Which brand handtools?

[bilko2]

I want to get some household tools for a few jobs, handywork type stuff. Pliers, screwdrivers, saw(s) maybe a bench mate thingy, wrenches, spirit level etc etc. I don't have any and being a bloke i fancy a small collection. Just incase.
What is a good brand? also where do i get them?
Wickes, screwfix, machine mart?

I take it aldi tools aren't great. I would like something that lasts and is good quality and i'm prepared to pay a little extra for quality.

Also i want a small angle grinder and i need some drill bits for drilling through tin cans ( baked bean type ). I want to make a small wood gas stove for my bushcraft hobby. What is a good make for bits?
Thanks guys

[TheD]

The Halfords pro range get good reviews. Bosch make a good grinder and most leccy tools. B and Q were doing a good level set cheap

[Simpo Two]

Like photography, you get what you pay for. And then it depends on whether you are amateur or professional, and therefore how much of a beating the tools will get.

For occasional use the B&Q Power Plus range is very good value. For harder use, consider the more well known brands - Bosch comes to mind for the serious amateur. After that you're on to Makita, DeWalt etc and IMHO they're just too much £££ for the non-pro.

So, in summary, a £100 drill will be better than a £50 drill - you just have to decide which rung of the ladder is right for you

[B17NNS]

If you are only going to be using your kit occasionlly for light duty DIY then there is no point in buying top quality tools but by the same token if you buy really cheap then you will buy twice.

Screwfix is a great place to buy kit. Also worth having a browse on e-bay.

Some of my kit which works great and I'm really happy with:

Saws: Irwin, Bahco
Screwdrivers: Stanley, Wera
Hammer: Estwing
Pliers: Knipex, NWS

Can't go wrong with a Black & Decker Workmate

Decent kit really does make the job more pleasurable and a whole lot easier.

Edited by B17NNS on Thursday 22 October 21:22

[gtidriver]

6 months ago when i bought my new house, i bought tools from the makita 18v lithium ion range, drill,impact driver,trim saw,angle grinder,reciprocating saw and the jigsaw. google is your friend for finding cheap kit, i bought two batteries and charger for the price of one at screw fix.
Also just bought the 10.8volt makita twin pack. All small tools ie spanners, screwdrivers, cutters are snapon. Stabilia spirit levels are good.

Try and keep to the same brands and spend as much as you can afford.little giant ladder is a must for a ladder too.

I made the mistake of buying crap quality tools years ago now id rather have fewer tools but have better quality ones.

[lewes]

B17NNS said:

Saws: Irwin, Bahco
Screwdrivers: Stanley, Wera
Hammer: Estwing
Pliers: Knipex, NWS

Can't go wrong with a Black & Decker Workmate

Decent kit really does make the job more pleasurable and a whole lot easier.

Edited by B17NNS on Thursday 22 October 21:22

This guy is talking sense

Snap-on, Mac Tools etc are good but a bit OTT for DIY.

[count duckula]

Some of my kit I could not justify dewalt etc, the Erbauer range in screwfix is pretty good, I got the biscuit joiner, 1/2" router and concrete breaker and they were all pretty solid.

[shirt]

when i bought my house one of the first things i did was head to b&q to kit myself out with their 'performance power' power tools - circular saw, router, cordless drill, SDS hammer drill, 1/2 sheet sander and angle grinder.

out of that lot, only the cordless drill and router still work. i went through 3 of their sanders, 3 SDS drills and 2 angle grinders before demanding my money back and buying bosch replacements.

in short, don't buy them. they are cheap for a reason. the SDS drills in particular are shockingly bad and iirc they had 2 models recalled due to manufacturing faults.

i have one of their macallister chop saws which is much better made, but for power tools i'd keep an eye out at screwfix for deals. i've seen them sell 18V Makita cordless drills with 2 spare batteries for £80 and a cordless and corded hammer drill set for the same price before now - both shockingly good bargains.

for general tools - screwdrivers, sockets, spanners etc. then B&Q's own range [the higher priced stuff, not value] are fine but most of mine are magnussen [sp?]. magnussen ratchets are great as you can alter the angle of the head to get extra leverage on rusty bolts.

as for a bench, i have my dad's workmate from the 80's and it stil can't be beat.

