Rain & fitting

[Peter Normington]

Darren why not us a battery powered drill?
safe in most conditions, and as long as you dont get it absolutely soaked will come to no harm.
If working on site, or even at your own premises I think there is a H and S requirement for all hand held equipment to be 110volt, may be wrong though,

Peter

[Andy Gorman]

Get used to using the phrase "weather permitting" when stating fitting times. I find that people are pretty understanding. After all, they know what our weather is like!

[Warren Beard]

Hi Peter

Thanks, I thought a battery powered drill would still get damaged in the wet, but glad to hear it won’t as I’ve been looking in to one recently but have not decided on which one to get. I would like a Dewalt SDS cordless (about £280 from skrewfix) as I believe in buying quality power tools, would I have to get the 110volt, I know zip about electrics 😳

I never state weather permitting but suppose I should add it in to my T’s & C’s, good point to cover myself but if the customer needs me to help him out I would like to do everything in my power to do so but keeping safe as well.

cheers

Warren

[David Glen]

110v is for mains stuff used with a transformer.

Cordless will be 24v. Bosch or DeWalt are best.

[Warren Beard]

I was looking at this one

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro … 5&id=26644

but it is 18V, should I be looking for a 24v instead?

[David Glen]

http://www.powertoolsuk.co.uk/webcat/de … VF&ID=3996

This includes an extra chuck which will take ordinary drills – very useful.
I’ve got an older one of these and it’s incredible how they punch in to brickwork and concrete.

The DeWalt equivalent here possibly doesn’t include that extra chuck.
If you don’t get one you can only use STS drill bits – whereas for ordinary drilling (no hammer impact) you will want to use existing drills.

http://www.powertoolsuk.co.uk/webcat/de … KA&ID=4345

Always get one with 2 batteries.
24V is much better than 18v giving more torque and lasting power.

I would probably get the DeWalt now.

[Warren Beard]

Thanks David

food for thought.

cheers

Warren

[Andy Gorman]

Blimey Warren, you’re just a bit late. Screwfix were doing the 24v SDS DeWalt for £250.00. Anyways, I got one and can say that it is brillo. Came with an extra battery too. Always look at the battery power as well as voltage….2.00AH doesn’t have the same power as 3.00AH for example.

[Warren Beard]

quote Andy Gorman:

Blimey Warren, you’re just a bit late. Screwfix were doing the 24v SDS DeWalt for £250.00. Anyways, I got one and can say that it is brillo. Came with an extra battery too. Always look at the battery power as well as voltage….2.00AH doesn’t have the same power as 3.00AH for example.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGG (hot) (hot) (hot)

dammit (!)

Thanks Andy 😕 😥 😥 😥 😥 😥 😥 😥

[Peter Normington]

quote Andy Gorman:

Blimey Warren, you’re just a bit late. Screwfix were doing the 24v SDS DeWalt for £250.00. Anyways, I got one and can say that it is brillo. Came with an extra battery too. Always look at the battery power as well as voltage….2.00AH doesn’t have the same power as 3.00AH for example.

Andy, I dont think a 3 ah is more powerful, it just delivers the same power for longer. that is 1amp for 3 hours as opposed to 1amp for 2 hours, long time since I did physics, so I may be wrong…

Peter

[Nick Minall]

Peter that is true if the load is constant, but with a electric motor then as you try to stop it the load/amps will increase, so the more amps you have gives the motor more power.

[Andy Gorman]

All I know is, 3 is a bigglier number than 2 so is always better. The same applies to lesbians.

[Warren Beard]

quote Andy Gorman:

All I know is, 3 is a bigglier number than 2 so is always better. The same applies to lesbians.

with a big drill 😉 😮

[Russell Spencer]

we have 24v and 18v dewalts, the lads use the 18 mostly because the 24v is too heavy for general use (assembling frames, drilling timber etc), for drilling brick or concrete we have a 110v sds (bosch – better at sds than dewalt).
But in answer to your question yes you can use a 24v hand held in the rain. But I would be more worried about ladders slipping and the risk of personal injury etc.
All my work is installed ‘weather permitting’ in Manchester its a fact of life unfortunately. 🙄

[Warren Beard]

Thanks Signsurfer

As mentioned I would only be doing it if it was safe, I had to postpone some ground level work today because of the rain so need to get my drill ASAP.

I have a powerful corded drill and a 12v cordless but it is for DIY and is sh1t, some times doesn’t even screw screws in 😕

I think a good 24v is the way to go.

thanks guys

Warren

[Warren Beard]

This one looks the business

http://www.powertoolsuk.co.uk/webcat/de … 4V&ID=3877

any thoughts?

