FEATURE
TOOLS &
EQUIPMENT
“Cordless tools now provide the
power, performance and reliability
of mains powered tools”
Cordless tools: a valuable
addition to any tool box
Simon Miller, marketing director for Hitachi Power Tools, highlights
the vital power tools for every heating and plumbing engineer.
Take a look in many heating and
plumbing installers’ vans or
toolboxes and there are always
the power tools, the ‘old faithfuls’,
which prove their worth time and again.
This could be a combi drill, a saw or
an impact driver that delivers comfort,
performance, reliability and versatility just
when you need it.
Today, cordless power tools can often
rival the performance of mains powered
tools and feature highly efficient brushless
motors. Many are now supplied with one
or two powerful Lithium-ion batteries,
which when combined with fast charging
times, means you should never run out of
power again.
So, what are the most valuable types
of power tools for heating and plumbing
engineers in terms of maximum use and
need? That will vary according to personal
preference, but one of the outstanding
contenders has to be the multi tool.
As its name suggests, the multi tool is
one of the most versatile tools you can
have in your toolbox. It was originally
invented to remove plaster casts
from broken limbs, but now features
interchangeable accessories for almost
every job you can think of including
sanding, cutting, scraping, grinding, and
polishing.
The cordless, lightweight and compact
body of the Hitachi 18V CV18DBL/W4
is a perfect example of the multi tool’s
versatility. Powered by a super-efficient
brushless motor, it is ideal for use in
tight spaces.
It has a multi-angle blade setting,
adjustable in 30° steps, is compatible with
other power tool manufacturers’ blades
and comes with a range of accessories,
including a wood/metal blade, wood
blade, a sanding pad and five sheets of
sanding paper.
There are six ways the versatile multi
tool can assist today’s heating and
plumbing engineer.
CUTTING PIPEWORK
A major plus for all heating and plumbing
engineers, the multi tool can cut through
copper, plastic, and metal pipes. It
can trim them too. Because the tool is
compact and the blade adjusts to various
angles, you can work in tight spaces and
at awkward angles, including under sinks,
behind walls and under floorboards.
REMOVING GROUT
If you are renovating a bathroom, you can
use a multi tool to grind grout from the
joints between floor tiles and wall tiles.
An added advantage is that the blade
oscillates back and forth and doesn’t
disperse grout dust all over the place.
CUTTING PLASTERBOARD
Installing sockets into plasterboard, for
instance, when fitting kitchens, or making
holes for pipework, can be done really
quickly with a multi tool. You can simply
mark the square and use a blade to cut
through the surface.
REMOVING OLD SILICONE
AND CAULK
When fitted with a scraper blade, the
tool will slice through caulk very quickly
around bathtubs, sinks, counters,
backsplashes, and windows and doors.
REMOVING PAINT
Removing old blistered, peeling paint
can be a chore, but a multi tool will make
life much easier. Once removed, try
using the tool to sand down to the bare
material below.
Tiles can be cut through within seconds
SANDING WOOD
Most multi tool manufacturers, such as
Hitachi, offer a wide array of sanding
attachments. The most popular sanding
accessory is a large triangular-shaped pad,
which is effective when smoothing broad,
flat surfaces.
There are many more uses for a multi
tool, as it can help you out just when
other types of power and hand tools
cannot. Try plunge cuts, removing coving,
undercutting doors, removing glue from
under carpets, using it like an orbital
sander – the list is almost endless.
The multi tool may be the king of
versatility, but another toolbox must-have
is the combi drill. These adaptable drills
are excellent for every day use and Hitachi
Power Tools has created a twin pack which
also features a powerful impact driver –
perfect for driving in fasteners.
Power tool technology has advanced
rapidly in recent years to provide users
with unrivalled power, performance and
reliability. There are additional benefits to
this innovation of course.
As manufacturers, such as Hitachi,
innovate and launch groundbreaking new
tools, featuring efficient brushless motors
and powerful Lithium-Ion batteries, they
are also able to offer end users even more
peace of mind with extended warranties.
Simply registering a tool online
within 28 days of purchase extends the
warranty by up to two years with some
manufacturers.
Cordless tools now provide the power,
performance and reliability of mains
powered tools.
For heating and plumbing engineers,
tools such as the multi tool, combi
drill and impact driver will prove their
worth on site time and time again and
fast become a valuable addition to any
toolbox.
ENQUIRY NUMBER 119
Multi tools can cut through plasterboard
62 Heating & Plumbing Monthly | MAY 2018 | www.hpmmag.com
/www.hpmmag.com
