[WildmanProject]

If you were to recommend 5 beginner tools to someone wanting to start DIY'ing, what would they be?

Here are my 5:
1. Drill
2. Orbital Sander
3. Jig Saw
4. Circular Saw
5. Chop(Miter) Saw

 

[jeffsw6]

Chop saw? Not a miter saw?

Let me tell you, I didn't even understand the value of a miter saw until I watched some videos. When I was a kid, my "miter saw" was a box made of wood with some slots in it for common angles, and the saw was powered by my arm.

When I saw what you can do with a power miter saw, especially the compound kind like I then bought, I was like ... wow. I thought I was going to call all my friends in valley girl speak and tell them about this groovy saw I bumped into at the mall and I just had to meet it and see where our relationship would go. We would be sawing things on a hillside overlooking the city. Soon we'd be sawing things for our dog and 2.3 kids.

Seriously, I was amazed. I still am. Modern tools are unbelievable.

 

[WildmanProject]

Ha. I have always called a "miter" saw a chop saw. Its a beautiful thing isn't it?

 

[ddawg16]

#1 tool....shop vac......
#2 Cordless Drill
#3 Cordless Sawzall
#4 Sliding Compound Miter Saw
#5 Leaf Blower

 

[kwikfishron]

There is no perfect list other than your first tools should be whatever you actually need to finish your first project(s). As your projects expand your need for different tools will too and your arsenal should grow accordingly.

 

[SeniorSitizen]

I thought I had them all but now I'm looking for an instruction manual that tells how much muckey puck sealer type stuff to smear on compression fittings. :laughing::laughing::laughing: But I do have about 7 hammers if I could find them all.

 

[rossfingal]

A "good", tape-measure
A good pencil
A good cordless drill
A "Saw-Z-All" (corded or cordless)
A "sledge-hammer"

"RF"

Happy New Year!

 

[bbo]

carpenter's hammer would be a must I would think.
multi screwdriver
socket/rachet set
adjustable pliers
drill

I'd think with the tools above, most any fix could be accomplished. I know when I started DIY, most things are of a fix it nature rather than a build it nature.

crap, I just remembered tape measure. now I'm at six.

kwik is right though. If I could recommend to someone what to buy, it would be "buy the best tool you can afford for the project at hand"

 

[rossfingal]

Somebody else moved into the realm of "6".
#6 - Somebody to use all the tools - so you can relax!

 

[bbo]

Somebody else moved into the realm of "6".
#6 - Somebody to use all the tools - so you can relax!

I could stop at one if I needed to.

 

[terry603]

hammer
tape measure
set of screw drivers
wrenches
socket set
the power tools mentioned are for as you get more advanced or as a hobby
a drill,i know this is # 6

 

[WildmanProject]

I just realized I didnt say power tools. I think power tools and hand tools can each be their own topic.

 

[ToolSeeker]

circ saw
cordless drill driver
work light
shop vac
orbital sander

 

[woodworkbykirk]

honesytly the meaning of diy varies so much from one person to the next.. i have a client base that diy means taking out hte garbage but they cant boil water to cook noodles, let lone cut a piece of wood

start out simple,,

1)hammer
2) tape measure
3) multi tip screwdriver
4) adjustable wrench or vise grip
5)common sense

 

[TheEplumber]

My top 5 tools would be in the neighbors garage....

 

[kwikfishron]

start out simple,,
1)hammer
2) tape measure
3) multi tip screwdriver
4) adjustable wrench or vise grip
5)common sense

To bad the box stores are "out of stock" of #5. :wink:

 

[woodworkbykirk]

kwik. #5 was replaced by lawyers 30 years ago.... sad but true:whistling2:

 

[forcedreno2012]

or you can just implement my husbands rule......

"2 Tools for every job and the 2 tools are not necessarily required for the said job"

....as she looks around at all the tools :laughing: if you can't beat em then join em...I started growing my own set of tools. :thumbsup:

I can't really speak to power tools because I grew up with them so pretty much always had what we needed but for the non power category.

Good tape measure (and if you are like me you need a few of them because they keep walking - apparently mine are "better" because they are newer)
Good set of screwdrivers
Good set of pliers
Hammer
And most important....A bloody good level.

Dont even get me started on his fishing gear "Rules"

 

[jeffnc]

If I could only really have 5 tools (which is a ridiculous premise anyway) I wouldn't have one of these, but of the tools that I find most useful besides the obvious hammer and screwdriver, I gotta mention the impact driver. Once you've used one of these, you'll never want a drill/driver again for the things the impact driver is good at.

 

[ToolSeeker]

If I could only really have 5 tools (which is a ridiculous premise anyway) I wouldn't have one of these, but of the tools that I find most useful besides the obvious hammer and screwdriver, I gotta mention the impact driver. Once you've used one of these, you'll never want a drill/driver again for the things the impact driver is good at.

But also be aware there are some things an impact driver sucks at
such as hanging drywall-tends to sink screws to deep and tears paper
mixing things such as paint or grout or hot mud
driving small screws- tends to overdrive them
drilling holes.