My first collection of power tools: What should I buy?
I want tο bе “clever” around thе house–I live іn thе country, bу thе way, іn thе rural mountains, аnd I hаνе tο dο a lot οf thing around here fοr myself. Whаt іѕ thе definitive list οf tools thаt I ѕhουld gеt tο ѕtаrt mу collection? Preferably, I wουld hаνе a small list аnd a long list.
Whаt I reflect I ѕhουld hаνе/want іѕ thе following:
drill
skill saw
sander
Dremmel
draw knife
nail gun
staple gun
hammers
Anу brand suggestions/warnings?
Thanks!
Buy Sears Craftsman manual tools as they are warranted for life no matter what. I rather Dewalt for power tools but they tend to cost more. Craftsman makes reasonable paower tools too but I odn’t reflect the warranty is much different than the other manufacturers. Always use safety glasses to protect your eyes and a breating mask if you are sanding.
only buy from sears. they have life time warrenties, if they bend or break then sears will replace them free of charge for the rest of your life!!!
That’s a nice start for a list and I suggest you go to Toolking.com. They have a huge selection with very excellent shipping and even re-conditioned tools if you like. You can buy an entire set of cordless tools including the drill, saw, sander, and others at a better price.
make sure your drill is a variable speed drive.
Don’t forget you will also need a jigsawto make cuts that are not in a straight line.
I advise you to get a set of vice grips. They will make you feel like you have another pair of hands to hold stuff up/together.
A cordless screwdriver was my best friend when I went into my new place.
Also a laser level that you can stick onto the wall. Made hanging stuff up a total breeze
For a nail gun you will need an air compressor. I don’t recommend air tools. For novice users they can be LETHAL.
For the sander you are probably better off with a random-orbit sander. That way you won’t leave a pattern on what you are finishing.
You forgot screwdrivers and allen wrenches. For this I found that a magnetic screwdriver set will have more than enough bits to satisfy most needs.
If you are way out you might also want to include a few pipe wrenches and channel locks.
A set of pliers with a wire stripper is also very clever.
stick with excellent name brands like dewalt, craftsman, Ryobi
your list covers allot there and should be excellent to start out on…if ya come to a job you cant do with the items you have you’ll know what to get right then and there.
I used to use a cordless 19.2V craftsman drill for years until i got a small tabletop drill press….these things are so much better…no bit walking all over the metal or anything you are drilling into.
i got the $100 Ryobi 10 Inch and like it.
Sears Craftsman
Dewalt, sears, porter cable, Milwaukee are all excellent, but I would go Ridgid, lifetime warranty on the tools, labor, and batteries. I have mostly Dewalt, for years now, but now I’m switching to Ridgid because of the warranty, both are fantastic. Excellent luck
as a handyman i find the tools i use the most are cordless drill / saws-all / palm sander/ rotozip / hammer/ water pump pliers- channel-lock/ set of vise grips/ and excellent multi bit screw driver. as far as brand goes craftsman/ dewalt and ryobe are excellent choices. If you don’t have a lot of money to spend black&decker make decient quality cordless tools.
you forgot man with tools
GO TO SEARS AND PURCHASE A 6IN1 BATTERY POWERED TOOL KIT IT’S WARRANTY FOR LIFE AND IT COMES IN A ROLLING ADJUSTABLE HANDLE TOOLBOX IT’S LIKE A HUGE COOLER ON WHEELS I’VE HAD MINE FOR A YEAR AND DON’T GO A DAY WITHOUT USING SOMETHING OUT OF IT.
What’s with all the Sears recommendations? Their lifetime warranty is for hand tools only, NOT power tools.
One choice you should make is whether to go with cordless or corded tools. If you go cordless, get an superfluous battery and keep it in the charger, so it’s ready straight away when the one you’re using runs out of juice.
What I reflect I should have/want is the following:
drill: 3/8″ chuck, not Dewalt or Black and Decker, Battery operated, two batteries, 18 volt, Lithium Ion or better. Get a complete set of screwdriver bits as well as a complete set of drill bits. Don’t place pressure on small drill bits, they will break easily.
I would recommend either Bosch, my favorite, or Makita.
skill saw That is Skil Saw, and they are perilous. Don’t get a cheap one, but you don’t need the very best. They are available with battery, but get a combination blade, which will come on it, and a plywood blade which will cut down on splitting on the plywood when you use it. If you are cold plywood, measure, place a piece of masking taple on the wood, measure again, use a T square (a sheet rock tool mostly), and cut the wood. After cold the wood, take off the tape from both sides. I would get the same brand that I recommended for the drill and make sure that the batteries are interchangable. You can buy kits with all that in it.
sander This depends on what you intend to do. They come in 1/4 sheet and 1/2 sheet size for the rectangular. I like half sheet size, but I am larger than you are. They are also available with circular sheets, and depending on what you plot to do, get the size you want. I suggest the ones with hook and loop. Again, I would suggest that you get Bosch or Makita.
