Been after a cordless SDS for a while, mainly for putting up curtain poles &
the like.

I have a Wickes/Kress mains SDS which gets used for chasing out walls,
breaking concrete, decking jobs etc, but its frequently grubby. What with
that & a mains lead I'd rather a cordless.

Makro have the JCB branded one on offer @£80 +VAT with 2 x 2a/hr batts which
is a bit of a bargain.

http://www.littlewoodsdirect.com/rf/...4&productPos=1

I know its a cheapie PRC machine, but its only going to get light drilling
use & I can't justify the Bosch/Makita/DeWalt prices for something that is a
convenience not a necessity.

Anybody got one or tried one?



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

I've been tempted to one for some time. I've used the *old* bosch 24v
one, and very good - and I put in a much bigger bit than the
recommended max.

(this one - but be aware it's now an old model and not compatible with
the rest of their 24v system
http://www.lawson-his.co.uk/scripts/...product =1268)

Dang useful if you do jobs away from mains power or with the power
switched off.

I'd be pretty dubious about a jcb branded battery (is there anything
jcb don't brand?). A year or two from now it may be very poor at
holding a charge - whilst a pro tool/battery may average out cheaper
over several years)

Certainly as a pro user, could you think about scraping together an
extra 100 quid?

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/10442/...mmer-Drill-24V

The Medway Handyman wrote:

I know its a cheapie PRC machine, but its only going to get light drilling
use & I can't justify the Bosch/Makita/DeWalt prices for something that is a
convenience not a necessity.

you know what will happen... the batteries will last only so long and
you will probably have to fork out for a whole new one. If you are going
to use it to earn money, then you can't afford to tit about with
questionable tools.

--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
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\================================================= ================/

wrote:
I've been tempted to one for some time. I've used the *old* bosch 24v
one, and very good - and I put in a much bigger bit than the
recommended max.

(this one - but be aware it's now an old model and not compatible with
the rest of their 24v system
http://www.lawson-his.co.uk/scripts/...product =1268)

Dang useful if you do jobs away from mains power or with the power
switched off.

I'd be pretty dubious about a jcb branded battery (is there anything
jcb don't brand?). A year or two from now it may be very poor at
holding a charge - whilst a pro tool/battery may average out cheaper
over several years)

Certainly as a pro user, could you think about scraping together an
extra 100 quid?

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/10442/...mmer-Drill-24V

Can afford it, can't justify it. It would be nearer £150 anyway. If I got
2 years out of it for £80 I'd be happy.

Hmmmm.



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

John Rumm wrote:
The Medway Handyman wrote:

I know its a cheapie PRC machine, but its only going to get light
drilling use & I can't justify the Bosch/Makita/DeWalt prices for
something that is a convenience not a necessity.

you know what will happen... the batteries will last only so long and
you will probably have to fork out for a whole new one. If you are
going to use it to earn money, then you can't afford to tit about with
questionable tools.

Its a complex thing running a handyman business. I love buying new tools,
especially power tools. Trouble is now, I have the "I need it for the
business" justification. Very easy to let things get out of control.

I put up lots of blinds, curtain poles, etc in new builds and I work
regularly for a couple of 'up market' curtain makers. The latter are
willing to pay for someone who removes their boots before tramping over
cream carpets, fixes heavy poles & tracks 100% first time, cleans up
afterwards & doesn't break wind in front of their clients. Their clients
then become my clients for other profitable jobs.

80% of the time my combi does the job. If I hit a lintel I have to dig out
the Wickes SDS, which may have been used the day before to break out
concrete in a muddy garden. The drill looks filthy, the cable is muddy, I
have to use an extension cable which could pull over an expensive ornament
etc.

A cordless SDS would be used maybe 3 to 6 times a month for light drilling
(6mm or 8mm bit) no chiselling/breaking. Its value would be as a
convenience and a more professional way of doing the 20% 'lintel' jobs.

I can't justify £250 to do that, so its either spend £80 + VAT or keep
dragging out the grubby Wickes mains SDS.

So, yes I'm going to use it to earn money, but it won't earn any 'extra'
money, because I can only work 6 days a week.

Still cogitating.


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

The Medway Handyman wrote:

A cordless SDS would be used maybe 3 to 6 times a month for light drilling
(6mm or 8mm bit) no chiselling/breaking. Its value would be as a
convenience and a more professional way of doing the 20% 'lintel' jobs.

I can't justify £250 to do that, so its either spend £80 + VAT or keep
dragging out the grubby Wickes mains SDS.

So, yes I'm going to use it to earn money, but it won't earn any 'extra'
money, because I can only work 6 days a week.

Still cogitating.

A couple of other obvious options: buy another decent corded SDS and
extension lead to be used *only* on clean inside jobs. Total cost
unlikely to be much more than the JCB jobbie. (in fact the hitachi
rotation only SDS drills are good and cheap enough).

Alternatively if you want a cordless, look at eBay etc for a decent
drill but "body only". Just pick one that matches batteries and chargers
that you already have. (for example my 18V impact driver cost me £77
that way rather than the £250+ required for the full kit)

--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

John Rumm wrote:
The Medway Handyman wrote:

A cordless SDS would be used maybe 3 to 6 times a month for light
drilling (6mm or 8mm bit) no chiselling/breaking. Its value would
be as a convenience and a more professional way of doing the 20%
'lintel' jobs. I can't justify £250 to do that, so its either spend £80 +
VAT or
keep dragging out the grubby Wickes mains SDS.

So, yes I'm going to use it to earn money, but it won't earn any
'extra' money, because I can only work 6 days a week.

Still cogitating.

A couple of other obvious options: buy another decent corded SDS and
extension lead to be used *only* on clean inside jobs. Total cost
unlikely to be much more than the JCB jobbie. (in fact the hitachi
rotation only SDS drills are good and cheap enough).

Thats not a bad idea at all John. Hadn't thought of that angle. Screwfix
have the Ryobi on offer for £40
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/23674/...0DRILL-_-23674

Might go & take a look at that.


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

Alternatively if you want a cordless, look at eBay etc for a decent
drill but "body only". Just pick one that matches batteries and chargers
that you already have. (for example my 18V impact driver cost me £77
that way rather than the £250+ required for the full kit)

I bought into the bosch 14.4V system - virtually all my cordless tools
can interchange batteries.

The downside is I now look at "body only" items on ebay - and tempt
myself to tools I don't really need!

John Rumm wrote:


A couple of other obvious options: buy another decent corded SDS and
extension lead to be used *only* on clean inside jobs. Total cost
unlikely to be much more than the JCB jobbie. (in fact the hitachi
rotation only SDS drills are good and cheap enough).

Thanks for that bit of lateral thinking John. I bought the Ryobi 650w mains
SDS from Screwfix at £39:99. Lads at the local trade counter said I could
take it back if not happy.

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/23674/...mmer-Drill-2kg

Very pleased with it. No rotation stop, but no problem for my application
as it will only ever drill holes.

Tried it out tonight on my 'test' garage brick (very hard) wall. First
impression was that it was in 'drill only' mode because it was much quieter
than my Wickes SDS. I reckon it actualy drills faster though. Seems like
lighter blows, but more of them.

The next Ryobi model up with rotation stop is 750w. I conclude that 'drill
only' SDS machines differ from 'drill & chisel' machines in their design -
machines that also chisel having heavier blows, but less of them per minute.

Anywho, seems solid & well made, carry case is very good, space for a few
bits, around 15' of cable & ideal for my application & a real bargain at
£39:99.


Cheers



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