$500 Tool List (help)

[tfreer85]

Okay, so I've got a budget of $500 bucks (including taxes shipping etc). I'm a DIY guy, a car guy, and a computer geek. With all that being said my "power" tools are limited. I have no real shop tools, mostly a mechanics set and a Kawasaki cordless kit. All this being said, this is what I'm looking at for my $500 dollar spend. Would you do it differently?

Miter Saw 10" for basics of cutting 2x4's etc.

http://www.harborfreight.com/10-inch-compound-miter-saw-91995.html

Air Compressor - For general use (tires, etc.)

http://www.harborfreight.com/25-hp-21-gallon-125-psi-cast-iron-vertical-air-compressor-67847.html

Air Hose 1/4"

http://www.harborfreight.com/25-ft-...se-for-roofing-and-framing-nailers-93336.html

Paint Gun (I love painting. Use for cabinets, auto projects, computer cases etc.)

http://www.harborfreight.com/detail-spray-gun-91011.html

Drill Press

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...talogId=10053&productId=100660518&R=100660518

2 x Pegboard Kit

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...talogId=10053&productId=202994005&R=202994005

 

[BHH]

Check out Craigs list / Ebay / Kijiji for some great bargains before buying new. Often you can get barley used for great discounts.

 

[Lost Road]

I would start hitting estate sales and swap meets for most of this stuff. Are there any tool auctions in your area? You can make that $500 go a long ways.

 

[Lost Road]

I got a delta chop saw for $20, a central pneumatic compressor for $50, peg board free, binks model 18 and craftsman vintage spray guns for about $5 each.

ETA: these items are not for sale, just an example of what is out there.

 

[tfreer85]

Hmm...that is definitely sounding like a better way to stretch the budget. There is one caveat I forgot to mention (thought I did), these are supposed to be "Christmas" presents from the wife. With besides budget wise, are there any tools that you would deem more important? I think this is a pretty good starting point for needed tools to build "a lot."

 

[diesel research]

Okay, so I've got a budget of $500 bucks (including taxes shipping etc). Would you do it differently?

Yes. 100% serious. I would take that $500, invest it into some type of secure instrument, and contribute regular small amounts until it grew to a higher level, at which point I would concentrate on some quality items.

Bonus contributions resulting from any additional "income" such as the sales of personal belongings/income tax returns/side work/bonuses/etc.

Obviously the stuff isn't needed ASAP as a DIYer, so no need to rush into the purchases.

I would even accept a smaller gift this season or a postponed one.

 

[Givl Reggin]

...just an example of what is out there.

I always read these kind of comments with a lot of interest.... you could go to 15 estate sales and not find anything more than a hammer, pliers, and screwdrivers!

Finding these kind of items are so dependent on the area you live in and craiglists is no better.... full of worn out junk and probably stolen china made stuff being sold.

I would suggest spending the majority of the budget on what you're going to use right away and get the best you can find.. $500 won't go far and then get the other stuff when you have a few more bucks to spend.

 

[Lost Road]

I always read these kind of comments with a lot of interest.... you could go to 15 estate sales and not find anything more than a hammer, pliers, and screwdrivers!

Finding these kind of items are so dependent on the area you live in and craiglists is no better.... full of worn out junk and probably stolen china made stuff being sold.

I would suggest spending the majority of the budget on what you're going to use right away and get the best you can find.. $500 won't go far and then get the other stuff when you have a few more bucks to spend.

I completely understand this, as I lived in Hawaii for 5 years. I did not really have many tools there.

 

[Lost Road]

I did just take a peek at Hawaii craigslist and found plenty of stuff to buy, however. Where are you, tfreer?

 

[srmofo]

Those oil-less compressors are loud and I wouldnt waste my money on a cheap paint gun. Skip the HF miter saw at that price and find either a used or wait for a decent deal on something that will last your lifetime. I despise HF saws and grinders. They are loud, vibrate, and the accuracy is less than acceptable to me.

I think you need to include a circular saw also.

Quality used bench top drill presses can be found on my local CL all day in the $50 range.

Store closing sales are the place to find super cheap pegboard, accessories, and shelving

Of course all of this is dependent on how much you actually plan on using this stuff? Theres not a day that goes by where I dont use a tool around my house, so I see the need when I buy something I buy something that will last.

 

[BHH]

I think you should give a general area of where you are from and we can see if there are any decent things online in your area.

 

[tfreer85]

Bakersfield, CA. The Central Valley area, there are plenty of Manufacturing, equipment places around. It would take a bit more time and there are certain items I feel I could find for cheaper (miter saw and drill press). Air compressor becomes a bit more difficult I only have 120v in the garage and thats it. Thanks for all the feedback so far!!

