www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

http://bit.ly/HyvA0l

DIY Tools available From Monday 2nd April

Just watched the video for the planer, it looks pretty good especially with the Rabbiting feature for making rabbits (is it still April fools day )

I don't normally buy DIY quality or 230 volt tools (I'm a trade joiner, so 110 volt stuff is normally de rigeur) but in this case I have done. Took myself down to the local LIDL this morning to get the angle grinder (£23.99) and ended up buying that and also a box of 3 x blue zirconium flap wheels (40/60/80 grits), a box of 11 abrasive discs (5 x metal cutting, 5 x masonry cutting, 1 x metal grinding), a box of diamond wheels (1 x full edge wet ceramic cutting, 1 x segment edge dry concrete/roofing tile cutting, 2 x "turbo" iniversal discs) and a knotted bevel brush. All these were £5 a pop, so a shade under £44 has set me up nicely (already have a couple of knotted cup brushes, although LIDL are doing 90mm ones at £5 a pop). All these fittings are 125mm so they won't fit yer average 115mm grinder, I'm afraid.

I've now had the chance to try out the grinder. It's a fairly big piece of kit - somewhere between a 4-1/2in and a 9in grinder in size and weight - and noisy, too, but it has bags of power (1200 watts) and the variable speed control is an nice touch. The fit and finish aren't up to the same standard as the industrial tools I buy for work, but it's still not that bad and I reckon it's a lot better than some of the £20 horrors I've seen sold by DIY shops. The accessories all seem reasonable at the prive - alright the diamond cutting discs are a bit sparse on diamonds but at these prices I don't think I have anything to complain about. Overall I'm well pleased with this purchase

Chez, whilst I was there I took a peek at the planer (i.e. got one out of the box). It seems to be a robust piece of kit, quite substantial with good thick ally castings for the base. I think it might be good for a punt if you are looking for a cheapy. The only thing I didn't check is whether or not the cutters are readily available. If you do want one, though, I'd get yer skates on - my local LIDL had about 20 grinders but only 4 planers delivered

Job and Knock wrote:I took a peek at the planer (i.e. got one out of the box)...
...I didn't check is whether or not the cutters are readily available.

I think the voice over for the product video mentioned something about sending the blades in for sharpening? is there not a standard size blade for planers so that you can upgrade the cutting edge if the standard ones are poor quality?

I bought the grinder stand to be honest it's not that great,with the grinder attached it becomes unstable (top heavy).ended up giving it to my mate

Stopped by my nearest lidl earlier, lots of grinders and 7-8 planers.

Had a look at both but couldn't make up my mind to buy. The grinder looks OK for the money, and I don't think there are any other 125mm grinders around this price. As for the planer, it looks like the blades might be replaceable with other brands - there are 3 grub screws holding the blade in place.

Icm76 wrote:Stopped by my nearest lidl earlier, lots of grinders and 7-8 planers.

Had a look at both but couldn't make up my mind to buy. The grinder looks OK for the money, and I don't think there are any other 125mm grinders around this price. As for the planer, it looks like the blades might be replaceable with other brands - there are 3 grub screws holding the blade in place.

I've hed the chance to use the grinder for 3 to 4 hours today and I have to say it appears even more the bargain. It is quite well balanced and not unduly heavy. The noise isn't so bad - it's noticeably louder than my Bosch angle polisher - but at least it doesn't sound like it's about to die or anything. I think I can live with it. The 125mm makes it sort of unique amongst low cost grinders - everything else I've seen under £40 is a 4in or 4-1/2in (100 or 115mm) size. This means plusses and minuses - on the minus side it's not a one-hand grinder, you need both to control it - the plusses I've already mentioned. The only odd feature is the guard which is held in place by 3 small screws rather than clamping around the "neck" with a big Jubilee clip as you'd find on an industrial machine - these might be a bit easily lost when the guard has to come off (like I've done so that I can use a cup brush). This guard looks more like a rip saw guard as it covers 1/3 or so of the front face as well as the rear face of the cutting disc - definately not what I'm used to and possibly in need of amendment (with a hacksaw). Time wil;l tell

On the planer blades side I didn't take a look at the blades but I can't really see them being other than the slide-in type as used by almost everyone these days (Festool excepted). There are probably only 4 or 5 patterns of those

According to the video, the blades do slide in and out and are reversible with two cutting edges, one in use and the trailing one hidden in the holder. The guy says you can get extra blades to use whilst you send the others away for sharpening.
dave

New blades probably cheaper than resharpening
Only about £5 a pair if they are normal ones.

The grinder, why on earth have they made a 125mm grinder with such a big body?

Hitch wrote:The grinder, why on earth have they made a 125mm grinder with such a big body?

Possibly because they are aping the deWalt DW831 125mm grinder which is a 2-handed design

I use Bosch and Hitachi 125 grinders every day, both standard design. Just couldn't see the advantage there, one which can be used one handed or two handed wins over one that must be used two handed.
Saying that, i suppose from a safety point of view, 2 handed is much safer for someone that isn't used to using grinders.

Like a joiner? Don't forget that it's a 1200 watt tool, not an 800 watt one. Also the Bosch 125mm (GWS 10-125 AVH1?) comes with a girt great (detachable) side handle, doesn't it?

What I meant, is I assume they will be mostly expecting DIY types to be buying Parkside powertools, not tradesmen.


The various ones we have at work range from about 1000-1400w.

Seeing some people using them is down right scary. Saw a bloke using a 9" a while ago, no side handle on it, and using it upside down, so the sparks were firing right up in his face. No goggles either.
Putting them down with the disc up, while still running, and dancing about next to it is another regular.