Garage Essentials for a Newbie Millennial

[Parallelism]

Good evening guys,

A brief background about me (very brief). I used to be a video gamer, I recently started trying that whole real life thing and got an amazing girlfriend, a 5 month old baby and we just bought a house. During my upbringing, my father literally never taught me a thing about garage stuff, tools, mechanical stuff, nothing.

So, I'm about ~30 days away from moving into our new house. It has a 2 car garage, empty wood cabinets and a lot of free space (well, a decent amount, I'm sure it's not large compared to what some of y'all are working with).

My questions:
-Any good books about learning about garage type stuff?
-Any good newbie projects I can do? We need to redo the trim in the interior of the house, and I have no experience, but I figure I should be able to learn.
-Essentials for my new garage? I only own a shovel and 1 tree cutting tool (the one that looks like large scissors but a little beak of a blade).

Projects I'm going to do ASAP:
-Mason Bee Hives, should be easy
-Garden Beds, should be easy
-Interior Trim, going to be hard

With all of that being said, I'm excited to read some posts.

PS- My motorcycle will be parked in the garage, so I'll need 2 designated motorcycle spots

 

[Muzzy]

You'll be fine.

Don't rush into buying tools, but acquire as you need them.
Experience is good, don't get frustrated when a project doesn't go as planned.

Visit your local library, they'll have a whole section on home improvement and gardening type stuff.

 

[rwilner]

Start small and learn as you go.

I went from changing oil to rebuilding a Porsche transaxle in my garage.

Don't be afraid to try stuff...it's OK if you make it worse before you make it better (that's typical). Plenty of support on this and other forums. YouTube is your friend. Scour Craig's list for tools, and find your local used tool shop...find out when he comes back with a fresh haul and be there went he does. (It's Tuesday morning for me.). Buy a pickup truck, you'll need it...an early 2000s Tacoma is bullet proof and easy to work on. Make sure to use the right tool for the job...it is the difference between a successful, enjoyable job and a horror show that ends in bleeding and sadness. Buy good safety glasses and actually wear them. Buy the best circular saw, bench vise, and drop forged hammer you can and learn to use them, they will serve you your whole life. However long you think the project will take...double it. Believe an experienced contractor or tradesperson instead of the internet. If you get in over your head, being in a pro and learn from them. If you don't get in over your head, you're not learning anything.

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[Keep]

Buy a new decent cordless 18v drill combo kit. Bosch, Portal Cable etc.

Buy everything else through kijiji, craigslist, the classifieds here.

 

[xyster101]

+1 to a decent lithium ion drill kit. I would spend the money and get a drill with An impact gun too. A good circular saw with a sharp blade can do almost any cut. If you plan on doing a lot of trim buy a hand miter saw and box. A real electric miter saw is faster but more. Harbor freight has decent stuff but always read the reviews.
Watch lots of YouTube. Get a comfortable tool belt. Organize your stuff in a small cheap tool box to start. MAke a decent workbench as a first project with a vise on the end. Bolt the bench to a wall in the garage and put a big power strip on the front with light above it.
Have fun and take your time. Craigslist and yard sales rock for old tools without motors. Just be careful buying old power tools. Even if they work, new tools have quick change holders and lights that make them awesome to use.


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[kwb]

For the projects listed -

I would get a 12" Sliding Compound Miter Saw and a Pancake Compressor with finish nailer. Look on CL for these but have a knowledgeable buddy go along.

Add in a Drill/Impact Combo kit (I am partial to Makita) and a blow molded tool kit (Cresent is decent) and you can do a lot of home improvement projects.

As a complete neophyte measure for materials in your plan and double it. When you get good your estimate +15% will be more typical. Triple your time estimate or you will be pissed at the quality you leave yourself with.

Before you start in on trim carpentry - buy some cheap MDF and practice making miter & coped joints on slightly out of square corners.

At some point you will want/need a framing saw but that can wait. The miter saw will prove more versatile.

Go slow, know where the blade/bit/screw/nail is going to go before you pull the trigger. Make sure your fleshy bits aren't in that space.

