Tools Recommendation

[WooHooNomad]

I’ve moved into a new house and decided it’s time to do more jobs myself and actually learn how to fix things.

I’ve got some tools, drill bits, screws, etc., but I always seem to have the wrong thing for the job. The wrong bit to take the hoover apart, a chuck that doesn’t fit my drill—you get the idea. Everything’s a bit of a mess, and I seem to spend more time figuring out what I need than actually fixing anything.

Does anyone with more experience of maintaining a house and everything in it have any recommendations? Useful tools to start with, ways to organise everything, or good places to learn the basics would all be welcome. I’d rather build up a useful kit than keep buying random things whenever a job comes up.

I appreciate it’s a pretty general question, but any advice would be much appreciated!

[malvolio]

A very big question!

My approach has always to buy the best tool for the job when it's needed, so you eventually build up probably everything you need. Then again, I've been a homeowner for 50-odd years...

But starting from scratch will cost of bit of initial investment. A set of screwdrivers, a set of pliers, a set of spanners (open-ended initially, rings and socket sets later),a claw hammer and a club hammer will cover the basics. A panel saw and tenon saw as needed - they are pretty cheap so replace rather than sharpen (unless you're a compete DIY masochist).

For power tools, pick a brand - I have Bosch for mostly historic reasons but Ryobi and especially De Walt are preferred by a lot of tradesmen I know - and start with a medium sized hammer drill and a small power screwdriver. with a set of plug-in driver bits. Cordless, obviously, wired power tools are a PITA most of the time.

Always remember Ron Dennis rules - fit the tool to the job, buy the best you can, use it in the best way...

[WooHooNomad]

A very big question!

Sure is. I just always seem to have the wrong tool or bit. For the Garden I've taken your approach and gone for the best I could afford so Stihl brush cutter, hedge trimmer, small chainsaw.

But for the house I really just have tools all over the place. I have a toolbox with a hammer and several pliers (i dont know why). I have bits all over the place and a drill. I've just ordered a drill because the one i have couldn't fit the chuck for drilling a whole in a work surface, it's wired! I have chisels, inherited that I've never used. So many types of screws and nails, they seem to appear magically.

I have a fair bit of fencing, so was going to try and get something to do with fencing. I've always paid someone to do these things, determined to do it myself.

[DoctorStrangelove]

Lidl (tm) do some nice stuff. My house is full of it. Including an SDS drill I've used once, and some SDS drill bits that I've never used but looked so useful that I bought them.

You never know when a metre long SDS drill bit will come in handy. .

Or the hole saws that I bought twice, being in goldfish mode one day (or everyday now ).

Almost everything is metric these days so that cuts out 2/3rds of my oily tools for the car.

Some of the cheap tenon saws are nasty so it's worth spending a bit more on one of those.

[jamesbrown]

Choose a tool ecosystem because, unfortunately, the batteries are generally not interchangeable. Tbh, the top brands are not that different from each other. Specific brands do excel in specific tools, but Makita, Milwaukee and DeWalt all offer a full spectrum with solid build quality.

Carpenters have a slight bias towards Makita (or Festool and Maffell on the very pricey end - but super high quality) and electricians and plumbers often prefer Milwaukee. All of these brands have specific tools that they excel at, but you do unfortunately get sucked into a battery ecosystem.

Your basic tools will be a drill for drilling holes, an impact driver for driving fasteners (you can get away with a drill, but they are crap for this task), a circular saw for cutting stuff and a multi-tool, which is pretty indispensable for all manner of crap.

Then, depending what you end up doing, you'll want additional tools that are slightly more niche, like an SDS drill/chisel (for drilling into brick/block, concrete etc.) and dust extraction.

I organise my tools around specific jobs/trades, like plumbing, electrical, woodwork, demolition, plastering and brick laying/pointing.

Do NOT skimp on PPE and DO be aware of the crap that is lurking in all manner of seemingly innocuous materials in old buildings, notably lead, asbestos and arsenic. If in doubt, don't feck around with it because most PPE will not protect you from it.

[jamesbrown]

For hand tools, a lot of the best tools (for the money) are old tools, ironically, which you can often pick up from ebay or similar. The tulipification of stuff, in general, is real. For example, old Stanley block planes are infinitely better than the equivalent crap they produce today and will last indefinitely with care.

[Protagoras]

For branded power tools and batteries, watch out for 'fake' products and buy from a reputable supply chain.

Register power tools for extended warranty; e.g. DeWalt offer 3 years for domestic use.

I'd split tools into categories - plumbing, light interior, electrics, heavy garden etc. depending on what you want to tackle. I use tool boxes for job types.

Here's a list based on what I use regularly
- Good quality 2-axis laser level, not a cheap one
- Tape measure(s)
- Gloves, masks, boots
- Head torch
- Access; steps with handrail, step-up
- Various cleaners, lubricants, sealants, adhesives
- Various squares; combination, try, framing
- Battery powered Multitool
- Battery powered vacuum cleaner
- Decent workbench with vice(s)
- Illuminated bench magnifier, other magnifiers
- Battery powered track saw, drill, impact driver with various good quality drills and sets of bits including unusual ones (which are consumables!)

Tools used less that once a year
- torque wrench
- pick axe
- angle grinder
- chasing machine
- first aid kit :-)

As above, I also tend to buy good quality tools for specific jobs and accumulate them over many years.
I'm also using tools from my grandfather's tool box.

Inevitably, you'll end up with dozens of screwdrivers, several hammers, multiple saws for wood and metal.
Once you choose powertool ecosystem, the batteries can be used for garden and household tools.

[Protagoras]

Do NOT skimp on PPE and DO be aware of the crap that is lurking in all manner of seemingly innocuous materials in old buildings, notably lead, asbestos and arsenic. If in doubt, don't feck around with it because most PPE will not protect you from it.

In a domestic context, where might one come across arsenic?
I'm aware that this was used as a wood preservative ...

+1 on asbestos. At least it's quite cheap to get (appropriately obtained) sample material checked out in a lab these days.

[jamesbrown]

In a domestic context, where might one come across arsenic?
I'm aware that this was used as a wood preservative ...

+1 on asbestos. At least it's quite cheap to get (appropriately obtained) sample material checked out in a lab these days.

Mostly old paint, like lead. Also some wallpapers. Yes, also some old wood preservatives and adhesives. All from earlier in the 19th century, though, unlike lead and asbestos, which were widely used until much later into the 20th century.

[Protagoras]

Mostly old paint, like lead. Also some wallpapers. Yes, also some old wood preservatives and adhesives. All from earlier in the 19th century, though, unlike lead and asbestos, which were widely used until much later into the 20th century.

Recently found a small sheet of asbestos at the bottom of the garden in no man's land between my hedge and the neighbour's hedge.

Probably been there for some years but hadn't crumbled. My guess is that once upon a time it was next to a cooker. Wrapped in a heavy-duty plastic bag and sealed, a local council waste facility took it FoC.

Not sure why people can't dispose of materials properly; I suppose it could have been worse ... someone might just have buried it in a garden!

Add heavy duty plastic bags to the list for the tool box.