"Why didn't I get one before?"

[Cato]

We've all done it I'm sure, putting off buying a tool/machine/bit of kit because it's expensive and you've done fine up to now. Then you give in, buy one, then spend a while thinking and saying to people "I should have got one years ago."

Well this is my most recent example, a shiny new 500kg electric/hydraulic bike lift which also has side extensions for mowers, quads etc. The difference it makes to my neck and back working at whatever height I need at the press of a button is amazing.

 

[dobbslc]

Press of a button? Witchcraft!
I have to pump mine up with my foot!
I bought a Machine Mart 400kg bike lift years ago and it's really useful, unfortunately it's been folded flat against the wall in the workshop for years now
I've been thinking of getting it back out as my TRX needs a full service and carb fettling plus brakes etc this winter.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

I can give you a list.

Tracksaw
Multitool
Paint shaver
Thicknesser
Carbide pull scraper

I couldn't live without any of these but managed ok before I knew/owned the.

 

[Beanwood]

I can give you a list.

Tracksaw
Multitool
Paint shaver
Thicknesser
Carbide pull scraper

I couldn't live without any of these but managed ok before I knew/owned the.

Hmmm paint shaver and Carbide pull scraper haven’t made it to my workshop yet- I didn’t even know I needed them!

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Thicknesser gave a good example today.
Job quoted 6 months ago.

Par white oak. £500 delivered with some profit

Price today. £856 no profit and I'd have to collect it.


Rough sawn white oak. £235
Even with having to buy a new thicknesser (need 300mm width old one does 200mm)
I'm still only £100 over budget for the original quote. And have a new thicknesser.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Hmmm paint shaver and Carbide pull scraper haven’t made it to my workshop yet- I didn’t even know I needed them!

I do a lot of window and door restoration. Invaluable. The pull scraper will take a sash window frame and sashes back to bare wood In under an hour

 

[julianthegypsy]

I'd add a power file to that list, and a Parkside die grinder!

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

I'd add a power file to that list, and a Parkside die grinder!

Forgot about the finger sander.

I grabbed a cordless die grinder a few weeks ago. Massive time saving. Ran around the whole house buzzing out rot from the windows without messing with transformer and leads.

 

[sako243]

I can give you a list.

Tracksaw
Multitool
Paint shaver
Thicknesser
Carbide pull scraper

I couldn't live without any of these but managed ok before I knew/owned the.

This one I can definitely attest to. Always had a few jobs where I thought ah I can make do without and just got on and did it. Then had a small job for my sister which there wasn't really an alternative so bought one - never actually used it for that in the end but by jove the jobs it's done since has been non-stop.

Track saw is possibly the next one - spend a lot of time recently ripping down long sheet material but always made do with circular saw and a 4x2 clamped to it. Milwaukee have just released one though and everything else I have is Milwaukee...

 

[Memmeddu]

I can give you a list.

Tracksaw
Multitool
Paint shaver
Thicknesser
Carbide pull scraper

I couldn't live without any of these but managed ok before I knew/owned the.

Bench vise
Die grinder

Useful tools I've lived years without and now i can not live without

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Track saw is possibly the next one - spend a lot of time recently ripping down long sheet material but always made do with circular saw and a 4x2 clamped to it. Milwaukee have just released one though and everything else I have is Milwaukee...

Well worthwhile for breaking down sheet goods. A set or parallels for the rails are great for repeat work.

Can also get router bases to run on the tracks which can be very handy.

Make sure to buy 2 tracks and joiners /clamps

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Milwaukee

Hmm.

Not sure about the tracks on that mate. My DeWalt track only gets used for routing. It's far too flexible.

Milwaukee looks like it's gonna be flexible too. Unless your going cordless might be worth looking at other options. Few reviews I've seen don't rate it highly.


I'm running the flexvolt and it's superb. Not as polished on angle change and height adjust as my old festool but more than usable.

 

[Brad93]

Oil suction tool with all the attachments for different sized dip stick holes. £60 worth every penny

 

[arther dailey]

milwaukee impact , absolute back/time saver

 

[addjunkie]

We've all done it I'm sure, putting off buying a tool/machine/bit of kit because it's expensive and you've done fine up to now. Then you give in, buy one, then spend a while thinking and saying to people "I should have got one years ago."

Well this is my most recent example, a shiny new 500kg electric/hydraulic bike lift which also has side extensions for mowers, quads etc. The difference it makes to my neck and back working at whatever height I need at the press of a button is amazing.

View attachment 366971
View attachment 366972

Ive regretted not buying such a thing many times, shame they take up so much floor space when not in use.

With all these extra quality tools I need its almost cheaper to pay some one to do the job!

 

[Cato]

Ive regretted not buying such a thing many times, shame they take up so much floor space when not in use.

With all these extra quality tools I need its almost cheaper to pay some one to do the job!

Floor space was one of my 'reasons' for not getting one too, but I've found since I put it in the workshop it doesn't really take up any space I'd be using for something else. I might move it to the other side once the lathe's in, but the main reason for it sitting in its current position is that I can get stuff on and off without opening the doors. An important factor now that the weather's turning a bit.

 

[Wildefalcon]

Impact driver is one I keep coming back to. The impact wrench is good, multi tool is great, finger sander likewise. But the driver is used on most DIY jobs.

 

[steve t]

When I first started I had a stick welder cut off saw and a pillar drill all were replaced when I got some money with mig welder bandsaw and ironworker and I thought that about every one.

 

[roofman]

Up to a year ago i always put screws in with a bit holder in a small cordless and thought "why do they need those noisy impact drivers"...one day i picked my mates driver up to drive a 100mm screw in some timber post The following day i went out and bought 2 impact drivers,one for home and one for the van.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Up to a year ago i always put screws in with a bit holder in a small cordless and thought "why do they need those noisy impact drivers"...one day i picked my mates driver up to drive a 100mm screw in some timber post The following day i went out and bought 2 impact drivers,one for home and one for the van.

I'd known they were good for years. But until lion came to power tools I found them far too power hungry to be viable.