I think everytime I rent a tool I start thinking that if I need to rent it more than once I should buy one. I am a mostly one man band that builds a house or big renovation each summer then I fill in the down time with little jobs to keep busy. This means working in basements when it is cold and snowy. I am thinking of getting a demolition hammer (not a rotary hammer) for breaking concrete slabs when I need to do plumbing groundwork. Today I looked at a makita for $850 , a bosch for $1250 and an old rental Black and Pecker for $180. Any opinions from breaktimers who have these tools would by appreciated.
Have a good day
Cliffy
Replies
I have had the same thoughts and would be interested to hear some evaluations.
I'd rent the B&D and see how it works - if it's adequate, and it seems likely it would be for occasional use, the price is right...
Your advice was the same as my wife. So I guess like everyother married guy here, that is what I'll probably do.
Have a good day
Cliffy
Your advice was the same as my wife. So I guess like everyother married guy here, that is what I'll probably do.
I sound like your wife? gawd, I'm sorry man...
go buy the brand new hilti and be sure to get a full set of bits and a case...
"there's enough for everyone"
I look at "occasional use tools" as "a cost of doing business".
If I need an occasional tool... I go to HF and pick up the cheapest thing I can find to do the job. If it breaks... I throw it away and buy another one.
Keep in mind... you need to get a tool that will actually do the job (size considerations, etc). You just don't need to pay a fortune for a tool that will get one use every 6 months.
Rentals are cool and all... but can get expensive for jobs that require occasional use... over a two week period of time.
i was in the same boat as you until about 2 months ago. i bet i could of bought 2 of them by now i have rented it so many times. so i bit the bullet and bought this
bosch 1-9/16″ SDS-max¯ Combination HammerModel 11241EVS
http://www.boschtools.com/tools/tools-detail.htm?H=175982&G=54915&I=55055
worth every penny. i need it for drilling large holes too. it has a lot of cool little adjustability features that i find really nice. but i will tell you this. if you ever need to get through high psi concrete then you will still have to rent the big brute or something like that.
cheers
tmaxxx
Urban Workshop ltd
I would stay well clear of the Black an Pecker. Specially as its used. That means someone else has run the thing outa all the Pecker, all you gonna get is the 'black'.
I rented a Hitachi a few times. NICE. Very smooth and powerful. Cost new......1800 clams.
I want one. :-)
Everything, 100% of it, depends on how you look at it.
DW
Nice looking tool. What did it cost?
Have a good day
Cliffy
combi hammer with 1 chisel, 1 point, and an expensive blade($160) for removing tile and lino was a grand all in. thats in cdn funds.
doing renos, the tile blade is a HUGE time saving gadget.
and when buying bits, get the generic ones. hilti is double the price.Tmaxxx
Urban Workshop Ltd
Vancouver B.C.
What is HF?
Have a good day
Cliffy
"What is HF?"
Harbor Freight Tools
I bought the Bosch when in the middle of one winter I had to get though the frost in the ground for a large deck job , must have been about 19-20 years ago.
If I had rented everytime I have used the thing I would have probably paid 10 times the purchase price in rent, and the time saved by not having to pick up and return to the rentall yard is immence.
It has only been in the shop once, and that was only a $150 repair-matenance.
If you plan on being in the buisiness for any lenght of time ,buying is the way to go.
I would buy it if I felt I would use it twice or more than 4 days this year. You not only need to consider the cost of the tool but also the cost/ hassle of renting and returning it and the flexibility afforded to you by having it in your tool shed whenever you need it, even for 20 mins.
I am sure once it is in your possession you'll find more uses for it.
A quick search on ebay came up with this:
http://search.ebay.com/demolition-hammer_W0QQfkrZ1QQfromZR8
You can buy a new Bosch for about $600 and a bunch of used D hammers for under $350. Check it out.
F