Brands

The Rise of the Well Connected Builder

construction industry predictions

Roger Bisby charts the emergence of Bluetooth Connectivity in power tools and wonders how we find the line between work and play. There are now whole generations of tradespeople coming along behind me who have grown up with the mobile phone and will find the ability to control their power tools via Bluetooth as instinctive as breathing. For me, it …

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Hilti Service Centre – How Can They Repair Your Tools in 3 Days?

Hilti Service Centre

In the first in a series of videos about Hilti, Skill Builder finds out how the brand delivers the industry-leading service offering that makes it such a popular choice on large construction sites. Hilti Service Centre Hilti makes great claims for its service and repair; they say they can turn around a repair in three days or you don’t pay …

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Bosch launches active integrated dust extractor

integrated dust extractor

‘Look after your health – it’s your greatest asset,’ is the message to trade professionals from Bosch as it launches the GDE 18V-76 Professional Dust Extractor. Designed as an active integrated attachment for all Bosch GBH 18V-26 (F) Professional Rotary Hammer Drills, its development ls part of a continuing drive by the manufacturer to minimise dust-related illness. While asbestos is …

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Festool Launches Cycle Challenge to Promote Lung Health to UK Trades

festool cycle challenge

Festool, the supplier of high-end power tools and accessories, has launched a new Cycle Challenge to raise money for the British Lung Foundation (BLF) and to promote lung health to UK tradespeople. The Cycle Challenge will feature two static Wattbikes that will join Festool’s impressive UK roadshow on its European leg in July. Members of the trade will have the …

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DeWalt extends XR FLEXVOLT range

XR Flexvolt range

DeWalt has extended its XR FLEXVOLT range to include a Mitre Saw as well as the SDS Max and Plus Hammers. Advantages of the XR FLEXVOLT system which was launched in 2016 include: ·        Sustained all day operation for onsite heavy duty construction application, without cable inconvenience ·        Wide range of 54V power tools to suit any job ·        Cross-compatible …

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On-site climate control workwear

climate control workwear

A change of season means a change of focus on what you wear on site and Snickers wants to help you keep your cool when the heat is on.  From staying warm and dry, Snickers advises thinking about staying cool and dry and looking for working clothes that excel at ventilation and moisture transport to keep you working comfortably wherever …

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Hilti Hammer Drill Driver review

Hilti Hammer Drill Driver review

Roger tries out the all-rounder that’s said to be ready for anything; the SF 6H-A22 Cordless hammer drill driver. What’s new about the SF 6H-A22? With the new SF 6H-A22 Cordless hammer drill driver, Hilti says you can finish your applications fast, in comfort and with complete confidence. The newest addition to Hilti’s 22 V battery platform combines a powerful …

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Milwaukee M18 CHPX Drill – Vibration issue discussed

Milwaukee M18 CHPX Drill

Continuing our series from Milwaukee Heavy Duty Fest held in Berlin. Roger chats with Milwaukee’s Kom Shepherd and hears a different take on the problem of limiting exposure to vibration. Get the job done quickly so you reduce your exposure. Featuring the Milwaukee M18 CHPX SDS PLUS Hammer Drill. Hardest hitting cordless SDS hammer in its class. Powerful hammer mechanism …

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Bosch GCL 2-15 review

Bosch GCL 2-15 review

Roger Bisby looks at the latest Green Beam laser from Bosch. It seems that manufacturers spent years getting people to buy red beam laser levels and no sooner had everyone got one than they introduced green beam lasers, brighter clearer, four times the visibility and ten times the price. The price has started to drop  to the point where jobbing …

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Milwaukee Heavy Duty Fest report: Part 2

quiet impact driver

In the second part of our series of videos from Milwaukee’s Heavy Duty Fest 2107 in Berlin, Sendi Spoljaric shows us the M18 FUEL SURGE ¼˝ Hex hydraulic driver, said to be the quietest cordless fastening solution on the market. Features include: – On board fuel gauge and LED light – Flexible battery system: works with all Milwaukee® M18™ batteries …

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Hitachi DV18DBXL review

Hitachi DV18DBXL

Roger finally gets his hands on the Hitachi DV18DBXL, but was it worth the wait? Find out in this bench test. Hitachi DV18DBXL/JX 18v Brushless Combi Drill inc 2x 6.0Ah Batteries, Charger and Carry Case Features: Combi drill with brushless motor technology All new 6.0Ah Li-Ion batteries with multifunction protection circuit Class leading hard torque of 136Nm New fast charger …

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Milwaukee Heavy Duty Fest report: Part 1

Milwaukee Dual Bevel Mitre Saw

In this video the Skill Builder team travel to Berlin for Milwaukee’s Heavy Duty Fest 2017. In this first episode from the event, Rich Powell gives us a demo of the M18 FUEL Dual Bevel Sliding Compound Mitre Saw, the M18 FUEL Drywall Screw Gun and the M18 FUEL SAWZALL Reciprocating Saw with ONE-KEY tracking and management technology. More detail …

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DeWalt XR FLEXVOLT demonstration

DeWalt XR FLEXVOLT

Roger visits the Professional Builder Live show at Alexandra Palace and finds out more about the new DeWalt XR FLEXVOLT battery technology with Mark Bippus. XR FLEXVOLT is a range of 54V power tools that offer runtime and performance which has never been seen before – for the first time, professional tradesmen can reliably undertake heavy-duty construction applications without the …

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Festool Kapex KS 60 Sliding Compound Mitre Saw demonstration

Festool KS 60 Sliding Compound Mitre Saw

In February Skill Builder was invited to Festoool’s UK HQ for an exclusive demonstration of the new Festool Kapex KS 60 Sliding Compound Mitre Saw. In this video Philip Beckley, Festool’s training officer, provides a comprehensive demonstration of the new machine and talks through some of its key features and benefits. www.festool.co.uk

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The wearable technology revolution in working clothes

wearable technology revolution

Snickers Workwear has always been well-known for its modern designs, innovative functionality and market-leading fabric technology. Now its WorkTrousers are getting even ‘smarter’ with the integration of technology to improve performance and wellbeing at work. Wearable Technology is already woven into our daily lives through smartphones, fitness devices, sports clothing and accessories – to help monitor and improve performance. A …

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Fein releases latest review: FEIN Cordless MultiMaster

FEIN Cordless MultiMaster review

Powertool manufacturer Fein has released its latest “Feeling FEIN’ video tool review, the FEIN Cordless MultiMaster review. The ‘Feeling FEIN’ reviews focus on getting FEIN’s products into the hands of professional tradespeople. Each tradesperson has been using a specific FEIN power tool and has given their honest feedback on camera. In this review Nicola Butcher, a carpenter and owner of …

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Time for Some New Underwear?

Time for Some New Underwear

‘First Layer’ underwear from Snickers Workwear is designed to keep workers dry and comfortable throughout the working day.

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Fein SuperCut 18v winner announced

FEIN SuperCut competition

Earlier this month Skill Builder teamed up with FEIN to give you the chance to win a SuperCut 18V with 2 x 5Ah batteries as tested by Roger Bisby. The winner has now been announced in the video above. Don’t forget to like us on facebook to keep up with all our competition news and winner announcements and follow us …

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Bosch launches two new 18v rotary hammers

18v rotary hammers

The GBH 18V-26 Professional and GBH 18V-26 F Professional are the latest additions to the Bosch range of 18v rotary hammers with EC motors. Both generate an impact energy of 2.6 joules – 50 percent more than the current strongest 18 volt rotary hammer. This makes them comparable with corded tools such as the GBH 2-26 Professional. This is where …

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