Material is cheap (usually) don't spend too much time trying to salvage a bad cut.

 

[racinfarmer]

So the first essentials:

Beer fridge (I'm talking Bud, Coors, Miller, etc. None of this hipster microbrew stuff)

Manly shyt to hang on the walls

Next up:

Work bench

Toolbox

You'll figure out the rest as you go.

 

[kjdhawkhill]

Pack-and-play for the infant, and ear protection for self and infant. You want to get stuff done in the garage? That involves power tools, and keeping momentum going, you gotta have the kid in the garage at some point.

Everything else, buy as you need for each project. Cordless tools are nice, but corded tools usually save a buck for the same or better performance, and if you don't mind reeling cords, you won't have to remember to charge a battery.

 

[atch]

ok; this isn't your answer but might be helpful to read. However, stay with me 'til the end.

As a newlywed I lived in a small mobile home with no outbuildings or garage. I dedicated one dresser in the spare bedroom for tools. Of course it was empty to begin with.

I'm now 65 years old. I have a 30x60 shop with woodworking, hot rod, motorcycle, and fabrication tools. It's so crowded I'm trying desperately to get better organized. I also have a one car garage that's stuffed with tools and supplies. I have 3 trucks, 2 cars, and 3 trailers that all get stored outside. Only motorcycles and motorized yard tools get dry storage.

The point here is that no matter what you start with eventually you'll end up with more stuff than you can remember.

A lot of my tools were not purchased when I needed them but as I had the money or they were on sale or whatever.

Looking at your list of immediate projects I'd suggest you consider buying:

a power miter box ($175)
an air powered brad nailer ($100)
a pancake compressor ($125)

Prices may vary from one part of the country to another, but I've shown a middle of the road price for the mid-west. These 3 items will make your trim work MUCH easier and the results will be significantly better than using a hand saw miter box with a hammer and nails.

Note: you can go to Harbor Freight or similar and buy these tools for much less and for beginning you would probably be happy with them. As you grow into more and more projects you will probably move up to better equipment, though. If you can afford it I'd suggest buying quality tools right off and they will probably last you for a lifetime. Cheap tools can and probably will get you by for a while but when you upgrade you've now paid twice.

And reread what kwb wrote.

 

[southalabama]

Some wise posts.

The drill/driver combo will be the tool most used in a variety of projects. I'm partial to Dewalt. I seldom use a hammer anymore except to beat something in to compliance. Once you use an impact driver you will love it. Lots easier to drive screws than a drill. A drill is for making holes.

Go slow and make wise tool purchases. This is where garagejournal can be your friend. Research whatever tool you are looking to purchase or to find deals.

The porter cable pancake compressed combo with nail guns will cover most of your needs from framing to trim.

 

[AgentZ]

Would Black and decker how to books be a good suggestion for this newbie? I reckon read read read as well as tools. I find real books much nicer to get the general how to and then move to the internet and youtube for more info!

 

[MovingAlong]

I recently started trying that whole real life thing and got an amazing girlfriend, a 5 month old baby and we just bought a house.

We need to redo the trim in the interior of the house, and I have no experience, but I figure I should be able to learn.

-Interior Trim, going to be hard

With all of that being said, I'm excited to read some posts.

PS- My motorcycle will be parked in the garage, so I'll need 2 designated motorcycle spots

First - interior trim is not too hard. Bought my first house when I was 20 yrs old. Remodeled half of it and trimmed everything out with a 30 yr older version of this. Used a nail set and a hammer. Worked out just fine and "learned" a few things along the way. Don't miss out on the opportunity to learn.

Definitely seek out the B&D books, they're great. Like this one on Trim Carpentry...

Second - ditch the motorcycle for now. You brought a kid into the world, it's not about you anymore. Once they are raised well enough to care for themselves, get another bike and enjoy the ride.

Welcome to "that whole real life thing".

 

[Koje]

Good advice already, the best two being do not buy anything unless you need it and the other is it's ok to make mistakes.
YOU WILL MAKE MISTAKES! We all do. That's how you learn.

