The definitive "rec...
 

MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch

The definitive "recommend me a *****" thread?

85 Posts
54 Users
248 Reactions
818 Views
Posts: 5494
Full Member
Topic starter
 

There are some questions asked so regularly on here, about 'what <random item> should I buy' that there is a strong consensus amongst the STW cognoscente as to the 'correct' answer.  This is a good thing, as we don't agree on much!

To save people posting endless new threads asking what shizzle to buy, I propose that we create a definitive list, with a desired item and the 'correct' STWist answer. I offer a few to get you going, based not on my preferences, but on the answer being the most common given on here.  Rules, no quibbling over previous answers - it's just a bit of fun!  Post a purchase question you have seen asked on here multiple times with the STW (not your personal) approved answer!

  • What car? Skoda Octavia
  • What axe? Hultafors
  • What head shaver for slapheads? Remington RX-7
  • What food mixer? Kitcthenaid
  • What coffee grinder? Niche Zero
  • What espresso machine? Gaggia Classic
  • What bike rack? Thule
  • What logburner? None you monster!
  • What tubeless sealant? Stans
  • What tyre levers? Pedros
  • What tin opener? Khun Rikon

 
Posted : 02/04/2024 4:31 pm
Posts: 3612
Free Member
 

What thread for asking for recommendations please?


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 4:37 pm
leegee, funkmasterp, Tom83 and 7 people reacted
Posts: 8918
Free Member
 

What large moka pot for serving two people a mug of strong coffee each?

I have a very cheap McAllister electric screw driver with torque settings. It struggles along whining and groaning with 5mm screw's in pine and comes to a halt if there's a knot in the vicinity. Do I want as more powerful electric screw driver or do I want an impact driver? General Diy some times finish matters more often not.


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 4:43 pm
Posts: 5293
Free Member
 

Bike (enduro): Geometron G1

Bike (non-enduro): Stooge


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 4:45 pm
Posts: 5293
Free Member
 

Salt and pepper grinder - Peugeot


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 4:46 pm
blokeuptheroad, breninbeener, goldfish24 and 9 people reacted
Posts: 5494
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Kramer gets it!👍


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 4:46 pm
Posts: 2608
Free Member
 

What coffee subscription has to be in there and Fiskars is now surely top axe to buy

Binos there is a new thread currently running

Turntable seems to only be Rega or if skint a Project


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 4:47 pm
Posts: 5293
Free Member
 

Browser: Not Safari. <ducks>


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 4:49 pm
Posts: 4079
Full Member
 
  • What dehumidifier; Meaco (despite the Meaco proponents all happily discussing all the faults they'd had to fix).
  • What pressure washer; Karcher or Nilfisk - FIGHT!!
  • What ISP; X is unreliable crap and Y is amazing, with no downtime ever - where X and Y are totally specific to the infrastructure in your geographic location.

 
Posted : 02/04/2024 4:59 pm
Posts: 10862
Full Member
 

What expensive trousers?


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 5:02 pm
davros, leegee, fasthaggis and 3 people reacted
Posts: 886
Full Member
 

Lovely - thanks! First post I saw when I logged back in.

What printer with scanner / photocopier that's actually built to last and isn't a rip-off for refills...? I'll have to use the search function. 😉


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 5:03 pm
Posts: 14451
Free Member
 

£500 Coffee grinder

£200 kitchen knife


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 5:05 pm
Posts: 5494
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Well this isn't quite panning out how I imagined! 🤔😆

We need the question AND the answer!


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 5:12 pm
Posts: 5293
Free Member
 

Knives - Wusthof Classic


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 5:13 pm
blokeuptheroad, gifferkev, Twodogs and 5 people reacted
Posts: 7909
Full Member
 

What fountain pen? Lamy Safari/Al-Star
What antiseptic cream? Sudocrem obviously


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 5:21 pm
blokeuptheroad, gifferkev, gifferkev and 1 people reacted
Posts: 1740
Full Member
 

What car tyres: Michelin Cross climate

What bike tyres: ????


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 5:22 pm
blokeuptheroad, gifferkev, gifferkev and 1 people reacted
Posts: 1858
Full Member
 

What bike tyres: ????

Minion DHF and DHR2, EXO+ in whatever size you need. Rubber compound, though, depends on how deep your pockets are....


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 5:26 pm
 Drac
Posts: 50458
 

What bike tyres: Fire XC Pro


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 5:33 pm
davros, hardtailonly, kilo and 21 people reacted
Posts: 2703
Full Member
 

Worktop oil: osmo


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 5:33 pm
blokeuptheroad, leffeboy, leffeboy and 1 people reacted
Posts: 5293
Free Member
 

Riding day pack - Osprey Raptor 14


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 5:35 pm
seriousrikk, blokeuptheroad, leffeboy and 3 people reacted
Posts: 5293
Free Member
 

Sealant - Stans


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 5:36 pm
Posts: 6283
Full Member
 

What large moka pot for serving two people a mug of strong coffee each?

