"Must Have" tools, anything I should/can bring from the States?

**Lee4Life** · 23-03-2008, 05:29 AM

We're in the process of purchasing a large house in need of repairs in the Nong Khai area, Here in the States I do all my own building & repairs. I plan on doing some of the work myself, it needs windows, plumbing & wiring. ( some wood flooring too but I don't feel up to that!)
I have been thinking about bringing a cordless tool set from the States, at least a cordless hammer-drill, but don't want to bother if they are available at a decent price there. I doubt I can fit a tile saw or anything like that in my carry-on luggage but do you guys have any suggestions on something I can bring that is a must-have and not easily available in Thailand?
( I know....I really am opening myself up for a slaughter here!)
Thanks,
Lee

**El Gibbon** · 23-03-2008, 06:17 AM

Most hand tools are available here, including batt. operated drills etc. If your planning on doing wood working its another story. A #7 Stanley plane (the old type) and decent chisels will save you a large amount of frustration. Fine wood working tools are like hens teeth here.

E. G.

**Jet Gorgon** · 23-03-2008, 07:35 AM

It's hard to find good quality. I bought garden tools and a large shovel, all of which crumpled the first time I stuck them in the ground. I also found the drill bits (a Black & Decker) melted after one use. Be careful of voltage if you get US corded products.

**Aquaman** · 23-03-2008, 08:39 AM

recipricating saw.
i brought over my 18 volt dewalt cordless when we were building the house. used it for everything. good to have around.

**Rigger** · 23-03-2008, 08:41 AM

Lee just down the road from Nong Khai in Udon there is a Tool pro full of good gear and not the normal crap sold around the place.

**peterpan** · 23-03-2008, 08:56 AM

Right ! Tool Pro do a good job selling quality products, some of the stuff at Global house is good as well, they have a good range from the low end Chinese stuff to Bosch and Dewalt. Even have things like laser Levelers. Prices aren't too far away from Australian prices.
Both places have some quality totty

to serve you, so bring a few tissues to wipe the dribbles from your mouth.

Not so good in Tools, but you also have Home mart near by, there is a Thai guy working there who was raised in Melbourne, ( Gidday Mayte) this guy is true gem because if there is anything you can't find, he will make sure he finds it for you, or at least point you in the right direction. A very helpful person.

**paulsmithson** · 23-03-2008, 09:07 AM

Moved here permanently last year. shipped a container out in the wifes name.
Brought plenty of tools and thank god I did
Battery tolls here are of lower voltages than the ones currently on sale where I lived and consequently less power. Drill bits are a must bring item. Available here but poor quality.
the guys i had working for me managed to bugger up completely my good 240 volt hammer drill sio I bought a locally made on for under 2000 baht --Kanto---I thought it would be rubbish---it is not it is a very very good drill so far.

Angel grinders here are used for cutting tiles-cheap tp buy at under 900 baht and as long as you are capable of changing the brushes and the main bearing are reasonabley good.

Bring some good screwdrivers and a decent claw hammer---thai hammer heads seem to be soft steel. A decent hand plane cannot be found here---god only knows how a thai joiner planes wood! Same score with chisels and if you have a diamond stone for sharpening tool ---bring it with you!

If you are coming with a Thai national it would be well worth shipping a few tools (in her name to avoid import duties)

There are lots of copies of european tools here but they are usually rubbish.
A mig welder and a few coils of wire are a must if you also want to play with steel.

Hope everything goes well for you and please feel free to pm me if you need to hear more

**SandMike** · 23-03-2008, 10:53 PM

One thought for you ....

The electrical power supply frequency in Thailand is 50 Hz, as compared to the USA's 60Hz.

Voltage is normally 230V (with a live and neutral, same as USA's 120V) from the house electrical sockets (receptacles).

Battery chargers for the portable hand tools should be fine, but you may need to find transformers if the chargers are 120V.

Anything you bring should be rated 50/60Hz, otherwise you may find things don't work, or burn out quickly (even without the local labourer's assistance).

Good luck with the move, can't wait for the day when I move permanently.

**Driventowin** · 23-03-2008, 11:01 PM

Yeah forget anything 120V it isn't worth it if your buying it new there. If you already own them then it is justified to bring them and just buy some transformers which are readily available here..
Also there is True Value here now for some years so you can purchase high quality just about anything, though it seems quite expensive but relative to shipping it? I'm not so sure.. True Value coupled with Home Pro and some others mentioned here and you can pretty much cover most everything you need without getting down in to the nitty gritty and shipping an entire Lowes or Home Depot with you...

**BobbyTits** · 23-03-2008, 11:03 PM

Bring two of these

http://toolmonger.com/wp-content/upl...MaxGroove2.jpg

almost impossible to find here

**dirtydog** · 23-03-2008, 11:15 PM

Originally Posted by paulsmithson

managed to bugger up completely my good 240 volt hammer drill

Hammer drills generally aint up to the job in Thailand and you need a percussion drill, these start at about 5,000baht.

