Suggestions for useful tools...

[nicebutdim]

Amazon have kindly given me £10 off £25 spend. I don't care much for tat, so figured it might as well go towards a new tool.

As I can't list every tool in my possession, I'd welcome suggestions for stuff that might not be immediately obvious, but very useful and worth having (in the region of £25-£50ish).

 

[GBDamo]

CK auto strippers.

 

[nicebutdim]

CK auto strippers.

Have a set - will have to be something that isn't obvious as I've covered those bases.

 

[Flanders]

Have you got G clamps or similar. Or a telescopeic magnetic tool

 

[nicebutdim]

Have you got G clamps or similar. Or a telescopeic magnetic tool

Yes and yes.

Starting to realise this might not have been a great idea and a waste of people's time ?

 

[Flanders]

Yes and yes.

Starting to realise this might not have been a great idea and a waste of people's time ?

Well give us something to do while the football on ?

 

[Flanders]

Treat yourself to another sorter box you can never have enough

 

[timhoward]

Do you have the Kewtech Lightmate kit? (I've got the cheaper TIS one but Amazon don't seem to do that!)

 

[nicebutdim]

Treat yourself to another sorter box you can never have enough

Feeling really bad about this thread now. Have four deep fatmax stackable storage boxes and a few of their smaller, lighter boxes.

 

[ruston]

Have you got G clamps or similar. Or a telescopeic magnetic tool

Or a pair of slim long nose VIce grips.

 

[Pete999]

Knipex Installation pliers

 

[nicebutdim]

Do you have the Kewtech Lightmate kit? (I've got the cheaper TIS one but Amazon don't seem to do that!)

Great shout!

Looked at them many times, but never pulled the trigger. Didn't realise TIS made a version as I'd only seen Kewtech and Socket & See.

Just noticed Amzon themselves are £10 more expensive than other sellers and the voucher can only be used on purchases from them ?

 

[nicebutdim]

Knipex Installation pliers

I actually like the look of those and had been thinking about a new set of long nose pliers as my own aren't great. Fancied my first knipex tool, but don't like their long nose pliers - I like using that open serated section for bending the end of conductors, but Knipex don't have it. CK long nose look like my kind of pliers, but not sold by Amazon.

Those installation pliers have a narrow nose, open serated section (whatever it's called) and shears - pricey, but might treat myself to a pair.

 

[nicebutdim]

Or a pair of slim long nose VIce grips.

Never entered my mind - another tool for the list, either now or in the near future.

 

[Lister1987]

Knipex ergo strip, Klien conduit level if you do a lot of pipe. Small stabila level that fits inside patress', Bosch multimaterial drill bit set, keyring magnetiser, Superrod double ended supergrip (crskd-1114)

 

[ruston]

Never entered my mind - another tool for the list, either now or in the near future.

Vice have been taken over by Irwin ; another quality supplier. Mine are about 35 years old and still going strong.

 

[timhoward]

Great shout!

Looked at them many times, but never pulled the trigger. Didn't realise TIS made a version as I'd only seen Kewtech and Socket & See.

Just noticed Amzon themselves are £10 more expensive than other sellers and the voucher can only be used on purchases from them ?

I got mine about 6 months ago. "TIS LIGHTAD" on ebay - they are currently £50 delivered. Doesn't help you with an amazon voucher of course!
They seem to have slightly longer shafts than the Kewtech ones my mate has which helps. I have to say they are getting used an awful lot. One handed R1+R2 at light fittings is nice.

 

[Dustydazzler]

A decent set of hole saws or wood bits

 

[nicebutdim]

Knipex ergo strip, Klien conduit level if you do a lot of pipe. Small stabila level that fits inside patress', Bosch multimaterial drill bit set, keyring magnetiser, Superrod double ended supergrip (crskd-1114)

Ergo strip I've looked at many time, but could never quite decide if it would ever get enough use.
Mini level I have the Stanley 042130 - bit larger than Stabila mini, but liked that it had horizontal & vertical. Slightly wider than 1G pattress.
Drill bits coming out of my ears.
Small magnetiser is very hady - provided it's not at the bottom of a box.
Have small, cheap rods & CK Mighty set, but also recently picked up Super Rod CRSK12 (comes with 2 sizes of supergrip) as Amazon were running a bargain price.

