On Sun, 6 Mar 2005 06:31:43 -0000, "Doctor Evil"
wrote:


High End

Makita, Trend, Bosh (blue bodied), Hitachi, Festool, Fein, Lamello,
Freud, Elu, Metabo, DeWalt
Ryobi
Atlas-Copco/Milwaukee

Panasonic.

Agreed.




Really ought to say something about batteries and chargers(/cookers :-)
since this is a big factor wrt cordless tools and a lot of people don't
pay much attention to them.

The average DIYer is better off with mains drill with torque control for
driving. In most cases a socket is handy. Then no problem of batteries
going kaput and change the whole tool. Unfortunately these tools are not
cheap, but something you may have for 20 plus years, so not that bad. Mains
and battery must be viewed very differently, as mains doesn't date that much
and last far longer and gives more power. And only go battery of you really
need that away from the socket capability, which most DIYers don't

I agree with your analysis of mains drills in the sense that if one
has to pick *one* drill only, then there is a good case for it being a
mains one rather than a crappy cordless one with poor batteries.

I don't agree with the notion of "average DIYer". I think that
John's introduction is good in that respect because it allows people
to identify themselves with what is appropriate to them and begin to
choose based on criteria which are likely to match with that rather
than aiming too high or too low.



Overall I think this is a general intro but we could do with specifics
of particular tools including corded and cordless drills (e.g. geared
speeds, variable speed, hammer, sds, roto stop, weight, torque limit,
safety clutch, chuck size & type) jigsaws, circular saws, routers, angle
grinders ....

SDS.

In my view a complete drill kit is:

1. mid range 12v drill./driver
2. £80 plus SDS drill with rotary stop
3. cheap 700w general pupose mains hammer drill.

That covers the lot.


I'd agree that it's not a bad mix and will do a lot.

Some people may prefer to put 1) and 3) together, probably add a bit
more money to it and buy a good quality 14.4, 15.6 or 18v cordless.

If you have a reasonably good 2kg SDS with ability to stop the
percussion action, you've covered even the mid range to smaller
masonry requirements that are beyond a cordless.




--

..andy

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