[Muncher]

The Makita Lithium Ion 18v stuff (i.e. their most expensive 18v kit) is still going strong for me after a few years, it's worth paying extra for as I know the batteries are dependable.

[bga]

shirt said:

in short, don't buy them. they are cheap for a reason.

My mums hubby uses them for professional work. He uses them for 3 months and they replace them when they wear out after that time.
Where he works in Plymouth/South Hams tools are always getting nicked off-site so he reckons it saves him a decent amount each year.

[Hugo a Gogo]

I bought a dirt cheap angle grinder (15 euro) and a drill (12 euro!)
at that price, they are disposable, I've already had my money's worth out of them

I have a very good bosch professional battery screwdriver/drill though, that's excellent

[shirt]

i am truly surprised at that bga, i wouldn't trust them for moderate home use, let alone pro.

[bga]

shirt said:

i am truly surprised at that bga, i wouldn't trust them for moderate home use, let alone pro.

IMO they are crap too! I was surprised when he told me about this. He got fed up of people nicking his decent kit. I think he also said a few of the subbies he worked with did the same.
I would want an armed guard to go some of the places he works in Plymouth

[zcacogp]

It's worth shelling out for decent quality drillbits. Cheap ones become blunt very quickly (and yes, you do notice the difference!)


Oli.

[Defcon5]

zcacogp said:

It's worth shelling out for decent quality drillbits. Cheap ones become blunt very quickly (and yes, you do notice the difference!)


Oli.

Ill second that

[bilko2]

Thanks so much for all your replies guys. Sorry i didn't reply sooner but i have been very busy.
I will be checking out those brand names now.
thanks once again.
Ian

[matty_doh]

I used to work on a tool stall and there always used to be certain brands preferred by people buying for trade and DIY..

Most popular were -

Screwdrivers - Stanley Sets

Chisels - Marples

Claw Hammers - Estwings when we could get them, Stanleys weren't far behind

Lump Hammers/Mallets - Never used to be much difference between brands, though again Stanley ones were good as they lasted a while longer.
Stanley Knives - Despite there namesake, Irwin were a favourite here

Wrenches/Spanners/Sockets - Bahco, Snap On, Mac Tools, Halfords Pro were all popular here. Bahco adjustables used to be ridiculously popular

Axes/Sledgehammers/Log Splitters - Predators, with fibreglass handles, seemed a good compromise - fairly cheap but lasted well.

Power Stuff - People used to buy these on condition, but Bosch Professional, Dewalt, Makita, Milwaukee and Paslode tended to be bought by the trade, Ryobi were popular amongst those in between DIY and trade.

Drill Bits - Pirahna are again a good compromise

Spirit levels - Stabila were always snapped up as soon as we got them, Forge Steel stuff (Screwfixes own?) always tended to be popular too.

Saws - Bahco, Irwin, Stanley

As a general rule, most of the makes above tended to make good quality gear but some do excel in certain areas. Avoid buying cheap tat imo, to buy cheap is to buy twice (at least!)

Edited by matty_doh on Saturday 24th October 20:10

[deevlash]

dewalt are pretty st since Black and decker bought them, buy Malkita

[bilko2]

So to expand just slightly
I was in maplins the other day and had a play with a laser/infra red thermometer!
Oh the joy of seeing the temperature of your skin!, or bag, floor, light, hot lightbulb etc etc lol
It was £50 though. Anyone got one?

[Muncher]

Yep, I've got one, from Maplin, looks slightly different to the one they have now but same specs. Got it for £19.99, mainly used as a toy!