what are some tools that were worth the price tag?

[mrsparky]

If you are stripping a lot of T&E these are invaluable, two actions and the sheath is off, next the inner cables are also stripped: Jokari No. 4 Cable Strippers 6½ - https://www.screwfix.com/p/jokari-no-4-cable-strippers-6-165mm/7540k.

What I would not buy again is the Armeg torque screwdriver.

Cheers mate, what about the torque screwdriver do you not like?

 

[mrsparky]

Battery sds can be expensive but saves a lot of time. Multi tool took a while for me to find uses for but now is used all the time.

Thanks mate, just bought a sds but I think multitool is next up, what sort of things do you use it for?

 

[Mike Johnson]

Cheers mate, what about the torque screwdriver do you not like?

The torque that is set by most manufacturers of the MCB's etc is so over the top that it spits most cheap ones in half, OK if you are installing Hager or upper market units, but it's just too much on anything else.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Torque drivers are tosh imo , if you can’t judge a termination by experience and feel then you shouldn’t be working on an electrical installation in the first place

 

[nicebutdim]

Torque drivers are tosh imo , if you can’t judge a termination by experience and feel then you shouldn’t be working on an electrical installation in the first place

A lot of aerospace technicians could probably judge torque quite accurately, but I'd much prefer that they adhere to manufacturer specifications.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Torque drivers are tosh imo , if you can’t judge a termination by experience and feel then you shouldn’t be working on an electrical installation in the first place

That sounds like the sort of misguided quote you tend to get on Chainsaw threads, "If you don't know how to sharpen a Chainsaw you should not be using one" ? I can rip the end off a 12mm HT bolt with a socket set, so tend to use a torque wrench, but these Torque drivers seem so over the top.

 

[FatAlan]

Thanks mate, just bought a sds but I think multitool is next up, what sort of things do you use it for?

Everything! Cutting out plasterboard and ply for back boxes. Also use masonary blades for smaller jobs in plaster or softer block work. Cutting floorboards.

 

[Alimo8282]

Would love to know why the battery packs for cordless kit are so expensive?
I think a good multi-tool is essential even if your not a spark.

Battery packs contain 18650 unprotected batteries, which if you buy from a reputable supplier (Samsung, LG, Sony etc) can cost up to £8 per battery. Taking into consideration, design, manufacturing, distribution etc, the likes of dewalt etc still want to turn a healthy profit.

 

[Mike Johnson]

18650 LiIo batteries where originated by A123 systems in the USA, but where so successful it was not long before Chinese clones called PO4 became available, the term 18650 seems to have now become a generic term.

Both types require a balance charge unlike standard Nimh or even the old Nicad's, the balance charge can be built into the battery case or in the charger, if you ever look at the pack or charger you will see multiple connections not just one positive or negative this is to facilitate individual cell monitoring to ensure a balance charge is administered.

 

[timhoward]

Everything! Cutting out plasterboard and ply for back boxes. Also use masonary blades for smaller jobs in plaster or softer block work. Cutting floorboards.

They are indeed very handy. Take care though! One of my luckiest ever moments I think was cutting out this board with multitool. Rather incredibly I didn't nick any of them or the pipe.

 

[Mike Johnson]

I have a Fein Multitool that has a depth stop.

 

[Soi disant]

View attachment 84079

The cuckoo plumber strikes again....

 

[nicebutdim]

18650 LiIo batteries where originated by A123 systems in the USA, but where so successful it was not long before Chinese clones called PO4 became available, the term 18650 seems to have now become a generic term.

It is a generic term that makes perfect sense as it is based (roughly) on cell dimensions - 18650 = 18x65mm

Tesla poured quite a bit of money into R&D of cells and concluded that optimum form factor for current lithium technology wasn't far from this size. Their research resulted in the creation of 20700 and 21700 cells and I believe the latter is the cell they use in current production.

 

[Mike Johnson]

18650 was the part number that the original manufacture gave their cells (A123 systems), I will have to find my other cells to see the part number on them, but 21700 seems to ring a bell, Tesla did not exist in the time period I am referring too and the original chemistry was Lithium nano Phosphate.

 

[nicebutdim]

18650 was the part number that the original manufacture gave their cells (A123 systems), I will have to find my other cells to see the part number on them, but 21700 seems to ring a bell, Tesla did not exist in the time period I am referring too and the original chemistry was Lithium nano Phosphate.

The part number was designated on the basis of size. 18350, 16340, 18500 and 26500 cells all followed the same pattern.