Roger Bisby tries out British Gypsum’s Thistle Bonding 60 that is designed to dry in one hour and accept any type of finish you care to use. You have to hand it to British Gypsum they keep going after new markets for their bagged plasters. The latest target in their sights is the making good and small repair market. This …
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Roger Bisby tries out a few Knipex grips and laments a life of losing tools. Having spent a great deal of my working life as a plumber/builder Knipex is a brand I know very well and it seems I’m not alone. When I recently used a pair of inferior slip joint grips in a plumbing demonstration and struggled, the calls …
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What do builders and plumbers commonly get wrong when applying silicone sealant? Roger Bisby ponders this question while trying out some of the latest offerings from the HB42 range. The building industry has been using silicone sealants for years now but a surprising number of tradespeople don’t know the difference between high and low modulus or neutral curing. I may …
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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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Roger Bisby knows the tune and is singing the praises of Setcrete Rapid Set Repair Mortar. Sing along to this if you know the tune; I certainly do. You are all ready to lay the floor or apply the self smoothing compound and you find a bit of loose that, upon further investigation gives way altogether. Why did you have …
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In Skill Builder’s Trade Tested* videos we put manufacturers’ claims about their products to the test. In this video we try out the brand new Aviva Half Mask from PPE manufacturer Scott Safety. The half mask, which is silicone-free but designed with silicone-like comfort, incorporates a reflex seal which allows the wearer added movement and flexibility, and a positive fit …
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When it comes to sealants there are very few on the market that can match CT1, says Roger Bisby. Not only is it strong and flexible it can also seal damp surfaces. I have tried many products that claim to do this but not all of them work. I first started using it when I was working on swimming pools …
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In this series of videos Skill Builder is taking a look at a selection of products from Real Deals for You, the consumer campaign which provides big brand tools at competitive prices through local independent retailers. Real Deals for You is a year-round campaign run by one of Europe’s leading hand and power tool distributors, Toolbank, and created to support …
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Roger talks to Phil Read about the Hilti SF 6H-A22 Cordless hammer drill driver in the build-up to next week’s test. 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 the 22 V battery platform combines a powerful motor and gearing with …
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In this series of videos Skill Builder is taking a look at a selection of products from Real Deals for You, the consumer campaign which provides big brand tools at competitive prices through local independent retailers. Real Deals for You is a year-round campaign run by one of Europe’s leading hand and power tool distributors, Toolbank, and created to support …
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Roger Bisby says Atlas Bolts are opening up a whole new world of fixings. I have written several times on the dangers of using cheap fixings. All too often unbranded bargain screws and bolts lack adequate corrosion protection and are also made from inferior steel. Atlas Bolts have been producing fixings since 1896 and are used in many of America’s …
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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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In this series of videos Skill Builder is taking a look at a selection of products from Real Deals for You, the consumer campaign which provides big brand tools at competitive prices through local independent retailers. Real Deals for You is a year-round campaign run by one of Europe’s leading hand and power tool distributors, Toolbank, and created to support …
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Roger gets his hands on Triton’s pendulum action jigsaw for #powertoolfriday; find out if this cost-effective jig can cut it in this Triton Jigsaw review. Product Features: Dual axis grips and balanced body design keep the tool on the workpiece, and move the tool with improved stability 4-position mode selector with 3-stage pendulum action for optimised, fast cutting and reduced …
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In this new series of videos Skill Builder is taking a look at a selection of products from Real Deals for You, the consumer campaign which provides big brand tools at competitive prices through local independent retailers. Real Deals for You is a year-round campaign run by one of Europe’s leading hand and power tool distributors, Toolbank, and created to …
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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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In this brand new series of videos Skill Builder is taking a look at a selection of products from Real Deals for You, the consumer campaign which provides big brand tools at competitive prices through local independent retailers. Real Deals for You is a year-round campaign run by one of Europe’s leading hand and power tool distributors, Toolbank, and created …
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In this brand new series of videos Skill Builder is taking a look at a selection of new products from Real Deals for You, the consumer campaign which provides big brand tools at competitive prices through local independent retailers. Real Deals for You is a year-round campaign run by one of Europe’s leading hand and power tool distributors, Toolbank, and …
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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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Roger Bisby installs a new Van Guard roof rack. When I sold my old Mercedes Vito I sold the roof rack with it. It was a Van Guard roof rack made for the van so there was little point in keeping it besides I really fancied the look of the new Van Guard roof rack with the aerodynamic Ultibars. All …
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Skill Builder Guides & reviews for building and construction
