Starting Tools

IMHO, make certain your cordless drill uses lithium ion batteries. They hold a charge much better than older battery technologies.
I use a Dewalt 12V Max, here is a picture.

They also make  20 volt Max tools.

I've had other cordless drills that didn't work that well because the batteries lost their charge while not being used, and/or really didn't have enough power to get the job done.

When I was building my layout, I also used a portable circular saw quite a bit, along with four saw horses to hold the work being cut (two supporting the material on each side of the cut).

circular saw, tape measure, pencils, small and large square, quick clamps (at least 2)

#4 and # 6 screws, carpenter's glue, safety glasses, work gloves.

Add:

(1.) Hammer

(2.) Nail/screw apron 

(3.) 4 ft level

(4.) Set of saw horses.  

Hand tools. What is in my tote-tray/tool belt.

(5.) #2 Phillips screw driver

(6.) #1 Phillips screw driver

(7.) Straight blade screw driver, medium

(8.) Straight blade screw driver, small

(9.) Wedged tip/Holding tip/Magnetic tip, screw driver.

(10.) 8" diagonal side cutters

(11.) Wire stripper

(12.) Utility knife with assortment of blades

(13.) 8" lineman's pliers

(14.) Adjustable, Channel-lock pliers.

(15.) Adjustable, Cressent wrench 10" or 12".

(16.) 6" or 8" needle nose pliers

(17.) Tool belt or small tool box.

(18.) Combination square.

(19.) Flash light.

(20.) Retractable tape measure 1" width X at least 20 ft.

(21.) Hacksaw with 20 to 22 teeth per inch blade.

(22.) Keyhole saw.

(23.) 1/16" to 1/4" drill bit set, increments by 1/64"

(24.) Electrical tester, tick tester, or small Digital, Volt, ohm meter.

(25.) Small 1/4" socket drive set with assorted sockets and extensions.

(26.) (Add) Right hand tin snips.

(27.) (Add) Left hand tin snips.

Good tools, you will easily spend $250 

Interesting note: When my three daughters graduated from college.  The above list of tools was already in their possession.  Hand tools were a hot item on campus, They all still have their tools and can use them.

Another thought: traditional "C" clamps.

I use them all the time when working alone. They can act like a helper, holding the far end of a piece of lumber while you are working on it. I have them in sizes going from an inch, up to eight inches. For my purposes the inexpensive Harbor Freight ones are fine, although I do have some better quality ones too,

Add to the other lists a long straightedge, be it a long level or what we always jokingly called our four-foot yardstick. I really like that one because you can clamp both ends to four-foot sheet goods and mark them.

I'm surprised no one mentioned Vise-Grips.

A set of jeweler's screwdrivers, or one with interchangeable tips, is handy once you start operating. Ratcheting ones are even better. We also have an inordinate number of 12-in-1 screwdrivers in strategic locations around the house. I thought the ones with a #1and #2 Phillips and straight tips, plus 1/4" and 5/16" sockets, were handy, but at Christmas Kobalt brought out a double-ratcheting one with a set of small sockets in the handle. Combination tools are not ideal, but the tool you have beats the tool you need and wish you had.

--Becky

How big of a layout and what style.  Flat table vs Open Grid Benchwork? The bigger the layout and more detailed the more/better tools you need. What kind of track are you going to use. The above list is a good starting point.  

You would be surprised what you can do with a 12v Lion cordless drill/driver.

Also, a good shopvac with a fine dust/drywall bag. Especially doing construction in the house. Store under the layout and use often.  Don't use the wife's good household vacuum.

quote:

I'm surprised no one mentioned Vise-Grips.

Sorry, I gotta ask: what do you use Vise-Grips for when building a layout?

