u/jyl8

Hi everyone. I am converting an old building into a cafe. We want to have laundry in the basement, to wash our towels etc.

I have Speed Queen coin-op top loader washer and dryer, that came with the building. I don’t know their age, they were working when we bought. I gather the commercial Speed Queens are well regarded.

Unfortunately their previous location is now occupied by the grease interceptor, so whereever I put them, I’ll need to install a vent which may be inconvenient (basement).

I saw a used Fisher & Playkel washer/dryer set for $500. WH2424P1 and DE4024P1, stackable, front loading, santize and steam features, and the dryer is ventless. I see these sell for about $1,000 each so $500 seems like a good deal.

I think I can sell the Speed Queens for more than the used F & P will cost.

What do you think? Should I keep the Speed Queens

Hi everyone, I have a question about Bosch laser levels, well about laser levels generally but I’ve been looking at Bosch ones.

I have bought my share of cheap Chinese no-name laser levels, and been disappointed. I think it’s time to spend the money for a good 360 laser level that will do everything I need.

The laser has to be clearly visible in a sunlit room and outdoors on a sunny day. I don’t need big distance, will be usually working in an area 50 ft across. And it has to be a quality product, the last one I’ll buy.

Which Bosch 360 laser would work for my needs? I see the GLL 3-330-CQ looks like the top model but is it overkill for me? Is there a different brand you’d recommend instead?

Thank you!

As asked . . . just curious to see what everyone is using and getting.

Are you using your TC as a proper trades work van? Have you customized the interior to hold the tools, equipment, supplies for your work? Is it kind of cool in a geeky way?

Show us?!

I’m helping an electrician friend build out her TC and trying to get some ideas.

I’ve been needing a compound miter saw. Corded with 12” blade.

Narrowed down to Bosch GCM12SD or Makita LS1219L. Bosch mechanism is (way) cooler but from reviews Makita seems to have some advantages. But Bosch is $630 on sale at Home Depot or $550 NIB from a (reliable) guy on Facebook Marketplace. Makita isn’t on sale anywhere I found, only at list price of $930 ish. But I found this one on FBM, being sold by a flooring contractor, they liked the saw but the crew complained how heavy it was to lift and carry from van to site. So they put it up for $500.

Not like-new but not far off. Works a treat. Even the laser works :-) I need to replace the screws that hold the wing extension rods into the extensions, and check true, that’s all I’m finding.

Looking for a stand. You all like the stick-with-folding-legs or the wheeled gravity stands?

First gen Transit Connect, bought to be an electrician’s work van.

Looking for suggestions on how to theft-harden it.

Currently has the glass rear door windows and

curious if it was a mistake for Makita to not do multivolt (18v / 36v or 18v / 54v) instead of introducing a new 40v line. What do those more knowledgeable than I think?

I’m looking to get a laser level that does three planes (360 x 3). Should be usable in a large sunny room. Seems like lots of companies make these. I’ve bought cheap laser levels before; am now looking for a “keeper”, as in the last laser level I’ll buy.

What do you all like? How are the DeWalt and Bosch levels?

I’m building out a coffee shop with a very small coffee bar and an even smaller back-of-bar. Space is so tight that the drip brewer will live in the kitchen and we’ll just have the airpots at the coffee bar.

The standard big tall hot water dispenser takes up a lot of counter room.

So I’m thinking of plumbing to an undercounter electric instant hot water dispenser with a faucet at the barista station.

Any thoughts on this? Is it legal, practical, desirable? Have you tried it?

I’m a “Makita guy”. As I built the basic collection of cordless tools, I bought everything in LXT. The tools are good and I have the batteries.

My corded tools have always been a mix, but for decades, even going back to the NiCAD/NiMH days, it was nothing but teal in my cordless quiver. Drill/driver x 2, impact driver x2, circular saw, orbital sander, brad nailer, pin nailer, angle drill, angle impact driver, recip saw, hammer drill, blower, etc.

Recently, though, I’ve bought a few non-Makita cordless tools.

