| If you own your own home there will be times where | | | | be used for a wide verity of applications such as very |
| you need to make modifications or repairs to your | | | | light precision drilling, light sanding, light polishing and |
| property. Some jobs will simply be to small for calling | | | | buffing of metals cutting of light metals such as copper |
| out a trades person or you may be the type of | | | | piping as well as knife sharpening and with the right |
| person who prefers to fix it yourself where you can. | | | | attachments engraving. Multi-tools are designed to be |
| As such, you need a few basic power tools on hand | | | | extremely versatile with many different attachments |
| which can make repairing and improving your home a | | | | there are a large number of tasks the multi-tool can be |
| little easier. Some things you will need almost | | | | adapted to as needed. The multi-tool is useful as both |
| immediately, for example drills, as their versatility | | | | a DIY tool and also as a support for many hobbies |
| means that you will be using them in some capacity on | | | | such as those involving electronics, scaled metal work |
| most DIY tasks. Others such as circular saws can | | | | or miniature modelling for example. |
| probably be left until you need them. Others still, such | | | | Hot Air Guns |
| as multi-tools are completely optional. | | | | Hot air guns are primarily used for paint stripping and |
| Drills | | | | are mainly used in supporting decorating. They are able |
| First up is the drill. The most popular power tool, they | | | | to make light work of all types and thickness of paint |
| are also the most versatile. With the right attachments | | | | making its removal a much less time consuming chore |
| and bits a drill can perform many secondary tasks in | | | | allowing you to clean the surface quickly before |
| addition to drilling. With a sanding attachment the drill | | | | applying new paint fresh without the previous coats of |
| can be used as a power sander. While not as good | | | | paint interfering with your current paint job. Hot air guns |
| as a dedicated power sander, it will be more than | | | | can also be used for other tasks thawing frozen pipes |
| sufficient for most household tasks unless you | | | | for example. If you intend to do a lot of decorating |
| intended to be doing a lot of wood working. Any drill | | | | than a hot air gun will be very useful. |
| with a reverse gear and variable speed is able act as | | | | Steam wall paper strippers |
| a powered screwdriver which can drive a screw | | | | Wall paper strippers are another labour saving device |
| much deeper and tighter than you could by hand. A drill | | | | for decorating allowing the quick and efficient removal |
| can be adapted to a number of other tasks in addition | | | | of all wall papers including those that feature heavy |
| to those listed above. | | | | patterns. Because of the frequency that we |
| If you intend to do any work on exterior walls then a | | | | redecorate our homes a wall paper stripper is one of |
| drill with a hammer function is a must as this allows the | | | | the tools after the drill that we should not really be |
| drill to work on masonry. You will also need masonry | | | | without as while its task can be completed by hand it |
| drill bits which may need to be purchased separately | | | | is far more efficient to use a stripper than to perform |
| from the drill. These are relatively inexpensive but | | | | the task by hand. As an added bonus wall paper |
| necessary as standard wood working bits are | | | | strippers can be used to deep clean carpets and may |
| unsuited to drilling into masonry and may snap or | | | | be able to get some stains that refuse to come out |
| shatter potentially causing a hazard if the remains of | | | | using chemical cleaners. |
| the bit come flying out of the hole. | | | | So what do you need |
| If you intend to do most of your work indoors than a | | | | On our list of tools the most essential objects are the |
| less powerful drill with a driver function may be more | | | | basic drills, jigsaws and circular saws as well as wall |
| suited as these are better at working as a power | | | | paper strippers as these will allow you to get the most |
| screwdriver. | | | | common DIY and decorating tasks done. Since |
| There are also angle drills available which are suited to | | | | decorating usually follows many major DIY projects, |
| working in tight restricted locations such as under | | | | and is a DIY project in its own right, we thought it best |
| cupboards or near pipes and other obstacles. This is | | | | to include them in our list of household tools. These |
| achieved by having the drill head at a 90 degree angle | | | | basic tools can be purchased for as little as |
| to the main body of the drill. They are lighter and | | | | £100-150 if you go for the most basic models. |
| smaller than standard drills making them more | | | | Other tools such like angle drills, reciprocating saws, |
