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. The 14.4v Makita hammer drill with NiMh batteries is a solid and reliable tool I could recommend to any builder.

 click for price and more details

  Cordless Hammer Drills tested and compared

* Makita and DeWalt Combi Drills are now available 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 hav 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.

Best Cordless Hammer Drill ?

special deal £149.99 with charger and Lithium ion battery!  (18.10.08)

 best deal on Makita 18v drill with Lithium Ion batteries

Lithium ion batteries do not suffer the memory effect that ruins NiCads and are much lighter than Nimh batteries.

SECOND-HAND MAKITA BARGAIN

 Used Makita 12 Combi drill and Impact driver for sale

If you already use 12v Makita kit I am selling some tools naked (no batteriers) to keep the shed clear for new products.

I have a Makita 8413D 12v Combi hammer drill with the top of the range marathon motor and metal gears

A 6980PD  Impact driver with that takes normal screwdriver bits

Both are in good condition and come with cases

£100 inc UK delivery

mail me at fred@fredshed.com

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.

metabo quick stop grinder

Breaking News-

Oct 2008

Metabo bring out new low vibration angle grinders!

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.

T

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.

There are 2 models available, the EC310 is the DIY/budget version and cuts to 12mm

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 will follow in December.

Both models take a variety of different blades that will cut wood, metal and ceramic, in fact everything except glass!

Exakt PS-150

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

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.

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.

more details on the evolution rage circular saws and blades

New Porsche designed Hammer Drill

Get the job done in style!

This is the new 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.

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.

 buy the Abranet starter kit

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

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. 

 buy Fein Multimaster top set

shown below

 buy the cheaper Fein Multimaster start set

Bosch PMF 180E All rounder

(3 in1)

Bosch make a cheaper, DIY version of an oscillating saw with less blades.

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

buy the plunge cut sawblade for the Bosch all rounder

 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

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

e-mail fred@fredshed.com

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK!

Durofix 10.8v Impact driver

compact, powerful and tough.

similar tools available from Bosch, Makita and Hitachi.

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

Tried and tested Makita 12v Impact Driver

 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

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.

New Dustcatching Device For Drilling Holes

Karcher DDC 50

This superb gadget is powered by one AA battery makes it stick to the wall so you have your hands free for drilling. You drill though a hole with little brushes behind it and all the dust drops down into the dust-catching containers ready for emptying.

The clear plastic container is washable so everything is re-usable.

.

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

Powertool Battery Charger - For your Van

If you use cordless tools extensively in your work having flat batteries can be expensive and embarrassing.  SO what's the answer?

Keep 800 batteries in your van -NO!

Spend the evening charging batteries - NO!

Makita Bosch and DeWalt all sell a battery charger that fits into your car, van or boat cigarette lighter.

Charge your batteries on the way to the job and don't get caught out

This Makita charger does all Makita NiMh and Nicad Batteries from 7.2-14.4v

RRP £69 e-mail fred@fredshed.com for best price

 

Solar Light Tubes I remember seeing light tubes on Tomorrows world and thinking I really want to get one of those one day. Well that day has come and last year I had 2 solar light tubes installed in my bungalow to bring natural daylight into a couple of dark areas. I spent a lot of time researching at shows and online to find the best solar tube and I am glad that I did. The technology used in these incredibly environmentally friendly products varies enormously as does the performance. If you would like any help choosing a sun pipe, solatube, light tube, light tunnel etc, then please e-mail me at fred@fredshed.com

My hallway with natural light beaming in from a solar light tube This light tube looks like a 100w light bulb but is totally natural and free energy for my home

DeWalt Cordless Vacuum Whilst my testing indicated that the Dewalt drill was not as powerful as an equivalent Makita drill it does have other advantages that the Makita tool does not. DeWalt are a very innovative company who respond quickly to customers needs and provide tools we want. If you buy a DeWalt cordless drill you can also find a huge range of other powertools to go with it. The 18v range is most favoured with tradesmen and builders and is widely available. This is me at Interbuild trying the DeWalt DC515N-XJ 18v cordless vacuum which -  EVERY BUILDER SHOULD OWN! - you filthy devils! click for more details on the DeWalt 18v cordless vacuum

Best Woodscrews  in Metal Box Concept KTX Drive Kit These new KTX wood screws are a huge hit with the building trade as they have a patented head that looks like posidrive but click fits into its bit for better traction. These screws can be used with Philips pozi and square bits but each box comes with its own special bits supplied. The screw thread can also cut its own hole which saves time and gives a firm hold. The screws are waxed and also countersink themselves. This comprehensive kit comes with bits supplied in a robust metal case. refill packs available at Jewsons and other builders merchants.

New Hi Tech Claw Hammer VS Traditional Versions This advanced design of claw hammer from the USA uses a combination of the latest materials and design to give greater strength and hitting efficiency. So they say.. Firstly the shaft is fibreglass and is protected  from overstrike by the solid forged head that extend down into the handle. The head is secured by two hex bolts so there is no way you can lose your head with this tool. The unusual feature is the backwards bending shaft  (weight forward) which the manufacturer claims helps increase the impact on the nail whilst using less energy. The fredshed test team liked the quality of this hammer but not the performance. Users said the hammer "seems to fall strangely and preferred a traditional tool These latest Estwing hammers come in a range of sizes and start at £39.60. Estwing also make traditional style hammers that were favourite with my test team. The leather handled varieties are the nicest  but more suited to workshop use than site use as the handles get shagged rather quickly. The blue rubberized handles are as comfortable and far more durable for on site abuse  see the largest range of hammers including top quality leather handled hammers

Estwing hammers have been tried, tested and approved by builders in the UK for several decades.  buy the best claw hammer for builders

Best Mobile Phone for Builders and Outdoor workers

need more info on any of these tools?  mail me at

fred@fredshed.com  (please include your location)

 

© Fred Walden 2008

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