Hi, been a homeowner for years but have just a few scattered tools- a hammer, some screwdrivers- think I have a basic cordless drill but can’t find it & think I’ll get a new one. I’d like to buy a set of basic tools that a homeowner should have for both house and yard maintenance. What would be a good starting list? Off top of my head, I’d like to get: cordless drill, chainsaw, hand saw- and where is good place to buy? Budget is kind of limited- thanks!
OT: Basic Tools
- Thread starter Conndog
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I'd caution against the chainsaw. Good way to lose a limb unless yoi know what you're doing. For most homeowners a reciprocating saw or one of those hooked pruning saws will get the job done.
If you want cheap, Harbor Freight is the place to go.
Cordless drill and battery
Drill and screw bits
Screwdriver set
Good scissors
Torpedo level
Utility knife
Hex keys
Set of a few wrenches/pliers
If you want cheap, Harbor Freight is the place to go.
Cordless drill and battery
Drill and screw bits
Screwdriver set
Good scissors
Torpedo level
Utility knife
Hex keys
Set of a few wrenches/pliers
storrsroars
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Harbor Freight is great for most hardware needs.
I'd avoid Black & Decker for anything cordless. Their batteries suck. Spend the extra $10 or $20 on Ryobi or Milwaukee or Stihl.
Chainsaws are another area where it pays to buy a good one. I've got a couple cheap ones as I mostly use for pruning and cutting fallen branches. Constantly have to adjust the chains as they slip - and that's when they get dangerous.
I'd avoid Black & Decker for anything cordless. Their batteries suck. Spend the extra $10 or $20 on Ryobi or Milwaukee or Stihl.
Chainsaws are another area where it pays to buy a good one. I've got a couple cheap ones as I mostly use for pruning and cutting fallen branches. Constantly have to adjust the chains as they slip - and that's when they get dangerous.
StllH8L8ner
You’ll get nothing and like it!
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WD40 fixes everything.
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The WD40 silicon spray will take the creak out of all your door hinges.
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If money is an issue, I would go with either Ryobi (Home Depot) or Hercules/Bauer (Harbor Freight).
Ryobi is ok for the beginner and they offer a bunch of different tools for what you need.
Harbor Freight brands are good but they don't offer as many different types.
Milwaukee/DeWalt are the best of the brands. They are simply the best. But also the most expensive!!!
I currently have the Lowe's Kobalt 24V brand for my cordless power tools. I've built pergolas, sheds, remodeled houses with this brand and they hold up. But also they aren't necessarily the best, but not the cheapest or most expensive.
I do have the Milwaukee M12 tools for all my plumbing tools and basic drill/impact drivers. Honestly they have enough power for most things.
Ryobi is ok for the beginner and they offer a bunch of different tools for what you need.
Harbor Freight brands are good but they don't offer as many different types.
Milwaukee/DeWalt are the best of the brands. They are simply the best. But also the most expensive!!!
I currently have the Lowe's Kobalt 24V brand for my cordless power tools. I've built pergolas, sheds, remodeled houses with this brand and they hold up. But also they aren't necessarily the best, but not the cheapest or most expensive.
I do have the Milwaukee M12 tools for all my plumbing tools and basic drill/impact drivers. Honestly they have enough power for most things.
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We just had a remodel and the contractor had all DeWalt tools. It's good to pick a brand and stick with it so the batteries are all interchangeable but DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee, Ryobi, it's anyone's guess. Minicoop69 ^^ probably knows better than me.
They also have nice tool kits with screwdrivers, socket wrenches, etc. Like anything else though, once you start shopping and researching, you go up and up. There is no such thing as basic when it comes to tools.
They also have nice tool kits with screwdrivers, socket wrenches, etc. Like anything else though, once you start shopping and researching, you go up and up. There is no such thing as basic when it comes to tools.
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This! Do not get a chainsaw if you don’t know what you’re doing. For small pruning jobs around the yard, harbor freight makes an electric polesaw that has been worth its weight in gold for me so far.
