toolsets

rubberbullet

Good morning one and all.

I'm about to start building My First Toolset for doing the odd bit of DIY and putting together of bits and bobs around the home, as I've finally moved out of shared, rented, flats.

It's obviously one of the most important steps in every man's life, and I've managed to leave it until the very last possible moment.

Is there any decent combo packages of the basic tools (elec drill, hammer, allen keys, screws, toolbox, etc etc) out there that you could recommend? Most appreciated, if so.

Cheers!

Ebe_Scrooge

For what it's worth, I'd avoid pre-packaged kits and build your own. Purely for the reason that you'll end up with stuff you don't need if you go the pre-packaged route.

Start off with a decent tool chest, buy a few basic bits and pieces - combination spanners, pliers, screwdrivers, etc. But only buy a small range of sizes. You'll find with experience which size of drill bit, for instance, you use most often.

Then, when you find you need a tool that you haven't got, buy it. It's a fair bet that if you need it now, you'll be using it again in the future.

There's no need to buy the top-of-the range professional version of all the tools, but avoid the very cheapest. For instance, it's much better to buy a single 6mm drill bit for £1.50 that you'll use a lot, rather than buy a bargain selection pack for £3, most of which you won't use, and the ones that you do use will wear out in no time.

Electric / cordless drills - worth their weight in gold, but here you really do get what you pay for. For the average DIY-er, the mid-range stuff will be fine, but it won't last for ever. I don't know about you, but I can't justify shelling out £500 for a professional cordless - much as I'd love to ! Personally, I have a cheapish corded drill for heavy duty stuff, and a cordless for lighter, every day use. If you're doing a lot of masonry work, then an SDS is a worthwhile investment.

I'm prepared to be flamed, but that's how I've built up my tool kit. If I were to add it up, I've probably got a couple of thousand pounds worth of tools now, but that's been built up over 20 years or so. And the vast majority of the tools that I bought or received as presents 20 years ago are still going strong - reasonable quality to start with and a bit of routine maintenance / cleaning from time to time.

ic

See this thread for a recent discussion on the subject.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3107468

27col

My situation is exactly the same as that of Ebe Scrooge. I agree whole heartedly with what he says. I have more tools than I know what to do with, as a result of buying for the last 50 years. I even have tools that I made as an apprentice and they work exactly as they were designed to. My advice, for what it is worth, is to buy what you need, as you need it, and always use the correct tool for the job. Do not borrow a tool unless you are prepared to replace it if you damage it. If you need to borrow it more than once, you have developed a need to own one of your own.

diable

Check out Screwfix as they sometimes have offers on for half decent cordless tools.

Plumberman

My advice would be to buy as good as you can afford, if you buy cheap you'll end up buying twice.
And only use tools for their intended purpose, no hitting screwdrivers with a hammer, don't use a wood chisel for anything other than chiseling wood etc etc..
Good advice already given on borrowing tools, I reluctantly lend out any of my tools..
A word of warning though, buying tools can become addictive and harmful to ones wallet!

Nilrem

I'd second/third Ebe's advice.

We've got a garage full of tools (apart from broken/stolen tools we've got tools my dad has bought over 50 years + some of my grandparents), and cheap tools can come in handy at a pinch but they tend not to last long, so we tend to buy as good as we can justify (it's horrified my mum at times when we've spent a lot on a tool, but usually it's bought for a specific immediate job, with a mind to other jobs it'll help with).

For things like screwdrivers it's better to buy a few good ones rather than getting a load of rubbish ones (which won't take the strain and bend/snap/cam out), it's also worth getting a few good quality bits rather than a set of 100 pig metal ones if you buy a driver with adjustable bits (Screwfix do some "diamond coated" gold coloured screw driver bits that are expensive but worth it), also make sure you use the right ones for the right jobs - be aware that Pozi drive and Phillips bits look similar but are different (if unsure check fit).

Likewise get good drill bits - iirc Screwfix do a set of Makita masonry bits that are fairly expensive but very good for the price, and have multiples of the most commonly used bits (IIRC it's got about 8 bits in 3 sizes that match the common wallplug sizes), as opposed to dozens of rubbish bits with one of each size.

