Anyone with a joiner in the family?

[digiwidgy]

DS is a newly appointed apprentice. He's looking at buying tools. His employer has recommended a nail gun and he's looking at de Walt. If you've a joiner in the family, can you tell me where is best to buy tools?

Makita is always what is used here but it's expensive and perhaps an apprentice doesn't need something as high end. De Walt is often used as a cheaper alternative.

Places like screw fix and tool station are our go to.

Thanks. DS said something about de Walt being better here so his tools can be repaired and serviced. Anyway, thanks for the suggestions for suppliers.

My first fix gun is Paslode and my second fix is Makita. The Paslode is gassed, and can be a bit temperamental in the Winter as a result. I've got no complaints about the Makita.
I tend to research what I want (the exact model number, as accessories etc can differ), then buy my tools from whichever retailer is both reputable and cheapest. These days the best price is almost always from an online retailer. In fact, the only tool I remember simply walking into a shop and buying in the last 10 years is my cordless drill, which I had no choice about as I was mid-job when it packed up without warning.

I'm not sure it's reasonable to expect a new-starter apprentice to have nail guns from the get-go though. Unless their work isn't very varied, other power tools would be my priority to buy first. It feels like it was several lifetimes ago now, but I started with a full set of hand tools, a cordless drill, and SDS. I bought the nail guns, jigsaw, skill saw, chop saw, router, planer etc bit by bit over the first 2 years as money allowed. At first he should be working with close guidance from rather than in parallel to an experienced chippy, and therefore sharing the chippy's power tools isn't an issue.