DIY Toolset

Back on topic, when drilling and cutting/sawing you have to be100% sure that you are not going to damage electrics and plumbing.
Looking is the easiest and cheapest way, and some form of detector can be useful but they tend not to be very accurate.
The number of times I've been called out to rectify accidents...
With the kitchen above I had to start with replacing about half the floor. In total, some 80sqm on this floor of the farmhouse: kitchen, hall, library, main lounge.
All the services had been squeezed into the same place, joists hacked to bits and the floorboards just resting on hot and cold water supplies, radiator feeds and cables.
I had to put in steel plates to cover areas where no joist was left.
A blank canvas:
View attachment 43324
 
arclight said:
Made for the man (or usually a woman) who would use a chisel as screwdriver :D
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Mine used mine once to 'weed' the block paving. :eek: So I made that one her screwdriver. (or what was left of it)
 
You need one because you want one, is that not a good enough reason? ;)
 
JonathanRyan said:
Now I want one of those. First, I need to think of a reason I need one......
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The way I use a chisel (I am left handed) I would cut my hand with the knife edge. Good reason not to buy one.
 
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JonathanRyan said:
Now I want one of those. First, I need to think of a reason I need one......
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Hmm, yes. There are quite a few things like that on my list.. Heinnie Haynes sell cool stuff and they're good to deal with, but I spot something else I 'need' every time I visit their website, which can get expensive!
 
munch said:
The way I use a chisel (I am left handed) I would cut my hand with the knife edge. Good reason not to buy one.
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The tool is pretty ambidextrous, I'm a lefty too though I tend to use tools right handed. The chisel edge is V ground as is the blade edge.

View attachment 43351
 
Thanks for the recommendations so far. Where do you buy your tools from? I've been looking on the axminster website :rolleyes:
 
Screwfix, Websters power tools, Protilertools...
 
omens said:
Thanks for the recommendations so far. Where do you buy your tools from? I've been looking on the axminster website :rolleyes:
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Amazon for a lot of it.
 
JonathanRyan said:
Now I want one of those. First, I need to think of a reason I need one......
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Hmm, I must have wasted 2 hours yesterday because my chisels are blunt. Also, the latches don't look great. You're right, I DO deserve one.....
 
None of the above. Get a gerber, use a brick for a hammer and your mobile for a trades man. [emoji16][emoji16][emoji16]
 
kendo1 said:
It's been hung the wrong way. The hinges should be on the right hand side, that's why it has sagged, well, one of the reasons :)
A better design is one strap from the top of the hinge side to the bottom of the other side, as long as it is well secured.

It's a good project to start with and quite satisfying.
Soon you'll be doing what I do:
View attachment 43302
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I can't bring myself to pay somebody £6-8000 to come and screw some cupboards to the wall so I'll be doing mine again next year, I fitted the one that's in there now 10 years ago and my wife is happy with it (benchmark) so I'd do it again

DIY is mostly time, patience and common sense , some things you can't do like gas and electrics but you can save a fortune by doing most of it.

I was reading on another forum about a guy wanting a price from a plumber to change the flush valve on a toilet, £70-90

If I was 20 again I know what I'd be doing
 
To the OP

A good set of screwdrivers and a mains drill,that cordless one will always be flat when you want to use it
 
wack61 said:
I can't bring myself to pay somebody £6-8000 to come and screw some cupboards to the wall so I'll be doing mine again next year, I fitted the one that's in there now 10 years ago and my wife is happy with it (benchmark) so I'd do it again

DIY is mostly time, patience and common sense , some things you can't do like gas and electrics but you can save a fortune by doing most of it.

I was reading on another forum about a guy wanting a price from a plumber to change the flush valve on a toilet, £70-90

If I was 20 again I know what I'd be doing
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Prices are what they are for a reason, just as in wedding photography. You can ask Uncle Bob to take your once in a lifetime event.
Travel to and from the client, advertising, know-how, tools, consumables,other business expenses and stock (or pick up the correct flush).
BTW the kitchen fitting cost is about a third of what you quoted.
 
If you don't mind me asking where did you get it from, my son just started work at ikea so they're in the running(discount) but there's no point looking until next year as the ranges change so often

It's not a big kitchen , just in a U shape with a window at the bottom

This is what it looked like 10 years ago when I did it but this time I'll be going for a high level double oven and integrated appliances

 
wack61 said:
If you don't mind me asking where did you get it from...
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Just in case the question was to me...
This kitchen was a custom made one by a local (west coast Scotland) carpenter. The kitchen units cost about £23000, the worktop, appliances, sink etc are extra.

