Bosch PSB 18 Guide

The Bosch PSB 18 LI-2 Cordless Lithium Ion Hammer Drill gives great results whether hammer drilling, drilling or screwdriving. This set version of the tool comes complete with 18 Volt Lithium-Ion Battery and 60 minute charging station. The PSB 18 LI-2 is part of the 18 Volt ‘Power4all’ System, meaning that this battery fits the other tools in the system.

The PSB 18 LI-2 is the handiest tool in its class, which is particularly due to its lightweight, compact design. In addition, the setting ring with 30 pre-selectable torque settings provides the necessary fingertip control for every screw....


Read More - http://www.diy-extra.co.uk/bosch-psb-18-cordless.html

Cool Off in the Hot Weather...

As the summer heats up, Tooled-up.com are slashing prices on a number of their free-standing and clip on fans. If you are anything like us, a good quality, quiet fan is essential for a good nights sleep at this time of year. With domestic fans starting from just £12.95 and rising up to £51.95, there is something for everyone.

Head over to http://www.tooled-up.com/ and take a look!

Dremel 200 Series

Dremel has introduced a new dual-speed multi-tool, compatible with all Dremel accessories and attachments, at a great value price. A versatile tool for detailed applications, the Dremel 200 Series is the perfect entry-level multi-tool for the novice and occasional user.

The new Dremel 200 is recommended for all light DIY and hobby projects, such as engraving, grinding, cutting, sanding, carving and polishing. It has a 125 watt motor and two-speed setting (15,000 and 35,000 RPM) for better control and accuracy on all projects that require an eye for detail. It also incorporates a hanger bail to attach the tool to a tool-holder. The Dremel 200 can be used with all the other attachments in the Dremel range, such as the Flexshaft which provides greater ease of working.

The Dremel 200 Series corded multi-tool comes with five high quality Dremel accessories: a sanding band with mandrel (407), another mandrel for mounting different accessories (402), a 1/8" aluminium oxide grinding stone (932) and two 32mm cutting wheels (426).
Available now from http://www.dremel-direct.com and at B&Q from September. SRP is just £34.99.

"By offering an entry-level rotary tool at such a competitive price point, there's now a Dremel offering for every budget," comments Dremel Brand Manager, Nick Longford.

For more info, visit the Dremel website: http://www.dremel.co.uk/

Dremel Launches New Range of Detail Abrasive Brushes

The new brushes are compatible with all Dremel multi-tools including the fast-change SpeedClic system. They have been developed specifically for cleaning delicate surfaces and getting into tight, intricate shapes for tough restoration projects without damaging the workpiece.

The Coarse 36 Grit brush is designed for light rust removal from metal or steel.

The Medium 120 Grit brush is for light paint removal from wood.

And the Fine 220 Grit abrasive brush removes tarnish from brass.

Other applications include cleaning aluminium, plastic and vinyl. They will also smooth wood and de-bur after carving or routing.

The three wheels are colour-coded for easy identification. There's also no need for compound any more - the abrasive is impregnated within the rubber wheel so the grit will last for the life of the accessory.

"These new detail abrasive brushes will improve the sanding capabilities of our tools," says Nick Longford, Dremel Brand Manager. "They will remove the exterior, surface layer without damage to the base layer below. They also allow sanding of contours and details, as well as in hard-to-reach areas".

Priced £6.99 (SSP) each, the abrasive brushes will be available online at http://www.dremel-direct.com

Dremel Hobby Table Kit...

Christmas this year brings a high value promotion from Dremel in the form of a clever Hobby Table Kit crammed with Dremel goodies.

The compact Hobby Table not only provides a great workstation for detailed projects, it's the perfect storage container for the projects themselves. The sleek aluminium top layer serves as the work table, incorporating an ingenious guide rail for the Flexshaft tool holder. The Flexshaft is designed for detailed work and its tool holder turns the Dremel into a hanging motor. The Working Mat holds your project steady on the hobby table and helps to prevent it becoming damaged. A Multi Chuck fits all accessory shank diameters up to 3.2mm.

