Home/DIY tool kit, recommended and what you got?
Discussion
Dont know why I have neglected this as long as I have but now Im looking at getting a proper Home/DIY tool kit instead of the one I have (mix match cheapo stuff), now there is nothing against the one I have, but I feel like spending a little bit of cash on some nice tools and a smallish toolbox or carry case.
I like shiny s
t so wera, facom, teng, fatmax, etc have all been researched and all see much of a muchness when it comes to quality.
What do you have and what can you recommend?
I like shiny s
t so wera, facom, teng, fatmax, etc have all been researched and all see much of a muchness when it comes to quality.What do you have and what can you recommend?
Just to go Halfords when the deals are on and fill your boots!
The advanced stuff is very good, I find the screwdrivers good too, I reach for them more than a snap on set i have.
https://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools/tools/hand...
The advanced stuff is very good, I find the screwdrivers good too, I reach for them more than a snap on set i have.
https://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools/tools/hand...
I’m a mechanical fitter by trade,
I’ve got the Facom spanner set, up to 24mm, bahco socket sets half and quarter inch, draper expert half inch set, facom 3/4 inch set, bahco ratchet set ( 4 sizes per tool, very handy), bahco adjustables, gear wrench large ratchet spanner’s, wera screwdriver set ( not very good tbh, quite soft).
Dewalt cordless tools, Dewalt drill set (cobalt set with point tips are superb)
I bought the Halfords set when I started out, I wouldn’t ever use them again to be honest, they get a lot of praise but they ain’t up to much imo!
I’ve got the Facom spanner set, up to 24mm, bahco socket sets half and quarter inch, draper expert half inch set, facom 3/4 inch set, bahco ratchet set ( 4 sizes per tool, very handy), bahco adjustables, gear wrench large ratchet spanner’s, wera screwdriver set ( not very good tbh, quite soft).
Dewalt cordless tools, Dewalt drill set (cobalt set with point tips are superb)
I bought the Halfords set when I started out, I wouldn’t ever use them again to be honest, they get a lot of praise but they ain’t up to much imo!
Depends entirely on what you want to be doing...
If you're just doing some low-level maintenance, then not much more than basic drill/screwdrivers/little tappy hammer/stanley knife/slip-joints.
If you're going bigger-job, then whatever you'll need for that - plumbing, plastering, whatever. You don't NEED to buy everything at once. Buy the basics now, and add whatever's needed whenever it's needed.
If you're just doing some low-level maintenance, then not much more than basic drill/screwdrivers/little tappy hammer/stanley knife/slip-joints.
If you're going bigger-job, then whatever you'll need for that - plumbing, plastering, whatever. You don't NEED to buy everything at once. Buy the basics now, and add whatever's needed whenever it's needed.
As above, building a kit straight off the batt will leave you with unused tools. Its amazing what can be achieved with the most basic of hand tools. If you hit a job that needs a powered sander, go buy the best one to your budget that will last for years. But never buy anything because you think it may come in handy.
B17NNS said:
Fatmax for general screwdrivers (Wera for VDE). Bahco for adjustables. Estwing for hammers. Wera hex key set (because it’s sexy as). Milwaukee for tapes. Stabila for bubbles.
DeWalt Toughsystem toolbox to keep it all in.
All good stuff.to my eternal shame i only have the estwing out of that list. I keep that for "best" and never use itDeWalt Toughsystem toolbox to keep it all in.
.The best drill / driver that you can get. I always try to plan my jobs in advance and make sure i have the correct tools rather than buying them at the last minute and paying too much.
A good quality pair of mole grips is a very useful tool to have in the toolbox.
Are we talking hand or power tools?
My most used home/DIY tools are drill and impact driver. You'll get equal amounts of fanboys point you in the direction of Makita/DeWalt/Bosch/Milwaukee. Go a couple of models up from the "£149.99 Screwfix special". Think about batteries, chargers and other tools in the range that use the same.
Another vote for Wera screwdrivers and Allen keys. Bahco reversible jaw adjustables.
Not sure what else that's not powered that I own other than car stuff (Halfords advanced).
I've got a nice set of Irwin Marples chisels.
My most used home/DIY tools are drill and impact driver. You'll get equal amounts of fanboys point you in the direction of Makita/DeWalt/Bosch/Milwaukee. Go a couple of models up from the "£149.99 Screwfix special". Think about batteries, chargers and other tools in the range that use the same.
Another vote for Wera screwdrivers and Allen keys. Bahco reversible jaw adjustables.
Not sure what else that's not powered that I own other than car stuff (Halfords advanced).
I've got a nice set of Irwin Marples chisels.
Edited by samdale on Tuesday 21st August 10:52
I have a Rage 3 for those "I fancy new floor or just chopping up tree branches". A nice drill with spare batteries (a powerful one, because my cheap one couldn't drill into bricks). A couple of tool kits. Wet Tile saw too (used this weekend for the Boot Room) and a dry tile cutter.. The usual hammers, saws and spanner sets etc and a 250 piece drill kit which includes diamond bits. Really could do with a decent chop saw mind as I can't cut straight with a hand saw and some things are far too big for the Rage
Ive got the Irwin chisels as well, lovely stuff but probably too good for my level of work, and I hit a hidden nail with one and put a little dent in it which broke my heart lol!
