Help spending 500 quid please

stevelusky · Post by **stevelusky** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 11:58 am

After begging and borrowing tools to do my bathroom refit, i have decided to spend 500 on new tools. These will only be for general DIY use, flooring, stud work, decking e.t.c.
Thinking of a circular saw + jigsaw + sliding compound mitre saw, also i am gonna need wood chisels, drill bit sets, blah blah. I already have electric, cordless drills (makita)
My main question is....Will the cheap stuff from b+q or screwfix be worth buying, i must admit i am a bit of a tool snob, my toolbox is full of snap-on screwdrivers, spanners e.t.c. and have always been a believer in "you get what you pay for" BUT the ryobi gear looks ok to me and i do like those "evolution" saws but they look to good tbh there is bound to be a catch ?

Anyway, any advice would be great, thanks in advance.

Hitch · Post by **Hitch** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 12:19 pm

I reckon Ryobi would be just the job for you

I reckon about £300 for the mitresaw, circ and jigsaws

Then a decent set of drills, blades and stuff

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 1:29 pm

I'd steer clear of the cheap stuff from B&Q and screwfix.

As you are a professional appliance engineer and use snap on etc. you will soon be dissapointed with the cheap makes of power tool as some of them are really poor.

My mate has a silverline jigsaw and once I was at his house and tried it out and it was useless. Poor tools is one of the reasons why people struggle with DIY.

£500 is a good budget and you should easily pick up the tools that you want for that much, if I was to spend £500 I would do it like this-

I'd be tempted to try the rage-

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/65730/Pow ... 255mm-230V

then makita circular saw-

http://www.itslondon.co.uk/pd_MAK110570 ... larSaw.htm

and dewalt for the jigsaw- http://www.itslondon.co.uk/pd_DEW110DW3 ... Jigsaw.htm

The makita and dewalt will last you for years, not sure about the rage, but they do look good and can also cut metal with the same blade.

You will have some left for the chisels and drill bits then

Hitch · Post by **Hitch** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 1:44 pm

Ive not used the rage mitresaws, but i have the hand held.
I wouldn't buy one, they are flimsy and plasticy imo.

I think youd be much better off with a dedicated wood machine to be honest

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 1:48 pm

yep full y agree with hitch
ryobi will cope with 80 percent of the "big boys toys" at 40 percent of the price

you have around 25 diferent tools that fit the same batterys you get a starter kit for a ton

Hitch · Post by **Hitch** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 1:49 pm

I wonder if hes after corded, or cordless

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 1:52 pm

Hitch wrote:Ive not used the rage mitresaws, but i have the hand held.
I wouldn't buy one, they are flimsy and plasticy imo.

I think youd be much better off with a dedicated wood machine to be honest

sack the rage saw then.

The problem with sliding mitre saws is that it is not cheap to get a good one!

I can e-mail Nick tomorrow as he deals in ex display rexon power tools, he might be able to source an ex display model.

You could also look at second hand as if you get a bosch or dewalt, it should be easy to get spares and you should easily be able to fix them.

chippymike · Post by **chippymike** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 3:01 pm

i'd go for the makita skill saw as i own one and have never had any problems with it
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/96393/Pow ... r-Saw-230V

im lead to belive this rexon sliding chop saw is good for the money

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/27291/Pow ... e-Saw-230V

now for the jigsaw i personally own a bosch and i and other chippys swear by them but the hitachis are pretty good for £100

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/54448/Pow ... -720W-240V

the chisels id go for are this 4pc set of irwin

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/78783/Iro ... ls-4pc-Set

Hitch · Post by **Hitch** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 3:23 pm

Yes, i like my Hitachi stuff-

Ive got thec7sb2 circular saw which has a nice ridid pivot and baseplate, and very powerfull motor. The rigid mountings make it nice and accurate, nice blade fitted too.

The jigsaw i have is a HitachiCJ120v, slightly older design, same baseplate, blade lock etc that the new model has, nice solid bit of kit.

chippymike · Post by **chippymike** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 3:28 pm

Hitch thats a very good circular saw. Used my work mates one to cut lots of tanalised 4x2 and it loves it

stevelusky · Post by **stevelusky** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 12:13 am

wow, thanks for all the advice chaps, not bother about cordless or not tbh, will update when i get my stuff

Powertoolz.co.uk · Post by **Powertoolz.co.uk** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 12:58 pm

Hi we have a Rexon SM2150AE Ex-Display model for £100
Here is the link

http://powertoolz.co.uk/mitre-saws/rexo ... rod_9.html

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 1:01 pm

Before one of the mods moves this- powertoolz.co.uk is the old cutprice clearance and is ok

Hoovie · Post by **Hoovie** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 3:54 pm

That would make very nice compo prize

Wood Magnet · Post by **Wood Magnet** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:39 pm

So would one of these.