A revamp of the popular TS410 the “A” version now offers push button electronic water control to keep dust to a minimum especially when cutting masonry and stone products.

As with previous models this portable petrol saw is driven by one of Stihl’s excellent low emmision two stroke engines and drives the blade / cutter disc by way of a toothed belt. Disc size remains unchanged at 300mm (12″ allowing all popular types of cutting discs and abrasives to be used as previously.

Whether you need a small light piece of equipment moving to a new location on site, or a heavy piece of production equipment moving to a totally new area or country, you can obtain it for a short or long-term rental period from a specialist lifting and moving equipment hire company.

One of the most useful pieces of equipment used for machinery relocation and moving is the standard fork lift truck.

Capable of lifting and moving at the same time a fork lift truck is often under rated when it comes to this type of engineering work.

A popular type of fork lift truck that is used for machinery relocation and moving tasks is the counterbalanced truck. Unlike a conventional fork lift truck these steer by way of their front wheels. Most counter balance type fork lift trucks are of the narrow width variety making them ideal for use in confined lifting situations as well as being able to be used in narrow aisles and between plant and production line equipment.

Explosion proof fork lifting trucks are another variation of this type of lifting gear. Used in working environments where there is a potential safety risk this type of machine can be found in chemical works, petrochemical environments, pharmaceutical, and food and drink factories.

As well as using heavy capacity fork lift trucks specialist equipment relocation companies will also use lifting jacks, moving skates, winches, tirfors, and general lifting and shifting equipment when carrying out machine moving. In some instances cranes will also be used whether vehicle mounted or free standing. For general road transportation a low loader vehicle is often used fitted with a crane and jib that is capable of the job in hand whether it is with a high or low reach or small, medium, or heavy lifting capacity.

For unusual and difficult applications the use of a megalift may be required. A megalift can offer the ideal solution especially when machinery or equipment needs to be moved or relocated in a confined space, where there is a restricted floor loading, or where the location of the equipment needs somthing different from just conventional lifting gear.

When it comes to machine moving and relocation the lifting, dismantling, transportation, rigging, and assembly work needs to be carried out by skilled specialist engineering teams that have experience in this field of work.

It is common for teams of experienced engineering personnel of mechanical fitters, welders, pipe fitters, electricians, riggers, millrights, supervisors, and project managers to be involved with machinery moving and machinery relocation tasks.

Some of the key work involved when tasked with machinery moving are project management, auditing of the machinery, the disconnection of any electrical supply to the machinery in question, mechanical disconnection, the actual lifting and moving, packing, shipping, and transportation, unloading at destination, the mechanical and electrical re-connection, essential levelling, dynamic and static testing, phase rotation and testing, and dry run prior to production commencement.

There is a multiude of different brands and styles of site clothing available to buy that ranges from standard ppe workwear including high vis and safety items through to fashionable site clothing as marketed and produced by Dickies, Cat, and others.

One of the relative newcomers in site clothing is the range of clothing sold under the Scruffs brand name, unlike others this choice of clothing is aimed at the fashion conscious worker that wants to look good on the work site as well as wearing clothing and footwear that is practical, comfortable to work in for long hours, and be very smart and modern in appearance.

The list of items in the scruffs clothing range is quite vast with work wear including trousers, pro trade pants, pro jackets, polo shirts, hoodies, and much more.

Perhaps second to none in fashionable footwear are their trekka trainers, twister safety boots, and scruffs cyclone boot.

A main feature of all the items in this clothing line up is their high quality. Scruffs clothing is built on being comfortable, practical, offers protection, is highly fashionable, but above everything is made for the joiner, builder, plumber, groundworker, or mechanical engineer that wants their clothing and safety foot wear to last. Because of this a lot of scuffs customers are repeat buyers purchasing multiple items over a period of time.

One of the most popular items of clothing in this manufacturers range is their pro trade trousers. These are high quality workwear site trousers finished in durable cordura. Ideal for most applications on the work or construction site the scruffs pro trade trousers are wind and water resistant and can be bought in all popular sizes.

When a trademan is working on site protection is of the first consideration for any type of safety footwear. The Scruffs footwear range consists of supportive and protective boots including their Tornado 4, Chukka boot, Twister and twister pro, Storm and storm 2, Thunder boot, and the Tornado 3. In their rigger boot selection are the cylone 2 and Cyclone 3 rigger boots.

Trainers are a popular seller in the Scruffs range; these include the Trekka, Lightning, and Tempest branded trainers.

