Don't buy Erbauer tools from Screwfix!!

[Daydream believer]

You are easily impressed!!

 

[zikzik]

I've also changed my mind and won't be buying Erbauer again. Bought a new router and dropped the collet into the water when working on the boat. Called Screwfix and though still under warranty it was my fault so no help and no spares even disposables like collets. Brand new router now going into the skip!

Collet sizes are not unique to tool producers. You can get them in metric or imperial sizes. Commonly 1/4" or 1/2".

 

[zikzik]

You are not going to get an argument from me about that.

I love Churches, its religion I have problem with!

 

[charles_reed]

Warning to anyone who is thinking of buying the Erbauer brand of tools, usually sold by Screwfix.
There are NO spare parts available for them if you break whatever you buy!!
You may be lucky to get a replacement battery via Screwfix if the tool you have is less than 2 years old - anything older, forget it.
We have a 18V Combi drill at work, bought about 16 mths ago and one of the side casings is cracked. The drill itself works fine, but the crack is right where the soft part of your hand is (between the thumb and forefinger) and regularly gets caught in the crack!! A bit painful and leads to skin pinch marks if you use the drill a lot.
So I rang the number given in the manual and was advised that there were no parts available. The "helpful" (NOT!) customer service advisor said that nothing is available to carry out repairs, even they cannot get parts?? When quizzed about the manufacturer, I was told that they are made in China by a company called Positec Power Tool Corps, but not to bother contacting the manufacturer as they wouldn't respond due to the lanquage difference!!
I then spoke to Screwfix Customer Services and got pretty much the same answer, but was told to contact a company caled GR8 spares who may have some bits, needless to say they do not carry anything other than a few old type batteries.

So the moral is, you get what you pay for. I have a fully working drill which is pretty much no good now (can't glue the crack as it's too flexible at the point where it is) and the plastic seems very different to other plastics used on the better quality drills.
Pay the extra for better quality tools (Bosch, Makita, Dewalt, etc) and you stand a chance of getting spare parts and service if you need it!

Can you not tape it up?

I'm afraid that's true for nearly all tools: de Walt, Bosch only offer spares for their tools for about 5 years and the prices are horrific, Makita seem to be a bit better.

 

[FishyInverness]

Can you not tape it up?

If the OP took any of the advice, it was over a year ago...check the original thread date! This only came back into life because one of the thread contributors came on to (possibly ironically) announce that his ebauer kit had now expired...

I was thinking Sugru as well, incidentally, that stuff is magic!

 

[charles_reed]

The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the thrill of low price has been forgotten

The thrust of this thread has been more about the poor quality of after-sales service rather than the poor quality of the tools, which possibly makes your aphorism apocryphal.

 

[PCUK]

Could we have that in English please Charles.

 

[DaveS]

I was thinking Sugru as well, incidentally, that stuff is magic!

+1

 

[Tomahawk]

If the OP took any of the advice, it was over a year ago...check the original thread date! This only came back into life because one of the thread contributors came on to (possibly ironically) announce that his ebauer kit had now expired...

I was thinking Sugru as well, incidentally, that stuff is magic!

I think it was me that woke this one up..
I was looking for Erb spares and servicing and found a YBW forum comment...

If it gets spotted bu someone looking for tools... then this forum has done. someone a lot of good..

PS.. got a Hitachi for a V good price from Toolstop

 

[penfold]

I've also changed my mind and won't be buying Erbauer again. Bought a new router and dropped the collet into the water when working on the boat. Called Screwfix and though still under warranty it was my fault so no help and no spares even disposables like collets. Brand new router now going into the skip!

The collets are usually the same as some other make, as the rest of the tool is usually either an old design gingered up, or a rip off of an existing design; if you have a collet take it to a decent tool shop and see if any of the brand name collets match.

 

[fergie_mac66]

Can't gaffer tape the drill as the crack runs from the trigger switch towards the back. Taping would mean going over the switch and that wouldn't be practical!
The drill has been used maybe once or twice a week, fitting truckmounted carpet cleaning machines into vans, drilling through the ply lining and the vehicle floor.
Will look on Ebay for a spares/repair one or try the gluing approach.

4 or 5 min epoxy will join it and smooth a bit over the top for good measure

 

[fergie_mac66]

If the OP took any of the advice, it was over a year ago...check the original thread date! This only came back into life because one of the thread contributors came on to (possibly ironically) announce that his ebauer kit had now expired...

I was thinking Sugru as well, incidentally, that stuff is magic!

dont you hate it when that happens

 

[davidpbo]

Poor after sales service is not limited to budget tools.

Sorry for the thread drift, but it has really annoyed me.

