Saturday 5 November 2016

DIY.


I'm of an age that I can remember when the very first electric drills appeared in the shops. It was revolutionary, and promised to change the lives of DIY'ers for ever.

My late mother even went out and bought one without having a clue what she'd do with it. She had neither drill bits, nor projects. Nor would she have known what went where, if she had. The orange machine sat unused in its box for years.

Since then we have advanced a bit, and one of the most liberating of all DIY tools must be the cordless drill; a wonderful piece of kit that I am only just beginning to appreciate.

I've been using it (it belongs to Wills) to work on the children's caravan. No more long wires, no more boxes of drill bits, just one tool with forward and reverse settings, and a box of tiny tips that slot easily into a magnetic holder (the business end).

If a Nobel Peace Prize was warranted by anyone, it must be by the man who invented the cordless drill.

He gets my vote!




33 comments:

  1. I remember my father's first Wolf electric hand drill in the 50s and a larger mounted one which was still in use when we sold up a few years ago.

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    Replies
    1. The new-ish cordless ones are so good; very good for unscrewing old screws too.

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    2. Yes I use one. Sorry for not mentioning it. i used one a lot at art school making frames and during hanging of work I always had two on the go.

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  2. That is another new thing that i learn here in your blog:) i know nothing about drills..

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    1. No reason why you should, Yael. Much wiser to let others bring theirs to fix things.

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  3. Love my cordless drill but I have trouble with the reverse and forward switch. I have trouble with left and right too. My brain doesn't work that way. :D

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    1. The one above is very simple; just one button for forward and reverse, and that's it.

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  4. REALLY FOUL day here; our first real rain for months and it's horrible. Bok refused to go for his early morning walk; I'm not surprised.

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    1. One of our mogs wanted to go out... so I opened the door and observed the most graceful pirouette I have ever seen a cat perform... I closed the door as he went and made himself comfortable on the couch!!

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    2. I did get him to go out before lunchtime, but he had a very good look first!

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  5. I have gone cordless in a BIG way... so he gets my vote, too!!
    I now have, as cordless, a hedgetrimmer, a chainsaw on a stick, 6 different drills/screwdrivers... because you can get small drills with a hex mount... the screwdrivers act as drills for delicate work. I also have a circular saw and an angle grinder...
    No, forget the Peace Prize... there should be a prize for "Life-changing Innovation"!!

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    1. Well I think you deserve a loyalty prize; I'm still at just the drill stage. Actually I had no idea that all those things were available 'cordless', although I think I've seen a TV ad' for such things.

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  6. I'm afraid that I can't get very excited about drills Cro but I think that we have a cordless one in the shed !! .... but, I am a dab hand with the hot air gun ..... I have stripped so much wood over the years !! XXXX

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    1. I didn't really imagine you as a stripper Jacqueline, but now you mention it...

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    2. Haha .... yes Cro ...... in the 80's I was stripping like a good 'en !!!!! XXXX

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  7. I agree they are wonderful things. We have one and they are so much safer than having wires hanging around your legs whilst up ladders etc. I remember my dad buying an early electric drill ( he loved new innovations)I remember him attaching the "key" to the flex with electricians tape so that it was always available. I suppose not being able to do that would be the only downside.

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    1. There's no need for a chuck key any more, the 'tips' just slot in and stay in place through magnets.

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    2. Der... I knew that! brain fade here. Glad you named it I've been trying to remember what it was called.

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  8. My husband couldn't exist without it, in the future baby boys will probably be born with one in their hand.

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    1. I like that idea, although I suspect they'll be born with an iPad welded on.

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  9. Hi Cro, the cordless drill with forward and reverse settings fascinates me even now, years after I first bought one. I can't use it, but it's Grant's favorite of hand tools. Have a great day. Jo

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    Replies
    1. I taught Lady Magnon how to use one; she loved it.

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  10. I still have a drill with a cord. I thought it would put in screws. Wrong! We need to buy an adjustable speed model.

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    1. Throw caution to the winds; buy a cordless, variable speed, reversible, one. They're fun.

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  11. I have never used a drill, even if cordless, I wouldn't have the strength to use one.
    Greetings Maria x

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    1. Yes you would, they're child's play to use.

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  12. I have never used a drill. One of the reasons I have been married for most of my adult life is to save me ever having had to do so.

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  13. I have one, but the little thing that goes in the end won't stay put and when I try to screw it into something, the whole tool goes whirling off to the side. It is too frustrating.

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    Replies
    1. I don't understand that. Mine is simplicity itself.

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  14. He'd get my vote, too, if only he could convince my husband that they actually work.

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  15. My husband has tons of tools which he encourages me to use whenever I want, problem is, he doesn't put his things back and I can't find a tool when I need it. So I bought my own tools awhile back. I now have a Ryobi drill with two batteries, which is sacred to me. No one uses it without permission and they all know it must be put back in it's little case just under the sink. They say that's too many rules, so no one uses it but me. Life is good in my hand tool world.

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