DIY Toolset

omens

omens

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I've always just borrowed my dad's tools but I think it's time I started my own tool collection. At the moment, I have:

  • Halfords Spanners
  • Halfords torque wrench with appropriate socket for the car
  • an extended breaker bar
  • a ratchet screwdriver
  • Bosch cordless screwdriver
  • small adjustable wrench
  • self-grip pliers
  • measuring tape and a ruler

But I'm in need of some tools. What kind of things would you recommend the home DIYer has as a minimum, and are there any brands that you'd recommend.
 
hammer
electrical screwdriver
allen keys
 
Buy the best tools you can afford and don't lend them out. Don't waste money on cheap tools as they really will let you down.

It's really difficult to advise as it all depends on your abilities and which projects you want to take on as to which tools you need. Without mentioning power tools, for home DIY as a minimum you'll need a hammer, hand saw, chisels and a level etc. For working on your car you'd need a good socket set, screwdrivers, allen/torx keys. Buy as you need the tools and look after them. Keep them clean, dry and sharp and get a good strong toolbox to store them in. I've barely touched the surface and you could have spent a substantial amount of money already with the above tools. There's an opportunity to buy because they look good on TV or in the store but as an example if you don't use and charge battery drills the batteries lose the ability to store charge and they will let you down.

You've opened a wormy can and if you think photography is expensive just stock a workshop. :-)
 
If you thought photography can be a "money pit" DIY is even worse.

Just my thoughts, buy the best you can afford.

a couple of saws
Drill cordless avoid "own brands" I Personally like my DeWalt
a couple of chisels
some clamps
set squares
mole grips
Hammer
Stanley knife
Dont forget, gloves, Safety glasses and dust masks.

and the list can go on


and on



and on
 
Well ,there are plenty tools on here so you shouldn't stick:whistle:
 
Derek_W said:
Buy the best tools you can afford and don't lend them out. Don't waste money on cheap tools as they really will let you down.
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Have been reading around. It's hard to work out what's good and what's not. Bahco might be rated by one person on one forum and trashed by another. Same for teng tools. Some of Halfords own is recommended and some not. Some people recommend snap-on, others say snap-on just takes over other tool companies and uses their name.

Derek_W said:
It's really difficult to advise as it all depends on your abilities and which projects you want to take on as to which tools you need. Without mentioning power tools, for home DIY as a minimum you'll need a hammer, hand saw, chisels and a level etc. For working on your car you'd need a good socket set, screwdrivers, allen/torx keys.
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To be honest, I'm happy to do simple jobs. If there's anything particularly demanding, I'll seek advice, and if it's a big/tough job, I'd call in the pros. It's the same with the car - happy to do oil change but if it came to changing brakes or faffing about with electrical stuff, I'll take the car to my mechanic.

Derek_W said:
if you don't use and charge battery drills the batteries lose the ability to store charge and they will let you down.
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Which is why I've used corded garden tools. Petrol was overkill and cordless may be more unreliable.

Derek_W said:
You've opened a wormy can and if you think photography is expensive just stock a workshop. :)
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I know, which is why I thought it best to ask advice. Just in the same way that I don't need a 1DX, I don't need mega-expensive tools. But my midrange 70D and my G12 pocket camera cover my needs.

munch said:
Just my thoughts, buy the best you can afford.
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But what are the best or recommended brands?

munch said:
a couple of saws
Drill cordless avoid "own brands" I Personally like my DeWalt
a couple of chisels
some clamps
set squares
mole grips
Hammer
Stanley knife
Dont forget, gloves, Safety glasses and dust masks.
Click to expand...
Good list. I don't plan on buying everything at once but buying tools as and when I need them or foresee their need.

My first project will be replacing the gate to the backyard. The door needs replacing, and I was going to fit new hinges and a new lock since the old ones are decrepit.
 
We are heading to the canon, Nikon debate as to what the best tools are.

I personally would avoid, as already stated DIY store "own brands" Black & Decker (yes I know B & D and DeWalt are owned by the same company) Bosch green tools, the blue are OK.

Halfords own tools seem to have a good reputation.

Stanley hand tools aren't too bad but not as good as they used to be.

