Tool Fair Sandown 2017


Report by Peter Brett


Another Tool Fair? For most visitors to Tool Fairs – whatever the venue –


the routine is familiar. That is, arrive early for easy parking, pick up your entry badge (because you have had the foresight to have pre-registered) and then stand in the queue waiting for the doors to open. You may even have


your eyes on the free Professional Builder T-Shirt and bacon butty as a starter for 10 on the freebies list. On the other hand you may have been tempted away from the entry queue by


the Milwaukee trailer – already doing a great job of attracting visitors with its freebies and a chance to win some new Milwaukee kit in a prize draw. Once the crowds surged in, the whole place was a buzz with lots of interest


shown in new kit especially and a rush for the bargains at show prices. Power Tools = Innovation? Power tool manufacturers usually get more than the fair share of attention


because innovations and offer pricing are big draws. Hitachi hit the big time with loads of people wanting to try out the 18v cordless nailers - both the finish nailer that has been out for a while and recently arrived the first fix framing nailer. This created an instant interest, with punters queueing to get their hands on it at the test bench. The people I spoke to all had very positive comments about its performance with only minor reservations about its weight. My experience is that it is an extremely viable alternative to a gas or compressor nailer with all the convenience of a cordless tool. Festool had its usual corner where a variety of new products were being


demo’d. I liked the cordless sanders especially the Random Orbit version. Ideal for smaller jobs and for working at height where light weight and freedom from cords are essential for ease of use and safety. There is also an accessory cord attachment for mains use if needed in the workshop. Dust extraction regulations are starting to filter into the consciousness of many


trades and the Festool M Class vac will appeal to Festool Fans as well as anyone who wants a sophisticated machine that monitors performance and dust collection as well as being adjustable to suit different dust collection roles.


Choose the Right Kit for the Job Wera had its new bitboxes on sale – an ideal way to buy bits in bulk -15 at a


time – in a box that is clearly marked for easy recognition and won’t scatter the bits to the bottom of the toolbox. Some users still seem to be blissfully unaware of the need to use impact rated driver bits in impact drivers so this Wera system should help them to get organised. For the Wera Tool Rebels the above won’t be news – they have long since adopted the Wera System, but they might have been tempted by the Wera Advent Calendar as a cool way to count down the days to Christmas. There is nothing like a convincing demo to draw in the crowds and a slick


operation from Quadsaw was a case in point. It works like a four-sided oscillating tool to cut the apertures for electrical sockets in plasterboard in one hit – saving lots of time and giving pretty well perfect results every time. I had several tries on it and on my fourth go managed a pretty level socket hole with no breakout on the back, so it is not a difficult technique to master. Powered by a standard cordless drill, it can do single and double sockets and spare parts are available, so if anything breaks or you need new cutters, the cost is not crippling. It’s the kind of tool that really could speed up productivity for electricians and give them an edge when quoting for a job. Look Smart, Work Smart PPE and clothing are always popular purchases at shows and judging by some


of the work clothing worn by visitors, the replacement was not a moment too soon. I managed a bargain from Snickers on some classic work trousers and got a freebie hoodie thrown in – result! More seriously, there was lots of interest in dust protection masks from various


manufacturers. Trend has a nice new compact mask with replaceable filter cartridges to add to its already impressive range of fan assisted face masks. I am starting to think that a full-face mask with independent fan assisted air supply is the only way to go – especially for those who are regularly exposed to silica or fine wood dust. A cynic has pointed out to me that last year was the year of working at height


regs and the year before was lifting limits, but my view is that dust is a far more insidious threat. You might feel the immediate consequences of falling off a ladder


16 ToolBUSINESS+HIRE


www.toolbusiness.co.uk


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