New Products

Origin the UK manufacturer of bi-folding doors, windows and blinds, has added a selection of Origin blinds to its Origin Home range. Designed to fit every door and window type, from bi-folds and French Doors through to bay and gable windows, the new range includes six different styles; Electric Roller Blinds, Pleated Blinds, Roman Blinds, Glamour Blinds, Venetian Blinds, and …

Not usually a “wellies man”, Roger Bisby is pleasantly surprised by the new Grubs boots. The only issue he seems likely to have is keeping hold of them. If  a family has been making footwear since 1776  you can safely assume they have worked out how to do it. The Foster family has not only produced an impressive number of  inventions such …

The new Makita Dust Extractor, the VC3012M M-Class Dust Extractor removes 99.9% of dust with Limit Value for occupational exposure >0.1mg/m³.  This means that the Makita dust extractor achieves performance levels better than the minimum legal limit for dust extraction when working with hazardous materials including silica sand in brick, masonry, concrete, gypsum and wood dusts and plastic composites. The …

Makita has introduced a new operating mode with the launch of its latest 18v Brushless motor impact driver. The new Makita DTD170 impact driver is technically a 6-function impact driver, with four speeds and matched impact power. T-Mode is used for tightening self-drilling Tek screws and when in the new A-Mode (Assist mode) rotation is started slowly allowing maximum control …

Bosch is joining forces with Klauke to deliver high-performance 18 V batteries for all of Klauke’s Next Generation battery-operated hydraulic pressing and cutting tools. These batteries will have a running time of 2.0 or 5.0 Ah depending on the model. They are part of the Bosch Flexible Power System and are compatible with all of Bosch’s professional cordless tools and …

Saint Gobain promises that as well as being rain resistant, webermineral TF, a through-coloured, thin coat, decorative render finish, designed for use with multi-coat render systems can be applied at temperatures as low as 1°C. The cementitious, even textured render has rapid drying benefits that can prevent wash-off in 1 hour making it good for winter working and achieves a …

All highline Volkswagen Amarok models registered from now until the end of September come with a factory-fit RNS 315 satellite navigation system as well as a choice of two chrome packs with a number of competitive finance offers available. Customers can get a top-of-the-range Amarok Highline 2.0-litre Bi-TDI 180 PS with sat nav on Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ Solutions Personal Contract …

Since our first look at Speedskim the range is now being distributed by Ox Tools. It is fair to say that the Speedskim is not for everyone as some plasterers simply could not adapt to it but for those plasterers who have embraced it the main benefit is they can complete the laying down of finish plaster without the trowel. …

High performance, made-to-order wooden windows and doors have been specified by a leading London-based property developer who has  chosen Lomax + Wood for their most recent project in Wimbledon, South West London. The four-storey, period style private residence, which includes a converted basement and contemporary light wells, is built of brick with lavish use of stone to back and front …

Roger Bisby takes delivery of two Swiss made heavy wrecking bars and goes in search of jobs that need this kind of leverage.

Although they’re not the cheapest models on the market, Roger Bisby finds the Scangrip Nova work lights are built to last. Two or three (time flies) years ago I went to review some Scangrip LED work lights which shine their powerful beam under the name of Nova. I was so impressed that I bought a pair together with stands and …

Origin has introduced the Origin Residential Door available in the UK to trade from 1st September 2016, or consumers from 1st October 2016. The Origin Residential Door can be used as a front or garage door for an integrated front of house look. Manufactured with a high-grade aluminium, there are 35 panel choices on offer, available in over 150 different RAL …

In this Rockwool Sound Insulation review Roger Bisby finds the product has come a long way since it’s ultra itchy conception. It seems to me from my visits to sites  that many builders and loft converters don’t attach very much importance to sound insulation. This is a great pity because good sound insulation is an important indicator of a quality  …

Skill Builder went to Toolbank‘s headquarters to take a sneak preview of their Real Deals Christmas promotion (yes sorry to mention it so early) and among the things we saw was this Irwin tool organiser packed full of Irwin’s best selling tools. It is ideal for the jobbing builder who never knows quite what they are going to come up …

Snickers thinks so which is why performance and comfort are integral features of the company’s new water-resistant, padded jacket Top athletes have long enjoyed the benefits of performance wear – so Snickers thinks its about time tradespeople can too. Snickers Workwear is one of the first manufacturers of working clothes to introduce 37.5® Technology into their clothing. As any athlete …

I chose to put down some Cempolatex Fibreflex in a loft conversion on what turned out to be the hottest day of the year. It was a foolish undertaking and I should have known better. Last year I made a video for YouTube on applying this very self-levelling compound and in it I talk about the need to store bags …

Bond It, the manufacturer of sealants, adhesives, grouts, waterproofing products and building chemicals, has announced its plans for the 2016 Tiling Show. At the brand new event for the UK’s tile and stone industry, which runs from the 18th to 20th September at the Harrogate International Centre, the business will promote an array of products targeted at the tiling sector …

In this Evolution Rage saw review, Roger Bisby finds a variety of applications for the Evolution Rage 3 sliding mitre saw. The Evolution Rage range of saws are made in China to a British design and manage to sell across the globe. When you consider the competition this is no mean feat but the Rage saws have some interesting features …