If you are looking at replacing a door my first thought would be maybe not the best project to start on

whilst you can hang a door using a drill and a chisel, a router may be a better option, but IMHO a door is not the best thing to start with when using a router either.
 
munch said:
If you are looking at replacing a door my first thought would be maybe not the best project to start on
whilst you can hang a door using a drill and a chisel, a router may be a better option, but IMHO a door is not the best thing to start with when using a router either.
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Do I need a router/hammer/chisel to replace this kind of door?
gates.jpg


I was looking at taking off the hinges and door, and then replacing them with new hingest and a new door. The current ones aren't sunk into the post.
 
I'd go for the Halfords Professional/Advanced range over their normal range, it comes with a lifetime guarantee and is a lot more robust. They often have a sale on their stuff so check their site regularly also worth going through quidco or the like to get a bit of cashback too.
 
Just buy as you need the tools. You will nevertheless end up with a big tool bag full in time. But I really wouldn't go out and get anything, 'just in case'.
 
omens said:
Do I need a router/hammer/chisel to replace this kind of door?
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omens said:
I was looking at taking off the hinges and door, and then replacing them with new hingest and a new door. The current ones aren't sunk into the post.
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"Barn door" hinges are not designed to be sunk into the frame, if you sink them into the frame you will also need to sink them into the door as well.
But if you want to replace them with butt hinges, the same as you have inside, your house, then a hammer and chisel will also be required.
For a straight swap, just a (power) screwdriver aka battery powered drill will make life a lot easy, but a "normal" screwdriver will do, if you don't want the expense just yet.
and maybe a plane, (power or hand) to make it fit properly. You may need to take some off the bottom or the side, if the frame is not dead square.
 
omens said:
Do I need a router/hammer/chisel to replace this kind of door?
gates.jpg


I was looking at taking off the hinges and door, and then replacing them with new hingest and a new door. The current ones aren't sunk into the post.
Click to expand...

That's a gate.
No need to sink hinges, surface mount.
 
I don't see the point of buying for the sake of it...... Some things yes buy the best you can. Other things I don't see the point. Some things don't bother at all & get by with what you got.

I've mainly done welding/fabrication [with an interesting in motors too] so my tools are based around that mainly. Yes I done a fair bit of the work on my old house for the extension [electrics, windows/doors, stud walls, moved doorways etc] but I don't recall buying anything except an electric planer - Don't know where it is now though..... Things like pliers, mole grips, clamps I would buy good stuff. I've got good & cheap tools & some I bought when I started in my line of work about 16-17 years ago & some since I started driving 22 years ago!! I had to do some welding on my car the weekend & my 'body work' tool bag from when I done the Mk1 Escort is at my girlfriends - I got by using a lump hammer, one pair of mole grips & a big screwdriver :)

Don't think you need the best & don't think you need the 'correct' tool either ;)
 
omens said:
Do I need a router/hammer/chisel to replace this kind of door?
gates.jpg


I was looking at taking off the hinges and door, and then replacing them with new hingest and a new door. The current ones aren't sunk into the post.
Click to expand...

I'd say it's an excellent project to start with. Only buy galvanised hinges and I'd personally get a hook and band style so you can lift the gate off it's hinges for maintenance. Do you intend to make a new gate? If so, a set of chisels would come in handy if you made it with mortice and tenons but a half lap joint would be good too and be so much easier.

Tools - pencil,tape, saw, square (but you could use the saw as a square) a good waterproof glue.
Galv hinges, galv nails, screws and bolts to suit hinges, bolt and latch. Depending on what wood you use you may need a preservative or wood stain to match the rest of the fence.
 
Cobra said:
"Barn door" hinges are not designed to be sunk into the frame, if you sink them into the frame you will also need to sink them into the door as well.
But if you want to replace them with butt hinges, the same as you have inside, your house, then a hammer and chisel will also be required.
For a straight swap, just a (power) screwdriver aka battery powered drill will make life a lot easy, but a "normal" screwdriver will do, if you don't want the expense just yet.
and maybe a plane, (power or hand) to make it fit properly. You may need to take some off the bottom or the side, if the frame is not dead square.
Click to expand...

Good point about the frame not being square. I've always found these things warp and shift with age.
 
I've noticed the gate has sagged a little. The bolt is slightly misaligned from its hole from sagging over time. The gate itself looks a little warped and cracked. I would love to replace it.
 
omens said:
I've noticed the gate has sagged a little. The bolt is slightly misaligned from its hole from sagging over time. The gate itself looks a little warped and cracked. I would love to replace it.
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It's been hung the wrong way. The hinges should be on the right hand side, that's why it has sagged, well, one of the reasons :)
A better design is one strap from the top of the hinge side to the bottom of the other side, as long as it is well secured.

