How to build a timber frame garden room episode 2 sees the walls go up and get secured into place by the Skill Builder team. See Robin’s special technique for moving large heavy timbers.
This type of garden room is perfect for use as an office, photographic studio, workshop, man cave or playroom.
Dash cam review looking at the best features, the cheapest models against the high-end beasts, from £17 right up to £700. Which one should you buy?
How much do you need to spend on a dashcam? We’re looking at various models at different price points, Roger has been using his NextBase 312 for a couple of years now, it’s a mid-range model which you can now get for £75, I installed the VIOFO A129 4k dual camera model which comes in at £230.
You might struggle to justify spending £230 on a dashcam, most models have things like G-sensor for protecting recordings of impacts, wide viewing angle, looped recording so you don’t need to worry about the memory card filling up, wide dynamic range so you see detail in the bright and dark areas, night vision (but not that kind of night vision). Let’s see how easy they are to install without having wires dangling everywhere.
The VIOFO has the best picture quality of course, you’d expect that but it’s not just the 4k resolution and Exmor sensor, it has a proper glass lens where many cheaper cameras have plastic lenses. As you can see in the video the picture quality is really good, the rear is only HD resolution but it still looks really nice and clean, maybe recording two streams of 4k is just too much for this unit, but that doesn’t matter as much as you’d think.
Speaking of which, I set this to the maximum record quality on both cameras and this thing ate through my 32gig card like Pacman, so I’ve lowered the bitrate and got a 256GB card because you never know when you’ll want to go back.
On a very serious note, I was asked by police if I had a dashcam because a few days earlier I had driven past the scene of a murder, right when it happened and because I didn’t have a dashcam with a large memory card I couldn’t help.
The last thing on SD cards is don’t go super cheap, that unbranded 512GB card on eBay that’s £10 will let you down, some time ago I was hoping to get a nice time-lapse from my first dashcam on a drive to Italy but an unbranded card corrupted most of the footage. So you want to get brands like SanDisk, Kingston, Lexar, Samsung.
The kindest thing I can say about the Ssontong is that it’s better than nothing and price is less than the SD card you’ll put in it so I don’t think anyone would expect much from it. Number plates are hard to read unless there’s a stationary car right in front of you. At times visibility isn’t great but you just need to remember this is the same price as a large takeaway pizza.
The NextBase picture quality is good and text is really sharp, when you pause the video most number plates are clear. It’s the biggest of the three with its separate suction cup and magnetic mount but that does let you remove it quickly.
What don’t I like about it? Well we knew the night vision picture quality was never going to be great but there is a big problem with all three cameras and that is you can’t see number plates directly in front of the camera because of the light flare, even with wide dynamic range on, and the Ssontong even has the cheek to declare that it has ‘super night vision’ with an image of a perfectly clear number plate which is misleading at best so that’s something for manufacturers to look at solving.
The screen is tiny, the whole thing is tiny but that’s a good thing because all I need to see is that red light that tells me it’s recording, some people have them out of sight behind the rear view mirror and just trust that it’s working.
So let’s answer the question, how much do you need to spend on a dashcam? If this video quality looks ok to you then the answer is around £30 with an SD card, but I guarantee you’ll regret not pushing your budget past £60 to get GPS that can track your location, speed AND cover you legally.
Once we get past £100 you can have features like 4k resolution with a separate rear camera, parking mode to capture movement when you’re away from the car, cloud record backup. It’s worth noting that a 4k resolution doesn’t guarantee good picture quality and a 4k model at £50 might not look as good as an HD one at the same price.
Now if you think £230 is the high-end for dashcams, think again. Blackvue DR900S will cost you £700! In this price point you don’t get many more features, but you can get a live video view from the car. Another interesting model I saw for those of you without sat-nav, the Garmin DriveAssist 51LMT-D is a dashcam/sat-nav combination that will cost you around £200.
Dashcam features to look out for:
✅ GPS speed and location logging
✅ Wi-Fi enabled
✅ Reflection free lens
✅ Rear camera
✅ Cloud backup
✅ Live remote view
✅ Two-way voice
✅ 60 frames per second
✅ Night vision
✅ Wide viewing angle
✅ Wide dynamic range
Thanks to Tom for sending us his video of easily one of the worst bathroom installation we have ever seen. We have seen plenty of DIY bathroom installations that are way better than this.