| convenient for closed in work. | | | | multi-tools, hot air guns and nailers can be lived without, |
| Which drill you need depends upon your circumstances | | | | but make life much easier and it may be a good idea |
| and it may be a good idea to consider getting more | | | | to consider adding at least some off them to your tool |
| than one drill for example an inexpensive hammer drill | | | | kit when you are able. Probably giving priority to the |
| for doing any masonry work as they can be quite | | | | angle drill and reciprocating saw. |
| affordable with decent ones starting at around | | | | Finally some tools such as the angle grinder only really |
| £30 and having a lighter angle drill with driver | | | | need purchasing when you absolutely need them of |
| function for use in awkward places and for use as a | | | | course if you find one in a set of tools that includes |
| powered screwdriver. | | | | other things which you can use or you see a good |
| If you only have the budget or storage space for one | | | | deal don't let that put you off from buying it early. |
| drill then we would recommended a mid hammer drill | | | | Cordless or Corded |
| with variable speed and reverse gear so it can still act | | | | One more decision to be made before you purchase |
| as a powered screwdriver though not as efficiency as | | | | your power tools is do you want any of your tools to |
| a drill with the driver function would. | | | | be cordless as all types of drills, saws, nailers and |
| Saws | | | | angle grinders have battery powered cordless |
| If you need to do any wood repairs than a powered | | | | versions available. The choice between cordless and |
| saw is a good thing to have there are three types of | | | | corded is partly practical and partly personal. While |
| powered saw that can be useful in the home tool kit. | | | | cordless tools have less overall operating power than |
| The first is the Jigsaw the smallest of the power saws | | | | there corded counterparts the difference in modern |
| which is great for working with light materials such as | | | | cordless tools is not as big as it once was and a |
| MDF or cutting through thin pieces of wood. They | | | | cordless power tool should be able to perform all of |
| need to cut with the grain as they typically do not | | | | the tasks a corded tool is able to. Unless you |
| have sufficient power to work against the grain. They | | | | absolutely need every last bit of operating power out |
| are however very good at cutting straight lines and | | | | of your drill the power difference should not be that |
| are capable of cutting curves into the wood and | | | | much of an issue. |
| cutting along a pattern a jigsaw should be on light | | | | What is an issue is the advantages and disadvantages |
| woods and light materials they are light weight and the | | | | of each type of power supply. With a corded drill you |
| easiest of the saws to handle. The Jigsaw is intended | | | | have an unlimited run time provided you do not |
| to do fine detailed finishing work. It is a good tool to | | | | overheat the drill. However this is at the cost of having |
| have around when you need to do general cutting on | | | | to stay within close proximity of a power socket and |
| light woods. | | | | having a trailing power cord that can get in the way. |
| Circular saws are much more heavy duty and can | | | | While cordless power tools can go anywhere and |
| tackle very thick pieces of wood and can cut with or | | | | allow for a slightly more tidy working environment with |
| against the grain they are made to cut on flat surfaces | | | | more overall freedom of movement. The cost is that |
| and it is difficult to work with them when cutting at | | | | your working time is limited to the life of the battery |
| angles. They can take blades suitable for cutting metal. | | | | which can be inconvenient if you do not prepare and |
| They are mainly used for cutting straight precise lines | | | | plan for the option. One final problem is that |
| they can also cut wide curves but others saws a | | | | rechargeable batteries do wear out eventually |
| better at doing that type of work they are made for | | | | necessitating the purchasing of replacements as such |
| working on heavy materials. | | | | it is recommended that you purchase cordless tools |
| Reciprocating saws are the most versatile of the | | | | that come from a manufacturer that uses the same |
| saws they are able to cut wood, metals and other | | | | battery type consistently across its power tools range |
| materials dependant upon which blades are used. It is | | | | to ensure that even if you drill becomes discontinued |
| designed for cutting curves in thick woods and | | | | your battery won't be. |
| materials. A Reciprocating saw is able to cut at any | | | | If you do purchase a cordless tool it is recommended |
| angle and is excellent at cutting curves and other | | | | that you look for one that comes with 2 batteries to |
| patterns It is however difficult to cut straight lines with | | | | help with this problem if you cannot find a set that |
