Cutting Metal / Keeping The Neighbours Happy / New Tools

[Retro Rust]

I've been looking at some tools that I'd like to pick up in the near future to remove the rust from my car (theres a lot of it).

At the moment I have a really crappy toolstation angle grinder and the switch doesnt alway work so, i'm thinking do I go cordless and just pick the odd thing up where I can cheap (just bought a Parkside Nibbler thats corded).
I'm thinking this as my neighbours are always at home so to keep the peace I'm wondering If I'll have to work right down the bottom end of my Garden in my Clarke garage tent rather than close to my house where the power is. The problem with this is I'd have to have an almighty long cable for my welder to get down there.

So far I'm just looking at a Finger sander/power file and a new Angle Grinder. I just picked up a Parkside Nibbler which seemed quite on the youtube reviews but the motor is quite noisy. I have a Parkside Plasma cutter too but havent had chance to try it yet. Are Parkside cordless tools any good? Maybe this is the root to go down although once I've bought the batteries it might get pricey anyway?

Basically any advice for keeping the noise down? I know it's a by product of metal work but I guess some machines might be quieter than others or some forms of cutting might be quieter.

Heres from inside the Car at the bottom of the Garden. Maybe I just run power down here.

 

[frank horton]

don trecall that interior, what car....
nothing wrong with parkside for DIY....
Always get the bigger battery...
As for noise have a word with the neighbours and pick a day when they're shopping to do the heavy stuff....
At least u have a brick garage and a concrete parking spot...

 

[DanZac]

I don't think it'll make much difference if your grinding at the bottom of your garden or the house end. Its a horrible noise wherever you do and it and if the neighbours are going to get the hump, they're going to get the hump.

Personally, I'd try to pick the days when they're not sat in their garden having a bbq, and keep the noise down to sensible times, and if they start moaning be nice to them. (And if that doesn't work, find an even noisier hobby and crack on).

I often work from a remote garage so I've got most things in battery versions. The key is deciding what brand your going with early on and sticking with it so you only end up with one set of batteries. The Parkside stuff is OK, but you might find it lacking in the long term compared to some of the more professional range.

Your other option if you want to work from the bottom of the garden is to get power run down there now. If the long term goal is to build a workshop down there, you could start by getting a decent power supply installed and then you'll have the power there for when you do build a workshop and to use now with any corded tools and your welder. Corded tools are normally cheaper, although less flexible, so that could be a cost effective option in the long run.

And don't forget, apart from welding you can do most things with hand tools. We haven't always had loads of power tools and people managed to do things before. Hand tools are certainly a lot quieter, if a lot slower.

 

[bricol]

I think you've got to pick your times. Saturday morning, maybe the mid part of Sunday. Avoid the times people want to enjoy their gardens.

I think battery tools are quieter - they don't scream like corded - but I also find the batteries don't last long enough with the ones I have.

I waited a good few years to get stuck in on my car - built a garage first - to protect the car, to be able to work in bad weather, but also meant when I was being noisy, I can shut the door, muffle the noise a bit. Open it again when I'm done with the grinder etc.

I guess the "do unto others as you would be done unto" works - consider if you'd like to hear noise all evening, all weekend, and just to keep it brief. Does make the job awkward on occasion.

 

[8ob]

Basically any advice for keeping the noise down? I know it's a by product of metal work but I guess some machines might be quieter than others or some forms of cutting might be quieter.

One of the 3 in 1 folder/roller/crops would be a handy noiseless addition. Other than that communication is key, tell the neighbours what you are doing and when, also tell them that if its annoying them you will stop. I did this at my previous home and it works a treat, never did get a complaint.

Bob

 

[chunkytfg]

One of the 3 in 1 folder/roller/crops would be a handy noiseless addition. Other than that communication is key, tell the neighbours what you are doing and when, also tell them that if its annoying them you will stop. I did this at my previous home and it works a treat, never did get a complaint.

Bob

This!

I much like alot of us make quite alot of noise at home especially as I'm also DIY'ing house renovations. I've found providing I keep the neighbours aware of what I'm doing and that I'm conscious of the level of noise it makes then they are generally pretty accepting. I only have one neighbour who works for a neighbouring council who is a stickler for the rules regarding noise etc. For her I just accept she's never really happy and so I just crack on in the hours I'm allowed to work. She once told me off for working at 2pm on a Saturday afternoon as I'm only allowed to work till 1pm! She hadn't known I'd purposely not started till 10am as that seemed far more acceptable than the 8am my local council deems acceptable! so the next weekend at 8am sharp I was outside cutting the grass, Strimming the edges and then pressure washing the patio! Funnily enough she's not commented since!!