[Andy Gorman]

I hired one of those a while back, before I bought an SDS and I was very impressed with it. It made mincemeat out of drilling some very hard brick for expansion bolts. Better than the one I ended up buying.

[David Glen]

quote Warren Beard:

This one looks the business

http://www.powertoolsuk.co.uk/webcat/de … 4V&ID=3877

any thoughts?

That’s the same as my previous link but doesn’t have the extra chuck.

Believe me, there will be times when you want the power of that drill but with an ordinary chuck – large flat bladed wood bits for instance.

You just pull the collar of the chuck forward and it slips off to fit the other chuck.

Here’s the Bosch website.
http://ukptocs.bosch-pt.com/boptocs-uk/ … od_id=7722

[Warren Beard]

Are you saying it has 2 chucks that are the same but can be changed over for quick changes for different bits? I thought a SDS was like that anyway? quick to change the bits?

me is confused 😕 😳

[David Glen]

Warren, it has 2 chucks. One is the special STS chuck which you can ONLY use STS bits with (expensive) but required for hammer and proper operation.
It also comes with another chuck (quick release changeover) which you can use your ordinary drill bits with as you can’t fit them in an STS bit.
I used the 2nd chuck to drill a load of 1" holes through fence posts with cheapo flat blade bits.

My drill (the same as this but older model) came in a large case with the 2 batteries, extra chuck, grease and drill set (clipped in to the lid).

It’s a heavy beast but you will never need to plug in to the mains again – in fact it’s more powerful!

Get one and I guarantee you’ll want to sleep with it under your pillow…

[Peter Normington]

quote Nick Minall:

Peter that is true if the load is constant, but with a electric motor then as you try to stop it the load/amps will increase, so the more amps you have gives the motor more power.

The motor on dewalt will only draw the maximum it is deigned for, the amp hour rating therefore gives a longer run time for the same work, the only way to increase the power is to increase the voltage rating,
Thats according to dewalt anyway

Peter

[Tim Painter]

I agree with Peter.

The greater the mAH rating the longer the run time for the drill.

The power drawn by the motor will be greatest under start up surge or under load. The motors only have a max design torque so battery mAH has no bearing apart from running time.

So battery life depends if your drilling or screwing I guess… :lol1:

[Stephen Morriss]

Pete’s right (as usual :lol1: ) A/h is the capacity of the battery.

Get a cordless drill warren, they are as good as most mains drills and you don’t worry about being electrocuted.
I stupidly did some drilling recently in the rain with a mains drill and gave myself a shock or two so I’ll be getting a cordless SDS drill soon.

As well as screwfix have a look in your local hardware/tool shop, sometimes they can have really good deals on and you also get the advantage of looking at the drill before buying it.

Steve

[Dave Harrison]

Warren I have the 18v dewalt SDS. . I wouldn’t be without it. I have used the 24v verison and can honestly say I didn’t notice any difference.

I went for the 18volt system because all my other power tools are dewalt 18v and the batteries are all interchangeable. Another must have is an impact driver. ( just as essential as an SDS )

Regarding fitting in bad weather. . I won’t fit in high winds or rain. . no matter what the customer says or how desperate they are. . surprising I manage to fit any signs at all really 😀

[Richard Urquhart]

dont own one but i have used this fitting in to material the 18volt cordless would not touch

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro … E&ts=55621

[Steve Underhill]

quote :

If working on site, or even at your own premises I think there is a H and S requirement for all hand held equipment to be 110volt, may be wrong though

Correct according to my Dry liner mate who works on a lot of sites, as I just snaffled a router off him thats 240v he cant use haha

I have a 24 volt Bosh with spare battery, cost me £75 down from £125 at a place near me locally that cannot be touched on price.
Ive had it a year, use it regularly and cannot fault it.
Has hammer setting drill setting and 5 speed settings and is also variable.
I tend to find Dewalt has cottoned onto the fact they are regarded as the best and are now cashing in. but Festool, Makita, Ryobi etc are all just as good in my opinion.

[David Rogers]

Been using my Ryobi 2 speed 18v for years…and it gets a bit abused, dropped, used as an impromptu hammer – but it just keeps going…

Got 5 batteries for those long days away. Good general purpose for screwing, drilling, bolting, hammer drilling into stone / brick…not too much cop in granite or marble though!

Chuck’s big enough to take good old Hilti SDS bits – far superior to any guff masonry bits from B&Q!

Keep a small 14v Bosch for general purpose / lighter work and a mains SDS drill / breaker for the big stuff.