 

[BHH]

Yeah your not going to have any problem finding decent tools cheap withing 50 miles... This is for sure the route I would consider.

 

[Lost Road]

Ok, tfreer, you are in tool heaven! That is where I go to buy stuff quite often. This is too easy. Almost cheating! I was just there last week.

Hell, you can drive over to my house and I can set you up, if nothing else.

 

[Danglerb]

Hmm...that is definitely sounding like a better way to stretch the budget. There is one caveat I forgot to mention (thought I did), these are supposed to be "Christmas" presents from the wife.

Gift from the wife I would not make a shopping list of cheap tools, and I would get some focus on what I plan to do with the tools and buy one or two quality items you should keep forever.

Think about how much space you have, and what you like to do.

 

[BHH]

now that you know how much money you can save I would get your wife to give you one of those home made coupon books just filled with free ******** coupons.... That's worth way more than the tools you posted. Just something to think about!

 

[Lost Road]

I'm totally getting one of those ******* coupon book thingies.

 

[BQuicksilver]

You can waste $500 on gas and tons of time praying to find an estate sale/tool auction discount. Even then you have an old tool and unless you're good at knowing what is/isn't junk you won't do well. Skip the estate sales unless you're retired, unemployed, or want a hobby. Great finds are the exception, not the rule.

HF is honestly a good start IMO for a new DIY guy and $500 budget. Use their coupons and you'll get a fair number of tools for $500.

I'd pass on the compressor and paint gun. I'd stick to hand tools in your budget. The only power tools I'd get are

$100 miter saw
$130 table saw
$30 corded hammerdrill
$30 corded circular saw

Then $200 of paint brushes, screwdrivers, ratchets, etc

This place is a tool discussion forum. We come here bc we love high end tools. We're tool snobs, but for $500 you can't be a tool snob. Keep that in mind when people push you to hold out for higher end tools bc eveything from HF will supposedly break.

 

[Lost Road]

Actually, BQuick is right. Everyone should stay away from the estate and garage sales.

 

[muibubbles]

Definitely Craigslist for good deals, and search estate sales and you can find GREAT deals. ive picked up some of my machines for pocket change....... you will definitely get more bang for your buck and the older stuff is better quality...

I personally hate peg board and the "bins". the way i work, the garage gets too dusty and all my **** is filthy. im now reorganizing so everything is covered and stored away. dust is the enemy!!!

 

[930dreamer]

http://bakersfield.craigslist.org/tls/2664544976.html

http://bakersfield.craigslist.org/tls/2652217437.html


I look for ads like this, If two or three items are good quality, sell them and recoup your investment. The rest is profit.

 

[Lost Road]

"Tools, tools, tools" is ususally a win!

 

[Outlawmws]

OK, I think you need to really sit down and think about the DIY types of jobs you are really expecting to do before even thinking about what to spend any money on, or where.

A chop saw is handy, but only for chopping - 2x4's and the like.

Why do you need the air compressor? For the paint gun you don't have? What do you plan on painting? cars? or household furniture, or rooms in your house?

Those mini drill presses can be handy, but again what are you going to be drilling? 1/4 HP wont do much.

I'm not trying to dissuade you from buying tools, but you really need to lay out some project goals and think this through first. Once you have that, you can start pining down what you really need in the way of tools.

 

[dwm]

Definitely Craigslist for good deals, and search estate sales and you can find GREAT deals. ive picked up some of my machines for pocket change....... you will definitely get more bang for your buck and the older stuff is better quality...

I personally hate peg board and the "bins". the way i work, the garage gets too dusty and all my **** is filthy. im now reorganizing so everything is covered and stored away. dust is the enemy!!!

But dust isn't the enemy of everything, just some things. For example, I have no problem hanging combination wrenches, claw hammers, common screwdrivers, etc. on pegboard. A better example... all of my clamps are hanging, there's no way I'd stash them away in drawers (and the 50" and longer would consume an awful lot of toolbox space).

All depends on the work at hand, the tools you need, and optimal use of space, right?

I'd say pick a single tool that you want new from the wife as a gift, that will last and make you happy for a long time to come. Preferably the one you need most right now or the one that's the foundation for other stuff. When I ask for tools as gifts from loved ones, I ask for tools that will last and bring joy for a very long time. In other words, the same things I want in a relationship or friendship. But that's just my take. I try to do the same in return. I'd never ask my significant other to buy me something that I foresee having problems with... I try to avoid suggesting gifts that I expect to curse at (or throw away) within 5 years. Ideally, they last a lifetime, unless it's something like a good bottle of scotch.

 

[tfreer85]

OK, I think you need to really sit down and think about the DIY types of jobs you are really expecting to do before even thinking about what to spend any money on, or where.

A chop saw is handy, but only for chopping - 2x4's and the like.

Why do you need the air compressor? For the paint gun you don't have? What do you plan on painting? cars? or household furniture, or rooms in your house?

Those mini drill presses can be handy, but again what are you going to be drilling? 1/4 HP wont do much.

I'm not trying to dissuade you from buying tools, but you really need to lay out some project goals and think this through first. Once you have that, you can start pining down what you really need in the way of tools.

All of you have provided more feedback than I would have thought. I'm going to answer these questions as they seem to sum up everyones (generalized questions). The air compressor and gun are for painting shop cabinets, walls, furniture, and small car / motorcycle pieces.

I'll list my top projects that I'm wanting to complete this year in order of priority:

Garage Clean Up (re-do)
Shop workbench (as modular as possible)
Custom Above workbench cabinets
Closet storage system
Small paint and body-work projects
Detached Large Shed / Small garage

I'm sure there will be other tools popping up to be acquired but right now this seems like it will get me started in the right direction.

 

[Mowerpan]

Cordless Drill 18 Volt: $130
Basic Circular Saw: $75
Oiled 120volt Air Compressor: $379
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tools/...le-20-gallon-cast-iron-air-compressor-3301586

That will be slightly over budget but a perfect start up set up. The compressor will do almost anything you need to do. For the projects you are planning on especially at first will easily be done with a 18 volt cordless drill and a circular saw and you will use those the most.

 

[crewchief888]

just my $0.02 but here goes.

for 'round the house DIY stuff,
circular saw
corded 1/2" hammer drill
mitre box and hand saw
rotozip or some dremel type tool
carpenters square / drywall square

maybe a pancake compressor/nailer combo

garage type stuff

all depends on what you're gonna be doing,
"just" oil changes/tire rotations, or fabbing cages, bumpers ,ect?
could be as simple as a drain pan and filter wrench, or chopsaw, tubing notcher, grinders, torches, welder, plasma?

my last 2 purchases were for 'round the house DIY, compressor/nailer, wife bought me a table saw for my b-day.

most of my garage stuff gets purchased as needed for whatever project is going on at the time. the cost of "tooling up" gets figured into the budget for the project.
kinda puts a damper on the overall project sometimes.

i'd be keeping an eyeout on the black friday sales, you may be able to really stretch your gift dollars

 

[Bdawg750]

Buy what u need not what u want. If u will use it, then buy it. I have same compressor at home, bought as backup to my big tank craftmen one i have and to use it in my enclosed trailer. It wont power air tools long n its loud. I got mgr/buddy deal n paid like $80 for mine few yrs ago. So might b worth trip to HF n ask if they have demo or one they can sell for less. And if ur not member of there onetrack club, pay $30 and join. Itll bring u alot of savings

 

[Outlawmws]

Alright, that gives a better idea of your planned projects. For those I'll list what I would do, prioritized, and you can let us know what you have already.

A good Skill or circular saw. (I prefer the Skilsaw, but that's me)

Oops, accidentally posted early!

Saw accessories:
o A straight edge you can clamp to sheet stock and cut a long very straight cut
o a triangle square for using as a guide for cutting 2X 4's and bigger

A good screw gun

You have 2 different classes of painting projects: wood, and metal. I doubt you will get house/wood type paint through a standard automotive paint sprayer. if you have a lot of wood to paint and not much metal, get a Wagnar class airless for the wood/house jobs, and use rattle cans for the small metal projects. used right and with proper prep, you can get very good results with rattle cans.

If you do more metal and need a sprayer, if the jobs are small get a larger touch up gun, and a compressor that can keep up with the smaller jobs.

For the shop work bench think about one of the bigger B&D Work mates as a "tool stand" so you can mount tools to a wood base, and clamp it to the top of the work mate. I have 3 bench grinders, an arbor press, a (Hand) miter box, a mitering shaver, and other tools all mounted on plates and only get them out and "mounted" to the workmate when needed. this is about as modular as it gets.


Go through that list and see where you are. I didn't get to the Drill Press as I didn't see where in your projects you needed one now.

 

[camarotoolman]

Hint,if you go to estate, fleemarket, yardsales, etc. You got to go early, with a flash light. I've made a good living for twenty years doing it so I know. 1st. hand tools hammer, tape measure, pliers cresent wrench, pipe wrench, screw drivers, vise grips, channellocks, suares, calk line, etc. Don't buy cheap junk but you don't need Snap on eighter. Next Sae and metric wrench and socket sets. Electric drill and bit set, 7-1/4" power saw. Buy as you need stuff. Each project will take something different. Feebay has some good deals on tools, craigs is ok if if not far away.

