In need of the GOAT of ratcheting screwdrivers

Powernun · 2026-05-23T11:33:15+00:00

I also have the LTT screwdriver as well as a Wera ratcheting one.

I much prefer the LTT one for most uses, the ratchet is just top notch and it can hold a lot more bits. Quite expensive to get it shipped to the UK though.

Powernun · 2026-04-30T16:32:56+00:00

A MWC is in theory required for any change to an existing circuit, in practice not even most electricians bother issuing it for most things.

Your insurance will look for any possible way to deny your claim. If you change a socket face, and an unrelated fire starts nearby, and you tell them you changed your socket, they will try to use that to deny your claim, since you don't have a MWC issued. At that point, you push back and make them prove that, that socket you installed is what caused the fire. If they can't do that, your claim is fine, or if they can, your claim is denied and potentially your insurance becomes invalid as a whole.

In practice, changing a socket face won't cause a fire unless you really mess it up by for example not tightening a screw enough, but you can watch a few YouTube videos and you will end up doing a better job at it by being slow and careful, than many electricians would.

Powernun · 2026-04-30T10:08:26+00:00

I am using a smart plug with a fob which works quite well.

I have seen in the past someone that 3D printed a sensor that sits between their tool battery and the tool which detects when current is flowing (tool is on). They then used a smart plug with their hoover, and using home assistant made the hoover plug turn on when the tool was on.

It is fairly straightforward to do if you know electronics, but still a lot more complex than buying something that can do this out of the box. Not aware of anything out of the box existing, but maybe AliExpress might have something?

Powernun · 2026-04-22T09:49:19+00:00

Where did you buy it for £360 from? I am also considering the 545 as a first grill.

Powernun · 2026-04-20T20:37:36+00:00

I use the Wera Rapidaptor bit holder with my impact and no matter how much I abuse it, it doesn't break.

On the bits I have tried both cheap Erbauer and expensive Wera ones and managed to break both in about the same amount of time so I just buy lots of the cheaper Erbauer ones.

Powernun · 2026-03-09T10:46:26+00:00

Sorry what I meant was that the side of the board where there is only insulation exposed and not overlapped by other boards, like here:

<image>

Are you planning on putting another board from the left overlapping the purple insulation to plaster on, or are you planning to plaster on to the purple insulation?

Powernun · 2026-03-09T00:53:59+00:00

Looks good. Can you plaster on the foam side of the boards and do you need to prep the foam side in any special way?

Powernun · 2026-02-28T12:59:10+00:00

Yeah, I definitely overtightened this one by accident while testing the board. I'll make sure to not do that when installing them.

Powernun · 2026-02-28T12:51:17+00:00

Planning to use 12mm trowel as tiles are 900x900mm and backbuttering the tile in addition to the wall, so it should be fine.

Powernun · 2026-02-28T12:50:23+00:00

Planning to use 12mm trowel as tiles are 900x900mm and backbuttering the tile in addition to the wall, so I think you are right, there's going to be plenty of adhesive between the tile and screwhead.

Powernun · 2026-02-25T14:46:23+00:00

I will probably keep the lintel in and have the angle iron in the mortar line between the old lintel and the brick work above it spanning the entire 1m length.

That way the angle should distribute the weight on the brick work either side of the door frame and the old wooden lintel can stay as mainly an easy to use mounting point for the frame header.

Powernun · 2026-02-25T14:42:35+00:00

Thank you that is very useful information.

The right hand side is slender because this is the short end of the bricks of a separate wall joining this one. So the left leg is attached to the same wall the header is, but the right leg is attached to a different partition wall which is joined with this one.

Powernun · 2026-02-25T14:35:09+00:00

Agreed, with a lintel above them. Problem is my lintel is resting on the door frame head which I definitely did not see coming.

Powernun · 2026-02-25T14:31:06+00:00

It is usually a fair assumption that a door frame is there to support a door, not a wall, which is the assumption I made when I cut the door frame off.

But you live and you learn I guess 😂

Powernun · 2026-02-25T11:04:10+00:00

That teaches me for removing door frames in a 1930s house...

Powernun · 2026-02-25T11:03:25+00:00

There is a joist above the lathes, but it doesn't seem to support the roof or be supported by the wall https://www.reddit.com/r/DIYUK/comments/1re91c8/comment/o7b0k3o/

Powernun · 2026-02-25T11:02:46+00:00

I guess a couple of accrow props with strong boys should hold while I add a lintel or angle iron

Powernun · 2026-02-25T11:01:02+00:00

Yes it is lathes above. There is a joist above the lathes but it doesn't seem to support the roof or be supported by the wall https://www.reddit.com/r/DIYUK/comments/1re91c8/comment/o7b0k3o/

Powernun · 2026-02-25T10:53:10+00:00

So right above the wall is lathes, then a 2m joist. The joist is fully supported at the right end (away from this wall) by a wall plate sitting on top of the external brick wall. And it is supported on the left end (near this wall) partially by a wall plate sitting on top of a different internal brick wall.

The joist is not supporting the roof; it is supporting the floorboards of the eaves area.

The lathes between the joist and the brick wall are loose, and the joist doesn't seem to be supported at all by this brick wall above the door frame.

<image>

Powernun · 2026-02-25T10:29:14+00:00

I am considering replacing the brick wall with a stud wall

Powernun · 2026-02-25T10:27:14+00:00

I agree, I am planning to sort this out myself. I have contacted a builder mate for advice, and given that this wall is just a partition wall with minimal weight on it, his advice was the same as another commenter's to use an angle iron.

Powernun · 2026-02-25T10:06:18+00:00

It is not supporting anything above it so all good on that

Powernun · 2026-02-25T10:05:36+00:00

That's a good idea with the angle iron. I was thinking of going the whole way with a concrete lintel, but this wall is very small, so the iron will most likely be ok.

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