LPG bottled gas is highly flammable and must be handled as with all fuels with great care. Now a common type of fuel (especially for portable heaters and cooking appliances) lpg gas is used to provide a source of heat, light, or power. It is also used for cutting equipment and tools such as burning torches.

Propane gas is also used as a fuel to power internal combustion engines and agricultural machinery. It is commonly used in large engine capacity vehicles where it is a more cost efficent fuel than petrol or diesel.  Owners of thirsty 4×4 cars can typically save 25 to 40% on fuel costs if they use lpg gas instead of petrol.

There are two main types of lpg bottled gas. These are butane and propane. Propane is mainly used for industrial and commercial purposes, butane is intended for domestic use.

Typical applications of propane bottled gas are use by roofing contractors for heating bitumen and roofing felt. Asphalt heating by groundworkers. Powering gas burning torches by engineers and metal workers. Powering certain types of fork lift trucks, and of course by general businesses as a fuel for space heaters and cookers/ovens.

Propane bottled gas is also used in the leisure industry for a fuel for appliances such as barbeques and outdoor stoves.

If you are a user of power tools, powered garden machinery, heavy workshop equipment such as a printing press, a kiln, or factory processing equipment, it is essential that you plan and undertake preventative maintenance. 

Any powered equipment or machinery will at some time need parts and assemblies repairing and replacing due to inevitable wear and tear that has to take place.  Rather than have a costly overhaul it is preferential to avoid this by undertaking regular planned maintenance spread over a period of time to keep productivity going as well as performance.  

If the equipment you use is just portable powered tools and plant such as generators or mini diggers then a breakdown may not be as impacting as if it was a large item of factory machinery.  

When a piece of factory equipment breaks down production can come to a halt for the whole manufacturing process with possible severe implications.   

Health and safety also play a large part when it comes to equipment maintenance. Clean, safe equipment and machinery is less likely to be a hazard to users and staff that operate it than dirty and dangerous machines that have worn parts and components. 

Before any tool, equipment, or machinery is to be inspected prior to undertaking maintenance work it is recommended it is cleaned so an accurate inspection can take place to assess its condition. Depending what the item is will determine the correct equipment or product that can be used.  

The majority of heavy plant and portable powered machinery can be effectively cleaned by way of using a high pressure steam cleaner or jet water pressure washer. Hot temperature steam on its own is very effective at removing grime and oil from metal and plastic housings and components. For general dirt, soiling, and traffic film removal a pressure washer is a good option, especially if used with a detergent. 

Most heavy duty pressure washers such as the karcher hds601 allow the temperature to be varied from cold, through warm to very hot. This allows the user to set the correct temperature that is needed for the equipment cleaning job in hand. 

A power washer though is not intended to replace a genuine steam cleaner. As the name refer too a steam cleaner uses high pressure steam for cleaning, a hot power water jet washer blasts hot water out, not steam.  

If all you are cleaning off is general dirt and mud from construction equipment and machinery then a cold water pressure washer may suffice. These are more common than ever nowadays especially portable petrol and diesel-powered ones that can be used almost anywhere without the need for a separate power supply. 

Another alternative for cleaning machinery is a dry ice pellet blasting machine. This uses compressed air as a power source and dry ice pellets as the cleaning medium. The pellets are propelled out of the units nozzle at a high velocity by air and vaporize when they hit the targeted area. Unlike water and steam this leaves no residue and is ideal for cleaning sensitive equipment such as electrical components, printing presses and machines etc. 

As you can imagine this type of cleaning machine is ideally suited for clients in the engineering industry.

This handy item of garden machinery consists of a small sized (to keep weight down) petrol engine coupled to a high speed air blower assembly.

The petrol engine powers the tools internal blower fan round at a very high speed creating a massive air throughput down and out of the units directional blower tube.

By pointing the leaf blowers tube at garden debris, fallen leafs, and any other materials you want moving, the large force of the air alone will clear and blow this where required.

Most hand held or shoulder mounted garden leaf blowers are powered by a two stroke petrol engine. There are a few four stroke petrol engined machines available to buy or hire but these tend to be the larger backpack type blowers that are designed for the professional gardener and landscapers in mind rather than the home owner or keen gardener.

When it comes to buying one of these machines you will be spoilt for choice with the large range that is available from countless garden machinery manufacturers.

You will find you can buy budget priced basic electric and petrol leaf blowers, medium priced petrol blowers, and also machines at the higher end of the scale that as you would expect are of a higher quality and typically have more features and specifications than the cheaper versions.