The original, all-round classic Dremel 300 Series multi tool is also included with 40 accessories - including a Drill Bit Set with seven quality bits for precision drilling in wood, aluminium and other materials. The table case itself provides storage for the multi-tool, Flexshaft, Flexshaft holder and Working Mat. It measures just 32 cm wide and 46 cms long.

Normally the entire kit would have a value of around £125 but it will retail at £89.99 (SRP) - a saving of nearly 30%. A better Christmas gift for the keen hobbyist will be hard to find!

Available from online retailers such as http://www.dremel-direct.com/ and www.tool-shop.co.uk.

For more information, visit: http://www.dremel.co.uk/

The New Dremel Fortiflex...

Dremel has responded to consumer demands for the return of the Motoflex (model 7360) with the launch of the new Fortiflex (9100), a high quality reliable precision tool suitable for tasks where a combination of power and detailing is required.

From woodworking to jewellery making, precision drilling to stone working, the Fortiflex is the ideal tool for stationary projects with a need for precision and versatility combined with power and speed. It also tackles DIY tasks such as car restoration and artisan/craft projects with ease. The Fortiflex boasts features such as a high powered 300W hanging motor, a variable speed between 0 - 20,000 RPM, a high torque in the lower speed range and a separate foot pedal with anti-slip strips for single handed use and variable speed control.

It has a robust long-life flex shaft, with a patented system of sleeve bearings to reduce rotation heat and therefore increase lifetime. Other benefits of the Fortiflex include an exchangeable precision hand piece using the 'click'-system; easy change of accessories via the drill bit chuck; ultimate precision through low collet run-out; and a variable shank diameter (0.3 - 4.0mm) suitable for all Dremel accessories.

The Dremel Fortiflex kit (9100-21) comprises the Fortiflex hanging motor, the patented high endurance flex shaft, a detachable hand piece, foot pedal, hanging hook with wall mounting plate, 21 accessories, instruction manual and welcome poster.

For creative, detailed, semi-professional applications, the new Fortiflex is competitively-priced at £249.99 (SRP, inc VAT)

http://www.dremel.co.uk

Green Wallpaper...

If you are looking for a green alternative to traditional wallpaper, there are now several environmentally friendly options available. Several manufacturers now make wallpaper from sustainably sourced wood and use water based inks which are much less harmful to the environment. You can also buy recycled wallpaper and paper made from flax. When choosing a paste, go for a non-toxic Methyl Cellulose paste. This is mainly made from wood pulp and cotton.

As is the case with many "green" products, you will usually pay slightly more for environmentally friendly wallpaper and paste, but we hope you will think the extra cost is worth it.

Of course, one of the easiest ways to make your wallpapering green, is to estimate the amount you need to buy accurately and so reduce waste...

You'll never gripe about grout again...

This clever attachment from Dremel has been
designed to remove grout from between wall and
floor tiles of any size or shape. It's far
quicker than chiselling by hand and reduces the
risk of chipping the tiles.

So if you're looking for a less painful way to
get the grout out and remove tiles easily, simply
fit this handy new attachment to a Dremel power
tool such as the 300 Series. The unique guide
keeps the bit centred between the tiles at all
times and it features easy depth adjustment too.

The Dremel Wall and Floor Grout Removal Kit (568) is priced £10.98.

Until December however, it can be purchased
complete with a Dremel 300 Series multi-tool for
the special price of £37.99 from http://www.dremel-direct.com

Dremel's range of attachments is compatible with
all Dremel multi-tools and also includes: a line
and circle cutter, a mini saw attachment, a wall
tile cutting kit, a multipurpose cutting kit, a
shaper/router table, a plunge router attachment
and a right angle attachment - as well as lawn
mower/chain saw sharpeners.

For more information, visit:
http://www.dremel.co.uk

DIY Safety Equipment...

There are several things that anyone planning to do DIY jobs around the house should have (apart from all the correct tools and materials of course).

DIY Safety Equipment

Dust Mask – Very important when cutting things like stone or MDF. You can either buy simple disposable gauze masks or more durable plastic masks with disposable gauze filters.
Ear Protectors – It is generally better to get full ear protectors rather than ear buds. A good set will last a long time if you are careful with them. The foam pads can usually be replaced if needed.