There’s a 24v Hilti SDS floating around the workshop, but if I’m needing that sort of drilling power – I’ll take the generator in the van.

re: Rain, I used to fit, come rain or shine…or howling gale and snow to meet deadlines – now, not a hope. Rain = stop work. I’m not falling off a ladder for anybody. I do mention to customers though – fitting will be weather dependent. Just about all of them accept that fact – a few will bemoan & do the "go on, it’ll be OK", nah, had a few close calls in the past working in wet & high winds. My life / welfare is worth waaaay more than their sign.

Nearly all of them can be told they’ll get a better job when the weather improves and that’s usually enough. No sensible person wants a poorly fitted job and still be paying full whack.

Dave

[Phil Barnfield]

Im currently using a Ryobi 18v as my sh!t black and decker has had it day (thank god). Saying that always trusted Makita stuff in a big way. Far better than dewalt and other names like Milwaukee.

Looking at their new Li-Ion LXT range, 18v combi drill with 80Nm of torque which is very important when doing masonary. My old man currrently uses a MXT Makita 18v which is great, NiMh batteries though, still good but no way near to the LXT Li-Ion ones.

Now the power given from a 14.4v LXT is more superior than Bosch and Dewalts 24v equivalents……. work that out!

The A/h rating is just a gauge of how long the battery will last. if the drill uses 1amp then you can expect 3 hrs of use on a 3Ah battery.

Lithium Ion means no memory effect and longer lasting power. On the Makita and Milwaukee batteries they run right up until the last minute then pack up…. no power fading as you come near the end of the batteries charge.

Dont mean to sound like a boffin here….. just spent the last 2 weeks doing the very same as Warren and researching for my next drill. It pays to buy the best rather than a cheap £30 Wickes special or B&Q Pro.

Here will be my next drill: http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro … 4&ts=05340

I know it is good as my father has just brought a US import (110v charger) off ebay for £150 plus P&P. Very Very GOOD!!! Tempted myself tbh at that price. Either that or I permanently borrow the MXT one he has which is this one here: http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro … 8&ts=05433

As for your question Warren, I would say you will be safe to use in most weathers. I was using a Makita in a torrential downpour putting signs up on my new unit – still works now. Maybe throw caution to the wind when using a 110 or 240v power tool though.

Also, any particular reason why you are looking at SDS and not normal hammer drill?? I have an SDS 240v and I find that for many smaller holes such as 6mm it breaks away too fiercely and I can end up butchering the job right up – fine for big holes through 2 coarses of brick, but for using to fix signs I would say a lightweight combi drill would be better surely??

[Warren Beard]

Hi guys

Thanks for all the input and have basically decided to go the whole 9 yards and get this

http://www.powertoolsuk.co.uk/webcat/de … VF&ID=3996

As David said I can use both chucks so can still do the smaller neater holes with the normal nits and the big brick holes with the SDS

After a struggle yesterday fitting some parking signs in to brick and taking me about half an hour to drill 12 holes and continuing to change the bits over because they were glowing red and at the end of a 50m power cord I thought to myself that I am more professional than this and I know what I need to do.

This seems better value than the equivalent Dewalt (always wanted a Dewalt though 😕 ) so opted for this and will order soon, can’t find it cheaper anywhere else 😉

Next is a decent Mitre Saw (but not over the top) so I’m sure I will start a new thread soon.

Thanks again everyone

cheers

Warren

[David Rowland]

we actually got two of these which are good quality and 24volt

our main fitter got this and loves it. 18volt and has a decent kick.

and we got a few of these twin packs as they are value for money and our staff went through a phase of dropping dewalts from heights so these are a good buy and 18v but not as torque as dewalt.

[David Glen]

You won’t regret it Warren.
It would be a good idea to engrave your name and postcode on the drill and both batteries.

I’ve got one like that De-Walt Dave. An excellent all rounder but only pecks at masonry compared to the big Bosch.

[Dave Harrison]

Warren. . I’m not trying to persuade you to by dewalt or any other brand for that matter. . but think about battery compatibility when buying cordless power tools.
IMHO it is far better to use one system where the batteries are interchangeable between tools ( i.e you can rob another battery from another tool if one goes flat onsite. ) It’s also far easier to manage one system as you only need one charger !
any decent 18v SDS will be up to the job, I use my mine to drill 16mm holes into concrete for sleeve anchors regularly.

Look at the range of power tools available by each manufacturer on any given system. Ask yourself what other tools you might need in the future.

Also make sure you have at least 3 batteries. Because they’ll be times when one will go flat and you’ll have forgotten to put the other on charge 😀

The most expensive, amazing, singing and dancing cordless drill in the world won’t get your signs fitted with a dead battery !

Best of luck with your new purchases 😀