press on the handle to start cutting. The tool is incredibly good at cutting straight lines and can be use on the floor or bench with a sheet of scrap wood underneath.
The best blades are the TCT (tungsten carbide) ones which last at least 20 times longer than an HSS blade when cutting wood or laminate and cost about 30% more. use the link below for the professional versions s |
There are 3 models available, the EC310 is the DIY/budget version and cuts to 12mm The Exakt EC 320 is the same but has improved ergonomics and dust extraction The new PS-150 has a deeper 14mm cut and is aimed more at the professional user. It replaces the old PS-140 and is available in 240v and a 110v for site work. A new 26mm deep cut version called the DC 270 is available now and undergoing fredshed tests All models take a variety of different blades that will cut wood, metal and ceramic, in fact everything except glass!
Exakt PS-150 £118 approx availabe in 240 and 110v
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Traditional Construction tools still the best and made in the UK
This is my builder Brian who is 70 years old and his 50 year old Bulldog fork and spade. Brian is the fittest and most effective builder I have ever seen work and this is due to experience and having the right tools. (and my tea). Normal garden forks and spades are not strong enough for construction work and will quickly fail. If you are digging foundations in clay or shovelling tones of ballast you need purpose made heavy duty construction tools. the best are made by Bulldog and have survived to tell their story. These 50 year old tools were solid forged in Wigan from the best steel. Amazingly these tools are still available and with the same design. Bulldog make hundreds of different models of forks, spades and shovels with the widest variety of handle and shaft variations, including fibrglass , plastic , wood and metal specifically for the job you do. |
Buy Bulldog Tools from an expert! mail fred@fredshed.com
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| Forks Spades and Shovels for Building and
Construction Work. Typically these tools are heavier than garden tools and may have steel shafts and handles. Modern versions use fibreglass for even more strength. If you want to buy top quality British made forks spades and shovels for building work I can supply them at the best prices direct from the Wigan factory. There is a massive range of sizes and shapes available which you can see on the Bulldog website www.bulldogtools.co.uk Mail me the serial number and FULL DESCRIPTION of the tools if you want a competitive quote and a personalised service to suit your needs. Delivery charge is £7 regardless of how many tools you order and I can offer discounts for orders of 2 or more tools.
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Circular saw with dust collection This new design of circular saw has built in dust and debris collection to cut down the mess and discomfort of working with these potentially scary tools. The new rage circular saw has a number of innovative features that make it easier and safer to use than standard circular saws. The rage blade can cut through wood and metal so will not jump out of your hands if you hit a nail in some wood. A diamond tipped blade is also available for cutting concrete and masonry. watch this space or mail me for more info
My master builders (Fred &Barney) have been testing the Evolution rage saw whilst working at the the shed. They were uncharacteristically impressed with it and particularly like the dust collection feature. Tim the plumber also used it to cut channels in a concrete floor for pipe work. The Evolution Rage saw has one minor drawback which is a trade off from having the dust collection box which means that the rotating blade cover cannot be easily retracted for angled plunge cuts. The saw retails for £99 with replacement blades around £20. Evolution Power Tools also sell larger saws and other products. more details on the evolution rage circular saws and blades COMING SOON - UNDER TESTING SMALL CHOPSAW VERSION |
check price on 240v Evolution Rage Saw 110v version of the Evolution Rage 185mm saw Buy Diamond Blade for Masonry for Evolution Rage 185mm saw
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Porsche designed Hammer Drill Get the job done in style! This is the Metabo Multihammer drill designed by Porsche but using the top quality Metabo 710w motor and hammerdrill mechanism with rotary stop for light chiselling. This radical design experiment has some advantages when drill at lower levels but loses it a bit at higher levels as the start button cannot be controlled with your index finger. However if you love design and want to make a statement this carbon fibre and Aluminium hammer stop drill is the tool for you and will be the envy of your workmates.
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2008 GOLDEN SHED AWARD WINNER New Dustless Sanding System The Abranet sanding system requires hand power and a vacuum cleaner to attach the hose to. I am testing the system with it attached to a Henry vacuum cleaner and the dedicated Mirka dust extraction vacuum (shown opposite) The really clever part of the Abranet sanding system is the mesh sanding sheets that allow dust particles to pass right through and then into the vacuum hose. These abrasive sheets use aluminum oxide to remove material and seem to last at least 5 times longer than normal aluminium oxide sheets. The Abranet abrasive is velcro backed so can be cut to shape to fit other makes of sander. Sanding sheets A big problem with sanders is the cost and availability of the sanding sheets. This applies mostly to the velcro style pads for DIY models which can be very expensive. Often sanding sheets fail due to clogging, especially on gloss paints and varnish. This clogging is made worse by powered sanders as the heat melts the paint into a sticky goo. The new Abranet "dustless sanding system uses mesh to enable dust particles to pass through and be extracted. If you want to buy the excellent new Abranet dust free sanding set click this link.