I got mine about 6 months ago. "TIS LIGHTAD" on ebay - they are currently £50 delivered. Doesn't help you with an amazon voucher of course!
They seem to have slightly longer shafts than the Kewtech ones my mate has which helps. I have to say they are getting used an awful lot. One handed R1+R2 at light fittings is nice.

Can't believe I never saw that TIS set before and price is much better than either of the other options.

A decent set of hole saws or wood bits

Literally have thousands of Metabo holesaws, supplemented with a few cheap Erbrauer for larger sizes.

Spade bits are a subject I've never properly addressed. Currently using a cheap Dewalt set, with several brands added as replacements. Bosch speed cut seems to be highly rated, but I generally have 12v tools to hand and always felt that speed cut would be a bit aggressive for them.




Not sure if I've found anything suitable to buy from Amazon on this occasion (possibly Knipex installation pliers...), but appreciate everyone's thoughts and can now add a few more tools to that ever expanding and contracting list ?

 

[Lister1987]

Ergo strip I've looked at many time, but could never quite decide if it would ever get enough use.
Mini level I have the Stanley 042130 - bit larger than Stabila mini, but liked that it had horizontal & vertical. Slightly wider than 1G pattress.
Drill bits coming out of my ears.
Small magnetiser is very hady - provided it's not at the bottom of a box.
Have small, cheap rods & CK Mighty set, but also recently picked up Super Rod CRSK12 (comes with 2 sizes of supergrip) as Amazon were running a bargain price.



Can't believe I never saw that TIS set before and price is much better than either of the other options.



Literally have thousands of Metabo holesaws, supplemented with a few cheap Erbrauer for larger sizes.

Spade bits are a subject I've never properly addressed. Currently using a cheap Dewalt set, with several brands added as replacements. Bosch speed cut seems to be highly rated, but I generally have 12v tools to hand and always felt that speed cut would be a bit aggressive for them.




Not sure if I've found anything suitable to buy from Amazon on this occasion (possibly Knipex installation pliers...), but appreciate everyone's thoughts and can now add a few more tools to that ever expanding and contracting list ?

Dilog, beha amprove, Martindale and a few others also do them

 

[Dartlec]

The Knipex is great for flex, does a very nice job without nicking any of the cores...

Don't find the other bits that useful though - For stripping end of cores where limited space I find the Jokari all rounder pretty useful though and nice and cheap too.

I struggle to use it to strip Twin and Earth though, I think you need to get the technique just right...

 

[nicebutdim]

Never seen light test adaptors from Martindale or Di-Log and can't find htem in current ranges. Beha-Amprobe make top notch gear, but a little spendy for these adaptors. TIS looks like the best option (for me), but that'll be for another day.

Figured it'll be something my miserly mindset considers to be extravagant. Ergostrip always looked interesting, but have a Weicon stripper that does the same job, albeit less quickly. Knipex stepcut looks interesting, but have a couple of pairs of croppers that'll do for some time and, besides, Amazon seem to have trust issues about supplying them to people in NI!

Don't need them but, what the heck, I'll go with the installation pliers suggested by @Pete999 - Amazon price is as good as any for the non-sprung version (don't like the idea of spring and lock) and that £10 off helps me justify this indefensible expenditure ?


Appreciate all the suggestions and, if anyone happens to have more ideas, feel free to contribute as I'm always receptive to ideas for future tool purchases.

 

[telectrix]

knipex crimper for insulated crimps . the jaws are narrower than other makes so you can safely crimp 1 end without partly crimping the other end, and the pressure is adjustable,

 

[Lister1987]

Socket n See also do them, might have been them I meant to mention instead of Martindale ?

 

[SJD]

Do you have the Kewtech Lightmate kit? (I've got the cheaper TIS one but Amazon don't seem to do that!)