One brand that is preferred by regular users of garden machinery (both home owners and professional users) is the well known manufacturer Stihl.

Recognised as one of leading world wide producers of chainsaws, brushcutters, and forestry equipment, Stihl also produce a comprehensive selection of affordable yet very high quality garden leaf blowers. This includes blowers including the Stihl BG56, the BG86. The SH56 and SH86 leaf blower vacuum shredders, and also several models of backpack professional machines including the renowned BR380 two stroke unit, their 4 mix BR500, the BR600, and the top of the range BR600 backpack model.

As well as quality and robustness all Stihl petrol garden leaf blowers are designed to offer a great performance with longevity as well. They are designed using the latest technology to perform for many years and during this time span normally only require servicing and maintaining as you would expect from any petrol powered item of garden machinery.

At the other end of the price bracket – the low end cheaper machines that are designed for occasional home use in a small or medium sized garden, you will find the mainstream diy brands such as draper, black and decker, and flymo.

These brands are usually powered by electric to keep their purchase costs downs so you need to recognise that a trailing electric cable will be needed when you use one.

This can limit the area you can operate the leaf blower in as you obviously need to be near to an electric power socket. The length of the cable can also restrict you as well bearing in mind a large amp rating cable will be needed due to these units high wattage electric fan motors.

At the time of writing the latest Black and Decker models are the GW3000 Leaf Blower Vac and the GW3010v blowervac, the GW2600 and the GW2610V.

The main difference between these two variants of units is the “V” suffix identifies the model as having a variable speed control rather than fixed speed.

GW3000 2 Speed Blowr Vacuum

The Black and Decker GW3000 is a high performance electric garden leaf blower that is powered by a large wattage 300o watt electric motor that produces massive amounts of direct air for easy clean up tasks in the garden.

The GW3000 is not only a blower but also a leaf vacuum shredder as well. Different from most other machines available this unit has two speeds giving the user greater control and flexibility than a single speed machine.

The internal shredder fan can reduce leafs and garden clippings down to a volume of 10 to 1  making the 35 litre collection bag effectively hold 350 litres of leaves and garden debris.

Another unique feature of this Black and Decker garden tool is the built-in leaf scraper. This allows the user to scrape wet and stubborn leaves of hard surfaces prior to being vacuumed up and shredded.

Other features and specifications include a secondary handle, the inclusion of a carry strap, and an overall weight of 6 kg.

Your chosen method of cleaning bricks, concrete blocks, paths, patios, and other masonry structures will be dependent on whether the soiled masonry is exposed in addition to whether it is also structural.

For non structural areas an abrasive method of cleaning could be used. Two examples of this are sand and shot blasting.  

For structural or decorative stonework a non abrasive method should be used instead. The most popular and effective methods being use of a cleaning fluid / liquid or the use of a high pressure water jet washer.    

The most environmentally friendly method is the use of the pressure washer. In most cases just the power of water blasted against masonry can remove dirt, soiling, as well as algae and moss.

Heavy soiling or for stone surfaces contaminated with grease or oil will usually require something slightly more aggressive than water alone.

The first line of treatment should be to utilise a pressure washer with the addition of a brick or stone cleaner. One of the latest products available to buy for the general public as well as trade users is the Karcher multi purpose stone and facade cleaner.

This is a multi purpose cleaner that has been designed for cleaning oil, grease, and soot, in addition to general dirt and algae. As this product is designed for cleaning aluminium and upvc facias as well as stone, Karcher have added a corrosion inhibitor to ensure it protects surfaces as well as cleans them.

This pressure washer detergent is very gentle to stone materials being biodegradable in accordance with OECD guide lines.

As an added bonus it can be used in two ways with Karcher branded power washers. On their latest X series cold water machines a “plug and clean cannister” of this detergent can be purchased that simply pushes into the rear of the machine.

No further work is needed by the operator, the pressure washer will deliver the stone cleaning detergent automatically as the machine is used.

The second option allows all Karcher models of cold water jet washers to use their onboard siphon tube. The siphon tube is simply inserted into the bottle of concentrate where it will be drawn out and mixed with clean water under pressure.

If the application of a detergent still does not remove the soiling then a more aggressive approach is needed. It is at this time when you need to consider undertaking the necessary work yourself or commissioning a specialist company to carry this out.

