Tools other than grinders

[Thrashsmith]

Hi folks,

I'm pretty naive when it comes to power tools and what's available so I was wondering if folks could suggest some hand held power tools (not including angle grinders) for me to check out that would be useful for common jobs?

E.g I was watching a video the other day and saw a guy sanding something with a little hand held belt sander that was about an inch wide and looked really useful - but until then I didn't even know they existed.

Anything that could be useful for grind/sanding/smoothing out welds in tight corners would be very helpful, but I'd appreciate any suggestions for any tools you think are worth checking out.
Cheers

 

[Parm]

A very open ended question this. It all depends what you want to do.

I'm a lazy bar steward and tend to go for power / mechanised anything I could. But recently I've found the joys and simplicity of just using basic hand tools for stuff

 

[Shedendman]

A die grinder,weather electric or air,or get yourself a rough or bastard cut files you'll be surprised how handy they can be in tight corners

 

[Maker]

E.g I was watching a video the other day and saw a guy sanding something with a little hand held belt sander that was about an inch wide and looked really useful - but until then I didn't even know they existed.

It's called a powerfile, and yes, they're excellent.

 

[Lufbramatt]

Evolution power file, £45 on amazon, great little tool!

 

[garethp]

I'll second die grinders, straight and right angled with a selection of carbide burrs and 50 + 75mm sanding discs. Great for tight corners. Never had much luck with small grinding stones though.

 

[Agrismith]

If using thin sheet metal aor nibblers are much better a jigsaw for cutting it
There are also hand held shears hand held bandsaws
Tube sanders
Check out the metabo website they do lots of metal working powertools

 

[Kent]

Die grinder. Various things you can put on them. My best purchase last year was a good battery breaker / hammer drill (had a fuse trip inside a customers home and as I had no key to reset it and no power had to go home) also a 7" grinder again battery. For installing gates, railings and such stuff they are neat things faster than running leads out, safer and just plain convenient.
7" is hard to get discs for but ideal for cutting not as numb as a 9" and more depth than 115mm.
I toyed with a reciprocating saw and a new impact gun of the same brand and battery type but to be frank neither could pay thier way soon enough. It's easy to over tool and blow capital or reduce your personal drawings in this job don't rush to spend if it won't pay its way imo

 

[Kent]

Oh make sure you get a spare straight shank chuck for an sds to convert it for up to 13mm hss drill bits

 

[slim_boy_fat]

It's called a powerfile, and yes, they're excellent.

Another vote here for them - I use mine more than I'd expected.

 

[rikrobson]

My best purchase last year was a good battery breaker / hammer drill (had a fuse trip inside a customers home and as I had no key to reset it and no power had to go home)

Get a Genny or go to the pub

 

[ukracer]

I purchased this yesterday on an impulse buy......trying to convince myself it's going to get used..

 

[pedrobedro]

Oscillating multi tool. I bought one just to use the plunge saw function taking window frames out but it has been used as a sander as well.

 

[Kent]

Get a Genny or go to the pub

Generator? In residential, spill kits, fuel, stink failure to start, weight, cost getting stolen? No thanks

 

[Maker]

Oscillating multi tool. I bought one just to use the plunge saw function taking window frames out but it has been used as a sander as well.

I had an Aldi one a few years, the best use I found was the sharp scraper blade thing would cleanly plunge cut into stacks of paper, I made a couple of secret compartment books. I managed to burn it out within a couple of weeks so I returned it as faulty

 

[pedrobedro]

I had an Aldi one a few years, the best use I found was the sharp scraper blade thing would cleanly plunge cut into stacks of paper, I made a couple of secret compartment books. I managed to burn it out within a couple of weeks so I returned it as faulty

I bought mine from Netto and it's still going strong, unlike Netto who have gone the way of the dinosaur