Dremmel Do you really need one?
draw knife You don’t need one
nail gun You can get a battery operated end nailer for 18 gauge nails and unless you are framing a house, you don’t need one larger. They make them that will take up to three inch finishing nails. Bosch and Makita don’t make them. Paslode is a excellent brand.
staple gun You could probably use the nail gun for that, don’t waste your money.
hammers Get one that feels excellent to you. Light weight hammers don’t do much, I would suggest 14 ounce to 18 ounce, with claws. Don’t get one with a cleated head for framing
Bosch, in my estimation, mades the finest tools. All are ball bearing and do not have nylon bushings like the cheaper brands. I have dropped my drill from a 30 foot ladder and gone down and got it and it still works. Of the other brands, I would dodge Dewalt (which both Home Depot and Lowes will shove in your face), but they are cheaply made. Hitachi is excellent, Makita is excellent. gatekeeper Cable and Delta tools are made by Dewalt now.
Never buy brands you have not heard of. Don’t buy Ryobi, GNC, or anything like those.
The only other tool that I would recommend is a Bosch Scroll Saw, or hand Jig Saw. They are more expensive, but again, they don’t break. They have an older model, which I can’t remember the number, and a groundbreaking new model where the blade just pops out when you switch a handle, I would recommend eithe rof those, I have one of each.
Now for the safety lesson: Watch out for cords, use safety glasses, watch yourself with the nail gun, and don’t let a sander sit in one place to long while you are sanding.
Buy all Craftsman, noone co. gives a lifetime warranty on powertools, but sears will extend your warranty if you pay the $10 superfluous, & bring it in for a cleaning & checkup. shop wisely, DEWALT’s not that fantastic.
If you are not a tradesman get the ryobi 18 volt kit or the black and decker 18 volt kit with a hammer drill(trust me on this one. They are reasonably priced and durable for a layman with work around the house.Everything else on your list should be a cince to find in a form that’s comfortable for you. Don’t forget a hot stick to test electrical circuts for heat. Get a greenlee.
buy black and decker tool their cheap and the manufacture of dewalt it will save you money and still have excellent quality
There are a couple of ways to look at this. Tools for leisure activities and tools for repairs. Dremmels, sanders, staple guns, are generaly novelty / leisure activity tools. for around the house they don’t place forward many uses. My sugestions in order of importance would be:
1-Measuring tape ( 1″ wide type 25 ” long)
2-Cordless drill ( minimum 18 volt with 2 batteries)
3-Circular saw (7″ is fine)
4-Hammer ( claw type)
5-Adjustable wrench’s ( medium sized is fine)
6-Exacto knife (olfa makes excellent one’s)
7-Flash light
8-Manual screw drivers
9-Ladder
10-Glue gun
11-Caulking gun
12- Hack saw
13- 2′ level
14- Heavy duty scisors
15- Putty knife( 3″ wide)
I have personal preferences on tool brands from experience so it is hard to give you a single brand. Chraftsman has some excellent and some s____t. Black and Decker used to have excellent stuff (years ago), Dewalt = Duh walt ( Excellent for the “I reflect I am a service provider” guy) Ryoby makes both excellent and terrible, Rigid makes fantastic stuff but is a modest pricey and heavy, Hilty is fantastic but pricey, Milwaukee is fantastic but pricey(not comfortable to use), makitah has both excellent and terrible, Bosh is ok but heavy, Freud is expensive but excellent, gatekeeper cable makes excellent stuff at reasonable prices.
In general you get what you pay for with tools. Find out the tools waranty and repair facilities. Generaly no brand makes all tools fantastic.
I would buy from a reputable retailer who will stand behind you with your buys like Home depot, Sears.
Just thought of an other vital tool, A excellent heavy guage extension cord.
The best way to get tools is to buy what you need when you need it. Also don’t forget tools that are specifically for you car.
I hope this helps.
Lots of excellent advice here. Brands are a tough choice and your budget will help make your choice.
Let me just say the one and most used tool I have is my Dewalt 18 volt hammer drill. It was nearly 300 bucks but I’ve had it for 5 years and I beat the hell out of it. I’ve even used the back of it as a hammer when I needed to do something quick and didn’t have my hammer. Only downfall to an 18V is they are heavy so if you have a project that needs a lot of screws but not a lot of power then a lower voltage is excellent. Having the hammer ability is fantastic for getting into concrete.
stay away from roybi products..there junk..for nail guns that will last you forever buy haitachi.and all of haitachi power tools are excellent.