Tools Are All About Power And Glory

Feb 3 2008 Donny Sheridan

Diy Donny Don't Waste Time In Diy Stores - Read Our Guide To The Essential Electric Gear And Make Shopping An Easy Drill

Buying power tools may be a macho man's game but any self-respecting guy should have a basic knowledge of the best gear to buy for doing simple jobs at home.

You don't have to spend hours trudging up and down the aisles of DIY stores wondering whether to buy a cordless or corded drill, searching for the right type of saw or trying to find the correct battery sizes.

Follow my simple guide to choosing the best tools and you'll have no worries.

And don't buy gear just because it is on offer or you think you might use it in the future - it will just end up gathering dust.

All you need in your garden shed is three pieces of kit - a drill, a circular saw and a reciprocating saw.

If you have any more, you may have a power tool fetish, so stop collecting and get out a bit more.

The internet is the best place for comparing prices, so check out www.toolstop.co.uk or phone 0870 900 5344.

COMBI DRILL

This is the starting point and is used for most jobs.

As the name suggests, it is a combination of hammer action, drill and driver.

Its different settings mean it can drill into brick and wood.

It is probably mostly used for putting screws into wood. An 18v battery is standard.

If you are going to spend money, buy a good-quality combi drill as it will last a lifetime.

BATTERIES

Bosch lithium-ion batteries are the latest batteries on the market and are protected against overload.

This means they won't burn out and will retain the same level of power from the first screw to the last screw. A fully charged battery is ready even if it hasn't been used for months.

They charge quickly (30 minutes) and will last, on average, a full day.

Smaller voltage batteries such as 12v or 18v are mainly found in second-fix drills used for hanging doors or fitting a kitchen.

CORDED OR CORDLESS?

Traditionally, corded tools had more power than cordless. But since Bosch started making the 36v range, that's all changed.

Although these drills are cordless, they have virtually the same power as corded tools, meaning they can drill into concrete.

SDS HAMMER DRILL

This is not essential. SDS drills are bigger and can drill holes up to 26mm in concrete and 30mm in wood.

Change the settings and it can chisel down a brick wall. It does the jobs the combi drill's hammer action can't.

CIRCULAR SAW

Circular saws cope with straight timber, cutting joists, plywood and MDF.

The depth of the cut should start at 60mm upwards and make sure that it is cordless.

The Bosch (GKS36V-LI) will easily cut 75 sheets of plywood when it is fully charged.

Don't mess about with cords as they just get in the way.

RECIPROCATING (SABRE) SAW

Reciprocating saws do the same and a little more than jigsaws.

The main difference is the blade sticks out at the front instead of downwards - as is the case with jigsaws.

The beauty of a reciprocating saw is you can cut through wood, stone or metal by simply changing the blade.

It also copes with curved or angular cutting.

Step by step guide to

Repair holes in a plasterboard wall

If an accident leaves a hole in your plasterboard wall, don't just cover it with a picture. Repairing it is a simple job.

Plasterboard stud partitions can be put up quickly compared to brick walls but, like everything, it has its downside.

Plasterboard is obviously weaker than brick and therefore can be easily damaged. For example, a door handle repeatedly banging into the wall when opening a door will weaken the board and create a hole. Chairs banging into the board can also lead to holes. Or you may need to fill in holes which were cut for wiring for a flat-screen TV or in a ceiling that once had spotlights.

You - or your removal men - may even have been careless enough to bash a hole while hauling furniture around.

But don't worry about these as they are easily repaired and once you know how simple a task it is to fill holes in plasterboard, then any DIYer will be able to carry out such repairs.

STEP 1

Use a spirit level or straight edge and mark a square round the damaged plasterboard.

STEP 2

Use a Stanley knife or jab saw to cut along the pencil mark.

STEP 3

Remove the damaged plasterboard and measure the size of the opening.

STEP 4

Mark the size of the hole on to a new piece of plasterboard and trim it with a Stanley knife, allowing for two inches beyond the marked line.

STEP 5

Score along the marked line with a Stanley knife and snap the plasterboard.

STEP 6

Peel the board from the paper leaving the outer layer of paper intact.

STEP 7

Check that the patch fits the hole, then form a bed of fast-set filler around it. Place the cutting into the hole and press down the paper into the filler.

STEP 8

Use the trowel to force the paper flat on to the existing plasterboard and coat the full patch with filler. When it sets, give the patch a second coat of filler and, once dry, sand the edges.

The patch will be seamless and very strong.

STEP 9

Job's done.

All you need in your shed are three power tools - a drill and two saws

TOP TIP: Most builders merchants and DIY stores sell off damaged plasterboard cheaply, which is ideal as you don't need a full sheet, just an off-cut.