LAZINESS OR NORMAL?

[Jcloughie]

WOW.. A double ended spanner for scaffolding, the only persons using these were bricklayers who had them in there tool buckets to remove things they shouldnt have!! Ive been scaffolding since 1980 and those spanners were out of date back then!! Hence I now have a drill, (when I go out on the tools, which isnt often these days!)

As Brickie I used a podger spanner to make alterations. Covered all eventualities.


John

 

[Tuningdrew]

Could that be an electric drill set on "hammer"?

Believe me, I have heard some using them in that mode!

Last summer at a dog club weekend I could hear some new arrivals setting up. Appeared to be new caravanners to boot. He was using a big DeWalt hammer drill on the steadies until the wheels were barely touching the ground. If his Bailey didn’t leak before it will now. Funnier was trying to pitch his new air awning. The awning rail was so high off the ground the mud walls barely touched the ground next to the caravan. Always wary of the reaction by interfering where not wanted I didn’t get involved but there experience didn’t seem to be very harmonious.

 

[Buckman]

Although we now have E&P levelling previously we used our drill for the steadies. It is also used for the screw pegs for pegging down the awning so quite versatile.

 

[Raywood]

I agree with Jcloughie that the Makita might need new batteries. I also have the Stanley and it did something like ten set ups on one charge. Even better it comes with two batteries so you are never stuck.

 

[Buckman]

I have an electric drill winder for home use, but my trusty Makita has NiMH batteries which are heavy and are normally exhausted after a winding session, so I'd need to take the charger too... I stick to the acoustic winding handle to keep the weight down.

We have a Makita which has two batteries and was bought many years ago. Battery could do the legs and the screw pegs for the awning and still have more than enough power to do the reverse in taking down awning and lifting legs.

 

[JTQ]

I certainly don't think of it as a "laziness" issue, after all what do you really save in effort, you still have to get one or other out and re-stow them?

It is a "hassle" issue, coming down to what to you is the greater hassle, putting manually a few turns on each steady or living with the extra "clobber" of the carrying and recharging the drill.

Clearly if physically you are infirm enough doing it is an issue, then that's a hassle too far, so use a drill.

Using the drill could reduce the need to service the steadies, clean their leadscrew etc to keep the winding effort minimal?

 

[CustardAvenger]

What, prey, is an 'acoustic winding handle.?

I.E not electric; the 'Keep Fit' version. The manual winding handle. 😄

 

[CustardAvenger]

My trusty Stanley drill did 10 set ups last holidays without the need to charge. Suggest new Mikita batteries are needed.

John

Yeah... they're well used; it was cheap 10+ years ago and battery chemistry has moved on. The cost/benefit analysis means buying a new Li-ion drill is the better option.

 

[Jcloughie]

Yeah... they're well used; it was cheap 10+ years ago and battery chemistry has moved on. The cost/benefit analysis means buying a new Li-ion drill is the better option.

That’s what I found when the batteries in my Black and Decker failed. So I bougot the Stanley I have now, £82 with two batteries. But I have kept hold of the B&D in the hope I can find reasonably priced batteries. I think there are some specialist who will put new cells in which might be cost effective.

John

 

[Beachball]

Maypole 76312 12-inch 19mm extension socket suits my 10mm drill chuck (Just in case)

 

[juliusbarry]

I don't think it's laziness. I'd rather see it as technology being put to use. It actually depends on individual choice. However, it's just a matter of time, the manual will fade out.

 

[Tuningdrew]

That’s what I found when the batteries in my Black and Decker failed. So I bougot the Stanley I have now, £82 with two batteries. But I have kept hold of the B&D in the hope I can find reasonably priced batteries. I think there are some specialist who will put new cells in which might be cost effective.

John

Have a look on eBay for Li-ion replacements for your BnD. I needed new Ni-Cad Batteries for my old Snap on cordless tools. Stealers wanted £80+ for them (exchange). Found a twin pack of Li-ion replacements on eBay for £32. Worth a punt I thought. 5 years on an they are still going strong and weigh virtually nothing.