My no.1 advice would be to always wear the correct protective equipment. I work in heavy engineering where safety is the number one priority (and i have seen some horrific videos) and i always make sure i have safety glasses on when doing anything. Good tactile DIY gloves are also a must in my opinion. Trust me it is better to look silly wearing this stuff than it is to lose an eye. Being a beginner you are likely to bash fingers and slip with tools etc so take it easy and put the gear on.

Forums like this and of course you tube are your friend for any task.

 

[maxpower_hd]

he trim isn't really too hard. There are plenty of books at the library, there is You Tube and Google as well. All kinds of information out there for free these days compared to when I bought my house.

For household projects you will need in my opinion some basic hand tools. Like a hammer, a good sharp chisel, screw drivers, coping saw, flat pry bar, nail set, etc. You will also want some basic power tools as well.

A finish nail gun is very nice to have and makes things easier but you can get buy without one if you are on a strict budget. A drill is a must, an impact driver is very handy but not a must early on, a miter saw is very handy as well. You can get by without one but it makes life a LOT easier. A basic circular saw is a must. A table saw will become necessary at some point but maybe not right away. It will depend on your projects.

Like already mentioned, just read and learn about the project at hand then buy what you need for that project first. I suggest buying the best tools you can afford. If you buy too cheap you will need to replace it at some point and sometimes they simply don't work as well. And remember, the only stupid questions are the ones that don't get asked.

And if you want a newbie project to get your feet wet you could build a simple picnic table or outdoor bench, maybe wooden planter boxes, something like that. Relatively simple projects that will get you using your new tools and learning how things work.

Good luck. And be safe.

 

[Butkusrules]

Lots of great advice. I would just add, buy the tools you need for each project as you do them. Your first project is trim. Buy the porter -cable trim compressor kit and buy a good brand sliding double bevel mitre saw. The compressor and trim guns will allow you to get trim down in a quarter of the time as compared to nailing/pre-drilling. Also Don't buy Harbor freight mitre saw, it's really inaccurate-get anything else Bosch, makita, dewalt, hitachi, rigid etc. You are lucky, holiday deals will save you cash. Most of all enjoy it, very few things more satisfying than working on your house.


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[bdbecker]

To reiterate what Koje said... get in the habit of wearing your PPE (personal protective equipment) from the start. Do yourself a favor and buy a few pairs of safety glasses you like to wear right away so they are always accessible. Taking safety a step further, you may also want to do some research on YouTube on safe and correct operation of the equipment you intend to use. Read the manuals of any power tools you buy so you can understand how they operate.

Another way to start getting familiar with tools is to look for classes or workshops in your local community. I know my town has some community workshops from time to time - one of them that I keep telling myself I want to try is the blacksmithing class. I know Home Depot puts on a lot of free seminars that teach things like installing tile or hanging windows. Even if you don't intend on installing tile in your bathroom, taking a class like that will give you experience in using measuring equipment, checking for square, and get you used to working with your hands.

 

[jives]

All good advice, but let me offer something a bit different.

1. Don't get a finish nail gun or compressor to run it. You will learn more from the start with a good hammer and nail set, and these will be much more versatile. I've built tons of things, from a small barn to furniture, and don't own a compressor or nail gun (yes, I've used them on some jobs).
2. A good hammer. Actually, get two. Small and large. Get an all-steel hammer (e.g., Estwing), because you will eventually use/misuse it to bang the **** out of stuff. The steel hammer will survive and you will pass it down to your kids.
3. From a power tool standpoint, and knowing what you may be doing, get, in order, a power miter box, cordless 14V or 18V combo drill/driver/reciprocating saw set, and last, a corded circular saw. The circular saw has cut off more fingers and damaged more limbs than just about any tool, so teach yourself how to use it.
4. As mentioned, you will buy tools as you need them, but you will need right from the start a good pliers set (standard, needle-nose), Channel-lock pliers, at least 2 slotted screwdrivers, 2 Phillips screwdrivers, 16' tape measure (go cheap, you will eventually lose it!), a combination square or speed square (look them up), and at least a 3' level. In the old days a good cross-cut handsaw was vital, but my go-to saw is now a Japanese 2-sided pull saw. Get one.

