To corded or not to Corded

[LankyWill]

Hi Lads after a bit of advice after lots of searching and applying a local firm has taken me on. I will no longer be a domestic monkey as they do lots of commercial and industrial work. They will provide me with a van and a tester but said the tools are up to me. He said i won't need any corded power tools but i think i will as I'm not going to burn my cordless kit out. Heres the basics:

GBH 3-28 DFR Professional Rotary Hammer with SDS-plus Rotary Hammers with SDS-plus | Bosch Professional

Milwaukee DD2-160 XE 2 Speed Dry Diamond Core Drill 240v

DeWalt DW088K Cross Line Laser Level Kit

i thinks thats enough to start, what do you guys think? What do you use?

 

[Andy78]

If I was providing my own corded power tools I would be getting something for £50 from B&Q.

You should be expected to be providing your own comprehensive set of hand tools and that's it really. Any power tools including battery ones should be provided by any decent employer.

If you will be using your own tools then you need something in writing to say that all wear and tear, breakages and repairs shall be paid for by your employer. Why should you have the expenses of a self employed person on employees wages ?

 

[YoungBart]

I'd always use Milwaukee, But as Andy say's if your paying for it yourself go for a cheap option, I have a Macallister sds hammer drill for my heavy duty drilling, Not that I do a lot of it anymore, Didn't cost much but does the job, And your not constantly worrying about burning a £300+ drill out. That said, If you are going to do a lot of lightweight drilling in masonry (I.e Rawl plugs etc) I have the 12v Milwaukee SDS Hammer drill really light and handy for drilling in high/awkward places.
But I'd be tempted not to splash too much cash, especially until you find out what the new company is like.

 

[drzsta]

I would start first and see what the job is like, you'll soon get a feel for what you need. I certainly wouldn't be spending large sums of money on 240v corded gear.

 

[Risteard]

I would start first and see what the job is like, you'll soon get a feel for what you need. I certainly wouldn't be spending large sums of money on 240v corded gear.

I wouldn't be buying any 230V gear because most sites won't permit its use. If it's corded then 110V is the only option. However cordless is really a much handier option for an SDS generally speaking.

I certainly wouldn't be supplying a core drill though as an employee, even if I did decide to supply an SDS and laser.

 

[R G]

Out of interest have they asked that you supply a computer for the office staff , so that they can enter your work on it ..

F----- Cheek


Any company I have worked for supplies the power tools , after all they should have their own safety control and records of the power tools

 

[LankyWill]

Yeah i thought it was strange my old firm gave us everything as we were on the books. I have a cordless SDS,circular,impact,combo,grinder,recip Saw, Jigsaw, and multitool. Its a bit annoying but I'm in a bind and need the cash so i can't be too picky. I think i will just see how it goes like you guys said and when i get a feel for it go from there. Its like your on the books but get treated like a subby.

 

[R G]

Obviously you don't want to start laying the law down and get their backs up , but at the same time you don't want to be seen as being a walkover otherwise where will it end , I would get al the terms laid down including their health and safety policy etc , I would check all things are correct before you start , Get all the employment conditions from them before you start....
As you say you don't want to be treated like a subby..... Good luck


I am semi retired now and do my own work only when I want to , I feel for younger people today though...

 

[shanky887614]

dont get corded. go battery but have a corded 110 sds for core drilling etc. if it is only occasional cores (say for extractor fan) a corded bosch will be fine

 

[7029 dave]

I wish could buy my own tools full stop, the stuff given to me is carp, but not allowed have to use company issue.

 

[shanky887614]

I wish could buy my own tools full stop, the stuff given to me is carp, but not allowed have to use company issue.

what kit do you have to use? ive never had to use company issue kit

 

[7029 dave]

what kit do you have to use? ive never had to use company issue kit

Screwdrivers are boddingtons, keep breaking the tips off,Maun side cutters, ITL cable croppers, tee bar, they aint to bad, test meters Megger dcm 340 (nice meter). L7 drummond test lamps good old faithfuls.Seaward proving unit, phase rotation unit don't know, (will look), martindale fuse finder.

 

[YoungBart]

I don't necessarily agree that a company should have to provide tools, The place I worked provided battery drills (to some not others) that were terrible, AEG's weighed a tonne and kept failing, Partly because they are rubbish but also partly because people didn't look after them, I bought my own Milwaukee, and it's lasting years, I think a company should provide heavy duty SDS drills or 110v stuff, and test meters, and specialist stuff like conduit vice but the rest should be down to the employee, Or in an ideal world, the company could provide each employee with a tool allowance so they could get their own gear.