Originally Posted by paulsmithson

Angel grinders here are used for cutting tiles-cheap tp buy at under 900 baht

Would never buy an angle grinder for less than 2,000baht, you need these to work good, cheap ones don't work good.

**Itchy** · 24-03-2008, 02:00 AM

I'd buy everything in Thailand, the chances are that if you have any expensive tools from the States they'll go missing the first time your have workers helping you do anything.

**peterpan** · 24-03-2008, 07:11 AM

Originally Posted by BobbyTits

Bring two of these

http://toolmonger.com/wp-content/upl...MaxGroove2.jpg

almost impossible to find here

Maybe that brand is difficult to locate but as for the tool, plenty of them up here.
I went into Toolpro yesterday to buy a Pnematic impact wrench, 5 different types available ranging from 1,400 bt to 8,000.
They even had an SKF Bearing vibration analiser "Microvibe" on Sale.
Terrific range of tools from plastic welding machines to a humble Stanley screwdriver. The place beats the hell out of true value and is way cheaper.

**DrAndy** · 24-03-2008, 08:53 AM

strangely enough, you can get most tools you need in thailand...

you can even get farang imported tools, if you want to pay the price

don't worry, there is everything you need, it just takes some searching sometimes

oh, except big staples and fence post supports

**Panda** · 24-03-2008, 09:15 AM

Labour is cheap in Thailand.
Unless you want a hobby, its probably cheaper and easier to pay someone to do the job.

**Marmite the Dog** · 24-03-2008, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by Panda

Unless you want a hobby, its probably cheaper and easier to pay someone to do the job.

Maybe he wants things done properly?

**jumbo** · 24-03-2008, 09:30 AM

Bring good quality wood screws, difficult to find, most only supply self tapping screws.

**buad hai** · 24-03-2008, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by DrAndy

don't worry, there is everything you need, it just takes some searching sometimes

To me it's just confounding how difficult it is to find some common hardware items. On my last two visits to the US I bought back:

Joist hangers
1/2" PVC Unions
Decent pump for 5 gallon (22 liter) water bottles

Gear driven sprinklers
Small brass cup hooks
Large brass coat hooks
Blades for pocket plane

And, I almost brought back a cordless grass trimmer like this:

But, it was 110 volts and had some proprietary connection and I didn't fancy using a step down transformer.

Anyone seen a tool like that for sale in Thailand? Not anywhere I've looked in Korat.

**Thetyim** · 24-03-2008, 09:51 AM

^
I bought a water bottle pump in Thailand

the rest I have never seen here

**buad hai** · 24-03-2008, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by Thetyim

I bought a water bottle pump in Thailand

Like the one pictured above or one of those squeeze-type pumps that you see everywhere; often used to siphon petrol into 100 Pipers bottles?

**buad hai** · 24-03-2008, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by jumbo

Bring good quality wood screws, difficult to find, most only supply self tapping screws.

I've recently been able to buy decent quality wood screws at both Tesco (Tesco brand) and Home Pro (Home Base brand). But this is a relatively recent phenomenon. Previously most of the wood screws I bought seem to have been specially designed so that the head would twist off just as you were about to start final drive of the screw into the wood.

**peterpan** · 24-03-2008, 03:04 PM

Brilliant purchase BH, way better than those stupid hand pumps that stop working after a 1 week

.

**buad hai** · 24-03-2008, 03:08 PM

^The pump I bought, as pictured above, is actually made by the same company (in China) that distributes the crap pumps in Thailand. (I saw the factory brochure at a shop on Saipan where I bought the good pump.) The good pump only cost five bucks. Why don't they export to Thailand?

BTW - The good pump works by pumping air into the bottle which forces water out. It depends on making a good seal around the neck of the bottle. It's easier to do with the clear Lexan bottles than with the opaque polyethylene bottles. I use a bit of old inner tube to make the seal more secure.

**Texpat** · 24-03-2008, 03:48 PM

Originally Posted by buad hai

The good pump only cost five bucks. Why don't they export to Thailand?

Haven't you noticed? Quality products are forbidden in Thailand.

Whenever there's a cheap Chinese knock-off, it's always preferred over a quality, solidly-built product. The knock-off costs 1/2 price, but is guaranteed to fail within two months. In the off chance you can find a quality import, it will cost double but will be the only item in your house that lasts more than a year.

**bkkstoneman** · 24-03-2008, 04:35 PM

We have a farm up north of Udon and the 2 things that we really missed were a good quality pair of post hole diggers, which Texpat was kind enough to bring over with his household goods and the second thing was good quality fence pliers...the type you use with barbed wire fencing....Got those on a trip back to the US last year

Stoneman

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