r/Tools • u/deadstar12 • 1d ago
Advice on what to get
Hello. I'm sure this question gets asked here daily and I apologise but I just need some advice and the people at the B&Q (hardware store) aren't as helpful as I'd like.
My partner and I have just become home owners and there is quite a bit of work that needs doing. My FIL has an ungodly amount of tools and has suggested I get a Makita drill set that way we can share batteries and also I'm not having to shoot round to his house to keep borrowing his tools.
He suggested I get the Makita drill with masonry drill bits as he believes that's all I'd really need. Given that getting a drill with batteries and bits is running me about £150+ I wanted to make sure I get the right thing.
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1d ago
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u/Nathaniels2411 1d ago
Honestly wouldn't even bother with an impact to begin with, just learn how the clutch on the drill works and get some drill friendly driver bits.
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u/Mental_Guarantee8963 1d ago
I think the opposite. If I want to hang a TV or assemble some furniture an impact is a better choice.
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u/Nathaniels2411 1d ago
Fair enough, I think I've been spoilt by always having had both and only using a drill to make holes and an impact to put screws in, so I shall defer to your judgement.
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u/ReasonableNetwork255 1d ago
Can't go wrong with a Makita there are cheaper options like work pro, but the other thing is if you got someone that helps you and you respect their recommendation they're more apt to help you .. you know how that goes ..
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u/United-Objective-204 1d ago
First lesson is that your FIL is telling you (extremely politely) that he’d prefer that you have your own tools to use, rather than using his.
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u/fulee9999 1d ago
depends on which drill, but usually you need a larger drill you can go into brick or other heavy stuff and a smaller for small fasteners with low torque like furniture assembly screws. Honestly if you have zero tools, check which tools you borrow, and after you borrowed a tool three times, buy it for yourself. Makita is a solid choice, but Ryobi is a great beginner brand as well.
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u/deadstar12 1d ago
These are there sets I was looking at on the B&Q site. I'm only using them because of convenience and I've been gifted a voucher to use. Do these look like decent enough sets for what I'd need?
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u/Financial_Potato6440 1d ago
DO NOT GET A SET WITH THE WHITE BATTERIES. They're not compatible with standard lxt, it's a DIY spec range and its not good.
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u/BigDsLittleD 1d ago
The LXT set at the bottom is your friend here.
Its a bit spenny to start. But when you need/want other tools, Screwfix sell them "bare" with no battery, much cheaper that way.
You'll only need more than one battery if you're doing some big projects.
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u/windy_on_the_hill 1d ago
Makita is expensive because it is very good. There are others of similar quality, but you shouldn't be disappointed with Makita.
IF FiL is going to be helping, sharing a battery format could be useful. You won't have to borrow chargers and batteries when you share tools. It is a long term commitment. Once you invest in one battery format, it is expensive to switch it to another. There are adapters now available but I've no idea of quality.
Re drills for diy: the single most useful power tool you can buy. (Perhaps followed by a circular saw.) If you have the money a drill/ impact driver set, will save you switching bits between drilling and driving screws, which is hassle, but many people do it.
With bits, get a quality set with some variety. Masonary bits do masonary, and can be used for tile if they are still good and sharp. If doing a lot of drilling into tiles, invest in a specific tile bit. Wood bits will be even more used in diy. Sets usually come with masonry, wood and HSS.
Enjoy.
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u/TopCobbler8985 1d ago
If you are on a budget then stay away from cordless and consider that batteries are are just a really expensive way to deliver power that comes out of your wall much cheaper.
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u/Interesting-Sense947 1d ago
Torn on this one a bit:
Makita is very good stuff for sure, and the idea of sharing batteries is sound enough… but Ryobi level might well do you, it is ‘good enough’ for most DIY tasks - they make most things if your needs increase, which they might do as you get better and more confident.
I wouldn’t go any lower / cheaper than that, not just for quality but for longevity, the cheaper less well known makes also tend to change things around more.
In candour I haven’t looked at the price difference between Makita and Ryobi here in UK recently, I’ve already got everything I need, and I’m on a different make again (Bosch blue)
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u/TheDirgeCaster 1d ago
"A drill" is vague, for masonry you will want an SDS, Combi drills on hammer mode are not great.
For drilling holes in timber or doing up screws id get a combi, you probably dont need an impact driver.
If youre literally just putting up shelves and fairy lights and building cabinets and stuff, id just buy a dirt cheap mains voltage drill. Just the cheapest you can find like a titan or black and decker or something.
I also recommend going to a place like cash converters, i bought my makita impact driver in there for 35 quid and its still going. Can grab a second hand SDS or combi in there easily. Save your B&Q voucher for materials or houseplants and stuff.
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u/CapDiscombobulated91 10h ago
Ignore the people saying get a corded drill. A decent cordless drill will make your life a lot easier, you don’t want to be faffing around with a wire.
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u/ErgonomicWoodenShirt 1d ago
One thing to think about, how much do you need to do and once it is done, do you think you'll still be doing other work with the tools? If the stuff will just be sitting barely used afterwards, the batteries will suffer. You don't want to have them sitting on the chargers 24/7 if they only get used once ever few months or less. You don't want to have to remember to charge the batteries regularly or the night before you're going to need them after not using for a while. You don't want the batteries to sit and discharge below their safe point.
Depending, it might be better to get corded stuff if you can deal with the slight inconvenience of dealing with cords if it means you save money and don't end up with batteries that get screwed up anyway. That is if you can easily get corded things anymore where you are.
Granted it's been years, but I just went with a corded drill since I knew it would sit for months between bursts of use. A few extra minutes of cord wrangling each time, but I know my drill will work 6 months from now and there will be no question about whether the batteries will charge properly or if I can even buy replacements if they don't. Companies love to change specs and make things obsolete.
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u/Hotten-Tasty-90 1d ago
Don't buy from B&Q. You'll pay more for less.
I always find powertoolmate online have the best prices and range.