Is it worth investing in more power tools for a few small projects?

I have a couple small and simple projects that I've been considering doing. Debating if it is worth spending the money on a circular saw and a corded drill to do these projects.

The baroness wants a plyo box for exercising. These are $80+ online, for something that is $25-$35 in raw materials to make just as nice. I also would like to make a simple grind rail for practicing skating tricks. These cost ~$100-~$150 online, and I could make something functional but not as nice for probably $40 in raw materials.

To make the plyo box, I just need to cut the plywood. I could buy a circular saw for $50+, or I could just have Lowes cut the plywood for me for a few bucks.

For the grind rail I need to cut lengths of 2x4 and I also need to be able to drill through steel tubing. I have a cordless drill, but doubt that's going to have the torque to really get through the steel. I'd need to get a corded drill to really have that kind of power. Again we're looking at $$. Or to do a properly nice grind rail, I'd need to cut tubing and weld.

Do I:
Buy new tools that will cost at least as much as buying pre-made items that I don't know how often I'll use?
Hunt around Craigslist for used tools?
Try to find someone to borrow tools from in exchange for some (free to me) beers?
Just let Lowe's cut the plywood to make the plyo box myself, and leave the grind rail be until I buy a pre-made one or find a friend to help me with some welding?

Primary factors to consider are:

• Future Project Opportunities
• Available Space
• Probability of Moving Near Term

Check Craigslist and pawn shops for good used tools. Possible outcomes are you use them for the project and then they sit or you get rid of them. Or you find that next project that needs a drill or saw and are happy they are there!

Bruce

Yes is always the answer to do I need more tools?

Any brands to look for or stay away from for circular saws or drills?

I'm seeing Skilsaw and Black & Decker for ~$20, and Milwaukee for $80. I'm also seeing a lot of hammering drills. Is that a feature I do or don't want?

Also I am amazed at what my cordless stuff can do. I hardly ever drag out the corded stuff anymore.

As much as you are going to use it Harbor Freight stuff will work.

I've bought 3 different drills and 2 saws in the past month just so I can stop chasing other people down to use theirs. I feel like everyone should have a decent set of tools if they do much work at home. When you have them, you'll be surprised at how much more you use them.

Home depot is changing rigid model lines currently, so lots of cordless stuff is going on clearance. Obviously different store to store, but I got a cordless drill and impact for 59 each, cheaper than a battery. My local also has the 3 piece set on clearance for 249, compared to 400 for the new model, circular saw, impact, and drill with batteries. And rigid has lifetime warranty on batteries and tools, so they'll never go bad as long as rigid stays a brand.

Hammer drills are great if you do any concrete work. Otherwise it's just a bonus feature.

Yes is the answer. If you buy used on Craigslist you can always list them again if you don't have the storage space. I've picked up many, many tools on Craigslist. Have not sold many but sometimes priorities change and you gotta mix it up.

D2W wrote: Also I am amazed at what my cordless stuff can do. I hardly ever drag out the corded stuff anymore.

If my Dewalt cordless can do this job, I really don't see the need for a second drill.

I have all the tools needed if you want to come over some weekend and use them.

For the box you could just have home depot cut the plywood to size and use the cordless drill. I hardly ever use my corded drill unless I forget to charge the battery for the cordless one.

Didn't read the question, didn't read any answers.

Of course. You should always buy tools.

Don't waste money on a corded drill. I have one, I never use it.

Cordless circular saws aren't as good as the corded ones. I would go corded, and for what you are doing, a cheap one will work fine. I have a cheap Skil brand, that I use as a beater saw in my work truck. It gets the job done.

When it comes to buying tools, the answer is always yes.

The proper tools always make a job or project more enjoyable.

My ability to do stuff is largely based on my acquisition of tools that have enabled me to do the stuff. I like to make stuff and tools enable me to do more stuff, so I embrace the positive feedback loop. The wife unit has come to embrace the whole thing since it is rare we ever pay for home-trade or mechanical professionals.

Does it make cold financial sense? Who care? If you can find one around here, go ask a responsible person if that is what you are wondering

I use corded everything. Really due to I have had them for years. I don't know where you are but if you are local I would say drop by and have at it.

Another thing. Either get disposable tools and factor the one time cost in to what you ate doing now and any future use is a bonus or get quality and have them do life. I elected to do the ladder starting in my teens when I was working odd jobs and for the most part I still have them. I use millwalkey and mikita. I have never burned out a millwalkey anything. The mikita stuff I have burnt out a coupole things but that was because I got the cheaper homeowner stuff. There top of the line stuff is great.