Bialetti Venus - full stainless steel so doesn't tarnish like the cheap aluminium ones, works on any hob, perfect coffee every time.

For me: what beard trimmer for around £50?

Lost mine somewhere during my most recent trip overseas. Don't like actual shaving because I get crazy shaving rash. Not allowed to enter the marital home whilst sporting a full beard. Just need something that gives a uniform 5 o'clock shadow that I can then ignore for a few days.


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 5:38 pm
thebunk and thebunk reacted
 bens
Posts: 746
Free Member
 
sirromj

Full Member

I have a very cheap McAllister electric screw driver with torque settings. It struggles along whining and groaning with 5mm screw’s in pine and comes to a halt if there’s a knot in the vicinity. Do I want as more powerful electric screw driver or do I want an impact driver? General Diy some times finish matters more often not.

Q: Do I want/ need an impact driver?

A: Yes

Q: What impact driver do I want?

A: Makita 18v


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 5:38 pm
hightensionline, ads678, leffeboy and 3 people reacted
Posts: 4194
Free Member
 

What watch? Market stall digital.

What leader of the Labour Party? Starmer (at least there can't be any disagreement about that one),


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 5:39 pm
Posts: 5293
Free Member
 

Drip on wax - Squirt

Hot wax - Putoline obviously. 🤣


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 5:41 pm
milan b., blokeuptheroad, leffeboy and 5 people reacted
Posts: 627
Full Member
 

What Allen Keys/Hex set?  Wera 


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 5:45 pm
hightensionline, milan b., blokeuptheroad and 15 people reacted
Posts: 5494
Full Member
Topic starter
 
  • What bread? Sourdough
  • What pizza oven? Ooni
  • Which biological anthropologist? Professor Alice Roberts
  • What airfyer? Ninja

 
Posted : 02/04/2024 5:55 pm
hightensionline, anorak, richmtb and 5 people reacted
Posts: 1858
Full Member
 

Q: Do I want/ need an impact driver?

I gotta ask....what is the difference between an impact driver and an electric screwdriver, and what use cases for each?


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 6:16 pm
Posts: 8393
Full Member
 

Impact drivers make a lot more noise, so must be more pro, like the Hope hubs of screwing things in.


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 6:19 pm
hightensionline, droplinked, binman and 11 people reacted
Posts: 286
Full Member
 

What lights: Halfords bikehut 1800 (was 1600) or anything by Exposure


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 6:51 pm
Posts: 5293
Free Member
 

What girlfriend - the one who rides bikes.


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 7:03 pm
Posts: 1068
Full Member
 

What iPad for this forum? - Drac's


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 7:21 pm
crossed, dc1988, geeh and 11 people reacted
 bens
Posts: 746
Free Member
 

vlad_the_invader

Full Member

I gotta ask….what is the difference between an impact driver and an electric screwdriver, and what use cases for each?

Electric screwdriver is basically the same as a drill. It just rotates.

Impact driver is basically a hammer and an anvil battering into each other creating a rotational movement from the successive impacts. The impact driver is delivering loads of high force impacts, one after the other. The screwdriver is just a motor turning smoothly.

Bit like hitting a spanner round in a circle vs pulling on the spanner. You're going to get much more force from hitting it but as it's not a sustained force it doesn't damage the bolt. The impacts from the driver are relying on the torsional flex in the material of the fastener and the material of the bit to hopefully not damage and snap things.

If I was going to use and electric screwdriver, it would be to wind a screw into a pre drilled hole. I'd use an impact driver to drive screws straight into wood.

Impact driver is also useful for driving big screws or bolts into things. Lots of little impacts is far more effective than the high torque twisting of a drill or driver. Constant force would likely shear the head of the screw. Momentary force is less likely to knacker it.


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 7:32 pm
anorak and anorak reacted
Posts: 14451
Free Member
 

Rucsac - Gregory

Posh android phone - Pixel

Normal android phone - latest Moto G


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 7:37 pm
Posts: 4924
Full Member
 

"there can’t be any disagreement about that one),”

You're new here are'nt you


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 7:56 pm
J-R and J-R reacted
Posts: 2017
Full Member
 

Louise ?


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 8:29 pm
reeksy and reeksy reacted
Posts: 8878
Free Member
 

What what what?

Sheila Broflovski


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 8:29 pm
Posts: 1680
Full Member
 

Love this thread. Mark should work on sponsorship deals with all these brands.

Official Cordless Tool System of STW: Makita

Official Rechargeable Battery of STW: Ikea Ladda (Eneloop)

Official Smart TRV of STW: Tado

Official Kitchen of STW: DIY Kitchens? Or Ikea?

