Starting A Tool Collection from Square One

[jn50308401]

I have been doing this to for about 8 months now.A good cordless drill and bits for all the honey do projects like curtains and blinds, picture's etc.. a tape measure and level too.

Some cheap screw drivers for abuse. I bought some Harbor Freight driver that have been used as punches, scrapers, chisels,paint mixers.

A good set of screw drivers for ah.. driving screws you don't want to mangle. Your choice on that, Williams, Craftsman Pro if your Sears has them in stock.

A few hammers, ball peen, claw and shot filled. Sometimes stuff needs a good whack!

Channel locks and vice grips for plumbing, stuck screws etc..

If you're messing with household electrical, some way to tell the power to a circuit is off, like a multi meter or on of those circuit power detector pens.


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[over40pirate]

Forgot to ad, if I was buying my first cordless drill, it would be a Rigid, with lifetime free repairs and batteries.

 

[ibedayank]

Forgot to ad, if I was buying my first cordless drill, it would be a Rigid, with lifetime free repairs and batteries.

better read warranty card very carefully

 

[peteco]

Yes read the Ridgid warranty info and make sure you understand how to properly register your tools. I have been buying Ridgid cordless tools for the last 11 years because I got tired of the Craftsman batteries dieing and the replacements were too expensive. I think this is true of the other brands as well, except possibly for Ryobi. I have replaced a few Ridgid batteries over the years for free. A few hoops to jump through but no major problems. Had the trigger on a 7 year old Impact driver replaced. Again, no problem. So that's what I suggest for your power tools.

 

[Jim C.]

The advise I got from my dad and my uncle 30+ years ago was pretty simple.

1. Buy what you need when you need it.
2. Buy the best quality tool you can afford at the time.
3. Use the RIGHT tool for the job at hand. (see #1.)
4. Take care of your tools and treat them like a valued investment. (see #2.)
5. Be VERY selective and careful about loaning out tools to anyone.

In terms of acquiring tools.....these have worked for me over the years:

1. Birthdays, Xmas, Father's Day.....these "gift days" are great for getting the basics. Think gift cards, or if someone asks you, tell them what's on your wish list.
2. Everyone I know pretty much knows I'm a DIYer and interested in tools. I can't tell you how many co-workers, neighbors, extended family members, etc. have given me old tools and machines that once belonged to their deceased dad, grandfather, uncle..... All free and there's almost always a real gem in the lot.
3. eBay occasionally. Tons of great tools on the used tool market and some good deals to be had on the basics.
4. Every now and then I'll buy something new if I need it or want it NOW....still after 30+ years of acquiring tools, there's not too many I need NOW. Building a complete set of tools takes years, maybe decades. It won't happen over night.... And it doesn't need to. I think if you follow the guideline above, you should be okay. Check back in about 20 years and let us know how you did.

Jim C.

 

[psufan32]

The advise I got from my dad and my uncle 30+ years ago was pretty simple.

1. Buy what you need when you need it.
2. Buy the best quality tool you can afford at the time.
3. Use the RIGHT tool for the job at hand. (see #1.)
4. Take care of your tools and treat them like a valued investment. (see #2.)

I would follow this. Over the last year, I've been replacing the cheaper stuff that my father would inevitably buy for me every Christmas.

My collection is still small, but it suits my needs doing little stuff around the house. I've upgraded screwdrivers (Klein), precision screwdrivers (Wiha), pliers (Knipex), hammer (Estwing), vise grips (Petersen DeWitts off of Ebay), tape measure (Stanley), multi-bit hex driver (Milwaukee), drill (Dewalt) and some other odds and ends. Still a long way to go, but I tend to buy when I realize that I need something. Thinking of picking up a set of SK sockets next. I'd rather spend the (in most cases) little extra and get something of "lifetime" quality than just grab what's on the shelf at Home Depot or Lowes.

PS - a whole lot of knowledge to be gained reading this board.

 

[winlinmac]

Jim C. has given the best genuine advice possible

Invest in the best and forget the rest. I wouldn't follow the Snap On trend. Avoid the truck tool brands if possible. Owning one or two tools from the tool truck company is okay, and if you're not making a living from this on a day to day basis, better options are available. Don't go through all the hype. There are companies such as SK, Wright, Proto, Armstrong --- here to stay. And if you need convenience as far as warranty is concerned, Taiwan--Tekton and Harbor Freight (sockets and ratchets only) are options as well.

 

[bczygan]

You say you are overwhelmed by all the options. That is a great thing. It means you have lots of choices. It also means you need to do some work to narrow them down to make choices that are correct for you.

You didn't say what kinds of uses you have, but you mentioned a house. That means the first tools you will need will be standard maintenance and repair tools for that. Carpentry, electrical, painting, plumbing yard care tools etc. Do you intend to do minor car maintenance? Do you have any hobbies? I see you spent $100 on a bench vise. Was the the highest and best use of that $100? Was that the highest priority tool for you?

What tools do you already own?

Make lists.

Would you go grocery shopping without a shopping list?

Would you buy a house without knowing exactly what yo were looking for?

Sit down and make a list of the uses you anticipate having.

Then make a list of the needed tools for each of these uses.

Be very specific.

Prioritize the list.

Monitize the list (Affix values to each item.)

Carry the list on your person at all times.

Be on the lookout for things on the list.

Research each tool type.

Some Harbor Freight items are the best price/performance ratio and some are not.

Buy items with appropriate performance/quality level to price point ratio for each task.

Go on from there.

Plan your work and work your plan.

Bill