There's only one powertool..

[George]

that hasn't been invented,anyone know what that is?

Maybe I should patent it?

[Doctor Drivel]

A powered copper pipe cutter that cuts the pipe, removes the burred edges and the crimped over end.

[George]

Nah! man...I'm talking a power file,some tool with the same actions as the jigsaw or multitool with an attachent to slot a file in and ease filing a piece of metal. ;-)

[gazz]

They do a power file, but it's just a narrow belt sander, about the width of a file, but due to it being a mini belt sander, it's about an inch thick,

but ok for filing the burrs off metal i guess.

[George]

But useless for filing out round hole. :-)

I've used one of those and it don't half wreck the wood,gave it away to someone.

[Doctor Drivel]

Power files are available. You should have said "I have an idea to make a power file".

[Andy Dingley]

Hand held or fixed?

Powered filing machines were around in the Victorian era. They did literally move a file back and forth (generally downwards), usually with a small cam action to lift it off on the backstroke.

For hand-held use nowadays, we use belt sanders. These have the advantage of only moving in one direction. If you don't think much to them, try swapping your electric one for a pneumatic - it's a world of difference.

[The Natural Philosopher]

rotozip?

[jgharston]

An electric drill with the trigger placed so that it's not impossible to pick it up without setting it off.

[Tim Lamb]

:-)

Can I hi-jack this and ask if anyone knows of an affordable electric metal nibbler?

regards

>

[dennis]

That would be a bobbin sander then. Usually bench mounted but I have seen hand held ones.

[TheOldFellow]

I still think the cordless gutter cleaner is pretty neat. But I think it needs an IC motor really (for racing). R.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

I have a Hitachi one which cost a fortune secondhand from Ebay - super tool, though. (I haven't got anywhere to keep a large compressor) I've never seen them in any shop, though.

[Tim Lamb]

In message , "Dave Plowman (News)" writes

I'll keep looking. B&Q were selling off some *returned* demolition saws for 30ukp which, rather surprisingly, do cut sheet steel. However, flying swarf and nasty burred edges detract from the finish.

The job is usually plastic coated roof sheet which has a 35mm box section and is an absolute pig using tin snips. Angle grinder discs melt the plastic locally. It would also be nice to cut circles!

regards

>

[dennis]

There are some cheap air powered ones if you have a compressor.

tgoolstation and machinemart are two places I have seen them.

[Tim Lamb]

In message , "dennis@home" writes

Yes. They are fine. The problem tends to be found working on a roof well away from a convenient source of compressed air. I sometimes stick the workshop compressor on a pallet but was looking for a more convenient solution.

Tek drivers, electric nibblers etc. seem to be outside the bulk market where price competition works:-(

regards

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Might be a problem - the box section. The electric nibbler would cut up to it and stop about 1/2" away. To use it in the middle of a panel etc requires about a 1" hole to get the jaws in.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

This applies to lots of power tools. But the compressor needed means they ain't portable in the true sense. I don't have a garage so a compressor isn't really on.

You can also buy ones which fit an electric drill - but like all such accessories ain't as good as a pukka one.

>

[dennis]

Doesn't matter anyway as it appears its for cutting profiles which will be quite difficult with a nibbler. The down bit will probably be OK but I don't see how its going to work on the up bits.

I just use a hand saw to cut box sections, much quicker.

I have a B&Q demolition saw that I paid £15 for that works well if I get tired and can be bothered to get it out, it makes cheap jigsaws look like precision tools though.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Think any such reciprocal saw is going to be pretty inaccurate due to flexing.