Please recommend me: Wirestrippers and a Battery tester. Also watching recommendations for a beard trimmer. Not been overly impressed with the Wahl stainless steel or the Panasonic with the built in sucker before that.


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 8:50 pm
Posts: 11404
Full Member
 

Well this isn’t quite panning out how I imagined!

Paradoxically, it's panning out exactly how I imagined. Gruyere btw, And Galfer. But never at the same time.


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 8:56 pm
Posts: 7556
Full Member
 

Best supermarket craft beer:  Vocation

Best sensibly priced outdoor gear:  Montane

Best dog breed: Cocker Spaniel 😉


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 9:10 pm
Posts: 446
Free Member
 

What axe? Gränsfors Bruk

What bike rack? T5/6

What tyre levers? None you monster


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 9:23 pm
 a11y
Posts: 3712
Full Member
 

What toaster? Dualit

What bread for your toaster? Homemade ****y sourdough something-or-other


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 9:37 pm
blokeuptheroad, thebunk, thebunk and 1 people reacted
Posts: 1185
Free Member
 

What county? - Northumberland


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 9:50 pm
Posts: 3000
Full Member
 

What household pet? CAT


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 10:03 pm
binman, lucasshmucas, anorak and 11 people reacted
Posts: 1680
Full Member
 

What country? 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 10:06 pm
Posts: 1108
Full Member
 

What forbidden subject must we not mention?


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 10:13 pm
Posts: 13421
Full Member
 

What quick video clip to watch? - The latest [b]Are you bored enough to ...[/b]

Most likely forum member to self promote? - Um, I have nothing to say on that matter


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 10:16 pm
sboardman and sboardman reacted
Posts: 883
Free Member
 

Maybe not a singletrack world recommend but if you like nice tools and you encounter the odd tree then a Silky Zubat is a no-brainer


 
Posted : 02/04/2024 11:17 pm
Posts: 2566
Free Member
 

Best social class-middle.


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 12:13 am
Posts: 33539
Full Member
 

Browser: Not Safari. <ducks>

Close, should be: Safari/Duckduckgo -

Or any browser with DuckDuckGo as search. Never Chrome, though. I’m led to believe that Chrome has more holes in it than a Gruyère cheese.


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 12:57 am
thebunk and thebunk reacted
Posts: 7211
Full Member
 

What sausages? Frozen

What frame material? Yeah, maybe let's not go there again...


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 1:01 am
J-R and J-R reacted
Posts: 5567
Full Member
 

What cream for your cat?

Sudocrem


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 8:22 am
fasthaggis, J-R, J-R and 1 people reacted
Posts: 1012
Full Member
 

Tyres: Conti Vert Pros


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 9:01 am
gifferkev and gifferkev reacted
Posts: 7128
Free Member
 

Merkur 34c


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 9:08 am
Posts: 10862
Full Member
 

Q - What bike magazine? A - There's a magazine? 


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 9:08 am
reeksy, blokeuptheroad, J-R and 3 people reacted
Posts: 2591
Full Member
 

What female Australian singer: Kylie.


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 10:13 am
lister and lister reacted
Posts: 439
Full Member
 

What **? **


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 10:43 am
Posts: 5909
Free Member
 

What should I invest in? Vanguard Lifestrategy 80

What cryptoc- NONE YOU MONSTER


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 10:47 am
Posts: 10631
Full Member
 

Best beer - Guinness Zero. Helping to reduce my units by two thirds with no lack of enjoyment and zero cravings.


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 11:02 am
nedrapier, Ambrose, Ambrose and 1 people reacted
Posts: 1079
Full Member
 

What female Australian singer: Kylie.

Upstart !  ONJ of course ❤️


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 11:14 am
Posts: 1324
Full Member
 

Colon cleanser: Picolax


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 11:20 am
breadcrumb, toby1, Ambrose and 5 people reacted
Posts: 4331
Full Member
 

What air fryer? Ninja

What tyres for bringing the trails alive? 650b

What car for making progress? BMW 330d


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 11:47 am
Posts: 2053
Full Member
 

Q. What object to "own" thieves? A. Bombers.


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 11:55 am
Posts: 14451
Free Member
 

What sandals for impersonating a German whilst on holiday?

Birkenstock Arizona

What pomegranate molasses?

You monster!! Make your own from scratch


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 2:08 pm
Posts: 7909
Full Member
 

What demographic to demonise this week? Dog owners.


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 2:08 pm
Posts: 5293
Free Member
 

What receptacle for penis cleaning? A beaker.


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 2:25 pm
Posts: 7042
Full Member
 

Half fat Ebike - Orbea Rise
Full fat ebike - Orbea Rise (it's better than all full fatters!)


