When it comes to do-it-yourself, a rudimentary understanding of tools is essential. Before embarking on any DIY project, you will need a basic kit in your toolbox as well as work-specific tools, including the relevant power tools. An all-important principle to remember when purchasing DIY tools is to never cut corners or cut costs on cheap, inferior equipment. Doing so could pose a safety risk, at worst, or slow down your work time, at best. In addition, once you have adequate, usable tools, always remember to store them safely, especially in a home where young children are around.

So here are the nuts-and-bolts of a sound DIY toolkit. For under £50, you could purchase the following: a set of screwdrivers, including a “Phillips”; a collection of nuts, bolts, nails, and screws; a 5m tape measure; insulated pliers; an electrical test screw driver; a claw hammer; a junior hacksaw; a utility knife; a spirit level; a small adjustable spanner; a small flashlight; and a monkey wrench. If you are doing DIY painting, you will need a set of paintbrushes in various sizes; a roller and tray; sandpaper and a putty knife; and caulk for filling cracks.

For electrical DIY, you will need black insulating tape; strip connectors; cable clips; cable ties; and various sockets and switches. You’ll also need advice from professionals before doing any electrical work in the home.  In the UK these days some electrical work is taboo as far as the DIY enthusiast is concerned.

When doing DIY carpentry or masonry work, you’ll also need a T-square; chalk; a chisel; a circular saw; a power drill and a power screwdriver. In general, any DIY work will require its work-specific tools and equipment.

When engaging in do-it-yourself (DIY) work, it is vital to employ adequate safety measures and take proper safety precautions. Statistically speaking, the majority of the accidents that occur in the home are due to inadequate safety precautions and are preventable. As a DIY’er, you must remain aware at all times of the potential for disaster, especially in a home with children, and have safety as your number-one priority at all times.

Here are a few tips on DIY safety:

• Wear protective clothing where needed, such as a dust mask for woodworking, gloves for handling dangerous glues and chemicals, or goggles for metalworking.
• Keep your room or work area well ventilated. This is especially important in a house with young children.
• Never use paints or chemicals that generate toxic fumes and never smoke around paint and chemicals. Also, never leave machinery, chemicals, and electrical or unsafe items unattended or exposed where children may be able to reach them.
• Always make sure to use the correct tools for the job and to store them safely. It is unwise to cut costs on cheap but inefficient, inferior tools.
• Always disconnect the power supply before embarking on electrical work and wear rubber soles.
• When using knives, cut away from your body, not toward it. Store knives and sharp instruments in a secure place, especially if you have children at home.
• Keep a chemical fire extinguisher handy and never use water to put out an electrical fire.
• Make sure your ladder is securely positioned and stable – unfortunately, ladder accidents account for a large number of home accidents.

Having a Compound Mitre Saw just makes life easy when you’re cutting wood for frame works or cutting skirting boards. You can use a hand saw and mitre block if you’re only cutting a few lengths, but this soon becomes tiresome and sore on your hands if you have a big job to do.

This is where a Compound Mitre Saw comes in handy as you can just push your piece of wood against the back board and pull down the saw blade at the set angle of your choice, making the process a 10 second job.

Screwfix are currently running a offer on the DeWalt DW713-GB at a very low price of £149.00 inc vat on their website, they usually have it listed at £299.967 so there truly is a big saving to be had here, as other online retailers are still selling the DeWalt DW713-GB at £299.99

The DW713-GB has a 1600w motor and features a 250mm circular blade with a 30mm bore.
This DeWalt Mitre Saw some with a Die-Cast Aluminium Base so is very strong and is ideally made to be bolted down to a work bench.

The Dewalt Compound Saw that Screwfix have listed is the 240v model, which means it will plug straight into to a UK 3 pin power socket, but DeWalt do produce a 110v version which will need a 110v transformer box, these 110v models of the saw are traditionally use on a building site where a 240v supply hasn’t yet been installed.

Here at Letmebuild.co.uk we have recently mentioned how good DeWalt products are, so this great deal shouldn’t be missed.

DeWalt Box

When you’re in a trade you quickly learn to recognise key colours for certain manufactures’ such as for power tools you associate yellow with DeWalt and if you’re looking at pressure washers you instantly think of Karcher and their famous yellow casings. So when it came to chainsaws i was thinking orange and Stihl, all the names mentioned are trusted and used within the trades and are even more reliable for general home use.

Stihl do a great range of power tools from grass strimmers, bush cutters, cut-off saws and chainsaws. There Orange casing makes there tool range instantly recognisable as one of their products and shouting quality out to people.

The Stihl MS181 petrol Chainsaw is a great all round saw.
Ideal for pruning of branches on trees, sawing logs for your wood burning stove, the felling of small to medium sized trees, although you should only fell trees if you know what you know what you’re doing.
The Stihl MS181 has a 31.8cc 2 stroke engine producing 2BHP power and has a pull start recoil system. The bar length will either be 12”, 14” or 16”.

Online prices vary from £235 with a 14” bar to £190 with a 16” bar so shopping around for 30 minutes will definitely save you around £50

Stihl Chainsaw