Hello, I'm 20 years old and I have been on a building maintenance apprenticeship for 6 months now and i absolutely love my job. I am at college doing 10 days training of every trade (i have finished masonry and plumbing so far). So, I have started to collect my own tools. Firstly the only proper tool i have is a makita 18v combi drill. My other tools are cheap ones from pound shop. All in one screwdriver and allen keys ect.

I'm slowly going to build up my tools and get the best of everything without filling my whole garage with tools i want to keep my tools as condensed as possible. So i was thinking instead of having 2 sets of screwdrivers. one set for electrical work and one set for all other. Should i just buy a really nice pair of electrical screwdriver set and would i be able to use them for everything? are they realiable? can they take a beating? or is it actually worth buying 2 sets?

Erm... also thought is it worth just buying adjustable spanners instead of a set?

Any tips for me while collecting?

Thanks for your time all comments will be appreciated. Thanks

Also. Any brand names to stay away from?
Which brand names never let you down?

i personally would avoid kits for specific jobs whilst you are setting up there is so much overlap that you will finish up with 3 times more kit than you need
do you have a van or transport or carry system in mind ??

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we are all ------------------still learning

no transport yet. I will do soon at about Febuary time.

car or van or other

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we are all ------------------still learning

its going to be my first car mate

get your self a tool bag basics hammer 1 or2 wood chisels pozi1x2 screwdriver philips ph 1and2 a medium and small flat driver
you can use driver bits but would always carry a pz2 and a medium and small flat screwdriver
3 adjustable spanners will cover most situations excluding plumbing
worth getting a box off assorted screws from someone like me it contains around 400 assorted screws all sorts all sizes and lengths purely decided by what was on the floor when i filter the sawdust you also get the odd nail and machine bolt/nut and washer

i also have a tin with 2 or 4 or a handfull off ever thing like angle brackets wall fixings kitchen hinges machine bolts rulers joining blocks mending plates long screws nails string chalk electrical tap jigsaw blades stanley knife red/brown/yellow plugs and lots lots more
basically it a "saves you thinking tin" but remember to top up

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i would get a decent set of screwdrivers like the stanley fatmax range then add afew electrical drivers to it. i cant imagine you need more than a few slotteds and a pozi for elec?…

a set of whia allen keys, that will cover most sizes

for spanners i carry a 8mm and 10mm combi and a 12mm and 13mm combi then an adjustable and a set of waterpump pliers,

may as well just get elec rated pliers/snips

a decent claw hammer/ lump hammer/bolster chisel/crowbar

combination square

stanley knife

Adjustable spanners do NOT replace a set of proper spanners, only compliment them.

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Mike

whilst i fully agree when starting up in work when money is short every spend must count to the maximum with the luxury off the correct tool for every job comes with time experience and finacial viability

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was looking at a set of wera screwdrivers diamond tip for £25 of ebay. These any good?

Yes, Wera are normally a very good make

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DIY | Donnas dream house

If you're doing building maintenance adjustables will be just fine as long as they're decent quality like Bahco or Rothy.

If you're working on plumbing one of these from toolstation is what you need split ring compression fitting spanner:



£7.49 - absolute bargain

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Have you looked in the bargain tool section of this forum,there are some good deals to be had at the moment

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get yourself a decent saw mate aswell, just stay away from no-name tools or cheapo own brand tools

buy cheap buy twice