Wouldn’t go crazy on other tools. A good drill/driver set is great to have. Beyond that and basic hand tools (harbor freight is fine for light use), I’d wait until you have a project that calls for a specific tool. You’ll build your set over time as you need things. Don’t need to guess ahead of time.
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If not: just try duct tape.
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If it doesn't move, but is supposed to: USE WD-40
If it moves, but isn't supposed to: USE DUCT TAPE
Thanks for suggestions especially with chainsaw. Maybe I don’t need one but we do have a lot of trees around us; figured it one fell and I wanted to cut it up that having chain saw would be good. The electric pole saw for pruning sounds more like what I need. Whatever tools I get, I’m going to have to organize them. We do have a man cave/workshop at end of house, which I’ll clean and get some shelves for tools.
Chin Diesel
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For the good Scissors, think industrial shears, not the stuff for cutting paper.
I'd also add on a good setof SAE and metric sockets.
As for saws l, a hand saw, bow saw, hack saw are all valuable for hand saws. And agree a good Sawz All or reciprocating saw.
Hammers- a good claw hammer, ball pean hammer and some sort of sledge hammer.
Find a nearby auction house. Most auctions are just estate auctions where they clear the house out and sell whatever is in there after the owner dies or moves or both.
I've been to Golden Gavel in East Windsor, Connecticut many times. Go a few times and you can pick up pretty much any tool you want for $.10 on the dollar.
HuskyHawk
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In addition to the above
- For battery tools, pick a brand and stay with it for battery compatibility. Ryobi is plenty good for homeowner grade work. Drill and a decent set of drill bits and screwdriver heads is priority 1.
- A ratchet set comes in handy. Has more uses than some expect. No need to break the bank (mine is Kobalt). Critical if you do anything on your car.
- Vice grips, a decent Pliers style wrench (for light plumbing mostly), a few manual screw drivers (drills don't fit everywhere).
- Allen wrenches. Both metric and imperial. Probably only $10. Get used all the time. Toilet paper holders, etc.
- Then on an as you need basis, you add things like planers, circular saws, clamps, a dry vac, and eventually you have way more crap than you ever wanted.
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If you think you will use it less than say 5 times, cheap is ok.
If you will constantly use it, buy a higher quality as it will last longer.
YOUTUBE is KEY as a Homeowner!!!
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Don’t even own a home yet but I’m over my parent’s house consistently to use my dad’s wrenches and sockets. Feel like it’s a must have, especially since you can YouTube a lot of easy car, landscaping equipment, home appliance, etc fixes and save yourself a TON of cash
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100%. It is an incredible resource with actual authoritative experts that have channels now. Have rewired a good chunk of my 95-year old house and in the process of finishing our attic. Electrical, drawing permit plans, building code requirements, just everything is available on YouTube.
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Plenty of cheap socket sets at any box store or HF. I wouldn't even go for the huge ones. 95% of what you'll do is with the same 10 sockets.
Just changing your own oil, doing brakes and the other super simple car repairs will save you 1000s.
Chin Diesel
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Yeah, vice grips, channel locks, slip pliers, a pipe wrench, needle nose pliers, and dykes. And an adjustable wrench.
HuskyHawk
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I've got Ryobi battery tools I've used many hundreds of times. Never failed yet. My nephew works for the parent company TTI, they make Milwaukee too. Black and Decker, that's a risk.
For outdoor lawn care stuff I'd go with eGo.
!00% on YouTube. It is invaluable. Incredible what you can find.
Not sure how long it will take for this to show up, as I've been banished to needing posts approved (for what I have no idea), even though I've been on various iterations of this place since 2002...So I apologize if my comments are duplicative.
My father was in the biz and I've done numerous reno's in most properties I've owned.
1. Pick 1 brand for the majority of your battery powered tools so you don't have 3-4 different chargers and 1 battery for each. Biggest hassle is a dead battery with no replacement on the charger, or having to swap batteries because you are using 3 tools and only 1 battery.
Make sure you also pick the same voltage for the tools. Tools started out with 12v, then 14v, then 18...Now 40V or 80v are common. Higher the voltage the better. Many brands have tools at multiple levels
2. HD or Lowes usually have bundles at a discount you can buy with multiple batteries and the basics for tools. I would recommend drill, reciprocating saw, circular saw as a minimum. If you are doing a lot of framing/drywall work, get an impact driver...much lighter and efficient than a drill for this purpose.