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The Abrantet system works best with the special Mirka dust extraction vacuum but will also work well with a cheaper Henry or Earlex vacuum cleaner
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Homebuilding and Renovation Show - Best Tool in Show - Fein MultiMaster This is me at the fantastic Homebuilding and Renovation show using the equally fantastic Fein MultiMaster power tool. This tool is like a Dremel on steroids and can be used to saw, sand, chisel, file, grind, and polish. I have seen it and many other tools at trade shows over many years. Many come and go and are cleverly marketed gadgets. The secret to this tool is the patented oscillation system that many other manufacturers would love to copy but can't. The Fein MultiMaster is a serious professional tool and is here to stay. It was easily the best tool at this massive show and has functions I have not seen on any other powertool. shown below buy the cheaper Fein Multimaster start set
or , now that the patent has expired, but a cheaper version ! Bosch PMF 180E All rounder (3 in1) and now cordless GOP 10.8v
buy Bosch PMF 180 from fredshed partner
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Homebuilding and Renovation Show This show is a must for anyone in the building and construction trade. See all the latest products and ideas under one roof. Meet the actual inventors and manufacturers of the products that you use. To see the next show http://www.homebuildingshow.co.uk/ for the 4 other shows across the country Buy blades for the Bosch all rounder from a fredshed partner site buy the bi-metal segment sawblade for the Bosch all rounder buy 6 wood sanding sheets for the Bosch all rounder buy 6 paint sanding sheets for the Bosch all rounder
This blade fits both Bosch versions |
see the largest range of delta sanding sheets
Impact Drivers and Electric Screwdrivers
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NEW PROFESSIONAL QUALITY TOOLS TAKE ON THE BIG NAMES I love it when some new players enter the market and raise the game with new tools at great prices. This new 10.8 volt impact driver is such a tool as it has the latest lithium ion battery that can be fully recharged in 15 minutes! This tough looking tool has all the features you would expect from a professional quality tool and costs a reasonable £119 plus vat which includes 2 batteries, a proper strong box and some drill and screwdriver bits. As this is a professional tool designed for heavy use you also get a spare set of motor brushes that can be easily changed without opening the body. The new Durofix powertools are brought to us by Concept Distribution who also market the fantastic range of KTX screws and collated screw feed systems. As well as the impact driver there is also a drill driver which uses the same batteries. Watch this space or e-mail me for more details of where to buy this new tool in the UK
Now Available 18v version, with 190Nm of torque! e-mail fred@fredshed.com
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NEW KID ON THE BLOCK!
Durofix 10.8v Impact driver compact, powerful and tough. similar tools available from Bosch, Makita and Hitachi.
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Impact Drivers are the most advanced and powerful screwdrivers available. It looks like a small drill/driver but is very different inside. Instead of just turning the screw this tool hits hit hundreds of times as well to blast it in (or out) faster than any other tool. The 12v Makita Impact driver astounded me and everyone that tested it.. No-one wanted to give this handy tool back as it saves so much time and is a joy to use. The clever design of the clutch mechanism also means that even screws with badly damaged heads can be driven in and out. The Makita Impact driver also has a built in mini work light which is now common on many powertools. The tool we tried had NiMh batteries but versions with Lithium Ion are now available. Most 12v cordless tools come with a maximum 2 Ah battery which is fine for average tools but high power tools like this, that are every day by the pros can really use a 3.Ah power pack. Makita Impact drivers come in 12v and 14.4 v and 18v versions . And now the latest impact driver out by concept has lithium ion batteries that fully charge in 15 minutes! Another cordless screwdriver worth looking at is the Metabo Powermaxx Li. Although it does not have the impact mechanism of the Makita is available with the angled head attachment favoured by kitchen fitters
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Tried and tested Makita 12v Impact Driver
The new 18v Durofix impact driver has 190nm of torque and comes with 2 Li-ion batteries that recharge in 30 minutes. Durofix tools always come in a sturdy and easy to use box with metal clips and the bits you need. Durofix powertools are designed for the trade market nad tend to have more power and features for less money than brand leaders like Makita, Bosch and Dewalt. I am a big fan of Durofix tools and cant wait to see the next models ! check price of the Metabo Powermax and other cordless screwdrivers or compare to another fredshed recommended supplier below buy the IXO or other cordless screwdrivers
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Shatterproof Inspection Lamp This new rechargeable LED inspection lamp is so tough I can be seen smashing it against a bench on youtube and still not managing to break it or even make the bulbs flicker! Not having a cable makes this lamp safer and easier to use. Also the LED bulbs are bright and efficient so the battery will last ages before it needs recharging. This is one of the most impressive new products I have tested for fredshed and although there are similar looking torches on sale in builders merchants they don't have the special indestructible resin case.