 

[gaz1]

right to a peaceful life is an ackward rule

you have the right to repair stuff and maintain stuff this can be done in working hrs

do not think its between 8 and 6 as its not, avoid sunday at all cost except grass mowers and hedge trimmers as thats become the norm for noise as thats become where workers do garden stuff at the weekend ( 9 till 5 is the better time )

right to a peaceful life for a homeworker is also an ackward one as well as ive got that one to deal with

neighbour runs a business from home and expects you to be quiet while she conducts business from her property to me that voids a right to a quiet life as shes running a business from home instead of at a working office elsewhere if the term is used then its abuse of the right to life rule

many have applied it to block homeowners from repairs and maintenance of there property thats also abuse of the rule

just a note here grinding in a car tent does not cut it when it should be in a solid built garage

 

[Mark 5]

Basically any advice for keeping the noise down? I know it's a by product of metal work but I guess some machines might be quieter than others or some forms of cutting might be quieter.

Heres from inside the Car at the bottom of the Garden. Maybe I just run power down here.

BIB, it isn't possible, you can't quite noise, so long as it's reasonable, not deliberate or purposely annoying.

How long is your garden for power??

While I agree to a great extent what others are saying, informing neighbours, trying to keep the peace can have the opposite effect.

Give people the room for complaint and they will, if you make your business theirs, they will bitch.

You are working on your own time on your car, you are not demolishing your property or adding an extension, that's a different approach with the neighbours.

What I'm saying is be aware but don't try to control the noise your project might create, you are allowed to make it.

As it's DIY try to plan your days, grinding days, welding days and so on but don't worry so much.

Summer months 9.30am to 5pm, Winter 10am till 4.

Regardless of brands go for brushless, cordless tools but but don't disregard corded.

 

[gaz1]

as for quieter tools

niberler
plasma cutter the plasma cutter is actually quieter than the grinder even when you factor in the air compressor

a sander and a grinder is one of the worst tools for creating noise

if you want to quieten down the noise build a scaffold bar frame fit roof profile sheets and fit insulation onto the steel frame and work within that as the bare insulation will dullen the sound really well

 

[RWD3M]

Build a garage, insulate it, and improve not only the noise situation but also your working conditions. Doesn't have to be brick/block/concrete, have a look at what you can get away with under permitted development re timber construction.

Edit: I should add, my workshop is of timber construction with 100mm of insulation and I am advised that little if any noise can be heard outside of it. Even when my twin pump compressor fires up it is little more than a faint hum at the back of the house only 25 - 30 feet away.

 

[JOEPRO]

I live in a town with several neighbours on all 3x sides. I have a neighbours house only about 3m from my garage!

I weld and grind pretty much every weekend. But I try not to take the pee and do most of the noisy work during the day on Saturdays. Never had a complaint or issue to date. Maybe if there were ever new neighbours then they might kick up I guess. But just think before you fire up a grinder and mostly that will prevent issues.

 

[Nomad]

I'm doing some major works on a house that has neighbours on one side.
I did a lot in the 2 weeks they were away and it made the job a lot easier.
Last week 1 son (with a very "special" personality) moved back and the work I'm doing makes him very nervous (unusual noises, will his house fall down... ) - I did explain I'd be doing work and told him so he could go out for an hour be he prefers to stay home and wind himself up. No win..
Now the rest of his family are visiting but thankfully I'm at the painting & cleaning up stage so I'm often making noise but it's all quiet stuff.
I was painting outside before 9am today, neighbours looked over to see what I was doing but it was curiosity not to complain...

Let folk know what to expect so there's no surprises, asks when they are normally away and work around them, avoid work at crazy hours or on Sundays.

It doesn't always help. I was doing some quiet painting in my bedroom late at night at one house. Nice neighbours the next day told me their kids had heard mice scratching at the walls ... their bedroom backed onto the room I'd been painting. Oops

 

[anto44]

If you're going to be working with car body thickness sheet metal a shears like this is a really good fast way to cut it and they're not dear, this particular one is sealey but I think they're all made in the same Chinese factory. Cutting thin sheet metal with a grinder is a horrible noise.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Let folk know what to expect so there's no surprises,

Good suggestion...especially if you need to smash up an old cast iron bath with a sledge hammer...oh boy did that make some noise

Car and garage work I prefer to do when it's raining...all windows closed!

Can't be painting cars when folk are having their BBQs in their garden which seems very obvious to me...but not to everyone!

 

[gaz1]

when folk are having their BBQs in their garden which seems very obvious to me...but not to everyone!

many forget that one that not all people like bbqs or the smell of them when they are being started the same can be said when there sat outside with the wood fires burning in hot weather

whilst your left with your windows closed due to the smell of it

many are 2 faced

 

[Retro Rust]

Hi all! Cheers for the replies. It is all helpful!

I think gauging how the neighbours are going to be is the key with this one. The reasons I asked this is the more chilled neighbours on one side had complained to me about the older (more intense neighbour ) the other side of me using power tools a lot. They have a young child and I think are having troubles with sleep. Maybe I'll have to mention it more to the younger neighbours and plough on where the older neighbours are considered.

Regarding the Garage instead of a Tent situation. I dont have the money to do that at the moment and I'm unlikely too for a few years easily. Also There are a few drains running along the end so building anything perminate while the older neighbours are being so eagle eyed will probably be a problem as they are against me doing anything like that in the garden. I'm not an idiot though so will be respectful of all this. Its just a bit of background on why I'm not waiting for a Garage. I cant let it stop me doing anything though at the same time. Will all be in moderation.