It's a good project to start with and quite satisfying.
Soon you'll be doing what I do:
View attachment 43302
 
kendo1 said:
It's been hung the wrong way. The hinges should be on the right hand side, that's why it has sagged, well, one of the reasons :)
A better design is one strap from the top of the hinge side to the bottom of the other side, as long as it is well secured.

It's a good project to start with and quite satisfying.
Soon you'll be doing what I do:
View attachment 43302
Click to expand...

You teach cats to cook? ;)

(Gorgeous kitchen btw).
 
Buy tools as you need them, since for household stuff unless you know you are tackling a specific project that needs specific tools you don't know what's going to break next or what you'll need to fix it. My power tools are mostly Makita for things that I know I will need time and again, plus some cheapies I've bought for one off jobs, e.g. the tile cutter I used to cut the slate tiles I laid on my kitchen floor is by "erbauer", whoever they are. But it was one job, so I treated it as a disposable item and having it still working at the end was a bonus.

For cars it's a bit different, starting with a socket set and spanners (open, combination, ring), plus screwdrivers and a torque wrench will get you a fair way. My toolkit is a mix and match, but started from a set of Elora spanners that were my grandfather's. And really, brakes and electrics are not hard, I'd trust my own work on car brakes at least as much as any garage's. You just have to be methodical about it.
 
kendo1 said:
It's been hung the wrong way. The hinges should be on the right hand side, that's why it has sagged,
Click to expand...
I'm curious to know how / why it makes a difference? I cant work out why the loading would be any different
 
Cobra said:
I'm curious to know how / why it makes a difference? I cant work out why the loading would be any different
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Its coz the bottom hinge "pushes" up the diagonal innit and helps stop sag. In the pic, the diagonals are just floating on the latch side, offering no support.
 
DorsetDude said:
Its coz the bottom hinge "pushes" up the diagonal innit and helps stop sag. In the pic, the diagonals are just floating on the latch side, offering no support.
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Ah, so it's not so much the hinges are on the wrong side, but the door is on upside down :D
 
As Mark said a few posts ago - "buy tools as you need them".
I used to be like a kid in a sweet shop when I was looking at tools, but only buy a tool if it is going to be used soon.
I went years trying different saws, and the sharpest and best at their price which I have used, are the Stanley "Fat Max" range.
A useful set of multi allen/torx/security bits with little ratchets allows me access to most parts inderneath the bonnet of modern cars.
Never, ever skimp on quality, particularly with cutting tools. I was cutting out passport photos from an A4 sheet a month back, using a steel rule (good quality) and a craft knife (not such good quality), when the ferrule on the craft knife (which holds the blade to the handle) bent back at ninety degrees. No harm done, but if it had broken then it could have been nasty. I went out and bought a Swann Morten handle with some of their blades, so hopefully that problem has been addressed.
I would also recommend a Stanley Workmate or similar for clamping, cutting and drilling.
 
andy700 said:
I would also recommend a Stanley Workmate or similar for clamping, cutting and drilling.
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Me too. I've a Workmate I've had for 25 years and still use it regularly. I also have a couple of the cheap copies and they're pretty good value for the money but don't have the 2 height options of the Workmate. They're great for holding wood when drilling, cutting, glueing, routing, well you get the idea!
 
kendo1 said:
Well, back to front actually
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I make that inside out actually :D
although isn't the rule the good side to your neighbours?. TBH I never got that. You spend a fortune on buying fencing panels (or making them) and you get the rough side.
 
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kendo1 said:
Well, back to front actually.


...and the cats just eat
and eat, and eat...
Maine Coons, btw.
This is the other side:
View attachment 43316
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If you get the urge to come and do mine, please do feel free.
Should only take a day :-)
 
viv1969 said:
If you get the urge to come and do mine, please do feel free.
Should only take a day :)
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I always have the urge:) , work is fun.
Just finished an eight week stint, 7 days a week, to finish off my backlog.
Now I just have to catch up on the small jobs before the next big jobs.
 
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shreds said:
Just buy as you need the tools. You will nevertheless end up with a big tool bag full in time. But I really wouldn't go out and get anything, 'just in case'.
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Not if you have a wife like mine, I've lost count of the number of times I've had to replace screwdrivers and the like that continuously disappear which she "knows" nothing about.

Aside from tools, it's always worth picking up a few various sized screws of different types as well as raw plugs.
 
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