3. Lowes bought the Craftsman line from Sears..not sure if quality/warranty is the same, but I would suggest a name brand for things like wrenches or sockets...they are much better and should last you a lifetime. I've cheaped out for them at the vacation house....it's a mistake imo
4. You can get non electric tools like hammers, wrenches, pliers etc really cheap at swap meets or flea markets. When we had an estate sale, tools was one of the first thing people wanted, so go early if someone is advertising tools. I wouldn't buy any battery powered tool at a swap or flea.
5.After the basics, buy tools as you need them, but don't be hesitant to buy a specialty tool if you are doing a job that recommends it. You'll have the tool for life and it will often make the job 10x easier. Plus by doing it yourself, the cost of the tool, even if it's pricey, is much less than paying a pro. Sometimes, the chance to get the tool was the impetus for me to tackle a job..lol
6. Help you buddies with their home projects and they will help you. When my group were new homeowners, we helped each other. It was a great way to help a friend but also catch up. And spouses couldn't get upset because you were a good Samaritan. And there is always time for a few cocktail after the work is done.
My own .02....don't drink if you are using power tools...especially table saw or router...a simple slip could lead to serious injury.
Good luck...enjoy the process. Sweat is a great way to build equity
My father was in the biz and I've done numerous reno's in most properties I've owned.
1. Pick 1 brand for the majority of your battery powered tools so you don't have 3-4 different chargers and 1 battery for each. Biggest hassle is a dead battery with no replacement on the charger, or having to swap batteries because you are using 3 tools and only 1 battery.
Make sure you also pick the same voltage for the tools. Tools started out with 12v, then 14v, then 18...Now 40V or 80v are common. Higher the voltage the better. Many brands have tools at multiple levels
2. HD or Lowes usually have bundles at a discount you can buy with multiple batteries and the basics for tools. I would recommend drill, reciprocating saw, circular saw as a minimum. If you are doing a lot of framing/drywall work, get an impact driver...much lighter and efficient than a drill for this purpose.
3. Lowes bought the Craftsman line from Sears..not sure if quality/warranty is the same, but I would suggest a name brand for things like wrenches or sockets...they are much better and should last you a lifetime. I've cheaped out for them at the vacation house....it's a mistake imo
4. You can get non electric tools like hammers, wrenches, pliers etc really cheap at swap meets or flea markets. When we had an estate sale, tools was one of the first thing people wanted, so go early if someone is advertising tools. I wouldn't buy any battery powered tool at a swap or flea.
5.After the basics, buy tools as you need them, but don't be hesitant to buy a specialty tool if you are doing a job that recommends it. You'll have the tool for life and it will often make the job 10x easier. Plus by doing it yourself, the cost of the tool, even if it's pricey, is much less than paying a pro. Sometimes, the chance to get the tool was the impetus for me to tackle a job..lol
6. Help you buddies with their home projects and they will help you. When my group were new homeowners, we helped each other. It was a great way to help a friend but also catch up. And spouses couldn't get upset because you were a good Samaritan. And there is always time for a few cocktail after the work is done.
My own .02....don't drink if you are using power tools...especially table saw or router...a simple slip could lead to serious injury.
Good luck...enjoy the process. Sweat is a great way to build equity
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I’m shocked you’re the only one to mention an impact driver!
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If you’re not making more than 5 cuts into 6-7” logs - you can work around by getting a Diablo 12” carbide tipped pruning blade for your reciprocating saw. I had no issue cutting 7” cedars with that, and you should get a reciprocating saw in your basic 4 tool kit. I wouldn’t want to go through more than 6” oak on that or you’ll be giving that reciprocating saw a hot supper, but this will keep your purchases to a minimum.
If you end up grabbing an impact wrench, Walmart has some newer hyper tough cordless versions that are insanely cheap, yet pretty much on par (ee: power -too new to know longevity) with high end tools for 3x or more.