Gloves – Different diy jobs will require different gloves. Leather gloves will protect against injury when using dangerous machinery, heavy duty rubber gloves are perfect for handling chemicals and heavy duty knitted gloves are ideal for carrying glass and metal.

Goggles – You can get simple moulded plastic goggles, which look like spectacles, but it is probably better to get full safety goggles. These consist of moulded lenses in a flexible rubber frame, and usually include side protection.

Overalls – Overalls are a good idea for any diy job. They not only protect your clothing, but will also help reduce the risk of loose clothing catching in power tools, etc.

Safety Boots – Essential when working with heavy objects such as bricks and stone. The steel toecap will deflect most objects dropped on your foot.

Dremel Launches New Hobby Range

Easy and light to use, there are six innovative products: an engraver, a glue gun (with glitter sticks), a multi-tool, a project table and a butane torch, as well as the original Dremel 300 Series multi-tool.

The Dremel Hobby range can be used for all manner of arts, crafts, hobbies and modelwork - indeed its applications are limited only by the imagination of the user! Jewellery and card making is made easy; so is etching into plastic, metal and wood. Gift and seasonal decorations can be created in minutes instead of hours.
The dual-temperature Dremel Glue Gun claims more features than any other currently on the market. It has a large, secure foot and kick stand forextra stability that can be operated with one hand. The Glue Gun together with the new Glittersticks can be used for all sorts of gluing and decorative projects, such as scrap-booking, flower arranging, plus decorations on glass, wood and much more. The kit includes 12 regular DremelGlue Sticks and 12 colour Glittersticks which can be purchased separately, if required. SSP for the Glue Gun is £28.99 and £4.49 for the Glittersticks.

The Engraver is perfect for the creative hobbyist who wants a reliable tool to meet all their fine detailing needs. The Dremel Engraver's soft grip body and light, compact design provide comfortable use for precision engraving on all materials. Use the carbide tip for unhardened glass, soft plastics, leather and wood. Or switch to the diamond tip for engraving and decorating ceramics, hard plastics, metal and hardened glass. The kit also comes with creative templates to help you devise imaginative decorations. SSP £29.99

The Versatip is also an essential piece of kit for creative hobbyists. It is a gas butane torch with six interchangeable tips that make it suitable for a wide variety of applications. Think embossing, soldering, melting, hotcutting, welding, shrinking and even wood-burning (pyrography) - allowing for even the most detailed and intricate tasks to be carried out with ease. Powered by liquid butane gas, the Dremel Versatip is quick to heat up and fast to recharge - within 10 seconds - ensuring that it's always ready to use. SSP £33.99

The Stylus is a multitool that has maximum manoeuvrability. It is cordless, small and extremely lightweight with a focus on precision. This makes it the ideal tool for a wide range of creative projects like jewellery making, woodworking, engraving and all sorts of other crafts. It comes with a kit of 25 complementary high quality Dremel accessories and includes storage compartments for your projects' accessories. It is powered by 7.2Vlithium-ion technology. SSP £59.99

The Project Table is one of the smallest work tables on the market. Designed specifically for people working on detailed projects, it is compact, lightweight and high quality. Unlike standard project tables that are large and heavy, it can be used both indoors and out by the keen hobbyist and small-scale DIYer! SSP £26.99

With a unique design to improve ergonomics and increase comfort, the Dremel 300 Series multitool will prove its worth in carrying out any number of projects especially those that require precision and speed, such as woodworking. The powerful 125W motor optimises performance and its soft grip has been designed to reduce vibration and better handling of the tool. With 25 accessories (including a high speed cutter) to choose from and some added templates, the Dremel 300 Series caters for every creative project that requires carving, sanding, polishing, cutting and other tasks. SSP £44.99

Stockists for Dremel Hobby products will include Argos and Homebase. For more info, visit the Dremel website http://www.dremel.co.uk/.

Kamasa Off-Line Driver and Kamasa Security Scissors

The nice people at Kamasa have just sent us a couple of very useful little tools to be reviewed over at http://www.diy-extra.co.uk/.