 

[JimRB]

If you shared where you live you might get some lessons from friendly folks. Watching videos is one thing but a teacher beside you can be most helpful. Hearing and eye protection are the two things to start with if you have any power tools.

 

[theoldwizard1]

First, you don't have to buy ALL name brand tools. In some cases it DOES make sense (battery and corded power tools). Many things, especially hand tools, Harbor Freight is adequate, especially for a newbie. Craftsman also has good sales this time of year.

Get a GOOD tape measure, 25'. Aluminum speed square and a couple of different levels. A plumb bob is still useful.

I have a different opinion on battery power tools. A newbie does need a decent drill, but you don't need the biggest and best. A 3/8" 12V Milwaukee non-Fuel (brushed, not brushless) hammer drill, or similar, will be adequate for many years. (Get a hammer drill. Someday you will want to drill concrete or brick and you will thank me.) Make sure it has lithium-ion batteries and that you have a spare for quick changes. It you are going to do construction that will require a lot of screws, buy a separate impact driver. They work much better that the single tool drill/driver.

If you do start getting into construction, the new 12V brushless circular saws are pretty amazing with a good carbide blade.

Get a set of screwdrivers. Grip comfort is key. If you can find a magnetic screwdriver with interchangeable hex drive tip, buy it, but this will only be for special situations.

Pliers. I can't believe how many I now own ! Standard 2 position, linesman, needle nose, arc joint, locking, etc. You are going to need them all sooner or later and probably in more than one size.

Wrenches and sockets. Eventually you will need these, but based on the projects you have mentioned, you can probably get by with a small, medium and large adjustable wrench and a 1/4" SAE (fractional inch) and Metric socket set.

If you think you are going to be working on cars, even just changing oil, get a full sized floor jack (HF 1.5 ton) and at least 2 jack stands (HF).

Hammering nails, especially for trim, is a skill that must be learned and practiced. Buy a small compressor and a brad nailer and a finish (2") nailer. Plus now you can add air to your tires and blow up kiddie pools !

 

[steveo1o9]

I am in a similar situation to you and just purchased my first home with an attached 2 car garage at 31 yo. Thankfully I grew up being taught how to do a variety of things but seldom needed to actually practice anything home repair related or had a full set of tools. It can be frustrating and overwhelming when you realize the amount of tools you need, or want, to complete certain projects. Like everyone else stated start small and buy as you need or find a killer deal on. Home projects can add up extremely fast so pace yourself and stay on budget. Luckily I have a few friends who are very handy and between them can get almost any tool I need, but I don't like to be "that guy", especially long term. So don't be afraid to borrow what you need at the moment, then buy when you have the cash or find a good deal. Just be sure to return everything you borrow in a reasonable time, no body likes the friend who never returns things.

 

[Bluedodge]

Welcome aboard Sir.
Post up your location in your profile.
I'm going to go against the grain and recommend corded tools as you start out. They will allow you to get through a project without stopping all the time to wait for batteries to re-charge. Plus you won't have to replace the stupid batteries every 3 or 4 years. You will always need money for your little one.
I still have my (all corded) original B&D drill, Craftsman pad sander, and Craftsman jigsaw from the early 80's when I was starting out. Can't begin to count how many cordless drills, sanders, recip saws, flashlights, etc I've thrown out over the years.
Buy tools as you need them and can afford them.
Store 'em all in one place - even if it's an old cardboard box or five gallon bucket to start. When you leave tools laying here there and everywhere, you'll lose 'em.
A mid-range ratchet set is a must. Ya don't need SnapOn, but ya don't want to buy trash either. You'll see lots of opinions here, but Craftsman, Husky, Kobalt, and Crescent all offer decent long-term bang for the buck.

oh yeah, the most important thing to remember - if you EVER have a question, ask. There's no such thing as a dumb question. Some of the guys here will rib you a little bit, but sooner or later you'll get some good advise.

