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Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sat Nov 20, 04 9:09 am Post subject: Tools!

After reading jema's article I thought I would add a few tips on tools.

Screwfix do offer good value, but don't forget there are often good offers elsewhere. B&Q's range of Performance Power can come with 3 yr gtees and I have two tools that seem fine. A mitre saw was surprisingly good value cost about a quater of any other make and has seen a fair bit of work and seems fine.

My top tip is to get on the Machine Mart mailing list ( www.machinemart.co.uk ) as they have VAT free days where the Clark make of tools are VAT free and other brands have 10% off. They have about 4 a year and the brochure is a good read.

I should, perhaps, offer a word of warning. We did have a full height bench pillar sitting in the kitchen for a few months as the offer was too good to turn down.

jema
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28238
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Sat Nov 20, 04 9:18 am Post subject:
Loads of people reckon other places are as good or better than screwfix, but all I could say is what i know as a satisfied screwfix customer. jema

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Sat Nov 20, 04 9:43 am Post subject:

They are pretty hot on customer service, but their record on delivering stuff undamaged, complete, first time, means we can't rely on them if we need something for a specific date or need something to definitely be undamaged (eg, it doesn't matter if your tools have got a bit of a scratch on them, in the grand scheme of things, but we tried ordering radiators and such like which turned up dented. Windows as well, I think. )

Still, overall, there are many worse companies out there.

Btw - "Machine Mart catalogue is a good read"???

Have I taught him nothing?

Then again, I do like getting the Lakeland catalogue, and I often take Mr Fothergill and Thompson and Morgan in to the bath

Gervase

Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 8655

Posted: Sat Nov 20, 04 10:06 am Post subject:
Machinemart's excellent, as they'll deliver to the most out of the way places, and their customer service is extremely helpful. The Clarke range of tools is ludicrously cheap (they're the same as the B&Q-badged Performance Power range, but cheaper).

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sat Nov 20, 04 10:28 am Post subject:

I've phoned Machine Mart (problem caused by myself not their product) and they were very helpful. I've tried taking stuff back to B&Q (their fault) and they were far less helpful.

However, I would suggest a quick check if you decide to buy something. I remember when a cheap 2 stroke generator was about �200-300 everywhere and one day B&Q had a P/Power one for about �70 or less! Within a few months everyone elses had dropped to about �100 but it does happen.

I have often thought one factory must make them all as some tools look identical apart from differnet colour platic bits.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sat Nov 20, 04 10:30 am Post subject:

Quote:

Loads of people reckon other places are as good or better than screwfix, but all I could say is what i know as a satisfied screwfix customer.

Just giving a few other options. Screwfix are very good, it's just a shame about some of the delivery companies they have to use. Their cusotmer service is good and I've never been out of pocket.

Another good catalogue to read.

jema
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28238
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Sat Nov 20, 04 10:44 am Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

Quote:

Loads of people reckon other places are as good or better than screwfix, but all I could say is what i know as a satisfied screwfix customer.

I think that makes it a case of where you live then, my goods have always arrived immaculate.

jema

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 04 9:34 pm Post subject:
Machine Mart have another VAT free day on Clarke products and 10% off everything else on the 09/01/05 and 16/01/05. Invitation only but I'm sure it's easy to get on the mailing list.

Behemoth

Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 04 10:07 am Post subject:

The Machine Mart catalogue is porn for DIYers. We've got a machine mart shop round the corner, in which I like to linger. Screwfx is generally good, I got a 32v cordless drill for �32 a couple of weeks ago - bit chunky but a bargain all the same. The b&Q value range can be good but some of the chepaer stuff is also a bit dodgy. I have had to take a lot of new unused stuff back (router cross threeaded, keyless drill not fitted with key less chuck) but they refunded or replaced without question.

The only thing that stops me buying all this 'essential' equipment is lack of space..

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28238
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 04 1:20 pm Post subject:

Behemoth wrote:

The only thing that stops me buying all this 'essential' equipment is lack of space..

Always my pet hate, and here is bigger than what most people have

jema

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 04 2:17 pm Post subject:

We've often thought it a pity it's not easier to share things like big tools...so you wouldn't need to buy so much, but wouldn't have to hire it from a dodgy old hire shop.

Trouble is only a few of our friends would consider doing something without "getting a man in" (in my sister's case that man is often my man

) and of those, much as we love 'em all dearly of course...well...wouldn't trust them with a barge pole let alone keeping a bit of electrical equipment (a) safe and (b) accessible.

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28238
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 04 3:06 pm Post subject:

Bugs wrote:

) and of those, much as we love 'em all dearly of course...well...wouldn't trust them with a barge pole let alone keeping a bit of electrical equipment (a) safe and (b) accessible.

I could kick myself for the amount of tools my brother who lives little over a mile away and I both have

I cut some wood for him, as I have one or two saws

and lend him a biscuit jointer and that is about it.

jema

Behemoth

Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 04 3:40 pm Post subject:

Bugs wrote:

) and of those, much as we love 'em all dearly of course...well...wouldn't trust them with a barge pole let alone keeping a bit of electrical equipment (a) safe and (b) accessible.

I often think this and the same could be applied to stuff needed for small holding (post driver, harrow, JCB etc). It should be possible if you have a critical mass of people who can pool resources and come up with a way of properly maintaining and 'lending' the tools out. But there are somethings you just need therre and then (chainsaw, drill).

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28238
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Thu Feb 10, 05 8:08 pm Post subject:

Have been preparing to do some tiling today, did not quite get around to the actual tiling, as the measure twice cut once philosophy is even more important with tiling than most things.

But one thing I did note, is that i created battons by using a table saw to splice a 1/2" batton into thin battons that I could use the nail gun to attach precicely to the wall.

Battoning therefore will be a few minutes work, and far more easy to get right, than wacking a nail into a thick batton with a hammer.

having the right tools makes one hell of a lot of difference to diy

jema

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Sat Feb 12, 05 9:46 am Post subject:
Jema: you'll think I'm a complete idiot, but I now have images of cutting bbiscuits into pieces and joining them together. What on earth is a biscuit jointer?

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