We recently bought our own home, which needs lots of TLC work done, I am on a very tight budget and need to know where the lowest but quality tools and supplies can be purchased. Please help!
If you have a Habitat ReStore near you try that for materials. HoDe and I think L's rent tools. Check the cost of time needed against buying first though. Good luck! I'm sure others will have more ideas for you.
thank you becky...the nearest Habitat store is 2 to 2 1/2 hours away and we do not have a truck...I wish it was closer! I will check into renting. I have bought a B&D drill, but need a saw. Any ideas on which would be best for cutting drywall and studs 2x4's or whatever else I might need to cut?
When you take on home ownership for the first time, it is daunting to learn that you need so much just to fix up. The secret is to start simple and build on what you have. You have to be patient and it will pay off. Do not buy cheap tools as they will not stay the course and you will continue to pour more and more money into them. You do not have to have everything at once so shop around and buy good brand name tools!
If I remember correctly one scores drywall and then it pretty much breaks from there. I'll ask my hubby tonight and see what he'd recommend. We've a woodwork shop in our basement so I'm used to big power cutting tools. He'd know what else could work. They'd take some muscle though. If you have allot of cutting to do I'd recommend checking into purchasing a small table saw or chop/miter saw though. They'll pay for themselves before long in how much time they save you. HoDe and L's will cut
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wood for you. Not sure how much at a time, but just make sure they allow for the width of the blade when measuring.
I've added a video I found on You Tube of how to cut drywall. It's very easy. The Drywall T square that is mentioned in the video is about twelve dollars at either of the big box home improvement stores. http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hardware-Han...
Great video, Becky. That's exactly how I learned to cut drywall. If you are starting with a lot of drywall work, a T-square and utility knife will go a long way, as this video suggests. Also, a drywall saw will be your best bet for cutting around outlets and such. Something like this costs about $10 and should be very helpful:
As far as the bigger, more expensive tools, try Craigslist or Freecycle. I just bought a like-new reel mower for about a third of the list price from a Craigslist listing. Also check pawn shops. In all those cases, test the tools before you close the transaction, and be really careful at pawn shops. On the other hand, the upshot of the pawn shop is you might be able to at least partly pay for things by trading in old stuff you don't need anymore.
I've added a video I found on You Tube of how to cut drywall. It's very easy. The Drywall T square that is mentioned in the video is about twelve dollars at either of the big box home improvement stores. http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hardware-Han...
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-1001... ...»
As far as the bigger, more expensive tools, try Craigslist or Freecycle. I just bought a like-new reel mower for about a third of the list price from a Craigslist listing. Also check pawn shops. In all those cases, test the tools before you close the transaction, and be really careful at pawn shops. On the other hand, the upshot of the pawn shop is you might be able to at least partly pay for things by trading in old stuff you don't need anymore.
Good point about CL too. I've never tried pawn shops.