Such a bathroom fail, see it done right here: https://youtu.be/NwB8cxZlZTw
#AskSkillBuilder #BathroomHell #DIYFails
Robin shows you how to install Thermowood exterior cladding at the Capel Build with some little tricks and tips including some preparation work with the HB42 Eco-foil ’All-in-One’ sealant and adhesive.
This fully accredited and independently tested Protective Wear for heat, flame, electrical arc and chemical risk environments delivers market-leading risk-protection in a wide range of hazardous working environments.
The key features and benefits of the clothing include the hi-tech, advanced fabric technology integral to the Base-, Mid- and Top-Layer garments for both men and women that combine well with the Snickers Workwear hallmarks of best-in-class durability, comfort, ergonomics and fit.
Wear layers to increase your protection
Research carried out by Snickers Workwear in the toughest of working environments has concluded that the best ways to improve your level of protection is to wear layers. The main benefit of wearing layers is that the air gap formed between different garments provides increased protection.
ProtecWork clothing is fully accredited to a variety of risk and bad weather working environments and all the garments are manufactured from tailor-made fabrics designed to respond to the demands of the conditions in which they’re worn.
So with over 60 different garments and accessories to choose from, you can make sure you get the right protection, visibility, flexibility, comfort and durability. Check out the new Snickers Workwear ProtecWork range to fit your workday and wellbeing on site.
There’s one thing that Professional Tradesmen and Women can’t do without if they want to get their jobs done properly – Healthy Hands!
So take good care of your most important tools and choose a pair that’s right for your work to ensure the ultimate in dexterity, durability, comfort and protection.
With advanced designs, features and material combinations, there’s something to suit most trades, from bricklayers and roofers, electricians and plumbers, painters and mechanics, facilities and transportation.
Added to which the unique ‘curved’ designs ensure strong, secure grips while sophisticated patterns, vents and ribs combined with durable materials that provide cut protection, knuckle protection, ventilation, water and wind protection, even features so you can use your mobile phone.
What’s more, for specialist use where health and safety standards are key requirements, all of our Work Gloves are EN certified for performance and protection.
Fully accredited, advanced Protective Wear for heat and flame, electrostatic, mechanical and chemical risk environments from the UK’s leading workwear innovator.
Snickers Workwear’s ProtecWork range has new additions to its protective wear garments including Class 1 and 2 hi-vis work trousers, tops and sweatshirts.
Fully accredited for a variety of risk environments such as heat and flame, electrostatic, chemical and bad weather conditions, all the garments are manufactured from tailor-made fabrics designed to respond to the demands and risk factors of the conditions in which they’re worn.
So with over 60 different garments and accessories to choose from, you can make sure you get the right protection, visibility, flexibility, comfort and freedom of movement on site.
Check out the new Snickers ProtecWork range to fit your workday and wellbeing on site.
For more information on ProtecWork, visit www.snickersworkwear.co.uk ,call the Helpline on 01484 854788 or download a digital catalogue
James is completing the blockwork at the rear of the house and Ian is fitting the windows in Part 4 of the King Build.
The Supreme Finishing Company: https://thesupremefinishingcompany.co.uk
Installing bi-fold doors can be tricky, so you want a professional, right?
In this case, wrong! Roger regrets his decision to outsource this bi-folding doors install job to the pros and you’ll find out why in this episode.
We had an amazing response to our first impact driver test but there were questions asked about the solid oak being a fair torque test.
We decided to update the test and add a comparison of the drivers on concrete. So here it is – our updated showdown of the big players in the impact driver arena.
Roger Bisby takes drivers from Bosch, Dewalt, Hitachi, Hilti, Makita, Metabo, Milwaukee and Panasonic to see which one has the power and features of a champion.
Why did we choose to test these drivers?
All of our tool tests are designed to help you establish which is the best tool for your needs. Is a particular impact driver worth it for what you want to achieve?
Whether or not it’s worth you getting an impact driver at all, these impact driver reviews will arm you with enough information to make an informed decision.
If you are already running a certain platform hopefully the tests will provide you with the reassurance that you’re not missing out because you’re running the wrong brand.
The recent introduction of quiet fluid drives into impact drivers which have traditionally been notoriously noisy is also worth highlighting.
