3 essential tools you can find at Smiths Hire

Every successful project starts with having the right tools on hand. Whether you’re resurfacing a living room floor or breaking through concrete on a construction site, it you’ll always need access to well-maintained, professional-grade equipment – it saves you time, reduces any hassle, and there’s no question that it delivers much better results.

That’s exactly where we can help here at Smiths Hire. With more than 50 years of experience to our name, we provide a comprehensive range of tools for hire – many of which you’re guaranteed to find amongst our range, whatever the time of year. Here are three tools that are always perennially useful, whether you’re a DIY enthusiast or professional tradesperson.

Power through tough materials with an SDS hammer drill

An SDS hammer drill is the reliable choice for penetrating hard surfaces like concrete, stone, brick or mortar. It uses a powerful mechanism that delivers rapid percussive blows while rotating the drill bit, cutting through dense materials quickly and with precision. With its enhanced efficiency and strength, it handles jobs that demand more force than a standard drill can provide.

SDS drills come in a range of sizes to suit the scale and intensity of the task, and offer consistent performance on everything from commercial site work to demanding DIY jobs. The design includes a specialised chuck system for secure bit retention and straightforward bit changes, making it easy to switch between drilling and chiselling.

Ergonomic features, variable speed settings and strong build quality give users greater control and stability. The familiar layout includes standard chucks, triggers and speed controls, all of which means they’re simple to operate for anyone used to standard rotary drills – but of course, with far more power behind them. Whether you’re fixing into masonry, installing anchor bolts, removing tiles or forming a channel through concrete, this tool helps deliver clean, accurate work with the efficiency required on busy sites.

Restore timber floors with an 8” floor sander

An 8” floor sander turns worn, uneven timber flooring into a smooth, ready-to-finish surface. Built to remove coatings like varnish, wax and stains, it’s able to prepare hardwood, softwood, parquet and cork floors with impressive consistency. The Hiretech HT8 is a go-to choice, offering a powerful motor, finely balanced sanding drum and a unique drum rubber that helps produce a clean, consistent result across large areas.

This machine is completely self-contained and includes a high-efficiency dust pick-up system, helping to keep your working environment clean and safer throughout the job. It suits both trade professionals and people handling a renovation themselves, thanks to its intuitive controls and robust, reliable performance.

It’s capable of covering large areas quickly, stripping back damage, old finishes and surface wear to reveal fresh timber underneath. For plank or strip floors, sanding along the direction of the boards helps maintain evenness and enhances the finish. If you’d like, you can even pair the main sander with a floor edger, which enables you to reach corners and along skirting boards – delivering a smooth and consistent appearance from edge to edge.

Cut and grind with precision using a 5” angle grinder

The 5” cordless angle grinder delivers high-performance cutting and grinding across a wide range of tasks involving metal and masonry. With a 125mm disc and a no-load speed of 9000rpm, it’s effective for jobs such as cutting metal tubing, removing excess weld, trimming paving slabs or scoring concrete surfaces before breaking.

Powered by an 18V brushless motor, this tool delivers strong, consistent output while maintaining energy efficiency and longer runtime. The design includes a rubber over moulded handle to improve grip and comfort during extended use. A second handle positioned near the disc helps prevent kickback by improving balance and control.

Safety and durability features play a major role in this model. The electric brake stops the wheel quickly after the trigger is released, and the integrated clutch reduces the risk of injury in the event of a pinch or stall. A mesh filter limits dust entry into the motor housing, helping to extend the tool’s service life and preserve performance in harsh environments.

The flexibility and accuracy of this grinder is especially useful on job sites where access to mains power may be limited. Whether you’re cutting bricks, shaving metal or refining rough surfaces, it produces clean, efficient results that support a high standard of work from start to finish.

That’s just a sample of what we’ve got available here at Smiths Hire. With our Top 100 tool hire pledge, you always have access to a wide range of tools and have them delivered straight to your door or worksite, saving you time and effort during the colder months! If you’d rather take a look at our tools in person, we have 18 depots across the country, including cities like Manchester, Liverpool, and Leeds. You can also browse our full selection on the website. And if you need any help or advice when it comes to our tool hire services, don’t hesitate to give our expert team a call at 0333 323 2100 – we’re here to help you get your projects done, whatever the season!