Thread: Putting together my first power tool kit

I find that Bosch green is generally quite ok - I've had a Bosch impact drill for about 25+ years and the only thing that has gone has been the rubber flexy grommet thing on the power lead; had a Bosch green jigsaw for close to the same amount of time and it's still good. I'll occasionally go Ryobi on simpler items (small circular saw, 1/3 sheet sander) but I'm still a bit suspicious when it comes to bigger things (like, I'd never buy their small bandsaw)...that said, I'll buy Ozito when the cost/use thing balances out ($70 for a rotary hammer that's a Makita clone - sweet; $69 for a multi-tool - cool; $45 for a small router to thrash to death in a homemade CNC, yup.)

If your tools are only going to see irregular use though, try to steer away from cordless, as you can almost guarantee they'll be flat every time you go to use them!

Thinking about it some more...if all my circular saw type tools magically converted themselves back into a close approximation of initial purchase price, I'd by a Festool track saw ($900-odd).

Thanks for your input Splinter. I was also thinking avoiding cordless... As I've read that the new Li-ion batteries seem to only have a 2-3 year life regardless of the frequency of use. If I was using them every weekend or for work, then the investment in top-shelf cordless gear would be worth it. For my level of use, I'm sure I'll get longer service life from corded gear. I know makita do a corded impact driver for $99, but perhaps this is the one tool where cordless would be worth having?

Bosch Green are good , I have a 71/4" power saw, and it is still going after 15 years,.

I would still consider a Battery Drill, as they are so useful for that small job , and saves getting out the lead where a power point is not handy.

I would not be without mine.

I would suggest the following,
1 power saw
2 power drill
3 battery drill
4 jig saw
5 powerful orbital disc sander 400watt ( ozito are good for the price )
6 power plane , again a less expensive brand IE: Ozito, very handy to clean up rough timber
7 a range of hand tools to complement the above.

Jeff
vk4

Thanks Jeff, I had not thought of the power plane. That may be an 'if needed' purchase, but with the price of ozito tools it won't be a problem.
I should have mentioned I have a cordless drill (Bosch Green 18v), orbital sander (Ozito) and jigsaw (Ozito - Old as the hills and surprisingly tough).
I went into Mitre 10 and Bunnings and think I'll go with something like the following:

Compound Mitre Saw - Makita LS1040
Circular Saw - Bosch Green PKS1500
Impact Driver - Makita TD0101F
Rotary Hammer - Undecided... maybe Ozito OZRH1500WAK?

With the Makita impact driver, I gave it some thought, and the amount of screws I'll be driving in a day, I'll probably be running back to the charger every 30min with a cordless model. So, not only will the corded model provide a higher work rate, but it's a damn sight cheaper too!

Rotary hammer... the above Ozito has a massive 5.0 joule impact rating, 1500W motor, and is $109 (!). Will it end in a short life and heartbreak, or will it power through a couple days' work without trouble?

OVERHANGERS,

A friend of mine who works for himself has some tooling from Aldi, and is very happy with it, in saying that check out the warranty for the OZITO tools, you may find that even their compound saw will suit and save some money.

Jeff
vk4

I agreed whole heartedly re corded tools over cordless but with one concession for a cordless drill - they're just so handy.

I reckon you have the making of a reasonably good quality, simple kit. But I think you may regret getting an Ozito over a better quality corded hammer drill. Spend that little bit extra and you'll have it for years....

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f13/dr...-groggy-44544/

Originally Posted by OverTheHangers

Rotary hammer... the above Ozito has a massive 5.0 joule impact rating, 1500W motor, and is $109 (!). Will it end in a short life and heartbreak, or will it power through a couple days' work without trouble?

I have one of the original $69 ozito rotary hammers I bought about 5 years back. Since then I have used it to demolish a set of brick and concrete steps - it paid for itself in that one task. Used it to split about 30 limestone blocks. Drilled dozens of holes through double solid brick and limestone walls, and helped me demolish my old shed floor. I have also used it to drill up to 16 mm diam holes through 1/2" steel, and it is still going strong. The one thing you need to be careful about is if it catches and you don't have a firm grip on it, I reckon it will break your wrists.

i would look into quality second hand tools too. After going down the road of the cheaper DIY tools, i wish i had of invested the money into quality tools that would have lasted longer.

i am on a bit of a dustless crusade these days, so tools that have excellent dust ports and covers are a big thing for me. Clients do not like their houses covered in dust, so its a high priority for me.

Bosch Green should be the minimum level for you. It seems like a quality level V's price point.

just my 0.02c

GP

Thanks for all your suggestions.
Regarding the rotary hammer drill, I noticed a Milwaukee unit for $199 that is compact and has a 2.4Joule impact rating. I have tradie friends who love their Milwaukee gear and have got many years use from theirs, so it is definitely under consideration.
I went into Bunnies to get the Makita LS1040 mitre saw... and was promptly confused by the salesperson who tried to talk me into the Bosch green sliding 10" unit for roughly the same price. There's only $20 between the two saws, and obviously the Bosch unit offers a slide function. I'm thinking that in terms of accuracy they will both be pretty good, but the Makita unit should give me more years of service, shouldn't it?

they are both good but the Bosch will be more versatile, with a larger cross cut .

jeff
vk4

With the rotary hammer...how often will you be using it? Unless its for trade use, the Ozito should be fine. Even for trade use (if it's not a primary tool), the Ozito are cheap enough to be considered disposable as often worksite tools can grow legs long before they are worn out. (I know a brickie who goes through about two Ozito 9 inch grinders a year - they either get dropped off scaffolding, or fall into wheelbarrows full of mortar, or into trenches full of water, or forgotten on the job site at the end of the day - but as long as he can put his good cutting blade on the new one, he finds it easier than worrying about a top of the line $800 unit.)

Sounds like a bit of confusion about the difference between a rotary hammer and a hammer drill. If it was me (and I've done this) go for a cheapish corded hammer drill and a good quality cordless drill. I don't think an impact driver is really essential - there's not much that a good cordless drill/driver can't do. Plus an impact driver is LOUD. You only use it inside a cabinet once .

Having made my way through a range of different combinations, I'm presently using a Bosch green corded hammer drill (12 years and still going strong) and the new 10.8v de walt drill and impact driver combo. This works pretty well for me.

An electric planer is, without doubt, my least favourite tool to use. It scares the shivers out of me. Would be lucky if I use it once a year. Buy a real plane.

In terms of saw, you can't go past a circular saw - I use it all the time. Makita for me - can't go wrong. I also have a GMC sliding compound mitre saw which is good enough. I'm saving for a Festool - should save enough by the time I'm 70. If you're building a deck, a sliding saw is really useful. A stand for it is a godsend too.

Trav

Sounds like a bit of confusion about the difference between a rotary hammer and a hammer drill. If it was me (and I've done this) go for a cheapish corded hammer drill and a good quality cordless drill. I don't think an impact driver is really essential - there's not much that a good cordless drill/driver can't do. Plus an impact driver is LOUD. You only use it inside a cabinet once .

Having made my way through a range of different combinations, I'm presently using a Bosch green corded hammer drill (12 years and still going strong) and the new 10.8v de walt drill and impact driver combo. This works pretty well for me.

An electric planer is, without doubt, my least favourite tool to use. It scares the shivers out of me. Would be lucky if I use it once a year. Buy a real plane.

In terms of saw, you can't go past a circular saw - I use it all the time. Makita for me - can't go wrong. I also have a GMC sliding compound mitre saw which is good enough. I'm saving for a Festool - should save enough by the time I'm 70. If you're building a deck, a sliding saw is really useful. A stand for it is a godsend too.

Trav