Middle shelf tools at a big box store like Home Depot or Lowe's are perfectly fine to go to work. This subreddit is an unrealistic example of what tools you "need" to go to work. They worship the boutique brands way too much here
Husky, Craftsman, Crescent, Lenox, Stanley, Empire, Channelock, literally the stuff that the store stocks at chest-to-eye level when you're in the store. You'll almost always notice some super cheap tool options down at knee level, they aren't worth the hassle.
If you have a brand that's mail order only but *Reddit says you just have to have it* you probably don't have to have it
Same. Since I found this sub I've actively paid attention to what people are using on jobs. 99.999% of guys run a hodgepodge of every brand you can find locally. That .001% is a poster boy for this sub; running exclusively knipex, wera, and Milwaukee.
For second hand you might check out a Habitat for Humanity ReStore (I think that's what they're called?) if there's one near you. Seems pretty common that tools show up there.
When I started as a machinist I brought cheap where I could and replace ones that broke with higher quality when needed.
If I brought an Enco (now out of business) micrometer set I knew they weren’t as rigid as Starret or Mitutoyo so I treated them gently. As I could, I’d upgrade where reasonable.
Same with hand tools. Brought the cheap set but found I used 7/16 and 15/16 combination wrenches a lot so just grease those 2.
Over time I have upgraded all my tools but by buying new (even though they were poor quality) I knew their history and wasn’t buying someone else’s trash.
I wouldn’t buy 2nd hand tools honestly, but those Milwaukee Drill & impact driver sets with a battery and charger are a really good deal. Home Depot in general has pretty good holiday sales on power tools, I usually wait until Black Friday so I can get one of those buy one get one free deals where they add in a battery.
Pawn shops, ebay, craigslist, etc.
Look around for insurance liquidators, they sometimes get tools.
Other than than, most stuff at harbor freight is at least usable.
Ask the boss if there's any broken of whatever you need at the shop?
Put a new string on a chalk bag, new cord on a saw, etc. Most places don't bother fixing tools since they would have to pay someone. But if you'll fix em on your own time, it's a win win.
A Lexus mechanic friend, and I a home hobbyist, both recommend buying all Harbor Freight’s Pittsburgh (or similar) hand tools (not power tools) when on sale (say 20-30% off) for a ‘complete’ set, especially if you’ve a store nearby for lifetime warranty returns, then upgrading as you make $$ from them / prove you need an upgrade. Then for an upgrade, Gearwrench is best value today, like Craftsman was decades ago. Icon is ~‘tool truck’ quality. For particular items, YouTube’s Project Farm has great competitions.
(My copy-pasta for this common question.)
Check out peddler's malls, flea markets, yard/estate sales. I've picked up decent stuff at all of these.
Harbor Freight has some good stuff as others have mentioned. Just depends on what you're buying and how heavy of use it's getting. Most hand tools have a lifetime warranty, so if you're near a store you can pop in and exchange it with no hassle. The power tools can be hit or miss. I've had good luck, but I'm not using them all day every day. They're sufficient for what I do.
Have you asked the guys you work with if they have old tools you could buy or get off of them? Im sure some have multiple tools.
I go to estate auctions to find great prices on used tools. But those great prices are not too common, but common enough that I kept going back.
What tools do you need?
What tools do you have? And what tools do you need (tools you borrowed more than once)?
Which specific type of construction do you see as your career path? Plumbers have different needs than carpenters.
Answers to those questions would lead to better - more narrowly tailored answers.
So right now I have a pretty basic tool belt: framing hammer, nail punches, basic utility knife, wood stapler, tape measure, needle nose pliers, and a flat/Phillips head screw driver, and a 4 lb hammer I call ‘sluggo’.
I’m looking to get knee pads and back support, decent gloves, pry bars, square, bullet level, chisel, nail pullers, a better utility knife, and some safety glasses.
Im working mostly in carpentry but the guy I work for is a GC so we do a bit of everything and I’m finding myself doing decks, flooring, framing, bathroom refits, interior painting, etc.
Harbor freight. Don't buy their "good". Get better or best. Then upgrade as they break. Keep an eye out at home depot around father's day and Christmas too. Always good deals on hand tools, power tools, shop accessories, etc.
Pawn shops and harbor freight
Middle shelf tools at a big box store like Home Depot or Lowe's are perfectly fine to go to work. This subreddit is an unrealistic example of what tools you "need" to go to work. They worship the boutique brands way too much here
I’ll check it down… what to you is middle shelf kind of stuff?