 

[ilovevocs]

For anyone else in the future that digs up this thread Family Handyman has a plan set and step by step guide.

http://www.familyhandyman.com/roof/how-to-build-a-cupola/step-by-step

 

[Frank Dukes]

Second - ditch the motorcycle for now.

blasphemy.



as for the learning, you'll get there. take it project by project and do your research on each one in particular. the whole mess it up worse before it gets better thing is pretty darn accurate, just make sure it gets to the better part!

 

[rattle_snake]

1) Install some good lighting including a light over where your (future?) workbench will go. Doesn't have to be LED or even new.
2) Get a fire extinguisher before you actually need it
3) take an old laptop into the garage and use it for music and project research. The internet is your best tool for many projects.

 

[steveo1o9]

1) Install some good lighting including a light over where your (future?) workbench will go. Doesn't have to be LED or even new.
2) Get a fire extinguisher before you actually need it
3) take an old laptop into the garage and use it for music and project research. The internet is your best tool for many projects.

Yes this is a must! Even get a few and put them is separate locations. A friend of mine almost burned down his brand new house when a snowmobile he was working on caught fire in his garage. Luckily he noticed in time and was able to pull the sled out to burn up in his driveway. The only fire extinguisher he had was small and did not work.

 

[Teenager with old tools]

Put aside budget for tools buy as you need. That's what I'd say. Get a decent tool box now if you can afford.


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[diskreet]

Second - ditch the motorcycle for now. You brought a kid into the world, it's not about you anymore. Once they are raised well enough to care for themselves, get another bike and enjoy the ride.

I get why some people choose to do this, but there's no reason everyone should feel this way. Safety is dependent on many factors; rider skill, competence of drivers in the area, quality of road infrastructure, and so on. Humans are notoriously poor at assessing risk, but some self awareness and research will be enough for OP to decide on whether they continue to ride or not.

 

[AgentZ]

Also, gotta add do AS MUCH as you can before the little one arrives. My little man is 11 months old and I am SO FAR behind on my project list. You will be needed to help out with the baby and to keep quiet when the baby is sleeping and you will need to get some sleep yourself. You are in for a great ride but reduction in usable time.

 

[bimmer1980]

Get a subscription to Family Handyman and This Old House. You can also go to the library and get some of the back issues.

Just know that it will take 2-3 times as long as they project in any of the projects.

There will be hurdles.......

Start with some small projects...

The right tool makes many jobs easier, but you won't know that until you build up a little experience....

Read, watch, learn and then DO. Then as you make mistakes, figure out what the problem was and try again... Repeat.....

Also, just be aware of the safety requirements for each tool and be cautious....

 

[Homerr]

With a new (old) house you won't need to find projects, they'll find you.

Cordless tools are awesome.

Youtube videos can teach you just about any home repair or skills for other projects.

 

[rburke65]

Good books on garage type stuff...? This site right here in front of you is so full of info you won't need no stinking books! Hey, good luck and if ya don't know ask....there are NO dumb questions. Everyone of us has been in your shoes...we were all rookies at one time. We are here to help.

 

[firworks]

As you at least were a video gamer, might I suggest going on Steam and grabbing:
Car Mechanic Simulator 2015
My Summer Car

I have been playing the dang out of My Summer Car and I am... astounded how realistic it feels and what you could learn from playing that starting from zero knoweldge. I'll do things in there and make the exact same mistake I've made in real life working on stuff or be sitting on the ground, put a part on look around the ground for my tools and realize I left them on the roof of the car or on the trunk lid.

Car Mechanic Simulator 2015 will teach you the general process of a lot of common engine maintenence and suspension/brake repairs.

I don't know of any good simulators for learning home repairs so cars are still a good place to learn to do mechanical work. Motorcycles aren't terribly different as far as turning a wrench you just need a different guidebook.

As for actually buying tools, troll the Amazon Warehouse Deals thread. The deals are not what they used to be but there are still finds to be had in there I'm sure. Beyond that the hot deals section will probably have you overflowing with tools soon enough that you'll be looking for deals on boxes and places to store them all and then eventually griping that your workspace isn't large enough. It's the GJ disease.

