HAND TOOLS
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Makita Combi Drill DHP489 - 18V Including Batteries & Charger
Rent from £25.00Need help choosing your drill?
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Need help choosing your drill?
Choosing your drill...
A combi drill is the all-rounder for DIY and trade use.
It combines three functions in one tool:
Drilling into wood and metal
Hammer drilling into masonry and brick
Screwdriving with variable speed control
Best for: general home and site use — ideal if you only want one drill that does it all.
A drill driver is simpler — no hammer action — designed mainly for:
Drilling holes in wood, plastic, or metal
Driving screws precisely
Best for: furniture assembly, shelves, and other light DIY jobs.
SDS drills are powerful tools made for heavy masonry and concrete work.
They use a special SDS bit system that allows the bit to move back and forth for maximum impact.
Best for: drilling into brick, stone, and concrete quickly.
Looks like a drill, but it’s designed purely for driving screws and bolts — especially long or tough ones.
It delivers short, strong bursts of torque, making it easy to drive screws without stripping the head.
Best for: decking, fencing, and projects needing lots of screws.
A standard, corded drill that provides consistent power for longer jobs.
No batteries to charge — just plug in and go.
Best for: workshop or bench jobs where mains power is handy.
If you’re unsure which drill you need, think about:
What you’re drilling into (wood, metal, masonry)
How often you’ll use it
Portability (corded vs cordless)
At Small Tool Hire Co, we can help you choose the perfect drill for your project — whether it’s a quick DIY fix or a full home renovation.
Choosing your power saw....
A circular saw is a versatile handheld power saw with a rotating blade, perfect for making straight cuts in wood, sheet materials, and plastics. It’s ideal for jobs like trimming timber, cutting plywood, and general construction work. Great for quick, clean, and accurate cuts when working on-site or at home.
Best for: Fast, straight cuts in wood and sheet materials.
A mitre saw is designed for making precise crosscuts and angled cuts in wood, ideal for cutting mouldings, frames, and skirting boards. The saw blade is mounted on a swing arm that pivots left or right to produce angled cuts.
Best for: Cutting perfect angles for trim, frames, and finishing work.
A compound mitre saw can tilt (bevel) as well as pivot, allowing both angled and bevel cuts — great for complex joints like crown moulding. A sliding compound mitre saw adds a sliding arm, increasing the cutting width so you can cut through wider boards and timbers.
Best for: Wider, deeper cuts and precise angled work in wood or MDF.
A plunge saw (or track saw) is built for accurate, splinter-free cuts along guide rails. It’s ideal for cutting kitchen worktops, doors, and sheet materials with precision. Unlike circular saws, the blade plunges directly into the material, allowing start-and-stop cuts anywhere on the board.
Best for: Perfectly straight, smooth cuts in panels, flooring, and worktops.
A jigsaw uses a small, fast up-and-down blade for cutting curves, shapes, and intricate patterns in wood, metal, or plastic. It’s lightweight and easy to control, making it ideal for detailed or curved cuts that other saws can’t achieve.
Best for: Curved and detailed cuts in a variety of materials.
A reciprocating saw (often called a “recip saw” or “sabre saw”) uses a long, straight blade that moves back and forth rapidly. It’s a rough-cutting tool great for demolition work, cutting pipes, or pruning branches — anywhere precision isn’t the main goal.
Best for: Fast demolition and cutting through wood, metal, and plastic.
A chop saw is a heavy-duty, fixed saw designed for straight 90° cuts, often in metal or masonry. It uses an abrasive disc or toothed blade and is built for power and durability rather than fine detail.
Best for: Straight, clean cuts through metal, pipe, or steel sections.
Finding the right sander for your project can make all the difference. Whether you’re working on fine furniture, large surfaces, or intricate corners, this guide compares the main types of sanders to help you choose the best tool for the job.
| Sander Type | Best For | Key Features | Ideal Use Cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Random Orbital Sander | Versatile sanding with smooth finishes | Dual-action motion (spins and vibrates), hook & loop pads, dust collection | Furniture refinishing, paint prep, sanding large surfaces, general DIY projects |
| 1/4" Sheet Sander | Compact, one-handed sanding in tight spaces | Square pad, uses 1/4 of a standard sandpaper sheet, lightweight | Sand edges, corners, small areas, delicate materials, between-coat finishing |
| 1/2" Sheet Sander | Larger surface sanding with a smooth finish | Rectangular pad, uses 1/2 of a standard sandpaper sheet, moderate size and weight | Sand large flat surfaces, prepping for painting or staining |
| Belt Sander | Heavy-duty material removal and surface leveling | Continuous loop of sandpaper, aggressive sanding action | Stripping paint, sanding rough wood, leveling uneven surfaces, floor refinishing |
| Detail Sander | Precision sanding in intricate or hard-to-reach areas | Small, pointed pad, lightweight, often with interchangeable tips | Sand corners, detailed woodwork, intricate carvings, finishing small projects |