Tools for home and workshop: how to choose and buy well
You buy a tool for the job
A hammer drill for concrete and a drill for plasterboard are different things, though they look alike. So the question “which tool is the best” makes no sense without another: what exactly you will do and how often. For a one-off home repair a domestic range is enough, while daily work needs a professional class.
The difference between classes is in durability: a professional tool takes long, heavy use, while a domestic one is meant for short jobs. Don't overpay for features you don't need, but don't take one that is too weak either.
The groups of tools
The most popular is power tools (drills, screwdrivers, grinders, jigsaws). For working without a socket on a plot there are petrol tools: saws, trimmers, generators. Powerful workshops use air tools together with a compressor.
The basis of any set is hand tools. Separately there are welding equipment and consumables: drill bits, discs and accessories.
What to put in your request
- Type of tool — what exactly and for what work.
- Power source — mains, battery (and voltage, for example 18 V), petrol.
- Power and parameters — W, impact energy, rpm, disc diameter.
- Class — domestic or professional.
- Brand or model — if you have already chosen; or the battery platform, if you have one.
- What is supplied — case, batteries, charger, accessories.
- New or used — and what condition is acceptable.
- Warranty and delivery — the city, pick-up.
- Budget — if you want to name one.
How to compare offers
Make sure you compare the same power, class and set. A “cheap” offer is often a version without the battery and charger, or with one weak battery. For a cordless tool, ask about the capacity (Ah) and what is in the box, since the battery can be a large part of the cost of the set.
Ask about the warranty and service: whether there is a service centre in your city, where spare parts come from, and how long the warranty lasts. For well-known brands, ask whether it is an official supply, because fakes exist. For a used tool, ask for a video of it working, and check for play, the state of the brushes and the cable, and the hours of use if known.
For welding, state the type: MMA, MIG/MAG, TIG, and also the current and the input voltage. For powerful machines, check whether your electrical supply can handle it.
A typical mistake is to buy a “100-piece” set of low quality instead of a few good tools. Another is to forget that batteries of different brands are not compatible with each other.
Don't save on protection: goggles, gloves, ear defenders and a respirator cost less than the consequences of an injury. With petrol tools, pay attention to fuel and oil: two-stroke engines need a mix in an exact proportion, and a mistake shortens their life. For a grinder, use the right accessories and never remove the guard.
If you are a beginner, start with a basic set: a cordless drill-driver, a spirit level, a tape measure, a set of screwdrivers and spanners. You can add the rest when you understand what is missing.
How it works on BlaBlaPrice
You don't need to scroll through dozens of shop pages. Create one request describing the job and the parameters, and sellers reply with offers in the chat: model, price, what is supplied, warranty, delivery. Each one sees where its offer ranks and can improve its terms, so the price often comes out better.
The site shows the best-value offer first, with reviews alongside. Your phone number is hidden until you choose an offer, and it is free for the buyer. Learn more on the “How it works” page.
