Tool Consumables
Consumable accessories for power tools used on an extension, including fuel cells for gas-powered nailers and HSS vs TCT replacement planer blades, when to specify them, and how often they need replacing.
HSS Planer Blades: When to Use Them, What to Buy, and Why Nails Kill Them
UK guide to 82mm HSS planer blades. Sizes, host tools, HSS vs TCT, current Screwfix and Toolstation prices from £6.78 a pair, and how to set them without ejecting a blade across the workshop.
Nailer Fuel Cells: How Paslode Gas Cartridges Work, Which One Fits Your Gun, and What to Buy
UK guide to Paslode nailer fuel cells. IM350+, IM65/IM65A and Series-i compatibility, shot counts, cold-weather behaviour, current Screwfix prices from £20 a cell, and why third-party cells misfire.
Sandpaper: P-Grade Grits, Between-Coats Technique, and What Actually to Buy in the UK
UK guide to sandpaper. FEPA P-grade vs CAMI, the 50% grit-progression rule, between-coats P240 vs P320, current Screwfix and Toolstation prices from £4 a pack, and why wet-and-dry on bare wood ruins the surface.
TCT Planer Blades: The Right Choice for Hardwood, MDF, and Site Timber
UK guide to 82mm TCT planer blades. Sizes, host tool fit, TCT vs HSS, current 2026 prices from £7.49 a pair, nail-contact behaviour, and when carbide is worth the money.