 

[Jcloughie]

Have a look on eBay for Li-ion replacements for your BnD. I needed new Ni-Cad Batteries for my old Snap on cordless tools. Stealers wanted £80+ for them (exchange). Found a twin pack of Li-ion replacements on eBay for £32. Worth a punt I thought. 5 years on an they are still going strong and weigh virtually nothing.

I have already and the price has dropped from a few years ago. My problem is, I can get one for £23 and it says fits all B&D but the picture looks a bit different to mine. So I need to contact the supplier first. When it I get it I will leave the B&D in the van as I so often leave the house without the drill and have to revert to the old fashioned method.



I did look at taking it apart and changing the cells. But two major problems.

1. The straps should be welded on, soldering can damage the cells. I don’t have the welder.

2. Choosing the cells is not straight forward. There are many variants of the ‘same’ thing. They have to be matched to the load and some have built in safety circuitry.

Can’t copy the old ones they have nothing written on them.

Also, it would still cost about £15. So not worth the effort.

John

 

[Gagakev]

Have a look on eBay for Li-ion replacements for your BnD. I needed new Ni-Cad Batteries for my old Snap on cordless tools. Stealers wanted £80+ for them (exchange). Found a twin pack of Li-ion replacements on eBay for £32. Worth a punt I thought. 5 years on an they are still going strong and weigh virtually nothing.

Did the same a few years back with my Makita drill, bought the cheapy replacements and still going, think the drill is about to pack up now before the batteries.
BUT.....I also did the same with Makita Impact wrench and they didnt last five minutes, I believe the difference being the drill is only used occasionally but the impact wrench is used for work on a daily basis, and are charged every day ready for the next day.

 

[Hutch]

I have Draper Expert, Power drill that I use for home and the caravan stays, 3 batteries, which today replacing the garden fence batons worked well, as they ran down and then recharged they got better, longer run times, I think they are NiCads,
When away I either carry the charger or a spare battery. Weight is the same.

 

[Johnb]

Now come on, what would my wife do if she was stopped winding down the steadies and plugging in the electricity. Water fetching a tad heavy but a drill, set to the correct torque, and she's as good at steady winding as the rest!
Long live progress.

 

[Beachball]

We prefer to do it the manual way so far to put the steadies down on our caravan but i think it depends what makes it easier for you

 

[SteveW77]

I use a power drill for the steadies, but I do suffer from heart failure and C.O.P.D.

 

[RogerL]

I use a power drill for the steadies, but I do suffer from heart failure and C.O.P.D.

I don't use a power drill for steadies - but I do suffer from heart failure and COPD - so I guess either is ok.

 

[Johnb]

You know something! Here we are apparently sane men and women swapping our preferences for winding down steadies.

Really - does it matter?

If you stand back and think about it seems to me we are all mad!

 

[Jcloughie]

You know something! Here we are apparently sane men and women swapping our preferences for winding down steadies.

Really - does it matter?

If you stand back and think about it seems to me we are all mad!

While I wholeheartedly agree with those sentiments. It just might be that some on here may not have been introduced to the shear luxury of the powered wind down/up. On the other hand, they whole topic might be a 'wind up'.

But a word of warning for those who do use a drill. Please make use of the torque settings. When the steady comes to a sudden stop a powerful drill could break the wrist.

John

 

[Beachball]

My wife puts the steadies down on our caravan the manual way i look on in my wheelchair i am told to rest and relax .
i also agree with you John the whole topic might be a wind up ..

 

[Parksy]

My wife puts the steadies down on our caravan the manual way i look on in my wheelchair i am told to rest and relax .
i also agree with you John the whole topic might be a wind up ..

You forgot the words "cool beer in hand" Beachball 😁

 

[Beachball]

You forgot the words "cool beer in hand" Beachball 😁

Nice Beck Lager

 

[PTA]

Nice Beck Lager

"Beck lager"? Traitor!
A pint of bitter please.