A third option is to rent a saw from homedepo. I have done that for some weird things but they will rent standard drills and skill saws for really short money. Last I looked somthing like $20 a day for the skill saw. But it will be a contractor grade unit that should get you through the job with ease.

Add me to the list of 'owns a corded drill that never gets used because I have a cordless one'.

You can have it if you pay shipping. But I suggest you buy a lithium battery instead.

The nice thing about buying tools is, you'll use them again, for things that you wouldn't have thought of attempting before buying the tool.

When I put a towbar on my RX-7, it was done with tools I bought that I thought I wouldn't really need more than a couple times. I needed the angle grinder to cut a 4' chain down to two sections for the safeties. I needed the 3/8" drill that I bought because the drill was cheaper than buying the battery and charger that came with it, to drill the bumper (after buying a step-drill set since, apparently, my home drill bit set doesn't have 3/8" shanks like I thought it did).

As an example.

Tools aren't just one use items, they expand your mechanical horizons.

Table saws are an example of that. I use mine more than any of my other saws. The ability to rip things down accurately. Both sheets of plywood and lumber. Precise repeatable angle cuts are simple.

Got mine to do some restoration work on the house and I have used ot for hundreds of jobs since.

I'll be the half-dissenter; these particular projects sound to me like the type that take me away from projects I'd rather be working on and can be bought for not much more money, for it sounds like a nicer result, at least for the rail.

That said, unless your cordless drill is crummy, I would think it would work fine for steel. If you're really game for the time part of this, why not? And a circular saw is really handy.

You realize this cam turn in to an addiction of sorts. I now look for projects so I have an excuse to purchase tools.

Norm Abrams didnt buy all of his tools at one time and neither did anyone here. Each project is a reason to widen your tool palette, it makes future projects less daunting.

Unless your cordless drill is a crapy used up off brand it should drill through steel fine. A new high quality drill bit is more important.

I have a cordless circular saw because it uses the same batteries (dewalt 18v) as my other cordless tools. It is probably 75% as capable as a slightly larger corded, and a contractor worm drive is like twice that. A smaller diameter blade means a greater chance to get the blade askew in the kerf. At least thats my experience.

Here's my suggestion, and I think others have or will say the same: buy what you need for the project, and you'll have it for more projects. A good drill is shockingly useful. I'm a Milwaukee M12 guy and recently bought the M12 1/2" hammer drill. It is awesome, but overkill for most people. The key to drilling steel isn't a badass drill; it is good bits and knowing what they can or cannot do. I can do a lot more holes in steel with good bits and a crap drill than I can with a nice drill and crap bits. Use cutting lubricant (oil or stick).

For a circular saw, figure out how much saw you need and get the next bigger/better one. I'd probably go with a 7 1/4 blade model because they are reasonable and have a ton of blades available (like the sweet one I have for ripping sheet steel).

Don't count out hand tools. If you aren't sawing much/often, a nice hand saw can go a long way.

You eventually will upgrade and expand as needed or as good deals are found. The key here is to buy from people that are upgrading to bigger stuff.

Your dewalt cordless can likely drill what you want it to. It's been mentioned already, but the bit is more important that the drill is.

My ryobi stuff does everything I've thrown at it and I constantly had people telling me it was E36 M3.

With anticipated use, I'm in the go corded crowd. Batteries go bad after a while, even when not in use and finding replacements can be a challenge. I bought a Skilsaw circular saw and Skil corded drill 30+ years ago and moved it wherever I moved. Still have them and use them. Also have a corded Skil sabersaw/jigsaw. Always the go to tools when needed. I now have a few cordless drills and always seem to fall back on the corded one because it doesn't have a battery to go dead. 2 of my cordless drills don't work anymore, batteries dead and don't make that size anymore. That's Ok since they weren't powerful enough to do anything worthwhile with anyway. Another reason to go corded. One is a 9v Skil and the other is a 12v Ryobi. I have a 18v Mikuni and a 18v Black and Decker. The Mikuni is stronger and used more. The Ryobi and B&D were free so no complaints. One suggestion though is if/when you get a corded drill, get one with variable speed. A lot more useful. Corded is also usually a bit cheaper to buy than cordless.

D2W wrote: As much as you are going to use it Harbor Freight stuff will work.

This. I drilled through rotors on a truck with the cheap HF corded drill and worn out bits.