Having said that, we have got a load of cheap/rubbish screwdrivers/drill bits/screwdriver bits that we've bought for one off jobs/as disposables (and are more likely to be loaned out:p), as sometimes you just don't want to use your good tools for a job you know is likely to get them mucky/covered in stuff.


Some tips that I can suggest are
1: Get half decent protective gear early on (a pair of reasonable goggles only costs a couple of pounds, likewise basic ear protection), and get into the habit of using it - including steel toecap boots if you ever do any heavy DIY (you can get BSI rated ones for under £30 that are reasonably comfortable/good - we picked up steel toe cap wellies for less than our local Homebase wanted for standard ones), and something like a coverall or apron is cheap but can save a lot of washing.
2: A tool belt that you can put things like screwdrivers/bits/screws in so you don't have to constantly bend over/stop to pick up bits is a very handy item.
3: Get a toolbox, and keep the tools in it and get into the habit of putting tools away properly early on (it's worth picking up some cheap bits at times as you can often find a pack with 32 bits and 2x bit holders for a pound or so similar to this set at Poundstretchers, it's worth a pound or so just for rubber bit tray to keep your good bits in)
4: Get a reasonable quality, reliable torch (and keep it with spare batteries/bulbs handy) - the number of jobs where you need a little extra light is surprisingly high. Better yet buy a couple (I find a 2xAA Maglite tends to be pretty good most of the time*, and have a 1xAAA maglite on my keyring for those "gah I need a light now" moments**). Do not go with a rechargeable one, as sods law states that when you want it the batteries will be dead (which is also why I keep duracells*** and spare bulbs handy).

Plumberman, aye buying tools can get very expensive and habit forming
Although it's rather balanced by the fact that for <£100 you can get many of say the commonly used tools (and even some spare fittings) for plumbing, which certainly pays for itself quickly
Mind you it's a good idea to keep track of what exactly you've got...we sorted our garage out a while back and found we'd got 3 or 4 of some tools where we'd bought them and put them away in the wrong place (at one point we had two boxes of plumbing tools, one for electrical, and then general tools).



*We've actually got 4 of them around the house/garage all kept with spare Duracell batteries (although two of them are LED ones so don't tend to run the batteries down that fast), as they are small enough to carry without much weight/space taken up, a pretty good light for close in work, and at a pinch you can hold them in your mouth for a few seconds (although I think they do actually sell a "bite grip" for them, as well as a headband).

**Such as when you need to play hunt the screw that has just fallen under something.

***Not the cheapest batteries, but they almost always seem to have a 5+ year shelf life (and bought on offer are only a little more expensive than many cheap brands).

jc808

27col wrote: »

buy what you need, as you need it, and always use the correct tool for the job. Do not borrow a tool unless you are prepared to replace it if you damage it. If you need to borrow it more than once, you have developed a need to own one of your own.

/ends thread, all you need to know right there

Plumberman

27col wrote: »

buy what you need, as you need it, and always use the correct tool for the job. Do not borrow a tool unless you are prepared to replace it if you damage it. If you need to borrow it more than once, you have developed a need to own one of your own.

Good advice as you won't end up buying tools that you don't need, however, if you take this route you may find youself wanting to do a job needing a certain tool and will have to visit your nearest tool shop/DIY store before you can finish the job. You may have to pay more for your tools by paying DIY prices, where with a bit of planning you could source tools that you know you will need elsewhere. You will save a small fortune buying online/fleabay than paying DIY store prices.
You might also have a limited selection locally as opposed to what you can buy online/mail order.

27col

I don't really have a problem with cheap tools. If you can afford the best then that's great. But in my experience cheaper tools will usually do the job quite well. It's different if you are using tools as a professional. Amateurs might only use a tool at very rare intervals and under those situations the cost of an expensive tool is difficult to justify. The point I was making about buying tools as you need them does not mean that you wait until you are actually doing the job. It means that you try to anticipate what you will need and get it in advance. I am always on the lookout for improved versions of tools I already have, but I would not necessarily buy them unless I had a project coming up where they might be useful.