If building a shed from scratch, I would have a different short-list of power tools to select . . . as a bare minimum. Exclusive of brands, and w/o knowing specific details and materials list for your shed project, here's what you will need:

Foundation: pier footing digging tools, such as a post-hole digger for sonotube footings, or power auger. If continuous footing, consider hiring a backhoe operator.

Framing: A chop-saw (compound miter saw) is a must for cross-cuts. A table saw would certainly be useful for ripping framing lengths and plywood sheathing. You'll also need a corded drill for anchor bolts, header through-bolts, etc. Most builders today use nail-guns and compressors. Nothing wrong with hammer + nails though - if you're not a pro.

Roofing: Consider a nail-gun . . . otherwise, a 16 oz hammer, staple gun for 15# felt and roofing nails works very well.

Finish: You can use the same tools for finish woodwork as with framing, but with finer tooth carbide blades. Your finish sander is fine for final sanding - such as leveling trim joints and surfaces - jointer/planer is nice for accurate work. Several bits would also be useful for the drill - such as bung cutters, counter-bores/sinks, assortment of quality drill-bits, various screw-driver bits, etc.

I can't see where the sawzall would be useful - unless it's a renovation or addition that requires reciprocal saw-work. The impact driver's usage is also questionable - unless needed for concrete fastener setting, or power-driving lag/anchor bolts.

It all boils down to whether you're crafty enough to work with hand tools, or have the means for purchasing power tools to do the job. A shed is not a complicated project, since interior finish, heating, electrical and fine detailing tasks are not typically required.

OTOH - if it's a kit - you'll not need many tools at all.

Brands are a matter of personal preference and budget. I always buy the best tool I can afford - avoiding inferior brands (and Chinese products) whenever possible. If you know what's good and desire it, but have limited usage for the tool - consider pre-owned, such as on craigslist or eBay. I'll save brand bashing for the next poster. ;-)

Best, Steve

For the foundation I'm going to build out a gravel box like I have linked below. My soil is clay and it gets soggy out back the house - my thoughts are this will solve my problem. I really don't want to get into concrete if I can help it.

I thought a circular saw to cut the boards to length, but if I need a compound miter to do that plus other things, I'm not against it. I just thought a circular saw would be easier w/ the lengths of board I'd need to cut.

I won't be using a nail gun compressor combo for this job. Mostly b/c I don't have that kind of scratch and I'm not sure where I'd use it after the project is done.

I thought the sawzall would be useful for cutting out the windows/door and maybe to cut through the roots I'm sure I'm going to run into when I dig the trench for the 4x4s for the below mentioned gravel pad.

Here is a link that might be useful: Gravel Pad

In shopping for tools, I would look on Craigslist.

In my area, there are a lot of nice tools for sale.

I imagine it is because of the slowdown in the economy causing workmen to be unemployed and in need of money.

A circular saw and a compound miter saw would be on the list for me. A Sawzall is useful when you need it. A table saw will come in handy. A nail gun is a must for me as well.

I built a nice shed 16X12 three years ago and since I don't have roofing experience and did this primarily on my own I took the advice of a handy guy and used sheet metal roofing. That way all you need to do is put up the 2x4's and screw them in.

The gravel pad looks good. Here's what I learned when I got rid of an above ground pool: I used the basically level sand to set my treated wood on top of those 3x3 garden bricks. That all seemed fine until a groundhog made his home underneath. There maybe smarter ways to build. I noticed some other sheds locally were stacked up on cinder so I'm guessing that deters the groundhog. I caught the sucker and drove him about 5-7 miles away. He ran like the dickens.

But the most important thing is planning. I hadn't built anything like this except my finished basement, and flooring stuff in 50 years. My son like bikes so he built an extension to the shed for his Suzuki. He's a senior majoring in mechanical engineering so everything fit tight. Some of my squaring was off and putting the cross beams (2x4) on the roof were slanted but it holds real well. I tend to overdo like when we were kids and built "hideouts" on my friends nursery grounds.

Have fun and enjoy and don't worry about buying some good tools. You deserve them.

Thanks to all of you that have responded so far. I really appreciate your thoughts and insight.

My friend has a table saw he will leave at my house for the time it takes to get this shed up. So that's a bullet I can dodge.

Regarding the miter, do I need a dual bevel or a single bevel? I'm thinking of hanging crown with it later on, and I think I'm going to try this system to do it. I've watched the video and it seems to make sense. If this system works, I can't think of a reason to spend the extra 100 bucks on a dual bevel .... but I guess that's why I'm asking.

Whichever, I'll probably go w/ a Hitachi miter - they seem to review very well, have a 5 year warranty on them, and there are service places close to me.

I'm on the fence on a Hitachi, Dewalt, or Milwaukee circular saw.

Regarding groundhogs, maybe I sould line the box w/ wire fencing before I fill it w/ the gravel/dust combo.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cut-N-Crown