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Best Mobile Phones for Builders, Outdoor workers, and extreme sport fanatics. Over the last 6 years I have had 2 of these Rugged Phones First was my Nokia 5100 mobile phone. It was the most durable and reliable mobile I have ever owned. The Nokia 5100 is covered in Rubber to protect it from knocks, moisture, dust and clumsy people like me! It really works, this one has bounced down a flight of stairs and been in a Jacuzzi. (The screen did crack when I accidentally dropped a club hammer on it though) Despite the cracked screen the phone still works and has some excellent features. After it's dip in the hot tub is worked for a week then it had to be repaired - well it is only splash proof and not waterproof! A bright LED torch, calculator, digital radio, thermometer, and incredibly - a sound meter. The Nokia 5100 was replaced by the new Nokia 5140i which I now have and love as it has the added features of a camera for photos and video. This feature can be useful to builders as you can send images of components or jobs to other workers or suppliers. This phone has been popular with soldiers who like the torch and compass as well as the dustproofing. My Nokia 5140i is tough, reliable, easy to use and has survived 4 years hard use. Then came the JCB mobile which got terrible reviews and seemed to be very unreliable. (The only thing I would buy with JCB written on it is a digger.) This company has used its good name and reputation to sell many poor quality products! The JCB phone was in fact a Sonim and they are usual very good and sell tough phones under their own name and also Landrover. I have been researching the latest breed of tough phones and like the look and feel of the Samsung Solid Extreme. It has all the vital features, great user reviews and is reasonably priced. Check it out using my link opposite. I think the toughest mobile phone currently available is the Landrover S1 ( made by Sonim) which can be submerged in water for 30 minutes and still survive. It has a 2 megapixel camera and compares well in functions to the Samsung extreme. s Most of us don't need a phone to use underwater or park a truck on, but just want one we can drop on the floor occasionally or throw at staff ( Naomi Campbell 2006) . The Nokia 6303 classic is pretty good for this and I am surprised that Nokia don't get Ms Campbell to promote it. I am using one now and can confirm that it is pretty robust. It has to be because the nice shiny metal case is very slippery and often slips out of my hand. A solution to this which will also protect the phone is a tight fitting silicone cover. I have dropped it many times and it still works . (no domestic staff were injured in the testing of this product) Why Nokia did not update its fantastic 5140i is a mystery to me. I am told they have a tough phone on the way but they have missed out on a large market sector by not having a tough phone. (Or maybe they prefer to make phones that break) - the Fredshed conspiracy theory! The peeps at Sonim and Samsung must be very happy though as their phones are selling like hotcakes!
MESSAGE FROM FREDSHED READERS TO NOKIA COME ON NOKIA! WE WANT A SIMPLE TO USE TOUGH PHONE LIKE THE OLD 5140I PULL YOUR FINGER OUT AND GET ON WITH IT PLEASE
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dd Nokia 5140i - discontinued, few left now buy while stocks last..
The best 2 tough phones currently available.
Nokia's best offering, and the silicon case to protect it
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Best Crowbar - Lightweight Prybar -wrecking stick!
Estwing ESP 18 inch prybar
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you can build something you often have to wreck something else - and
this is the tool to do it with! This prybar is superior to most others due to its "RSJ" profile design that makes it stronger AND lighter! Most prybars weigh a ton and are a real pain to cart around. This new type prybar also has two heads at different angles and an inbuilt nail puller. I have used this and many other crowbars and it's strength and lightweight made it a favourite with all my testers. buy the best crowbar as tested by Fred
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