I’ve got Irwin saws which work well for what I do, surprisingly I’ve got a few parkside power tools from Lidl’s for chucking about and the are cheap as chips and very capable for diy!
I’ve got the evolution mitre saw, £150 and chops through metal piece of cake.
The Halfords industrial cabinets are very nice. Fluke multi meters from work
Got the fat max 8m tape, very chunky, and a small Festool tape which is very handy, has a indicator on top so you don’t have to bend the tape into a corner and also a hole in it to mark out circles
I’ve got Irwin saws which work well for what I do, surprisingly I’ve got a few parkside power tools from Lidl’s for chucking about and the are cheap as chips and very capable for diy!
I’ve got the evolution mitre saw, £150 and chops through metal piece of cake.
The Halfords industrial cabinets are very nice. Fluke multi meters from work
Got the fat max 8m tape, very chunky, and a small Festool tape which is very handy, has a indicator on top so you don’t have to bend the tape into a corner and also a hole in it to mark out circles
Edited by Gooose on Tuesday 21st August 11:05
For me a basic kit for 90% of repairs consists of
Screwdriver set, 10 or 12 so different sizes and lengths inclding vde
Adjustable spanners Small medium large
Waterpump pliers
Box spanners for taps
A good wood saw
A good hand saw
Small and large spirit level
A good claw hammer
A small
A cheap set of chisels and sharpen block
Stanley knife and spare blades
Allen keys
tape measure 8m
Tin snips
Wire cutters
The only real place you need to get good quality is the screwdrivers, wera or stanley i use. Stanley pretty much for the rest of the tools as their range is quite far reaching.
A must is an organiser with lots of different size screws, pins, rawlplugs, connector blocks, fuses, washers and the like.
For power tools
18v combi
Sds drill
Multi tool
Jigsaw
You could just bob down to screwfix and pick up a selection of titan and erbauer stuff, perfectly suited for odd DIY. I use the 18v erbauer stuff day in day out, was supposed to be temporary aftet some low life broke into my van and stole all my makita gear but they have performed wel so kept hold of them.
A decent workmate!
With everything being available on Amazon within 24 hours I just buy things as I go along but having recently started fixing/destroying my house I have now run out of tool boxes! Halfords are doing a sale at the moment.
I have found Lidl power tools to be really good for the money as well.
With everything being available on Amazon within 24 hours I just buy things as I go along but having recently started fixing/destroying my house I have now run out of tool boxes! Halfords are doing a sale at the moment.
I have found Lidl power tools to be really good for the money as well.
Web developer by trade, hobby chippy/mechanic/cook in the spare time.
Chop saw, thought I'd use it a handful of times but I can get a multitude of angles cut fairly quickly. (My one is a Titan)
Titan 18v drill. Cost me £24 (they're about £50 now) and they're fantastic. So much better than the Bosch stuff.
Irwin Maple chisels. Cheap chisels are only good for sacrificial things, like when I had to remove the camshaft sensor from my Subaru.
Stanley A Frame, erm, things. Put a bit of MDF on top of it, portable worktop.
Halfords Professional tools. I bought the toolkit ages ago and still have most of it left. One torx bit broke but that isn't bad.
Sealey breaker bars. Amazing.
Clarke metal tool box, reasonable price good quality.
Actually, most of the Clarke stuff from Machine Mart is good quality and reasonably priced.
Hand saws, I have a Stanley FatMax but I don't think it's much good as a long term saw. So I'm interested to hear of better quality saws out there.
Chop saw, thought I'd use it a handful of times but I can get a multitude of angles cut fairly quickly. (My one is a Titan)
Titan 18v drill. Cost me £24 (they're about £50 now) and they're fantastic. So much better than the Bosch stuff.
Irwin Maple chisels. Cheap chisels are only good for sacrificial things, like when I had to remove the camshaft sensor from my Subaru.
Stanley A Frame, erm, things. Put a bit of MDF on top of it, portable worktop.
Halfords Professional tools. I bought the toolkit ages ago and still have most of it left. One torx bit broke but that isn't bad.
Sealey breaker bars. Amazing.
Clarke metal tool box, reasonable price good quality.
Actually, most of the Clarke stuff from Machine Mart is good quality and reasonably priced.
Hand saws, I have a Stanley FatMax but I don't think it's much good as a long term saw. So I'm interested to hear of better quality saws out there.
rufusgti said:
As above, building a kit straight off the batt will leave you with unused tools. Its amazing what can be achieved with the most basic of hand tools. If you hit a job that needs a powered sander, go buy the best one to your budget that will last for years. But never buy anything because you think it may come in handy.
This is so true. Buy what you need when you need it, if it's anything over the basic drill, screwdriver, hammer, chisel, saw etc.
Currently doing my bathroom, so far in the last month I've had to fork out for pipe cutters, angle grinder, laser level, tile cutter and a massive jackhammer/breaker!
Sometimes it's worth just getting the correct tool to save the labour/hours.
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff