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Finishing Basement - What Must Have Tools?

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hard12catch33

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 27, 2012
Messages
95
Location
SE Michigan
Starting to finish my basement, I'm just wondering what must have tools I need or should at least look into to make my life easier?
 
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PureLeaf

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Jul 25, 2014
Messages
1,417
Because Ryan won't let user's control their own posts for editing, deleting, etc
 
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FlushingDIYer

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Joined
May 13, 2016
Messages
342
Location
Queens, NYC
- Drywall square.
- 1/4" impact driver
- dozen or so drywall bits
- a mask for when you acid up the concrete
- Thoroseal/Hydroban (coarse rollers to apply that stuff)
- powder activated gun for securing 2x4 to the floor
- bx or romex galore so you can add outlets, fixtures, sconces to your heart's desire
 
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Notgrownup

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Joined
May 5, 2014
Messages
5,912
Location
Snow Hill NC
Compound miter saw, table saw, drill and bits, jigsaw, reciprocating saw, nailer, compressor, electrical tester, wire cutter/ stripper. Flood lighting. Ladder or mini scaffolding. Run all you cables for surround, phones, cable or internet...
 
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s14kev

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 12, 2008
Messages
245
Oh boy. I just went through this. I'll list what I have accumulated for a similar job (including tiling laundry floor). Miter saw, circular saw, jigsaw, power planer, belt sander, oscillating multi-tool, cordless drill, right angle drill, reciprocating saw, laminate router (for hinges and locksets), drill bits, screwdriver bits, wrecking bar, prybars, twin stack air compressor, wood chisels, finishing nailer, brad nailer, palm nailer, wet tile saw, notched trowels, thinset mixer, grout float, drywall trowels, utility knife, drywall square, taping knives, putty knife, drywall corner tool (yes I used one- not a pro), drywall sander, pole sander, drywall circle cutter, drywall jab saw, paintbrushes, paint roller and tray, copper tubing cutter, mapp torch, internal pvc pipe saw, reed pvc fitting reamers for 1.5", 2" and 3", pipe reamer, 4ft and 8ft level, laser level, hole saws for joists to run pipe and cable, assorted pliers (knipex plier wrench especially!), wire stripper, wire fish, stud finder, floor scraper, hammer, tape measure, carpenters square, sawhorses, tile nibbler, diamond file, caulking gun, caulk finishing tool, ladder, gorilla work platform.

Most important tool you will need however is patience. Lots of it..
 
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LXCam

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Apr 23, 2013
Messages
19,140
Location
AZ
Oh, oh, oh. A broom, you'll certainly need a broom - yessssiry.
 
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jeeper46

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Dec 6, 2016
Messages
479
Location
Canton, Mi
By the time you are done, you will have everything s14kev mentioned, and probably more. You don't need to go out and buy all of them at once, but you WILL need everything he mentioned sooner or later
 
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gdocktor3

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Apr 18, 2015
Messages
5,419
Location
Connecticut
I'd say you need to hire a good contractor. If you're planning on doing all that and asking what tools you need, well... Put it this way, you'll need A LOT of tools.
 
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hard12catch33

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 27, 2012
Messages
95
Location
SE Michigan
Out of all the tools listed by everyone so far... I'm not that far off, just a few convenience items that I'm not entirely sure if its a "need" or want.
 
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jd_1138

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May 8, 2013
Messages
17,051
Location
NE Ohio
jeeper46 said:
By the time you are done, you will have everything s14kev mentioned, and probably more. You don't need to go out and buy all of them at once, but you WILL need everything he mentioned sooner or later
Click to expand...

Good news is that even after buying all those tools and the materials, he'll still be probably 1/5th what a contractor would charge. And he'll have the tools for future use.

That's why a professional carpenter has a van full of tools or a truck with 3 toolboxes of tools. Stopping and going to HD for a tool every 40 minutes is inefficient.
 
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LXCam

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Apr 23, 2013
Messages
19,140
Location
AZ
jd_1138 said:
Yep, Purdy or Wooster brushes are awesome and definitely worth their price. They make a 3 pack for $20 I think. USA made.
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I'm not a painter but I sure luv my purdy's. Hell even the wife knows when I try to pull a fast one on her and hand her a cheapy instead. Bare in mind her methodology of construction work is to point and complain other then occasional help with painting tasks. :rant:
 
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winlinmac

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Aug 17, 2015
Messages
3,769
Location
USA
Must Have Tool -- a car, you'll be making lots of round trips between all the Home Improvement Stores in your area. ;)
 
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Brian_WK

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Jun 30, 2015
Messages
1,177
Location
NE South Dakota
I think he's looking for the tools that you didn't get until halfway through the job then got and was like wtf didn't I get this earlier. Mine was quick dry sheetrock mud and finish mud. 2 coats in a day with very minimal touch ups.
2 laser lines you find uses for them for everything. Boschs digital laser measuring device (I hate running a tape measure solo) Google SketchUp for laying out your everything, wire, hvac, plumbing, furniture, speakers and TV lay out.

Brian
 
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jhnlngn

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Joined
Aug 4, 2015
Messages
126
When I did mine I hired out the drywall finishing. It's such a crappy, messy job that I felt it was money well spent.
 
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kctyphoon

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Jun 9, 2014
Messages
9,102
Location
Jersey/Staten Island
I can do taping - but not quickly... I replaced 80 boards worth of drywall in my house, including vaulting the ceiling in my living room to 11' high.. local placed charged me $1100 to do 3 coats on all of it, even came back twice to fix a few things here and there.. it was money well spent in my book.
 
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jhnlngn

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Joined
Aug 4, 2015
Messages
126
kctyphoon said:
I can do taping - but not quickly... I replaced 80 boards worth of drywall in my house, including vaulting the ceiling in my living room to 11' high.. local placed charged me $1100 to do 3 coats on all of it, even came back twice to fix a few things here and there.. it was money well spent in my book.
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I hear ya! It's not rocket science and most people can do it all, but it's a crappy job. The pros are just so must faster and better at doing it. Plus they can do things like the crowfoot texture ceiling that I don't care to learn how to do. lol My guys even primed it cheaply.
 
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IndyGarage

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Apr 29, 2010
Messages
9,702
Location
Indy
I did one a long time ago before I had many tools - or much knowledge on how to do it.

I used a non compound non sliding miter saw to cut all the lumber and trim. I think I bought a powder nail gun - the cheap hammer kind. I nailed framing together with a hammer and nails. I had a small level a good tape measure and a chalk line to keep things straight.

I used a cordless drill and screws to attach framing to the existing frame. Cheap torch and some copper tools for the plumbing. Basic hand tools for the electrical work. I hired someone to do the drywall, because I didn't think I could get it to look good. Lots of painting. Had the carpet installed.

Framed up a bedroom, bathroom hall, utility room, family room and workshop did the plumbing and finish carpentry with basic tools.

It seemed to take me forever to do it, but it turned out really nice.
 
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Speed-Racer

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Aug 25, 2008
Messages
731
A level would be on the top of my list, 4 foot and a smaller size one. Fein oscillating tool or other quality brand, you will be amazed how much time and effort this tool will save. Without hearing more about the project, no idea what other tools will be needed.
 
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