My $.02 on the matter is start simple and work your way up depending on your needs.
My tool collection started off with a set of 18V cordless looks (drill, circular saw, and reciprocating saw). Naturally I started needing more batteries and bits. I probably had at least one or two of the "homeowners" or "mechanic" multi-piece kits that I got as gifts or purchased because the price was right, etc.
I follow a few rules and it serves me pretty well:
1. Buy it when you need it. Don't spend $1,000 on tools to find out you don't need some of them and are missing others. Buy what you need when you need it.
2. Weigh the costs vs benefits of buying a new tool. Great example... I had a garden hose faucet in my laundry room rust. I ended up buying a torch, flux, brushes, pipe cutter, etc. Probably about $50 in all. But just to get a plumber out to give an assessment would have been about $100 probably. So I saved myself at least $50 if not a couple hundred by buying the tools and doing it myself.
On the flip side, I don't have a tire balancer. Why? Because Discount Tire offers free rotation, the install is cheap, I don't have the space to spare for a tire machine, and I wouldn't use it enough to justify the cost. Now if you have a fleet of vehicles you support that purchase might be worth it to you.
3. Tool quality. If I think I'm only going to use a tool once or twice I'll look at Harbor Freight or Northern Tools first. If the tool survives 1 use it pays for itself in the savings of paying someone else to do the work.
If I use the tool enough to break it or wear it out... I buy the best version of that tool I can afford.
Tho, I have to say Husky (Home Depot) tools are rapidly replacing HF and NT as a preference for cheap tools. Tho the other two have some specialty items (especially automotive tools) that Husky doesn't offer.
My tool collection started off with a set of 18V cordless looks (drill, circular saw, and reciprocating saw). Naturally I started needing more batteries and bits. I probably had at least one or two of the "homeowners" or "mechanic" multi-piece kits that I got as gifts or purchased because the price was right, etc.
I follow a few rules and it serves me pretty well:
1. Buy it when you need it. Don't spend $1,000 on tools to find out you don't need some of them and are missing others. Buy what you need when you need it.
2. Weigh the costs vs benefits of buying a new tool. Great example... I had a garden hose faucet in my laundry room rust. I ended up buying a torch, flux, brushes, pipe cutter, etc. Probably about $50 in all. But just to get a plumber out to give an assessment would have been about $100 probably. So I saved myself at least $50 if not a couple hundred by buying the tools and doing it myself.
On the flip side, I don't have a tire balancer. Why? Because Discount Tire offers free rotation, the install is cheap, I don't have the space to spare for a tire machine, and I wouldn't use it enough to justify the cost. Now if you have a fleet of vehicles you support that purchase might be worth it to you.
3. Tool quality. If I think I'm only going to use a tool once or twice I'll look at Harbor Freight or Northern Tools first. If the tool survives 1 use it pays for itself in the savings of paying someone else to do the work.
If I use the tool enough to break it or wear it out... I buy the best version of that tool I can afford.
Tho, I have to say Husky (Home Depot) tools are rapidly replacing HF and NT as a preference for cheap tools. Tho the other two have some specialty items (especially automotive tools) that Husky doesn't offer.
