It can sometimes be hard to stop collecting tools. There’s many a garage that started by fitting cars, but after multiple projects, has just become a tool warehouse. It’s difficult to justify renting tools when the costs are often close to that of purchasing a new one that you can use for a long time.
Professionals and contractors know the value of getting the right tools. They make jobs much easier and they increase the quality of the work. Amateurs should always make sure they acquire the tools they need to do the jobs they’re planning. While some people swear by a single brand of tools, there’s also a movement towards using no name tools that come in at a lower price point. It’s really a matter of personal preference.
Must Have Tools
When you’re starting your own workshop, there’s going to be tools you use the most often. A lot of these tools may get passed down from parents to children, so there’s a good chance you may already have quite a few. Some of the must have workshop tools include:
- Basic Tools - Everyone needs some hammers, screwdrivers, a crowbar, wrenches and some pliers. They will always be useful.
- Clamps - Quite simply, people who do craft work will always find themselves looking for clamps. Having a variety of sizes of clamps ensures that there are always clamps available at the right time.
- Miter and Circular Saws - Circular saws are incredibly versatile and often can even take the place of a miter saw. These let you cut through anything that needs to be cut.
- Cordless Drills and Impact Drivers - These are well known for chugging through battery life, so it’s important to keep them charged and ready to replace the battery being used.
- Shop Vacuum - A good shop vac keeps your workspace clean and cuts down on the cleaning time needed after any project.
- Rolling Workbench - Anyone with a good workbench knows how useful they are. Having one that rolls can allow you to move your work space to anywhere you need to do a project.
Best Places to Buy Tools Online
There are plenty of places that will let you buy tools online. While some companies are stubborn and only sell their items in retail stores, most have adapted and made their stuff online. Some companies will only sell online through their own retail outlets. Aside from that, some of the best places to buy tools are:
- Amazon - It’s not surprising to see Amazon on this list, seeing as you can buy almost anything there. Amazon has a wide variety of tools and shipping is usually good, especially for people with Amazon prime. One benefit of Amazon is all the additional retailers which sell through Amazon. It makes selection even wider.
- Harbor Freight - This company attempts to offer tools at a discount from their competitors. They claim to cut out the middleman. Regardless, there’s often some good deals available for people looking for specific tools.
- Harry Epstein Co. - This company has a focus on tools made specifically in the United States. This option of buying locally online is a sort of nice compromise.
- Big Box Retailers Online - If you’ve see a big store selling tools and appliances, you can be sure that there’s a website where you can buy from them as well. One benefit to buying from an online retailer like Lowes is that you can often order the items as pickup and then just head to the store.