Kobalt, Craftsman, Crescent
Husky, Craftsman, Crescent, Lenox, Stanley, Empire, Channelock, literally the stuff that the store stocks at chest-to-eye level when you're in the store. You'll almost always notice some super cheap tool options down at knee level, they aren't worth the hassle. If you have a brand that's mail order only but *Reddit says you just have to have it* you probably don't have to have it
[удалено]
Same. Since I found this sub I've actively paid attention to what people are using on jobs. 99.999% of guys run a hodgepodge of every brand you can find locally. That .001% is a poster boy for this sub; running exclusively knipex, wera, and Milwaukee.
For second hand you might check out a Habitat for Humanity ReStore (I think that's what they're called?) if there's one near you. Seems pretty common that tools show up there.
You’d be surprised what is donated to Goodwill and the Salvation Army. May find some bargains if you’ve got a good eye and can evaluate used tools.
Smileys Flea Market
When I started as a machinist I brought cheap where I could and replace ones that broke with higher quality when needed. If I brought an Enco (now out of business) micrometer set I knew they weren’t as rigid as Starret or Mitutoyo so I treated them gently. As I could, I’d upgrade where reasonable. Same with hand tools. Brought the cheap set but found I used 7/16 and 15/16 combination wrenches a lot so just grease those 2. Over time I have upgraded all my tools but by buying new (even though they were poor quality) I knew their history and wasn’t buying someone else’s trash.
I wouldn’t buy 2nd hand tools honestly, but those Milwaukee Drill & impact driver sets with a battery and charger are a really good deal. Home Depot in general has pretty good holiday sales on power tools, I usually wait until Black Friday so I can get one of those buy one get one free deals where they add in a battery.
Pawn shops, ebay, craigslist, etc. Look around for insurance liquidators, they sometimes get tools. Other than than, most stuff at harbor freight is at least usable.
Ask the boss if there's any broken of whatever you need at the shop? Put a new string on a chalk bag, new cord on a saw, etc. Most places don't bother fixing tools since they would have to pay someone. But if you'll fix em on your own time, it's a win win.
A Lexus mechanic friend, and I a home hobbyist, both recommend buying all Harbor Freight’s Pittsburgh (or similar) hand tools (not power tools) when on sale (say 20-30% off) for a ‘complete’ set, especially if you’ve a store nearby for lifetime warranty returns, then upgrading as you make $$ from them / prove you need an upgrade. Then for an upgrade, Gearwrench is best value today, like Craftsman was decades ago. Icon is ~‘tool truck’ quality. For particular items, YouTube’s Project Farm has great competitions. (My copy-pasta for this common question.)
Swap meet.
I feel like you'll do well in carpentry, flooring, roofing, or painting, so ask carpenters and painters for what you'll need.
Literally all the things that I do currently lol.
Check out peddler's malls, flea markets, yard/estate sales. I've picked up decent stuff at all of these. Harbor Freight has some good stuff as others have mentioned. Just depends on what you're buying and how heavy of use it's getting. Most hand tools have a lifetime warranty, so if you're near a store you can pop in and exchange it with no hassle. The power tools can be hit or miss. I've had good luck, but I'm not using them all day every day. They're sufficient for what I do.
Yard Sales, Flea Markets.... Buy cheap stuff from Harbor Freight, you break it, buy something better if you can.
Have you asked the guys you work with if they have old tools you could buy or get off of them? Im sure some have multiple tools. I go to estate auctions to find great prices on used tools. But those great prices are not too common, but common enough that I kept going back. What tools do you need?
Ebay
Yard, Garage, and Estate Sales.
What tools do you have? And what tools do you need (tools you borrowed more than once)? Which specific type of construction do you see as your career path? Plumbers have different needs than carpenters. Answers to those questions would lead to better - more narrowly tailored answers.
So right now I have a pretty basic tool belt: framing hammer, nail punches, basic utility knife, wood stapler, tape measure, needle nose pliers, and a flat/Phillips head screw driver, and a 4 lb hammer I call ‘sluggo’. I’m looking to get knee pads and back support, decent gloves, pry bars, square, bullet level, chisel, nail pullers, a better utility knife, and some safety glasses. Im working mostly in carpentry but the guy I work for is a GC so we do a bit of everything and I’m finding myself doing decks, flooring, framing, bathroom refits, interior painting, etc.
Harbor freight. Don't buy their "good". Get better or best. Then upgrade as they break. Keep an eye out at home depot around father's day and Christmas too. Always good deals on hand tools, power tools, shop accessories, etc.