First up is the excellent Off-Line Driver, which fits into any standard electric screwdriver and allows you to hold the screwdriver at an angle to the screw. Very useful for tightening screws in awkward places!

The second tool is the Kamasa Security Scissors. These strange looking things have 5 sets of blades instead of the standard 1 set and are designed to let you shred important documents, bank statements, credit card bills, etc, quickly and without fuss (and they work brilliantly!).

Both tool reviews (along with all the others we have written) will shortly be available to read on http://www.diy-extra.co.uk/.

Tool Reviews @ www.diy-extra.co.uk

The tool section over at DIY Extra is gathering pace, albeit a little slower than planned. We now have full reviews of the Dremel Driver and Einhell's 217 Piece Multitool. These will shortly be followed by reviews of some great Kamasa products over the next day or two.

Apart from these new products, over the coming weeks we will also be reviewing some of the large number of both hand tools and power tools that we already own and use regularly.

Check out the tool reviews now, over at www.diy-extra.co.uk/tools.html.

RotoZip X-Cores

When you're laying hard tiles or stone flooring, one of the trickiest jobs is cutting the holes for electrical and plumbing outlets. Carbide-tipped masonry drill bits are just not man enough for the job and angle grinders can weaken the tile, often causing it to break. But now, thanks to a revolution in diamond tooling, you can make clear cuts without blow-out in the very hardest materials including porcelain, granite, marble and natural stone.

The new RotoZip X-Cores are the fastest hole saw bits on the market. In combination with RotoZip Spiral Saws, they make light work of difficult freehand cuts in all hard tiles and stone. Unlike other bits which wear out fast, one single X-Core can cut up to 100 holes even in grade five porcelain. And there's absolutely no need for water to cool the cutting edges - so no need for a spray bottle, and less mess!

The new X-Core bits are available in eight different sizes, from 6 mm diameter for drilling standard fixings and micro bore up to 35 mm for mains supply pipes and commercial applications. "The major benefits of the X-Cores are dry cutting and the sheer speed at which they cut perfect holes in the hardest and thickest porcelain floor tiles - in a matter of seconds," says RotoZip's Nick Longford.

The X-Cores cost from £28.93 for the 6 mm bit through to £65.52 for the 35 mm X-Core, plus VAT. Stockists include Ceramic Tile Distributors (CTD), Jaymac, Beesleys and online at http://www.rotozipuk.co.uk or http://www.tradetiler.com

Save £30 on Black and Decker CD18CA

Tooled-up.com are currently offering the Black and Decker CD18CA 18v cordless drill at just £39.95, a saving on the list price of over £30.

Features:

- Powerful 18v, faster motor for more efficient drilling

- More torque to assemble even the harder flat pack

- Variable speed for gentle start, full control and reverse switch for added versatility

- 5 torque settings for driving various materials and sizes of screws

- Keyless chuck makes bit changing quick and simple

Specifications:

Voltage - 18v

Battery type - Detachable

Capacity - 1.2 Ah

Charge time - 3 h

Chuck - Keyless

Chuck Size - 10 mm

Clutch positions - 5

Includes:

Drill Driver

Charger

Battery

6 Driver Bits

1 Bit Extension

Check out http://www.tooled-up.com/ for more details

Tools and Toys...Nice!

If you needed any more reasons to buy a Dremel 300 multitool, you now have one thanks to their new promotion with Lego. Dremel has teamed up with the world-famous Lego brand to create a promotion that kids and adults alike will love!

The Lego Creator pack comes entirely free of charge - attached to the packaging - with purchases of a Dremel 300 or 400 Digital multi-tool. The instant reward of the Lego Creator three-in-one pack means you can build a monster truck, a fantasy sci-fi saloon car or your ultimate F1 driving machine as soon as you get home!

