Starting a trade, apprenticeship or property maintenance setup is expensive enough without buying the wrong kit. This builder helps you choose tools by trade, stage, budget and battery platform.
This is not a “biggest basket wins” tool list. It is a practical kit builder for people who need tools that survive real work.
Choose the trade, stage, budget and preferred tool platform. The result will split tools into phases: day one essentials, first paycheck upgrades, van/business setup and premium kit.
A practical earning-money kit for mixed domestic jobs, small repairs, fixings, finishing and maintenance work.
Trade tool buying is different from DIY buying. An apprentice, a self-employed fitter and a van-based maintenance worker should not all buy the same kit on day one.
Tools you will actually touch early on: tape, knife, pencil, PPE, basic hand tools and trade-specific starters.
The kit to buy once the work proves it: drill, impact, multi-tool, better bits, better bags and specialist gear.
Storage, lighting, chargers, fixings, consumables, safety gear and the bits that make regular paid work smoother.
Top-end branded kit for serious trades, high-end domestic work, milestone gifts or “buy once, cry once” setups.
These are the main trade routes in this first version. Each one has different essentials, upgrades, consumables and premium brand logic.
Mixed domestic work, repairs, silicone, fixings, shelves, curtains, small plumbing, finishing and van-based jobs.
View toolsMeasuring, marking, cutting, chisels, fixing, saws, clamps, levels and site-ready storage.
View toolsGrips, cutters, spanners, pipe tools, torch, silicone, PTFE, basin tools and strong tool storage.
View toolsVDE hand tools, safe testing basics, cutters, strippers, cable tools, head torch and organised storage.
View toolsBrushes, rollers, prep tools, filler, sanding, masking, dust sheets, extension poles and finishing kit.
View toolsCutters, trowels, spacers, levelling clips, grout floats, washboy, grinder, diamond blades and knee protection.
View toolsDigging tools, pruning tools, levels, lines, wheelbarrows, PPE and powered outdoor upgrades.
View toolsStorage, organisers, batteries, chargers, site lights, fixings, consumables and tool security basics.
View storageTools get the attention. Consumables get the job finished. This is the stuff that quietly eats your money every month if you are working regularly.
Driver bits, masonry bits, wood bits, metal bits, spade bits and the ones you always snap at the worst moment.
View bitsMulti-tool blades, knife blades, jigsaw blades, circular saw blades, hole saws and diamond blades.
View bladesWall plugs, screws, washers, plasterboard fixings, packers, brackets, cable ties and assorted organisers.
View fixingsGloves, masks, glasses, ear defenders, knee pads and the boring kit that stops the day getting worse.
View PPESome kit does not earn money directly, but it stops the day being miserable. Cold tea, dead phone, wet socks and no light in a cupboard are all avoidable.
A decent flask is apprentice kit, van kit and “save money on site” kit all in one.
View flasksUnder sinks, lofts, cupboards and dark corners are a lot easier when both hands are free.
View lightsNot essential, but if you are working long days, it starts to feel essential very quickly.
View radiosDead phone, no photos, no messages, no maps, no invoice. A power bank is cheap insurance.
View power banksAn apprentice should start with day one essentials: tape measure, pencil or marker, utility knife, PPE, basic hand tools, tool bag and trade-specific hand tools. Expensive power tools can usually wait until the work or employer makes it clear what is needed.
Choose one main battery platform and stick to it where possible. Mixing battery systems creates extra chargers, spare batteries and cost. The best choice depends on trade, budget, deals and what tools you will use most.
Premium tools can be worth it when they save time, survive daily use, improve the finish or support better-paying work. They are not always necessary for apprentices or early-stage setups.
Avoid buying every specialist tool on day one. SDS drills, lasers, routers, premium saws, dust extraction and trade-specific machines should usually be bought when the work proves they are needed.
Common consumables include drill bits, driver bits, blades, hole saws, screws, wall plugs, cable ties, sandpaper, masking tape, gloves, dust masks, pencils, caulk and silicone.
No. Tool ownership is not the same as competence. Electrical, gas, structural, machinery and safety-critical work must be carried out legally, safely and within your training, insurance and competence.
This page is for trade, apprentices and paid work. If you are buying for a first home, flat, birthday, Christmas or housewarming gift, use the DIY Tool Kit Builder instead.
Handyy helps with shelves, mirrors, curtain poles, TV wall mounting, shower screens, silicone replacement, tap changes and small home repairs across Corsham, Chippenham, Melksham, Bath, Trowbridge and surrounding areas.