 

[jd_1138]

I'd get some basic books about plumbing, carpentry, electrical, etc.. You can get them on ebay or at local thrift store for like $3. Handy to have on hand at home for reference. These Sunset You Can Build series books seem to be about the best.

As far as tools, I'd buy the basics at first -- screwdrivers, SAE and metric wrenches/sockets, pliers (needle nose, regular, channel lock, vise, lineman), mallet, regular hammer, 25" breaker bar, measuring tape, adjustable wrench, pipe wrench, level, combination square, chalk box/line, angle gauge. If budget allows, I'd get at least Tekton branded tools or similar or if you have more money maybe Williams, SK, etc.. You can get good deals on the classifieds here at GJ or on ebay/Epstein's, etc.. Or start with HF if money is tight, they have like 150 piece kits for like $70. Can always relegate it to a trunk kit in the future if you buy nicer tools.

A compound miter saw would be about $75 used on CL and would come in handy for that trim work and for cutting 2x4's/2x6's. Or you can a $10 miter box for the trim.

 

[jives]

I've rethought my position and agree with BlueDodge. Go for cordED tools. I've been paneling my garage and my 35 yr old B&D drill, 25 yr old Skilsaw, ?? old Craftsman jigsaw, and son's Porter Cable power planer have all been indispensable. My expensive Bosch cordless drill is busted and the batteries no longer hold much of a charge. More power, more reliability with the corded tools.

 

[Pathfinders]

Pack your lunch. Spend the saved money on tools. I have filled up a 2 car garage with tools and toolboxes in the last 20 years.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Buy tools as needed, and buy quality tools when you decide what you need.

Watch This Old House and Ask This Old House, and go back and watch older episodes that pertain to what projects you're doing. Lots of good tricks to learn, especially some of Tommy and Norm's tricks for working on old houses that aren't level or plumb.

Read Family Handyman magazine, and maybe browse through This Old House magazine. TOH mag has gotten away from actual work and focused more on decor and what not, but still some good tricks in the Q&A sections.

Listen to podcasts if you find any. I really like Fixit Home Improvement, and Crafted podcast. Crafted is more about building than home improvement, but they talk about tools. Fixit is geared more towards teaching beginners about products and projects, but always something for anyone to learn.

Don't be afraid to ask questions to any contractors or handymen you might know. You won't sound stupid, they were probably in your place at one point in their life.

Most importantly, don't get frustrated, and treat everything as an experience and knowledge gained. If you screw up something the first time and do it again, you can view it as money wasted, or money spent on knowledge to use in the future.

 

[gahrajmahal]

I buy a lot of my tools refurbished from CPO tools as refurbished. http://www.cpooutlets.com/reconditioned/reconditioned,default,sc.html?ref=googaw&gclid=CJTysvDmvdACFYU2gQodHoULFQ

I teach adult Ed carpentry classes and the sliding compound miter saw is complicated for new users to get the hang of. I usually lock out the sliding feature of the schools Dewalt saw so it is chop saw only. Everyone has success with this saw. It is also reasonably safe for new users requiring only a brief show and tell before they use them. The tool everyone has trouble with is the circular saw, so i say leave that purchase for later.

The Home Depot 123 books are very good and I recommend the one on trim. Order every book your library has on the subject you are interested in. Sometimes it just takes a different explanation to make it clear to you.

Leave plenty of time to do your jobs. Stop when it is not progressing smoothly. Remember to stop and eat lunch, get a drink etc. it allows you to reflect a while making progress more smooth and safe.

Good luck, and welcome to the board!

 

[owenst7]

Good evening guys,

A brief background about me (very brief). I used to be a video gamer, I recently started trying that whole real life thing and got an amazing girlfriend, a 5 month old baby and we just bought a house. During my upbringing, my father literally never taught me a thing about garage stuff, tools, mechanical stuff, nothing.

So, I'm about ~30 days away from moving into our new house. It has a 2 car garage, empty wood cabinets and a lot of free space (well, a decent amount, I'm sure it's not large compared to what some of y'all are working with).