A church had some good quality radio mics supplied, App £4ks worth I believe (some years ago but the systems are still current) on frequencies that were withdrawn for radio mic use in 2012 (CH69 UHF 854.1Mhz to 861.900 Mhz) I thought they should be be able to be reprogrammed to include some licence exempt frequencies on Ch70 (UHF 863.1-864.900 Mhz) they are digital, it should I thought be a matter of plugging them in to a computer and reprogramming albeit it would probably cost a few £100s plus removing dispatching, replacing and loan mics. Never did get a straight answer from Bosch/Electrovoice who seem to have no service/technical personnel in this country anymore bets I was offered was new at a significant discount but

 

[Simondjuk]

I've made a habit of buying Hitachi tools since on the two occasions a component has quit, I've phoned their service centre, explained the issue and had the spare part posted to me at no charge whatsoever.

 

[Alfie168]

The electrical company we worked alongside issued its lads with Erbauer cordless drills almost ten years ago. They all became slack, sloppy and the gears noisy very quickly, so were judged to be a 'bad buy' and that put me off them. I did not realise they had no back up at all. That has put me off even more..if that were possible

On the other hand the cheap pressure washer I got from Lidl has had a few parts give up the ghost and under the three year warranty they have just posted replacement bits out to me as long as I can quote the date off the purchase receipt. Can't complain about that.

The mains heavy duty hammer drill I got from Lidl has also been terrific. That has been through quite a few stone walls with core drills. At £39 its a winner as far as I'm concerned. Its also useful as a breaker. Its done four years so far as has my DeWalt cordless which seems as good as the day I bought it. I try not to overstretch the cordless and I'm sure that helps its life span.

Tim

 

[zikzik]

For anyone still looking for parts or service on Positec manufactured tools, try J&M on 0113 3851100. There is, or was, a guy and stock within J&M's service business that either works for Positec or works only on their behalf. I think they keep most parts. Positec makes for a number of retail owned brands including Erbauer, McAllister, JCB, Worx etc. Do not assume it is just cheap carp. They make different quality levels. Not all Erbauer is made by them though. For 230v sds drills and small breakers, try Sparky UK on 0117 300 5528. There will also be other suppliers probably but I don't know which ones. Sparky GmbH mains powered tools are made in their factory in Bulgaria. They also supply many higher end Wickes branded models plus Sparky brand in Screwfix, Toolstation etc. Their cordless is made in China though, like nearly all machines nowadays, including De-Walt, Hitachi etc. Router collets are available in any good power tool retailer, you just need to know which size you have. Usually 1/4" or 1/2". But some machines take only metric collets.

I hope that helps a few posters here.

 

[Tomahawk]

From a friend of mine...



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Profile
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Electric nail gun is different from the old gas nail gun new nail gun, it's worse than in 5 major areas of gas nail gun has a big advantage.
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Weight
Due to the works gas nail gun equipped with auxiliary equipment such as air compressors, so a full set of equipment and weight is amazing. But the electric nail gun with light having equipped with auxiliary equipment. Normally gross weight of only 1.5 kg. Gas nail gun has a huge advantage.
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Install Note:
1, it is not recommended to use Powder actuated tool to operate on soft substrates, such as wood or soft soil, doing so can damage the nail
For the brake ring, thus affecting the normal use.
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Nailing method
*
Usage note:
1, set up after a nail bomb, pipe is prohibited to directly push the nail by hand.
2, do not nail bombs packed Powder actuated tool at others.
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5, the soft (such as wood) or substrate by firmware shooting, select power to appropriate nail bombs, power will be interrupted
Piston rod.
6, the nail with the length of time should be timely replacement of wearing parts (such as piston rings), or shot effect is not ideal (for example
Power down).
7, shooting out the back, wipe or clean nail parts in a timely manner.
Instructions for 8, a variety of nail, should read the instructions before use, and understand the principles of the nail, performance, structure,
Disassembly and Assembly methods, and compliance considerations.
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[Bosun Higgs]

The moral of the story is buy cheap, buy twice.

At those prices he didnt buy cheap. I use an aldi battery drill. Cost £20, works well, when it fails it will go in the bin to be replaced by another. So far its done 5 years domestic use.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I've had my Bosch drill from B & Q for over 5 years and have used extensively at home and on the boats. I had to get a new battery a couple of years ago - I had wrecked the old one by leaving on charge permanently. The guy that supplied the replacement advised charging for no longer than 3 hrs which i do with a timer. No further problems.

 

[haydude]

I am surprised that you discover this just now. Everyone knows that whatever you buy that is made in China is a non repairable black box. As you said you would be even lucky to find spare consumables like batteries after only a few months.

If you need a tool for just one or two jobs it makes sense, otherwise buy European.

Beside if your tool is less than 24 months old, the vendor (Screwfix) is responsible for an under warranty repair or refund. That is the law.