In certain areas where noise is an issue and considerate construction is a priority, the quiet fluid drive is likely to be a real bonus.
As well as the impact driver test conclusion above, links to the full reviews of each impact driver are listed below along with the results of the Solid Oak Torque Test.
As always we would love your feedback and suggestions for the next test – please share your thoughts on our YouTube channel or in the comments below.
Support Skill Builder and buy your driver using our affiliate links.
✅ Bosch GDX 18 V-EC – https://amzn.to/3fJyFNw
✅ Dewalt DCF887 – https://amzn.to/33JAwzC
✅ HiKOKI WH18DBDL – https://amzn.to/3gHxnUB
✅ Hilti SID 4-A22 – https://amzn.to/3kwilTJ
✅ Makita DTD170 – https://amzn.to/2Ds2UeU
✅ Metabo SSW 18 LTX 400 Impact wrench – https://amzn.to/2DAc8FO
✅ Milwaukee M18 FQID – https://amzn.to/2PEaO7b
✅ Panasonic EY75A7 – https://amzn.to/3krDrCT
See all of the individual review videos
Bosch GDX 18 V-EC – https://youtu.be/8UifYYM3RbA
Dewalt DCF887 – https://youtu.be/xTWJzfxhtZY
Hitachi WH18DBDL – https://youtu.be/KHwS3Tyc0Y4
Hilti SID 4-A22 – https://youtu.be/cWojSxuQkJE
Makita DTS141 & DTD170 – https://youtu.be/JvBPhFzsuL4
Metabo SSW 18 LTX 400 Impact wrench – https://youtu.be/LZvD-9hveXc
Milwaukee M18 FQID – https://youtu.be/ISE73oT5pLE
Panasonic EY75A7 – https://youtu.be/QnI2f48ygeg
Hungry for more? See our Plunge Saw showdown series.
Robin shows us a neat trick for measuring, marking and cutting Elements board for the bathrooms at the Capel Build.
How to lay Palio Clic Luxury Vinyl Flooring by Karndean. Roger and Stephen show you their technique for installing Palio Clic LVT.
Palio Clic is a new type of luxury vinyl tile flooring with a patented click-locking system designed for quick and easy installation, with Palio Clic you can achieve an authentic and luxurious feel in your space in no time at all.
Karndean LooseLay with K-Wave Friction Grip video: https://youtu.be/xrkKuCn1L0c
This video is made in association with Karndean and contains product placement.
With eight intricate wood and four classic stone designs, each plank and tile boasts realistic textures and grain details with a hard-wearing and easy to clean wear layer.
The eight wood-look planks are available in a popular large plank format while the four stone designs are available as a contemporary, rectangular tile format.
• Click-locking system
• Quick and easy to install
• No need for adhesive
• Realistic appearance
• Suitable for renovation
• Durable
• Easy to clean
• Warm underfoot
• Compatible with underfloor heating
• 100% recyclable
More from Karndean on Skill Builder.
Check out the Palio Clic website.
James and Ian are working apart in part 3 of the King Build series. James is in the garden working on the brick and block work while Ian continues making casement windows in the workshop.
Want a personalised, strong & accurate i-beam spirit level?
Check out Superior Level: https://superiorlevel.co.uk
See James digging foundations for the extension by hand before laying the brick and blockwork.
The Supreme Finishing Company
https://thesupremefinishingcompany.co.uk
#KingBuild #Extension #Building
As customer demands for accreditation, safety, quality and value increase, the Hultafors Group continues to stay one step ahead of the competition.
The Hultafors Group’s PPE portfolio already includes market-leading tools, workwear and protective wear brands such as Snickers Workwear, Solid Gear and Toe Guard safety footwear, Hellberg Safety and Hultafors Tools.
The acquisition of EMMA Safety Footwear considerably enhances it range of safety shoes and boots with fully accredited, excellent value footwear to satisfy a wide range of user needs, working environments including light and heavy industry sectors plus office and retail environments.
Complementing the Solid Gear and Toe Guard range, EMMA safety footwear includes all the Hultafors Group hallmarks of hi-tech designs that combine top-quality materials for ultimate comfort, maximum safety and wellbeing at work.