My questions:
-Any good books about learning about garage type stuff?
-Any good newbie projects I can do? We need to redo the trim in the interior of the house, and I have no experience, but I figure I should be able to learn.
-Essentials for my new garage? I only own a shovel and 1 tree cutting tool (the one that looks like large scissors but a little beak of a blade).

Projects I'm going to do ASAP:
-Mason Bee Hives, should be easy
-Garden Beds, should be easy
-Interior Trim, going to be hard

With all of that being said, I'm excited to read some posts.

PS- My motorcycle will be parked in the garage, so I'll need 2 designated motorcycle spots

I'm technically a millennial also, but I was fortunate (maybe? haha) enough to be raised by a general contractor. I started doing roofing and framing around 14 and turned in to the fleet mechanic and fabricator somewhat because it was a break from packing shingles up a ladder.

I struggled in college because I don't have the attention span to learn from a book. I got involved in internet forums in high school and have since attributed a great deal of what I have learned to their accessibility and convenience to learn at your own pace. There's a forum out there specific to just about anything you can think of. I use this one as a jumping off point a lot of the time to narrow down what I want to research in greater detail. More specific forums can be a good place to find people local to you that can help you also. I got in to forums through off road vehicles. When I moved to Reno from Alaska, most of the people I trade tools and work with I met through the local 4x4 forum. I just removed all the popcorn from my ceiling and retextured/painted, which is something I'd never done and didn't really want to buy the sprayer to do, but I got to know a guy that needed help fixing his engine and did drywall for a living.

If you like to learn from a book, there's a ton out there where you can learn basic home maintenance and light construction. A friend gave me a Home Depot book on the subject that I glanced through and thought it was pretty decent. I've watched This Old House off and on since I was a kid and always felt they did a good job of teaching someone how to do thorough and correct work. The cable TV shows on house remodeling that my SO started watching when we bought our first house was garbage and reflected construction about as well as any reality TV show reflects reality.

I wouldn't recommend going out and buying any tools until you really need them. I think you're more likely to buy stuff you don't need until you develop more experience. Hell, I've worked in construction my whole life and build desert race vehicles as a hobby, and I just acquired my first pipe wrenches a year or so ago when my dad was moving cross-country and gave me all his tools. I use my Knipex pump pliers 99% of the time still. The pipe wrenches have been used more for adjusting steering and suspension links on rock crawlers than rotating pipes.

I do think you'd be smart to pick up a mechanics-style tool set like you see from a big box store, Craftsman, etc. I've got half a dozen or so that I've acquired over the years and they're always great to keep in a vehicle or something even though I don't use them in the garage anymore. I have a 200-some-odd piece mechanics Kobalt set that comes in a plastic cube with 3 drawers in it that I really like due to the complete set of 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" SAE and metric sockets it has. I personally like this set a lot because I drive old GM trucks, the SO drives a new Toyota, and 99% of my friends that I get conned in to helping have Jeeps. I end up using all three sizes of sockets equally and both metric and SAE equally. I personally think Craftsman ratchets are garbage and I give them away to friends and neighbors when I end up with them. I prefer Harbor Freight's Pittsburgh Pro line to most Craftsman/Kobalt/Husky stuff put out in the last few years. My local HF has excellent service with returns also. It really comes down to your personal preferences, and that's a big reason I'd suggest buying stuff as you need it since you don't have much experience to go off of.

Assuming you don't have any tools already, for your interior trim, a ~16 oz smooth face finish hammer will serve you well. I am partial to Estwing hammers. I'm still using the finish hammer than my dad gave me when I started roofing, and I've done a fair amount of demo work with it when I left my framing hammer or hatchet in the truck. Above all, get something that you like the balance and ergonomics of. You'll probably want a nail set (looks like a punch) also to set the nails on the trim. I'm a roofer/framer/foundation guy and hate doing interior work, so I'm not going to get too involved in that other than to discuss what I've used around my house for similar projects. Oh, I have a cheap hand miter saw that was like $10 from WalMart I believe that I was really glad to have. Made much nicer cuts than I'm able to do with my finishing circular saw (I use worm drives for framing and direct drives for fascia).