Dremel multi-tools are used worldwide for creative, modelling and DIY tasks including sanding, routing, polishing, drilling and cutting through all kinds of materials thanks to Dremel's huge range of 150 different accessories. The Lego promotion will run until the end of August 2009, at online at retailers such as http://www.tooled-up.com/, http://www.tool-shop.co.uk/, http://www.dremel-direct.com/ and http://www.axminster.co.uk/

Dremel Driver Review

We were very kindly sent the new Dremel Driver today, and we have to say it is a great bit of kit. There is unlikely to be a loose screw anywhere within 100ft of this PC by 5pm today :)

We are planning to put the Driver through its paces today and then we will be writing a full review of this handy little tool and posting it on http://www.diy-extra.co.uk/ tomorrow.

Dremel's Handy Little Driver...

Most people will know the Dremel Multitool, that endlessly useful little gadget for sharpening, cutting, drilling, polishing, etc. I had one when they first appeared on the market and the amount of things I found to do with it verged on the amazing. Over the last several years, the company has expanded their product range with new versions of the multitool, as well as glue guns, engravers, soldering kits and more.

Well now that range has expanded even further with the new Dremel Driver:

The new Dremel Driver offers precision, control and power. Targeted at anyone doing drill/driving work in a variety of detailed applications, including medium and light duty DIY, it measures just 12.5cm and has a T-handle design and precision variable speed trigger.

It's ideal for DIY tasks such as mounting pictures on a wall, installing a lock set, mounting cabinet hardware, installing lighting fixtures, putting lights on a deck and assembling flat-pack furniture - there are even two IKEA bits included in the kit for assembling flat-packs! It's just as useful when working on the car or bike.

The Driver is also perfect for hobbies: working on electronics such as PCs and circuit boards or RC products in cars, boats and planes; installing and repairing audio/video products; model work; miniature ship building; and many other applications.

Powered by a 7.2V Lithium Ion battery, the Dremel Driver has a variable speed of 0-300 RPM - with an electronic brake so it stops exactly when you want for maximum precision. The magnetic bit holder holds the hexagonal shank bits firmly in place for better control. The Dremel Driver comes complete with a charger, eight long precision driver bits and detachable storage to keep the bits close at hand.

It provides superior balance compared to the standard pistol-grip design and fits your hand like a glove. As the most compact cordless screwdriver on the market, it gets you closer to the work, allowing access into tight areas where other screwdrivers won't fit. In fact it's even small enough to store in your pocket or work pouch.

It has a linear RPM 'ramp-up' for extreme accuracy, especially at low RPM, and provides superior control when starting. Thanks to its lithium ion battery it weighs a mere 430 grams. It also has Longlife Electronic Cell Protection, safeguarding the battery from burn out, overheating and full depletion - there's no 'memory effect' so it's always ready for cordless, precise drill driving.

The price is easy on the pocket too. It costs £55.78 from DIY stores or online at: http://www.dremel-direct.com/.

Hopefully we will be getting our hands on a Dremel Driver very soon, and reviewing it in the Product Reviews section (coming soon!) over on http://www.diy-extra.co.uk/

Essential DIY Tools #2 - Claw Hammer

There are very few DIY jobs which will not require the use of a hammer at some point. It is good to have a variety of hammers in your toolbox (Ball Pein, Club Hammer, etc), but if you have to choose only one to start with, go for a decent medium-weight Claw Hammer.

Probably the most common hammertype, the claw hammer is a good general hammer, being versatile and of medium weight. The "claw" is usually curved and split for prying out nails. The claw can also be used as a lever for jobs such as lifting floorboards. Claw hammers are available in a variety of weights, from 450g to 680g, and with a variety of handles.

You can find a complete guide to the different types of hammer here

Essential DIY Tools #1 - Spirit Level

A good quality Spirit Level is certainly an essential part of any DIY toolkit. If you only plan on buying one spirit level, go for one with a good quality aluminium body and at least 2 vials (vertical and horizontal). A good standard length is 1 - 1.2m long. This size will be ok for most jobs, and for anything requiring a longer span you can rest the level on a straight piece of wood.

If your budget can stretch to it, it is also useful to have a small "mini level". These are generally less accurate that the longer levels, but are very handy for quick checks and for use in tight spaces. Mini levels are sometimes available with a magnetic strip for use on metal surfaces.

You should expect to pay between £10 and £30 for a good aluminium 1.2m level. Longer levels could cost as much as £50. Mini Levels can be bought for £5-£10.