| the Reciprocating saw so it is best to use it in | | | | comes with a second battery you can always swap |
| combination with another saw when working on larger | | | | when one runs out and have it charge while you work |
| complex jobs such as preparing and cutting down to | | | | so you always have a replacement when you need it. |
| size items such as table tops for counters. The | | | | Additionally if you get more than one cordless tool |
| reciprocating saws ability to cut metals such as pipes | | | | from the manufacturer you will be able to have more |
| makes it useful when working on tasks such as | | | | batteries available for use helping alleviate the problem |
| plumbing or car body work repair. | | | | further. Provided of course that you follow our advice |
| Probably the first saw to get would be the jigsaw for | | | | above and get your cordless power tools from a |
| general work it is useful to have around the more | | | | manufacturer that uses the same batteries across |
| heavy duty circular saw can be purchased as you are | | | | multiple product lines. |
| preparing to do heavier work. The reciprocating saw | | | | The real choice between cordless and corded drills is |
| to is an optional choice to allow for more heavy duty | | | | which is more important the ability to work for longer |
| general work you can get by without a reciprocating | | | | or the ability to work anywhere. This decision is partially |
| saw by using a combination of the circular saw and | | | | made for you by the layout of the home if you have a |
| jigsaw but if you are going to be doing a lot of DIY | | | | home with good socket coverage and a small garden |
| projects that require cutting tools or you need to cut | | | | than corded power tools will be suitable. Where as if |
| patterns into metals than a reciprocating saw will be | | | | you have a large garden where you wish to work on |
| useful and is worth considering if not the circular saw | | | | a lot of garden furniture or you home has poor socket |
| and jigsaw should be more than sufficient for most | | | | coverage than cordless tools will be suitable. Of |
| peoples needs. | | | | course that is not the only factor in the decision as |
| Nailers | | | | cordless tools can be more convenient due to the lack |
| Nailers, or nail guns, are a useful but not essential tool | | | | of wire. |
| to have in the home they can make jobs like putting up | | | | One final thing to note is that there are cost |
| sheds or garden furniture much easier as they are | | | | differences such as typically cordless tools do cost |
| able to drive nails into materials much deeper, more | | | | more than corded tools as such price is a factor in the |
| consistently and more secure than you could by hand. | | | | decision between corded and cordless tools. This is |
| They allow for a much better build quality for your DIY | | | | especially true if you wish to get a lot of tools at once |
| projects they wont replace your hammer but it will | | | | you may find that it is better to make a compromise |
| make some projects quicker and easier. Some nailers | | | | and get a mix of corded and cordless tools in order to |
| also feature a stapler facility allowing it to act as a | | | | ensure that you can get everything that you want |
| powered stapler allowing it even more versatility and | | | | need |
| usefulness. | | | | Look for the best deals |
| Angle Grinders | | | | When shopping for your tools be sure to look around |
| Angle grinders feature a circular disk which can be | | | | and consider what you get with the tool that you wish |
| used to cut through or grind down metals they are | | | | to purchase look for extras such as additional bits and |
| useful if you will be working with a lot of metal when | | | | pieces like extra blades/drill bits/attachments, carry |
| used with a more precise cutter such as a | | | | cases, extra batteries in the case of cordless tools. |
| reciprocating saw. Angle grinders can be used to cut | | | | Many of these extras can be very useful in your DIY |
| and wear metals down to size as well as remove rust. | | | | tasks and can be good value for money over |
| Most of the time an angle grinder will not be needed | | | | purchasing them separately. |
| unless you are intending to undertake major metal | | | | Another value for money options looking for sets of |
| work projects such as car repair or are working with | | | | power tools. Some stores offer many of there tools |
| sheet metals. The angle grinder is a tool which should | | | | as part of bundles which are very good value for |
| not be purchased till absolutely needed as it is pretty | | | | money containing two or three tools that compliment |
| limited in its applications and is rarely needed in general | | | | each other and give very good value for money. On |
| DIY. | | | | most sets you can save at least 20-30% of the cost |
| Multi-tools | | | | of buying the tools separately on larger sets you can |
| Multi tools are small hand held precision tools that can | | | | save enough for multiple tools. |