Starting From Scratch. With.. Well.. Everything.

Hanley

I'm a 29 year old guy that would try to hammer a screw into the wall...

My general DIY skills are pretty appalling. I usually manage to bodge stuff together with a bit of research, but the finer points of building / fixing things is something I've always failed to get to grips with.

I'd like to fix that now.

I figure I need;

- some really simple projects to work on
- the tools to make it happen
- A&E on speed dial

So I come asking for help...

With a budget of €300-500 to get started, what should I get, and what should I try to do with it.

(For the record - one of the primary motivators is that I have a gym where stuff is constantly breaking and being upgraded - not equipment, just figures and fittings - and instead of relying on someone to do it, I really want to be able to make it work myself)

I've seen toolkits and stuff in Halfords (http://www.halfords.ie/workshop-tools/tools/tool-kits/halfords-114-piece-aluminium-tool-set) and drills etc in woodies, but I've no idea where to start on evaluating what is good and what is crap.

yellowlabrador

join a manshed.

DublinDilbert

B&Q do courses, but to he honest most stuff can be picked up from Youtube.

Tools wise buy a box and start accumulating most people build stuff up over time, lidl/aldi stuff is fine for the most part. Get a decent spirit level, tape measure, ruler, angle gauge, set square. Get a few boxes of different size wood screws and rawl plugs.

sky6

+1 for what Dilbert has said plus a pair of Goggles.
Always think safety first. At the start of any work evaluate if and where danger lies. Otherwise you could easily end up in A & E.
makes sure Drill bits and tools are sharp. Get yourself a Mains 1/2 inch Hammer action Drill which will do for general work as well as drilling masonry. Then in time get a good quality 18 v Battery Drill. But don't use it for Masonry as in my experience they usually end up damaged.

colm_mcm

I would get a saw with a fine enough blade, a mitre box, some clamps, hammer drill, jigsaw, rotary sander attachment for the drill, hammer, measuring tape, square, set of screwdrivers, Allen keys, a basic socket set, and a bunch of screws/nails/L-brackets/rawl plugs, adjustable wrench, selection of drill bits