In two cases, Makita doesn’t make the tool, so I got the bright red Milwaukee M18 power drain auger/snake (expensive, but saved an equally expensive plumber’s house call) and the dark blue Bosch 12v Flexiclick installation driver kit (my dad gave one to my son, I was impressed and saw the kit for only $129 at AcmeTools).

In one case, the other tool was just better for my purposes than the Makita 18v framing nailer that weighs 12 freaking pounds! so I got the four pounds lighter bright orange Paslode XP30Pro framing nailer.

And in one case, I liked the corded tool so much that I couldn’t resist the cordless version when it popped up used, so I got the muted orange Fein multitool (the older, pre-Ampshare tool) kit.

Well, that bandaid is now ripped off, so I’m thinking - maybe I should venture further into the world of red or blue? Or even orange, while my used Fein uses the old batteries (though I did get an adapter for Makita) I gather the current Ampshare Feins might be able to use LXT (?) and Makita don’t make a positive placement nailer, so if I get one it’ll be another Paslode.

Have you found yourself with multiple cordless systems? Why did you do it, does each family serve a different purpose or was it just some random impulses and there you were, a tool polygamist?

I’m tiling a the floor of small (5’ x 5’) bathroom, and need it to be waterproof as we’ll have a floor drain. It is a 1907 house, the floor structure is 3/4” diagonal wood board subfloor over wood joists. I am planning to use Ditra membrane for waterproof-ness and for uncoupling.

The subfloor, being 120 years old, is not that smooth and has gaps between boards. I’m thinking of using a layer of Hardie cement board to give the Ditra a smooth continuous surface to sit on, and shim the Hardie to slope the floor toward the center floor drain.

So from the bottom up, we’ll have
- Wood board subfloor
- Hardie
- Ditra
- Tile (large hex terracotta)

Any red flags with this?

Thank you. I have not tiled a floor since my young adult first house days - and Ditra didn’t exist then.

Portland, OR, USA.

Converting old single family house to cafe. Trash/recycling bin area will be inside a shed attached to the building. Does that area have to be drained to sewer?

I gather if the trash/recycling were outdoors, it would have to be fenced, with a curb and drain to sewer. But this is indoors.

Thanks!

Hi! I’m helping my electrician friend look for a used, small work van. She wants a Transit Connect and has a very low budget.

We can do repairs, e.g. transmission replacement, in my shop with free labor, she pays for parts and any outside services. Driving will be urban short distances; 5 miles to jobsite then sit parked all day. We’ll fit rack, shelves, partition.

I don’t know much/anything about these vehicles. I see the last gen 1s (2011) as low as $3000 and usually have 200K+ miles; gen 2s (2012-2020) are all over the place in price, mileage, and condition; later gen 2 and all gen 3 are out of her budget.

Thoughts on how these hold up to high mileage, common expensive problems, parts cost and availability now and future

. . . and alternatives? Feels like there must have been similar vehicles sold in the US.

Thank you!

I hope its ok to ask about the corded Bosch tool here.

I'm looking at buying a compound miter saw, and am considering the Bosch GCM12SD. However, I hear there may be a new model coming. Does anyone know about it and if it will be better/worse and more/less expensive than the GCM12SD?

Thank you.

I often see Makita tools on Craigslist or FB Marketplace, with multiple batteries. Often these are clean tools + batteries with minimal signs of use.

The tools themselves are often duplicates of what I already have (drill + driver combos etc), but the prices look like real bargains just for the batteries. The more interesting tools tend to be sold tool-only.

Do you think this is a thrifty way to get batteries? And I guess an extra driver as a spare?

Or do you think the chances of getting a worn out or damaged battery or a fake battery are too high?

I noticed that Milwaukee has gone heavy into specialized industrial trade tools. ProPress, cable strippers, rod threaders, PEX expander, transfer pumps, drain inspection and augers, meters and imaging tools, conduit bender, on and on.

Makita seems to be “behind” in this area. The acquisition of Panasonic seems to be aimed at catching up.

Do you think this is a good idea for Makita?

Since we have (not literally have yet but soon can have) the right angle impact rated drill extender thingy (very cool), what would you like the Makita elves to bring us next? Could be a totally new to Makita tool, or a very much improved version of an underwhelming current tool.