Carpenter was Kenny at Fairlie Furniture:
http://www.fairliefurniture.co.uk/
 
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wack61 said:
I was reading on another forum about a guy wanting a price from a plumber to change the flush valve on a toilet, £70-90
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I wouldn't call a plumber out for changing a ball valve, but if I did, I'd expect to pay about that.

The one I use charges £65 for a callout and the first hour. It doesn't really matter if he spends that hour replacing a water main or changing a ball valve.
 
I charge £35-55 depending on travel distance/time/day etc. Been called out on christmas eve at 1030! Job satisfaction knowing i saved someone's Christmas done it for me!
 
On a more serious note electrics are getting too easy with these push fit fittings. (Wago) just like speed fit for plumbing. They are fine if you know what your doing but lethal if not!
 
Paul pminteriors said:
On a more serious note electrics are getting too easy with these push fit fittings. (Wago) just like speed fit for plumbing. They are fine if you know what your doing but lethal if not!
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A sparky told me years ago, "its dead easy" its like plumbing, you need to keep the water ( or in his case electrickery) flowing.
It all went down hill when I tried to wire a tap up though :(
 
Cobra said:
A sparky told me years ago, "its dead easy" its like plumbing, you need to keep the water ( or in his case electrickery) flowing.
It all went down hill when I tried to wire a tap up though :(
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I've fitted a sensor tap in our ensuite shower room, speaking of wiring up taps!
Trouble is, I put my hands under the bathroom sink tap and nothing happens...
I've also fitted a sensor for some low level LED lights so that they come on as soon as you enter.
It's useful for the middle of the night so that you don't get blinded by bright lights
 
Cobra said:
A sparky told me years ago, "its dead easy" its like plumbing, you need to keep the water ( or in his case electrickery) flowing.
It all went down hill when I tried to wire a tap up though :(
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A mate of mine used to be an electrician for the water board.
 
kendo1 said:
I've also fitted a sensor for some low level LED lights so that they come on as soon as you enter.
It's useful for the middle of the night so that you don't get blinded by bright lights
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Now that is a good idea :thumbs:
 
kendo1 said:
Just in case the question was to me...
This kitchen was a custom made one by a local (west coast Scotland) carpenter. The kitchen units cost about £23000, the worktop, appliances, sink etc are extra.

Carpenter was Kenny at Fairlie Furniture:
http://www.fairliefurniture.co.uk/
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Ok thanks, bit out of my budget then , that's more than I spent on my first house :lol:
 
wack61 said:
Ok thanks, bit out of my budget then , that's more than I spent on my first house :LOL:
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The kitchen fitters I've talked to, and me personally, would fit Howden's kitchens. You need to be in the trade to get trade prices as they'll quote you full price.
I get 90% discount from them and quote customers accordingly, which makes them affordable.
They are better quality, thicker boards and finish than IKEA. (I worked for IKEA for two years fitting their kitchens)
 
Another vote for a Leatherman Wave here ..

On the plumber / electrician point, it's amazing how many people will tackle electrics because its 'clean' but won't touch plumbing in case they make a mess, ignoring the fact that many people get electrocuted but not many 'plumbers' actually drown.
 
The main thing after knowing what wire is what is keeping everything tidy and make sure the cable and pipe is fitted full slip and do a tightness test (try n pull the pipe out!!)
 
Cobra said:
That's crazy! obviously trying to dissuade the general public from buying direct ;)


I bet many don't pass on at least some of the savings though ;)
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1st point- yes, it's to deter the general public and keep them trade only.
2nd point- I used to pass on the trade price, but now add on 10% to cover the design and ordering process, which I used to do in my own time.
Some fitters add on more.
 
kendo1 said:
2nd point- I used to pass on the trade price, but now add on 10% to cover the design and ordering process, which I used to do in my own time.
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I doubt that anyone would quibble at that :)
kendo1 said:
Some fitters add on more
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A lot more I suspect going on some of the quotes I've had in the past ;)
 
Cobra said:
I doubt that anyone would quibble at that :)

A lot more I suspect going on some of the quotes I've had in the past ;)
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I know of some that add on 40%, but I feel that is excessive.
It normally takes about two days, off and on, to do everything required to finalise an installation.
 
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