Buying my first set of tools.

[philhawk]

i am soon going to be purchasing my first set of tools. what im looking for is suggestions as to what to fill my workshop with . anybody have brand suggestions, style (corded, battery, etc) any good deals or kits.

also: things that have made projects easier, more professional looking, or tools you couldn't live without.

i have a pretty decent budget to work with but need to save a few pennies for the actual tank.

 

[gomezladdams]

Cordless drill is a must have.panasonic are really good.I have a 12v craftsman Im happy with.Dont go less than 12v,but some of the 14v stuff is too bulky.
For corded tools Ive always liked porter cable(formerly rockwell).Was a tool salesman and repairman for years,those are still my choice.The new dewalt stuff is good too.
How much of a workshop?tablesaw?bandsaw?jointer?drill press?

 

[Bazinga]

ive been working with tools all my life and all i can say is if you use tools often, get corded tools, so many times i would have ran into the low battery problem when working on a long build all day ive always bought dewalt just because thats what my dads company uses very good name and quality.

 

[gomezladdams]

Good point,my only corldess is the drill,and I have 2 batteries for it.One always in the charger.

 

[cypher1024]

As far as drills go: get one good one and (if you can afford it) two cheap ones.

Having three drills is really handy when you're constructing things. Drill the hole with a cheap drill, countersink the hole with the second drill, and then put the screw in with the third (good) drill.

 

[kallmond]

They make bits now that drill and counter sink, then you flip the bit and its a phillips or flat screwdriver bit, no changing required, eliminating the real benefit to having multiple drills.

When I was first starting out I bought a ryobi corded drill. The cheapest corded drill with a decent sized motor in Lowes. Since then, I've worn out 2 DeWalt cordless drills and a porter cable (the two best brands on the market imo), but the ryobi is still going strong. I can't count how many screws that ryobi has installed, but I'd seriously bet its in the tens of thousands.

Cordless is great, if you're going to do any real work with it, invest in the 18v versions. The real trick though is, if you get a DeWalt cordless drill, you need to stick with DeWalt for all your other cordless devices. Each one comes with a battery, so by the time you build a cordless set you'll have 4 or 5 batteries, ensuring you'll always have 2 or 3 charged.

 

[Pharaoh]

As far as drills go: get one good one and (if you can afford it) two cheap ones.

Having three drills is really handy when you're constructing things. Drill the hole with a cheap drill, countersink the hole with the second drill, and then put the screw in with the third (good) drill.

Kinda defeats the purpose of having a good drill. All you would need is a good screw driver. LOL

As far as cordless drills, my Panasonic puts all the others to shame. Of course, they are a bit pricey.

 

[KAWAMIKIE]

How much do you want to spend?


Unless your going to use the stuff every day you can't go wrong with a all in one Ryobi 18 volt set. I have a set and another drill, so I have a total of 4 batteries and 2 chargers.
A quality corded circular saw, jig saw and 1/2" drill is a must have.
Your going to need a set of drill bits, hole saw set, screw bit set, and a selection of blades for the saws.
At some point your going to want to get an air compressor.

 

[Naldo]

I keep the following power tools that I find the most useful for my household and basic DIY needs.
Circular Saw, Jig Saw, Recip Saw, Grinder, Power Drill, Cordless Drill/Driver, Sander, Rotary Tool.
I'm not committed to a single brand. I own tools by Hitachi, Craftsman, Dewalt, Skill and Chicago. I like to shop around and then purchase the highest voltage/amperage tool I can afford.

For quality hand tools I like Craftsman because Sears will replace broken tools.
If I need something in a pinch, and on a budget I go to Harbor Freight.

Don't forget safety gear. Safety glasses or goggles, hearing protection, masks, face shield, gloves (work gloves and chemical gloves), and knee pads. Today I won't work without these items. I took a nail into my knee laying carpet and saw dust in my eyes once and have personally known a man who lost an eye scrapping metal.

Naldo

 

[KAWAMIKIE]

Whatever you decide, stay away from Harbor Freight and the roving truck load tool sales. Most of the stuff is crap that will break if it even works and you will have to buy it again.