Independent Tool Reviews & Buying Guides for UK DIYers and Tradespeople
If you’re starting to build a collection of power tools, you may be wondering whether you need a reciprocating saw or a circular saw. Both are powerful cutting tools, but they are designed for very different jobs. A circular saw is primarily designed to make fast, reasonably accurate straight cuts through materials such as timber … Read more
If you’re building your first collection of DIY power tools, you may be wondering whether you need a reciprocating saw or a jigsaw. Although both tools use a blade that moves backwards and forwards, they’re designed for quite different types of work. For a DIY beginner, the easiest way to remember the difference is: Jigsaw … Read more
If you’re looking for a cordless reciprocating saw, you’ll quickly come across two types of motor: Brushed and brushless. At first glance, the difference might not seem particularly important. After all, both types of saw can cut wood, metal, plastic and other materials when fitted with the correct blade. So why do brushless reciprocating saws … Read more
If you’ve just bought a reciprocating saw, or you’re thinking about buying one, you might be surprised by the number of different blades available. There are blades for wood, metal, demolition, plastic and even specialist materials. They also come in different lengths, thicknesses and tooth patterns. The good news is that choosing a reciprocating saw … Read more
If you’ve been looking for reciprocating saw blades, you’ve probably noticed numbers such as 5 TPI, 8 TPI, 14 TPI or 24 TPI. But what do these numbers actually mean? TPI stands for teeth per inch, and it is one of the most useful things to understand when choosing a reciprocating saw blade. The basic … Read more
If you’ve ever tackled a DIY job and found yourself wrestling with awkward angles, stubborn nails, or thick branches in the garden, a reciprocating saw might just be the power tool you didn’t know you needed. Reciprocating saws, often nicknamed “recip saws” or “sabre saws,” are a go-to choice for many UK DIYers because of … Read more
Standard 18V cordless angle grinders are notoriously heavy power tools. Once you slide a large 4.0Ah or 5.0Ah lithium-ion battery onto the back of the machine, the total weight can easily skyrocket to nearly 3kg. If you are working overhead, cutting metal in a tightly confined engine bay, or simply want to reduce arm fatigue … Read more
When it comes to buying a budget angle grinder in the UK for DIY use, you don’t need to spend £150+ on top-tier professional trade kits. However, you also shouldn’t buy the cheapest, unbranded machine from a random online marketplace, cheap grinders tend to burn out their motors quickly or feature poorly made, dangerous safety … Read more
Amassing a solid collection of power tools, hand tool kits, and workshop consumables is incredibly satisfying. However, once you cross the threshold of owning multiple angle grinders, cordless drills, socket sets, and hundreds of loose abrasive discs, a standard plastic toolbox simply will not cut it. Leaving heavy tools piled loosely in cupboards or scattered … Read more
If you use a high-speed slitting disc on an angle grinder to cut through mild steel, iron, or aluminum, you already know the power it offers. Within seconds, it slices right through the material. However, your grinder leaves behind a nasty byproduct: burrs. Burrs are the jagged, razor-sharp ridges of displaced metal left along the … Read more