To manage the homestead takes a variety of tools and equipment. Sure, you have the obvious, shovels, hammers, rakes, but there are surprisingly manifold others with which you may want to become familiar. You do not necessarily need everything at the start. Think about and plan your projects and the needed items will be identified. Or, wait until Father's Day and buy the discounted package deal like we did.
Anymore, we swear by DeWalt tools, let the trolling commence. However, whichever brand you prefer, the basics are the same; you will need drills, saws, staplers and occasionally sanders.
There are three types of power tools, pneumatic, battery and corded.
Folks, this is where we write your Christmas list. The list of battery powered items I keep handy include:
- 1/2 inch hammer drill. Again 1/2", not 3/8". Some of the bits you will use require the larger chuck, like Forstner bits.
- Air compressor
- Circular saw
- Impact driver (maybe two)
- Miter saw (chop saw) with stand
- Reciprocating saw (saws-all)
- Table saw with stand
- A whole bunch of batteries
The corded powered items I use include:
- Air compressor (yes, a corded one as well)
- A rapid charger for four batteries
- A rapid charger for one battery
- Angle grinder
Lastly, we come to pneumatic.:
- 3-inch nail gun
- Brad nailer
- Palm nailer
- Tire inflater with gauge
- Standard stapler
- Fencing stapler. There are several sizes, get the one or two or whichever that fit the fencing you will erect.
In addition to the above, there are non-powered accessories you will need, specifically bits. The impact driver will likely be your most used tool so go all in with bits. I shifted from Phillip's head to deck screws, so I keep a small box each of #2 Phillip's and T25 Torx bits, and these of various lengths. The long bits are for deep tight spaces and pocket hole jigs.
You will want both types of drill bits, standard and 1/4 inch hex. The standard bits fit into a regular drill and have a large variety of diameters. You can also get them specific to the material you are drilling; wood, metal, et cetera. The 1/4 inch hex fit into you impact driver and I use these heavily.
Also, of course you'll want several replacements of each blade, sanding pad, grinder wheel and whichever other tool you have. You don't want a full work stoppage because a saw blade broke a tooth and you have to run to the store.