The Car is probably about 30 meters from the nearest socket at the moment. I've not really looked into that kind of armoured cabling but I guess I could do a garden extension? I'd have to work on the ground a bit as the car is on the **** slightly in the tent and I should probably throw some Slabs down too as the floor is currently plastic sheeting.

Took wise I'll have a good think as I'm probably in the market for just the Angle Grinder and Power file at the moment. I keep seeing Die Grinders too but can't find a good video on them? would this be more useful than a decent angle grinder regarding Car body work?


Someone asked about the interior ... its a Capri.

 

[Nomad]

For cutting new sheet metal I have a few metal shears, left & right handed, curved (gilbow etc) eg https://www.hotrod.com/articles/using-metal-shears

Angle grinders with a mix of thin sitting disks & flap disks / grinding disks are almost essential. I have both mains 240v & battery Makita grinders.
They're also handy for cutting rusty bits off the car but it depends on access.

A cheap die grinder (Makita clone, using the Makita batteries I've had for a while) is a new addition for me but has been very useful, a couple of forum reviews :

Review Post in thread 'Fakita cordless die grinder'

Sep 7, 2024

Nice writeup

I bought a similar Makita clone die grinder, that's just finished the "One big job" it was bought for,.
Review & thoughts https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum...r-18v-katsu-fakita-makita-compatiible.138450/
For info, mine is by Katsu, the speed control is a 6-way rotary dial so it stays set where you put it ...

• Nomad

• 

Thread 'First impressions - cordless die grinder 18V Katsu (Fakita / Makita compatiible)'

Jul 22, 2024

A couple of people have asked for info about my latest acquisition so here goes ...

I had a need to removed some metal from a deeply recessed casting (bottom edge of a cylinder in a diesel engine, working from below with the crankshaft still in situ.)
Needs were something long and thin, first thoughts were a narrow finger sander then somebody suggested a die grinder.
I have a good stock of Makita 18V LXT batteries so I started looking for either a long neck die grinder or a die grinder with flexi drive.

What I ended up with was a long neck die grinder + a flexi drive + assorted new bits...

• Nomad
• Replies: 14
• forum: Tools, Materials and Techniques

• 

Hand tools for cutting are quiet, anything powered (mains or battery) isn't.
Battery tools give you the option to work at the end of the garden without needing a long extension.

The car looks smart, I'm not too familiar with Capris but couldn't ID it..

 

[MattF]

If you're going to be working with car body thickness sheet metal a shears like this is a really good fast way to cut it and they're not dear, this particular one is sealey but I think they're all made in the same Chinese factory. Cutting thin sheet metal with a grinder is a horrible noise.
View attachment 501115

A throatless shear is another option. If I was in the OP's boots, (I'm not, but I still buy the stuff anyhows ), I'd definitely be going cordless. The shears are available in cordless form.

 

[rich_c]

I'm in a similar situation, de-rusting a van chassis on driveway at the weekends with lots of neighbours close by. So I limit the amount of power tool use each day. I'm mostly using wire wheels and flap discs on cordless grinder and flap/fibre discs on a little M12 RA die grinder - the noise of the big grinder is way more intrusive than the high pitched whine of the M12 imo so end up favouring the M12 as much as possible in the hope the neighbours agree!

A note on cordless - grinders are hungry beasts and you might find that the number of batteries limits how long you can actually make noise for before a recharging break is required anyway.

While cordless is the way to go if you need power down there on a temporary basis a 30m extension on a reel is a manageable solution to wind/unwind each day. But the price of once will set you back the cost of a spare battery!

 

[gaz1]

Hi all! Cheers for the replies. It is all helpful!

I think gauging how the neighbours are going to be is the key with this one. The reasons I asked this is the more chilled neighbours on one side had complained to me about the older (more intense neighbour ) the other side of me using power tools a lot. They have a young child and I think are having troubles with sleep. Maybe I'll have to mention it more to the younger neighbours and plough on where the older neighbours are considered.

Regarding the Garage instead of a Tent situation. I dont have the money to do that at the moment and I'm unlikely too for a few years easily. Also There are a few drains running along the end so building anything perminate while the older neighbours are being so eagle eyed will probably be a problem as they are against me doing anything like that in the garden. I'm not an idiot though so will be respectful of all this. Its just a bit of background on why I'm not waiting for a Garage. I cant let it stop me doing anything though at the same time. Will all be in moderation.

The Car is probably about 30 meters from the nearest socket at the moment. I've not really looked into that kind of armoured cabling but I guess I could do a garden extension? I'd have to work on the ground a bit as the car is on the **** slightly in the tent and I should probably throw some Slabs down too as the floor is currently plastic sheeting.

if its a rear garden with driveway access build what you like nothing can be said about it as long as you follow the rules

the same can be said with a working shed for storage or using it to make repairs

so the oldies can be eagle eyed all they want not much they can do in a rear garden the front they can

scaffold frame and insulation roll is the easiest option watch out for roofing profile sheets going cheap they do exist often