FEATURE ‘The’ Tool Show: It’s D&M time again By PETER BRETT
FOR the past 19 years, ‘The’ Tools Show by D&M Tools has been a date in the industry calendar that needs to be pencilled in early because it is not to be missed. In many of the years I have attended the show, the weather has been a lovely, early autumn, warm sunshine, but 2019 brought clouds and grey uncertainty; a reflection of the times, maybe?
What I do know is that exhibitors like a bit of rain and cloud; it keeps the visitors indoors where they might be tempted to spend money!
Many visitors attend the show to get hands-on with new tools, compare prices and specs and chat to the people who really know about the tools they supply. I like to keep a look out for new ideas and trends and to see which way the wind is blowing with what end users are buying.
Trend Tools is a busy outfit, always brimming with new ideas and products. The latest of these that I examined at the show is the Trend T7 ½ inch router. With a show price of £179.95 it is a powerful and capable router, but is not as well- specced as, say, the classic Trend T11, at more than twice the price. Perfect for routing in a home workshop, I think. Trend also had a new Compact Storage System on display – well priced and quite flexible, it offers serious competition to some of
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the bigger power tool brands’ storage systems.
There was much going on at Metabo too. A new triple-bladed wall chaser is making marks in walls around the country to great effect. Also new are the well- designed plunge saw rails with just a bit more sophistication than many. Definitely something I would like to try out on site.
Bosch has hit the ground running with a new range of ProCORE battery packs - with up to 12 Ah on tap, they represent a big step forward. The COOLPACK system that Bosch uses manages the heat output of battery packs. Heat is the biggest killer of batteries so cooler batteries last longer and work better.
Some new accessories for the XLock angle grinder system have also come on stream. What Starlock did for multi-tools, Xlock is doing for angle grinders so maybe the future for angle grinders will be more XLock shaped?
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was on display, as well as an opportunity for visitors to turn a pen under expert tutelage. I was also impressed with some of the guitars made by Ben Crowe of Crimson Guitars. From weird and wonderful to classically beautiful, his guitars make a statement of talent that is really welcome.
It is not only power tools that get attention. The Wera stand is always busy as users fill gaps in their collections, look at innovations and generally indulge in the quirks that are becoming of a Wera Tool Rebel.
Of all the mundane things to run out of stock, the new FAITHFULL Tools adjustable try square would seem an unlikely candidate. But by midday on day 1 of the show, it had proved so popular that more supplies had to be conjured up from head office and elsewhere. It may have had an awful lot to do with the guaranteed accuracy of the square plus a show price that was irresistible. I bought one!
It is not only power tools that get attention. The Wera stand is always busy as users fill gaps in their collections, look at innovations and generally indulge in the quirks that are becoming of a Wera Tool Rebel.
I can never resist a trip up to the Record Power Seminars in the Desert Orchid Suite where top makers and experts share their esoteric knowledge with a respectful audience. Some fine quality woodturning
And judging from the number of parcels and bags being loaded into vans and cars, visitors clearly had spent money and enjoyed the show, so roll on 2020.
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