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| Buying Tools for Renovation and Remodeling When buying a tool that you use a lot, buy the best. Save money on specialty tools and those that don't get used often. How much should you spend on tools? I recommend getting the best quality tools for those you will use all of the time, and saving money on some of the specialty tools that get less use. I’ve noted my usage in my renovating tools lists. Sometimes the necessary tool for a particular job can be too expensive to make it worth buying. For instance, buying a $250 hardwood floor stapler may not make sense if you only have 2 rooms to do and have no plans on using it again. You could get away with renting one for $50 or borrowing one. Where should you buy your tools? There is not one particular store that I could recommend to buy all of your tools, even though one store may carry everything. The main thing to consider is usage vs. price. If I am going to buy a tool that I will use often, I will most likely go to one of the major home stores (Lowe's, Home Depot, Sears, etc.). If I am looking for a specialty item for occasional use, I will look at (Harbour Freight, Northern tool, Wal-Mart, etc.). For expensive tools such as saws, pneumatics, etc., look online at places like Amazon.com. I've listed a little more info about the stores mentioned above to help you in your searching.
Harbor Freight - www.harbourfreight.com This store has a great selection of tools, accessories and random home stuff. They carry a lot of off brand stuff. You will however, find some Dewalt, Porter Cable, Milwaukee, etc. some of which are re-conditioned. I've bought a number of tools from them for half of what they cost elsewhere. Some have worked well and some have been upgraded because I used them more than I thought I would. They sell things like tape, specialty hammers, pry bars, sanding pads, etc., are cheaper and probably no different here than anywhere. Watch for their sales. They will sometimes mark things down as much as 40-50%. Lowe’s - www.lowes.com Lowe's carries almost everything. They have most all major brands like Dewalt, Delta, Makita, Skil, Porter-Cable, Bosch, Kobalt, etc. Prepare to pay for better quality tools here. It's hard to spend less that $20, even when you just need some sandpaper and a drill bit. Home Depot - www.homedepot.com Home Depot seems a bit more geared towards the contractor than the home do-it-yourselfer. I find that they carry just a bit more of what I am looking for in regard to tools, fasteners and hardware. Like Lowe's, they carry most major brands. They carry the Ridgid line of tools that has come along over the past few years. Their price is competitive and the quality/durability seem good. Sears - www.sears.com Sears won't have quite the selection that Home Depot and Lowe's have, but they carry some quality tools. Their primary line is Craftsman which is great quality and price. I always make a stop in here when looking for a tool that I will use a lot. If they have it, its usually a good deal and a quality item. Northern Tool - www.northerntool.com I would place Northern in between Harbour Freight and the larger home stores. They have some amazing deals, but like Harbour Freight, you need to check the quality sometimes. It's a great place to stop in and browse. You will sometimes find great sales on specialty tools and accessories. Amazon.com - www.amazon.com I've purchased a number of tools online though Amazon and can say that their prices are hard to beat, even with shipping. I would probably shop there more often if I didn't buy a lot of my tools mid-way through a project when I had to have it. Consider buying some of your big ticket items through them to save some money. Wal-Mart - www.walmart.com Believe it or not, I have bought some tools here. Most of them were items that I didn't see myself using often. However you can get things like tape measures, chisels, levels, screwdrivers, pliers, etc. for little to nothing. I bought a jig saw there that I have been using for a few years. It's a good place to fill up a tool box when you're just starting out. |
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