 

[BQuicksilver]

I'll stand by my earlier post. Avoid the estate/yard sale stuff unless you really know what you're looking for and want to spend the time to become educated on old tool brands, what still holds value, what is obsolete, etc.

Miter Saw covers 2x4's, trim work, and most basic cutting.

Since the shed is detached i'd rec a cordless drill rather than corded.

Table saw is a must for cabinet work.

Shop vac should be added to the list.

Save the compressor/paint gun $$ and just roll the cabinets. Car/bike painting really should be done outside the $500 budget.

 

[Outlawmws]

I'll stand by my earlier post. Avoid the estate/yard sale stuff unless you really know what you're looking for and want to spend the time to become educated on old tool brands, what still holds value, what is obsolete, etc.

Miter Saw covers 2x4's, trim work, and most basic cutting.

Since the shed is detached i'd rec a cordless drill rather than corded.

Table saw is a must for cabinet work.

Shop vac should be added to the list.

Save the compressor/paint gun $$ and just roll the cabinets. Car/bike painting really should be done outside the $500 budget.

For hardwood/finished cabinets I'd have to agree, however for garage cabinets (Painted), you can use dimension softwood lumber for face frames and get by without one.

 

[ishiboo]

Check out Craigs list / Ebay / Kijiji for some great bargains before buying new. Often you can get barley used for great discounts.

Agreed.

I have a couple year old Pro-Tech 10" miter saw which is GREAT for the money. I've replaced it with a new Bosch 12" slider now, but whenever I have to cut framing material or anything, I grab the Pro-Tech. You can find them in great shape on Craigslist for $40-90.

 

[BQuicksilver]

I agree outlaw. It does depend on the quality of cabinets he wants to build.

 

[tfreer85]

Quality of cabinets would be moderate. Nothing really fancy. Thanks everyone for the feedback. Definitely going to change things up and re-evaluate the tool set.

 

[Coach James]

Fine Woodworking recently did a review of a bunch of miter saws. They rated the one from HF by far the worst, much lower even than the C-man, Ryobi and Kobalt. One of their criticisms was its lack of accuracy and tendency to not stay locked in place. To me, an inaccurate miter saw is of no value.

Before I spent $100 on the HF miter saw, I would spend the $100, or a little more, on a top quality circular saw and a good thin kerf blade. With a speed square or a cutting guide, it will do a better job than a cheap miter saw.

The first two power tools I would get are a circular saw and a 0.5 " cordless drill.

Next would be an 18 gauge brad nailer and a small compressor..2 to 6 gallons.

A 0.5" router with fixed and plunge bases would be next.

After that a jigsaw.

Coach

 

[tfreer85]

Okay so power tools I do have, forgot some of them in my move and garage fill up of ****. Found most of them this weekend in the partial cleanup http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=124145

Router and Bit set (new never used)
Dremel Tool
Cheapy Corded Power Drill from HF
Kawasaki Cordless kit (Circular saw, sawsal, light, and power drill [broken]) Don't like using the saws full time as about 4 boards in the battery dies.
2 x Variable Speed Polishers
Ryobi Grinder

 

[diesel research]

power drill [broken]) Don't like using the saws full time as about 4 boards in the battery dies.

Like I said, time to start a tool investment fund, more concentration on quality less instant quantity....

 

[tfreer85]

Like I said, time to start a tool investment fund, more concentration on quality less instant quantity....

These "were" rated to be top quality from consumer reports and a gift. Everything else works great, the drill however does not. I'm going to settle for "less" and go for "better" quality though.

 

[slopecarver]

I would got a less power route, Ask for some NIIICE hand tools, and maybe a quality corded drill and quality corded skill saw.

Hand tools would be crosscut saw, hand planer, clamps, sawhorses, workbench, vise(better to get a hefty used one of these though).

I would highly advocate going with used cast iron tools. I have a Delta 10" cast iron table saw, Delta DP220 which is an 11" 1/3 hp drill press and an Atlas 12" Band Saw. Those 3 are WAAAY overbuilt and I have less than $300 in them. They did require a bit of cleanup and work to make them comparable to $1000 worth of new equivalent quality tools. A nice compressor would be one of those things that will stay with you, 60 gallon oiled upright compressor. Ask for the money as a personal discretion fund and be patient, watch Craigslist every morning like a hawk and you will get some nice equipment. I installed craigslist helper on my firefox browser which gives me the ability to search by radius and view images + hover for descriptions.

Do not buy power-tools from HF, they are generally made of the poorest quality materials. The only powertool anybody would suggest from HF is the 4" angle grinder, they are considered disposable and you can have multiple of them with different discs installed for cheap.