I've had a couple of the Kewtech Lightmate kits over the years, but (a) found them a bit large to fit in some light fittings with small shades, and (b) prone to damage or going intermittent esp. if dropped now and again. Then I found this Amprobe kit, where the adapters are so much slimmer and fit where the Kewtech ones don't. A bit pricy, but I wouldn't go back to Kewtech ones now:

Fluke Beha-Amprobe Lightmate Lamp/Light/Luminaire Testing Kit - 5 Adapters for Safe and Easy Light Testing - Testermans

4 mm safety socket - compatible with any test equipment that uses 4 mm safety connectors Maintenance-free - no need for batteries or calibration Finger guard safety barrier - prevents accidental contact with live parts Single-handed operation - allows you to test light points with one hand Low...

testermans.co.uk

I paid just under £67 inc. VAT online about a year ago, but you can easily pay over £100 if you don't shop carefully. They seem quite rugged but I've not tried dropping any of them, the price makes me a bit more careful!

 

[pc1966]

Just added that Fluke Beha-Amprobe Lightmate kit to my tool wish-list!

 

[Lister1987]

Striped screw extractor set, for when screw heads are stripped by Joe public using the wrong driver or Cowboy spark using an impact on EVERYTHING

 

[nicebutdim]

Striped screw extractor set, for when screw heads are stripped by Joe public using the wrong driver or Cowboy spark using an impact on EVERYTHING

Had a few sets over the years, but was never impressed by any of them. I suspect paying a little more might go a long way with screw extractors.

 

[pc1966]

I have also had limited success with screw/stud extractors. Occasionally just perfect, worst case they snap any you now have really hard steel to attempt to drill out.

 

[Lister1987]

10mm & 12mm plug cutters, for chipboard flooring.

Get around the nails and resecure with screws

 

[nicebutdim]

There are a couple of other interesting tools for cutting access holes in chipboard flooring.

4" or 5" hole with rebate for plug or plate.

 

[Lister1987]

There are a couple of other interesting tools for cutting access holes in chipboard flooring.

4" or 5" hole with rebate for plug or plate.

Superrod Cavity Master?

 

[nicebutdim]

Superrod Cavity Master?

Not sure of names but, of the two that come to mind, one provides a steel plate (presumably requires a little sealant or adhesive) and the other a plastic plug.

I like the idea of cutting around screws, but you still have tongue to cut. I guess access holes are handy when you know where to cut and lifting sections the better option when you don't.

 

[telectrix]

that weetabix flooring is the spawn of the devil, with water pipes tight up against the underside. if i need some cutting out, i get the customer to do it.

 

[Dustydazzler]

that weetabix flooring is the spawn of the devil, with water pipes tight up against the underside. if i need some cutting out, i get the customer to do it.

you get a little camera that if you drill a 16mm hole you can poke the camera down to check for pipes before ripping through the floors with a circular saw

yes you might hit a pipe when drilling the small hole but it’s less risky than going at it with a circular saw

 

[pc1966]

you get a little camera that if you drill a 16mm hole you can poke the camera down to check for pipes before ripping through the floors with a circular saw

yes you might hit a pipe when drilling the small hole but it’s less risky than going at it with a circular saw

One of those "ferret" cameras is also on my wish list!

 

[pirate]

Trend do a circular cut-out jig for chipboard...I've seen it in action, but this video will make you wince

 

[Dustydazzler]

Quite a good way if you need a big access hole , the black plastic spinning thing gives you the correct depth

 

[telectrix]

like it. a nice tool.

 

[nicebutdim]

Was half minded to add to the tool collection tonight, with suggestions in mind from this and other threads. Glad I did as Amazon had Super Rod's Cavity Master kit in a warehouse deal for just over £24. Added a spare Wera #2 Robertson blade & Armeg roofing bolt driver and Amazon gave another £5 off if I used click & collect. £35 & change for the lot seemed like a bargain and I take back (some of) the stuff I've said about them.