"The Medway Handyman" wrote in message
...
Scabbydug wrote:
Where I work we sell Silverline tools, hand as well as power.
Absolute crap they are but it's what lots of people want.
Fortunately the more discerning customers go for the better quality
tools but if we don't cater for the bottom end of the market we get
the 'we can get that cheaper elsewhere' brigade.
I'm curious to know others opinion of Silverline.

Toolstation sell a lot of Silverline stuff, but you don't know its
Silverline till you get it.

Bit like a curates egg - good in parts.

I've had a couple of guide clamps, a mini shovel, and a decking board tool
which have been great. I have half a dozen of their multi packs -
washers,
self tappers, e clips, split pins etc which have been a godsend in my line
of work.

But I've also had some butt hinge markers and a solder mat which were as
much use as a back pocket in a sock.


--
Dave
The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

Having been short on electricity due to a surplus of water in Sheffield I
thought I might buy a generator for emergency use/gloating at the
neighbours. On discussing specs with my Father he gave me an extra £100 so
I would have no excuse for buying a Silverline one.

I have got a Silverline tenon saw which seems to be fine for what I've used
it for and have bought one of their 4.5" angle grinders & accessory packs.
I haven't used the grinder yet but I'm not expecting it to be of high
quality but as I only rarely need such a beast it only has to last a job or
2 to have earned it's keep.

This is how I rationalise my tool purchases - if it needs to be a spot on
accurate job I'll either buy a quality tool straghtaway (eg my Makita
Jigsaw) or wait to do the job until I can afford the appropriate tooling or
until Dad visits and I use his kit. If it's a job that rough work won't
damage too much (adjusting the occaisional paving slab that may well be
replaced later anyway) I'll be happy to buy a cheapey tool to do the job.
If I find that the tool breaks through overuse than I may consider buying a
quality make next time (as I did replacing a PP cordless with a nice Makita
and another PP sander with a PEX400) if I'm not likely to get much more use
then I'll just get another cheapey as and when I need it.

I would like to be like Andy and be able to only buy the best everytime but
something has to give and so I prefer to spend extra on the tools where ease
of use (*) and accuracy show the most. So far this policy has worked for
me. It may lead to extra costs in the long run but if it means that I can
get jobs done now then it is a cost I'll have to bear.

Cheers

Mark

(*) SWMBO has borrowed the Makita drill/driver and has said that she can
feel the difference in use compared to the PP version as it is lighter and
easier to control. As such she is converted to spending more when I buy
tools and I am converted in allowing her to put up shelves....