Budget tools: Poundland review

[bigcat]

keywords: low cost cheap budget tools review opinions cheapo

Some readers need minimum price tools, and that some of the cheap stuff is fine, and some junk. So a review would help. Poundland is about as cheap as you can get, so here goes...

Fairly good:

hammers, seem as good as other brands assorted trowels dustsheets clamps lip and spur drill bits for wood

240v halogen bulbs cutlery - genuinely good quality in fact. cleaning cloths nail punches, stone chisels

Usable:

spirit levels, but find one that reads level correctly paint brushes stanley blades 50 for =A31, bit thin but otherwise ok wood chisels 3/=A31, but only if you can grind them sharp before use, otherwise avoid

Junk: ratshit screwdrivers, useless. cfl bulbs, work but not worth =A31. Garbage light output. pens, work but a pain.

We dont often talk about the bottom end sector here, but plenty of people are buying it.

NT

[AlexW]

Also, a while back...

sharpening stone - out performed one from a timber merchant, at IIRC £3 or more. batteries (memorex) quite good. push lamps (I use in unpowered garage), 3 for a quid (one = £5 at B&Q, can't tell the diff)

Alex.

[Ian Stirling]

For some of the really cheap lamps - I found that the bulb was soldered, not actually socketed!

[bigcat]

soldered,

sounds logical. Replacements will be wire ended, or bulb plus socket to suit.

Were the batteries constructed inside cardboard and wax blobs, or were they regular replaceables? I wouldnt put it past someone.

NT

[AlexW]

Not checked bulbs, but bats were replaceable AA's, 4 off I think. At