Best Value/Brand tools for when just starting out

[BarryJ90]

alright guys!

I've been looking at getting myself a decent tool bag/kit that I can take with me to college/site with me old man etc

Anyhow I have been looking online and there is so much to choose from and a real variation of pricing.

I already have draper snips, wiha drivers, spirit level, tape measure etc etc but want a bigger kit. My dad keeps offering me some of his stuff but I want to stand on my own two feet and buy my own if that makes sense

I see screwfix keep pushing this magnusson brand (guessing own make?) and have a 98 piece kit for £80 but I don't know what the quality of their stuff is like? Any tips would be appreciated!

 

[telectrix]

have a look in wickes for lower priced tools. but my advice would be to build up kit bit at a time. buy tools you really need as you find you need them.. CK, Knipex, NWS etc.are made to last for years

 

[Octopus]

a vote for CK from me

Normally they last until I lose them!

 

[MJPD29]

Knipex for me they never let me down. Until someone steals them that is...

 

[Benchaffey]

I wouldn't bother buying a set, a lot of it you won't use and won't be the best quality, instead build your own set as you need the tools and spend that little extra on each item of better quality

 

[mickfred]

Go cheap on power tools apart from you combi drill .

 

[Pete999]

I wouldn't bother buying a set, a lot of it you won't use and won't be the best quality, instead build your own set as you need the tools and spend that little extra on each item of better quality

Apart from loss and theft, buying cheap tools is in my opinion a mistake.
Buy to last, buy cheap and you will regret it, buy what you need when you can afford it, and look after what you buy.

 

[Dannyg8810]

CK
You can get the tech bag,VDE screwdriver set,pliers,side cutters,jr hacksaw,cable strippers and tape measure for £120-00 at some wholesalers BARGIN

 

[Dannyg8810]

CK Magma MA2630AVI Technician's Tool Kit - Hand Tools & Storage, Assorted Tool Kits, CK Tool Kits - https://www.tool-net.co.uk/p-434188/ck-magma-ma2630avi.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-IWd6oXI1gIVzB0YCh1iDQwLEAQYECABEgIkufD_BwE

Can get cheaper than this

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

join screwfix's electricfix trade thing, just take your payslip and a letter from your work. they will give you 10% off first order and a few weeks later youll get 4 or 5 vouchers through 4 for £10 off any purchase and one for £20 of any purchase, so if the tool is £11, you would get it for £1... well worth it as it will save you a good lump.
Personally i have found some of the titan and erbauer stuff from screwfix quite good, the titan wall chaser has proven itself quite good.

 

[ashg285]

You can't really go wrong with ck

 

[NDG Elecs]

Magnusson = carp IMHO. I bought a couple of their bits many years back and it lasted around two months. It looks flashy, but that's about it. Go for CK as others have said; decent prices and hard wearing. For drivers I would go for Wiha. Had my last set ages now and they are still going strong. The Wera diamond tipped jobbies are like butter in comparison.
My latest tool is the Knipex 'dismantling tool'. If you deal with a lot of flex it's invaluable.

 

[Darren@cseme]

Depends on your budget, I buy the Knipex cutters and associated tools, whia screwdrivers were my norm, but have purchased armeg recently as they do great kits, toolbags are always Veto nowadays but expensive to start, but carry a 5 year no quibble warranty

 

[Simonslimline]

Nws heavy duty side cutters 200mm.

These are the best Imo. A solid bit of kit.

 

[Rs electrical]

Knipex plies, cutters etc . Wiha or irizola screwdrivers , fluke volt/ conti tester . Personally I've never rated CK just don't seem same quality as knipex

 

[Pete999]

Knipex plies, cutters etc . Wiha or irizola screwdrivers , fluke volt/ conti tester . Personally I've never rated CK just don't seem same quality as knipex

You will of course need a proving unit for safe isolation purposes, I recommend Martindale voltage indicator and proving unit, or John Drumond VI and PU

 

[Squid]

For the tools that you use the most buy the best you can afford but you also need to handle them to see if you can work with them, as an apprentice I bought a pair of Elliot Lucas pliers which I still have after 35 years don't use them much as the insulation has worn but they where handy as after cutting through a live cable in a ceiling void the burnt out hole was handy for stripping cables.

If you are self employed which I believe you won't be then any expense related to work is deductible from your tax bill.

 

[WillWX]

I made the mistake of buying cheap as an apprentice and ended up replacing literally all of it as time went by.

I now usually just buy CK for hand tools and they seem to last well. Can you not speak to your wholesaler? Mine always hook me up great deals on CK stuff.

 

[Simonslimline]

I just bought some Chicago brand open ended ratchet spanners. amazingly handy. did not know they existed until I googled what I was looking for. doing lots of brackets for containment on a job at the moment. these spanners are extremely handy,


Chicago BRAND 56039 Metric Open End Ratchet Spanner 3 Piece Set | eBay - https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Chicago-BRAND-56039-Metric-Open-End-Ratchet-Spanner-3-Piece-Set/1606236951?iid=182625578363

 

[Dozer 73]

Apart from loss and theft, buying cheap tools is in my opinion a mistake.
Buy to last, buy cheap and you will regret it, buy what you need when you can afford it, and look after what you buy.

Buy cheap buy twice