Advice on Tools for DIY

Maggie.Moo_2

xyz123 wrote: »

If assembling wooden furniture one thing I found most useful is a rubber mullet hammer. Helps get those dowels in place and connecting two items using dowels so easily and without any damage as well... Got mine of eBay for £3.50.

Added to my list

Le_Kirk wrote: »

Get the longest spirit level you can afford/fit in your storage cupboard. This will help with accuracy. I have found that cheaper metal/cable/nail detectors do not seem to go to the same depth as more expensive/powerful ones.

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind

southcoastrgi wrote: »

look at the hitachi drill

My search returned results which seem a bit pricey considering I don't intend to use it very often, I think I'm gonna stick with the Bosch but thank you for your suggestion

robatwork wrote: »

Best thing I ever bought was a gimlet - starts off holes in wood or walls so you can screw/drill. I use it a lot!

Also added to my list.

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Thanks everyone, much appreciated!

wallbash

Cost is mounting . How far are you from a 'shed' / screwfix?
If close , I would wait until required and then make a dash. Tools siting on shelves are always an expensive ornaments . Good tools , used often are always 'cheap as chips'.

gingernut352000

I have a rule of thumb buy cheap buy twice but if it's only going to be used now and again then I buy ones with good reviews but lower cost. Cordless drill buy the best you can afford. Check our screwfix and tool station. Some aldi tools are ok this weekend is a specials weekend as is next Thursday

but as a start
Good drill and drill bits
Good screwdrivers
Good pliers
A hammer
Brad awl
Centre punch
Tape measure but get a reasonably long one 5 or 8 again not cheap
60 cm spirit level as a minimum
Allen keys
small saw or hack saw
And I like a covered tool box not the open bag type

Check,out this for a kit http://www.screwfix.com/p/forge-steel-general-tool-kit-56-piece-set/1611f

wallbash

And I like a covered tool box not the open bag type

And after many years of buying tool boxs , they stack nicely, I am using an open bag, multiple exterior pockets.


From the OP

I will soon be renting a new build apartment f

So lets not get carried away, the amount of DIY construction is going to be limited.

Maggie.Moo_2

wallbash wrote: »

Cost is mounting . How far are you from a 'shed' / screwfix?
If close , I would wait until required and then make a dash. Tools siting on shelves are always an expensive ornaments . Good tools , used often are always 'cheap as chips'.

Unfortunately there are less local sheds than I would expect but I'm getting a much better idea about which tools I'm likely to need and I won't be buying anything I'm not sure about.

gingernut352000 wrote: »

I have a rule of thumb buy cheap buy twice but if it's only going to be used now and again then I buy ones with good reviews but lower cost. Cordless drill buy the best you can afford. Check our screwfix and tool station. Some aldi tools are ok this weekend is a specials weekend as is next Thursday

but as a start
Good drill and drill bits
Good screwdrivers
Good pliers
A hammer
Brad awl
Centre punch
Tape measure but get a reasonably long one 5 or 8 again not cheap
60 cm spirit level as a minimum
Allen keys
small saw or hack saw
And I like a covered tool box not the open bag type

Check,out this for a kit http://www.screwfix.com/p/forge-steel-general-tool-kit-56-piece-set/1611f

I'll definitely check out Aldi's specials but there are plenty of tools that'll go unused by me in that tool kit (certainly the saw ) - it is one of the better ones I have looked at though

Herzlos

Buy a cheap starter set, and replace any tools you wear out with a good one from a shed/builders yard.

Absolute basic minimum:

Hammer
Screwdriver set (best to get one with a handle a set of interchangable bits).
Hacksaw
Spirit level
Tape measure.

Buy anything else as you need it.

[Deleted User]

In my experience since getting in to DIY 3 years ago, Screwfix and Amazon are now my first port of call (instead of Homebase and B&Q).

Those Bosch drill bits you linked to are good - I bought the same set (along with a 18v Makita cordless drill which I also recommend - £98 in B&Q right now) and they've worked well for my DIY projects. Plenty of different bits in the pack and the case it comes in is very nice too.

I tend to just nip out and buy tools when I need them (something to do on the weekends ). I have now built up quite a nice collection of tools and the cost has been spread out over 3 years.

If you are serious about DIY though, I would invest in an awesome tool box. Not a flimsy one that will annoy you for years to come (like I got!).

richy999

Ikea stuff generally comes with most of the tools you need.

As a bare minimum;

Screw drivers
Claw hammer
Stanley Knife.. and plasters :-)

If you are fixing to the wall;

A selection of rawl plugs and screws
Spirit Level
Hammer Drill and selection of masonry bits
Tape measure

Be prepared for all of the above to go walkabout. I must have lost countless tape measures over the years. I'm sure I'll find them when we eventually move... along with my odd socks.

Errata

Ikea always says 'fix to the wall' to cover their backside. If the house is a HA new build, a cheap drill from Argos is all you need.
My toolkit is
Set of screwdrivers and allen keys in case, cost a fiver in Sainsbobs sale
Inherited spirit level
Small hammer, called a toffee hammer by chippies, you're not building the Shard
Stanley knife
Metal tape measure
Pack of assorted screws and rawl plugs
Junior hacksaw
Tube of No More Nails
Plasters
Anything I need but don't have I borrow from rellys and friends

getmore4less

The thing with buying cheap is you find out what you really use and can upgrade those items.

For most uses a decent cordless drill that can drill and drive is probably the most usefull thing. variable speed with torque settings.

You save so much time over a manual screwdriver.

I rarely get out the corded unless going into brick concrete to much hastle with leads.

Relatively cheap ones are fine for the DIY in new build(nothing hard) if doing a lot in a day then spare battery/quick charge.

Once you find out what walls you have get the correct fixings, for securing things floor standing lightweight are fine for hanging 50kg plasma tv that is a different.

SOmetime if securing a lot of stuff a batton is a good option fewer holes in the wall to secure the batton and then secure to that.