Steam Cleaning

This is probably the next step up with regards to the removal of heavy soiling of oil and grease build up on stonework. With careful attention by a skilled operator a steam cleaner can cut through and remove unwanted deposits by using a combination of heat and high pressure.

This type of machine can be purchased or alternatively you can source one for a short period of time from a tool hire shop that caters for the rental of specialist cleaning equipment.

The use of a steam cleaning machine is a great way to remove gunge and grime from brick, stone, and general masonry.

Cleaning Of Patio Areas

If your patio at home is looking tired and soiled it can be restored to an almost “new” finish by the use of a Karcher T Racer.

Developed by karcher for use with their cold water jet washers the T Racer is an accessory that allows deep cleaning of driveways, block paving, patterned concrete, tarmac, stone, and decorative patios. 

Based on a hovercrafts technology this accessory comprises of a circular shroud that houses several rotating nozzles under which water is blasted out of at a very high pressure. The rotating action of the nozzles allows the T Racer to cut through years of grime and dirt restoring patio stones and slabs to their original finish.

Water splash back is virtually non-existent when using this attachment. The enclosed space allows the concentrated jets of water to do their work and in a fast time. 

Most patios consist of aggregate blocks or slabs (usually stone or concrete) which are usually porous in their construction. Over time this allows them to become vulnerable to staining and also growth by algae, moss, and lichen.

Staining by foot traffic,vehicles, and general use can alos make garden maintenance difficult.  

A Karcher or similar rotary headed spin washer is designed to cut through dirt and grime using cold water. A cleaning detergent can be added if needed but is usually not neccessary unless oil, grease, or rubber tyre marks are present.

The T Racer Patio Cleaner can be fitted to the majority of cold water jet washers in the Karcher range. Several different models are available to buy depending on your particular jet washer model.

Designed and constructed for the plumber, gas fitter installer, and professional user, Rems pipe threaders are suited for undertaking new installation, repair, and renovation to all different sizes of piping.

Several different models are available to buy in their range from the basic hand operated Rems EVA model through to the large Rems Magnum “super machine”

Rems Pipe Threaders Specifications

EVA 

A compact portable hand operated tool that will cut threads in pipes from 16mm to 50mm in size. For cutting bolt threads the “EVA” has a capability of 6 – 30mm.

AMIGO

A portable hand held electric tool for threading work on site or in the fabrication workshop. The “Amigo” can cut threads of 16 to 40mm in size. The capacity for threading bolts is 6 to 30mm.

MINI AMIGO 

This portable threader is electric powered and is the most compact sized portable machine in the Rems range. Fitted with quick change die heads as standard equipment the “Mini Amigo” is ideal for on site repair, maintenance, and pipe refurbishment work. It is capable of cutting threads 16 to 32mm in size.

Comprising of a small diameter camera (usually in the size range of 20 to 35mm) and a tv style monitor the operator can see a clear picture remotely of what the camera lens is looking at.

The camera itself is usually fitted with a standard screw lockfast fitting to accept standard drain rods or the popular cobra reel system.

Broken pipes, drain connections and outlets can all be surveyed with this hi tech modern equipment. The hire or purchase of one of these is obviously more cost effective than removal of fixtures and fittings that would be necessary to expose the problem otherwise.  

Some models also permit the connection of an external video recorder to record and retrieve the findings at a later time.

One of the most affordable units is the models that are referred to as a “look see” type. These differ from more expensive models by having just the minimum features that you would need to inspect a drain for faults.

Unlike fixed climate control equipment a portable unit is mobile and can be easily moved into the postion or area where you need extra cooling to take place.

Mobile units are simple to use having just a few basic operator controls. The most important one being the temperature setting that will determine and regulate the cool air output.

Air conditioning allows employees and equipment to function correctly during the working day. It is well known that staff who are comfortable in their working environment maintain better productivity than those that are not.

On portable air con units hot air is blown out of an air vent pipe. This needs to be positioned in an open window, door, or other space to allow the maximum benefit from climate control equipment.   

A great benefit in choosing to hire portable air conditioning is you only need to pay for the period you are actually going to use it for. In the Uk this is normally around 12 to 20 weeks maximum. A second benefit is you will not need to worry about annual maintenance bills.

Air Conditioner Promotions:

In the summer months you can save money on portable air condioner hire by commiting to rent for several weeks rather than on a single week basis. In addition it is also common practice for specialist tool hire companies to offer promotions such as hire a unit for 4 weeks and get another 4 weeks free – so effectively you may save around 50% off the normal price.