If you're going to do much with wood, I've seen about half a dozen variations of these tables around town at different stores. The one I have is pictured here with the clamps. If you don't have a good work surface, I use the hell out of mine. I even take it camping haha. I prefer to cut lumber in the driveway so I don't have to clean up sawdust.
http://www.keter.com/it/folding-work-table

Ryobi makes pretty good power tools if you want cordless stuff, especially if you're just doing homeowner stuff. I have corded and uncorded and use them all a ton. It's really personal preference unless you're using them to make money. My lithium Ryobi drill gets used a lot more than my DeWalt or Milwaukee stuff just because it's light weight and drilling a few screws in to some 2x4s is really not a lot of work for any modern drill.

With experience you will develop judgement for what tools need to be high quality and what don't, and it won't be the same for everyone. I've never needed good paint brushes or putty knives because I hate interior work and I'm colorblind so I avoid painting anything, but I have a few dozen hammers and most of them were around $50. I have Snap On screwdrivers in the tool chest that I use for mechanic work, but 99% of the time I use a free HF screwdriver to work on stuff in the house.

If you're going to do anything other than basic maintenance on your bikes, you'll probably be happier with at least a high quality low profile ratchet in 1/4" drive. I have an Armstrong locking flex that I use the hell out of for working on small engines like generators, ATVs, chainsaws, etc...but my 1/4" sockets are just HF Pittsburgh Pro lol.

 

[Parallelism]

Okay guys, a lot of great quality responses. Greatly appreciate them all. A few questions:

1) What brand of drill is the best? is 18V sufficient or should I go 20v? What are the rankings of name brand? What's are the top 3 and bottom 3 brands?

2) Y'all said some mentions of a power drill and an impact drill, what are the differences?

3) Is there a difference between a miter saw or table saw? My brother has a large saw that sits and it has a little laser to cut wood and it's pretty handy. It also does 45 degree cuts, is that a miter saw or a table saw? Is there a difference?

Thanks guys. I'll post some pics of the project my step daughter and I will be doing tomorrow (easy DIY mason beehives). Just really basic drilling and 45 degree cuts.

 

[matt_i]

I think it helps to find a mentor, even a peer who is something like a tradesperson who you can bounce ideas off.

Having bought some "low end tools" I always regretted it and replaced them with "professional tools", even if said tools are good, used.

You probably need some screwdrivers. I'm partial to Bahco, Wiha and Snapon, still have some Craftsmen.
You probably need some ratchets, sockets and wrenches. I have mostly Craftsman with a mix of Armstrong, Cornwell and Snapons acquired a little at a time.
In my opinion the best adjustable wrenches are Diamond, which are no longer made but can be found as they were a popular brand. Channellock's version which is made in Spain is also a nice brand.
Estwing has been mentioned as a good hammer. They make/made a 16oz trim hammer which can do a lot of stuff. There are 20 and 24oz framing hammers for bigger jobs. Various cats paws and thin/wide prybars are helpful for trim.
Channellock blue handled pliers are what I trust and own many different types.
Vise grips come in very handy.
I'm personally partial to Milwaukee, almost everything they make I'd like to own A drill and impact driver would be among my must-haves. Have used Dewalt in the past, prefer current Milwaukee. Once you have one tool, a battery and a charger, you can now buy a "bare tool" in the same lineup. Smaller 2 Ah batteries charge in about 20 minutes, easy to take a lunch break, etc and come back to a full battery until more funds are available.
I have put up a lot of trim using a Milwaukee non-slider miter saw. My technique is this for basic miters. Cut sample pieces at perfect 45 degree angles, my saw has detents. Working 1 piece at a time, see if the miters fit. If so, great, if not tweak the angle by 1-2 degrees. There's no penalty for cutting a piece long and then being able to slice off hair-width slices until the fit is perfect. Just takes more trips back to the saw. For taller profiles I made a lot of use of a bandsaw and a coarse double-cut round file to make the coped corners fit but a coping saw would also do well.

The list of tools is endless. I always justified the savings from doing a project myself as to be plowed into "professional tools" that I would not have to buy again, and could be used over and over for a multitude of other projects throughout my life.