Apart from a good set of tools, especially power equipment, you need to have the appropriate safety equipment as well, especially eye protection when using a Dremel type tool with cut-off discs

Surprisingly CW, with the advent of metal studs/framing, Vice Grips have become increasingly important.  Metal studs are usually held in C-channels with Vice grips until screws are installed.  I got to dig a little deeper for the two sets that I use the most. Let me take some pictures.  

I use the C-clamp Vice grips to hold metal electrical boxes in place on metal studs and then apply #6 button head screws (3) with my drill/driver.   The whole commercial world is held together with #6 or #8 button head screws.   Which now that you mentioned it. I would add a Right hand (Red handles)  and Left hand (Green handles) cut tin snips (Cutters) to my tool list above, also in my tote-tray.  Any metal framing requires tin snips.

The saw of choice is an abrasive wheel chop saw for cutting metal studs.  I have yet to see a train layout done with metal studs, only a matter of time.

I also have an interesting punch tool used to install holes in metal studs that are bushed with a plastic bushing for wire installation.

Metal stud punch (Greenlee).

I got one of the same DeWalt 12v lithium sets as in your link. I have had many DeWalt drills previously 14.4 to 18 volt (we also used these at work). This is the best one I have ever had. It's a great drill/driver, small and compact, plenty of power, batteries last a long time, they are cheaper to replace than the other 14.4 & 18 volt, and it's light weight. I don't think you could make a better choice in drills, highly recommended. And you get an impact driver as well. I liked it so well I bought a second set early this year on sale at Home Depot! 

quote:

I have yet to see a train layout done with metal studs, only a matter of time.

The uses Mike CT outlined above were not related to building a traditional train table (using something other than metal studs).

So I'll ask again, how are vise grips put to use when building a train table?

quote:

I got one of the same DeWalt 12v lithium sets as in your link.

I have both the drill and the impact driver. I didn't mention the Impact driver before because I haven't used it with trains. I guess it could be used to drive in the framing screws.

quote:

How big of a layout and what style.  Flat table vs Open Grid Benchwork? The bigger the layout and more detailed the more/better tools you need. What kind of track are you going to use. The above list is a good starting point.

I will be making a flat top table, i hope that helps.

I am attaching a picture of my latest layout, work in progress, and I have used about every tool mentioned above except I don't think i saw a jigsaw mentioned which I have used many times.  Also, a shop vac to clean up as you go.

Incidentally, I gave up on the cheaper cordless drills and as mentioned above went to a DeWalt lithium ion, 20 max and what a difference.  It is powerful and the batteries go a very long time on each charge. 

Also, don't fret over your planned layout.  I did and kept dragging my feet and making changes but finally said to heck with it and got started.  So far it has worked out fine with only a few minor changes.

Jim

one more thought on cordless drills:

I have two inexpensive name brand cordless drills, received as gifts.

Smaller drill bits just slip in the chucks, making them close to worthless.

Think I forgot that too, but the little 12v DeWalts you linked to have excellent chucks as well!

I also have the impact driver(s) too, and haven't used them much. However, they are just as nice as the drills. As I said earlier, I liked them so well I bought 2 sets, and that doesn't happen with me very often.

Thank you for all the help

Yes a good cordless drill is a no brainer.

Having said that, if a cord can be managed/ tolerated  a variable speed drill WITH a cord can be had for a fraction of the cost of a cordless. Plenty of power and they never run out of "juice".

I drove in 2&1/2" deck screws all over my layout 10 years ago and haven't run out of power yet.

Vice grips can come in handy depending on the kind of layout you make. If you bolt together the frame on the layout, vice grips can hold nuts so you can tighten the other end without having to hold the nut. Vice grips are also handy if you want to remove a screw where the head strips. A pair of vice grip pliers can also act as a kind of clamp in a pinch, and because they are heavy can act as a counterweight if one is needed temporarily. I have used them to grip wire I was pulling through the wood that was drilled out on the layout. Can also be used in trackwork, to push in nails, to pull out track pins and the like. Also very good in helping take apart a layout, like pulling out staples and such.