Setting Up a Home Workshop: Tools Every DIYer Needs
A good workshop starts with a bench you can trust. Before you buy anything fancy, get a solid surface at the right height, a decent seat and enough light to see your pencil line. Most of the mistakes we see in the shop come from cramped, badly lit spaces. Clear a corner of the garage, bolt the bench to the wall and give every tool a home.
Start small and add as you go. A cordless drill, a tape measure, a spirit level and a good set of clamps will carry you through your first few projects. Buy the next tool when a job asks for it, not before.
Choose your fixings
Brick, drywall and concrete each need a different plug, so check before you buy.
Bring your measurements and a photo of the space and we will help you choose.
Measure twice, cut once is an old saying because it works. Mark your cut line clearly, support the board on both sides and let the saw do the work. If the offcut falls away, you have supported it wrongly, so check again before you start.
Keep your bench tidy
Safety gear costs far less than a trip to the clinic. Keep safety glasses, ear protection and a dust mask where you can reach them, and put them on before the tool is switched on. Sweep the floor at the end of each session, because sawdust and offcuts are what make people slip.
Ask us in store if you are unsure which tool suits a job. We would rather spend five minutes helping you choose than see you struggle with the wrong one.