“Delivering this new safety footwear brand to the UK market is a natural step for us to become the leading company in the UK for Safety Footwear, Workwear and Hand Tools”, said Peter Dumigan, the Hultafors Group UK managing director. “Adding EMMA to the Solid Gear and Toe Guard footwear ranges extends our offer of premium quality, high-value brands that are the natural fit for discerning professional craftsmen and women”.
To get more information on EMMA Safety Footwear, visit the website at www.emmasafetyfootwear.com, call the Snickers Helpline on 01484 854788 or email sales@hultaforsgroup.co.uk
The Makita DUR368AZ is a great addition to an impressive range of cordless outdoor machines with a new twin 18 Volt Brushless Brush Cutter designed to suit the needs of commercial operators and landscapers looking for a high powered, quiet and easy-to-use brush cutter.
The DUR368AZ Brushless LXT Brush Cutter is a cordless machine powered by two 18V Li-ion batteries. The advanced battery technology from Makita provides 36V of power and runtime without leaving the 18V platform, meaning operators can be confident the machine will endure longer tasks, enabling work over a wide area with just one charge.
Providing an excellent alternative to heavy powered machinery, which can be cumbersome to manoeuvre or access varied shrubland and undergrowth, the DUR368AZ Brush Cutter is a lightweight tool that uses the same counter-clockwise blade rotation as petrol brush cutters, making handling comfortable and familiar, for traditional users.
With user comfort in mind, the U-Handle grip has been designed so that the centre line of the handlebars stay aligned with the users centre of gravity, whilst the active-feedback technology provides extra protection for the user– when the metal blade hits a solid object such as a tree stump or fence, the sudden decrease in rpm triggers the brake, stopping kickback occurring.
Users can select the desired speed from three variants on the LED display and in areas of dense high grass or heavy brushwood, the reverse switch makes dealing with any tangled grass clippings easy, by slowly reversing the rotation of the cutting tool.
The DUR368AZ uses a brushless motor, meaning no friction is created within the motor, to improve the longevity of the tool. Combining this technology with LXT batteries makes the machine up to 50% more efficient and twice as durable, in comparison to alternative models with standard motors. In addition to this, the Automatic Torque Drive function automatically changes the cutting speed according to load condition for optimum operation.
“Operators need machinery that is safe, can provide extensive use, is flexible to work on wide areas, and can tackle every situation, without the worry of power supply,” says Mark Earles, Business Development Manager for garden machinery at Makita. “Whether it be accuracy around flower beds, clearing undergrowth and thick vegetation, the DUR368AZ Brushless Brush Cutter LXT is indispensable.
“We understand that commercial operators work year-round and the brushless motor produces lower vibration levels, improving the safety and comfort of those using the machine.”
LXT is used across over 200 Makita tools, meaning that operators can easily switch between tools depending on the task. To find out more about Makita and its new range of cordless garden machinery products visit: www.makitauk.com
A brand new series from Skill Builder which follows Robin Clevett and his team through the process of building a deluxe Garden Room.
This type of garden room is perfect for use as a photographic studio, garden office, workshop, man cave or playroom.
Ground screws by Gravitas Groundscrews of Storrington. Please see them on Facebook and mention Skill Builder.
Makita’s new cordless ratchet wrench is a versatile, compact and lightweight tool suitable for use across a wide range of applications and ideal for accessing tight spaces. With a number of innovative features included, the WR100DZ has been designed to ensure optimum efficiency and operator productivity.
The WR100DZ ratchet wrench utilises Makita’s CXT Compact eXtreme Technology (CXT), making this an ultra-compact and lightweight (1.0kg-1.2kg) machine, suitable for extended use. The inclusion of a LED job light meant that the WR100DZ can light up the project space and aid working in restricted, dark spaces, maximising productivity. The wrench can be used across a number of applications, including automotive, manufacturing, building, HVAC and fabrication.
For ease of operation, the WR100DZ includes a variable speed trigger to easily control the speed and a trigger lock which prevents the trigger from being accidentally pulled, which also improves operator safety by preventing the tool from being accidentally turned on. The locking position also enables operation as a hand ratchet, when the motor is not engaged, so the operator can run-up the nut using the machine without overtightening and then add that final bit of tension by hand.