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 2:27 pm
Posts: 5494
Full Member
Topic starter
 

So... updated ‘master list’.  Incorporating those suggestions that meet the OP brief.  IMO - don't like it, start your own thread!😜

What car? Skoda Octavia
What axe? Hultafors
What head shaver for slapheads? Remington RX-7
What food mixer? Kitcthenaid
What coffee grinder? Niche Zero
What espresso machine? Gaggia Classic
What bike rack? Thule
What logburner? None you monster!
What tubeless sealant? Stans
What tyre levers? Pedros
What tin opener? Khun Rikon
What bike (enduro)? Geometron G1
Bike (non-enduro)? Stooge
What salt and pepper grinder? Peugeot
What turntable? Rega
What dehumidifier? Meaco 
What pressure washer? Karcher/Nilfisk

What kitchen knives? Wusthof Classic
What fountain pen? Lamy Safari/Al-Star
What antiseptic cream? Sudocrem
What car tyres? Michelin Cross climate
What bike tyres? Fire XC Pro
What worktop oil? Osmo
What riding day pack? Osprey Raptor 14
What large moka pot? Bialetti Venus
What impact driver? Makita 18v
What drip on wax? Squirt
What hot wax? Putoline
What Allen Keys/Hex set?  Wera
What bread? Sourdough
What pizza oven? Ooni
Which biological anthropologist? Professor Alice Roberts
What airfryer? Ninja
What lights? Halfords bikehut 1800
What iPad for STW?  Drac’s
What rucksack? Gregory
What posh android phone? Pixel
What normal android phone? latest Moto G
What cordless tool system? Makita
What rechargeable battery? Ikea Ladda (Eneloop)
What smart TRV? Tado
What kitchen? Ikea
What supermarket craft beer?  Vocation
What sensibly priced outdoor gear?  Montane
What dog breed? Cocker Spaniel 
What toaster? Dualit
What sausages? Frozen
What DE safety razor? Merkur 34c
What female Australian singer? Kylie
What colon cleanser? Picolax
What ebike? Orbea Rise


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 3:12 pm
Posts: 2081
Full Member
 

What forbidden subject must we not mention?

Kylie


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 3:18 pm
Posts: 15227
Full Member
 

What laptop for (vague/unspecified requirement)? Refurbished Lenovo


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 4:41 pm
Posts: 5293
Free Member
 

Washing machine/Kitchen white goods - Miele


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 4:46 pm
Posts: 12707
Free Member
 

In what ****ing planet does kitchenaid get recommended over Kenwood Chef you inherited from your gran via your mum?

What printer? hP with smartink


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 4:48 pm
Posts: 1680
Full Member
 

What recommendation site? Wirecutter. Or Which if you’re middle age/class and above.


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 4:51 pm
Posts: 5494
Full Member
Topic starter
 

In what **** planet does kitchenaid get recommended over Kenwood Chef

STW planet. Every. Single. Time!  Hey, I don't make the rules 🤷‍♂️ Well actually I do, but you know what I mean! 😜


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 4:52 pm
Posts: 14451
Free Member
 

FTFY

What fancy pants kitchen knives? Wusthof Classic

What decent quality not ridiculously expensive kitchen knives? Victorinox


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 7:43 pm
Posts: 5293
Free Member
 

FTFY

What fancy pants kitchen knives? Wusthof Classic

What decent quality not ridiculously expensive kitchen knives? Victorinox

Well seeing as they’re about the same price…


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 7:52 pm
Posts: 4079
Full Member
 

What printer? hP with smartink

Hmm, I'd say "just buy a cheap laser printer and never have to worry about a sodding ink cartridge again" has equally vocal support around here (and Brother seems to be go to brand).

What laptop for (vague/unspecified requirement)? Refurbished Lenovo

Don't we have to acknowledge the "you need to spend £2,000 on a MacBook Pro" opinion, usually in response to "I need something cheap to send the odd email"?


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 8:09 pm
Posts: 15227
Full Member
 

Don’t we have to acknowledge the “you need to spend £2,000 on a MacBook Pro” opinion, usually in response to “I need something cheap to send the odd email”?

Agreed, and in the spirit of the OP, what laptop should be broken down into 2 catagories:

1) What unspecified laptop = £300 refurbished 6 year old lenovo

2) What laptop for casual photo editing = £2000+ Macbook (2024 model)

There is no inbetween!  😀


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 8:52 pm
Posts: 11381
Free Member
 

What bird of prey?

Baby Robin


 
Posted : 03/04/2024 9:07 pm
leffeboy and leffeboy reacted
Posts: 14451
Free Member
 

What UK politics thread? it really doesn't matter as the same people have the same arguments on all of them and leave no room for genuine discussion outside of their petty squabbles


 
Posted : 05/04/2024 3:01 pm
Page 1 / 2