Nick Knowles: The essentials for your DIY toolkit – and how much to spend on them

There’s nothing more annoying when you want to get started on a DIY job than realising you haven’t got the right tools to hand. Whether you’re doing odd jobs around the home or a full-blown renovation, it’s important to have the kit. But it’s easy to get carried away and spend thousands on equipment you don’t need or will only use once. Stick to the basics, do your research and buy good quality. Then, you should be prepared for most things. Shorts Given what I do for a living, you might think I have a shed stuffed full of different types of saws and expensive drills, but that’s just not true. Although I will admit that when my first child came along, I suddenly decided I needed to be a “grown up”, swapped my sports car for a Volvo and went out to buy some power drills. You don’t need to do anything that extreme. Putting together a comprehensive but basic toolkit isn’t complicated and doesn’t have to cost a fortune. There are about 15 items in my toolkit that I would never be without, and the whole lot shouldn’t cost you more than about £300. Expensive not always the best Don’t assume expensive is best. Even professionals are using more mid-range equipment these days. That’s partly because the quality has improved over the years but also because thefts from work vans are so rife, they need to know they can afford to replace it. Always use a reputable retailer. You might find something cheaper at a car boot sale or online, but you’ll have no protection if it’s faulty, and worse still, it might have been stolen. Good battery and charger My first tip might not be what you expect: and that’s to buy a good battery and charger before you buy any tools at all. Finding a set that is compatible with any tool or brand will save you hundreds and means you don’t have to keep dozens of different power packs in the shed and make sure they’re all charged. I’ve got one that works with my lawnmower as well as my drill. A battery and charger that fit multi tools are about £100 – and you might find a deal that comes with a free tool as well. Power drill screwdriver and drill bits Batteries sorted, a power drill screwdriver is your number one asset, which you’ll use over again for lots of different jobs. You need one that is a combo with hammer drill facility, which is useful for masonry work. Spend between £90 and £150 – and no more unless you’re going into the building business. Better yet, get one for free if you find a deal with a charger and battery. And always select 18 volt for power and longevity. It’s worth buying a good set of drill bits. Don’t scrimp here – a cheap set will blunt or break and you won’t be able to use them – but don’t go mad either. For a drill bit and screwdriver set in a case expect to pay about £35 for a titanium finish that covers most jobs and keeps things tidy. Lump hammer and cold chisel A lump hammer and cold chisel are a handy duo. Roughneck do a bolster chisel with hand guard – your knuckles will thank me later for about £11 and Aselected club hammer for £10. They’re great for tasks like getting plaster off the walls or getting in between floorboards, giving you that bit of extra heft. Hand saw Make sure you have a good hand saw – these will only set you back about £10 from Spear & Jackson. Use the full length of it, rather than trying to use it like a steak knife, and remember the classic rule: measure twice, cut once – always better to double check your measurements because if you cut short, you can’t add it back on! Spirit level, electricity and pipe finder Then it’s the very simple stuff. A spirit level – get the longer one, they’re only about £20 and will help you to be more accurate as well as to help draw lines. An electricity and pipe finder are handy to avoid any DIY mishaps. These detect wiring and plumbing in the walls so you don’t drill in the wrong places. It’s worth spending a little more here as hitting a cable or pipe is dangerous and expensive to fix. Tape measure, knife and gloves A decent tape measure – not the floppy, useless one you got out of a Christmas cracker – a sturdy 10 metre one, that stays in place so you don’t have to call someone into the room every time you need to measure something. These are only about £15 so there’s no excuse not to have one. Last on the list: a Stanley knife, which is always useful, plus a decent set of leather gloves to protect your hands – and make sure they actually fit. Buy a pair of pro guard high grip cut resistant gloves like Schwer for £12 – best investment you’ll make to keep your hands safe when using sharp objects. I always keep a pack of thick elastic bands around. There is a certain satisfaction to building your own toolkit, but it doesn’t have to cost you thousands and you don’t need to get carried away buying one of everything in your nearest DIY store. Do your homework, buy good quality and only get the tools you know you really need and will use over and over again. And once you’ve got your kit, make sure you know where it’s all kept, otherwise the next time you move home and come to clear out the shed you’ll find six hammers, four hand saws and another spirit level you’d forgotten you ever had.