The WR100DZ is supplied with two socket adaptors (6.35mm square drive and 9.5mm square drive), that can be removed to convert the tool into a pass-through ratchet wrench. This is ideal for tightening 13mm nuts onto long threaded bolts, such as a threaded rod. The WR100DZ also includes a reversing lever, which ensures the tool can rotate both clockwise and anticlockwise.
Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita said: “The WR100DZ has been designed with ease of operation in mind; the inclusion of CXT means its compact, lightweight design improves handling in tight spaces and overhead applications and enables operators to use the tool for extended periods of time with minimal fatigue and with maximum control.”
The WR100DZ is a 12Vmax machine with a no-load speed of 0-800rpm and maximum fastening torque of 47.5Nm. The tool produces vibration of 2.5m/s2 and sound pressure level of 74 dB(A).
To find out more about Makita and its range of tools please visit: www.makitauk.com
Makita has launched an exciting new range of products, including the DKP181 18V Brushless LXT Planer (82mm). Combining the speed and capacity of a corded planer with the convenience of cordless, the tool is part of Makita’s expanding 18V series, the world’s largest cordless product line-up powered by an 18V Lithium-Ion battery.
With a 12,000rpm brushless motor providing power equal to that of AC models, the DKP181 is a powerful cordless solution offering increased battery efficiency, designed for building and construction applications.
Its high cutting power provides up to 3mm max planing depth, a planing width of 82mm and a rebating depth of 25mm, ideal for shortening doors, ship-lapping or tapering mouldings.
For user comfort and flexibility, operators can precisely adjust the planing depth and manoeuvre around projects easily by diverting the wood chips either to the left or right, by adjusting the ejection cover plate to the preferred side. The planer offers easy chamfering with three chamfering grooves for different groove dimensions and positioning.
Featuring an electric blade brake to prevent user injury or damage to the workpiece, the blade rapidly stops after the trigger has been released, and the line-up includes model options fitted with Makita’s Auto-start Wireless System (AWS), which connects to compatible dust extractors via Bluetooth to help minimise dust inhalation as well as keeping the workplace clean and tidy whilst working.
The Planer uses a brushless motor, meaning no friction is created within the motor, to improve the longevity of the tool. Combining this technology with LXT batteries makes the machine up to 50% more efficient and two times as durable, in comparison to alternative models with standard motors. In addition to this, the Automatic Torque Driver (ADT) technology automatically changes the cutting speed according to the load conditions for optimum operation and efficiency.
Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita UK said: “This tool provides power, versatility and optimum cutting performance. We have included the dust management feature to help reduce time spent on cleaning up and more time for operators doing what they are skilled at – getting the job done.”
For more information on the DKP181 Brushless Planer and Makita’s new range of products, please visit www.makitauk.com.
The innovative new quick-drying fabrics in this lightweight workwear make them a must for the summer months.
A change of season means a change of focus on what you wear on site. That’s why Snickers NEW LITEWork clothing can help you keep your cool when you’re working in sunny, warm and humid environments.
The ergonomic, body-mapping Trousers, Shirts, Shorts, mid-layer Jackets and Windproofers have all the comfort and functionality of other Snickers Workwear stretch garments but give extra freedom of movement on site.
Just like high-performance sportswear, they are super-light, quick-drying garments – with ventilation and moisture transport features – that keep you looking smart and feeling cool wherever you are on-site in warm weather.
After all, keeping a balanced work temperature is not just about staying cool it’s a matter of your wellbeing and job safety. So, to make sure you get the right protection, flexibility, durability and ventilation, check out the Snickers Workwear product families for precisely the right garments to fit your workday.
More tool theft frustration for van owners and once again the problem is so much worse for Ford Transit owners who don’t enjoy strong security features.
Ford Custom and Ford Transit (MK8) are falling prey to a weakness where a hole can be made in the side load door and loads of new attacks are happening.
Our friends at Sussex Installations have a product that can massively reduce the likelihood of you being the next victim of crime.
The Ford Custom and the Ford Transit (MK8) vans do have a metal shield on the latch inside the side load doors as standard, but unfortunately, the design of the factory security shields does not protect the latch mechanism from the hole through the side load door attacks that we are now seeing all over the UK.
https://www.sussexinstallations.co.uk
#VanSecurity #FordTransit #ToolTheft
