AllTheToolsYouNeed.com

Here’s something you don’t hear every day… for anyone wanting a really high-quality drill, the Bosch brand reportedly has the endorsement of a Russian brain surgeon.

According to a story in The Times, Henry Marsh, a consultant at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, South London, visits Kiev twice a year to assist his colleague Igor Petrovich at a neurology clinic.

In Britain Mr Marsh is accustomed to using a £30,000 medical drill driven by compressed air. But equipment in the Ukrainian capital is so scarce that the men have resorted to a £30 Bosch RSR960 to drill holes through patients’ skulls:

Surgeon uses DIY drill to perform brain operations

…Many of the operations, such as those to remove tumours, are done without general anaesthetic – a common practice in this type of surgery. By talking to the patient, surgeons can gauge precisely how far they can go without damaging vulnerable parts of the brain.

Mr Marsh has now taken a drill designed for medical use to Kiev. “I’m not recommending that we should all use Bosch do-it-yourself drills in England,” Mr Marsh said. “But it shows how with improvisation you can achieve a lot. Read on here…

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed to keep updated on all the latest news and offers. Thanks for visiting!

Easter at DIY retailer Wickes means a home improvement binge - and the retailer has some great special offers available, mostly running until April 20, and including tools, flooring and interior doors.

Here’s a summary of what you can get your hands on:

• 40 per cent off 18V cordless drill/driver - a two-speed gearbox, forward and reverse actions, 16 torque settings, supplied with two batteries, two screwdriver bits and a one-hour fast charger. Now selling at £49.99.
• Up to 20 per cent off a wide selection of tools - including hand tools, power tools, storage, ladders and brushes.
• 30 per cent off a Victorian interior door - this silkwood four-panel traditional door is now selling for £69.99.
• 20 per cent off selected radiators - a wide range of convection styles to suit all spaces.
• Up to 40 per cent off selected flooring and tiles - pick up all styles of flooring here.

Check Easter delivery dates here and visit this page to see all the retailer’s current deals.

Which way is consumer spending going? Will the home improvement market expand or contract in the months to come?

One school of thought believes that DIY might get a shot in the arm from uncertainty about the housing market, saying that householders are choosing to improve when they can’t move.

If this sounds appealing, then what’s the best approach to take to maximising the value and enjoyment you get from your living space? Here are Times writer Kasia Maciejowska’s tips for 10 great ways to add value to your home:

Top ten: Home improvements

MOVE or improve? A familiar question if you’re faced with lack of space, a growing family or itchy feet. With 58 per cent of us improving our homes over the past year (12 per cent more than the year before), we prefer making do to moving out.

Faced with high house prices, the popular solution is to expand or improve with the aim of adding value – and now younger people are getting involved, with 68 per cent of people between 18 and 34 investing time and money in doing up their home.

So how to achieve that extra £100,000? A fifth of improvers think a kitchen extension will add the most value, although the most common project is redecoration, making up two thirds of all home improvements. Here we give ten of the best projects to make the most of your home.

Valuers at Halifax say an extension is the top option for adding value, as long as work is properly carried out. For structural projects employ a professional to ensure you comply with planning regulations. A good extension should create at least one extra room and be used to bring light into the house.

A loft conversion is the second most profitable option. While maximising existing space, it can increase the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, two key valuation factors. Read full article here…

B&Q has some great offers at the moment which could net you up to 50 per cent on popular products. Here are the ones that caught our eye:

• All cupboard doors and drawer fronts half price - until March 13
• Get 50 per cent off an EVA pendant light – until March 13. Was £83, now £41.
• Spring savings on building accessories - everything from sealant and resin to lighting, tape and fixings.

Follow this link for details of all the retailer’s special offers.

DIY Tools is promoting some great prices on the Draper product range. It promises its lowest prices ever, and more than 600 products reduced.

There’s a huge range to choose from, including adhesives and sealants, car care and accessories, DIY products, hardware and fixings, home decorating, plumbing and ventilation, power tools and woodworking.

There’s bound to be something there that’s just what you’re looking for - definitely worth a visit and a browse!

* The retailer has specified no closing date for these offers - they are current as this post is written but will clearly not remain available indefinitely. See our terms and conditions for more details or visit our shop to search for current prices.