Screwfix Drill/Impact Driver Twin Pack Bargains - DeWalt vs Makita

[trigger_andy]

It’s all either dressed granite on one side, and a mix of granite and hard dressed stones on the other side and zero soft sandstone. There was up to 3 coats of cement harl to remove to begin with. The lime underneath was shot and crumbled too easily. I did consider lime but in the end felt it needed a deep pointing and quite a bit of structural work with some 3 hundred weight stones and cracked lintels being replaced. Cement provided a quicker bond.The other four sides had already been cement pointed prior to us buying so I wasn’t too bothered about being fanatical about lime. I’ll be doing the farm Steadings in lime when I get a chance.
 
The sides previously pointed in cement have no apparent damp issues either, which was another reason to continue with the cement.

What a stunning home.

Repointing is on my “to do” list as well. Thankfully not to the scale you had to go to.

[daveatdave]

it looks a right pad, but if its solid walls the idea of lime bedding and pointing lets the moisture evaporate out from the walls where cement pointing will not then it tries to get out from the stone  and the frost hits it and it starts to spall 

[Baldbloke]

it looks a right pad, but if its solid walls the idea of lime bedding and pointing lets the moisture evaporate out from the walls where cement pointing will not then it tries to get out from the stone  and the frost hits it and it starts to spall 

The previous owners of the house had 1/3 of the property repointed in cement during 1976. Over 40 years later that work still looks sound. That’s in spite of the hard winters it has experienced since the 70s. Had it been old brick work or porous stonework such as sandstone I would’ve used lime. However, this house is built with igneous rocks rather than soft porous sedimentary types or suspect brick, so it’s unlikely to get moisture within the joints to cause any possibility of spalling.

 

 

[AngrySquirrel]

On 15/10/2021 at 13:17, doobin said:

I've always found that any power tool specialist mail order place such as powertoolsuk or SGS will be cheaper than Screwfix for the same spec tools. A screwfix model might be brushless, but it will be bottom of the range brushless, for example.

 

Ebay is usually the place to find the cheapest price, but research the specs and search by the model number rather than assuming that a brushless Makita drill from Screwfix will be the same as any brushless Makita drill. They must have have a dozen brushless models.

 

Personally I just buy the top of the range of whatever I need, bare. Then use Chinese batteries- but only a 'good' chinese brand such as Waitely.

 

Example- BHP481Z. Looks like a top spec Makita brushless drill, bare version £189.99 at Screwfix

 

https://www.screwfix.com/p/makita-dhp481z-18v-li-ion-lxt-brushless-cordless-combi-drill-bare/2486j

 

But only £140 on eBay from a dealer.

 

Makita DHP481Z 18v LXT Li-ion Cordless Brushless Combi Hammer Drill Body Only

WWW.EBAY.CO.UK

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If you regularly do a lot of drilling, it's worth investing in a tool that you can truly rely on: Makita's DHP481Z. For all its...

 

Yet it's a pretty old model, the top of the range currently is the 486z, bare version is only £147.90 on ebay.

MAKITA DHP486Z 18v Combi drill 13mm keyless chuck

WWW.EBAY.CO.UK

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Warranty info.

So yeah, don't buy powertools from Screwfix or Toolstation!

All the Branded power tools like Dewalt/Maki/Hitachi are are Screwfix/Toolstation spec coded to them so have to deal with them.

[carbs for arbs]

I went for the DeWalt set in the end.  Haven't used them yet and am starting to get near to my 30 day return deadline.  So following the advice here, I've had a look and tried to compare offerings from other sites.  I had to give up in the end.  There are so many different model numbers, and then slight variations to the same numbers...  To compare within one brand would need a degree in power tools.  To do the same for all competing brands would need a PhD!  

 

What I did find is that whilst the Screwfix set seems to be exclusive to SF, the individual tools - DCD778 and DCF787 - are available to buy in a few other shops. Taking the impact driver (DCF787) as an example, the best bare unit I could find was around £70.  Which to my mind makes £160 for impact driver, drill, case, charger and two batteries quite a good deal.  

 

If anyone can find or knows of a comparable set for less money, or a better quality set for around the same money, please do let me know.  I'd love to hear before the deadline to return is reached.  Whilst I am tempted to splash out and go for a more professional better quality and more expensive set (or Milwaukee, etc), I don't think my use would justify it.  I do like to buy well and buy once, but these tools might get used solidly for a week or two, then left for a month.  Once the house is renovated, they'll only see small DIY jobs around the house, and things like fences, wood shelters, etc. outdoors.  But that won't be all the time either.  So I didn't go el cheapo, and not super pro either.  

 

All ears to any suggestions.

 

Cheers

 

PS - even the DeWalt batteries are hard to compare!  Some are block with a yellow button and some the reverse.  Is there more to it than just colour?  Does that signify different quality ranges or something? 

Edited November 8, 2021 by carbs for arbs

[dumper]

The screwfix/ tool station tools are made to a price point, you will drive yourself screwy trying to compare models etc 

choose your maker then your range and stick to it, the makita range is far bigger but there batteries let them down big time. given what you are going to do you will never get to find out, you won’t go far wrong with what you have bought, so long as you don’t intend to use them 9 hrs a day 6 days a week 

make sure you have registered the batteries and tools for extended warranty

then most of all enjoy using them

Edited November 8, 2021 by dumper

[scbk]

To be honest for diy at home lidl/aldi would be fine, this disadvantage with them is the battery system is more likely to change so you might not be able to get more batteries or tools in the future.

 

For good quality power tools I usually use Toolstop (based by the m74 near Glasgow). Always very good service and delivery to the Highlands. Like most places, they've had issues getting stock since covid, as soon as anything comes in it sells out.

Toolstop | Power Tools and Hand Tools for Professional Trades

WWW.TOOLSTOP.CO.UK

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Toolstop offers professional power tools and hand tools deals for the trade, Klarna finance, free next day delivery to the UK and first class customer service

 

[rapalaman]

I got the Aldi 18v drill - cracking value but scbk is right - no batteries available, only the 20v ☹️
it’s only used as a backup to my makita and for doing pilot holes

[openspaceman]

33 minutes ago, rapalaman said:

I got the Aldi 18v drill - cracking value but scbk is right - no batteries available, only the 20v ☹️
it’s only used as a backup to my makita and for doing pilot holes

That's interesting so the earlier drill is not compatible with the current activ energy batteries?

 

I expect it could be re celled.

 

I have just replaced my ryobi drill and impact driver  after having re celled the nimh batteries once and because I have been so impressed with my ferrex (Aldi) angle grinder at 70 quid bought the aldi drill and impact driver, so I now have 3 20/40V batteries and the lot cost me less than one Makita brushless grinder. Of course I no longer do a lot of work so it is just convenience to me. The drill is substantially better and the chuck is good.

 

I also have a clarke 1/2 drive rattle gun and although the batteries are not interchangeable it's close, only being stopped by a plastic bit, so my guess is they are built by the same chinese factory.